Good but not brilliant - Rated 
I thought this was a most enjoyable read in accessible language on the mystery of Jesus. It was not, however, wholly satisfying. To give two examples, Pope Benedict makes the point that many people ask why Jesus has not done more to reveal himself in more recent times. It is an intriguing question. His response seems, at least to me, incomplete and says nothing more than the totality of Christ's revelation was the Cross. Quite so, but we knew that anyway, so why 'tease' the reader that he might have more to say on the subject?
A second example is in his excellent analysis of the 'Our Father'. He asks the question 'Is God also mother?': again, an intriguing question. However, once again, his answer is confined to a few lines on p140 which seem incomplete and leave one puzzling about why he asked the question if he had so little to say about it.
Notwithstanding the above, I am looking forward to Part Two when it is published.
Beautifully Written - Rated 
This is a beautifully written book, accessible to the non-theologian yet requiring some solid concentration to take fully on board the theology. It has proved to me beyond doubt that Pope Benedict is an excellent communicator, his thoughts are lucid and he makes great effort to explain through numerous reference works the writings of the Church Fathers and other theologians through the ages on the subject of just who was Jesus of Nazareth. The particular highlights for me were the chapters on "The Lord's Prayer" and "The Message of the Parables", they were truly sublime.
I concur fully with an earlier reviewer who says that this book is one to be read and re-read again.
Catholic philosophy - Rated
The Bishop of Rome takes Jesus to be the son of God. There is not much relevance in the person Jesus if he is not the son of God in this way. The Pope also takes it that the New Testament is the writing of people who were inspired by God. Therefore, historical accounts of his life on earth which diverge from the story presented in the New Testament take name of God in vain.
There should be no half-measures in Christian belief. It may be easy to know that God exists; but to think that the Gospels are the word of God requires faith. As he says, if theologians tamper with Jesus' biography, and attempt to mix themselves in other sources, they are expressing their scepticism, and that is their despair playing about with them.
With his reading of Chist as the intermediary between God and man, a moment in a history of progress away from a time of heaven to the dearth of today, toward some happiness, the Pope shows himself a careful Heideggerian in his philosophy. Similary, in his view that words were used by the evangelists in such a way as to have in them God's own intention, the writer again pursues a method of reading which Heidegger used when he wrote of poetry which is the word of Being.
If man is totally distinct from God, then this is another valuable and Heideggerian distinction. Moreover, if man must recognise who he is, and must do so by finding himself to be a breach in creation for love to come through, then this is Heidegger's account of Dasein as the opening for Being.
Maybe the reliance goes the other way, however...
Not a good believer, but . . . - Rated
I've been a doubter most of my life. Benedict came close to entrapping me. The only thing that saved me was I knew I was dealing with the world's macro-genius of theology. Yet, although I did not come away as a believer, I did come away with a profound respect for this good man who so many accept as the Vicar of Christ on earth.
If you like pope-books, try John Cornwell's `The Pope in Winter', a wonderful record of the ups and downs of John Paul II. Also, get your fingers on Lucien Gregoire's `White Light Dark Night' a newly released biog of another of Benedict's predecessors, the 33-day Pope. We've heard too much of his death. Finally someone brings John Paul I back to life: his struggles as an impoverished child, as a rebellious seminarian, as a revolutionary priest and as an outspoken bishop/cardinal. John Paul I had a very different definition of `Jesus of Nazareth' than did either of his successors.
Wonderful Academic Work - Rated
In this book, Pope Benedict XVI uses both the New and Old Testaments to confirm the Divinity of Christ, and gives us direction on how to increase our faith and expand our hope. He also confirms the catholicity of the Catholic Church and instills that our goal is to find salvation through Jesus. While he's speaking directly to academe, this book was also written for all people. Along with the Bible he reinforces his points with tradition and other theological sources.
We are able to benefit from His Holiness masterfully shows that Jesus revealed that he himself was God. You understand Jesus is Lord when you have finished this book, or have it reinforced if you already know the truth. This is a great textbook and though I do recommend that everyone read this book, be aware that it does seem to expect the reader to have a background in the Bible and to be familiar with the story of Jesus. This is the kind of book you would expect from the Church's leading theologian. I do recommend you get your own copy so you can read and re-read this.
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