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Biblical Literacy: The Essential Bible Stories Everyone Needs to Know [Paperback]

Timothy Beal

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Book Description

Oct 4 2010

“The Bible…is a locked treasure for those unfamiliar with the Scriptures….Beal offers a key with his accessible guide.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer

“With skill and insight, Timothy Beal has given us a great gift: a lucid and engaging introduction to the most important book ever published.” —Jon Meacham, author of American Lion, winner of the Pulitzer Prize

In the tradition of Stephen Prothero’s Religious Literacy, and with the deftness of Bill Bryson’s Mother Tongue, Timothy Beal’s Biblical Literacy is a one-stop course in the Bible passages and background information that everyone needs to know to navigate our nuanced cultural landscape—from devout believers to decided atheists, average citizens to pop-culture aficionados. Like Religion in America, Religion and its Monsters, and other of his highly acclaimed books, Beal’s Biblical Literacy is a must-have handbook for understanding today’s world.


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Product Details

  • Paperback: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Harperone (Oct 4 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 006171867X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0061718670
  • Product Dimensions: 19.9 x 13.5 x 2.3 cm
  • Shipping Weight: 295 g
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #363,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Product Description

Review

“Tim Beal has written about the rich, thick connections between the Bible and popular culture . . . In a society of deep and dangerous disconnects, the connects of this book serve exceedingly well.” (Walter Brueggemann, author of The Prophetic Imagination )

“With skill and insight, Timothy Beal has given us a great gift: a lucid and engaging introduction to the most important book ever published.” (Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of American Lion and editor of Newsweek )

“No book has shaped more culture, value and meaning [than the Bible]. Beal skillfully retells key biblical narratives but also cogently relates them to significant events in history. This is a readable, informative and timely book.” (Harvey Cox, Hollis Research Professor of Divinity, Harvard University, and author of The Future of Faith )

“For those who are approaching the Bible for the first time . . . there is no better place to turn than Timothy Beal’s Biblical Literacy. Here you will find numerous gems of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, along with pithy, helpful, and at times even witty, introductions.” (Bart D. Ehrman, James A. Gray Professor of Religious Studies, University of North Caroline, Author of Jesus, Interrupted )

“A fun and refreshing reference that gives a fresh look at Bible stories many people thought they knew.” (The News-Herald )

“Beal, who compiled need-to-know Bible stories in his new book, Biblical Literacy, talks about how these Sunday school stories are ingrained in pop culture. They are making appearances at your dinner parties, in your favorite music and in a theater near you.” (Religion News Service )

“Beal makes a case for reading, and yes, enjoying, the Bible.” (Interfaith Voices )

“In his new book, Biblical Literacy, he introduces readers to key biblical passages and their cultural significance.” (United Methodist Reporter )

“Beal… makes a well-stated case that a knowledge of the Bible is essential to understanding our culture. His book will serve as a handy first step toward that goal-- especially for the reader who may feel intimidated by ‘the boring bits.’” (Bookpage )

From the Back Cover

Everything You Need to KnowAbout the Bible’s Most Important Stories.


Customer Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com: 4.3 out of 5 stars  14 reviews
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Rating of This Book Depends On What You Are Looking For... Dec 13 2009
By Big D - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
If you know little or nothing about the Bible, this book might earn a 5-star rating.

If you are relatively familiar with the Bible, even in a general sense, this book might well earn a 1-star rating.

Hence, a somewhat shaky 3-star review.

For those who are not familiar with the Bible, this book, as promised in the subtitle, "The Best Bits Without All the Boring Bits," is an excellent summary of the Bible, its key stories and terms that influence our culture, speech and interaction with each other on a daily basis.

If, however, you are generally familiar with the Bible and are looking for ways and examples on how it has shaped our cuture, this book is long on scripture and short on examples of cultural influence. In that sense it is woefully lacking and long on scripture, primarly a retelling of the old familiar, even semi-familiar stories.

The introduction to the book and introductions to the Old and the New Testaments and certain books therein are good and well worth reading, though a Biblical literalist will have trouble with them.

The Glossery of Key Biblical Words and the collection/explanation of Familiar Phrases and Images at the end may the best, most useful and generally informative part of the book.

Not a great book, but not a bad one. The less you know about the Bible, the better it is; the more you know about the Bible, the more lacking it is.

So, take your choice: To read or not to read, that is the question!!!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Primer on the Judeo-Christian Foundational Stories Jan 22 2011
By Z. Marine - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I asked my sister for this book for Christmas and just finished reading it. As a non-Christian in a world heavily painted by the stories of the Bible, I had tried and failed three times to read the Bible. This book was the perfect solution. It is written as a compromise between that book's archaic writing style and a more fluid, modern approach, making it much easier to understand the stories themselves. All of the key myths are there and are introduced with a short, relevant background that helps explain what you're about to read and presents some broad questions to consider while reading (I didn't find those very useful, but could be nice for others). Alongside Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" (Greco-Roman mythology primer), these two much-highlighted books are definitely keepers, and I'm certain that I'll be coming back to consult them both repeatedly in the years to come. Definitely worth reading!
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Much Needed addition to my library and yours! Nov 19 2009
By K. Peterson-Davis - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Beal's latest book is a wonderfully insightful read that will keep you thinking and laughing long after you close the cover. Not only for people of faith, this book will open your eyes to how biblical texts are used throughout culture. The "asides" add to one's cultural education - a must for anyone who desires to be relevant. Beal is an excellent writer who will engage your brain and your soul.

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