Review by GabbiV -- Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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GabbiV
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Review by GabbiV -- Who Told You That You Were Naked?
[Following is a volunteer review of "Who Told You That You Were Naked?" by William Combs.]
4 out of 4 stars
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William E. Combs introduces his nonfiction book, Who Told You That You Were Naked?, with an anecdote that demonstrates the limit of human perception in contrast to all of the wonders God has created and properly sets the tone for the book.
In the first chapter, Adam’s life before Eve is fleshed out somewhat so that the audience can better relate to him. Combs analyzes that prior to eating the forbidden fruit Adam is ignorant of the true imbalance of Eden, and explains that the transgression of eating said fruit is the cause of all subsequent human sin. The author pours his attention evenly on every distinct word choice, turn of phrase, or symbolism, and how they relate to us now. His analysis of Genesis and other select passages from the bible use knowledge beyond the given text, allowing for a more holistic understanding that expands into everyday use without being overly religious. For the casual reader, the text reads like a sermon for Christian mass, except more detailed in focus and analysis.
I rate this four out of four stars for the thorough analysis and the impartial tone used throughout the book. Yes, the author very clearly has his biases, but he writes his stance in such a way that get's the reader to question why they agree or disagree with his opinion. Taking any amount of time to seriously consider any of the post-chapter questions prompt the reader to form an opinion. Combs’ ongoing commentary invites the reader to contemplate nuance in a text previously thought to fit neatly into the right-or-wrong dichotomy. He also does not make any assumptions about the reader's knowledge of the bible, which makes this text very approachable for anyone of any faith.
After providing consistent textual evidence to support his views followed by his subsequent analysis, Combs furthers the conversation by adding several questions pertaining to the aforementioned topics at the end of every chapter. The reader can participate with the text at any level they choose, which makes this book remarkable in my eyes because I feel that faith should be a product forged from self-discovery, rather than blind acceptance (I realize the irony that my definition is at odds with Combs).
Naked is a great place to start an educated conversation about faith and religion due to its innate power for introspection
. The text is constantly questioning the bible and encourages the reader to as well.
******
Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
William E. Combs introduces his nonfiction book, Who Told You That You Were Naked?, with an anecdote that demonstrates the limit of human perception in contrast to all of the wonders God has created and properly sets the tone for the book.
In the first chapter, Adam’s life before Eve is fleshed out somewhat so that the audience can better relate to him. Combs analyzes that prior to eating the forbidden fruit Adam is ignorant of the true imbalance of Eden, and explains that the transgression of eating said fruit is the cause of all subsequent human sin. The author pours his attention evenly on every distinct word choice, turn of phrase, or symbolism, and how they relate to us now. His analysis of Genesis and other select passages from the bible use knowledge beyond the given text, allowing for a more holistic understanding that expands into everyday use without being overly religious. For the casual reader, the text reads like a sermon for Christian mass, except more detailed in focus and analysis.
I rate this four out of four stars for the thorough analysis and the impartial tone used throughout the book. Yes, the author very clearly has his biases, but he writes his stance in such a way that get's the reader to question why they agree or disagree with his opinion. Taking any amount of time to seriously consider any of the post-chapter questions prompt the reader to form an opinion. Combs’ ongoing commentary invites the reader to contemplate nuance in a text previously thought to fit neatly into the right-or-wrong dichotomy. He also does not make any assumptions about the reader's knowledge of the bible, which makes this text very approachable for anyone of any faith.
After providing consistent textual evidence to support his views followed by his subsequent analysis, Combs furthers the conversation by adding several questions pertaining to the aforementioned topics at the end of every chapter. The reader can participate with the text at any level they choose, which makes this book remarkable in my eyes because I feel that faith should be a product forged from self-discovery, rather than blind acceptance (I realize the irony that my definition is at odds with Combs).
Naked is a great place to start an educated conversation about faith and religion due to its innate power for introspection
. The text is constantly questioning the bible and encourages the reader to as well.******
Who Told You That You Were Naked?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like GabbiV's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: Of Illusions and Ink Spills by Divya Hirani
