On the surface, The Monkey Bible is the story of a Christian college student named Emmanuel who discovers a paper in an old Bible that infers he is actually part monkey. Emmanuel is concerned about the revelation and wonders if God is concerned with those who are part animal. He is curious about what higher being he is accountable to now that he suspects that he is not 100% human.

In an attempt to discover who he is and his purpose, Emmanuel goes on a trip with his friend Lisa. In the process of their travels through many countries, the reader is exposed to bio-storytelling, the Tree of Life (TOF), and many scholars that express their opinions and theories.

The best way I can categorize The Monkey Bible is to call it a work of “fictional, non-fiction”. The story it tells is a work of fiction.  The mini-lectures and essays contained throughout the book deal with real issues and theories. Reading this book was kind of like going to a conference. There were times of lecturing and questioning with conversational, “life goes on” moments in-between.

Mark Laxer does an excellent job of mixing informative, thought-provoking articles with an excellent plot. If the lectures and articles contained in the book had been published without the story, the book would probably have only been read by students or researchers. The interwoven fictional story draws the reader into the “meat” of the book and creates an interest in it.

By emphasizing what they have in common, The Monkey Bible attempts to bring together the beliefs of creationists and evolutionists.

In one of the chapters near the end of the book, Lucy is re-writing part of the Monkey Bible that she wrote for Emmanuel. In this chapter, Lucy is relating what she has been told by the UG (Unlikely God). The majority of the chapter is devoted to ecology and what the “human apes” should do to conserve the earth’s resources as well as their own species. Though it was written for “human apes”, it contains sound advice for humans.

Overall, an excellent book that will challenge the reader to evaluate their beliefs as to the origin of the world, what it means to be human, ecology, and more.

For more information about the book and the author, I would suggest visiting The Monkey Bible website at http://monkeybible.com/intro/index.php.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was given an uncorrected proof copy of this book by the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Tags: 5 STARS, action, adventure, creationism, ecology, evolutionism, family friendly, fiction, non-fiction, philosophy