My experience with Ed Simon's Devil's Contract: The History of the Faustian Bargain was uneven. For a while, I'd be highlighting passages, putting exclamation points next to interesting new ideas. Then, I'd find myself jotting notes like "Do I believe this?" or "And he's trying to say...?" I absolutely loved the moments when the book had me thinking and making connections I hadn't made before: for example, that one reading the Dead Sea Scrolls can bring one to the conclusion that mainstream Christianity (the historical narrative that one out) is, in fact, a Faustian bargain of sorts.

As a "collector" of Fausts—opera and play performances, books, museum art—I found that Devil's Contract was well worth the read despite its unevenness. I gave myself permission to speed up or slow down, depending on my own level of engagement and found my overall reading experience rewarding.

I received a free electronic review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own. ( )