A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (2003, Hardcover)

THE CHURCH DOES NOT WANT YOU TO READ THIS.

"May our heterosexist, religious & materialistic friends find an open sexuality, a real god and the joys of nature".(Anon).

ABOUT THE BOOK:

This man covers everything from the beginning of the universe to the future, with every subject in between - geology, science, philosophy, you name the aubject, he covers it. We learn about our Earth, ourselves, other creatures, turns in history, discoveries - nearly everything. It certainly offers a challenge to the tiresome religions that dull our minds, not that god does not exist, but if she, he or it does exist, god would want us to know more about ourselves, others, the planet and the universe. There is no better book for a crash course to learn about everything ... well nearly.

OTHER BOOKS OR COMPANION BOOKS TO THIS BOOK:

Biological Exhuberance by Bruce Bahgemihl (heterosexuality not a natural norm).
Jesus and the Shamanic Tradition of Same Sex Love by Will Roscoe.
In Quest of the Hero by Lord Raglan, Rank & Dundes (Jesus myths before Jesus).
David loved Jonathan by Tom Horner (Adam & Steve long before Eve - and more).
The Secret Gospel by Morton Smith (Jesus's male lover/s)
The Christ Myth by Arthur Drews.
The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels.
Eros and the Mysteries of Love by Julius Evola.
The Man Jesus Loved by Theodore W. Jennings, Jr.
Jacob's Wound : Homoeroticism in Ancient Israel by Theodore W. Jennings, Jr.
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (a must - god's hatred & world suffering).
Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra (if ever a bible of the universe it's this).
From Pre-Socratic Philosophers to Plato(first section of any philosophy book).
Homosexual Behaviour in Animals by Volker Sommer & Paul L. Vasey
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawkings

The Da Vinchi Code has some helpful insights, however its heterosexist stance that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene is quite out of keeping with the homosexual hero stories and homosexual religious masters who have spanned history and prehistory. If anything, Jesus had a male lover, which is well-explained in several of the books above.

DVD's

The God That Wasn't There (see how religion harms people and the environment).
Stephen Hawkings Universe (big bang and more).
The Unknown Jesus (there were many Jesus's).
The Einstein of Sex (learn about sexual behaviour).
Kinsey (learn about homosexual behaviour, and Plato's good, beauty & truth).
The Power of Myth (careful of Joseph Campbell's heterosexist interpretations).

SO YOU'RE HOOKED ?

If you want to know more about debunking religion, heterosexism and greed (which serve as handmaidens to each other), or about Homosexuality and how it relates to Spirituality and Plato's 'Good, Beauty & Truth', then read my other Reviews & Guides on these Subjects, and see book list above.

Tidbit: One of the closest similarities to Jesus and the "Youth" is that of Hercules and his male lover, Hylas, with parallels like the river, a cave, nakedness, man lying upon man, wearing a loin cloth, asking the older one for love, etc.

KEY WORDS FOR THE HOMOSEXUAL HEROES & RELIGIOUS MASTERS TRADITION:

Hercules, Orpheus, Appolonius, Hadrian & Antonionus, Mithras, Osiris, Dionysus, Buddha, Jesus, Moses, Savior/Saviour Gods, Mystery Schools, Resurrection Myths, Sacred Sex, Carpocrates, Gymno Gymnos, Gnostic Gospels, Mythology, Shamans, Ancient Heroes, Homosexual Heroes, Greek Heroes.