Realistically

Realistically, a book about Japanese lore would feature Japanese speakers, who (guess what) learned English after Japanese and therefore feature their accents. Realistically, it is not difficult to understand, unless you are entirely inept at English.
Realistically, listening to a book written about Japanese lore by a white guy is bound to have its mistakes, but overall a decent retelling of Shinto. But definitively from a western perspective. The author studies religions from all over the world, but that’s the first real mistake. Shinto is not a religion, it is a lifestyle. Shinto is a way of living.

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Kingsley's 'newsreel' tone a touch distracting

Full of interesting information, this audio book makes for a good introduction to Japanese religions and spirituality. I was looking forward to hearing Kingsley narrate but, for some reason, he adopts a tone right out of a British war-time newsreel which, while amusing, highlights when the script occasionally oversimplifies topics (carefully explaining them in "Western" terms,) and the piece slips into the patronizing. Nevertheless, the information is clearly presented, aided by voices other than just "newsreel Ben" for quotes from other scholars etc...
A small warning for those who are not used to listening to Japanese speaking with a heavy "Katakana English" accent - a few of the Japanese readers might be a little difficult to understand.

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Sounds like a really old AM radio broadcast.

Book has some interesting points to make like how it touches on the ambiguity of the Emperor of Japan declining his Kami status, but it is mixed in with ideas that genetics are the decisions of our parents and that therefore karma must also be true as it is our decisions in nature and spirituality.

Interesting!!!!

I've always been interested in how Shinto works and this was a great beginners description of the religion.

Reasonable intro to a survey of info

This text, in and of itself, provides the curious with an opportunity to expand their knowledge about Japan and its religious customs, touching on what little early historical evidence we have and the much wider breadth of records, knowledge and such that comes up later.

All in all, the text's pacing is really far from perfect, which is partly due to that issue of little old knowledge and a surplus of newer knowledge. Plus, as other reviewers stated, there are several instances of the main narrator's role being momentarily taken by the possible voice of an authority on the matters. While the accents and speaking habits of these guest speakers may add to the experience of the text to some, for others it will detract from it or complicate the ease of understanding its content through listening alone.

In general, however, I'm a Japanese Studies major who wanted to see where this text might offer valuable insight, new knowledge, or an enjoyable reinforcement of what my teachings have already given me. In a way, it gave me a vague blend of the three. If this topic is of interest to you, it's certainly worth a listen.

Interesting, informative, & enjoyable

I received a lot of good information and more importantly understanding about Shinto beliefs and some of the more modern Japanese religious beliefs.

Bleh

I believe there were some good insights somewhere but the premise of having Japanese speakers/actors speak VERY poorly accented English - to the point of being unintelligible at times - was horrid.

This was imo a complete waste audibly. Written - it's probably better.

Interesting, at first.

He did a good job when he explained a few things about Shinto. but I wish he would have stuck more traditional religions instead of going on about small religious sects that most Japanese people dont even know about. So if your interested in Japanese culture, read half the book, and then read something else.

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