Review by Love_Good_Books -- Roadmap to the End of Days
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Love_Good_Books
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Review by Love_Good_Books -- Roadmap to the End of Days
[Following is a volunteer review of "Roadmap to the End of Days" by Daniel Friedmann.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Roadmap to the End of Days is a nonfiction work which highlights patterns in human history from the standpoint of Old Universe Creationism. The book is 168 standard pages and is extensively footnoted, including hyperlinks to many resources. It includes a glossary which is extremely helpful to those not necessarily familiar with Jewish religious terms and personages. In addition, there are three appendices, giving a bird’s-eye view of human history, a more detailed history highlighting patterns, and an excerpt from an English translation of Nahmanides’ writings concerning world history.
The basic concept presented in this book is that there is a maximum amount of time allotted to human existence in a fallen state, and we are approaching that maximum. Human choices, and especially collective human choices, to obey the commands of the Creator will hasten the tikkun, or rectification. However, even if humans do not choose to revere the Creator, the cosmic purpose of rectification will still occur at the end of the maximum allotment of time. The author draws an analogy to a glass maze; we can make wrong turns that take us deeper into the maze, or we can choose a path that leads to the exit more quickly. Of course, looking down on the maze makes it much easier to see the path to the exit, and this is what Friedmann aims to do by analyzing patterns in human history and linking them to events in the Days of Creation.
The analysis presented in the book builds on the Biblical account of Creation; the concept of sefirot (channels of Divine energy); Hebrew numerology; Talmudic, Midrashic, and Rabinnic sources; and patterns in recorded human history.
I found this book absolutely fascinating, and it has spurred my own research into a variety of related topics. Roadmap to the End of Days is logically organized, easy to read, and clearly presented on a lay person’s level. This work presents an opportunity for self-examination, renewed perspective, and deep thought on the overarching themes of human history. Friedmann’s writing summarizes the complex topics succinctly, perhaps too much so; at several points in the discourse, I wished for much more detail and proof for the assertions made. The aspect I most enjoyed about this book is that it opened my eyes to different schools of thought and interpretations of familiar Biblical passages, because this helps me to evaluate and examine my own understanding. Most of the concepts presented in the book are intriguing and worthy of further meditation and study. The aspect I enjoyed the least was the occurrence of conclusions which were not completely supported by explanation or footnote; it is difficult to assess the merits of an argument if the basis for it is not known. Overall, Roadmap to the End of Days left me with a reawakened sense of awe and a renewed sense of my own place in the universe. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to read it.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone interested in eschatology. I cannot give the full four stars because not all of the conclusions were substantiated. The book is certainly well-written, intriguing, and informative, making it worthy of three stars. If it were possible to give a partial star, I would rate this book 3.5 stars. This volume will appeal to anyone interested in Biblical eschatology, Jewish mysticism, Biblical history, or human history in general. Those who put no stock in the Bible or in Jewish writings, and those not interested in eschatology, will probably not enjoy Roadmap to the End of Days.
There were eight typographical errors, such as misplaced punctuation, usage of an adverb form rather than an adjective, etc.
Daniel Friedmann is also the author of The Genesis One Code and The Broken Gift.
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Roadmap to the End of Days
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3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Roadmap to the End of Days is a nonfiction work which highlights patterns in human history from the standpoint of Old Universe Creationism. The book is 168 standard pages and is extensively footnoted, including hyperlinks to many resources. It includes a glossary which is extremely helpful to those not necessarily familiar with Jewish religious terms and personages. In addition, there are three appendices, giving a bird’s-eye view of human history, a more detailed history highlighting patterns, and an excerpt from an English translation of Nahmanides’ writings concerning world history.
The basic concept presented in this book is that there is a maximum amount of time allotted to human existence in a fallen state, and we are approaching that maximum. Human choices, and especially collective human choices, to obey the commands of the Creator will hasten the tikkun, or rectification. However, even if humans do not choose to revere the Creator, the cosmic purpose of rectification will still occur at the end of the maximum allotment of time. The author draws an analogy to a glass maze; we can make wrong turns that take us deeper into the maze, or we can choose a path that leads to the exit more quickly. Of course, looking down on the maze makes it much easier to see the path to the exit, and this is what Friedmann aims to do by analyzing patterns in human history and linking them to events in the Days of Creation.
The analysis presented in the book builds on the Biblical account of Creation; the concept of sefirot (channels of Divine energy); Hebrew numerology; Talmudic, Midrashic, and Rabinnic sources; and patterns in recorded human history.
I found this book absolutely fascinating, and it has spurred my own research into a variety of related topics. Roadmap to the End of Days is logically organized, easy to read, and clearly presented on a lay person’s level. This work presents an opportunity for self-examination, renewed perspective, and deep thought on the overarching themes of human history. Friedmann’s writing summarizes the complex topics succinctly, perhaps too much so; at several points in the discourse, I wished for much more detail and proof for the assertions made. The aspect I most enjoyed about this book is that it opened my eyes to different schools of thought and interpretations of familiar Biblical passages, because this helps me to evaluate and examine my own understanding. Most of the concepts presented in the book are intriguing and worthy of further meditation and study. The aspect I enjoyed the least was the occurrence of conclusions which were not completely supported by explanation or footnote; it is difficult to assess the merits of an argument if the basis for it is not known. Overall, Roadmap to the End of Days left me with a reawakened sense of awe and a renewed sense of my own place in the universe. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to read it.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone interested in eschatology. I cannot give the full four stars because not all of the conclusions were substantiated. The book is certainly well-written, intriguing, and informative, making it worthy of three stars. If it were possible to give a partial star, I would rate this book 3.5 stars. This volume will appeal to anyone interested in Biblical eschatology, Jewish mysticism, Biblical history, or human history in general. Those who put no stock in the Bible or in Jewish writings, and those not interested in eschatology, will probably not enjoy Roadmap to the End of Days.
There were eight typographical errors, such as misplaced punctuation, usage of an adverb form rather than an adjective, etc.
Daniel Friedmann is also the author of The Genesis One Code and The Broken Gift.
******
Roadmap to the End of Days
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Love_Good_Books's review? Post a comment saying so!
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Astrocelot
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This book sounds so meticulously written for the massive amount of content it covers. For Friedmann to do that and also make it understandable for the layman is such a feat! I'll have to pick this up sometime. Wonderful review!
Latest Review: Book Blueprint by Jacqui Pretty
