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ccoelophysis's review against another edition
5.0
The author manages to cover a lot of ground in just one book - traditional religions, Eastern religions, cults. It's both serious and funny and I loved it much more than I expected to. I love that he's not afraid to try new things and work, really work hard, to learn how to do them. I love that he's trying to answer big questions for himself and for nobody else which gives the book a feeling of authenticity.
liberrydude's review against another edition
3.0
Witty, humorous and at times annoying and a little bit of a drag. Weiner has a near death experience which is just gas-that figures, and embarks on a spiritual quest. I can sympathize as my chest pains were all muscular, so I know what of he speaks but it's still rather comical. Weiner has to be the most neurotic person I've ever met-bibliographically speaking. We hear all about his OCD and impatience and depression and suicide thoughts. Sounds like a confession. We encounter a strange cult founded by a Frenchman, Raelism, as well as the major religions. We start out with Sufism and end up with Kabbalah. So in the end he's back to where he started but now's he's a more enlightened Jew. No Mormons or Islamic purists as they probably might not have been so tolerant of his presence. Nor did he visit Hinduism or Zoroastrianism. But nevertheless, a stimulating book searching for the answers to the basic questions of life. He had no religion before he started, now he's got several. You have to admire his candor and I enjoyed how he seemed more relaxed than in his previous book where he would never cross the line into open friendship as he was obssessed with maintaining his journalistic objectivity and integrity.
edlee3's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
aurodon's review
3.0
For most of the book, I was a bit disappointed - this is very autobiographical, which means you read about the author's struggles to comprehend and connect with each religion, rather than really understanding the religion's values themselves. But I liked the last section very much, and felt that it sort of "explained" why the rest of the book was the way it was. I definitely took some ideas away to continue exploring.
kitkat2500's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting exploration of several religions, including Sufism, Buddhism, Taoism, Kabbalah, etc. Good sense of humour and pretty informative. Easy to read. I recommend it for anyone with an interest in religion and spirituality.
findyourgoldenhour's review against another edition
3.0
This book was good overall, but at times it felt gimmicky. Clearly the author had an idea for a book, pitched it to his publisher who then paid for him to travel all over the world, but he tries to pass it off as his own personal journey. As soon as I'd start to think, "I think I'm done" I'd read a line that kept me reading. The last few chapters are actually the best of the whole book.
jdauer5's review against another edition
3.0
So far I've described this book in this way: Imagine an NPR journalist had a lot of money to travel the world and research world religions. He thinks he's funny--sometimes he is. But the book could have been half the length. Some parts are solid, others are lacking. Don't expect anything scholarly or researched. Expect interviews and first hand experiences of a cynic seeking God. There's some good stuff in here though
p3n1's review against another edition
5.0
setelah baca ini, aku jadi sangat bersyukur karena aku nggak pernah galau sampe mempertanyakan soal Tuhan dan agamaku sendiri yang kemudian bikin depresi.
yah bukan karena aku super religius juga sih, mengingat semasa kecilku, aku ga dapet pendidikan agama yang saklek banget. tapi aku dikelilingi temen-temen yang religius dan merekalah yang ngajarin aku buat bisa merasakan kehadiran Tuhan yang aku yakini.
karena itulah, aku ga masalah berteman dengan orang berbeda agama denganku, karena aku yakin kita nggak akan saling ganggu selama kita berteman.
aku salut banget sama penulis yang terniat banget nyari agama yang cocok dengannya, walau sayangnya, dia hanya mempelajari semua agama itu di permukaannya, makanya dia ga bisa puas dengan satu agama aja. but at least, lewat buku ini, aku jadi tahu, kalo ada banyak banget agama di bumi ini.
yah bukan karena aku super religius juga sih, mengingat semasa kecilku, aku ga dapet pendidikan agama yang saklek banget. tapi aku dikelilingi temen-temen yang religius dan merekalah yang ngajarin aku buat bisa merasakan kehadiran Tuhan yang aku yakini.
karena itulah, aku ga masalah berteman dengan orang berbeda agama denganku, karena aku yakin kita nggak akan saling ganggu selama kita berteman.
aku salut banget sama penulis yang terniat banget nyari agama yang cocok dengannya, walau sayangnya, dia hanya mempelajari semua agama itu di permukaannya, makanya dia ga bisa puas dengan satu agama aja. but at least, lewat buku ini, aku jadi tahu, kalo ada banyak banget agama di bumi ini.
sujata's review against another edition
4.0
Loved his first book, The Geography of Bliss, and this book is only slightley less enjoyable. his style of searching for answers fits my logic but includes travel and thought and believing in what's not logical. fantastic read.
guinness74's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book that I could've written as I've certainly asked myself similar questions. Mr. Weiner goes about searching for "his God" in a humorous, but driven, manner that encompasses a varied collection of religious pathways. I applaud his conclusion to his search, which I will not reveal here. I also applaud his ability to examine objectively which, given some of the unorthodox rituals he undertakes, certainly could have given way to brutal skewering of people's faiths. Still, I'm not sure that this book completely solves my questions, but provides me with more which only adds to my "Confusionism." But, it's his search, not mine, so I suppose I'll have to either write my own book or be content with what he's found.