What readers think of Lamb, plus links to write your own review.

What is the origin of the Shroud of Turin? Why do Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas? Where does the word "judo" come from? What does the "H" in "Jesus H. Christ" stand for? The answers to these, and many more questions, are revealed in this book.

Quite funny, but also thoughtful and instructive. The question of where Jesus' teachings might have come from has been much debated. One school has it that he travelled and came into contact with Eastern religions. This book takes off from that idea, with Jesus seeking out each of the Magi in turn, for "son of God" lessons. (At the age of thirteen, he and Biff, both in love with Mary of Magdalen, decide to skip her wedding to the town bully, and find the Magi.)

Familiarity with the Synoptic gospels will aid in the appreciation of "Lamb".

As several reviewers have said, this is not for everyone, but it is one of my very favorite books. As a Christian, I found it thought-provoking. As a reader, I found it to be side-splittingly funny. It's well-written, fast paced, hysterically funny, engaging and more than a bit profane (although that's Biff, not Jesus). Highly recommended, especially to those whose faith is not easily challenged or offended.

Be warned: this book is not for everyone. If you believe every word in the New Testament, then leave it alone (the orthodox gospels take a heck of a beating here).
But if you want an extremely funny book that makes you think about how difficult it must have been to be a Messiah, this is the novel for you. I'd like to think that Jesus was lucky enough to have had a friend like Biff - well-intentioned, if slightly dim, fallible, but loyal to a fault. I picture Levi, who is called Biff, as a good-hearted frat boy, the kind that's a little too fond of lame pratical jokes, and is always mooning over some unobtainable cheer-leader (Mary Magdalen, in this case, and she comes across as one smart cookie) but always comes through for his buddies.
Some of the jokes are moronic, but hey, that's Biff, not Jesus. Some of them are subtle theological references, and many are laugh-yourself-sick brilliant.
This book also explains some puzzling religious mysteries, like why Jews go out for Chinese food on Christmas, and why there is an Easter Bunny (I guarantee you're never going to look on the wedding at Cana the same way again).
Lend this book to your best friend - the Unitarian with a sense of humor - but keep it out of the hands of sweet aunt Ethel, who sends money to the 700 club.

funny/kewl

I don’t know where to even begin in describing this book...I loved it so much. Written by Christopher Moore, through the eyes of Levi, who is called Biff, you are transported through what may very well have been the years of Jesus Christ that aren’t mentioned in the Bible (years 1 through 33). I laughed so hard in this book that I cried, and I cried, too. Biff is Christ’s (who is called Joshua) best friend. They travel in search of the Magi who visited Christ in Bethlehem so Josh can study and learn from them how to become the messiah. Along the way, Biff invents sarcasm and pencils (among other things) and Josh studies Buddhism and Yoga. You’ll read along looking for the stories you learned in Sunday School and laugh as they are told by Biff. Moore doesn’t change any of the stories we know, he just makes them funnier. Moore’s comment in the afterword is that he doesn’t want to change anyone’s religion unless it’s to make people be kinder to their fellow man. He makes a wonderful point…this story is beautiful, touching, sentimental, funny, and sad. This book should be read…and read often.

My wife and I loved it. So did our 16 year old daughter. Do did my friend, as did my sister-in-law, and everyone I have recommended this book to.

Lamb is light entertainment, a fast read, and very enjoyable. It is at times crass and juvenile, but only in small bits, and usually because it is true to the portrayal of who Biff is. It is a very funny story that is heart-warming and entertaining.


This is my first Christopher Moore book, and it won’t be my last. I was sorry when the book ended.

"Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal" is witty religious satire done in an entertaining way. Rather than worry about stepping on toes, Chris tells a fun, entertaining story whose merits are the ability to not only look at Jesus Christ and Christianity from a different angle, but to get to the heart of what it is to be human. Some Christians may find the storyline/plot of "Biff" insulting and heretical in its portrayal of Jesus, but this is simply fiction. There is not intent to smear Christ's name, to undermine his teachings, or to paint Christians in a negative life. This is a very human story.

Like Anti-Christ: A Satirical End of Days, I can see how on the surface the novel would turn off a large segment of the audience. Just have a little fun people. It's only a book.

Though I loved "Biff", I enjoyed Anti-Christ: A Satirical End of Days more. Whereas "Biff" and Moore tread lightly, "Anti-Christ" was willing to go much further and tell a deeper story. Highly symbolic, "Anti-Christ" decided to tell the tale of what has become of Christ's teachings. Thus it serves as the Omega to Moore's Alpha. "Biff" deals with the heart and beginnings of Christian belief and teachings while "Anti-Christ" deals with what has become of those same teachings in the modern day. You owe it to yourself to pick both up.