The Language God Talks

On Science and Religion

By: Herman Wouk

Narrated by: Bob Walter

"More years ago than I care to reckon up, I met Richard Feynman." So begins The Language God Talks, Herman Wouk's gem on navigating the divide between science and religion. In one rich, compact volume, Wouk draws on stories from his life as well as on key events from the 20th century to address the eternal questions of why we are here, what purpose faith serves, and how scientific fact fits into the picture. He relates wonderful conversations he's had with scientists such as Feynman, Murray Gell-Mann, Freeman Dyson, and Steven Weinberg, and brings to life such pivotal moments as the 1969 moon landing and the Challenger disaster.

Brilliantly written, The Language God Talks is a scintillating and lively investigation and a worthy addition to the literature.

Not what I expected

I was disappointed with this book. I was expecting insights on material that talked directly about God and the Bible. Instead I got anecdotes and rambling thoughts and stories about life. Some of these were interesting, but like I said, not what I was looking for. The narration was fine.

Ramblings of an Old Man

A life-long devout Jew, Herman Wouk seeks to reconcile the unreconcilable. His narrative is anchored by three meetings with Richard Feynman wherein the physicist becomes increasingly interested in Wouk’s point of view. Wouk’s Feynman is not a consistent with the descriptions of others who knew him and seems to accept Wouk’s assertions without the questions one would expect a scientist to ask. As for his own faith, Wouk seems more to embrace the traditions of his upbringing and heritage than to articulate a certainty in the existence of the God engaged in the lives of his creations.

Savoring his major works and the resulting adulation, Wouk too often drifts to topics unrelated to either science or religion. He is a good writer and his ramblings provide a pleasant, though somewhat incoherent, diversion.

Wouk is a master

If you could sum up The Language God Talks: On Science and Religion in three words, what would they be?

A wonderfully thought-provoking thesis on the relationship between god and science, with a hefty dose of talmudic thought mixed in. Wouk explains why he believes in god, and how he has explained that belief to some of the greatest scientific minds of the 20th century, including Richard Feynman. The narrator has a wonderful voice that brings this book to life.

Richard Feynman, God and Herman Wouk

Would you consider the audio edition of The Language God Talks: On Science and Religion to be better than the print version?

Yes, but I always "hear" books. I do not read them. I bought the print version for my two daughters as they enjoy reading books.

What did you like best about this story?

The special and unique fabric that Wouk weaves between himself and Feynman. Wouk is a very special story teller as the thread he sews touches on cosmology, God, the culture of how we live in religion and how we see what we are capable of understanding and/or accepting in faith. It gave me the chance to relive a brief meeting I had with Feynman a half century ago.

Herman Wouk never fails

This is a wonderful autobiography of a God fearing modern Jew, author, WW2 U.S. Naval Warrior who lived to the fullest in modernity while taking comfort and knowledge from the Jewish past, it's history and an ancjent texts including study of the Talmud. One of the most interesting parts include his friendship with Feynman the great theoretical bongo playing physicist, though Jewish was a nonbeliever. There friendly debates concerning belief and nonbelief and whether science negates religion. Wouk rejects the idea that faith and science are incompatable. Wouk as always has his sweet prose sing out. The narrator is also great. !!

I would recommend this book to Christians, Jews and especially nonbelievers. Herman Wouk z"l, rest in peace!