Zealot—the Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth –by Reza Aslan

Nonfiction / Biography

354 pages / 2382 KB

5 Stars

I found this book spellbinding. Written by a historian, it is a book in search of Jesus of Nazareth, not Jesus the Christ. To be honest, I've not been overly confident that there was a Historical Jesus, until now.

If you are a True Believer, who believes the Bible is the infallible word of God, and you don't want your beliefs and or ideas stretched to any degree, this may not be the book for you. However, if you are a person of curiosity, and a history buff, this is a fantastic read. I had a hard time putting it down, and my copy is now filled with notes and marginalia. It is a book I will return to. Even the notes at the end are fascinating.

Zealot will give you new ideas to mull over. What was the real reason Jesus was crucified? Why and how were the books of the New Testament chosen? Was Jesus illiterate? How Jewish is the New Testament? How Jewish are Christians? Really.

Zealot will go on my bookshelf next to Hyam Maccoby's The Mythmaker—Paul and the Invention of Christianity.