Rating: 5/5
Review:
Another gem from MacGregor
This is another
excellent book from Neil MacGregor. I have no expertise in this
area, but as a lay reader I found it a thoughtful, erudite and
immensely illuminating book.
MacGregor takes a
similar approach to that in his previous outstanding books, A History
Of The World in 100 Objects and Shakespeare’s Restless World, in
that he uses artefacts fascinatingly to illustrate his subject,
basing each brief chapter around a subject which has has religious
significance like sacrifice, water and so on. Thus, this isn’t a
conventional history of religion at all, but a very insightful look
at the way in which worship in its many diverse forms has played a
part in human life from the earliest objects we know of to the
present day. As always, MacGregor makes shrewd, penetrating and very
humane points, leaving us with much to think about. It’s a great
book to read a chapter or two at a time, I think, and then to come
back to.
The book is
beautifully illustrated and MacGregor’s unfussy, readable style is
a pleasure. I can recommend this very warmly.
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