A good survey of the origins and significance of the Bible. Well illustrated. ( )

This book starts with a couple of chapters on the origins of the Biblical books and the formation of the Jewish and Christian canons, and then looks at how the Bible has been used to uphold and subvert the status quo in various times and places. The story of Abraham and Isaac and Jewish and Christian responses to it are used as an example. The author then looks at the cultural influence of the Bible in literature and art. After a quick look at how the Bible is referred to in late 20th century political arguments, a conclusion wraps things up.

Some interesting nuggets, but overall it didn't really grab my attention. ( )

The problem with this VSI series is quite plain. Few people are likely to pick up the VSI to the Bible without already having some interest in the topic, but the series is premised on the idea that each book will hook you into a particular topic. That means that the truly fascinating stuff is squeezed into only half of this book (the writing of the biblical texts, the way jews and early christians decided which books would be part of 'scripture') and the rest of it is about how the bible has been used to uphold/bring down unjust political systems (really? no! surely not!) and on the bare fact that the bible influences much art and culture (shock!). Certainly liberation theology is interesting, as is Atwood's use of biblical allusion in The Handmaid's Tale. But I imagine that most people who read this want to hear more about canonization and less about Desmond Tutu's letters to supports of apartheid.
Two less important problems: the writing is a little condescending, and there are spaces between paragraphs. Odd design choice, that; it makes the whole thing seem much more discontinuous than it is. The first few chapters are quite good, and considering that there's no obvious 'topic' for the author to focus on, he's done a reasonable job. ( )