3 out of 4 stars
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The Broken Gift by Daniel Friedman is a standalone sequel to his first book, The Genesis One Code. Though they are written as a series, the author assures readers that they can be read independently or in any order. I cannot comment on this claim as I have not yet read the first installment. Both books aim to reconcile biblical text and scientific findings to prove that one truth is evident through both lenses. His evidence includes many topics, but is largely based in a biblical clock formula used to reconcile the seemingly contradictory time lines used in biblical texts and scientific scholarship. Both texts focus on creation stories, specifically attempting to reconcile Genesis with current scientific findings. It is my understanding that The Broken Gift further elaborates on many ideas presented in its precursor and expands to focus on the origin of humans.
Friedman’s qualifications for tackling such a complex and controversial topic are a life of practice and intellectual curiosity in his Jewish faith and a formal education and career in the sciences. Friedman is an author, engineer, and CEO with a passion for exploring the relationship between religion and science.
The Broken Gift is structured in a well organized and approachable manner. The book opens with an attention grabbing introduction to the many complexities of this topic. It then flows into the history of the controversy between science, religion, and the origin of human kind. The thesis is further supported with evidence from scientific research, the Torah, and Genesis. Then Friedman explains his formula for converting Human time to Divine time, with which he is able to draw parallels between biblical teachings and scientific findings. The rest of the book uses this foundation to identify and explain these parallels, covering a wide range of topics including humanity, the flood, and the development of language.
I give this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is well written and approachable for anyone from any background. I am withholding one star because I this book does not conclusively deliver on its very big promises. It is a great introduction to a very interesting topic. However, this book seems to promise an easy fix to one of the biggest controversies in human history in a mere 260 pages. That big promise left me feeling skeptical the whole time I was reading. There is not nearly enough evidence to bring science and religion together definitively. Rather it provides a fascinating and well researched perspective and a very admirable attempt to bring peace to one of the greatest debates in human history.
The Broken Gift is a great read that I would recommend to anyone with interest in the relationship between religion and science or in the origins of humankind. Furthermore, I would highly recommend this book to those with polarized beliefs as it may provide an interesting and fresh perspective to consider. One thing is for sure, no matter your beliefs, this book will give everyone something to think about. I can’t say I am convinced yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to further researching the topic and reading more from Friedman.
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The Broken Gift
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