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. Maps.

Reviews

A journalist and contributor to National Public Radio's All Things Considered, Feiler (Dreaming Out Loud, LJ 4/15/98) traveled over 10,000 miles on three continents and five countries to retrace the route of the Hebrew patriarchs throughout the Middle East. His "objective was less to prove the Bible and more to witness its atmosphere and lingering appeal." To investigate the latest archaeological findings, he teamed up with Avner Goren, former chief archaeologist and preserver of antiquities in the Sinai region and currently one of Israel's most eloquent authorities on life in the ancient world. For the two men, reading the biblical accounts within their natural surroundings turned into a two-year journey throughout Turkey, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Egypt, and Jordan to such famous sites as Mt. Ararat, Jerusalem, St. Catherine's Monastery, Mt. Sinai, and the Dead Sea. At the end of their pilgrimage, both men came away with a deeper faith and a better appreciation of the Bible as a living, breathing testimony to man's relationship to the divine. Essential for anyone interested in religion, archaeology, or travel, this is highly recommended for most collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 12/00.]DMichael W. Ellis, Ellenville P.L., NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

An eloquently spiritual pilgrimage.Entertainment Weekly [Feiler] is an excellent guide...He has...invested [this book] with a keen intellectual curiosity. New York Times, an instant classic,a pure joy to read. Washington Post Book World Smart and savvy, insightful and illuminating. Los Angeles Times An inspirational oasis From the barren land, Feiler emerges, like those whose paths he traces, renewed and transformed. People Bruce Feiler went looking for proof. He learned that proof doesn't matter. USA Today An enthusiastic travelogue Feiler delivers a wealth of information in an accessible and entertaining format. New York Times Book Review Feiler's accomplishment, and it's a profound one, is to confront his idea of God... San Francisco Chronicle An exciting, well-told story informed by Feiler's boundless intellectual curiosity...[and] sense of adventure. Miami Herald Evocative, descriptive, emotionally honest, and often funny. Christian Science Monitor Feiler, not unlike Mark Twain, brings a sharp sense of humor to the whole endeavor. Los Angeles Times A powerful and spiritual pilgrimage in every way, marvelous if not indispensable reading for anyone remotely interested in the Torah. Chicago Sun-Times The perfect read for people who are interested in the Bible and the middle East. Jerusalem Post A work of magic...[succeeds] in making the Bible exciting. Angelican Herald Goren and Feiler make for two of the most entertaining traveling buddies since Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. San Francisco Jewish Bulletin This book belongs on the shelves next to the classics. Publishers Weekly (*starred review) Anyone planning to visit the Middle East should take two books with them--theBible and this one. Calgary Herald

Prolific author Feiler has turned from his earlier subject (clowning, in Under the Big Top) to more serious fare: the Bible and the Middle East. Jewish author Feiler offers himself here as a pilgrim, walking through biblical lands and interviewing individuals from many religious traditions and walks of life. He reads the stories of the Pentateuch in the places they are thought to have happened, he records the latest archaeological understandings of the Bible, and he wrestles with his own faith. Of course, contemporary politics sneaks into the story, too; Arab-Israeli conflicts are hard to avoid when one is writing about the biblical Canaan. Feiler is an accomplished wordsmith. When he describes the "smells of dawn cinnamon, cardamom, a whiff of burnt sugar," the reader is transported to Turkey. He has the rare talent of being able to write in the second person, a gift he uses sparingly here: "Light. The first thing you notice about the desert is the light." In the sections of the book where his content is banal (readers can only take so many descriptions of dusty museums, bustling streets and breathtaking sunsets), Feiler's prose carries the narrative through. This book belongs on the shelves next to classics such as Wendy Orange's Coming Home to Jerusalem. Readers who find Westerners' encounters with the Holy Land enchanting will cherish this book. (Apr.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.