Customer Reviews

Larry the Penguin Searches for the Meaning of Life

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Larry the Penguin Searches for the Meaning of Life is the perfect intellectual
and emotional complement to the works of Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion), Sam
Harris (The End of Faith), Christopher Hitchens (God is Not Great) and Victor
Stenger (God: The Failed Hypothesis).

Do you remember Jonathan Livingson Seagull, the little 60-page book by Richard
Bach that took the nation by storm in the 70's? It quickly became an
international bestseller, and continues to be in print today. As does Larry,
Jonathan features an independent, critical-thinking bird searching for meaning
and purpose. Jonathan's style is virtually prose poetry; it is aphoristic,
simple and sweet. Jonathan maintains a weightless tone throughout and
concentrates solely on the seagull and other animals in his world while Larry
delivers its more complex and detailed perspectives via a full-length 374-page
fantastic/realistic story in a humorous, satirical, iconoclastic, and often
outright antireligious manner. Humans, their interactions with one another, and
their emotional, psychological and spiritual needs are what Larry focuses on as
the novel leads the reader to discover the meaning of life.

I found this book engaging and couldn't put it down until I finished it. Since
then, I find myself thinking about it and talking about its concepts with family
and friends. There is some awkward writing in Larry, but most of it is
excellent and its overall message outshines and overwhelms the book's few
faults.

I really enjoyed this book. Although the main characters are animals, it is a far cry from a children's book. Larry, Marsha and all of the other enjoyable characters draw you into the book with wonderful dialogue, coupled with vivid and imaginative detail of their great adventure through the arctic. The story-telling alone makes this book fun to read, but the author uses his characters to pose deep philosophical questions about life and religion, taking this book far out of the realm of a childhood cartoon. It is a wonderfully unique book that makes you think and entertains at the same time.

Although part of this book is an interesting philosophical fantasy, as indicated by the other Amazon reviews, I was surprised that a major portion of it was an anti-Christian fundamentalist diatribe. Even though I am personally a liberal Christian, the type to whom Belser seems to give a "pass", the vehemence and negativity of his attack on fundamentalism pretty much ruined the book for me.

Which is too bad, since Belser certainly has an interesting viewpoint and is a talented writer. The fantasy portion of his novel are very well done, as his much of his description of the "normal" world. However, Belser deep down just doesn't seem to like people very much. I infer this from the fact that none of his major human characters--I should specify, adult human characters--are very sympathetic of likeable. Although he does try to give them life and motivation, all of them come off as somewhat cardboard. For example, the main human character is a Christian fundamentalist, but this does not seem to be something he convincingly and actually feels, but rather is needed in the story so that he can spout slogans and act in various unattractive ways. When, near the end of the book, this character changes his beliefs 180 degrees and denounces Christianity as a sham, his new beliefs are as unconvincing as his old.

Belser singles out the Book of Job for his attack on Christian religious beliefs. As do many people, he finds the setting of the story, where God bets with the devil, to be repulsive. Personally, I regarded it an unfortunate attempt by someone to put the Job story in a framework acceptable to the beliefs and the culture of the time, and I ignore it (as a liberal Christian, I am allowed to do that--that is, have my own opinion and interpretation). But he also demolishes God's famous speech to Job from the whirlwind, "where were you when I set the foundations of the world... etc." The thing about this part of Job is that it is obviously poetic and metaphorical, and, to some people, meaningful and inspiring. Belser attacks it as being ridiculous precisely because it is not factual (Job couldn't have been there when God laid out the foundations of the world, etc.). The irony is that when Belser attempts to lay out his own viewpoint, he also has to employ poetic and metaphorical language--children in a rowboat on a stream that becomes the universe--the very type of language that he found so objectionable in Job.

To repeat, Belser is a talented and interesting writer, and he certainly is not shy about taking on the big questions (life, death, and the whole damn thing). I just hope that in future he sticks to the positive, writing about what he believes and why, and spends far less time on the negative.

It's about time someone wrote a book like this! Most tomes about philosophy, spirituality and life's meaning are usually dry, academic and difficult to read. In contrast, "Larry the Penguin Searches for the Meaning of Life" presents deep philosophical concepts both directly and metaphorically through an entertaining, often funny, exciting and emotional fantasy about a penguin and a polar bear that are joined on their quest to make some sense of existence by a little boy caught in a whirlpool toward death.

No, this is certainly not a Disneyesque story for children. It does begin with a few anthropomorphic animals, but the real story pivots on adult human relationships and adult emotional and spiritual needs. A few hot sex scenes, a suicide and some naughty words are also included. Another reason why this book isn't for kids is because little tykes are generally not occupied with deep philosophical thoughts despite the book's website's (www.larrythepenguin.com) description of the author's experience as a six-year-old when death first visited his family.

Most people begin to contemplate their own mortality in their late twenties or early thirties. That's why 19-year-old kids make such excellent soldiers; they think only the other guys die. In our later years when we're forced to confront the fact that the end is near, we once again turn our attention to the problem of existence in an effort to figure out what all that nonsense in our lives was about.

Why are we here? Is there a purpose to our lives and does life hold any real meaning? Why does the world and universe even exist? What's the point of all this? For an increasing number of young adults and older folks who struggle with these questions in the 21st century, traditional religion has become an inadequate response, and thick, dusty philosophical works often leave us feeling more unsure and confused. "Larry the Penguin Searches for the meaning of Life" provides clear answers we can understand and accept although some may find it too uncomfortable to lose their security blanket no matter how tattered and full of holes it is. This amazing book answered my questions about my life's purpose and meaning, perhaps it will yours as well. I rate it an unusual but well deserved five stars.

The author of this book is too harsh on Christians and Christianity in my opinion as are so many of today's authors who address religious belief, the purpose and meaning of our lives and the existence in general. Still, I must admit that I liked the book and found it entertaining and even educational. I liked its beautiful way of viewing reality by accelerating time and found it a real eye-opener. I found its claim that we are prisoners of our own minds and can never truly experience reality to be as terrifying as it is awe-inspiring. That concept continues to haunt me as does the book's ghostly little girl Connie who I fell in love with.

The book's assault on Christianity was a bit too much for me at first, but after I thought about it for a while, it became apparent that it was directed not so much at my religion in general, but rather at those cynical leaders who abuse and use believers to enrich themselves with money and power. "Larry the Penguin Searches for the Meaning of Life" tries to crush the life out of the three main organized religions in America, but, in my humble opinion, it ends by acknowledging the possibility that God might actually be there to welcome the faithful after their time in this world is over, or at least that's the reassuring message I got.

For me, life's meaning and purpose is settled even though I continue to find our existence filled with mystery. The book left me somewhat unnerved by making me aware that the religion I was raised in and found so much comfort and refuge in isn't rooted in convincing historical, archeological and scientific evidence or anything logical and rational. Instead, it appears to be as fanciful as a talking penguin and polar bear. Will I ever come to emotional terms with this upsetting knowledge? I don't think so. Thanks a lot, Larry.

I never thought about it until I read the book's unusual approach to reality, but there really is a song that tells us an enormous secret about life. Quite appropriately the book gives it the name, "The Round Song." It's a song almost all of us have sung sometime in our lives and may of us have even taught it to our children without understanding the full impact of its message. Nobody knows who wrote it or where it came from, and if you research it, you'll find that it exists in some form in virtually every culture on the planet. I've found its concluding four-word message in songs, poems, chants, literature and other forms of expression almost everywhere. The book claims that the best place to hide something is out in the open in plain sight. Maybe that's what God did when He or She or It hid the ultimate secret of life in the Round Song. I thoroughly enjoyed Larry the Penguin Searches for the Meaning of Life. It's a great read!

This book is innovative, imaginative, instructive and inspiring. The author draws the reader in with engaging humor and holds him with provocative questions about our perceptions of reality. It is a refreshing delight!

I am beginning to think that the reviews are written by the friends of the author! I found this lacking in any riveting interest. It is an attack on humans and human activity, a mockery of religion, and on page 72 "the corrupt and anti-science Bush Administration" I am amazed at the glowing accolades of some of the commentators, perhaps a few large glasses of Tequila would improve my interest in this book, but I rather doubt it. There are simply too many good books out there to waste time with this drivel. Oh, and of course as seems to be common, there has to be some sex. Must be the average reader had to be titillated, to keep up their interest. I do not recommend this at all and am very sorry to have wasted my money on it. Bernie Centerburg, O