Review by corinaelena -- Who Told You That You Were Naked?

[Corina Elena]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Who Told You That You Were Naked?" by William Combs.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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William E. Combs offers, in his book, Who Told You That You Were Naked?, a very interesting analysis of the Bible, written from a fresh, modern perspective. The book consists of three main parts, intercalated throughout the chapters: the stories of the Biblical characters we all know, the narrator’s periodic interruptions, meant to open up discussions around them and anecdotes from the author’s personal life. Reading Who Told You That You Were Naked? felt like going through an intriguing story, taking a break between chapters and having a talk about it with a very well informed, dear friend.

I really enjoyed the way the book is narrated. William E. Combs makes the reader feel close to Adam and Eve, to Cain and Abel, Jared, Abraham, Noah, and even Jesus, inviting us to take part in their stories and forcing us to gain sympathy for our biblical ancestors. A truly fascinating element of the book is brought by the association between biblical stories and notions such as sin, faith, rest, and many more. Their true Christian meaning is debated at length and thoroughly explained. For example, by analyzing the original sin and the change of dynamic between Adam and Eve after they have sinned, the author offers a unique, yet truthful perspective into the modern relationships between man and woman. We get to understand our issues with ourselves and to realize the way we project them onto each other, in a veritable dialogue about the differences between the two sexes. We also witness the story of Cain and Abel and their tragic end. The reader is provided with many insightful ideas about the events that might have caused the dispute between the two brothers. The author takes each opportunity to dissect many interpersonal relationships, but his main focus remains the relationship one has with oneself, approached from a faithful Christian perspective. Even though the idea of destiny goes against Biblical teachings, the author also opens up a very entertaining conversation about the “Lamb’s book of life” and about how Religion sees the individual future. All of these aspects are presented by the narrator in his many periodical interruptions throughout the story, that give a more intellectual aura to the entire text. We also get a glimpse into the author’s life, by reading some personal testimonies, many almost unbelievable without faith, about the many times God made Himself known to him and to the people in his life.

At the end of each chapter, William E. Combs proposes a few study questions for discussion. I found myself completely intrigued by these well thought of questions that are, in my opinion, incredible starting points for future books. Looking for the answers made the questions multiply even more and turned religion into a very interesting topic for debate. Seeing Who Told You That You Were Naked? through this perspective made me realize that this is, in fact, the perfect book for a book club.

When it comes to the things I liked least about Who Told You That You Were Naked?, I can honestly say there are none. This is not because I fully agreed with the lecture and with the author’s interpretation of the Bible, but because the study of the Bible has a very subjective nature to it, and agreeing or disagreeing with any of this book’s content would further the discussion, but would never reach a conclusion. I can go as far as saying that if I were to disagree with anything presented in this book, I would end up disagreeing with the contents of the Bible itself or with the religious gospel, and I am not qualified enough to do that. I enjoyed the book, I respect William E. Combs’ teachings and opinions and I have nothing negative to say about it.

I found Who Told You That You Were Naked? by William E. Combs to be a fantastic book, worth adding to any respectable reading list and I confidently rate it 4 out of 4 stars. One might think it is a book about religion, the Creation of man, or the Garden of Eden, but in reality, it is a rather meticulous dive into the human nature, exploring fear, betrayal, embarrassment, and more than anything else, explaining what exists, deep inside of us, that drives us to act the way we do. Furthermore, the present lecture can be seen as an introduction for those not yet familiar with the Bible, William E. Combs recommending, in chapter 10, more books on the same topics as the ones previously discussed. There are also many explanations at the end of the book and I highly recommend looking up all of the annotations made throughout the text.

Who Told You That You Were Naked? invites us how to follow the biblical teachings, not by forcing them upon us, but by patiently explaining the Christian belief. I would recommend the author’s book even to nonbelievers, for it has great insight into the inner workings of all of us and it is a compelling read for anyone that has ever felt anxious, worried or simply not good enough.

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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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[Erin Dydek]

I like what you said about this being a good book for a group discussion. It definitely sounds like it has some interesting topics that would be fun to talk about with a group. Faith discussions can be great for building your beliefs and helping you to explain them to others. Thanks for the review!

[Corina Elena]

I like what you said about this being a good book for a group discussion. It definitely sounds like it has some interesting topics that would be fun to talk about with a group. Faith discussions can be great for building your beliefs and helping you to explain them to others. Thanks for the review!

I stand by my opinion. I wish I had more people interested in reading around me, I would definitely want to know their take on this book.

[ReyvrexQuestor Reyes]

I found your review more thorough and interesting. It shows how personally the reviewer is perceived as a woman of faith. You touched on the core of the topic, so to speak. More power to you.

[Ekta Swarnkar]

I have also read the book, and I agree with you that the text is such that it does not force it's content to the readers but simply explaining them through examples. Wonderful review!