I was both impressed and disappointed with this book. It was nice to see a book covering Gods instead of Goddesses for a change. It covered a wide variety of Gods From Indian to Kabbala. However, I was disappointed in what seems to be several inaccuracies in this book. In a day where it is hard to find a book on Gods this book is a go. For anyone wanting more in depth study, keep looking. This is a good beginner book.

I first found this book while searching for literature that dealt with Neo Paganism and the male divine, an area much too often overlooked by the more feminist camp of this faith. The book itself is not written with a Neopagan slant, and I sincerely doubt that the authors are Pagans in any way, but this book, and its companion, are essential reading for Neopagans. From its opening line-God was born sometime in the Paleolithic age-the reader knows that the authors mean to approach their subject through academic methods, but they are respectful, thoughtful and deeply spiritual, even as they maintain their scholarly distance. The book ends with the Big Bang, and if you cannot imagine why the Big Bang would be related to God, you absolutely need to read this book. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to read, each theoretical explanation was followed by one or more short retellings of the corresponding myths, making the book flow wonderfully and providing all the evidence needed to support the author's arguments without getting overly technical. At the same time, the brief refreshers in mythology allow the reader to consider this biography of the God concept with a critical and informed mind. Overall, it is a beautiful book for people of all faiths, even science, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

The cover of this book pretty much explains its content. Despite its claims of creating a reference guide that spans all the major characters and themes in the asian mythosphere, it falls way short in its balance of information. This book basically covers the traditions of India, China and Japan, while just glancing at other mythologies. However, even the most fundamental characters in the Chinese and Japanese mythologies are curiously absent. What's more insulting is that it groups the mythologies of Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines into a single category, implying that a singular tradition binds all three countries. This shows the author's lack of resources, or lack of interest. A quick glance at the book's bibliography further reinforces that the author didn't really use a wide asian base of information. Overall, this is just a handy reference guide for people who know nothing of Asian tradition, but have the itching need to know about every single godling in the Indian pantheon. Ambitious goals shold have ambitious results, unlike this book.

I haven't read many biographies, but I have read lots of Baldwin -- both essays and novels. I came away from this book wishing that it was as compelling as its subject -- that Leeming had contributed his insights to the efforts of a writer closer to Baldwin's caliber -- and that the book had the benefit of a better editor. There is a sense that perhaps Leeming reveres Baldwin a bit too much. It's hard to communicate a true sense of intimacy with your subject when he's so high up on a pedestal! Overall, a disappointment.