The Hidden Jesus: A New Life
Celebrity biographer and former monk Donald Spoto (author ofDiana: The Last Year) applies his impressive research skills to the life of Jesus. From the get go, Spoto makes it clear that he's willing to upend many of the dominant beliefs about Jesus. For example, Spoto asserts that Jesus was born in Nazareth, not the little town of Bethlehem. (Matthew and Luke apparently placed their accounts of the birth in Bethlehem, the home of King David, in order to substantiate the belief that Jesus descended from the line of David.) And so it goes, with Spoto stating that the virginal conception should not be literally interpreted, that there is no evidence of an unusually bright star around the time of Jesus' birth, and that Jesus was not an only child, but in fact the eldest of seven.Fortunately, Spoto maintains a respectful and pensive tone throughout--a welcome departure from the tawdry details of some of his celebrity biographies. Spoto uses his investigative talents to reveal the meaning as much as the historical facts of Jesus' life and afterlife. At its core,The Hidden Life of Jesusis a Christian's personal quest and resulting theory into the ultimate meaning and enduring impact of Jesus of Nazareth. --Gail Hudson