Rating: 
Summary: Fine book but contains a major factual error that dilutes it
Review: Interesting approach and worth reading. But it contains a major factual error, claiming that the name of Moses's father is not in the Bible (wrong -- all one needs to do is read Exodus)and drawing a significant conclusion from that erroneous premise. More disturbing, I wrote to the author well over one year ago when I first read the book and found the error. I pointed it out. Never heard from him
Rating: 
Summary: Unquestionably worth the effort
Review: Jack Miles achieved his stated intent to write a biography of the character God based on the Tanakh, a literary work. The result is a fascinating study of the evolution of the Judean notion of a monotheistic God, the linchpin for the Jewish, Christian and Muslin religions. Some reviews here either entirely shun Miles work or nit-pick at one of his arguments with certain shrillness, as if Miles had stepped on sacred toes. Unless you can accept, at least temporarily, that man created God and not the other way around, you are liable to suffer a similar upset.Miles is a scholar. He has devoted his life to the study of religion, literature and language, and his writing is rich with insightful analogies. This is not an easy read, however. I had to look up more words while reading this work than with any other book in memory, and some required delving into the cognate, but it was unquestionably worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: Unquestionably worth the effort
Review: Jack Miles achieved his stated intent to write a biography of the character God based on the Tanakh, a literary work. The result is a fascinating study of the evolution of the Judean notion of a monotheistic God, the linchpin for the Jewish, Christian and Muslin religions. Some reviews here either entirely shun Miles work or nit-pick at one of his arguments with certain shrillness, as if Miles had stepped on sacred toes. Unless you can accept, at least temporarily, that man created God and not the other way around, you are liable to suffer a similar upset. Miles is a scholar. He has devoted his life to the study of religion, literature and language, and his writing is rich with insightful analogies. This is not an easy read, however. I had to look up more words while reading this work than with any other book in memory, and some required delving into the cognate, but it was unquestionably worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: A fabulous read..
Review: Jack Miles had the audacity to go where few ever do, into the minds of those who long ago wrote a compelling account of the object of their human fears and aspirations: God.. Miles pulls off beautifully a literary exegesis of the Old testament that cuts to the intellectual core of those who sit and wonder a great deal about the "ineffable" being, and his book reaches its cresendo when it interprets the conclusion of Job, wherein that tortured soul essentially says to God "I dont worship a cosmic bully, and I pity humanity if that's what you are" (my paraphrase and quotes).. In reading several negative comments about this book, I was reminded of a definition I once read of puritanism--the fear that somebody somewhere is having a good time.. Well I truly enjoyed this book, and one can only hope that conservative readers will finally loosen up their minds a bit and see the bible as not something fedexed by God to a lucky few, but as an evolving adventure of the human spirit in search of its own cosmic place.
Rating:
Summary: God: A Biography
Review: Jack Miles has created a vivid and accessible analysis of the Tanakh (or Old Testament) that neither over-spiritualizes, nor does irreverence to, his subject - God. His treatment of the Bible as a work of art created by the hands of humans in response to history and their relationship with their deity is exquisite. It's not a quick read, but one that can truly be savored.
Rating:
Summary: Chronicles of a desert deity
Review: Jack Miles has responded to a number of theses concerning the character of his deity. Many biblical critics have suggested the early books present several gods lumped together by editorial fiat. Miles insists that the god of the Hebrew Bible is but one. That circumstance, uniqueness and solitude, is the cause of various character changes this god went through in the course of history. He has neither siblings nor peers. It's a very human story, but Miles doesn't portray this god as a human personification with superior powers. On the contrary, this god is unaware of the powers he possesses until he tries them out. They become, predictably, addictive with the passage of time. As the god develops, he exhibits changes in character that would be considered "growing up" in people. Finally, for unknown reasons, but perhaps just fatigue, the god retires from human contact. People are left only with previous lessons to follow. Although "God" is the result of intensive knowledge of the Hebrew Tanakh, Miles dismisses the notion that his study is a psychoanalysis of the god, but that's because he's dealing with a divinity. The character variations Miles chronicles, the creator, destroyer, family patriarch, liberator and others, could be applied to any complex character. Any good biography of a national leader might evince the same personifications. The depiction might manifest as many, if not the same, characteristics. Miles' demurral may be overlooked, since his presentation is a compelling account delivered with lively writing skill. He is able to achieve a cool detachment, but not clinical aloofness, in presenting a deity to which he retains some level of adherence. Miles' personal faith doesn't restrict what minimal judgments he offers on this god. He accepts that the god reneges on promises, is a genocidal killer of some note, and punishes even those he claims to love with spontaneous wrath. In early days, he doesn't seek worshippers, just obedient subjects. We learn his sacrifices must be living creatures instead of agricultural crops, but the issue rises with Cain and repeats frequently. It's an arbitrary decision, enforced with vigour, but the motivation remains hidden. It all seems to boil down to whimsical expressions of power. The power is challenged, however, in the outstanding chapters in this book, the account of Job. Job's story has been retold countless times in various arenas, but Miles has analysed the account with fresh, engrossing insight. In his view, Job wins the encounter by simply accepting the god enjoys greater power than he, responding "So what?". It's a given. Job's not contesting the point, so why the terrible punishments? Miles' god is here shown as lawgiver, but not an administrator of justice. Miles, too, accepts the condition - the god has simply grown old and too irascible to reason with.
The shade of Samuel Langhorne Clemens hovered nearby during the reading of this book and writing this review. Silently, the spectre seemed to point repeatedly at Miles' text. Comment wasn't required, the message was clear: why would any person venerate such a creature? Miles fails to answer this question, in fact, he doesn't even pose it. For him, faith in this deity is a given. He doesn't adore sightlessly, but clearly accepts the conditions laid down as valid history. For some, the detachment seems inhuman, but that doesn't detract from the value Miles' portrayal has offered us. The story is too well presented to ignore.
Rating:
Summary: An Image Allows Us To See Ourselves and Grow
Review: Jack Miles takes on a framework that had also been introduced by Carl Jung, "the father of analytical thinking." Man was made in God's Image. Unlike mainstream theology, Miles book forces thinking outside the box. Man being made in the image of God, Gods conversing with his reflective image. A perfect God, yet able to adjust, to grow? To move in a forward direction, never standing still, as being still represents stagnation. An honest assessment and neutral reading of the Hebrew Testament can see the personality of God take many changes. Is it possible for a perfect God to learn anything? Or is his reflective image purely for the glory of Him? Either case, the unanswered questions of God's seemingly harsh judgments contrasted with His loving kindness, mercy and later the quiet wisdom of the "ancient of days," leaves the "mystery" of God in tact and remaining as "ways that are higher" than mans, far beyond his limited perceptions, yet at the same time made in Gods image, with degrees of spirituality and capability to relate to Him. Miles book is extraordinary and allows free thinking that anyone who loves God's Word and seeks His Spirit can use his own discernment.
Rating: 
Summary: Unworthy of serious consideration.
Review: Jack Miles' god comes across as nothing more than a young, impetuous wizard, coming of age in a world he does not control. Indeed, his god is little more than a glorified, often malicious, and always unpredictable Harry Potter. It is unfortunate that one who has such admirable educational qualifications should write such utter nonsense. Miles ignores centuries of biblical scholarship and tradition. This book is poorly conceived and poorly written.
Rating: 
Summary: Conceptually interesting, but ultimately failed effort
Review: Jack Miles's concept, to write a literary biography of the divine actor in the bible, examining his or her unfolding characteristics is imaginative and worthy of praise. That the character and concept of the divine as presented in the text evolves considerably is beyond debate. That which Abraham experiences on Mount Morriah stands in rather stark contrast with what the Nation of Israel sees and feels at Sinai. The effort, however, ultimately fails, because the author projects to many of his own peculiar opinions onto the story, though little textual evidence exists to support them. The most striking example is his claim to a divine effort to control male sexuality and procreation. His evidence for this is scant and often requires considerable bending of the text. Still, his effort is worthwhile, and worthy of a successor who takes the text a bit more seriously. Good literary biography requires the discipline to stay with the text, less it veer into the realm of fiction. If you find this interesting, I highly recommend James Kugel's The Bible as it Was.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing with a wonderful feel
Review: Made me feel good about a very personal subject. I really feel much more aware and knowledgable about religion. Eye opener.
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