Evolution of God and You

If you are like me you go to book stores to look, occasionally buy, but usually to get some latte' and browse shop for good buys? Sometimes I title shop, just looking at what some of my favorite authors, Robert Parker,Elmore Leonard, Dennis Lehane and Nicholas Sparks (absolutely love Mr. Sparks)have out that sounds good. Libraries are the same routine for me, only in them I'm less picky because the dollar isn't in the mix? Guess that makes me a die hard capitalist? To my credit, however, is that this title, "The Evolution of God," still grabbed my eye, even though no money was in the deal! My first thought was, "God(?)-hmm, Evolution(?), hmm-and in the same book?" My brain was humming as I looked at the back of the dust cover.

Robert Wright is an impressive writer, he has a history which includes being a professor of philosophy, professor of religion, and best selling author many times over. Wright is a recipient of the National Magazine Award for Essay and Criticism and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. None of that scared me off, though, as the book looked good.

Few books, however, can really hold my interest if the writing isn't good? A nice cover is great, and a great title, icing to the process; so the cake, if it's good will get eaten. This cake isn't sugar laden, it isn't too sweet, but it definitely isn't sour either! Robert Wright has managed, somehow, to get important reading, into, interesting reading, and that's no small order for a fiction fan such as myself.

The first sentence of the introduction, was a grabber, check this out: "I was once denounced from the pulpit of my mother's church." Sucker for controversy and conspiracy that I am, how could I pass on this? He reported the reaction of folks to his writing about humankind. As you get into this book, you realize, Mr. Wright has some profound things to say, and what my head could absorb, was amazing as well.

Ever wondered where the ideas we hear about belief come from? If you believe in God, then how the roots of that belief came about can really add to your faith, if you aren't a believer, then reading these historical insights can get you wondering and you might end up one; which has happened to many scientific types today. So it is my conclusion about this book that it is for everybody; as Mr. Wright doesn't deal with the Hebrew God, the Muslim God, the "whoever's" God- instead, he deals historically and honestly as he knows how (what a massive undertaking) with God. From the opening sentences of chapter one, "The Birth and Growth of Gods," comes the story of the Chukchee people of Siberia, it is, irreverent, but humorous and it clearly establishes the style of this great writer, nevertheless, without any style, a subject so powerful as this one might carry your interest, but with Mr. Wright's deft feel for the reader, it's fast and fun.

"So what is the big deal Dana (drd4u.com) I hear you, but that's not important enough for you to be saying this is life changing book, is it?" That's a great question, and you are right, what this book gets to is what matters. In our lives we've actually inherited the great blessings of past beliefs. They were fought out, people invested their lives in them, and we know that so much change as been a result of those fights for a better world that were influenced by the beliefs of those past warriors. Culture is a result of sum of the beliefs and internal or external conflicts, won or lost, which humankind has been through. This great examination of those changes is summary, it is condensed into thorough points, thorough research, and it is absolutely 360' in it's consideration, a world examining book. As a result, Mr. Wright gives us some concepts which may just save this world.

"Wow that's nice Dana but I wasn't aware the world needed saving?" Another fair question, but this time, let me ask you to look around at the world with an honest appraisal- when you do, it's hard for me to believe that you cannot see a world which has enormous dangers in it, people who are starving in it, and a vast range of cultures which could spark off a world involving war at any moment? My sense, and this is entirely my sense, is that the world has been at 11:59:59 since about the mid 70's when our potential to destruct became horrendous on a globe canceling level? Perhaps you are correct, and I would hope that you are, but my suspicion is that we are in a very dire circumstance, then, this writing comes along which has some intense and well researched and noted reasons for taking such away. You are a part of this process and it's worth your time to consider a way to make that work out, if not for you, then certainly for those you love?

What Mr. Wright does better than anyone else on this subject, even such notable works as "War and Anti-war" by Toffler; what Mr. Wright does is propose logical but emotionally sound use of what he terms the "moral imagination" which we have now in our cultures. You need to and you will want to read this book if you are at all interested in your future, this writing may provide the most resolute way to accomplish having that future, but it also, may show you how your use of it's material will help you and the world you want to have around for some time to come.