Customer Reviews

The World's Religions (Plus)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I've ordered many copies of this book over the years; they get rag-eared and I buy a fresh copy. Not too much has changed over the years, though there's a little more in the supplementary sections. Smith does a really nice job of explaining each religion from the perspective of the faithful. This is a wonderful book for anyone who's interested in learning a little more about the most fundamental world views of the world's religions. My only disappointment: the book says nothing about Shinto.....an enormous oversight, given how many adherents there are. I'd have loved Smith's perspective. Nice summaries instead of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity; there's even a little bit on Australian beliefs.

This book was required reading for me over 20 years ago when I was in college. Huston Smith does an awesome job in covering the major religions of the world without including any bias towards one or another. I lost my original book so I purchased this new edition and will be reading it again and again and again. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about world religions.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Huston Smith presents the religions from the inside out. Each one is viewed as if he were an adherent of that religion which makes his words ring with the truth of that point of view.

This is a nice attempt to wrap up the world's religions and if you are interested in a broad overview I can highly recommend this book as a resource. Unfortunately I did not find this a smooth read, but a reference I sometimes poke through it, and get some interesting bits.

It looks at: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and a section called the Primal Religions.

It would have been interesting if there was a section dealing with shamanism, South American Tribal Beliefs, African Tribal Beliefs, it is after all a book on world religions. A few maps and diagrams to help explain the migrations of religions would have also been useful along with images that may support the description of the religions presented.

I initially read this book in college for an intro to world religions course. That class was one of the most interesting classes I took, partly because of the charismatic Indian man who taught it and partly because of this book. Reading this book was an eye opening experience for me. The book objectively explores the metaphysical foundations and tenets of the major religions, without delving into criticism or commentary on religion's impact on human society.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. For me, reading The World's Religions was a truly "enlightening" experience because I gained insight into the actual teachings behind many religions with which I previously had only a vague familiarity. In fact, I think that almost anyone who reads this book will come away with greater tolerance and appreciation for the various religions and cultures of our world. Even for Atheists or those who oppose religion in general, I still recommend reading this book as an insight into the various belief systems that have played such a major role in the story of humanity.

This is more than just a reference book on world religions. First, it is well written - clear, concise, easy to understand. But, perhaps more importantly, it makes you think. Different chapters deal with the history and basic ideas of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity and the so-called Primal Religions. Of those, the first one, on Hinduism, was probably the most interesting, especially its introductory parts ("What people want", "What people really want"), dealing with the question of why man needs religion at all. These could well serve as an extended introduction to the whole book. And reading those passages could probably make many readers better to understand the roots of their middle age crisis.
But nothing is 100% ideal. The chapter on primal religions was vaguer and less informative that the others. And I skipped Islam and Confucianism - because of a total lack of interest. But as to the other chapters, the general impression was very good.

This book is one of the best books I've ever read. It's really a complete package. The subject is of utmost relevance; the research, impeccable; and the writing, of the most enjoyable elegance. This author portraits the major religions in their purity. It's just beautiful, profound and informative. Huston Smith is one of the best writer's of the 20th century. His eloquent writing brings you understanding with both simplicity and poetry at the same time.

An appropriate read for all circles and a MUST for all those in search of spiritual wisdom and knowlegde of religion/culture.

Do not be mislead by negative opinions about this book. This is a great book about religions, probably one of the best. The author is a truly expert on religions. This book is not about the history of religions is about the faith and how the people view and experience it.

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Very objective, unbiased overview on world's major religions. Houston definitely has style and class in his writing. It was a joy reading this book.