Where God Was Born

A Journey by Land to the Roots of Religion

By: Bruce Feiler

Narrated by: Bruce Feiler

Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

At a time when America debates its values and the world braces for religious war, Bruce Feiler, author of the New York Times best sellers Walking the Bible and Abraham, travels ten thousand miles through the Middle East to examine the question:

Is Religion Tearing Us Apart....Or Can it Bring Us Together?

Where God Was Born combines the adventure of a wartime chronicle and an archaeological detective story with an inspiring journey of spiritual exploration. Taking readers to biblical sites not seen by Westerners for decades, it uncovers little-known details about the common roots of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and affirms the importance of the Bible in today's world.

Where God Was Born observes that at the birth moment of the biblical religions, all of the faiths took from one another, exchanged ideas, recognized their commonalities, and were open to peaceful coexistence. Offering a rare vision of God that can unite different faiths into a shared allegiance of hope, this is a brave, challenging, and profound work that addresses the most important issues of our time.

©2005 Bruce Feiler (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Another absorbing blend of travelogue, history, Bible commentary, memoir, current events and passionate preaching." (Publishers Weekly)
"Feiler treads on very dangerous ground in this marvelous account of his journey to Israel, Iraq, and Iran....Erudite yet immensely readable, he chronicles a spiritual journey to the roots of Western civilization." (Booklist)

A challenge of faith for monotheistics.

The book was provocative, informative, and very interesting. Worthy reading if you can accept a challenge to your established beliefs. As a Christian, I believe the author's message would be embraced by John Paul or Mother Theresa. Seek and ye shall find.

Good overview... a bit of a rerun

Well written, well read, and helpful, the author explores our common roots and encourages dialog that may reduce the craziness of modern sectarian violence and misunderstanding.

Those who have been reading their sacred texts and exploring their history may find this a bit of a Ancient Near East 101, and be looking for more, but it is a very satisfactory overview.

travelogue/Bible commentary/faith memoir in one

This excellent travelogue chronicles Bruce Feiler's search for meaning in the Bible in spite of modern flaws in interpretation as he roams the ancient archaelogy of the mideast. He creates a personal memoir that is accurate to Biblical scholarship, while simultaneously accessible to the religious layperson. I have given his book away to confirmands and recommend it to any member of the three great Western religions. It is destined to be a classic up there with "Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People," "Night", "The Prophetic Imagination," and "Mere Christianity."

exciting to listen to

Would you consider the audio edition of Where God Was Born to be better than the print version?

I haven't read it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Where God Was Born?

When they were flying in a helicopter to the dangerous zone that was forbiden to be there.

Have you listened to any of Bruce Feiler’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I have seen him on t.v this is very close to actually seeing it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it is too much information

Any additional comments?

I look forward to have time to continue listening

Easy Yet Thought Provoking

If you like ancient history for the lay audience, and are interested in how religion has shaped culture through the ages, you will definitely enjoy Feiler's book. I have read Feiler's Walking the Bible and Abraham, this is the first book of his I have listened to. He is a good reader. The book shares wonderful bits of history and definitely illuminates the bible. I do want to actually read the book now, though, because it is hard to absorb all the historical information he shares.