It is sometimes said that the Bible is one of the most unread books in the world, yet has been a major force in the development of Western culture and continues to exert an enormous influence over many people's lives. This V...

Buy Now From Amazon

It is sometimes said that the Bible is one of the most unread books in the world, yet has been a major force in the development of Western culture and continues to exert an enormous influence over many people's lives. This Very Short Introduction looks at the importance accorded to the Bible by different communities and cultures and attempts to explain why it has generated such a rich variety of uses and interpretations. It explores how the Bible was written, the development of the canon, the role of Biblical criticism, the appropriation of the Bible in high and popular culture, and its use for political ends.

About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.


Similar Products

The Old Testament: A Very Short IntroductionThe New Testament: A Very Short IntroductionThe New Testament as Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)Jesus: A Very Short IntroductionThe Hebrew Bible as Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)The Koran: A Very Short IntroductionChristianity: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture