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The Ken Commandments: My Search for God in Hollywood
An E! News star mixes memoir and investigative journalism in his own version of A.J. Jacobs A Year of Living Biblically--chronicaling his own spiritual journey as he investigates the religious lives of the rich and famous in Hollywood.
Ken Baker, the L.A. based senior correspondent for E! News and E! Online, has worked in Hollywood for twenty years, hobnobbing with multimillionaires and interviewing movie and TV stars on a regular basis. In that time, and in the land of fairy tales and double-dealing, Baker had become, in many ways, one the materialistic, carnal people he never wanted to be, abandoning his Christian heritage and losing his spiritual center in the process. Finding himself alone and confused one night in Vegas, he has a spiritual awakening that puts him on a journey to find God, not only in himself, but in the celebrities who lives intersect with his on a daily basis.
In this book, Hollywood meets the spirit of A.J. Jacobs, as author Ken Baker sets off on an experiment that will bring him closer to the spiritual lives of the rich and famous and in the process help to reveal the light and dark of Hollywood in new ways. From New Age spirituality, to Bible-based Christianity, to Buddhist retreats, to meditation classes, to Atheism studies, to the mega-church of the nation's top TV preacher, Baker will immerse himself in a diverse range of spiritual practices side by side with the celebrity set, revealing a world that in deeper and more God-centered than you'd ever imagine.
Ken Baker, the L.A. based senior correspondent for E! News and E! Online, has worked in Hollywood for twenty years, hobnobbing with multimillionaires and interviewing movie and TV stars on a regular basis. In that time, and in the land of fairy tales and double-dealing, Baker had become, in many ways, one the materialistic, carnal people he never wanted to be, abandoning his Christian heritage and losing his spiritual center in the process. Finding himself alone and confused one night in Vegas, he has a spiritual awakening that puts him on a journey to find God, not only in himself, but in the celebrities who lives intersect with his on a daily basis.
In this book, Hollywood meets the spirit of A.J. Jacobs, as author Ken Baker sets off on an experiment that will bring him closer to the spiritual lives of the rich and famous and in the process help to reveal the light and dark of Hollywood in new ways. From New Age spirituality, to Bible-based Christianity, to Buddhist retreats, to meditation classes, to Atheism studies, to the mega-church of the nation's top TV preacher, Baker will immerse himself in a diverse range of spiritual practices side by side with the celebrity set, revealing a world that in deeper and more God-centered than you'd ever imagine.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
288 pages, Hardcover
Published September 12, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 12, 2017
I met Ken Baker once. It was at a Quad City Mallards hockey game in Moline, IL. He had just released They Don't Play Hockey In Heaven and he was signing copies. I worked for one of the team sponsors, so I had a chance to chat with him. I didn't really know anything about him except having read that book and his previous, Man Made. After that, I started noticing him on TV all the time and only then did I realize that he was kind of a big deal when it came to reporting on celebrity gossip.
I mention this encounter with him because had I not met him, I'm not sure I'd be interested in reading a book by anyone associated with E! Network, reality TV, or celebrity gossip. I'm not well versed on popular culture and watching that network usually makes me feel like an old person shouting, "What is the world coming to?!" & "This is whey they call entertainment these days?!", & "Get off my lawn!!!" I'm very glad I met Ken Baker because this book was just as enjoyable as chatting with him and did not bring out my inner curmudgeon at all.
After 20 years as celebrity gossip journalist, the job starts eating away at Ken's soul. I feel that way after 20 minutes of reality TV, so I can only imagine what Ken was going through. He was questioning his life, his religious beliefs, and realized that not being grounded is taking a toll on his well-being. So he decides to go about finding faith in the way he knows best - book research.
I really enjoyed reading about Ken's quest for deeper meaning, while being surrounded by the superficial culture that surrounds his line of work. He attends various services and speaks to religious leaders, he enrolls in a class at the Church of Scientology, he learns how to meditate and speaks to a psychic and a medium... all of his research is done with the skeptic mind of a journalist searching for the truth behind every testimony.
This was a very interesting and enlightening read. I'm very glad I met Ken Baker over a decade ago and didn't write him off as a superficial gossip-slinger. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good memoir and has an open mind about faith and various religious beliefs. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy for review.
I mention this encounter with him because had I not met him, I'm not sure I'd be interested in reading a book by anyone associated with E! Network, reality TV, or celebrity gossip. I'm not well versed on popular culture and watching that network usually makes me feel like an old person shouting, "What is the world coming to?!" & "This is whey they call entertainment these days?!", & "Get off my lawn!!!" I'm very glad I met Ken Baker because this book was just as enjoyable as chatting with him and did not bring out my inner curmudgeon at all.
After 20 years as celebrity gossip journalist, the job starts eating away at Ken's soul. I feel that way after 20 minutes of reality TV, so I can only imagine what Ken was going through. He was questioning his life, his religious beliefs, and realized that not being grounded is taking a toll on his well-being. So he decides to go about finding faith in the way he knows best - book research.
I really enjoyed reading about Ken's quest for deeper meaning, while being surrounded by the superficial culture that surrounds his line of work. He attends various services and speaks to religious leaders, he enrolls in a class at the Church of Scientology, he learns how to meditate and speaks to a psychic and a medium... all of his research is done with the skeptic mind of a journalist searching for the truth behind every testimony.
This was a very interesting and enlightening read. I'm very glad I met Ken Baker over a decade ago and didn't write him off as a superficial gossip-slinger. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good memoir and has an open mind about faith and various religious beliefs. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy for review.
August 16, 2017
Looking for Bible in Beverly Hills
This is story of a man in quest for finding god during his midlife crisis. Having worked in the entertainment business for several years, the author looks for ways to find god and seeks to understand the meaning of life. This would be really challenging for someone who found success in Hollywood. But there is no shortage of celebrities who found god in their own way. For example, the church of Scientology has millions of followers that uses Hollywood celebrities to promote itself to achieve wisdom and immortality. Celebrity followers include; Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Will Smith, Priscilla Presley, Kirsty Alley, Jenna Elfman and Greta Van Sustern. The church makes enormous profit as a tax exempt religious organization.
Recently Justin Bieber is making lot of news about finding Jesus. His "purpose" in life is not music anymore; it's all about his spiritual awakening by Jesus, courtesy of the Hillsong Church and its charismatic leader Carl Lentz. Kirk Cameron was another reborn Christian. After converting to Christianity, he began to insist that storylines of his TV show “Growing Pains” be edited to remove anything he thought too adult or inappropriate for a Christian culture. After the series was cancelled, Cameron did not maintain contact with his former co-stars, and did not speak to co-star Tracey Gold for eight years. His desire to start a Christian life away from the entertainment industry was so intense that he wanted to free himself from the “old shackles.”
The author during his spiritual awakening, starts to talk about god with friends, attends church services, discusses with preachers, spiritual counselors, gurus, and yoga and meditation instructors. For example, in one chapter entitled “The Guru wears Prada,” he describes his interaction with Deepak Chopra and Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) to understand the wisdom of Hindu Philosophy. But his understanding of Vedanta Philosophy of Hinduism falls too short. Paramahansa Yogananda was the founder of SRF to teach scientific methods of meditation and principles of spiritual living described in Hindu Holy Scripture of Bhagavadgita. Ken Baker doesn’t even mention this book. Except for Bible, no other religious scriptures are mentioned and yet he is looking for “God.” Christianity is the religion of his youth and deviating away from it is hard unless you put mind and heart into it. After reading this book, I found that his mind is too focused on Jesus. I like to point out to the author that singer and songwriter, and ex-Beatle George Harrison was also looking for God and found in Bhagavadgita. He did his homework and read the scriptures. He did not remain in “pocket” but went outside the box to rethink and rediscover himself. His song about Lord Krishna “My sweet lord…. I really want to see you, really want to be with you….. is one of the most inspiring song in rock music I ever heard. He came from the entertainment industry and he was able to find “God.”
The book is haphazardly classified into three major sections called, Genesis, Exodus and Revelation that does not reflect his own spiritual quest. Chapters entitled, “Keep up with Kardashians” “Celebrate Jesus – He is just like us,” etc. bears very little significance to the subject matter discussed in those chapters. At the end of all this, this reader is not sure if the author was successful in finding god.
This is story of a man in quest for finding god during his midlife crisis. Having worked in the entertainment business for several years, the author looks for ways to find god and seeks to understand the meaning of life. This would be really challenging for someone who found success in Hollywood. But there is no shortage of celebrities who found god in their own way. For example, the church of Scientology has millions of followers that uses Hollywood celebrities to promote itself to achieve wisdom and immortality. Celebrity followers include; Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Will Smith, Priscilla Presley, Kirsty Alley, Jenna Elfman and Greta Van Sustern. The church makes enormous profit as a tax exempt religious organization.
Recently Justin Bieber is making lot of news about finding Jesus. His "purpose" in life is not music anymore; it's all about his spiritual awakening by Jesus, courtesy of the Hillsong Church and its charismatic leader Carl Lentz. Kirk Cameron was another reborn Christian. After converting to Christianity, he began to insist that storylines of his TV show “Growing Pains” be edited to remove anything he thought too adult or inappropriate for a Christian culture. After the series was cancelled, Cameron did not maintain contact with his former co-stars, and did not speak to co-star Tracey Gold for eight years. His desire to start a Christian life away from the entertainment industry was so intense that he wanted to free himself from the “old shackles.”
The author during his spiritual awakening, starts to talk about god with friends, attends church services, discusses with preachers, spiritual counselors, gurus, and yoga and meditation instructors. For example, in one chapter entitled “The Guru wears Prada,” he describes his interaction with Deepak Chopra and Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) to understand the wisdom of Hindu Philosophy. But his understanding of Vedanta Philosophy of Hinduism falls too short. Paramahansa Yogananda was the founder of SRF to teach scientific methods of meditation and principles of spiritual living described in Hindu Holy Scripture of Bhagavadgita. Ken Baker doesn’t even mention this book. Except for Bible, no other religious scriptures are mentioned and yet he is looking for “God.” Christianity is the religion of his youth and deviating away from it is hard unless you put mind and heart into it. After reading this book, I found that his mind is too focused on Jesus. I like to point out to the author that singer and songwriter, and ex-Beatle George Harrison was also looking for God and found in Bhagavadgita. He did his homework and read the scriptures. He did not remain in “pocket” but went outside the box to rethink and rediscover himself. His song about Lord Krishna “My sweet lord…. I really want to see you, really want to be with you….. is one of the most inspiring song in rock music I ever heard. He came from the entertainment industry and he was able to find “God.”
The book is haphazardly classified into three major sections called, Genesis, Exodus and Revelation that does not reflect his own spiritual quest. Chapters entitled, “Keep up with Kardashians” “Celebrate Jesus – He is just like us,” etc. bears very little significance to the subject matter discussed in those chapters. At the end of all this, this reader is not sure if the author was successful in finding god.
April 28, 2019
Ken Baker is a journalist, specifically a "celebrity gossip" broadcaster for E! and has written one other book besides this one. He lives and works in Hollywood with his wife and two kids. He loves his family, he has many friends, celebrity and not, and his job provides him with a good 'living'. But he is dissatisfied with the stress and sturm in his life and feels that what he does is not a serious calling. He also feels drawn to find God.
He sets out to find God in Hollywood-- maybe in the Christianity (Catholicism) of his youth, or maybe in some other form (psychics, Eastern New Age, Scientology, Buddhism). He brings a lot of questions to his search. He looks among the people and venues his "spiritual" workmates and celebrity friends have found their God in. He approaches the "project" as an investigative journalist ("lite" that is, a Hollywood investigative journalist).
Baker uses humour to keep the reader involved, along with a little creepiness and suspicions (especially where his trip to learn about Scientology is concerned). I believe that his target readers are likely to be people interested in celebrity gossip who have a sincere desire to have peace and spiritual blessings in their lives, but who are probably not drawn to conventional Christianity in their search.
"Ken's Commandments" offers some interesting insights that I have not come across before (read the book, and particularly the section about his meeting with Deepak Chopra.) I learned some things that are helpful for me on my own current path. I think you will too.
He sets out to find God in Hollywood-- maybe in the Christianity (Catholicism) of his youth, or maybe in some other form (psychics, Eastern New Age, Scientology, Buddhism). He brings a lot of questions to his search. He looks among the people and venues his "spiritual" workmates and celebrity friends have found their God in. He approaches the "project" as an investigative journalist ("lite" that is, a Hollywood investigative journalist).
Baker uses humour to keep the reader involved, along with a little creepiness and suspicions (especially where his trip to learn about Scientology is concerned). I believe that his target readers are likely to be people interested in celebrity gossip who have a sincere desire to have peace and spiritual blessings in their lives, but who are probably not drawn to conventional Christianity in their search.
"Ken's Commandments" offers some interesting insights that I have not come across before (read the book, and particularly the section about his meeting with Deepak Chopra.) I learned some things that are helpful for me on my own current path. I think you will too.
November 9, 2017
I won this book in the Goodreads giveaway, an uncorrected proof copy. There were a few reasons that it was difficult to read, mostly in the first half or so, but it turned out that this was all about the author's conflicts and his spiritual journey; these conflicts resolved more and more as the book progressed and I really did appreciate the book's ending chapters. (It was also difficult to read because of all the grammatical errors-never read an uncorrected proof before!)
The most obvious conflict is the author's apparent struggle with believing that there is something special about celebrity for the sake of celebrity. I was kind of offended that he was talking about concepts of spirituality and famous Hollywood folk as if there was some kind of special connection. I had never heard of him or his work and I don't read gossip magazines or watch entertainment news. But I kept reading.
I was offended when, in his exploration of any and all religion and spirituality, he dismisses Judaism somewhere at the beginning of the book, with an offhanded remark about Jews just being in conflict with Islam. Really? I understand not having a personal cultural connection with Judaism or Islam, but hey Ken, you walked into the Scientology center with respect and an open mind! But I kept reading.
One more thing, Ken. In my copy of the Psalms, there is no Jesus. (p. 73, "Psalm 23 says, 'Jesus..") The psalms are Jewish scripture. but I kept reading.
Even with the questions and emotions that arose as I read the book, I am glad to have gone on this journey with the author and appreciated many of his insights and personal experiences.
The most obvious conflict is the author's apparent struggle with believing that there is something special about celebrity for the sake of celebrity. I was kind of offended that he was talking about concepts of spirituality and famous Hollywood folk as if there was some kind of special connection. I had never heard of him or his work and I don't read gossip magazines or watch entertainment news. But I kept reading.
I was offended when, in his exploration of any and all religion and spirituality, he dismisses Judaism somewhere at the beginning of the book, with an offhanded remark about Jews just being in conflict with Islam. Really? I understand not having a personal cultural connection with Judaism or Islam, but hey Ken, you walked into the Scientology center with respect and an open mind! But I kept reading.
One more thing, Ken. In my copy of the Psalms, there is no Jesus. (p. 73, "Psalm 23 says, 'Jesus..") The psalms are Jewish scripture. but I kept reading.
Even with the questions and emotions that arose as I read the book, I am glad to have gone on this journey with the author and appreciated many of his insights and personal experiences.
November 24, 2017
I recieved this book as part of goodreads first reads giveaway.
I have to admit, just like the author rights life can be very busy. I took much longer to read this book as life was busy and I just struggled to really get into it until around page 114 when he mentioned an app about helping to meditate. It was then that I felt like I could start to relate. Understand the ramblings or writings of the author, for that reason alone I gave it four stars, it seemed more like ramblings in the beginning than a purpose. Maybe it was just too long before I found the hook, or at least the hook for me.
Some clips from the book that drew my attention were on page 166 I like how it was told to him/acknowledged that the communication with spirts is a gift from God, not to be feared or made to feel demonic. I too was taught that was evil. I have a family member who often ignores/pushes aside his gift for he too has been told this is bad. I think it might be part of the reason why he avoids church now.
However, I think my favorite take away from this book would be all the quotes on page 221-222. I think a few will make it on to my facebook positive group so that I can refer back to them.
In the end I could relate to this book and feel similar that there is multiple religions that I agree with parts of and that I am not able to idenify as just one religion.
I have to admit, just like the author rights life can be very busy. I took much longer to read this book as life was busy and I just struggled to really get into it until around page 114 when he mentioned an app about helping to meditate. It was then that I felt like I could start to relate. Understand the ramblings or writings of the author, for that reason alone I gave it four stars, it seemed more like ramblings in the beginning than a purpose. Maybe it was just too long before I found the hook, or at least the hook for me.
Some clips from the book that drew my attention were on page 166 I like how it was told to him/acknowledged that the communication with spirts is a gift from God, not to be feared or made to feel demonic. I too was taught that was evil. I have a family member who often ignores/pushes aside his gift for he too has been told this is bad. I think it might be part of the reason why he avoids church now.
However, I think my favorite take away from this book would be all the quotes on page 221-222. I think a few will make it on to my facebook positive group so that I can refer back to them.
In the end I could relate to this book and feel similar that there is multiple religions that I agree with parts of and that I am not able to idenify as just one religion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2017
"The Ken Commandments: My Search For God in Hollywood", written by Ken Baker, who is "E! News" senior correspondent, reporting on the lives of the rich and famous of Hollywood.
This is a memoir written about his spiritual search. I found his approach to his search very in depth and open-minded as one would hope a journalist to be, also very methodical. I could relate to much of his journey having traveled down similar roads.
I won a copy of this book on a Goodreads giveaway.
This is a memoir written about his spiritual search. I found his approach to his search very in depth and open-minded as one would hope a journalist to be, also very methodical. I could relate to much of his journey having traveled down similar roads.
I won a copy of this book on a Goodreads giveaway.
August 15, 2018
Ken Baker's quest for religious, spiritual, and deeper answers to God and religion, via Hollywood, celebrities, and mega-churches.
I won an uncorrected proof advanced reading copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.
I won an uncorrected proof advanced reading copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.
May 6, 2021
While I enjoy is a memoir every once in a while I found this story and the journey the author was telling to lack any sort of resolution. Yes, it's life so I don't expected to have the need ending a fiction book might. My only comment is that he give Christianity more of a chance instead of hopping from one religion or spiritual concept to another. That is, speaking as a Christian. That was my only take away from this book.
September 21, 2017
Intelligent well written. Chatty , breezy heartfelt soul searching. Here is a man who has everything, money. Prestige. Family. Sear Hing suddenly after years of spiritual negle t, for that which elevates his soul. Personal and intimate, relatable. Recommended
February 18, 2021
This book is about a middle aged man that works in celebrity journalism and his quest for finding God in Hollywood. He does a thorough quest, but my conflict is that he does not really involve his family in the quest.
November 29, 2017
Interesting account of Ken Baker's encounters of Hollywood's more spiritual side. Amusing and heartfelt and definitely off-center.
March 26, 2018
Ken Baker works for E! and this is his take on trying to find God while living in Hollywood. He goes on a spiritual quest trying on different religious practices to see what fits.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews