Friday, January 6, 2012

Book Review: The Apostle

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The Apostle: A Life of Paul by John Pollock is a biography of the apostle Paul written at the popular level. The author traveled through the areas where Paul lived and served and adds additional historical, geographical, and cultural details you usually have to read a commentary to find. As a whole, the book is extremely accessible and a quick read, despite its length (304 pages or 10.7 hours).

Since the New Testament only gives so much information about the life of Paul, the author made inferences and assumptions about the apostle that you may or may not agree with, but the background details on the places bring an extra layer of cognizance to readers that are unfamiliar with the eastern Mediterranean (like myself).

The narrator is clear and understandable, though I would have appreciated a little more emotion and dramatic emphasis, but it’s an audio book, not radio theater. Clarity and flow are the most important things.

In short, I’d consider this book to be on par with a professional Hollywood film like The Passion of the Christ or The Nativity Story: there’s a certain degree of artistic license, but you recognize the story well enough.

To buy the book (print), click here.
To buy the audio book, click here.

I received this book free from Christian Audio as part of their audio book review program. I was not obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are mine.

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