The Last Days of Jesus: His Life and Times

The Last Days Series #3

by Bill O'Reilly, Edward Herrmann (narrator), Macmillan Audio (publisher)

Two thousand years ago, Jesus walked across Galilee; everywhere he traveled he gained followers. His contemporaries are familiar historical Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus, Herod the Great, Pontius Pilate. It was an era of oppression, when every man, woman, and child answered to the brutal rule of Rome. In this world, Jesus lived, and in this volatile political and historical context, Jesus died—and changed the world forever. Adapted from Bill O'Reilly's bestselling historical thriller Killing Jesus, and richly illustrated, The Last Days of Jesus is a riveting, fact-based account of the life and times of Jesus.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Religion, Christian, Biography, Audiobook, Spirituality

Audible Audio

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Bill O'Reilly's success in broadcasting and publishing is unmatched. The iconic anchor of The O'Reilly Factor led the program to the status of the highest rated cable news broadcast in the nation for sixteen consecutive years. His website BillOReilly.com is followed by millions all over the world.

In addition, he has authored an astonishing 12 number one ranked non-fiction books including the historical "Killing" series. Mr. O'Reilly currently has 17 million books in print.

Bill O'Reilly has been a broadcaster for 42 years. He has been awarded three Emmys and a number of other journalism accolades. He was a national correspondent for CBS News and ABC News as well as a reporter-anchor for WCBS-TV in New York City, among other high-profile jobs.

Mr. O'Reilly received two other Emmy nominations for the movies "Killing Kennedy" and "Killing Jesus."

He holds a history degree from Marist College, a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University, and another master’s degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Bill O'Reilly lives on Long Island where he was raised. His philanthropic enterprises have raised tens of millions for people in need and wounded American veterans.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/billor...

Reviews

[Jay Pruitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say I'm the biggest fan of Bill O'Reilly as a TV personality. But as a historical author, I simply love his writing style. Yes, I recognize that some may pick up a book like The Last Days of Jesus, or for that matter any of the other books by O'Reilly, and consider it a watered down version of history. This is particularly the case if you have a greater depth of knowledge about the subject (in this case, Jesus) than the author is trying to convey in the book. But let's face it, sometimes we just want to enjoy and immerse ourselves in the reading, rather than getting bogged down in the weeds. You want more detail, read the bible. I did find that some parts of the book caused me to go back and reread the scriptures. That's a good thing, right? Not everyone has time nor inclination to read the bible every night, although many like myself feel that is a lofty goal. And yes, I'm sure there's a degree of poetic license which took place in writing the book. But nothing that was said struck me as an outright falsehood. Rather, it seems that in some cases inferences were made and, occasionally, the author made statements about what someone might have been thinking at the time, which clearly is not really known unless it was written in scripture.

I truly enjoyed the book. It's a quick read. I also feel it's a great primer for that reader who doesn't have a great knowledge of scriptures, but who would like to dip their toes in the water.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have preferred to given the book 3.5 stars, yet could not bring myself to give it 4. What I liked: the easy to read format enriched with informative illustrations, maps, and historical timelines. The author described the culture, regional lifestyles, religious beliefs, and political issues of the time period very well. What I didn't like: though a Catholic, the author didn't use a Catholic translation of the Bible for reference. He said that Jesus died in 36 AD, which is not correct. Mary Magdalene is referred to as a prostitute, which is often alleged but no proof exists that it was indeed the case. The title of the book is not a good choice, as the author covers the entire life of Christ. Much of the story told by the author is shared with a great deal of poetic license, filling in the blanks left by historical texts and Scriptures with a likely storyline.

This is a good book for adolescents and up, but is no replacement for Sacred Scripture and good catechesis.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This history in this one was set quite a bit further back than the other books I've read by O'Reilly, but I thought he did a phenomenal job between the information and graphics included in detailing Jesus's life and times. It was thorough and did well to explain the volatile politics of the time. The materials at the end of the book were also fabulous additions to the provided narrative.

[Donna-Marie O'Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging, educational, historical and unapologetic—in The Last Days of Jesus, with no holds barred, Bill O’Reilly as an investigative historian tells the story of the person of Jesus and the struggle of good versus evil in this book for youth. Positively worth reading.

[Dann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A companion to/re-edited version of the bestseller Killing Jesus, The Last Days of Jesus: His Life and Times is a compelling historical biography. Taking a focused look at the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth, author Bill O’Reilly follows Jesus’ traditional Jewish upbringing and revolutionary ministry. He also provides some background to the Roman occupation of Judea and its rulers. And, O’Reilly does an extraordinary job at humanizing the historical figures by adding in little details that really bring them to life. Additionally, Edward Herrmann’s rich and captivating narration gives the text a certain power and mystique. The Last Days of Jesus: His Life and Times delivers a remarkably vivid depiction of Jesus’ life and the events that led to his crucifixion.

[randasreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, clear and straightforward recounting of the life of Jesus the man. Very intriguing and brings historical context to the story by explaining what things were like at the time and who the leaders were. I highly recommend this book for both newbies and experts on the topic.

[MaryAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

well done!

[Jim Swike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read Historic Jesus books previously, but this is the best I have read. Interested in the topic, enjoy!

[Thomas Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts at the point just before the last super. Jesus is gathered with the 12. what i liked is that it is historically correct even though i had thought (prior to reading) that the other would have changed some events. it was very well set up with the chapters begining and ending in good places. i would recomend this to those who are interested in the last days christ.

[Anna Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written historical perspective of Jesus’s life and the culture of his time! The pictures and map really brought it all to life. In the past, I’ve found Bill O’Reilly’s writing style to be hard to engage with. However, he redeemed himself
In this book.

[Linda Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seems to be a copy of Killing Jesus except photos and artwork have been added. I did not see much new materials here from the book with Martin Dugard -

Makes me wonder what is going on: (1) Did O'Reilly republish the prior book and drop Martin Dugard for some reason? What would reason be? Seems like it should logically be a violation of copyright.

(2) Did O'Reilly want to appeal to the public who love pictures these days?

(3) Did O'Reilly need more money? That would be hard to believe.

At any rate, I was expecting a volume 2 and got severely disappointed.

[Keith Lovell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall an easy historic perspective , the title is somewhat misleading is over half the book that was his early life.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of Bill O’Reilly’s The Last Days of Jesus: His Life and Times is somewhat misleading. While it does have some focus on that final week, it actually is a compilation of his entire ministry as well as his visit to the Temple when he was about twelve years of age. Also, what O’Reilly does is to make you think that the bulk of his ministry occurred within a few days when it actually spanned over several years and unless I missed it, not once did O’Reilly address the fact that Jesus brought back three from the dead, including his beloved friend Lazarus, in this work. I also think there was a mistake when the audio addressed that Judas would be crucified within three days when it was a clear nod to Jesus. In the Afterward, it is interesting that O’Reilly gives updates to the major characters in this book so that you have an idea of their outcomes. However, to me, this was a series of Sunday school lessons run amok.

[Alesha Cary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I am perhaps just not a fan of the way that O'Reilly writes, because this is the second book where I like the content, but I find myself having to force attention to what is being said because the sentences are short, choppy, and almost a little too direct.

That said, the content here is interesting. O'Reilly presents a researched picture of the life of Jesus, complete with a lot of illustrations, pictures, and footnotes for those who want to explore how Jesus spent His time on Earth and what the world looked like during that period of time. The format is also (for most people) easy to read, with short chapters, short sentences, and not so many words on a page.

While the writing style is not my favorite, I did enjoy the visuals included and the current, journalistic feel of the the text as it covered the life of Jesus in a new way. For those so inclined, it may be an enjoyable read.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A version of O'Reilly's Killing Jesus: a History more for the younger reader with tons of illustrations and samples of architecture, maps, clothing and artifacts of the time. The author intends to reveal the actual man - as can be inferred by historic source and knowledge of the time period - rather than discuss the religious icon that Jesus of Nazareth became.

If you've read the Killing version, you basically have the same story but a little more sanitized and with more illustrations and interruptive pages to provide insight in some aspects of local culture and history.

2021-185

[David Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This version was adapted for children from the adult version of Killing Jesus by Oreilly. The chapters are short the information is fantastic geared towards early teens about the life of Jesus Christ from his birth to his upbringing to his 3 years of preaching and with his apostles to his crucifiction and reserection on the 3rd day. The book also offers information about the history of Jewish faith, the city of Jerusalem and life under Roman rule. I received as a gift as Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior and I truly enjoyed it. Great for those in early teens who are interested in the Christian faith or want to learn about Jesus Christ and the times in which he lived.

[Micheal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bill O’Reilly is Catholic and I found it strange that there was a lot that went against Catholic teachings. Aside from giving specific dates for the last week of Jesus’s life, the thing that stuck out the most was the statement that Jesus was 36 when he died. Growing up in the Catholic Church I was taught that Jesus began his public ministry at 30, did the ministry for three years, and was crucified at 33. I first learned this from my dad and he is about three and a half years younger than the author. I would have thought that they would have been taught the same since they grew up in the same era of the Church in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s.

[Donna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever been curious about Jesus and wondered about his life (and death) either historically or spiritually or both, this may be the book for you. O'Reilly gives a factual and detailed account of Jesus' final days in the social and cultural context of the time period. If you are already a believer, you will appreciate the historical details. If you are simply wanting to know more about the historical man named Jesus and curious as to why so many people still follow him centuries later, then this account of Jesus' final days may give you some answers.

[Sharon Nale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, a good review of the life of Jesus, and along with it, a few facts I had not learned yet. Easy to listen to, comforting yet authoritative reader. Bill O'Reilly reads the intro, and I respect his researching abilities, and how he investigates to find the truth.

He sets the scene of life in those days, and lays it out nicely via narratives of Luke, Paul, Mark, and John mostly.

Mostly deals with Jesus as a man, and not as Jesus as a messiah.

Interesting, and well worth the read.

[Stevie Ciske · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the onset this book says it will not mention that Jesus is the Messiah. Bill O'Reilly is a professing Christian, so I'm not sure why he was reluctant to state the truth in this manner, instead he tells the events from a historical point of view. And even still, there is no doubt in my mind that Jesus is the Messiah. And from the historical accounts themselves, there is no denying. I appreciate that facts were shared and I pray those reading who are still skeptic will face the historical truths and come to the same realization that Jesus IS the Christ. And the only one who can save us.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

O'Reilly wrote the story in a way that informed the reader of the area's culture, the inhabitants' beliefs and governmental systems, and local customs. Some explanations cleared up questions I had from Bible readings. This was a truly interesting book which painted a good picture of the personalities of the important historical figures . Definitely a recommendation to anyone who is seeking an easily read book of the times.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve learned about this event too many times to count; mostly by reading the Bible, attending church, and studying at home. Still, I learned some new things from this short book that helped put events into context for me. This book also answered some “why’s” that I didn’t understand from the verses in the Bible. I didn’t get much out of it in the way of being spiritually uplifted, but mostly historical and cultural information that was interesting.

[Ruth Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book inspired me to dig more deeply into the New Testament for the scriptural accounts of Jesus' life. I loved the illustrations and drawings, especially the middle section with colored pictures of a replica of the Temple Mount in Jesus' day. The author included lots of Jewish and Roman culture of the times, and made it easier to see why Jesus was put to death. Very interesting read!

[Catie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It was informative but not exciting. I didn’t feel like I was right there or anything. It was completely non-religious, which isn’t a bad thing. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything about Jesus that was purely historical. This is the version for kids, so perhaps a reading of the fuller version would be more interesting to me. 🤷‍♀️

[Marylovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed the author’s podcasts in the past and was surprised that he had written a short book on Christ. I listened to the audiobook and appreciated the historical details that explained the political and religious implications around the time of Christ. This is not in-depth scriptures but was an excellent start to understanding this period of time. Highly recommend

[Nick Katenkamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book and the whole series are just quick versions of his better Killing series. It's a nice refresher and quick read that can be very informative for those that don't know the subjects well. This entry is a bit more questionable as O'Reilly adds some dialogue for flavor that is almost certainly not factual.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book. Once I began, I was sadly disappointed. This book had a ton of hearsay. I didn't know what to actually believe because of all the extra that he threw in. I wish I could have known what was real and what was fictional.

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two thousand years ago, Jesus walked across Galilee; everywhere he traveled he gained followers. His contemporaries are familiar historical figures: Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus, Herod the Great, Pontius Pilate.

[Virginia Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that told you what happened to Jesus in his last days.It was interesting because it also gave information about life during that time for Jews under the Roman Empire.Chapters are short and easy to read.

[Darel Krieger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book based on the Lord Jesus. I love the timeline and how Mr. O'Reilly literally took the reader from the beginning of our savior's life till the end of his days here on earth. Of, course the good news was to follow for all of the human race who believes. Nicely done.