Zealot

The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth

By: Reza Aslan

Narrated by: Reza Aslan

From the internationally best-selling author of No god but God comes a fascinating, provocative, and meticulously researched biography that challenges long-held assumptions about the man we know as Jesus of Nazareth.

Two-thousand years ago, an itinerant Jewish preacher and miracle worker walked across the Galilee, gathering followers to establish what he called the "Kingdom of God". The revolutionary movement he launched was so threatening to the established order that he was captured, tortured, and executed as a state criminal.

Within decades after his shameful death, his followers would call him God.

Sifting through centuries of mythmaking, Reza Aslan sheds new light on one of history's most influential and enigmatic characters by examining Jesus through the lens of the tumultuous era in which he lived: first-century Palestine, an age awash in apocalyptic fervor. Scores of Jewish prophets, preachers, and would-be messiahs wandered through the Holy Land, bearing messages from God. This was the age of zealotry - a fervent nationalism that made resistance to the Roman occupation a sacred duty incumbent on all Jews. And few figures better exemplified this principle than the charismatic Galilean who defied both the imperial authorities and their allies in the Jewish religious hierarchy.

Balancing the Jesus of the Gospels against the historical sources, Aslan describes a man full of conviction and passion, yet rife with contradiction; a man of peace who exhorted his followers to arm themselves with swords; an exorcist and faith healer who urged his disciples to keep his identity a secret; and ultimately the seditious "King of the Jews" whose promise of liberation from Rome went unfulfilled in his brief lifetime.

©2013 Reza Aslan (P)2013 Random House

Critic reviews

"In Zealot, Reza Aslan doesn't just synthesize research and reimagine a lost world, though he does those things very well. He does for religious history what Bertolt Brecht did for playwriting. Aslan rips Jesus out of all the contexts we thought he belonged in and holds him forth as someone entirely new. This is Jesus as a passionate Jew, a violent revolutionary, a fanatical ideologue, an odd and scary and extraordinarily interesting man." (Judith Shulevitz, author of The Sabbath World)

"A bold, powerfully argued revisioning of the most consequential life ever lived." (Lawrence Wright, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief)

"The story of Jesus of Nazareth is arguably the most influential narrative in human history. Here Reza Aslan writes vividly and insightfully about the life and meaning of the figure who has come to be seen by billions as the Christ of faith. This is a special and revealing work, one that believer and skeptic alike will find surprising, engaging, and original." (Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power)

What a fascinating listen!

Would you consider the audio edition of Zealot to be better than the print version?

One of the wonderful things about this audiobook is that it's read by the author, who has a fantastic voice that's very easy to listen to. Even when Aslan is imparting a lot of complex information, he remains perfectly understandable and makes those concepts seem easy.

What did you like best about this story?

Although 'Zealot' deals with a lot of questions and ideas that I have personally already encountered, there were a lot of concepts in here that were completely new and entirely engaging for several people in my life who downloaded it at my recommendation. It's an extremely accessible and engaging book, and even if these are ideas that you've grappled with before you'll still find yourself saying 'oh, that's just perfectly put'.

Which character – as performed by Reza Aslan – was your favorite?

It was so interesting to learn about Saul/Paul and James in particular, two religious figures I've never put much thought into

Any additional comments?

I listened to the whole thing in two days and didn't regret a moment of it! A fascinating listen, and one I very much recommend experiencing.

Great book!

I recommend this to both believers and non-believers alike. It paints a vivid picture of the time of Jesus.

Interesting perspective.

Historical veracity questionable when built on numerous single assumptions. This book is helpful to those in understanding the rise of Islam and return to a religion of law.

An interesting perspective.

Not a great book to read for exegesis, but if one wants to understand the history around the time of Jesus and to better understand how a non-Christian biblical scholar understands Jesus this book is for you.

Recovering Catholic Loved This Book

After 18 years of Catholicism, this book blew my mind...in a good way! I will never again utter the phrase "gospel truth," as I now know that is a contradiction in terms. I was absolutely captivated learning about the historical context in which Jesus existed and how the religious practice he espoused was born of Judaism. What is also incredibly interesting/shocking, is the number of times cities are anihilated in the name of religion and power. Given all the details and insights the book provided, I can only imagine the extent of the research. Mind-boggling!

Outstanding book

This book has been a tremendously addictive listening. Deep and thoughtful analysis of what the beginnings of Christianity might have been like. Regardless of your religious affiliations, if your are a person with intelectual inclinations, this book will captivate you.

Zealot or not?

This book is well researched and well written. The history of the Romans and Jews in Jesus' time is fascinating indeed.It makes a strong case for many inaccuracies in today's Bible which was written by thousands of people, many of whom mis- interpreted what happened or what was said. Man made dogma builds up around all the founders of major religions including Christianity but spiritual truth is Universal and if we go inward we know spiritual truth when we hear it. Jesus' teachings of love everyone including your enemies, turn the other cheek, accept what is as if you had chosen it, forgive your enemies, tolerate, turn the other cheek and many other of his teachings don't support that he was just another Zealot building a Jewish Kingdom on Earth. "The Kingdom of Heaven is not there or here but within" tell me that he was an enlightened being (God realized being) which means he would not behave like the Zealots did. Some of his disciples may well have behaved like that. I for one don't buy that he was just another one of many Zealot's of that period. The author makes many many extrapolations and guesses based on how other people behaved in that era but Jesus' core teachings do not support him being one of them. Having said that the history seems accurate and fascinating and therefore this book is worth a read.

Fantastic

Beautifully written and compelling told, with a lot information in a well organized fashion. I would have appreciated the definitions of a few more words though, such as gentile. 10/10 would listen again!

Maybe Even Better the 2nd Listen

I listened for the first time a year or so ago, but this time I was really able to absorb more of the information and details. I love that this is not a screed for or against a religious outlook, but a careful parsing of the facts as they are. This books makes the life of Jesus, his actions, his words, and the stories written about him all as well as how and why he became the basis of new religion make sense. Mr. Aslan is a true scholar, an excellent writer, and he narrates his work clearly and eloquently.
I'll probably listen at least one more time to soak in more if this book.

Reza is a great story teller; that's a fact.

Loved it absolutely. I've listened 3 more times since. Hope you will enjoy it too!