This is not at all what I expected--I didn't even read a synopsis of the book and know almost nothing about the author's life--but it was thought provoking and riveting. If you have ever delighted in a philosophy class or enjoyed studying the history of religion, you'll get a lot more out of this book than if you are completely uninterested in those things. I get the feeling this is one of the books Snow Crash was making fun of, but I may be wrong. You may not like it, but I thought it was great.