February 16, 2012

Review: "The Book that Made Your World" by Vishal Mangalwadi


Beware of dogs. A wolf in sheep's clothing. The apple of my eye.  A broken heart. Skin of my teeth.  The writing on the wall.  The powers that be.

So much of our lives is shaped and affected by a single book.  In fact, the few phrases I just gave are a mere "drop in the bucket" of what this book has given us.  I could "go the extra mile" and list more phrases, but I think you get the point. The Bible is a part of everyday conversation even among those who do not claim to believe its contents.  But it has affected far more than our choices of words.

Vishal Mangalwadi was not raised in a Western home, he was raised in India. Through his unique perspective he has looked at the values, traditions, dreams, goals, and history of the Western World, and has seen the profound influence of the Bible has had in making the world what it is today.  Human rights, social justice, scientific exploration, and even pop culture have all been shaped by this book of books.

It is an interesting book, but not exactly light reading. If you are up for a philosophical look at the formation of our society, then I highly recommend this book, along with "How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture" by Francis A. Schaeffer and "The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels" by Thomas Cahill. You will be surprised by the insights they give you into not just how society works - but how *you* think and feel.  Things about yourself that you may have never thought the Bible influenced in your own life have been, and you will see it when you read these books.

The Book that Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization - Amazon
The Publisher's page on the book.

I was given a copy of "The Book that Made Your World:  How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization" from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


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