This is a unique how to book about the Bible. More than simply introducing readers to major themes, Brueggemann reveals an engaging biblical understanding of the world leading to joy come life, and wholeness.

This simple but straight forward book gives anyone who wants to understand the Bible a wonderful place to start. The book is short but it gives you a taste of Brueggemann's style, deft writing and keen analytical skill. It is delightful to read, yet provocative enough to make you think. If you want to study the Bible, read this book. ( )

This was a very appropriate and important book for me to be reading at this point. I have recently gotten into theology quite a bit more(at least on a more scholarly level) but have found myself without resources in helping me understand some of the basics. I had read some larger works and my comprehension was sufficient enough to make it worthwhile, but not quite enough for full understanding.

Along comes this book, though, and it has furthered the idea that I study and read the Bible with different eyes. It seems that so much of my upbringing and other learning needs and deserves to be shed so that I attempt to understand the Bible without certain assumptions. Granted, any author I read will have different assumptions and angles towards this text, but by taking a more scholarly approach to try and understand what these words/instances meant for the initial readers I am transported to another level of understanding. A faithful understanding of the culture allows for true wisdom to be gleaned for today rather than a sampling to suit my presumptions. I want to be unsettled reading the Bible.

Anyways, all this to say that this was very helpful in both boosting my current state and beginning the process of seeing the Scriptures in a new light. This would probably be boring for advanced theologians, but for those looking to break in, this is a great start. Each chapter goes through a different theme that is prevalent throughout the Bible and it is presented extremely cohesively and has reflection questions and verses to meditate on in the "new" light. I appreciate Walter so much and this effort I'm especially grateful for at this time. ( )

insider view of bible