Customer Reviews

In Search of Zarathustra: The First Prophet and the Ideas That Changed the World

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

 

 

The ancient Persian prophet Zoroaster taught that the world was caught in a struggle between good and evil. He believed in one God, called Ahura Mazda, in a struggle with the forces of darkness. He was a theological monist and an ethical dualist. Human beings had the responsibility of working to bring about the good and eliminate the evil. The good would triumph in the end. Zoroaster was one of the first religious teachers to preach the afterlife. He founded a religion called Zoroastrianism which remains one of the fundamental religions of man and, although it has relatively few adherents, it survives today.

Paul Kriwaczek has written a fine book which is travelog, political commentary, history, and study of Zoroastrianism all rolled into one. Mr. Kriwaczek was trained as a dentist but subsequently joined BBC as a specialist in Central and South Asian affairs. It is good to see a nonspecialist who can write on Zoroaster with enthusiasm and knowledge and convey something of both to his readers.

The book is written in the form of a reverse chronology beginning with the present-day and progressing through successive chapters to the hazy early days (perhaps 1800 B.C.) of Zarathustra himself. We see many interesting figures along the way, and Kriwaczek is full of entertaining stories and digressions. This mostly makes the book a pleasure to read, but there are moments when the organization becomes confusing and the story gets a bit off track.

Kriwaczek spends a great deal of time on Frederich Nietzsche and his famous work "Thus Spake Zarathustra." He explains well the sources of Nietzsche's fascination with the ancient Persian prophet and he discusses the advances in scholarship contemporary with Nietzsche that helped make Zoroaster accessible.

The book continues with a mixture of travel, history, and philosophy through a discussion of the Albegensians, the religion of Mani, Mithraism, Cyrus the Great, and the Jews during the period of the Babylonian Exile and the Second Temple.
There are outstanding color photograhps illustrating the places and sites discussed in the book. Kriwazeck's treatments make no pretense of being scholarly or complete. But they are, on the whole, eloquent and thought-provoking. I enjoyed particularly the discussion of Mani, a reformer of Zorastrianims who gave his name to Manicheanism. Kriwazeck's account is based in part upon a recent novel, "The Gardens of Light" by the Lebanese author, Amin Maalouf.

Kriwazeck concludes that Zoroaster continues to have a great deal to teach. He sees Zoroaster has a predecessor of the "American religion" or "universal religion" (pp. 227-228) which emphasizes ecumenisism and toleration in a large society composed of individuals from diverse backrounds. Kriwazeck writes (p.228) that the Universal religion:

"comprises a belief in good and evil, angels, the devil, heaven and hell, the coming of a Messiah, and an eventual end of the world. These are beliefs with which Jews, Christians and Muslims can all agree-- as well as that majority who do not claim to believe in any particular religion. Every one of these ideas first appeared in Zarathustra's teaching long before the start of recorded history, a message as influential today as it ever was."

Kriwaczek has written a fine popular study of Zoroaster. It may awake interest in the fundamentals of Zoroaster's teaching and move the mind and heart of the reader.

I'm going to get right to the point: what a fantastic book!! The subject of the book, the ancient prophet Zarathustra and his world-changing message, is absolutely fascinating, not to mention how important it is to our proper understanding of history and who we are; and the author really does it justice, too! I can only think that if this book isn't widely read and talked about, it will be through no fault of the author's.

"In Search of Zarathustra" is very well-written and an excellent example of how to make history entertaining, without compromising the requirement to accurately inform. But the book is much more than simply history though. It's really a search for something important and very profound, and the author makes it a joy for the reader to join him on the journey. Part history. Part travelogue. Part investigation of the soul... All seamlessly woven together!

I can find very few things to fault with this book, which is why I'm giving it 5 stars. Overall the editing is superb, and I spotted only very few (mostly minor) errors; e.g., in a couple of places incorrect dates related to Cyrus the Great are given, and Yazd is shown as 'Yadz' on the maps. While not a scholar per se, the author clearly is educated, well-travelled, and has done his homework very, very well. There's little in this book that can't be verified easily, and a comprehensive list of sources is given in the notes section at the end. Another thing I think adds real value to the book is the inclusion, in both front and back, of clearly marked maps; something I found to be most useful!! The book has 28 photos, which also helped to bring the subject matter to life.

In some ways this book reminds me of two other books I've read: "In Search of the Birth of Jesus: The Real Journey of the Magi" by Paul William Roberts, and "The Other God: Dualist Religions from Antiquity to the Cathar Heresy" by Yuri Stoyanov (the author here actually cites an earlier edition of Stoyanov's book as a reference). The former is a light-hearted, more entertaining read, while the latter is a thorough, vast and erudite (though still very readable) survey. Both are excellent books, but what I especially like about "In Search of Zarathustra" is that it combines the best of both worlds: highly readable, entertaining, imaginative, and yet complete in its exploration of the subject.

This really is the best book that I've read in quite some time. I'm not sure what more I could say to recommend it. So instead I'll simply end with: Get this book. You won't regret it!!

In Search of Zarathustra is an uneven book in many respects. It is partly a travel diary of the author's many trips to Iran and Central Asia over a period of some forty years. The primary purpose of the book is to trace the legacy of the ancient Iranian religious leader Zarathustra or Zoroaster. This legacy is indeed fascinating, since it has had a major influence on the development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Unfortunately Kriwaczek sometimes is more enthusiastic than thorough or organized, and the reader is forced to leap back and forth through time and space and can wind up a bit confused about which traditiona and which era is being discussed. Also, Kriwaczek's use of modern slang expressions can sometimes distract.

I enjoyed this book, regardless of the problems I noted above. I found the descriptions of modern day Shia Islam and its probable legacies from Zoroastrianism very illuminating, so that I have a better grasp of the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam. The descriptions of present day Iranians and their pre-Islamic religious traditions are also intriguing. I wish that Kriwaczek had spent more time on Mithraism and the Cathars and Bogomils, but what he did include was fascinating, too. That's the only real reservation I have about this book, it is simply too short to do justice to its subject.

In his journalistic account of the religion of Zarathustra (also known as Zoroaster), author Paul Kriwaczek takes us on a journey back in time from the Iran of the ayatollahs to the ancient days of Persia's pre-Islamic glory. Along the way, we encounter Nietzsche's anti-Zarathustra, the 13th-century crusade against the Cathars, the religion of light preached by the 3rd-century prophet Mani, the mysteries of Mithras in Roman Britain, the Zoroastrian apocalypse and its influence on the Hebrew Bible, and the religion of Ahura Mazda (the ancient Persian name for God) in the days of Cyrus the Great, Darius and Alexander.

There is much to recommend this book, especially to those with little or no prior knowledge of ancient Iran and the nature of its historical influence (even on the West). Kriwaczek is a good storyteller and the book is full of diverting anecdotes of his journey through central Asia in search of the "first prophet". Most rewarding are his discovery of Zoroastrian sun symbols in a mosque in Samarkand -- and the pretended ignorance of local Muslims when asked to explain its presence; his experience of Noruz (Zoroastrian New Year) celebrations in Teheran, including a meeting with a belated follower of Zarathustra who reveals the ironic hidden meaning of the Noruz "haft sin" (seven "S") table; and his account of a sort of Muslim passion play on Ashura, the Shi'ite day of mourning for Muhammad's grandson Hussein, which reveals an ongoing Zoroastrian influence on Shia Islam's conception of an eternal war between good and evil that will only end with the coming of a "messiah", whom they call the Mahdi or "hidden Imam".

The book also contains some wonderful little gems for trivia lovers, such as that the Old Testament figures of Esther and Mordecai are named for Babylonian gods (Ishtar and Marduk, respectively). Also enjoyable is his attention to such ephemera as a 1954 poem written on the occasion of an archaeological find in London that includes a truly delightful play on words ("and the bull dozes").

Unfortunately, Kriwaczek is no scholar and he is given to drawing often fantastic historical conclusions based on nothing more than pure speculation. Furthermore, he is a psychological reductionist who sees religion as nothing more than a psychological comfort and is far too literal-minded in his approach to understand the mythological wealth of the Gnostic tradition (so it is not surprising that he can only refer to their writings as "bewildering"). His chapter on the Cathars is so insensitive to non-materialist interpretive possibilities that I almost stopped reading. Still, I pressed on and would still recommend this book to anyone interested in the origins of the world's three great monotheistic religions -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- for they all owe a great debt to old Zarathustra.

"In Search... " is a well-written and very entertaining book; I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone with an interest in the area. Kriwaczek's style is well-paced, bright, and intermittently quite sly. I likely will reread the book in the future since I think it was that much fun.

Having said that, I do have a quibble with 'Publishers Weekly' and it's notion (which you reprinted) that: "This is the best and most thorough survey of Zoroastrianism, and its prophet Zarathustra, to date." I believe that's just hyperbolic enough to seriously question whether PW's reviewer actually read the book. (I vaguely remember a semi-scandal a few years ago where someone wrote a review of a book he later admitted to never have read.) No, it is not the best survey (it mentions Boyce just once, for instance); it's just the most accessible/entertaining. It is by no means scholarly in depth (as PW may suggest) but it is fun and provocative... Just not a reference... and I'd bet Kriwaczek did not intend it as such.

This book is truly a work of genius. Since I am not an expert in theology, ancient history, or Zoroastrian dogma I cannot comment on the exact precision of all the author's statements and assertions but that aside the book overall is an incredible adventure for the general reader. Why? First the way the author successfully conveys to the reader a sense of wonder and excitement and even awe about the various subjects covered (Darius' rock carving for example). Secondly all of the various connections between ancient and modern, East and West, various religions, etc. are really amazing. The reader is constantly saying to himself "So that is why they do that" or "Aha, now that makes sense after being confusing before". Does Godiva really mean Gift of God - I didn't know that but if true it puts a different light on that other Godiva, doesn't it? It reminds me of the old TV series Connections where seemingly disparate events or objects are seen on further, even sometimes microscopic, examination to be in fact closely related. That is what made this book so wonderful to me. If you don't agree let's see you write a book linking together Zarathustra, the Babylonian captivity, Cyrus, Daniel, Manichaeism (Mani lives!), the Dead Sea Scrolls, Gnosticism, Valerian, Mithraism, Hadrian's wall, Bogomils, Bulgars, Albigensians, Friedrich Nietzche, Richard Brautigan, Zubin Mehta, and even Freddie Mercury (of the rock group Queen!) for goodness sakes. That is what makes this book so special and with a travelogue thrown in for good measure.

"in search of Zarathustra" is a fascinating tale of author's search for Zarathustra's influence in Judeo-Christianity religion. Without falling into academic endless debates and tiring arguments, Mr. Kriwaczek provides tangible and meaningful evidence backed by history, records and visible signs.
What I found most engaging in PK's book was his journey and how it pulls you in with every chapter and every passage only to reach a most wonderful climax at the end.
Zarathustra lived more than three thousand years ago and his followers are a few by today's standards. However the power of his message is in its simplicity and profoundness. How much more does one need to know or remember than to take side with the good and fight evil in this world, to practice good thought, good words and good deed? Perhaps the simplicity of this everlasting message is what is most powerful about it.

I am Achaemanish and I come from a long line of Zoroastrian High Priests who belong to the original Qadmi sect. Paul Kriwaczek has done a very thorough job in presenting my faith, devoid of any "My faith - right or wrong" obstinacy. The fact that he's a Jew -and I do not mean that in a derogative sense - he's probably the only one of his faith who freely recognizes the fact that Judaism, Islam and Christianity have borrowed their basic tenets from Zoroastrianism. It is very apparent that he loves Zarathustra, in spite of the fact that the Prophet preached his faith to the original Aryan race. It takes a very fine sense of clarity and objectivity to present such unbiased research. But then, his love for Zarathustra must transcend such mundane considerations. And I thank him for that. "Zarathustra Passed me By" is simply poetic. All "shaven headed" individuals who extol the "Aryan Brotherhood" should pay heed to the passage in the book which rightly identifies the origin of the true Aryan race to be in Bactria/Bamian and the "split" which caused some Aryans to migrate West into Iran and those still holding to their beliefs in mutiple god-heads to migrate south into India. This book is a true eye-opener.

What a trip! What a fascinating and wonderful journey. Since they are already discussed by other reviewers, I am not going to discuss the details of this book. Suffice it to say, that this is a record of a magical travel through time and space, never staying in one place or time too long, never tedious, never boring, always enlightening, and with a very cool ending. The historical facts can be found in more detail in more scholarly works, but it is the author's imaginative and thoughtful interpretations of these facts, and their implications which make this book so precious. If you have the slightest interest in religion, history, sociology, cultural anthropology, etc., I would strongly recommend this book to you. Furthermore, in my opinion, this is a must-reading for all Iranians and Iranian-Americans. Thank you Mr. Kriwaczek for your great work.

Kriwaczek tells us that he has been fascinated by Zarathustra (or Zoroaster) since his school days, when his English teacher introduced the class to Nietzsche, and this pupil, "naturally enough ... went to the school library to find out what he had written", and found Thus Spake Zarathustra. Kriwaczek's book now purports to be a search for this elusive character, working backwards in time from Nietzsche. This quest would, as an adult (and at times as a television journalist), involve him in travelling all over the Middle East, Iran and Central Asia. The result is this vividly written account of his physical journeys in these lands, peppered with historical disquisitions, written with equal vividness, but whose origins, I suspect, had come from some decent libraries and guide books before he set out. In any case this is not the easiest way to convey a clear picture of the subject, and the problem is aggravated by two other features: the first is a helter-skelter backwards and forwards in time and in space. So, for example we travel within a few pages of one chapter from Carcassonne in France (p.74) to Derbent on the Caspian (p.75); a page later we are on the Trans-Siberian railway (p.76); on p.77 we are with the 13th century Tartars and on p.79 with 5th century BC Sarmatians!

The other feature is that Kriwaczek is so entertainingly knowledgeable about so much that he devotes pages on matters which have only the thinnest link with Zoroastrianism. Zarathustra himself had only one god, Ahura Mazda, and described all the other deities of his time as not deserving of the name. A very long time after his death, as Zoroastrianism departed from the original view of the prophet, it produced another god called Mithra, who seems to have borne a very similar relationship to Ahura Mazda as Jesus would bear to God the Father. Now the Romans also worshipped a god called Mithra, but, although Kriwaczek tells us that some modern scholars think that it was a mere coincidence that the same name was given to two gods who had nothing to do with each other, he devotes 2/3 of that chapter to telling us everything he knows about this Roman Mithras. Truth to tell, in the course of the book we really learn far more about Nietzsche, the Cathars, the Bogomils, the Sarmatians, the Romans, the Manichaeans and the Jews than we do about Zarathustra. Kriwaczek knows so much history that the slightest link he can establish with Zarathustra's teaching (or its later perversions) is enough to get him to unpack it all. The penultimate chapter ends, "Having mapped the Persian seer's influence back through the two and a half millennia that separate our own era from the dawn of Persian civilization, what remains in to seek out the traces of a time before ... recorded Iranian history began - the days of the First Prophet himself."

It was therefore with some eagerness that I looked forward to the last chapter for a comprehensive account of what Zarathustra stood for, but I found it a rather thin harvest. Yes, very likely Zarathustra was the first monotheist, the first who spoke of the End of Time, the first who saw life as a battle between Good and Evil, the first who taught that mankind has a choice between them, the first who summed up the duties of man as "Good Words, Good Thoughts, and Good Deeds". Yes, if we dig down through Judaism, Christianity and Islam, we can find a Zoroastrian substratum. And yes, I do understand that Kriwaczek would not call that a thin harvest; and I can see his point.
In any case, this is a rattling good read. There is a wealth of information here - some of it quite startling (for instance, that much of what we call Gothic is actually Sarmatian); the patches of history he tells us about are exciting and little known to the general reader; his enthusiasm is infectious; and his word painting is superb. The book was not what I expected from the title or what I think it ought to have been, but I enjoyed every page of it and am very glad I read it.