Niklas Heer
Finished the Qur’an (audiobook) — A Critical Inventory
After finishing the Bible, I wanted to listen to the other major “comparison text” that comes up in discussions all the time. My overall impression: the Qur’an felt more structured than the Bible, but also more explicitly normative, harsher toward non-believers, and—at least in audiobook form—often more repetitive than I expected.
More structured than the Bible (and that changes the experience)
Coming from the Bible (especially the Old Testament), the Qur’an felt, in a way, cleaner: fewer genealogical marathons, fewer “who begat whom,” fewer long stretches of historical bookkeeping. The text often reads like it is addressing you directly rather than primarily telling a sprawling national history.
That’s a strength—until it becomes a weakness: because it’s so focused on recurring themes, the repetition starts to stand out. The same core messages return again and again with variations in wording and emphasis. Sometimes that gives it rhythm and intensity. Other times it felt like listening to a moral/legal refrain on loop.
No “Old Testament narrative genocide” vibe (AFAIK) — but it’s not modern ethics either
One thing I want to phrase carefully: I did not (AFAIK) encounter the same kind of Old Testament-style narrative passages where God repeatedly commands “utterly destroy” entire peoples in a war-chronicle way. That was one of the elements in the Bible that I found most disturbing.
But anyone hoping this will automatically feel “modern” morally should be cautious. The overall framework is clearly patriarchal, and slavery is treated as an existing institution in a way that’s hard to reconcile with today’s values. Even if you contextualize it historically, it’s still part of the moral universe of the text—and you can’t just hand-wave that away.
Surprisingly Bible-adjacent (but not “Bible quotations”)
I was genuinely surprised how much the Bible shows up as a reference point. The Qur’an explicitly acknowledges earlier revelation—especially the Torah and the Gospel—and presents itself as standing in continuity with that tradition, often framing itself as a confirmation/correction of what came before.
So: not “quoting the Bible” in the casual modern sense, but definitely positioning itself in relation to earlier scriptures.
Hell is extremely explicit (and very central)
The biggest tonal difference for me: the Qur’an’s hell imagery is frequent and vivid.
And this created a tension I kept noticing: God is repeatedly described as merciful, and yet a huge amount of attention is spent on non-believers, their error, and their punishment—often in very concrete, repeated terms. The message doesn’t just warn; it returns to the warning so often that it becomes one of the book’s main emotional pillars.
Part scripture, part lawbook — and harsh by today’s standards
Like the Old Testament, the Qur’an often felt like it’s not only about spirituality but about governing a community: identity, boundaries, permitted/forbidden, obedience, consequences. In that sense, it’s “clear.” But clarity isn’t the same as wisdom, and the harshness—especially when filtered through a modern ethical lens—can be jarring.
My conclusion
If my main issue with the Bible was that the Old Testament is brutal, repetitive, and morally dissonant with the message of love in the New Testament, then the Qur’an gave me a different problem set: it felt more structured and direct, but also more repetitive, more law-like, and more intensely centered on punishment for outsiders. Add in the patriarchal framing and the normalization/regulation of slavery as an existing institution, and it’s hard for me to call it inspiring in a modern sense.
Rating: 3 stars — more structured than the Bible (to me), but often repetitive, ethically dated, and intensely focused on non-believers and hell.
Wladimir Kaminer beobachtet mit humorvollem Blick von außen die Eigenheiten der Deutschen. Als russischstämmiger Autor bringt er eine erfrischende Perspektive mit, die einem die eigene Kultur auf unterhaltsame Weise spiegelt.
Das Hörbuch ist mit knapp 2,5 Stunden angenehm kurz. Dass Kaminer selbst liest, verleiht den Geschichten zusätzlichen Charme – sein leichter Akzent und sein trockener Humor passen perfekt zum Inhalt.
Ich kann dieses Hörbuch jedem empfehlen, der leichte Unterhaltung sucht und bereit ist, über deutsche Eigenarten zu schmunzeln.
Parzival ist eines der bedeutendsten Werke der mittelhochdeutschen Literatur und erzählt die Geschichte eines jungen Mannes, der vom naiven Toren zum würdigen Gralskönig heranreift.
Ich habe die Audioversion gehört und fand die Umsetzung gelungen. Die Sprache war überraschend zugänglich – ich glaube, das liegt an der guten Audioaufbereitung.
Was mich überrascht hat: Manche Themen wirken erstaunlich modern – die innere Entwicklung von Parzival, sein Umgang mit Fehlern und die Bedeutung von Mitgefühl sind auch heute noch relevant. Allerdings handelt der Protagonist oft sehr kindlich, und man merkt natürlich, dass die Tiefe und Komplexität heutiger Romane etwas ganz anderes ist. Einige Passagen sind zudem langatmig, besonders die ausführlichen Turnierbeschreibungen.
Ich kann dieses Hörbuch jedem empfehlen, der sich für mittelalterliche Literatur, deutsche Klassiker oder die Artus-Sage interessiert.
Contains spoilers
Dieses Buch öffnet einem die Augen für eine europäische Hochkultur, von der ich vorher noch nie gehört hatte: die Donauzivilisation. Haarmann zeigt, dass in Südosteuropa bereits zwischen 6500 und 3500 v. Chr. eine Zivilisation existierte, die in vielen Bereichen älter und fortschrittlicher war als die mesopotamischen oder ägyptischen Kulturen.
Die Fakten sind beeindruckend. Die Alteuropäer entwickelten das älteste Schriftsystem der Welt – rund 2000 Jahre vor den Sumerern. Sie bauten Städte mit bis zu 8000 Einwohnern, größer als alles, was es damals in Mesopotamien gab. Sie erfanden das Töpferrad, die ersten Brennöfen mit Temperaturkontrolle und beherrschten bereits die Kupfer- und Goldverarbeitung. Der Goldschatz von Varna (ca. 4500 v. Chr.) ist der älteste bekannte der Welt.
Was mich besonders fasziniert hat: Viele Errungenschaften, die wir den Griechen zuschreiben – wie die Weinherstellung oder die Olivenölproduktion – wurden in Alteuropa bereits Jahrtausende früher praktiziert. Auch in unserer Sprache leben alteuropäische Wörter weiter: Kirsche, Wein, Olive, Keramik, Metall sind keine indoeuropäischen Erbwörter.
Für mich war teilweise der Schreibstil etwas langatmig. Gerade in den Kapiteln zur Archäologie und Kulturchronologie verliert sich das Buch manchmal in Details, die den Lesefluss hemmen. Auch die vielen Fachbegriffe und Fundortnamen machen es stellenweise anstrengend.
Insgesamt kann ich das Buch jedem empfehlen, der sich für europäische Geschichte und Archäologie interessiert oder wissen möchte, was vor den Griechen war. Es korrigiert den eurozentrischen Blick, der die griechische Antike als Nullpunkt der europäischen Zivilisation sieht.
This book offers a fascinating look into the mythology of the ancient Canaanites through translations of texts found at Ugarit.
It was eye-opening to see the parallels between these stories and the Hebrew Bible. Seeing the cultural context from which the biblical traditions emerged—specifically the descriptions of the storm god Baal and the high god El—adds a lot of depth to understanding ancient religious history.
However, because the original source materials are damaged clay tablets, the stories are often fragmented. There are frequent gaps where lines are missing, which can make the narrative flow difficult to follow at times. It is definitely more of a historical resource than a smooth story.
I recommend this book to everyone interested in ancient history, mythology, or anyone seeking to understand the cultural background of the Old Testament.
Die Bibel komplett gelesen – Eine kritische Bestandsaufnahme
Ich bin Christ und hatte noch nie die Bibel komplett gelesen – das wollte ich nachholen. Nach monatelanger Lektüre muss ich sagen: Das Alte Testament hat mich enttäuscht, während das Neue Testament deutlich besser ist.
Das Alte Testament – Eine Enttäuschung
Die bekannten Passagen wie die Schöpfungsgeschichte, Moses in Ägypten oder die Zehn Gebote kennt jeder. Ich dachte, es würde mehr um die Einhaltung dieser Gebote gehen. Stattdessen dreht sich ein Großteil um Opfergaben, Opferrituale und detaillierte Vorschriften – während “Du sollst nicht töten” selbst von Gott ignoriert wird. Gott ruft mehrmals zum Völkermord auf (Philister, Amoriter, etc.) und die Brutalität ist erschreckend.
Der Gott im Alten Testament ist launisch, rachsüchtig und eifersüchtig. Er schließt Bünde und ist dann wütend, wenn das Volk “sündigt”. Er testet Hiob auf Satans Wette hin, obwohl Hiob absolut fromm ist. Das ist kein Gott, mit dem ich mich identifizieren kann.
Die Probleme im Detail
Brutale Monotonie: Richter, Samuel, Könige – alles ist brutal ohne erkennbare Moral. Vergewaltigungen, Massaker, Kopfabschlagen. Das Volk missachtet die Zehn Gebote ständig, und es gibt keine spannende Erzählung, die erklärt, warum die Protagonisten handeln, wie sie handeln.
Endlose Aufzählungen: Namen, Zahlen, Städte, Stammbäume. Die Bücher Numeri, Chronik und Levitikus sind kaum zu ertragen. Viele Regeln werden heute nicht mehr eingehalten (Opfergaben, Speisevorschriften), aber sie nehmen enormen Platz ein.
Frauenbilder: Frauen werden als Untertanen behandelt. Alles Schlechte wird mit “Hurerei” verglichen – ein durchweg problematisches Frauenbild.
Die Propheten: Jesaja, Jeremia, Hesekiel – immer das gleiche Muster. Gott droht mit Vernichtung, weil das Volk anderen Göttern huldigt. “Die Leichen sollen liegen wie Dung auf dem Feld.” Sehr repetitiv und deprimierend.
Die Lichtblicke
Es gibt einige bessere Bücher: Hiob hat philosophische Tiefe und echte Emotionen. Ester und Judit sind spannend erzählt – bei Judit ist sogar eine Frau die Heldin! Nehemia zeigt Zusammenhalt und Großzügigkeit. Die Weisheitsbücher (Sprüche, Prediger) bieten gute Gedanken.
Das Neue Testament – Deutlich besser
Ab Matthäus wird es besser. Jesus' Lehren sind klar und fokussiert: Liebe Gott und deinen Nächsten. Die Evangelien sind besser geschrieben als das Alte Testament – besonders Lukas mit seinen sozial fokussierten Geschichten (Barmherziger Samariter, Verlorener Sohn).
Die Apostelgeschichte ist spannend und hat echte narrative Entwicklung. Die Paulusbriefe sind manchmal etwas theoretisch, aber interessant – besonders wenn Paulus persönlich wird (Philipper, Galater). Der Fokus verschiebt sich von blindem Gehorsam zu Glauben, Liebe und Gnade.
Aber: Auch hier gibt es Probleme. Patriarchale Strukturen (“Frauen sollen schweigen”), Sklaverei wird akzeptiert, und Homosexualität wird verdammt (Römer).
Mein Fazit
Ich habe auch antike Texte wie das Gilgamesch-Epos, die Stoiker oder Sun Tzus “Kunst des Krieges” gelesen. Das Alte Testament ist nicht wirklich spannend, sehr repetitiv und wenig inspirierend für besseres Verhalten.
Meine Empfehlung: Das Alte Testament sollte ans Ende der Bibel verschoben oder in ein separates Buch ausgelagert werden – mit Kommentaren, die einordnen, was aus heutiger Sicht wichtig ist. Die Bibel ist viel zu lang (ca. 78% sind Altes Testament!), was viele abschreckt. Das Alte Testament widerspricht Jesu Botschaft der Liebe so stark, dass es diese für mich abschwächt. Das muss nicht sein.
Für Christen würde ich empfehlen: Lies das Neue Testament, vielleicht einzelne Geschichten aus dem Alten Testament (Schöpfung, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David), aber überspringe die endlosen Aufzählungen und die brutalen Kriegsberichte.
Bewertung: 2 Sterne – Die wichtigen Botschaften Jesu werden von 78% alttestamentarischem Material erstickt.
“Inside KI” von Stephan Scheuer und Larissa Holzki bietet einen umfassenden Einblick in die Welt der Künstlichen Intelligenz und ihre Auswirkungen auf unser Leben und Arbeiten. Das Buch stellt KI-Pioniere und innovative Unternehmen vor, die die Technologie vorantreiben. Es eignet sich gut für Leser, die einen Einstieg in das Thema suchen und verstehen möchten, wie KI unsere Zukunft gestalten wird.
“An Elegant Puzzle” by Will Larson is a must-read for engineering leads in fast-growing tech companies. Drawing from his experiences at Uber and Stripe, Larson offers in-depth insights into complex management challenges like technical debt, migrations, and workload balance.
Unlike other management books that cover the basics, this book dives straight into advanced issues, making it highly valuable for seasoned managers. Larson's conversational tone makes the content approachable and engaging.
While some sections are a bit repetitive, the book's practical advice on setting strategies, building hiring pipelines, and managing change is top-notch. It's also useful for product managers and recruiters in similar environments.
Overall, “An Elegant Puzzle” is insightful, practical, and engaging—a good addition to any engineering leader's library. I can fully recommend it.
PS: One caveat for me was the Audible version, I didn't like the voice actors' way of reciting the book.
“How to Decide” by Annie Duke is a compelling guide to improving decision-making. The author, a former professional poker player, explores how decisions are influenced by quality and luck. She encourages readers to focus on the decision process rather than just the outcomes.
A key point is understanding the why behind your decisions—success or failure should not solely define their quality. The suggests keeping a decision journal to avoid hindsight bias, and stresses the importance of evaluating the pros and cons based on your goals. She also offers practical advice on estimating probabilities and seeking external perspectives to make informed choices.
The authors' pragmatic approach includes making quicker decisions when stakes are low and using tools like the Only-Option method to resolve indecision. This book teaches that the journey to a decision is as important as the result, emphasizing the role of luck and the process itself.
That all being said, I found some parts of the book repetitive.
Overall, I recommend “How to Decide” to anyone looking to refine their decision-making skills. It's insightful, practical, and engaging.
“Power Hour” by Adrienne Herbert is an inspiring lifestyle guide focused on helping readers transform their lives by dedicating the first hour of their day to their goals. Herbert's writing is personal and engaging, making the book easy to relate to. The concept revolves around harnessing the early hours to create a productive morning routine that can significantly impact one's life.
Although at times it feels like the book is repeating similar points.
This book is ideal for anyone looking to optimize their daily habits and achieve personal success.
I recommend it to those eager to embrace a proactive start to their day.
Shaolin Spirit by Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi is an insightful guide to mastering yourself and empowering your body, mind, and spirit. Drawing from the 1500-year-old Shaolin teachings and philosophy, Shi Heng Yi shares practical lessons to help readers on their personal journey of self-mastery. The book starts out with the personal story of Master Shi Heng Yi, which I found very interesting. Personally, the focus on discomfort and teacher-student hierarchy is something that discourages me from diving head-deep into the practices, but they are intriguing, and I might come back to this.
I can recommend this book to anyone seeking to live with greater peace, purpose, and fulfillment.
“Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results” by Shane Parrish is an engaging guide to more effective decision-making. The book explores natural cognitive defaults and provides techniques for overriding these to enhance clarity of thought. Parrish emphasizes the importance of accurately defining problems, applying correct decision-making principles, and creating a safety margin in decisions. The book, drawing on various fields including philosophy and psychology, ends with the 3+ Principle: Force yourself to explore at least three possible solutions to a problem, not just an either-or, binary framing approach. I recommend this book to everyone who wants to make better decisions and improve their thinking.
Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner's ‘How Big Things Get Done' is a practical exploration into successful execution of mega projects. Delving deep into key principles like realistic planning, risk management, adaptability, leadership and continuous learning, the book showcases the importance of these aspects through enlightening examples like the Sydney Opera House and Empire State Building projects. Providing clear action steps and emphasizing the importance of flexibility and feedback loops, it's a crucial read for anyone engaged in large-scale project management or execution.
“Deming's Journey to Profound Knowledge” by John Willis is a revelation, intertwining Deming's life story with his groundbreaking System of Profound Knowledge. Willis takes us beyond a biography into the practical applications of Deming's theories, illustrating their transformative impact on industries from US Census data to World War II-era manufacturing and Japan's automotive industry.
The book skillfully highlights the role of statistics in the continual improvement of processes and systems, underpinning Deming's influential 14 Points for Management.
In essence, it is a powerful testament to Deming's enduring impact on modern management and systems thinking, making it a must-read for those seeking a more profound understanding of these concepts.
“Monolith to Microservices” is a highly insightful book that diligently tackles the complex process of transitioning an application from monolithic architecture to microservices. It bridges the gap between theory and practice, bringing valuable pragmatic recommendations to the table.
The book excels in delineating modern architectural patterns, providing an updated framework for individuals grappling with contemporary software development needs. Not only does it discuss the ‘how-to' extensively, but it also lays emphasis on the ‘why', offering readers the understanding to make informed decisions rather than blindly following best practices.
A key strength of this book lies in its balanced view. The author doesn't merely paint an idyllic picture of microservices but delves into potential pitfalls and challenges too. This clear-eyed perspective extends beyond pure technical implications, touching on organizational, cultural, and operational pitfalls that one might encounter during the transition.
This feature turns the book into more than just a technical guide; it becomes a holistic tool for organizations seeking to navigate the rough waters of infrastructure transformation. The author's articulate style blended with relatable examples and practical tips aids in transforming esoteric concepts into comprehensible knowledge.
In conclusion, “Monolith to Microservices” is a must-read for anyone involved in or looking to embark on the journey of transitioning from a monolithic architecture to microservices. It is woven with wisdom, cautionary tales, and helpful strategies that will guide you effectively through the complexity of such a transformation.
“Die Geschichte der Welt” is an enlightening book that presents a comprehensive recounting of global history, straying away from the conventions of predominantly Western-focused narratives.
What makes this book stand out is its committed effort to envelop readers in a truly multicultural whirlwind. Its source material isn't confined within a singular perspective, thereby painting a more nuanced picture of world history. The exploration journeys into regions often overlooked by mainstream historians, offering key insights into how events transpired parallelly across different civilizations and cultures.
This book may take the reader through epochs of time, yet its fluid writing style ensures a smooth traversal. As a reader, I found myself swiftly absorbed into the historical voyages, uncovering the intricacies of various cultures and their influence on our global timeline. Understanding history in this deserving multiplicity underlines how interconnected our past is and how it serves as a foundation to our present.
Therefore, “Die Geschichte der Welt” surpasses being merely a historical account; it emerges as a rich tapestry weaving together global narratives. I highly commend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in history. The multitude of perspectives it offers will leave you with a wider understanding and a profound reflection on our shared human journey.
For me, I was underwhelmed by this book. The plot is fairly slow, and the conclusion wasn't that exciting for me. Also, the true reason behind the actions of Dr. Jekyll is left unanswered. Other than that, I don't understand why he enjoyed being Mr. Hyde. Just because he had more energy and was able to do bad things? Furthermore, another question that needs answers is: What will Dr. Jekyll's friends do now that they know what he did? Will they still try to save his good name or not? Overall, one can read this book; it is entertaining, but you also won't miss much if you don't.
Ich fand die Geschichte leider ein wenig langatmig und mir fiel es schwer, vor allem in der Mitte motiviert weiterzulesen. Auch erneut einen Oktopus als Aufhänger fand ich zu sehr erzwungen. Der Streit zwischen den beiden Hauptprotagonisten hat sich für mich auch nicht natürlich angefühlt. Es gibt bedauerlicherweise auch keine wirkliche Charakterentwicklung. Der Bösewicht hat mich abgeholt. Es gibt interessante Nebencharaktere und interessante Einzelheiten. Teilweise ist der Plot vorhersehbar. Für mich wäre das perfekte Ende nach dem Schiffskapitel gewesen. Insgesamt unterhaltsam, aber muss man nicht unbedingt gelesen haben.
This book presents an interesting idea: is the common wisdom to save money until your retirement and then enjoy life the best strategy? Considering that your health will decline with age, you cannot even do all the things you could in your 20s or 30s. Sometimes the author takes this idea to the extreme, but I appreciate how thought-provoking it is. I can recommend this book to everyone. But maybe just reading a summary would be enough for most.
To me, this book had a low information density. The core message of the book is that IT gets a seat at the C-level table of a company only by not caring about the seat and doing servant leadership. As a CIO or CTO, you shouldn't play the game of proving to other leaders that IT provides value; you should rather enable value creation within IT by letting the experts decide. Now you know the main message. I recommend reading a summary of the book.
This book has some good ideas, but for me, it was too much speculation. Yes, future generations are important, but only thinking as a longtermist might result in not properly discussing or not discussing enough the problems in the here and now. Which is the only time we can influence something. We cannot predict the future too well, so we can only act and course correct to a better future for everyone. I can recommend reading a summary of this book, but the whole thing is probably too much except if you are a philosophy nerd.
This book is very academic and for me, it was hard to get through it at times. Some numbers, like military might, weren't explained in enough detail for me. For example, is it just military spending or a number made up of multiple aspects? The part of the book regarding history was interesting and for me sometimes new or at least looked at from a new perspective. Overall, I can only recommend this book if you have a specific reason to read it. Maybe you are a huge history nerd who's interested in economic as well, or you are an investor. Then this might make sense to read. Although the data is from 2021. So, you'll probably need to look up the current numbers on the mentioned website.
This book contains a collection of good advice but nothing revolutionary.
The biggest takeaway is that you can start your new life anytime. You don't have to wait for January the 1st to change something.
I recommend this book to people looking for a reminder of sound advice and wanting a little push to change something.
