Kayce H. (kayceh) - , reviewed My Jesus Year: A Rabbi's Son Wanders the Bible Belt in Search of His Own Faith on + 62 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
How many times have you started reading a book with a preconceived idea of how you would like it? I certainly did so with this book. The premise sounds eerily similar to that of The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs, which to this day remains my all time favorite book. And because Jacobs offers a cover quote for My Jesus Year, it was easy to assume this memoir was going to be very similar.
But talk about being pleasantly surprised! Done from an anthropological perspective, Cohen does something Ive talked about doing for years! Ive often wondered and considered exploring different churches every weekend just to see how different people worship. My motives have never been to rethink my religion as Im confident in my beliefs and where I am with them. But for pure interest sake, it has always appealed to me to visit neighborhood and local churches of different denominations. That is exactly what Cohen does for an entire year. (Well, sort of. He kind of leans toward the other extreme visiting a Christian wrestling match, a Christian rock concert, megachurches, as well as a monastery; so on and so forth)
Born Jewish and the son of a Rabbi, Cohens quest is more profound in the sense that he is exploring his religion and seeking knowledge and thirsting for that closeness to God. In a rut with Judaism he dives into Christianity, in a new location every single weekend for one year. While still observing Sabbath on Saturday, Cohen went to Christian churches on Sundays as well. Again, for an entire year. That seems overwhelming to experience that much that often.
While reading laugh out loud funny (once I got past my predetermined judgments of how the book would read), this is one of the wittiest memoirs Ive ever come across. The depth to his conclusions after visiting a new church or Christian body are astounding and surprising. Cohen writes with a sincerity that will appeal to every reader no matter your religion or lack thereof.
His humor is engaging, his story is intriguing and his memoir is both revealing and enjoyable. Im happy to share this book (which I had purchased a few years ago) with over 30 swappers on the wish list on PaperBackSwap. This is a story that should be shared and Im glad I finally picked it up to read.
But talk about being pleasantly surprised! Done from an anthropological perspective, Cohen does something Ive talked about doing for years! Ive often wondered and considered exploring different churches every weekend just to see how different people worship. My motives have never been to rethink my religion as Im confident in my beliefs and where I am with them. But for pure interest sake, it has always appealed to me to visit neighborhood and local churches of different denominations. That is exactly what Cohen does for an entire year. (Well, sort of. He kind of leans toward the other extreme visiting a Christian wrestling match, a Christian rock concert, megachurches, as well as a monastery; so on and so forth)
Born Jewish and the son of a Rabbi, Cohens quest is more profound in the sense that he is exploring his religion and seeking knowledge and thirsting for that closeness to God. In a rut with Judaism he dives into Christianity, in a new location every single weekend for one year. While still observing Sabbath on Saturday, Cohen went to Christian churches on Sundays as well. Again, for an entire year. That seems overwhelming to experience that much that often.
While reading laugh out loud funny (once I got past my predetermined judgments of how the book would read), this is one of the wittiest memoirs Ive ever come across. The depth to his conclusions after visiting a new church or Christian body are astounding and surprising. Cohen writes with a sincerity that will appeal to every reader no matter your religion or lack thereof.
His humor is engaging, his story is intriguing and his memoir is both revealing and enjoyable. Im happy to share this book (which I had purchased a few years ago) with over 30 swappers on the wish list on PaperBackSwap. This is a story that should be shared and Im glad I finally picked it up to read.
