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I just finished reading Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslan and found it quite fascinating.

I'm currently reading Zealot by Reza Aslan, which doesn't really debate whether or not there was a historical Jesus, but discusses the differences in fact vs the bible.

I highly recommend it.

In light of HN's (edit: temporary) ban on political content, I find it interesting that so many of YC's favorite books relate to:

- religion (Going Clear, Zealot, Finding God in the Waves)

- war and oppressive policy (War in a Time of Peace, Silence Once Begun)

- conservative lifestyle (Strangers in Their Own Land, Hillbilly Elegy)

The first two are explicitly prohibited topics of discussion on this site, and the third is implicitly discouraged.

That's an even worse modern day caricature than what the other guy was pushing. The immigrant thing especially considering he was born in Canaan/Israel within walking distance from Jerusalem.

I highly recommend reading: "Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth" https://www.amazon.com/Zealot-Life-Times-Jesus-Nazareth/dp/B...

He was far from a hippie immigrant. He fit a pattern of many men before him claiming similar sanctity and happened to be at the right time and right place in a warn torn Israel for it to really find an audience.

But I wasn't even talking about the man himself from a historical perspective, just the general religious and historical environment from which his legend grew. The man-of-the-poor and anti-wealthy narrative was very much a later development in the history of christianity and was always floating on the sidelines of their work, especially in terms of how it was adopted, not merely what was written in the decades and centuries after he died in the bible.

Like all religious works there are plenty of room for interpretation and holy but great wealthy leaders are plentiful in the history of christianity. It's hardly a new thing. It's even more established in the Koran through the various prophets and leaders in their canon, all of whom held great power and leadership in their local areas.

Even today the works of Mother Theresa are very controversial. Especially in terms of their long term ROI (ie, helping the poor stay poor by accepting their place and not developing the skills or industry to escape such die situations, which to me is not something to be revered).

Of all the books I read (or listened to) The Trauma of Everyday Life: A Guide to Inner Peace by Mark Epstein was the most life changing in that it made me more conscious of myself and my emotions, both of which I find difficult to understand.

Some other great ones:

The Neurobiology of We - Daniel Siegel (lots of stuff on interdependence here)

Zealot - Reza Aslan (a great book detailing the life of the man, Jesus of Nazareth)

1984 - George Orwell (I think very topical)

The Field - Lynne McTaggert (some "woo" but thought provoking)

Rubicon by Tom Holland - https://www.amazon.com/Rubicon-Tom-Holland/dp/1400078970

Christopher Browning, Ordinary Germans Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution - https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Men-Reserve-Battalion-Soluti...

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth https://www.amazon.com/Zealot-Life-Times-Jesus-Nazareth/dp/0...

The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates - https://www.amazon.com/Poison-King-Legend-Mithradates-Deadli...

To End All Wars - https://www.amazon.com/End-All-Wars-Rebellion-1914-1918/dp/0...

The Northern Crusades - https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Crusades-Second-Eric-Christi...

The Fall of Constantinople 1453 - https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Constantinople-1453-Canto-Classi...

Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia's Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane - https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Enlightenment-Central-Conquest-T...

The Indian Ocean - https://www.amazon.com/Indian-Ocean-Seas-History/dp/04154453...

Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of an Empire - https://www.amazon.com/Indian-Summer-Secret-History-Empire/d...

I really enjoyed this book on the topic:

“Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth is a book by Iranian-American writer and scholar Reza Aslan. It is a historical account of the life of Jesus and analyzes the various religious perspectives on Jesus as well as the creation of Christianity.”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zealot:_The_Life_and_Times_o...

Regardless of your religious beliefs (I'm a very happy aethist) I found Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth hugely interesting.

As a tool to understand the people of the time, the stories that grew and the 'person' behind the dominant religion of the Western World - there is no book that comes close.

Don't expect to have fun chats with religious (Christian) friends after reading this though, as much of what you learn will differ from the bible that they were taught, or the uniqueness of Jesus as a prophet/zealot.

Still - a book that I found a hugely interesting historical/religious read last summer, and one I recommend to my friends.