America's Prophet: Moses and the American Story

by Bruce Feiler

The exodus story is America's story.

Moses is our real founding father.

In this groundbreaking book, New York Times bestselling author Bruce Feiler travels through touchstones in American history and traces the biblical prophet's influence from the Mayflower through today. Feiler visits the island where the pilgrims spent their first Sabbath, climbs the bell tower where the Liberty Bell was inscribed with a quote from Moses, retraces the Underground Railroad where "Go Down, Moses" was the national anthem of slaves, and dons the robe Charlton Heston wore in The Ten Commandments.

One part adventure story, one part literary detective story, one part exploration of faith in contemporary life, America's Prophet takes readers from Gettysburg to Selma, the Silver Screen to the Oval Office, to understand how Moses shaped the nation's character. America's Prophet is a thrilling original work of history that will forever change how we view America, our faith and our future.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Religion, American History, Politics, Faith, Biography

368 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2009

About the author

BRUCE FEILER is one of America’s most popular voices on contemporary life. He is the author of six consecutive New York Times bestsellers; the presenter of two prime-time series on PBS; and the inspiration for the drama COUNCIL OF DADS on NBC. Bruce’s two TED Talks have been viewed more than two million times. Employing a firsthand approach to his work, Bruce is known for living the experiences he writes about. His work combines timeless wisdom with timely knowledge turned into practical, positive messages that allow people to live with more meaning, passion, and joy. His new book, LIFE IS IN THE TRANSITIONS: Mastering Change at Any Age, describes his journey across America, collecting hundreds of life stories, exploring how we can navigate the growing number of life transitions with greater purpose and skill.

For more than a decade, Bruce has explored the intersection of families, relationships, health, and happiness. His book THE SECRETS OF HAPPY FAMILIES collects best practices from some of the country’s most creative minds. The book was featured on World News, GMA, and TODAY and excerpted in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Parade. THE COUNCIL OF DADS describes how, faced with one of life’s greatest challenges, he asked six friends to support his young daughters. The book was profiled in PEOPLE, USA Today, and Time and was the subject of a CNN documentary hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Since 2001, Bruce has been one of the country’s preeminent thinkers about the role of spirituality in contemporary life. WALKING THE BIBLE describes his 10,000-mile journey retracing the Five Books of Moses through the desert. (“An instant classic,” Washington Post). The book spent a year and a half on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into fifteen languages.

ABRAHAM recounts his search for the shared ancestor of the monotheistic religions. (“Exquisitely written,” Boston Globe). WHERE GOD WAS BORN describes his trek visiting biblical sites throughout Israel, Iraq, and Iran. (“Bruce Feiler is a real-life Indiana Jones,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution). AMERICA’S PROPHET is the groundbreaking story of the influence of Moses on American history. THE FIRST LOVE STORY is a journey across four continents exploring how Adam and Eve shaped our deepest feelings about relationships. (“A miraculous thing—the literary equivalent of breathing new life into a figure of clay,” New York Times Book Review; “Feiler’s best work yet,” Publishers Weekly).

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Bruce lives in Brooklyn with wife, Linda Rottenberg, and their identical twin daughters.

Reviews

[David Rubenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this fascinating book, is that many key points of American history were based on the biblical character, Moses. His story had strong influence on the Pilgrims, on Harriet Tubman, Brigham Young, Martin Luther King Jr., and on a number of presidents, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and even George W. Bush.

The Second Continental Congress appointed John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson to form a committee to design a seal for the United States. Both Franklin and Jefferson independently proposed seal designs picturing scenes from the Exodus! They both thought that freedom was an important concept to be embodied in the seal. (Neither of their proposals was ultimately accepted.)

The Liberty Bell is inscribed with words of Moses, "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof." A hand of the Statue of Liberty holds a set of tablets, reminiscent of Moses. He was a national hero for slaves, who sang a number of songs about him. The comic book hero Superman is based partly on Moses; both were sent away as babies by their mothers, in order to survive, and both grew up, unknowingly, among people from "other tribes".

Moses has always been a symbol of gaining freedom from oppression. This theme figures very strongly in the American psyche. Bruce Feiler makes a very strong case for the central role that the story of Moses has played throughout history.

I listened to this book as an audiobook, which was read by the author. Feiler is a mediocre reader; his narration does not add much to the impact of the book. Nevertheless, this book weaves together a compelling story, explaining how the concept of liberty holds so strongly among Americans, and how Moses is seen almost universally as a hero who embodies this concept.

[Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really liked this book, and I am sure it has changed the way look at history, and many key figures in it, particularly the way I look at the founding of America. But there was an underlying tone I did not like. The author, Bruce Feiler, was Jewish. I have no argument with that, and I appreciate his point of view and totally understand it. The part I did not like was his comparison of Moses and Jesus Christ. He in effect dis-empowers Christ and gives all credit to Moses. I understand that he does not believe that Jesus was the Christ, and since he doesn't, he sees the comparison as being between two more or less equal leaders. He says Christ is not a very effectual leader. I suppose his opinions would change if he realized or believed that Christ is the God, the Great I Am, who spoke to Moses on Sinai. Wow, that would be a big eye opener, wouldn't it.

That said, I loved the things he had to teach me about the way Moses' story is used as a type for so many people and circumstances down through history. I learned so much, and for that I am grateful. Moses was a great prophet, there is no doubt about it. And as I recently reread the Pentateuch, I came to realize in a very powerful way how close Moses was to his Lord. I came to love and appreciate him more than I ever have.

This journey of mine through the Pentateuch, and now through this book on Moses and those other "Moseses" who have come after him, has been incredibly interesting and worthwhile. I have learned so much!

[Brian Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feiler is an enthusiastic explorer of all that Moses has meant to Americans, whether he was taken as the prophet of liberty from all servitude, the bringer of a stern holy law, or a proclaimer of special status for his own (Judeo-Christian) people over others.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this was an excellent book. I struggled in the first 100 pages - as maybe the author struggled to choose a tense or a voice. He jumps from 1st person to third, then engages in conversational dialogue. It kind of drove me crazy. However, eventually we hit a stride. The discussion of how the story Moses has been evoked throughout American history was fascinating. I most enjoyed the sections on emancipation and the civil rights movement.

A couple of interesting quotes:

"Rousseau describes freedom as giving the law to yourself," he said. "And that's what supposedly happens at Sinai. When Moses comes down from the mountain, the people say, 'All that the Lord has spoken, we will do.' That's when they become a free society. They had been Pharaoh's slaves, and now they are God's servants. In biblical Hebrew, the same word, ebed, is used to describe the Israelites' relationship to Pharaoh and later their relationship to God. There's a kind of bondage in freedom."

Speaking of Cecil B. DeMille and the making of The Ten Commandmentswith DeMille's granddaughter:
"Because Moses is a more universal story than Jesus, and in the fifties a more relevant story. Moses is the antithesis of communism, and Grandfather hated communism. He said terrible things happened to countries who had no God."

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

No book deserves five stars, but I loved it. Feiler documents the way Moses has been used as a major figure in the founding of America and beyond. I love the way he does his research and the way he writes.

The following is from the reviewer: The exodus story is America's story. Moses is our real founding father.

The pilgrims quoted his story. Franklin and Jefferson proposed he appear on the U.S. seal. Washington and Lincoln were called his incarnations. The Statue of Liberty and Superman were molded in his image. Martin Luther King, Jr., invoked him the night before he died. Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama cited him as inspiration. For four hundred years, one figure inspired more Americans than any other. His name is Moses.

In this groundbreaking book, New York Times bestselling author Bruce Feiler travels through touchstones in American history and traces the biblical prophet's influence from the Mayflower through today. He visits the island where the pilgrims spent their first Sabbath, climbs the bell tower where the Liberty Bell was inscribed with a quote from Moses, retraces the Underground Railroad where "Go Down, Moses" was the national anthem of slaves, and dons the robe Charlton Heston wore in The Ten Commandments.

"Even a cursory review of American history indicates that Moses has emboldened leaders of all stripes," Feiler writes, "patriot and loyalist, slave and master, Jew and Christian. Could the persistence of his story serve as a reminder of our shared national values? Could he serve as a unifying force in a disunifying time? If Moses could split the Red Sea, could he unsplit America?"

One part adventure story, one part literary detective story, one part exploration of faith in contemporary life, America's Prophet takes readers through the landmarks of America's narrative—from Gettysburg to Selma, the Silver Screen to the Oval Office—to understand how Moses has shaped the nation's character.

Meticulously researched and highly readable, America's Prophet is a thrilling, original work of history that will forever change how we view America, our faith, and our future.

[Kristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was recommended on Glenn Beck's show once, but I found it very disappointing...
1. this is a Jewish author that didn't even know that the 10 plagues were each an attack on an Egyptian god. He called them nuisances. Nuisance? Yah, they were a little more than that.
2. He called God impulsive. He said Moses talked God out of being impulsive.
3. He is anti-Catholic, but he's anti-Catholic without really understanding Catholics. Typical.
4. He said Christians downplay Moses. I disagree. Moses foreshadowed Christ. That is very impt. Of course, Christ is most impt of all, and I understand that a Jewish person would not agree with that. That in itself though would not have stopped me from reading the book.
5. He called the covenants God made with Adam, Abraham, and Jacob "quasi-covanenants" because they weren't in writing like His covenant with Moses (10 commandments). Isn't that like taking today's standards and applying them to yesterday?
6. His grammar is incorrect and his editor didn't catch it, but I did. :-) Again, not enough to make me stop reading the book, but annoying.

All together though, these things bothered me enough to quit reading it. On to something else now.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not well documented. This is a good example of proposing a theory, building your arguments, but not substantiating them. Good exercise in today's environment of fake news and alternate facts. You can easily see how he built his case with no foundation. Have read enough about the US Revolution to see how forced this argument is.

Interesting premise and I enjoyed seeing the Civil War from the viewpoint of the impact of the Beecher family; did check the basic facts were true.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise. Very well-written. I just wasn't overly compelled by the subject matter.

[Todd Stockslager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review title: Why Moses?

Why is Moses "America's Prophet"? And why is Bruce Feiler the right person to answer the question?

The second question is easier to answer. Feiler writes history and religion through place, as in his best known book Walking the Bible, which I read before I started writing book reviews. The combination of prose and place in a kind of travelogue of history grounds theory in familiar places for Americans like Plymouth Rock and Independence Hall, to help Feiler make the concept of Moses as the American Prophet real. It is reminiscent of Tony Horwitz's writings on the Civil War , so it is not surprising to see a quote from him on the back cover praising this book.

Now to the first question: Feiler's premise here is that the Biblical account of Moses being called by God to lead the nation of Israel, confront the Pharoah to "Let my people go", and lead them out of bondage to a Promised Land, reflects the American story. Or perhaps more accurately, reflects the way the Pilgrims of the 17th century, the Founding Fathers of the 18th, the abolitionists of the 19th, and the Civil Rights leaders of the 20th, couched their missions and objectives to both explain and inspire their actions and followers. It is, an interview subject tells Feiler,

a narrative larger than their own lives. A narrative of God delivers me through the Red Sea. A narrative that if you're lost in exile, you can remain holy. A narrative of life is stronger than death, love is more powerful than hate. If you do not have a narrative larger than the world gives you, you're just going to get sucked up by the world.

"Whether or not the Bible is true," he continued, "is insignificant, compared to Are you going to live by the narrative you find there?" (p. 62)

Put in those terms, this becomes a powerful narrative of America's history.

And the Bible was definitely the key source book for the founding generation. A study of 15,000 items published in America between 1760 and 1805 that map all their source references found that 34 percent of "all references were to the Bible, compared to 22 percent for the Enlightenment and 9 percent for the classics." (p. 93) However, in the months when the Constitution was under construction, 1787 to 1788, the percent of Biblical references dropped to less than 5 percent. The founders were intimately familiar with the Bible, but explicitly did not create a "Christian" nation. In fact in Jon Meacham's life of Lincoln that I just read, the self-proclaimed "Christian" nation was the Confederacy that justified it's Christian status based on the Biblical and theological justification not just for slavery's existence but for it's positive moral and ethical value. Meanwhile, the antislavery activists who were largely evangelical Christians and acted out their faith morally and ethically to bring American racial slavery to an end, were vilified by the Christian Confederacy because they supported and represented the "godless" Northern culture and government. "Decades earlier Washington had been hailed as the American Moses," but during the Fugitive Slave Law era before the Civil War, "now Americans wanted Moses [Harriet Tubman] locked back into shackles." (p. 137).

The other aspect of Moses' life that make him appropriate and appropriated for so many arcs of American history is that after reluctantly becoming a leader, facing down a Pharaoh to "Let my people go," and providing 40 years of wilderness leadership in route to the Promised Land, he is also the human instrument who ascends Mount Sinai and returns with the laws of God to establish a new national covenant. Freedom from Pharaoh is not license to sin, as Moses and his people learned in the wilderness. "Moses' goal is to build a counter-Egypt. He must construct a society that offers an alternative to ignorance and unknowingness. He must devise a community that remembers." (p. 306). The Pilgrims escaping the Church of England, the founding fathers the tyranny of unrepresented taxation, and Lincoln the violence of slavery and disunion, all sought to establish a new government: a shining city on a hill, a government by democracy, a nation that honored its declaration of equality.

Feiler weaves a living story by visiting these Moses-in-America sites, researching the documentary history, and interviewing the living historians and descendants of these movements. He provides a bibliography and short summary of key sources for each chapter, but this isn't an academic treatise; there are no footnotes and no primary sources. But accept it and read it as a living story and it will help you link to what you may already know about Moses and about America’s history, and help you think about where we have come since 2009 (when the book was published) and where we need to go to reach our next Moses moment.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are somewhat familiar with the author's body of writing or about the relationship between American history and theology [1], then you have a fair guess as to what you will find here.  There will be some dodgy discussion of scripture, a great deal of attention spent to research, and a high amount of travel, all viewed through a somewhat typically left-wing Jewish perspective that is also simultaneously pro-Southern.  This was not as enjoyable a book as I thought it would be.  As a student of religious history and the relationship between the Bible and culture, I was familiar with a lot of what the author discussed already.  Yet, as the author notes when discussing the crisis of American theology and politics in the time of the Civil War, the Bible ceases to be a viable authority for parties in dispute when it is the interpretation of those scriptures that is in dispute.  Such disputes can only be resolved by either rhetorical or physical force, as was the case in the Civil War.  The author, in many cases, wants to have things both ways, in using the importance of Moses to American history and culture as a way of bolstering the importance of Judaism while simultaneously not viewing the specific content of the laws as being all that important, a fault that was shared by antebellum Southerners who sought legitimacy from the fact that slavery was regulated and permitted in scripture without comparing their own conduct with the content of the laws about slavery.

This slightly more than 300 page book is divided into ten chapters that examine the importance of the story of Moses to American history.  After giving a discussion of the story of Moses in the Bible itself, the author looks at the way that Moses has been appropriated generation after generation as a way of providing guidance and legitimacy within the cultural and political sphere.  So we have Moses as an example to those Puritans fleeing into the wilderness from the tyranny and corruption of Europe, a Moses as a model of liberation for Americans fighting for independence and then for slaves.  A Moses as a defender of the rule of law in the early American republic and as an unlikely defender of slavery in the American South.  We see Moses appropriated for the movies, as in The Ten Commandments, and by Communists and civil rights activists.  We see the author give the expected praise to Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. (even as he admits King's flagrant plagiarism), and towards the end of the book as the author examines the fractured religious identity of contemporary America the author feels it necessary to note that he was not a fan of George W. Bush, as if that is something to be ashamed of.

This is a book that can be better praised for its content than its approach.  On the positive side, the author makes it clear that Moses and the story of the Exodus has been immensely influential as a model for America, and that even in an age like ours a great deal of religious influence through Moses remains.  There is a lot about the book that I feel negatively about, though.  The author naively claims Moses to have been more important than Christ to American history, and makes a report that simultaneously seeks to insult Christianity, praise the antebellum South for its biblicism, and praise more contemporary leftists in their search for social justice.  The author also fails to note that the prosperity gospel and social gospel are equal evils.  As someone who expected this book to be a lot better than it was, I found it immensely disappointing, even though one could have guessed how the book would go if you assumed that the author would take the most irritating and offensive aspects of his personal worldview and background and combine them together in a book that manages to collect a lot of facts about the importance of Moses to the American experience and then interpret them without any degree of consistency or godliness.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2016...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2010...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2013...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2012...

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the end of the middle ages Moses was a marginalized character from the Bible, with the Catholic church downplaying much of the Hebrew Bible (the first five books of their Old Testament) in their liturgy. It would be inconceivable that a new and modern nation would liken itself to this figure. Protestants, however, took a liking to Moses. Whenever there was a figure who was seen as a leader out of some kind of morass, starting with Martin Luther himself, there would be a ready comparison. Columbus’ writings often included references to Moses, one of the possible clues that some interpret as indicating a Jewish background. The various waves of immigrants from Britain, who wished to escape religious persecution, identified with the Exodus story. As much a model of disappointment as achievement, it appealed to the Pilgrims and their despair upon arrival in Plymouth and their rough early years. This later coincided with the ideals of the American Revolution, which cast George III in the role of Pharoah. The Founding Fathers initially wanted Moses on the seal of the United States but having a human on the seal felt too much like having a king.

Reformers in revolutionary times saw that the Old Testament, which contains the Torah, as a call to action. Exodus later provided a framing device during abolitionist years, used effectively by Harriet Beecher Stowe in her writings and Harriet Tubman’s alias was Moses. Abraham Lincoln was constructed by some as a Moses character before, during and after the Civil War. First he was the reluctant but chosen leader, and later the one who didn’t make it to the Promised Land. This mantle was also taken by Martin Luther King a hundred years later, and his speech the night before he died referenced not making it to the Promised Land. The Statue of Liberty, broken shackles at her feet and holding her tablet of law is a tip of the hat to Moses, along with the idea that a nation of exiles should care for future immigrants, strangers in a strange land, whom we all were at one time. The gray haired Uncle Sam who came to prominence in the late 19th Century and during the world wars also has a bit of Moses about him. The eleven words on the Liberty Bell (“Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants therof.”) are from the King James translation of Leviticus, which is primarily God’s words to Moses, who is supposed to pass the laws on to the Israelites. The reason why the Liberty Bell was chosen as the symbol of the fledgling country was because of these words. Freedom is not just from evil, but also freedom to do something, freedom to be good, to build, to help.

I've read this author before and he's very easy to read. His books make a few good points but it never feels earth shaking. He backs up his points with facts and anecdotes. They stick with me, but don't necessarily challenge me. But he always comes with curiosity and decency.

[Ross Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Liberty Bell has a curious sentence inscribed on it: “"Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof."

Some thoughts:
* Pilgrims are still with us because their dreams were realized on these distant shores, but at such price of half their lives and unimaginable hardship. They saw themselves in a Mosaic light, in a new Promised Land, led by God, away from pharaoh’s persecution.
* Moses on the seal, as offered by Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin first.
* Moses’ legacy is Sinai and the Red Sea: Law and Freedom together
* Ever since 1776, Freedom has had an American accent (just as since the first Passover, it has had a Hebrew accent).
* There are, and always have been two Americas: one, founded by Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield, that begins from Biblical roots and Pilgrims’ dreams, and the other, with figureheads like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison, that spark ideas from the Enlightenment. Secularists believe that secular culture will eventually abolish religion, and Judeo-Christians believe America will come back to its religious roots. But both are wrong. There will always be a religious America and a secular America.
* A study of the Statue of Liberty would be a great look at immigration history in History class or Saturday School.
* God’s people will always come back to God in exile (Emma Lazarus’ words when she, an agnostic Jew, saw the waves of Jewish immigrants from E. Europe and Russia after Tsar Alexander’s assassination and became infatuated with reclaiming her Jewish traditions and identity. A friend pushed her to write The New Colossus, rechristening, or rather, rejudaizing, it back to its monotheistic foundation (instead of it being an ode to a pagan deity).
81% of Americans believe in God in 2022 (Gallup), down from 87% in 2017.
* Moses is the Law-Giver, his statue on the Supreme Court along with Solon of Athens and Confucius of China. But he is also the reluctant leader. And he dealt with rebellions from his own people. Middle manager, between the people and God.
* But he is also the rebel. The quintessential figure to stand against the oppressive totalitarian theocracy, the dictator of Pharaoh. Every generation redefines him.
* Every century, some argue, there comes a new Moses in terms of freedom: Washington, Lincoln, King Jr.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating listen, especially at this time of year (4th of July). I loved how well interwoven Moses is in so much of America's foundation. It was interesting to discover how many past American presidents have not only identified with Moses, his exodus and liberation of the Israelites, but also have quoted distinct passages from Exodus in their speeches. It was equally compelling to ascertain how opposing sides both associated with Moses but for obviously different reasons, such as the Patriots and Loyalists during the Revolutionary War, the North and the South during the Civil War, and those anti and pro segregation during the 1960's. I enjoyed realizing how deep-rooted the Judaic tradition is in this country, how much is has shaped and influenced our society and culture, and held the ideas behind super heroes like Superman and Captain America. The chapters on Cecil B. DeMille, his desire to create biblical narratives for the big screen, and his insistence on having Charleton Heston portray Moses as a strong, confident figure, despite character differences found in the Old Testament, helped me to appreciate his cinema genius and craftsmanship all the more. Throughout, Feiler provides a very well rounded and structured basis for all of the questions and arguments he raises, including opinions from top scholars, and incorporating his own families' personal traditions into the mix.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting and fairly quick read about the influence of the story of Moses, and Exodus, on the history of America. From the Puritans to the Founders to the pre and post Civil War; from immigrants to the Civil Rights Movement, the influence of the story of the Israelite people and their leader has shaped and influenced peoples, governments, and social movements in America. It's a wonderful story, and it can act as a powerful metaphor for people who are resisting tyranny, moving into an unknown land and future, and contemplating new beginnings. I really enjoyed this.

What I have noticed in the last ten or fifteen years is the rise of leaderless movements. That, to me, is unique in that most movements have (historically speaking) some kind of figurehead, or individuals who speak for, or represent, the zeitgeist of a time. Martin Luther King, Jr., for instance, was seen as the head of the Civil Rights Movement. Lincoln is seen as the head of the forces that ended slavery (not just as a President, but as a symbol). Our world is changing so rapidly; technology is allowing us to organize and communicate in incredibly effective ways. Maybe the time of leaders has past, and we are becoming more democratic and communal. So, #Moses#PromisedLand#LetMyPeopleGo may someday trend on social media!

[Steven Kopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to see Moses's story overlaid over American history. Feiler made a compelling case for Moses's influence.

Feiler often compared the influence of Jesus and Moses and concluded that Moses held more influence for America. I wish, though, the he had recognized that Jesus himself was both influenced by Moses and fulfilled Moses's story. Moses functions in the temporal realm to bring freedom and institute law. Jesus takes these themes and fulfills them in the spiritual realm - freedom from sin and law under the Holy Spirit. That spiritual reality then has an effect on the temporal reality. So, Christians being transformed spiritually by Jesus then draw on Moses to bring liberation in the social and political world.

Such an exploration was outside the scope of Feiler's work, but from a Christian perspective, adds to his thesis.

[Kathleen Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not my favorite of his books, this is an excellent look at the conscious and subconscious role Moses has in the story of America. His research was astounding and very thorough.

The only reason I say it is not my favorite of his books is that while it has his experiences trying to "track down" the Moses story it's not as much a personal narrative as some of his others. "Walking the Bible", "Under the Big Top" and "Learning to Bow" are more HIS stories of journeys and experiences than this book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. The author goes through the certain aspects of our country's history and relates it to Moses and how he has influenced our leadership. The book is rich in history and is well researched. If you are interested in the religious history of our country through the Pilgirms, Washington, Lincoln, Harriet Beecher Stowe and her husband, Harriet Tubman, and Martin Luther King, Jr. this book is for you

[Alfred Garrotto · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best, most enlightening reads in my personal library. Beautiful writing and scholarly research, combined with in-person interviews, makes this a keeper. I'd never thought of American history through the lens of the Moses and the Exodus. I've read other books by Bruce Feiler and loved them, but for me this one is the crown.--Alfred J. Garrotto, author, Bishop Myriel: In His Own Words.

[Jenny Karraker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting from a historical point of view, but not especially engaging. The main point seems to be that whenever America or figures in American history want to legitimize (and often rightly so) their cause, they refer back to the biblical story of Moses and how he led his people out of slavery into the Promised Land.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worked best for me as well as collection of little stories about how some American feature invoked Moses than it did as the author's overarcing premise - that Moses is the most important Intellectual figure in American History.

[Tom Helmick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a marvelous read, insightful, intriguing, informative, and pleasurable. I really enjoyed both his style and content.

[Chris Keil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the biblical and historical perspectives in this book.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. This was okay, but I didn't really relate to what he was saying.

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating and fun read.

[Marni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating insight to America's history and the connections to Moses and the Exodus.

[Wil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea of the extent of the influence of the Moses and Exodus themes on the fabric of American life. This is a fascinating and highly informative book.

[Derek Emerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ask the average American for the most influential person in the Bible and you'll likely hear "Jesus." Not so, says Bruce Feiler, who has made a career of bringing new life to old (but beloved) texts. Feiler keeps his wandering closer to home this time (he has traveled religious lands extensively) as he explores the importance of Moses in American history. Actually, importance is an understatement. According to Feiler, "you can't understand American history...without understanding Moses." He misses little ground in laying out his case, tracing the role of Moses in the Pilgrims, the Revolution, George Washington, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, the Statue of Liberty, Hollywood, Superman, and the Civil Rights Movement.

One of Feiler's strengths as a writer is seeking out new perspectives and discounting no one. He learns as much from scholars as he does from random conversations in part because he is interested in how issues impact people. Some of his ground here is well trodden, such as the United States founders interpreting their story as that of Moses, or seeing how the slaves found inspiration in the Moses story. But Feiler notes the slave owners used the same story for inspiration, especially as the Civil War approrached.

Therein lies a crucial argument for Feiler to address. Just because people have taken on the Moses story does not mean they were inspired by it. Indeed, some of what we see here is one of most common misuses of the Bible, where we appropriate scripture to justify whatever issue we wish to address. There is no doubt some of this is occurring with some of these examples, but that does not lessen the overall argument. But it is what makes Feiler's unusual subjects all the more interesting. His discussion of Cecil B DeMille's "Ten Commandments" movie shows how this was not just another movie for the famed director, but a chance to use the story of Moses to move American forward (as he felt it should). Even more interesting is the too short section on the creation of Superman as a modern-day Moses, a connection not missed by Hitler who banned the "Jewish" comic book.

By the end of the book the natural question is, so what? What do all these connections mean? Feiler anticipates the questions and summarizes his argument with three main themes. First, the story arises again and again because it tells of "the courage to escape oppression and seek the Promised Land." This aspect of the Exodus story is why so many people around the world can relate to the story. Anywhere and any time people are oppressed, the story of a people who break free from that oppression against all odds is inspiring.

Feiler's second theme is "the tension between freedom and law." Throughout the book this comes forth as one of Feiler's most interesting points. Moses realizes that freedom without law is chaos and receives the Ten Commandments. As the Pilgrims prepare to land they create their own set of laws, and during the Civil Rights movement they seek to overturn unjust laws but not escape the responsibility which comes with freedom. In the end the concept which best captures this is that of covenant, an agreement between individuals and their community, and for many, between their community and God. Current society clearly focuses on the idea of freedom over responsibility, and a reminder of this needed balance is important.

Finally, Feiler says a third theme is "the building of a society that welcomes the outsider and uplifts the downtrodden." This is not simply some left-wing interpretation of the Moses story. Instead, Feiler focuses on God's compassion to the Israelites throughout the Exodus story; if God shows such compassion, it is expected from the people as well.

So where is Moses today? Feiler and others offer no current models (Martin Luther King Jr. being the clearest, recent example). But then Moses is not meant to be around at all times. Instead, a Moses arises out of oppression when people need to be led forward, so it is certain that another Moses will appear at some point in the future. In the meantime, the Passover tradition is one which calls on people to remember the Exodus story, and now Feiler has given us the American Passover version of remembering this story and this person so we can be prepared for the next Moses.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every so often, I'll read a book by a Jewish author that makes me wish I had been born Jewish.

Thanks, mom. Yet again, I'm reminded that I'm not one of God's chosen people.

This was an extremely interesting read. I went into it with a certain amount of skepticism, figuring that it must be at least a somewhat weak polemic, popular mostly because of its author. But I emerged nearly-converted to Feiler's way of thinking. I had no idea how deep the threads of the Exodus story ran through American history and American leaders, and it was pretty fascinating to learn it.

Occasionally Feiler veers towards the hyperbolic. He says at one point that Moses is "our true founding father," and that his face belongs on Mount Rushmore. Near the end, he writes, "You can't understand American history, I believe, without understanding Moses."

I ultimately disagree with this statement; it's a bit much. But I will say that viewing American history through the lens of the Mosaic story gave me a different perspective, one that I never would have come up with myself. I'm very glad I read this book so that I can appreciate that perspective. It's always very, very cool to find a new way to look at something, especially when that something is as familiar as our American story. It seems that Moses hides in plain sight just about everywhere in this country.

I had two main problems with this book, which is why I can't go any higher than three stars:

First, WHERE ARE THE MORMONS?? Seriously. You can't write a book about the influence of Moses on American history without talking about Brigham Young, and yet his story is not here. Feiler mentions the Mormons on one fucking page. He does admit that the connection between Moses and Mormonism run deep, and yet he sums up these connections in a single paragraph. For comparison, he spends the equivalent of two pages detailing his long and treacherous voyage up the stairs to the bell tower where the Liberty Bell originally hung. He spends that long on a staircase and can't even give Mormons the time of day?

Second, and related: There are times when the book is just a bit too gimmicky. Take, for example, Feiler's aforementioned detailed description of his journey up the stairs, or his long conversation with Cecil B. DeMille's granddaughter, or his joy in handling real props (including Charlton Heston's robe) from The Ten Commandments, or his sneaking in to a Masonic ceremony. Perhaps his goal is to intersperse the more scholarly parts with some light, personal experiences to make the book move along more quickly. If that was the goal, he failed. These parts drag on and on and feel completely pointless.
It would have been much more fulfilling, at least for my reading and learning tastes, if he had skipped this confessional-esque, adventuring-esque bullshit and just stuck to telling me cool things about Moses and his role in American history.

[Sawn Medrano · Rating 4 out of 5]

very entertaining, educating, historical, and enlightening

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce Feiler writes in an interesting way about subjects that I find interesting, so this book would have been an easy choice for me even if I hadn't been preparing to interview the author.
I did come at it with a bit of skepticism, though. The connection of Moses to the American story seemed tenuous to me.
But Feiler makes a good case from beginning to almost the end. (The last pages are kind of preachy.) A committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin wanted Moses to appear on our nation's seal, he points out. And this was before Charlton Heston came along, so no one knew what Moses looked like. Sadly, the attention of our young nation's leaders became focused elsewhere, and later a group of non-entities gave us the strange seal we're stuck with. (Check a dollar bill if you want to see it.) The Moses-America connections began long before then and have continued to this day. In 2008, Feiler writes, Hillary Clinton compared herself to Moses, although Barack Obama chose Joshua.
I approached most of the individual chapters with similar skepticism, but Feiler continued to offer strong evidence for his claims. One of the most intriguing if not among the most important (and it took only a small part of one chapter), is the parallel between the life of Moses and the back story of Superman.
Feiler is strong on the Moses story but weaker when he delves into the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 7, he writes, "Jesus ordains that both slave and master abide by their calling." No, that was Paul.
In Romans 13, "Jesus insists that his followers honor the authority of their regimes." That, again, would be Paul. He correctly attributes a passage in Ephesians 6 to Paul, but then gives Paul additional credit for a passage in 1 Peter. No, that was written by Peter.
That particular chapter in "America's Prophet, dealing with the Civil War, is as interesting as the rest of the book but seems a little sloppy. In writing about Henry Ward Beecher, Feiler comments that "his hands were in half the petticoats of Brooklyn Heights." That may be so, but the only evidence Feiler offers is a public trial in which Beecher was accused -- but not convicted -- of committing adultery with a friend's wife. Even if the adultery did occur, and even allowing for hyperbole, that's a far cry from "half the petticoats of Brooklyn Heights."
For me, the chapter about Martin Luther King Jr. was another notch above the rest. I found it extremely moving.
I was also surprised and impressed by the frequency with which Moses appears in our nation's capital. This includes six representations of Moses in the Supreme Court building. The Ten Commandments are displayed in two different places in that building. One wonders: Will the Supreme Court ever have to decide a case on whether the Ten Commandments can be posted in the Supreme Court?