Rating: 
Summary: More than just another sequel....
Review: After having enjoyed Bruce Feiler's previous book, "Walking the Bible," I was a bit skeptical when I heard about this one. He had already covered the journey of Abraham in the first book, so what more could he add with a sequel? It wasn't until I heard him talk about Abraham on National Public Radio that I realized this book is not another travelogue. It's a chronicle of Feiler's own inner journey to understand the connections among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam through their common father, Abraham.As Feiler tells us in this book, the sedrah portion he studied for his own Bar Mitzvah was "Lech lecha," the section of the Torah which deals with God's call to Abraham to leave his home and go to a place that God would show him. It is said that one's Bar Mitzvah portion is forever connected with one's personal destiny. This is certainly true in Feiler's case. His lifelong fascination with Abraham has led him to write a very interesting and thought-provoking book. Don't expect this to be a scholarly study. It's not. In fact, there are some glaring historical inaccuracies. For example, Feiler credits the "Essene" Qumran community with "starting" the tradition of midrash (Jewish hermeneutics). Apparently he's not up on recent Dead Sea Scroll scholarship, because it is now seriously questioned whether (A) the Qumran community was Essene and (B) whether the scrolls in question came from Qumran or a Jerusalem library that was hidden at the time of the Roman siege. At any rate, midrash did not begin at Qumran. (He also confuses midrash with the Mishnah at one point...) I'm sure that Muslim and Christian readers will find similar errors -- but that's not the point of the book. Feiler is exploring how the three religions have viewed Abraham in various periods of their history, and how those perspectives have changed over the centuries. What he seeks is a way to bring the three monotheistic religions together in a productive dialogue where they can meet as equals on the common ground of sharing their origins in Father Abraham. He presents us with an Abraham that we can relate to at the beginning of the 21st century. That's the heart of the book; all the rest is commentary. Regarding that commentary, the book is a bit lopsided when it comes to Jewish POVs. Feiler never identifies what kind of Jew he is, but I looked up his childhood synagogue, Mickve Israel in Atlanta, Georgia, and it's listed as "America's Oldest Reform congregation." Nothing wrong with that -- except that I suspect he carries a common Reform prejudice against Orthodox and Hasidic Jews. He never interviews any -- except for a token Hasidic boy who just happens to be at the Western Wall. The Jews he does interview are all academic scholars and "modernized" rabbis. On the other hand, he goes out of his way to talk to top leaders in the very traditional Christian and Muslim communities. He seems fascinated with their colorful clerical garb; perhaps the plain black clothing of the Hasidic Rebbes was not as exotic? There is also a certain flippancy about the way Feiler describes the relationship between God and Abraham, as well as his own relationship with the stories. I realize that he is writing for the general public, and is probably giving voice to the "skeptic" POV for the benefit of his readers. Still, the fact that he is Jewish and has not included the POV of the more traditional (and respectful) branches of Judaism leaves the reader with the wrong impression that all Jews are as irreverant as he sometimes is. Muslim and Christian readers should be aware of this, i.e., that Feiler's reactions are his own, and do not represent the POVs of all Jews. Within Judaism there is a vast diversity of views, the same as with any other group. When he can set his academic skepticism aside, Feiler's prose soars and inspires. At times it reaches the level of poetry. I get the feeling that this is the real Bruce Feiler, the sincere seeker who, like so many Reform Jews I've met, feels he must show a "scientific" face to the world but who, deep down inside, is a really a mystic on a quest. Like all such quests, it is the process of the pilgrimage that transforms the person, not the facts he encounters along the way. Read from this perspective, this book is indeed a fascinating journey.
Rating:
Summary: All About Abraham
Review: Abraham is the great progenitor of the world's three interrelated but independent monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In this thoughtful book, author Bruce Feiler goes on a journey of discovery, both in the ancient texts of these three religions and in the footsteps of Abraham, to understand the man and his meanings for our own day. And he invites the reader to share the journey with him. It may seem self-evident for Christians steeped in the Old Testament that one would look to Genesis for the stories about Abraham. And in many ways they do serve as Feiler's starting point and main thrust. However, what soon becomes apparent is that Abraham is so revered by so many diverse peoples that a whole body of oral tradition about Abraham exists beyond the sacred page. Feiler shares many of these insights with us, and since he is not limited by the passages of Scripture, there is a richness in his revelations about the man who first insisted there is but one God. As this book unfolds, we learn about the geography of Abraham and also the impact that geography has upon his saga. We are invited into passages that are familiar to us, but with an eye to what the Jewish or Muslim perceptive on those well-known passages might be. We see the story of Hagar and Ishmael in new ways, as Feiler points out the ramifications of the first-born son's legacy, in ancient terms. We also meet modern day guides, whose sharing of parts of Feiler's journey of discovery gives us further insights into the patriarch's story. Here is just one quote that shows the ways in which Feiler asks us to look beyond what we have already experienced in the person Abraham: "Hollywood has been particularly neglectful of Abraham. Moses merits a Cecil B. DeMille epic and a DreamWorks animated blockbuster. Steven Speilberg and Harrison Ford spent an entire film looking for the lost ark of the covenant... But no Abraham. Yet Abraham's life would seem to fit the three-act mold that Hollywood demands. Act one is his early life... Act two is his picaresque adventures on the road to Egypt and back... Act three-the most action packed of all-(is the one) in which Abraham is trapped in a deadly love triangle..." (page 70). This book is timely and informative, but it is more. It invites us to look for ways to incorporate Abraham's story into our own.
Bruce Feiler writes for the "New York Times", the "Washington Post" and "Gourmet" magazines. He has authored a number of other laudable books, including "Walking the Bible". A native of Savannah, Georgia, Feiler has a great sensitivity to the nuances of similarities and differences between the world's great religions.
Rating: 
Summary: Western viewpoint portraying Islam--a carbomonoxidy-moron!
Review: How can a non-Muslim write about Islam? This book would've been in a more harmonized equilibrium if at least three staunch believers in their own respective faiths (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) would have participated in the writing of the book. This book is highly biased only basing its information on Christian (written by St. Paul, not Jesus [peace be upon him) or Judaic "histories." written by Rabbis. All revelation to Jesus and Moses (peace be upon them) were direct revelations of Allah, desecrated by priests and saints. For one, Prophet Abraham (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) took his wife, Hagar or Hagira (NOT slave) to Mecca, not where the author claims. There her son, Ismail (or Ishmael) as a baby was crying for water as a baby and her mother searched for it, until Allah gave bestowed on them the water in the form of Water of ZamZam, which still exists in Mecca. Read books from people belonging to all three religions to get a more balanced view. Read the Torah, Bible, and Qur'an. Otherwise, you will wandering blidnly searching for the truth...which might be just all around you.
Rating: 
Summary: When Faiths Collide
Review: With the current political climate continuing to build up heat and tension, religion is playing a significant role in the politics of the world today. In an ironic twist, that some would say proves the existence of a God with a sense of irony, three of the world's major religions (and the 3 most involved in the middle east tensions of today) all claim some fountainhead with one man - Abraham. The interesting part of the story is how three worlds could work with the same man and his family, and mold that into the image that would best suit each religion's needs and agenda. This is what I found most interesting about the book - how a sketchy story in the distant past could be used and interpreted to certain ends in order to help religion develop. Some other reviewers have quibbled with Feiler's interpretations of interpretations, but overall he does a credible job in exploring the stories and the major faiths involved. He approaches each of the faith with a skeptical eye, looking to understand how and why such interpretations worked out. He even turns the questioning eye to his own Jewish faith and the development of Abraham into the father figure he is. Like in his "Walking the Bible," Feiler starts off in Israel, looking to find the pieces of the Bible that he can see, and touch. But quickly he realizes that instead of physical locations and objects, for the most part the story of Abraham resides not in the land but in the stories, and the hearts of the faithful. He is engaging in less of a journey through history as he is a journey through the hearts and minds of those who came before. Hardly the last word on the topic of Abraham, but a good introduction and exploration of the issues involved. An interesting and very accessible book.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh gosh -- the voice
Review: This is a review of the audio book, not the book itself. It's hard for me to evaluate the book itself because Bruce Feiler's reading was rendered so horribly. Memo to Bruce: Leave the reading to the professionals. Just because we can endure your voice for a few minutes on NPR does not mean we want to hear you for six hours on the audio book. Feiler has an odd, whiney voice that is painful to listen to. I don't recommend this audio book
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: I picked this book up at a local store and read it while I had some down time between homework assignments. Feiler takes an ecumenical look at three faiths, Islam, Judaism and Christianity - starting with Abraham. Of note are the interviews Feiler performed with leading Islamic, Jewish and Christian scholars and holy men. While the book does not draw any really solid conclusions it is a good place to start when looking at the religions originating out of the Torah. I am sure Muslims will take issue with how they are portrayed by a Jewish author, and Christians may tend to do the same. But, this does not mean it is not worth reading. A good place to start when having a conversation about faith with someone outside your own tradition is to find common ground. Feiler tries to do this in his book, and does it with some success. Joseph Dworak
Rating:
Summary: Unfettered political correctness
Review: Unfortunately, the author seems intent on re-inventing Abraham as some sort of ecumenical superstar. Abraham lived about 3,800 years ago -- many years before the advent of Christianity and Islam -- leaving the Jewish Abraham to exist for many hundreds of years as the original. Who is the original Abraham? The one whom God promised, through Isaac, that he would be the forefather of a people chosen to receive God's law and inherit the Holy Land. Today, Abraham's name is being invoked to promote ethnic and religious agendas outside the pale of Judaism. It's rather peculiar that the people who made the song Ana Bakra Isra'il (I Hate Israel) a hit, would profess to honor the partriach of the Jews.
Rating:
Summary: Feiler Again Gives Readers Much Food for Thought
Review: In late 2002, The Miami Book Fair was broadcast on C-Span. One segment had a panel which included Bruce Feiler. When I heard some of the titles of the books Feiler has written, particularly his book on the circus, I found him rather interesting, but wondered what he would have to say about his scriptural subjects. Well, all a person has to do is read his either WALKING THE BIBLE or ABRAHAM and one will quickly realize that Feiler gives the reader ample ways to look at faith and scripture. In ABRAHAM, Feiler looks at the "father in faith" of three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and explores the ways each of the three faiths uses the story of Abraham. Feiler shows how each faith tradition uses the same basic story but interprets it in different ways. Feiler not only shows the different ways in which the Abraham story is interpreted, but also how these interpretations have often led to divisions as well. In light of the present world situation, Feiler's observations could be prophetic and could lead to a better understanding of that which decides so many. The book is written from a perspective of faith, which is probably its greatest strength. Feiler has a great appreciation of scripture and seems to make a great effort at finding authorities on Abraham that are both experts and people of faith. For this reason, the book gives the reader a great deal to ponder. Readers also see that Feiler himself is journeying in his faith: he is both rediscovering the faith of his childhood and discovering a more vibrant mature faith. His ability to bring in his own experiences while not making the book about himself is admirable and allows the reader to become engaged in the book and perhaps see their own spiritual journey. Readers should note that while this book is carefully researched, it is not a scholarly work and there are a few small errors in the book, but the errors are small and do not detract from the overall message of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting if simplistic overview of the Biblical patriarch
Review: In "Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths," author Bruce Feiler examines how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam tell the story of the Biblical patriarch. He notes that the Biblical account provides few details, allowing each religion to fashion a patriarch according to its changing needs throughout history. He reveals important parallels as well as key differences, and organizes his presentation around the tension between the idea of Abraham as the inventor of a universal faith in one God versus each religious group's desire to stake a unique claim on the patriarch. In general, it was an interesting if lightweight overview. Needless to say, if you will be offended by an essentially historical approach that stands outside the tenets of any particular faith, you won't like this book. Given the weighty subject, I was surprised at what a quick, easy read this book was. This may be attributed to the author's very well-organized presentation, but also to a rather oversimplified approach. I was also surprised by the author's optimistic conclusion that the three monotheistic faiths can use Abraham as a point of commonality to bridge their differences when millennia of sad experience (as reviewed throughout the book!) suggest otherwise.
Rating:
Summary: Nope, simply isn't so
Review: The thesis that Abraham links Judaism and Christianity with Islam is an old canard that has been refuted time and again. There is simply zero evidence for Abraham's connection to Muslims, Islam didn't even exist until many centuries after Abraham's lifetime. The Koranic claims of Muslim descent from Abraham are after-the-fact fabrications lifted wholesale from writings in the Bible/Torah. No evidence, no facts, not even the remotest plausibility exists for this book's thesis. One suspects, in fact, that it is an attempt to foster a "can't-we-all-get-along" mentality at this time when the free world is preparing the defeat of Islamic civilization. Still, an interesting account of the life of a great prophet, quite readable.
| 
