Michelangelo's Finger

October 13, 2008
Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard gets a refreshingly clear and concise introduction in this latest book from Vardy, author of three The Puzzle of
... books (God
; Sex
; Ethics
). The author's skill as a teacher is apparent, as he manages not only to render the themes and intellectual characteristics of Kierkegaard's theology accessible to general readers but also to elicit sympathy for the occasionally off-putting and morose Dane. Dedicated to “that solitary individual” to whom Kierkegaard aimed his own writings, this book makes the 19th-century philosopher's explanation of a faith lived in the face of the absurdity of the incarnation engaging and sensible. Some thoughtful Christians will find it inspiring. Drawing from a variety of Kierkegaard's writings, Vardy shows how Kierkegaard's principled and uncompromising definitions of truth and sin, his understanding of the function of suffering and his view of love and the God-relationship are all crucial to understanding the Danish thinker's intellectual arguments and personal sense of purpose. Although this introduction cannot treat Kierkegaard's works exhaustively, it succeeds in making his key ideas come to life and gives the primary sources valuable context.

April 2, 2012
Basing his study on a detail of what is perhaps one of the best-known Western artworksâMichelangelo's The Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine ChapelâBritish poet, novelist, and professor Tallis (The Kingdom of Infinite Space) explores the significance of the index finger in humanity's development as a species. While the impulse to parse a cultural and biological history out of such an unassuming thing is a noble and intriguing one, in this case it's a stretch, as if contrary to Tallis's suggestion that the fingers of Adam and God in Michelangelo's masterpiece may have just separated, they are actually reaching to connect; similarly, Tallis is desperately trying to make this work. Though "the unnatural nature of pointing and what it tells us about ourselves are the theme of this book," he never quite reaches his mark. Expounding on meaning-making, linguistics (Tallis argues that "Pointing is often seen as a bridge between the pre-linguistic and linguistic states of humanity"), and other philosophical concerns, large portions will prove difficult to the general reader. However, such opaque ruminations eventually give way, in the latter half of the book, to an admirably breezy prose style more befitting its pop philosophy subject matter. Though Tallis begins with a compelling premise, readers will likely be using their definitive digit to scratch their heads after this one.