In pursuit of an answer to the question of what would constitute a perfect world; author Ken Spiro questioned more than 1;500 people of various backgrounds and religions. His findings revealed six core elements: Respect for human life; peace and harmony; justice and equality; education; family; and social responsibility. He then set off on a journey to find out why these were such common goals across cultural; economic; social and racial lines; and in the process; traced the history of the development of world religions; values and ethics. As a rabbi; he paid particular attention to how Judaism impacted; and was influenced by; the course of these developments. The result is a highly readable and well-documented book about the origins of values and virtues in Western civilization as influenced by the Greeks; Romans; Christians; Muslims and; most significantly; the Jews. The history of religion; presented in Spiro’s highly readable style; is a fascinating and timely subject; especially in today’s volatile religious climate. Spiro divides his book into five engaging parts: Where the Quality of Mercy Was Not Strained: The World of Greece and Rome Against the Grain: The Jewish View A Father to Many Nations: Abraham and the Implications of Monotheism With Sword and Fire: The Rise of Christianity and Islam The New Promised Land: Impact of Judaism on Liberal Democracies Readers of all faiths will find that the elements of a perfect world can only be achieved by a common understanding of our mutual backgrounds and that our diverse religions are all merely branches growing from one single tree.
#4594448 in Books imusti 2012-03-05 2012-03-05Format: International EditionOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.76 x .82 x 4.99l; .61 #File Name: 0753522063272 pagesEbury Press
Review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. could have been betterBy Bruce HaleAn informative book written by the leader of a 2008 Expedition to the South Pole.However it was difficult to sympathise with this guy as he nagged the other 2 members of the group; yet seemed to be the weak link in both the physical and psychological aspects of the trip.He also obsessed about Ernest Shackleton (whose deeds they were trying to emulate) and read from his diary every night before going to bed.As I am going to Antarctica soon (as a Tourist of course being cossetted all the way) I learnt a lot about the current conditions there compared with the extremely primitive set-up 100 years ago.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. don't think you'll learn anything newBy Marc RangerI was dissapointed by "In Shackleton's Footsteps". While it was honorable to commemorate Shackleton's incredible and highly couragous effort of 1907-09; I hardly learned anything new and the author's own journey is forgettable at best.For one thing; you'll have to go throught the first 100 pages or so for Worsley's march in Antarctica to actually begin. In a 288 pages book; that a lot of ink spent on preparations...I was hoping that the book would be as entertaining as Adrian Raeside "Return to Antarctica" but it never approched the quality of Raeside tremendous work. While Raeside reveals parts of the never before printed dairies of Silas Wright and Griffith Taylor (of Scott's Terra Nova expedition); Henry Worsley "Footsteps" never treat us with Eric Marshall or Jameson Adams views of the Nimrod expedition. A lost opportunity if you ask me.The author inter-mixed Shackleton's try on the South Pole with his own; and while Shackleton's adventure is light-years more valuable historically; he left what would be of interest for the reader. How can the author overlook Shackleton's act of incredible generosity and altruism when; starving; he offered Frank Wild his biscuit; "nothing could have bought this biscuit" wrote Wild or Eric Marshall's heroic solo march in brutal conditions.This book is for Shackleton die hard only; but if you are don't think you'll learn anything new.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Kept me readingBy Carol J BlumI appreciated "toggling" between Shackleton's expedition notes and the current expedition. I got caught up in the race (against time).
