Tom bissells apostle takes a trip into faith, history and. The twelve are, of course, all the more human seeming because of it, in all their glorious imperfections and shortcomings. History does not record a single member of the twelve, with the possible exception of peter, as having had any particular impact on. About the author tom bissell s first book, chasing the sea, was selected by conde nast traveler as one of the 86 best travel books of all time. Ultimately, bissell finds that the story of the apostles is the story of early christianity. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Apostle by tom bissell used 9780571234752 world of books. Tom bissell takes us with him on his journey through the middle east, central asia, and europe as he searches for the tombs of the apostles. Travels among the tombs of the twelve audiobook written by tom bissell. Tom bissell provides rich and surprising answers to. Mar 01, 2007 the book has moments of genuine insight or emotion, but they get overwhelmed by bissell s need to add so much historical context to his personal journey with his father. How tom bissells lack of belief compelled him to write apostle. Bissell also reads the new testament with scrupulous attention.
Tom bissell s book is consistently fascinating about the. As writer tom bissell says in his beautiful, fascinating, exhaustive, and personal apostle. Tom bissells book is consistently fascinating about the stories that crept as. He settles venue on one for each apostle, researches the legends, visits the site and describes the scene for the reader. Throughout his travels, bissell listens to todays pilgrims with a laudable mix of good humour, empathy and polite but firm. Tom bissell is the author of eight previous books, most recently the disaster artist, and has been awarded the rome prize and a guggenheim fellowship. Tom bissells first book, chasing the sea, was selected by conde nast traveler as one of the 86 best travel books of all time. Apostle by tom bissell, read by tom bissell by prh audio. For three years author tom bissell travelled the world, seeking the putative final resting places of jesus twelve apostles. In his quest to understand the underpinnings of the worlds largest religion, bissell embarks on a yearslong pilgrimage to the supposed tombs of the 12 apostles. Stream apostle by tom bissell, read by tom bissell by prh audio from desktop or your mobile device. Written with warmth, humour, and a rare acumen, apostle is a brilliant and exhaustive synthesis of travel writing, centuries of biblical history, and a deep lifelong relationship with christianity.
Tom bissell books, biography and facts about the author. The story of twelve apostles is the story of early christianity. He writes in his debut book about his travels to uzbekistan, both as a peace corp volunteer and five years later as a tourist. Travels among the tombs of the twelve by tom bissell was released on march 1, 2016 by pantheon books. The father of all things meet your next favorite book.
Feb 07, 2017 this book is author tom bissell s quest for the tombs of the twelve apostles, the locations of some wellgrounded in tradition, but others as insubstantial as the passing breeze. In researching his new book, apostle, bissell, a writer of wanderlust and obsessed curiosity, spent years hunting the supposed tombs of. Apostle, or, bones that shine like fire travels among the tombs of the twelve book. Bissell is a cheery traveller, and apostle is a richly entertaining mishmash of travel book, history of early christianity, journey of religious nonfaith and human comedy. Tom bissells apostle takes a trip into faith, history. Apr 08, 2016 the life and legacy of the apostle thomas were a shimmer of myth and fact that sent tom bissell across oceans and down alleys. Travels among the tombs of the twelve 9780307278456 by bissell, tom and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Tom bissell, in his new book apostle, sets out in search of the 12 disciples and their putative resting places. Mar 05, 2016 nowhere does this nimbus of lore, inference, legend, presumption and legerdemain accrete more creatively than around the 12 apostles. Travels among the tombs of the twelve, a tour through the. Mar, 2016 tom bissell, in his new book, apostle, is out to tell another. Harvard book stores awardwinning event series continues online. After bissells decade of travel, plowing through some 200 books and racking up 1800 pages of notes, apostle.
From the standards of modern history, we know very little. In his quest to understand the underpinnings of the worlds largest religion, bissell embarks on a yearslong pilgrimage to the. While fashionable atheism, or nebulous spirituality, prevails among intellectuals, religiosity continues to abide among the vast majority of americans. He shifts back and forth between serious considerations of an exhaustive number of historical sources and fascinating, highly entertaining stories about his own journey to these holy sites. In 2003, tom bissell s first book titled chasing the sea. Ultimately bissell finds that the story of the apostles is the story of early christianity. Essays on creators and creation is a book of essays about things. Lost among the ghosts of empire in central asia was published.
Tom bissell provides ric a profound and moving journey into the heart of christianity that explores the mysterious and often paradoxical lives and legacies of the. Tom bissell gives us rich and deeply informed answers to those ancient questions. Tom bissell, in his new book, apostle, is out to tell another. The journey took him from jerusalem to spain, kyrgyzstan to greece, seeking tombs, shrines, reliquaries and archaeological sites, all claiming to hold the bodies or parts of the bodies, relic distribution being what it was back in the day of jesus closest disciples. Oct 04, 2016 bissell writes movingly of the apostles that to many believers, the interpersonal dynamics of the gospels were precisely that apparent. In his quest to understand the underpinnings of the worlds largest religion, bissell embarks on a yearslong pilgrimage to the supposed tombs of the twelve apostles. Tom bissells apostle traces lives of jesus disciples. Bissell was brought up within the church and leaving it has not stifled his fascination with early christianity. This is a serious book about the origins of christianity that is also very funny. Bissell explores not just who these renowned and pious men were. A profound and moving journey into the heart of christianity that explores the mysterious and often paradoxical lives and legacies of the twelve apostles a book both for those of the faith and for.
Travels among the tombs of the twelve by tom bissell. Apostle a profound and moving journey into the heart of. Travels among the tombs of the twelve, a tour through the stories of the new testament, goes back to the source texts and the actual locations of events in search of. If i wanted to read an hourbyhour account of the fall of saigon, i would pick up a straightforward nonfiction history book if you can get a hold of it, read tom bissell s. A s matthew arnold feared, the sea of faith has retreatedbut not evenly. This is a fascinating book of interest to all or none religions. The life and legacy of the apostle thomas were a shimmer of myth and fact that sent tom bissell across oceans and down alleys. As apparent as every miracle, as every word of jesus. Apostle, or, bones that shine like fire book washington.
How tom bissells lack of belief compelled him to write. Aug 21, 2016 ultimately, bissell finds that the story of the apostles is the story of early christianity. In his quest to understand the underpinnings of the world. Ive always had a curiousity about the twelve apostles, and this book is pretty much unique in covering them and visiting their tombs, and after the disaster artist. Travels among the tombs of the twelve and susan jacoby discusses strange gods. Apr 23, 2016 the life and legacy of the apostle thomas were a shimmer of myth and fact that sent tom bissell across oceans and down alleys. Bissell appears march 17 at seattles elliott bay book co. Travels among the tombs of the twelve, jesus is not a. A profound and moving journey into the heart of christianity that explores the mysterious and often paradoxical lives and legacies of the twelve apostles a book both for those of the faith and for others who seek to understand christianity from the outside in. Choose from contactless same day delivery, drive up and more. Apr 07, 2016 in this profound and moving journey into the heart of christianity past and present, tom bissell travels across the world to explore the lives and legacies of the twelve apostles. By visiting holy sites around the world, and examining how the apostles identities took shape over the course of two millennia, he explores the story of christianity and its growth from an obscure jewish sect to. Travels among the tombs of the twelve 1st edition by bissell, tom isbn.
Tom bissell provides rich and surprising answers to these ancient, elusive questions. Bissell, a scholar but not a believer, pairs some disciples philip and james and adds one not of the original twelve paul in this quirky and learned christology. Apostle, travels among the tombs of the twelve by tom bissell. Tom bissell gives us rich answers to these ancient and surprisingly enigmatic questions in an unusual, erudite and fascinating book. Bissell is a wonderfully sure guide to these mysterious men.
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