Review: Origin

Origin by Dan Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, at the outset I might as well mention that I am a Dan Brown fan. Other than good research, his books whip up tremendous pace and I find myself wanting to keep going.

This time, Robert Langdon finds himself at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao – invited by his brilliant former student Edmond Kirsch. Kirsch, who has always believed that science will have all the answers sooner or later, is also generally known to be provocative towards organized religion. He promises that his presentation will have far reaching consequences seeking to answer the two most intriguing questions all of us have: Where do we come from? Where are we going?
The event is organized by Ambra Vidal, the beautiful museum director who is engaged to the Prince of Spain. The event ends in tragedy just before the Edmond’s presentation is to be made. Robert Langdon and Ambra Vidal flee the scene, determined to pursue, and reveal to the world Edmond’s presentation. They have an unlikely ally in one of Edmond’s creations. As with all of Dan Brown’s books, there are plots and twists.

As with all of Dan Browns books, the research is credible – be it the places, the history or the organizations involved. And yet – when the answer is revealed, it is somewhat disappointing since the build-up seems to allude to somewhat much bigger. There are also a few loose ends in the plot.

The discussions in the later sections of the book around religion and science, and how they can be both be progressive and complimentary are very good. The openness, and progressive thinking Robert Langdon speaks about are much needed and should find more resonance in government, religious and scientific circles.

If you have a more serious inclination to the matters discussed in the book, I would suggest the books: The Vital Question: Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex Life, Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow.

If you like Dan Brown’s books, you will love this one too.


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