Reviews

Living with the Gods: On Beliefs and Peoples by Neil MacGregor

noelishi's review against another edition

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4.0

Puntuación CAWPILE: 8,18
Personajes: No procede
Ambientación / Worldbuilding: No procede
Estilo de escritura: 8
Trama: No procede
Enganche: 6,75
Lógica / Relaciones: 9
Disfrute: 9

Desde que me encontré con este libro inesperadamente en una librería ha estado rondándome la cabeza. No lo compré en ese momento y meses más tarde alguien muy querido por mí me sorprendió regalándomelo. Ahora ya no sólo es especial por el interés que me suscita desde el primer momento en que lo vi, sino que también tiene una dedicatoria especial.

Sentimientos e ilusiones aparte, este libro me ha parecido espectacular. No solo cuenta con información y datos de religiones de todo el mundo, sino que también está acompañado de imágenes espectaculares. Además, para tratar un tema tan denso y pertenecer a uno de los géneros menos extendidos por el mundo literario como es el de la no-ficción, tiene un estilo de escritura adecuado para todo el mundo.

A pesar de aportar mucha información, no sobrecarga excesivamente con datos, y las historias y ejemplos que ofrece son muy interesantes, o al menos a mí me lo han parecido.

Con el apoyo del British Museum, este libro recorre un sinfín de localizaciones y períodos históricos, tanto conocidos como desconocidos para mí (he aprendido sobre civilizaciones acerca de las que nunca había oído hablar), y siento que gracias a Neil MacGregor he descubierto un pedacito más de mundo que, si no fuera por este maravilloso libro, difícilmente hubiera podido explorar.

marmite98's review against another edition

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informative reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.0

snichols's review against another edition

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informative reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

renatevanderveen's review against another edition

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4.0

Mooi boek weer van MacGregor (ook eerder boek over Duitsland). Hij vertelt over de rijkdom aan culturen, godsdiensten en tradities. Hoe wij als mensen met goden leven. Mij valt op hoe moeilijk het landen/rijken valt om een veelheid van religies en goden te omarmen. Terwijl dat toch echt de interactie tussen mensen en handel op positieve wijze bevordert. Mooi om te lezen dat er in vele hoeken van de aarde dergelijke leiders hebben geleefd; zij die dat wel aandurfden en interesse hadden voor het andere in plaats van het te vrezen.

murphyc1's review against another edition

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5.0

Expansive and enlightening, this book is a pleasantly readable, satisfyingly detailed examination of world religion through a collection of artifacts from the British Museum and contemporary photography. Written for a British audience, the Anglo-entric point of view adds a layer of academic novelty for this American reader. While I do detect a hint of European Christian bias between the lines, it's only a hint, here and there. I recommend checking it out.

krupagrace's review against another edition

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3.0

A careful look into the aspects of religious beliefs.

berlinbibliophile's review against another edition

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4.0

My one criticism of this book is that MacGregor quotes mostly outside academics living thousands of miles away when talking about the modern-day practises of minority cultures, rather than talking to people who actually belong to these cultures and practise these beliefs.
Other than that, it is a fascinating book, even for a non-religious person like me. The way MacGregor compares the cultural practices of different faiths which speak to some of the same human impulses makes it much easier to find points of similarity and understanding between concepts which seem at first to have nothing to do with one another. The very frequent illustrations make what he writes about much more tangible (and are a good reason to spring for the more expensive hardcover) and allows the reader to imaging the past more complexly. I would really recommend this book, whatever someone's level of engagement with religion may be. This book is more about history and community than about one faith or another.

fearthefish's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

simazhi's review against another edition

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4.0

Utterly fascinating and engaging survey of people's practices and beliefs. I love the emphasis on the material culture (what do objects tell us about religious aspects) which comes with lots of illustrations. Sometimes a bit overgeneralising. I guess my only qualms with it is that there could be even more content, especially in terms of newer religions like Witchcraft or Western esotericism (the British Museum also houses quite a few objects that could be used as talking points and do fit in with the themes of many chapters). I also found the sections on China (my trained specialty) a bit lacking. But overall, would happily read again.

loreaccuratenico's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.75