The Da Vinci Codebreaker: An Easy-to-Use Fact Checker for Truth Seekers [Paperback]

James L. Garlow (Author), Timothy Paul Jones (Author), April Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2006

An expose of the bestselling novel. Readers questioning The Da Vinci Code can "fact check" with this book of terms, events, people and places.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Da Vinci Codebreaker is a useful reference to have alongside The Da Vinci Code itself..." -- enterstageright.com

"The dictionary style... allows readers easy access to... unearth useful facts and actual truth." -- Phillip Tomasso III, In the Library Review

"clear, concise representation of orthodox Christianity. I really wish I had it handy when I first read The DaVinci Code." -- Kevin Miller, HollywoodJesus.com

From the Inside Flap

"The Da Vinci Code reminds us once again how much interest people have in the story of Jesus. Curiosity about who he was and what he did never seems to come to an end. In a work like The Da Vinci Code, fiction can be easily confused as an accurate portrayal of history. In this case, the facts about Jesus are far more amazing than anything we could make up or imagine. Jim Garlow provides for us a great glossary to help us unwrap the amazing mystery that goes far beyond The Da Vinci Code." --Erwin Raphael McManus, Lead Pastor, Mosaic

"This is a book for any person–whether you are for or against the thesis of The Da Vinci Code. Garlow has gone beyond the large plethora of books affirming or refuting The Da Vinci Code, including his own coauthored book Cracking Da Vinci’s Code, by supplying the reader with a bona fide Da Vinci Code dictionary. This glossary of more than 500 terms should be a constant companion to anyone who has read The Da Vinci Code or who will see the movie. It is a quick, insightful, easy-to-navigate tool. But most important, he provides the correct definitions for terms and concepts. Putting it simply, this is a must-read." --Tim LaHaye, Author, Left Behind series

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764201859
• ISBN-13: 978-0764201851
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,950,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fact finder: Encyclopedia of terms and ideas in Dan Brown's 'The Da Vinci Code', May 16, 2006

By 

David C. Leaumont "Dave" (Bossier City, LA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Da Vinci Codebreaker: An Easy-to-Use Fact Checker for Truth Seekers (Paperback)

There have been roughly 14 books that spun off the writing of Dan Brown's novel, 'The Da Vinci Code.' Some are commentary, some are scathing commentary, and some discuss the facts and fictions of the book and movie. This book does the latter.

This is not a commentary on Gnostic or Christian thought, although the authors are a pastor, a doctor of theology and an art historian. The book serves as a reference discussing the proposed facts by Dan Brown, who has caused confusion in some when saying in his novel that the facts within his book, The Da Vinci Code, are accurate and well researched.

The book is laid out in an encyclopedic format, discussing topics alphabetically that may weigh or have been discussed in Brown's book and movie. The authors' theology is that of conservative evangelicals. For those who are not of this theological persuasion: this book shows little in the way of slant, so don't be turned off by this. The main area where non-evangelicals might disagree is in the discussion of the Canon, but otherwise, this book is neutral in its defining of terms and ideas from the movie.

Since Brown's work centers around art to a large extent, having an art historian as co-author lends credence to this work discussing Brown's proposed facts. Several glaring mistakes by Brown are described in detail in this book.

This book does a superb job as a research tool to discern fact from fiction in 'The Da Vinci Code,' which is the stated purpose of the writing. In fact, I gave this book 5 stars because it fulfills its stated task so well. So, if you are interested in finding out where Brown was right and where he was wrong, this would be one of the first and easiest places to go.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource!, May 3, 2006

By 

Angel "of "The Rogue Angel"" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Da Vinci Codebreaker: An Easy-to-Use Fact Checker for Truth Seekers (Paperback)

If you are like most people, Christians included, you have wondered about The Da Vinci Code and where Dan Brown gets his "facts." A lot of people have even bought into the story, believing the "facts" Dan Brown uses to spin his story of intrigue and ancient mystery. But, just how accurate are those "facts" Dan Brown speaks of? Well, look no more! James L. Garlow has written the book that will clear up all those pesky misconceptions.

The Da Vinci Codebreaker is an easy-to-use fact checker that covers all the terms, jargon, locations, and people used in The Da Vinci Code. If you want to know who Isis was and who was her lover, it's covered. If you want to know what the Dialogue of the Savior is, it's in there. From who Richard Abanes was to what is the zodiac ... James Garlow spells it out without fictional spin or mysterious code. All you get is the facts, pure and simple.

I found this book to be extremely valuable. While it started out as an intention to include a glossary in his previously published book, Cracking Da Vinci's Code, time constraints prevented that. I think that was a good thing. This book really should stand alone as the resource it is. Whatever book you read, whether it is The Da Vinci Code or any of the numerous books written as a result, keep this book handy. It will be the book you will come to again and again.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enthralling!, April 24, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Da Vinci Codebreaker: An Easy-to-Use Fact Checker for Truth Seekers (Paperback)

Before the movie version of the DaVinci Code comes out in May 2006, discerning people will want to read The DaVinci Codebreaker by James L. Garlow.

Dr. James L. Garlow is the Senior Pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church in La Mesa, California. This book in a compact form becomes a combination dictionary/encyclopedia to help separate the fact from the fiction that most scholars find rampant in Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code.

Garlow stresses that his book is not intended to bash Brown. To the contrary, Garlow feels that Brown has done Orthodox Christianity a service by bringing forth issues that, when examined carefully and thoughtfully, make the Christian faith even more credible.

Garlow refers to Brown's style as "fact-tion" and points out that talk show audiences admitted that they could not tell if and when fiction left off and fact began. This is important because the DaVinci Code claims that Jesus married Mary Magdalene to join two royal bloodlines. It also states that the canon was not formalized until the fourth century when in fact most of the books in today's canon were widely accepted as scripture in the first century. And finally (only for space limitations) that Christianity is really a religion that is an illusion that helps millions of people to cope and be better people.

The DaVinci Codebreaker serves to help the reader understand the real historical facts that are so often misinterpreted or completely changed in Brown's book. This is important because Brown himself states in the opening pages of his book that everything in the book "related to artwork, documents, architecture, and secret rituals are fact."

I found the facts fascinating, the tables (especially on what really constitutes the canon of scripture-- and who says so) extremely clear and useful, and the specific page references to the DaVinci Code useful.

Armchair Interviews says: We think you'll find The DaVinci Codebreaker enthralling.