God: A Human History Paperback – 1 Jan. 2019

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. I especially enjoyed learning about the historical sites which may prove religious rites have been going on for over 100,000 years. Also, the idea that human beings are innately born with a sense of their own soul which may have begun their search for God makes sense to me. Reza’s ideas about the roots of the Abrahamic faith not being entirely monotheistic were fascinating, as well as the formation of the idea of the trinity within Christianity. As someone who practiced Islam for nearly a decade I would have liked to have read what Reza thinks about the Quran as the word of God as this is something I have started to question recently but it was a satisfying read anyway. I recommend this book for anyone searching for answers about who God is, it’s helpful for someone like me who is starting to question blind faith and wants to think outside the box. You don’t have to agree with every point he makes to gain something from it.

Very happy with the book

I thought this was a great read. It's short, and gets to the point in a chronological and methodical way, with no uneccasary filler. I don't subscribe to his personal beliefs per se, but acknowledge them as a view to be considered somewhere on the spectrum. I learnt a lot from reading this, full of interesting and relevant points from history. His own personal opinion only comes in where necessary, and doesn't interfere with the facts. While I read this with good background knowledge, it left me with a better understanding of the bigger picture.

Scholarly and fascinating. His views on Islam are particularly interesting and enlightening, not least his metaphorical reading and interpretation of what seem to be God's human personality and physical traits in the text of the Quran, which seemingly conflict with the all important dehumanization of God that is wrought by the Islamic concept of Tawhid. I thought I was the only person who thought and felt this way. God is all and everything and we are in God and not desperate from God and need took within. Yes, yes! Scholarly and intelligent and highly recommended.

I enjoyed this wonderful read from first page to the last. Comprehensive overview of history of religion. The most exclusive dialogue here is about the perception of God we as humans have developed. God is not what we would like to see or feel, God is within and beyond. Excellent read.

When I first came across this book and read the description; its fair to say I looked forward to reading this monograph. I was impressed by Aslans usage of current archeological evidence in building his case for animism but this is where the argument begins to struggle. I actually found the preceding chapters boring where Aslan doesnt bring anything new to the party. By the end of the book, I was surprised by two things; first the immense size of the acknowledgements, notes etc is simply too much and actually gives the reader a false sense of the actual size of the text. Second, the conclusion is almost like the concluding comments of a essay. It doesnt have the same writing style as the rest of the text. I am disappointed with this book, I enjoyed Aslans monograph on islam and I still consider it to be an commanding overview of the history of Islam but this book is a far cry from that literary achievement

Interesting subject and fairly easily read (extensive notes, but these can be read after the main text). The anticipated conclusion left many questions, some posed by the author, for further thought.

Purchased as a gift for a friend. He loves the book as it gives him another view on religion. He recommends this for anyone who wants another view on religious variations.

I highly recommend this book if you're curious about the evolution of religion. The author reveals a fascinating history, going back to prehistoric times, of the development of religion, why humans are predisposed to believe in gods, how religion may have been the impetus for civilization, and culminating in the God of the Bible, where the book discusses how this God came to be, who wrote the Pentateuch, and (me looking ahead to the last part of the book I have yet to read) concludes with chapters on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. There is a section with extensive notes in the back of the book for digging further. This is the book I was looking for.

A good book to connect the different historical aspects of religious thought without getting too much into the weeds.

It is really very interesting. But you have to like these kinds of books.

Uma viagem primorosa na evolução do ser humano e seu o sentimento religioso. Leitura fácil e agradável. Mais um pouco excelente trabalho do Reza Aslam

good