To a God Unknown

By John Steinbeck

Book Overview

Set in familiar Steinbeck territory, To a God Unknown is a mystical tale, exploring one man's attempt to control the forces of nature and, ultimately, to understand the ways of God.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140042334
• ISBN13: 9780140042337
• Release Date: September 1976
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 1.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

"To A God Unknown" is a terrible beauty

"To A God Unknown" is Steinbeck's disturbing treatment of spirituality, superstition, and the power of faith. This is a story that will stick to the ribs of the thoughtful reader. At turns horrific and beautiful, this is a book to be read at intervals in the course of the life of a spiritual seeker. You will be haunted by the truths found beneath the hard stones of Steinbeck's simple language, and will find yourself returning again to this disturbing kingdom of the soul. Combining elements of Christianity, Paganism, and free-form superstition, this book may well cause you to reassess your thoughts on the nature of the mind and of god.

The don't make 'em like the used to

Every great once in a while, a gem of a story falls into your hands, and so it is with "To A God Unknown". I have never understood why this book has not received the notoriety that it well deserves. It is truly Steinbeck's sleeper. I have recently been reading some of the current 'bestsellers' and the Oprah books and have become thoroughly disillusioned and disgusted with what we're killing trees to produce. I think it's time to reread something worthwhile.If only J.S. could be reincarnated.

It spoke to my soul.

John Steinbeck's "To A God Unknown" reached into my soul and what emerged was a clearer sense of myself. This novel truly spoke to me. It is known that Steinbeck had an adversity toward organized religion, and that fact is evident in the text of this book. What struck me most was the insight into paganism and the worship of nature in its truest, rawest form. Man living in harmony with nature is a recurring theme along with the fact that humans must not desecrate the earth for monetary gains, but rather must understand nature and live within nature's guidelines. Steinbeck's lyrical prose confirms these beliefs that I hold close to my heart