Reviewed by Leonard William Smuts for Readers' Favorite

The question of the creation and the beginning of time has challenged both scientists and theologians for millennia. In Mysteries of the First Instant, authors Daniel Friedmann and Dania Sheldon explore the topic from an entirely fresh perspective. They set out to reconcile the scientific evidence of how the Universe was formed by comparing it with the available ancient texts. The first part of the book is devoted to a comparison between scientific and spiritual knowledge, with the “Big Bang”, Einstein’s theories of relativity, Quantum Physics, and related research discussed in depth. The scientific evidence is reviewed in the light of ancient wisdom such as the Book of Genesis (the first book of the Jewish Torah and biblical Old Testament), also quoting extensively from the mystical tradition of the Kabbalah, which is itself supplemented by illuminating commentary from scholars and academics. A timeline for the instant of creation is established, as well as a scriptural pointer to the End Times. The final result is a surprisingly close match between science and religion, but, in particular, it is our scientific knowledge that remains incomplete and the theories contradictory.

This book is the latest in a series by Daniel Friedmann - in this case, in collaboration with Dania Sheldon. The common theme is an attempt to understand our ancient history. The book concentrates on the creation of the Universe, with particular reference to planet Earth. It does not seek to examine the origins of mankind, instead dealing with physical matter. The authors present detailed and compelling evidence to support their conclusions. The wealth of mystical wisdom will surprise some readers and diagrams and tables of data are provided to simplify our understanding of the complex issues discussed. There are numerous illustrations, extensive appendices, a bibliography, and a detailed glossary. Mysteries of the First Instant may be quite challenging for some readers to absorb in terms of the volume of scientific data included, but overall this is a well-researched analysis, presented in an accessible format. It covers a topic that has been largely avoided and should promote much-needed dialogue. A most interesting analysis, well presented, on a topic that is seldom explored! The End Times timeline was particularly fascinating.