How to Read the Bible

by James Kugel
How to Read the Bible cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Nonfiction
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  • ID: 7618
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-16
  • ISBN: 9780743235877
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2008-10-21
  • Reviews: 3

How to Read the Bible is a comprehensive guide that bridges classic interpretations and modern scholarship to help readers understand the Bible's deeper, metaphorical significance. It explores how the Bible can be seen as a reflection of anthropological history, offering a unique perspective on this ancient text. This book is not just about understanding the plot but also about appreciating the cultural and historical context that shaped the Bible. It provides tools and insights that make the Bible more accessible and meaningful to contemporary readers, regardless of their background or beliefs.

Reviews
Reddit - AcademicBiblical · 2017-01-01
enjoyable 4.50

The book is highly recommended and enjoyed greatly by the reader. It provides a unique perspective on reading the Bible.

This book is frequently recommended in the AcademicBiblical subreddit, and it's easy to see why. The reader found it incredibly enjoyable and insightful, offering a fresh perspective on how to approach the Bible. It's not just informative but also engaging, making it a standout read for those interested in biblical studies.

Quick quotes

    It was one of the first books I read after I discovered this subreddit (it gets recommended here very frequently)

    I enjoyed it greatly

    It provides a unique perspective on reading the Bible

PopMatters · 2007-10-17
brilliant 4.00

The book succeeds in making a complex subject interesting and engaging, though it falls short in some areas.

The reviewer at PopMatters finds that the book works well in making a complex subject interesting and engaging. It reads almost like a novel, which makes it hard to put down. However, the reviewer also notes that the book falls short in some areas, particularly in the way the author intended it to succeed. Despite this, the book is still a brilliantly written piece that offers a thorough survey of the Hebrew Bible.

Quick quotes

    The truth is, the book works in one very important way, and it fails in the way I think Kugel wanted it to succeed

    First, how did it work? Most importantly, it makes a complex subject interesting

    It reads almost like a novel

The New York Times · David Plotz · 2007-09-16
awesome 4.50

The book is described as awesome, thrilling, and deeply strange, offering a unique take on biblical scholarship.

David Plotz from The New York Times describes this book as an awesome and thrilling read. It's a deeply strange book that offers a unique take on biblical scholarship. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to lay bare the worlds of both modern biblical scholarship and ancient biblical interpretation, making it a fascinating read for those interested in the subject.

Quick quotes

    Kugel's 'How to Read the Bible,' an awesome, thrilling and deeply strange book

    Kugel, an emeritus professor of Hebrew literature at Harvard

    It offers a unique take on biblical scholarship

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