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BOOK REVIEW: De-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts behind the Fiction of the Da Vinci Code

Amy Welborn (of Open Book) wrote a nice little analysis of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. I have to commend Amy on a well thought out and even-keeled analysis of The Da Vinci Code’s problems, since it would be easy to rant on a book this deceitful. But she goes step by step and shows how very little The Da Vinci Code reflects true history from a secular or a religious viewpoint – and she does it in a very compact way, which means this is a quick read that’s loaded with proofs of Brown’s errors. I do think that Amy is overly nice to Dan Brown in her criticisms, but she still makes it clear that he is not a history scholar no matter how he fashions himself to the public.

I think my favorite point is when Welborn points out that one of the books that heavily influenced The Da Vinci Code is considered fiction by it’s author – a classic blunder. There’s so many errors in fact that it’s difficult to even begin listing them, but De-Coding Da Vinci does a great job of simply focusing on the big mistakes and using small asides to point out the numerous errors that aren’t central to the bigger religious issues Dan Brown attempts to bring up. Welborn covers the reality of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, the early Church – oh and Mary, the Mother of God, whom Dan Brown surprisingly overlooks in his book (this would destroy one of his central thesis) – as well as Constantine and the historical aspects of Christianity with ease. She really does a wonderful job of simply pointing out the emperor Brown’s lack of attire.

Personally, I think Dan’s going to have a lot of explaining to do when he leaves this world (Dante would suggest there’s a special place in hell for those like Brown). I know several people who had a crisis of faith after reading The Da Vinci Code and, frankly, it’s a shame. It’s a shame that Dan would attempt to pass this book as historically accurate. And it’s a shame that there isn’t more attention paid to the ridiculous claims he makes. For those who have read The Da Vinci Code, I highly recommend you take a few hours and read the other side: Amy Welborn’s devastating and accurate rebuttals of Brown’s errors. You won’t view The Da Vinci Code in the same light again. For those who haven’t, read De-Coding Da Vinci anyway, you will receive questions about the book, if you haven’t already. Click here to see De-Coding Da Vinci on Amazon.com.

God bless,
Jay