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Book ReviewsThe Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness |
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Book: The Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness
Written by: Karen Armstrong |
Publisher: Knopf
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5
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A rare book, a rare human being
Rating:
5 / 5
Reading this book was a phenomenal experience -- one of those experiences that comes at exactly the right time with exactly the right message. I'm am profoundly impressed with Karen's journey and the wisdom she has to offer. Unfortunately for our world, I suspect that only a small minority of readers will "get it." If you have a spiritual bent and have ever felt that you're living life against the grain, read this book! It will feel like a long drink of cool water to your spirit. Thank you, Karen, I needed that.
You Know Karen, There Is A Whole, Wide World Outside
Rating:
3 / 5
SPIRAL STAIRCASE has confirmed what I've always felt about Karen Armstrong: She is an emotional wreck of a woman. A homely introvert, Armstrong mistook her insecurities and immature idealism for a religious calling, ran to the Church looking for the security of acceptance, quickly became disillusioned and suffered a nervous breakdown. All though the Church educated her, was patient with her doubts and accepted her to leaving, she remains to this day antagonistic to the Christian religion. Her bias and resentments to Christianity, has somehow weirdly led her to become one of the foremost academic apologists for Islam. In her work (e.g. A HISTORY OF GOD), Armstrong has always seemed unable to maintain any objectivity for Christianity and resorts to absurdly obvious double-standards wherever Islam is concerned.
An overrated, under-credentialed pop scholar, Karen Armstrong needs to grow up and accept reality. Armstrong merely left the shelter of the convent for that of the university. Both hold back the harsh demands of the realities of this world. This is the true dilemma of a Karen Armstrong and all of those thousands of academics just like her. I suggest Karen Armstrong develop the courage and honesty to take a long, extended trip to the Middle East and Africa. Following this, a job working with Catholic charities should also help.
True to Life
Rating:
4 / 5
I found this book very informative, true to life, down to earth, funny, heart warming and inspirational. Once I picked it up I could not put it down.
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