Customer Reviews

A Quest for Answers: The DaVinci Code

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Not only are accurate facts and truth presented in this book, but they are presented in such a way that they are accessible to everyone. This book does not require you to have a university or theological degree to appreciate and understand it. We can thank Josh McDowell again for helping us separate facts from fiction. I enjoyed this book immensely and have shared it with friends and family who have only good things to say about it.

This book has an abundance of information. Written in a youthful manner will be helpful for young and old to address the many questions that will be asked of non believers, who do not have the background or knowledge to understand the many other books out there addressing the book/movie. As far as other reviews claiming this is a way of making money-you need to get your facts straight(something Dan Brown should have done as well). Josh McDowell makes NOTHING off of this book. The book is sold only at places where he is speaking, for measly 2.00, or online from him. No bookstores have this book, in fact the book has "NOT FOR RESALE" on the back. Not sure how you think he can make money off of a 2.00 sale.

I would like to change this to four stars, but Amazon won't let me.

A lady at church handed out copies of this book to everyone last weekend. The book is short - 99 pages. I received it Saturday and had it finished by Tuesday. As another reviewer said, it is written as a conversation between three college students - Chris (a Christian), Matt, and Matt's girlfriend Andrea. They see the movie, then do a study on the book together.

That's the first four chapters. Chapter 5 is a discussion between them about Jesus and the Bible. Chapter 6 is a basic gospel presentation.

The book is written at a low grade level - perhaps 6th. Whether this is a strength or a weakness is a matter of perspective.

The information in the book refuting the claims in "The DaVinci Code" seems solid. I needed to have a highlighter in one hand as I read. The book contains an extensive bibliography at the back.

Overall, not a bad book. It really does have a lot of good infomation.

First a bestselling book, now a movie, The DaVinci Code has become a favorite watercooler topic and source of squirm for believers not familiar with the history of Christianity. Josh McDowell, known for his recognizable "Evidence That Demands A Verdict" series, has written The DaVinci Code: A Quest for Answers to help those confused by the claims of this cultural phenomenon. What makes this book unique is McDowell's way of informing the reader of facts through storytelling. In A Quest for Answers, three college students begin an informal book club to read The DaVinci Code, after they have seen the movie together. Once they begin, one of them finds that some of the books "facts" are not actually true, and this sets in motion a series of meetings, an interview with a professor, and good old-fashioned research. In the end, the threesome discover that most of what Dan Brown has declared as historically accurate, is incorrect or insupportable. Then, they must decide what relevance this information, primarily of Christ's deity, has their own lives.

McDowell's methods are marvelous! Most readers interested in the original book will ignore a non-fiction, academic book that argues against the exciting conspiracy theories. Instead, in A Quest for Answers, they will find a light story that leads a chase across Brown's pages for plots and schemes to denounce the Christian church. In true McDowell style, he brings to light evidences and quotes solid authorities such as Dr. Paul Meier, William Lane Craig, Richard Abanes, Erwin Lutzer, Lee Strobel, and others to stand against Brown's heresies. Woven throughout the narrative are examples of how Christians can share the real facts with others, and it culminates in a call to know Christ personally as Savior. At only 100 pages long, A Quest for Answers can be read by anyone interested in the DaVinci Code controversy, and is an exceptional starting point for further reading. Highly recommended. - Anne Walker, Christian Book Previews.com

Not bad. I expected much worse, to be honest. McDowell does a decent job showing how rife the Da Vinci Code (and, by extension, all books of a similar milieu) is with historical and factual errors. The novel format of this book was distracting and obnoxious as there was really no story line to speak of, no character development worth mentioning, and, in not so many words, no good reason for it. It would have suited the purposes of the book much better to write it in normal essay format, not to mention making the book seem just a bit more scholarly than it is. McDowell also ends up looking rather hypocritical, making several historical mistakes himself (and putting them in the mouth of, for instance, a "scholar" character named Dr. Martinez) while continually castigating Brown's character Teabing for his frequent historical mistakes. Not horrible, but I wouldn't recommend it; there are much better books out there by real scholars on the same topic.

An excellent little book and very easy read. Written as an ongoing discussion among three college students who saw the DaVinci Code movie and then had many questions about the supposed "facts" in the book...only to discover that author Dan Brown is a brilliant author, but lousy historian who fabricates most of his "facts." An excellent little book that really makes you think and want to dig for the truth!

McDowell has provided a book that will break the "code" for many readers. It is succinct and easily read. It covers the high (or low) points of Brown's book quickly (<100 pages), and provides extensive footnoting for those who want to read more in a particular subject area or who want to check McDowell's sources. I agree completely that it is "an exceptional starting point for further reading." I highly recommend it

Should a person be disappointed at the lack of "true intellect" in McDowell's book, I'd recommend Bock's book on this topic. However, I think that for most readers, the lack of the "true intellect" will be a valuable attribute for McDowell's book (As an aside, many if not most industrial and military manuals are written at the six grade reading level.) Although I was initially disappointed that it wasn't written in the style of "Evidence Demands a Verdict," I realized by the end of the book that McDowell and his editors had the younger American audience in mind, and had written this 5-star book to capture the interest of that audience. It is also probably the best (apologetic) book for people who want only to see the movie.

I have read three other critiques on The DaVinci Code by excellent and informed authors - Darrell Bock, Erwin Lutzer and Lee Strobel. However, I liked this book so much that I purchased a few hundred to hand out to my congregation this Sunday. While I appreciated the other authors treatments, the obvious problem I see Dan Brown's book uncovering is the masses are biblically illiterate, ignorant and gullible. Many actually believe The DaVinci Code's claims! While other books on the subject are scholarly and good, this little book by Josh McDowell is interesting, informative and very readable, by the masses. I think the relational style of pulling you into the coffee shop to sit in with three college students who are asking great questions WITHOUT GETTING ANGRY at each other, is brilliant and is a model of how to "share the hope we have in us with gentleness and respect." Thank you Josh for your excellent work and providing the books at such an exceptionally low cost. God Bless you!

The DaVinci Code: A Quest For Answers presents academic and theological information and arguments that poke holes in, and deflate, Dan Brown's mega-bestseller novel that took the secular world by storm with it's claim that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married, with children.

Theologian and Christian writer-researcher Josh McDowell writes the book in an easy-to-digest form of three college friends forming a study group that meets at a coffee shop to discuss The DaVinci Code. The friends are intrigued and fascinated by the controversial claims, and even want to believe there is truth to Dan Brown's story. McDowell asks tough questions that anyone who read the book or saw the movie might want answers to. These questions include "Was the New Testament assembled to promote an agenda?" "What is Opus Dei?" "What do the other gospels say?" "Was Mary Magdalene pictured in the Last Supper?" "Was the early church anti-feminine?"

As a Christian disturbed by the true believers of a fictional novel and movie, I found this book a relief and a comfort.

"The Da Vinci Code" is one of the biggest phenomenons in recent memory. From Dan Brown's best-selling novel, to the box-office smash film starring Tom Hanks, the story of the quest for the Holy Grail has captivated millions the world over. But the book, while a work of fiction, claims to be based on historical accounts. And with the fact and fiction blended in such a way, many cannot discern the two, and come away from the book feeling as though they know historical fact.
But Josh McDowell says otherwise in his new book, "The Da Vinci Code: A Quest for Answers." In this work, McDowell separates truth from myth, presenting the true historical facts in the form of conversations between three friends. This is not a slip-shot work; it is based on thousands of hours of research conducted by McDowell and countless other scholars and historians throughout the centuries.
This work will satisfy everyone's quest for the truth about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and all the other questions that rise from Dan Brown's novel. I highly recommend it!
Grade: A+