HOW TO READ THE BIBLE A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now

Rabbi Kugel’s book is a fascinating resource for understanding the Bible (Old Testament) from both historical and religious points of view, without shying away from the areas where those perspectives conflict. The book is scholarly but accessible. Mel Foster’s narration does little, though, to help ease the scholarly material into the listener’s ear. For most of the book he comes across as disinterested, reading with a somber, slow-paced, and repetitive cadence. The frequent recitation of footnotes has the effect of stalling the reader’s attention. For anyone interested in gaining insights into the historical background of the Bible, the book is still worthy of a listen. But it doesn’t solve the great mystery of how to record a scholarly book in an accessible way. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2011]