Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of the Bible (The Complete Idiot's Guide) [Mass Market Paperback]

Donald Ryan (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: April 1, 2003

A comprehensive guide to the land, people, religions, history, and archaeology of the Holy Land.

The book will cover both Old and New Testaments and detail what life was like in the days of Jesus and the Roman world of Paul.

With the current problems in the Middle East and the increased focus on what's happening there, the Holy Land and the world of the Bible are front and center in the consciousness of readers.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028644476
• ISBN-13: 978-0028644479
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,515,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Filled in a lot of blanks!, May 13, 2003

By 

S.R. (Modesto, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of the Bible (The Complete Idiot's Guide) (Mass Market Paperback)

The power of the Bible is such that sometimes one forgets that the stories therein take place in a real world full of interesting living people like the Egyptians, Canaanites, Moabites, Assyrians, Romans, etc. and of course the Israelites. This book sheds a lot of light on the various places and peoples of Bible times and how archaeologists and other scholars have attempted to further our knowledge. As can be expected, there are often disagreements amongst the experts, and the author usually takes a refreshingly neutral stance in presenting different viewpoints. I especially appreciated the historical background information on the likes of the Babylonians, Persians, etc. and the parts dealing with daily life amongst the Israelites were interesting and informative. (And I never knew the Philistines were so sophisticated!) I highly recommend this book as a very good introduction to the Biblical world!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The science and the facts behind the Story, September 25, 2007

By 

W. Coe "billcoe" (Portland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of the Bible (The Complete Idiot's Guide) (Mass Market Paperback)

Rare is the book that can both make the Bible and the facts behind the biblical stories so well illustrated and interesting. Dr Ryan achieves both and is to be commended on the archaeological facts which show a deep, knowledgeable and interesting scholarly approach he takes in presenting the true, known facts.

Any person who loves history, archeology or the bible would love this work.

Everything except the title gets a solid 5 stars. Well done work.

3 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but just..., May 4, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of the Bible (The Complete Idiot's Guide) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was an o.k. read. I was expecting more. The last chapter about Israel and tips on visiting is gold. Buy used.