The Final Testament of The Holy Bible - James Frey

Now James Frey has written his greatest work, his most revolutionary, his most controversial.

This is what the back page of James Frey’s latest book states. As sensationalised as it sounds, it is true. THE FINAL TESTAMENT OF THE HOLY BIBLE is a very intelligent book.


The book cover resembles the Holy Bible, but couldn’t be more against it. James Frey has been in news for both, good and bad reasons. His first book, A Million Little Pieces is a “memoir” about his experience in the rehab after years of alcohol, drugs, abuse and felony. The book was personally recommended by Oprah to the world, acting as a catalyst in making it a worldwide bestseller. He was later brandished by the same Oprah on world television, calling him a liar and a cheat, after it was revealed by a website that Frey had, in fact, fabricated details of his story for the benefit of the book. He confessed that he had embellished some of the details to make it a better story.

The Final Testament talks about what the Messiah would be like if he was reborn in this world of war, corruption and endless religious battles. It talks about a new mythology, as to how the reborn Christ would react to a world like ours. The new “Messiah” considers religion a deterrent to the humankind and considers it as primarily being responsible for the situation we are in. He preaches that religion, like politics, is a means of escapism and a reason for hatred. The protagonist, Ben, goes about spreading the idea of love and saying that love is all that matters in life. He goes about his day, walking around in shabby clothes, helping people by whispering kind words to them, kissing them regardless of whether they are men or women, black or white, fat or slim.

An idea like this, where the reborn "Jesus” is bisexual, dressed shabbily and disregards the Bible is indeed very controversial, and could have easily been ridiculed. But the message Ben spreads cannot be ignored. The book makes you realise that love is what one lives for. Life, not death, should be a mystery one should pursue, Ben says.

The Final Testament is a very interesting book, a very original concept. It immediately entices the reader to know more about Ben. It does drag on in the middle, where Frey keeps harping on the point of love and reveals how Ben affects other people’s lives. It is interesting at first, but the story sort of stagnates and you want to know the end. It picks up in the end again and ends on a note which leaves the reader wanting to know more about Ben, but also leaves him/her satisfied. Frey’s writing, yet again, is very unique, again without any punctuations. In this book, he has told the story through the people who “met Ben”. It adds to the feel of the book and makes it more interesting to read.

All in all, I wouldn’t call it his best book, but it is definitely worth a read, because books like these make you think about life and its existence and its purpose.