Don't Know Much About the Bible

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Summary: Great intro to the Bible
Review: I am about half way through this book, and am enjoying it immensely. It is lucidly written, and for that reason is highly accessible. Read it recognizing its purpose--this is not an in depth analysis that one would delve into for a Theology degree. But it's a great intro to the Bible for those of us who want to know more without becoming highly scholarly about it.
I disagree with some of the other reviews, stating that Mr. Davis is Christian-centric--I feel he works hard in many, many instances to contrast the Christian with Jewish versions of text, and with other aspects of how Christians or Jews might view one or another of his discussion.

Trying to speak in an evenhanded manner to both Christian and Jewish experiences, the author tends toward interpreting the Bible as a literary text full of beauty and metaphor. I'm not surprised that, as some of the reviews reflect, the book is not for Fundamentalists. No, it's not aimed at that group. For some of us, that's a plus.

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Summary: Ask yourself: What are you trying to get out of this book?
Review: If you are of the literalist/fundamentalist mindset, you don't want to read "Don't Know Much About the Bible." It WILL violate your sensibilities. Go read the Bible instead.

If you are weak in faith, this may not be the best time to be reading "Don't Know Much About the Bible" either. It will do nothing for your soul or any crisis of faith you may be experiencing. Go read the Bible, talk to a minister, priest, friend, therapist, whatever.

IF you are either 1) A rationalist non-believer OR 2) A believer who is strong in faith, and want to learn more about the Bible, this book is for you! It is a brain-dump of Bible-knowledge... the ultimate in Bible trivia. If you've ever read a Kenneth C. Davis "Don't Know Much About..." book, you won't be dissapointed.

Note that Mr. Davis is of the liberal mindset (this is evident from Don't Know Much About the Bible, as well as Don't Know Much About History, and other writings), it isn't particularly instrusive. This should not be a problem for anyone who is resonably well-informed and/or strong in their beliefs.

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Summary: More Potential For Harm Than Good
Review: I had just completed reading the NIV Bible when I received this book as a gift from a very well meaning and beloved family member. When I began to read the book, my religious sensibilities were offended. However, I decided to give it a chance and use it as an 'issues' study guide to send me back into scripture to research the referenced passages. This solution worked at first but I soon became frustrated with the author's approach. After reading about one-third of the book, and sampling the rest, I decided not to waste any more of my time. With my decision to stop reading, I concluded the following: at best, the book is unreasonably controversial for obvious commercial reasons and; at worst, if taken to heart, could cause believers to question their Faith, and non-believers to stop any further search for Faith. In my opinion, the book accomplishes this by quoting from various conflicting sources, quoting out of context, quoting non-scholars and scholars alike, and including questionable interpretations or conclusions; all of which serves to raise scripture issues while providing no apparent disposition. In this sense, it misses a real opportunity to provide meaningful insight to the legitimate questions that one would expect from an historical document that has survived the test of time like no other document in world history. The book correctly points out that the bible was written by various authors and scribes; that it has survived multiple translations into multiple languages from ancient times to today; and that the translators have been challenged by changes in and between various cultures over time. The problem with the book is not that it raises questions (rightly or wrongly), but that it does next to nothing in terms of providing qualitative insight to the answers. Rather, in many cases, it treats the questions with flippant disrespect and leaves the reader hanging with the impression that the most revered book of all time is a compilation of myth, fabrication, propaganda and hoax. It is important to note that, fortunately, for the serious reader, there is a vast amount of authoritative biblical research material available. Based on what I have read, even the most critical of scholars concede to the basic truths of the bible (particularly those in the New Testament).

Rating:
Summary: Great Place to Start
Review: This book is a great place to start if your having trouble getting started with your Bible education. I love the way Ken leads the reader through the bible book-by-book. He provides a summary of the story, who scholars believe the author was, and when it was written in relationship with other historical records. It's an easy read and very educational. I read it and consulted my Bible when I needed to. Just as the Bible is not the single authority on God, this book should not be the only book you read about the Bible. This book tends to leave the reader jaded. It really misses the mark if you're looking for some help understanding why the Bible has inspired people spiritually for generations.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent primer certainly not for the flat Earth crowd
Review: Davis doesn't attempt to recast or fully summarize the Bible here; he's no theologian, televangelist, Rabbi, Priest, or Cleric. His book is not intended to be the Readers' Digest Condensed Version of Christianity. Davis' studied views on this beautiful, oft-misquoted, overtranslated, ancient text are truly refreshing in a world suffering religious dischord, historical revisionism, and literary ignorance. Light-hearted at times (Moses as real man?) and often erring on the side of oversimplification, DKMATB is a wonderful review and exploration of an essential book. I envision "serious" Bible scholars joining the celebration, not "tearing [Davis] apart" (grrrrr!) on the finer points. Lastly, to my dismissive co-reviewers: Must we crucify the educational author who has a go at, well, "democratizing" scripture? There's really no call for a book burnin' here, folks... simmer down!

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Summary: Don't Know Much About the Bible Needs a New Title
Review: This book should be called, Don't Know Much About the Bible by a Christian for Other Christians. The author assumes his readers are Christian and want a Christian interpretation of the Bible.

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Summary: Light and easy to read
Review: Davis writes like Isaac Asimov. He wants to educate you. In this book, he gets in and gets out fast --- which is good. He tells you the story of Job, for example, in one page. He knows he has a lot to cover, so he hits each point in a page or two. If you want more detail, you can read one of hundreds of other books after this one.

His coverage of the New Testament is good even though it's shorter than his Old Testament section. This makes sense because the New has less content --- fewer details, parables, people, and places.

Davis uses bad jokes and awkward pop culture references half a dozen times. These don't help. I don't need references to Madonna, Baywatch, Jedi knights, and (of all things) The First Wives Club. The references age fast. Some of them come across like the work of an amateur comedy writer.

Other than that, it's a really good book, as good as Asimov's Guide to the Bible. As an introduction to the Bible, it can't be beat. Sure, it's a secular approach, but if it wasn't, it would be twice and long and would no longer qualify as an introductory text.

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Summary: A historical approach to the Bible
Review: (By Edward Trimnell, author of "Why You Need a Foreign Language & How to Learn One," ISBN:1591133343)

From the reader's perspective, the Bible is less than user-friendly. It is a mishmash of different styles, winding narratives, and often disconnected directives. However, that does not diminish its importance. For believers and non-believers alike, the ideas of Judeo-Christianity have shaped the modern world.

Author Kenneth C. Davis has done a superb job of laying out the key stories of the Bible in a readily accessible, outline form. Along the way, he also points out certain contradictions of style, message, and chronology. Some fundamentalist readers will no doubt find these sections disturbing. However, the author is merely demonstrating that the Bible, while divinely inspired, was written by human hands.

There are some truly fascinating facts and insights contained in this book, such as:

-The command from the prophet Ezra which was extremely UN-family friendly

-The influence of foreign cultures on the early Israelites

-The underappreciated heroines of the Bible, such as Ruth and Deborah

If you found yourself bored or baffled by Sunday school, then you owe it to yourself to purchase this book.

Rating:
Summary: Great for those who don't have a religious agenda...
Review: but do want the truth. This book is captivating and I couldn't put it down. After reading it I wanted to read it again. It doesn't get too deep into the specific books in Scripture, but based on reading this book alone I believe you will know more about the Bible than a large percentage of Judeo-Christian Bible readers/studyers. If you are a fundementalist and close your ears to any suggestion that the Bible may have errors and may not be the exact "word of God", then you may want to steer clear of this book and keep your outdated beliefs. But if you want to approach religion from a 21st Century perspective and you don't have alot of background in Bible analytical study, this book will be the best thing you can do with $20.

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Summary: Mired in condescension, Author misses the whole point
Review: The author seems to ignore the message and majesty of The Bible, focusing instead on minutia. His index illustrates this point listing only a single reference for "LOVE!"