Cracking the Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Facts Behind Dan Brown's Bestselling Novel

Author - Simon Cox ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Paperback Book item from Sterling was reviewed on 15-Oct-2008.

Search ISBN:1402718373 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Cracking the Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Facts Behind Dan Brown's Bestselling Novel Reference Book. Classifications : General History & Criticism United States World Literature Literature & Fiction 4-for-3 Books Store Custom Stores Specialty Stores Books General Church History Christianity Religion & Spirituality 4-f . Click the following link to view the cover of Cracking the Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Facts Behind Dan Brown's Bestselling Novel.

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1) Paperback Book Cracking the Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Facts Behind Dan Brown's Bestselling Novel by Sterling. This is a good little reference work for people who have been exposed for the first time to the Bloodline/Grail theories found in The Da Vinci Code. Cox gives each item its own dictionary-style entry with a factual description that is anywhere from a half page in length to three pages. As Cox writes, "This book is designed in such a way as to give the reader of The Da Vinci Code a primer on many of the factual elements in the book." I found the color photos especially helpful so that I could see for myself what is being talked about. This book has been faulted for Cox´s unabashed support of The Da Vinci Code, but clearly that is what inspired him to put this volume together.¤

2) Paperback Book Cracking the Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Facts Behind Dan Brown's Bestselling Novel by Sterling. I have enjoyed this book immensely. It is great as fast reference for the facts peppered throughout the Da Vinci Code, and also as a cover to cover read. My mother picked it up after I recommended it and has also enjoyed discovering the truth and the history behind the facts mentioned in the Dan Brown book.¤

3) Paperback Book Cracking the Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Facts Behind Dan Brown's Bestselling Novel by Sterling. If you loved DaVinci Code or if you hated it, you must admit it did get a reaction from you....which in itself is one definition of a successful novel. Many readers have found themselves more interested in the information detailed in Dan Brown´s books, and if so, this book is a good choice to begin to learn about the amazing history of the Christian Church.

Especially Gnosticism and the early Christian Church, and especially the creation of the New Testament Bible. For a different review....here is my review of books that build on these interests, especially the "lost" books of the New Testament Bible and the concepts of Gnosticism.

Nearly all knowledgeable Biblical scholars realize there have been a wide range of writings attributed to Jesus and his Apostles..... and that some of these were selected for compilation into the book that became known as the Bible.....and that some books have been removed from some versions of the Bible and others have been re-discovered in modern times.

The attention focused on Gnosticism by Dan Brown´s DaVinci Code may be debatable, but the fact is that increased attention on academics tends to be predominately positive, so I welcome those with first-time or renewed interest. At least first-timers to Gnosticism are not pursuing the oh-so-popular legends of the Holy Grail, Bloodline of Christ, and Mary Magdalene.

This is great......I seldom quote other reviewers, but there is one reviewer of Pagels´ books who confided that he had been a Jesuit candidate and had been required to study a wide range of texts but was never was told about the Nag Hamadi texts. He said:

"Now I know why. The Gospel of Thomas lays waste to the notion that Jesus was `the only begotten Son of God´ and obviates the need for a formalized church when he says, `When your leaders tell you that God is in heaven, say rather, God is within you, and without you.´ No wonder they suppressed this stuff! The Roman Catholic Church hasn´t maintained itself as the oldest institution in the world by allowing individuals to have a clear channel to see the divinity within all of us: they need to put God in a bottle, label the bottle, put that bottle on an altar, build a church around that altar, put a sign over the door, and create rubricks and rituals to keep out the dis-believing riff-raff. Real `Us´ versus `them´ stuff, the polar opposite from `God is within You.´ `My God is bigger than your God´ the church(s)seem to say. And you can only get there through "my" door/denomination. But Jesus according to Thomas had it right: just keep it simple, and discover the indwelling Divinity `within you and without you.´"

Here are quickie reviews of what is being bought these days on the Gnostic Gospels and the lost books of the Bible in general:

The Lost Books of the Bible (0517277956) includes 26 apocryphal books from the first 400 years that were not included in the New Testament.

Marvin Meyers´ The Secret Teachings of Jesus : Four Gnostic Gospels (0394744330 ) is a new translation without commentary of The Secret Book of James, The Gospel of Thomas, The Book of Thomas, and The Secret Book of John.

James M. Robinson´s The Nag Hammadi Library in English : Revised Edition (0060669357) has been around 25 years now and is in 2nd edition. It has introductions to each of the 13 Nag Hammadi Codices and the Papyrus Berioinensis 8502.

The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (0140278079) by Geza Vermes has selected works....a complete work is more difficult to achieve than the publisher´s marketing concept indicates. His commentary generates strong reactions.

Elaine Pagels has 2 books (The Gnostic Gospels 0679724532 and Beyond Belief : The Secret Gospel of Thomas 0375501568) that have received considerable attention lately. For many, her work is controversial in that it is written for popular consumption and there is a strong modern interpretation. She does attempt to reinterpret ancient gender relationships in the light of modern feminist thinking. While this is a useful (and entertaining) aspect of college women´s studies programs, it is not as unethical as some critics claim. As hard as they may try, all historians interpret the past in the context of the present. Obviously there is value in our attempts to re-interpret the past in the light of our own time.

If you want the full scholarly work it is W. Schneemelcher´s 2 volume New Testament Apocrypha.

Also, to understand the Cathars......try Barbara Tuckman´s Distant Mirror for an incredible historical commentary on how the Christian Church has handled other points of view¤

4) Paperback Book Cracking the Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Facts Behind Dan Brown's Bestselling Novel by Sterling. This is an excellent book detailing the background to the details and information utilized in The Da Vinci Code (unlike the pathetic attacks on Dan Brown by the author of Breaking The Da Vinci Code and similar books). Cox does a good job researching the historical context of Dan Brown´s book. He brings out interesting information concerning the names, places and things utilized by Dan Brown in his provocative novel. For those interested in delving further into this information, Cox lists recommended readings in the bibliography. This book is a must for anyone wondering about the mix of facts and fiction in The Da Vinci Code.¤

5) Paperback Book Cracking the Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Facts Behind Dan Brown's Bestselling Novel by Sterling. After reading The Da Vinci Code I certainly had some questions. Brown makes a compelling argument, he sure doesn´t describe the church that I went to Sunday School at. Can the things he incorporates into his story really be true? His ´facts´ ´feel´ correct to me. But before I went out spouting his facts as the ´gospel truth´ I thought I should read some commentaries on Brown´s book. There´s a lot of them. The theme of The Da Vinci Code is so sensitive that readers come down hard on either side, love it..hate it, and that´s the way most of the commentaries are. I found several that were written by theologians clearly writing to protect their turf. The same with the alternative history writers. Both were so deeply into their beliefs, they couldn´t tell you background facts with out soaking them in politics. But dear sensitive reader...look no further! Simon Cox is your Joe Friday("Just the facts,mamam").Cox´s book is composed of short essays of the obscure names, places, things that a regular reader might be unfimilar with. So if you want to know if there really is disembodied hand holding a knife in ´The last Supper´ or if Opus Dei is a real thing you can read a page or two about it,have your curiousity slackened and not have to wade thru religio/politicio b.s. And the price is right!¤

6) Paperback Book Cracking the Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Guide to the Facts Behind Dan Brown's Bestselling Novel by Sterling.

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 12-Nov-2008, 1402718373049725518377, 100-791-731-6X1-VGB-JQB-F4B-8

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