Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses

The author's true odyssey begins on 16,984 ft. high Mt. Ararat and ends on Mt. Nebo, perhaps standing where Moses had stood when he knew he would never cross to the Promised Land. This is an eloquent, informed, often funny travelogue.

"After high school I lost touch with the religious community of my childhood. But as I traveled I found certain feelings resurfacing, The idea of writing about the Bible sneaked up on me. In Jerusalem an old friend, Fred, was giving a tour. 'And over there," the said, pointing to the Dome of the Rock, " is the cliff where Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac.' Real or not, that piece of information hit me like a bolt of lightening. It had never occurred to me that that story -- so timeless, so abstract -- might show more have happened in a place so identifiable, that I could visit. It had never occurred to me that the story was so concrete, so connected to the ground. To here. To now."

"In subsequent weeks I had the same experience in a variety of places. I realized the Bible is not some abstraction, nor some book gathering dust. It's a living, breathing entity unencumbered by the sterilization of time." NOV 2004 show less

Initially I found this book dry and unengaging and had to put it down. I'm glad I picked it up again. Bruce Feiler, accompanied by an acclaimed Israeli archaeologist, sets off to visit the present-day locations of the first 5 books of the Bible. On the way, he investigates its links to Mesopotamian mythology, documented historical events and the politics of a volatile region. Feiler himself is devoutly Jewish and this isn't a book about trying to disprove the Bible; rather, it's an objective assessment of which stories are backed up by verifiable historical detail and what scientists and anthropoligists know about the way real people lived during the Biblical era. The modern-day component of his travels is equally fascinating, leading show more him to interviews with Israeli settlers on the Gaza Strip, Palestinians infuriated by Israeli policy, and the bedouin nomads spread across Jordan and the Sinai Peninsula. I learned that there is a real food called manna, made from the excretions of plant lice, that tastes like honey and drifts to the ground in the morning in tiny wafers. That, along with with thousands of other intriguing historical details, means you should read this book. Even if it takes you a really long time. show less

This book is an inspirational oasis from the Sinai desert that the people of Israel travelled on a circular path for forty years , Fieler travels with this people whose paths he traces and comes out in the land of milk and honey- renewed and transformed.Full of wonder and awe 'Walking the Bible' is a powerful and spiritual pilgrimmage and Feiler inserts a sense of poetry about the land.

One part adventure story, one part archaeological detective work, one part spiritual exploration, "Walking the Bible" vividly recounts an inspiring personal odyssey--by foot, jeep, rowboat, and camel--through the greatest stories ever told. Feiler explores how geography affects the larger narrative of the Bible and how much these places have affected his own faith.

I found this an enjoyable mix of history, geography, and religion. He combined interpretation of biblical stories with political/cultural history in a very readable style. I really enjoyed it.

I've been meaning to read this book for a long time--especially having been to Israel once myself, and thinking ahead to the next time I go. I had high hopes for the read, accordingly, but found Feiler's writing style to not really mesh with my reading style: wordy, overly epiphanous/descriptive, etc. And, he came at the trip/land/everything incredibly speculatively. Other reviewers have noted already (so I won't repeat what they already excellently state) how the book regularly proposes that the Bible is more figuratively than literally true, and that really bothered me.

I enjoyed this book very much for a lot of reasons. The travel alone makes it so worthwhile. Feiler's ability to describe what he sees is amazing. I can think of only one other author with such a talent for painting pictures with words. It has been an eductional and spiritual journey.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. IT CREATES A VERY WORTHWHILE JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLICAL LANDS OF EGYPT, THE SINAI DESERT, TURKEY, JERUSALEM AND JORDAN.
I ENJOYED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DESERT. They made me curious about really being there. The experience of self discovery the author shares also brings about one's own personal introspection.
As for the places and the history of the Israelites, I found some confusion as well as confirmation about what I already show more thought I knew. But I also gleaned knowledge about their travels and experiences.
Some beliefs of my own have been challenged with the scientific and natural explanations of the miracles found in the Bible, but on the other hand, Feiler paints a picture of these people in a more day to day struggling scene that no doubt is more factual than the way most of us see it in our more stinted observations. In this way the Bible has become more alive for me. Reading this book is very close to being on the journey yourself. As if I had accompanied the group, myself, I feel full of ponderings and memories, and a lot to think about.
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