Customer Reviews

Pocket Guide to the Bible: A Little Book About the Big Book

5 star:		(11)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Here's the thing you have to know about PGttB: it's fun to read. Yes, it's about the Bible. Yes, you actually learn stuff. But Boyett does the impossible and takes some very dry material and injects it with a huge dose of humor and gobs of intelligence. A lot of research clearly went into the book to pack it full of this much information. The book is well-organized as well. Here's the ToC:

Biblicabulary - "A glossary of the Good Book," pretty self-explanatory
Cast of Characters (A to J) - The major players of the Bible, plus some of the weirder minor ones too.
Cast of Characters (K to Z) - See above.
What Happens, Part 1 - "The Old Testament at breakneck speed," pretty much the Cliff Notes version of the Bible
What Happens, Part 2 - "The New Testament at breakneck speed."
The Brief History of the Holy Writ - "A timeline," basically the complete history of the Bible.
Versions and Perversions - "A selective survey of translations," this chapter runs through the major players in the translation game. Disappointingly doesn't cover the Hippie Bible, but I'm letting it slide.
List Ye Be Smitten - "Biblical Flotsam and Jetsam," a bunch of lists of really random stuff, really funny, weird things here.
Who to recommend this book to? I think that anyone could get something out of this book. People who know everything about the Bible will enjoy the dry wit applied to the subject. Those who know nothing about the Bible will find themselves amused and learning quite a bit in a short amount of time. Those who have no sense of humor about the subject will probably hate this book. I was caught off guard by some of the jokes myself (in terms of being surprised, not offended), but it's always good to have fun with fundamentalists. That is what fundamentalist starts with anyways.

So, in other words, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a few laughs at the expense of long-dead biblical characters while learning a thing here and there as well. Boyett does it again with a book that makes biblical theology fun.

Hypothetical situation: I'm a publisher. I come to you with an idea. You're going to write a book about the Bible. You know that the Bible is the most read, most controversial, most complex text ever written. It spans centuries and genres. Oh yeah, and you're supposed to make this book accessible to a mass audience, so take out all of the fancy words. Oh yeah...make it funny. A short guidebook to the Bible that's easy to understand and funny. We'll call it the Pocket Guide to the Bible.

Sounds ludicrous! But that's exactly what Jason Boyett sets out to accomplish in Pocket Guide to the Bible: A Little Book About the Big Book. And, in most respects, he nails it, with a frankness and hilarity that many scholars could learn from.

If you're looking for a brief guide on biblical interpretation (aka: hermeneutics), keep looking. Boyett's not trying to dissect the difficult Hebrew and Greek syntax. But, if you're looking for a witty, lighthearted approach to a serious text (the Bible), then this book's for you.

Boyett pulls no punches in exposing some of the more ridiculous stories and texts in the Bible, yet at the same time tries to uphold it's authority and majesty. One part glossary (or, to use his term, `biblicabulary'), another part roll call of Biblical characters, and yet another part Biblical survey, and yet another part history of translations and versions, and finally, a concluding part humorous miscellany of quirky Biblical facts and observations, Boyett `guides' one through the Bible like no book on Scripture I've ever read.

At times I laughed out loud, and at other times I skimmed to the next chapter. That is to say, take this Pocket Guide for what it is: a Pocket Guide. It's not a page-turning thriller novel, nor is it a serious attempt at Biblical scholarship. It's simply one author's lighthearted attempt at viewing the Bible through the eyes of a humorist by looking at the Good Book from a number of different angles.

Overall, I'd say it's a very worthwhile read...Boyett's one-liners are alone worth the price of the book. Here are some zingers:

* When using the biblical term `flesh' in a sentence: "When Angelina Jolie showed up with her newly adopted AIDS orphan, my spirit empathized with her concern for the hurting children of the world, but my flesh kept staring at her bazongas." (p. 13)
* He even uses `IM' language: "LOL" (p.102)
* His reference to King Xerxes' parade of wives in the book of Esther: "a check-out-my-smokin'-wife show for visiting VIPs." (p. 103)
* "Bomp-chicka-bow-wow"...When referring to the book Song of Solomon.
* A word I know I've never seen in Christian publishing: "Apeshiznit" (109)
* When referring to the debate over circumcision in Galatians: "join the Snippy Brigade" (p.122)
* On Erasmus' real name, Gerrit: "Knowing this (his real name) exponentially increases his wedgie potential..." (p.144)

There's more where that came from...but you'll have to buy the book.

this book is a rather humorous little jaunt through the bible, but it has a tendency to be a bit dry here and there. it opens, promisingly enough, with a biblicabulary and cast, which cover all the major terms and folks of the bible with less than maximum reverence and, well, a bit of ribaldry. they and the miscellany "list ye be smitten" are the highlights, as they most illustrate the humor that can be drawn from the bible and its colorful cast of characters, which is what this whole book is really about. where it drags is in the telling of the tale. its description of "what happens" in the bible is where the author gets bogged down. although mr boyett throws in a few interesting tid-bits and humorous comments here and there, most of his retelling of the bible story sounds like a junior high smart-alec who isn't as funny as he is in his own mind. don't get me wrong, i enjoy this as a general rule, but mr boyett doesn't execute as well as he should, or as well as he did in his pocket guide to the apocalypse. as for bible teaching, there is nothing here that will do anything for anyone who has been reading the bible longer than a year, but his stuff is sound with only a few factual hiccups. but that's not why you should read the book. you should read the book because you appreciate the difference between irreverence and good-natured fun, and because, on the whole, it's pretty funny stuff.

Jason Boyett's Pocket Guide to the Bible is an easy read. This, as it turns out, is quite a compliment, given the difficult nature of the subject he is covering - no less than the Good Book itself.

Boyett stuffs PGTTB's 191 pages with a veritable Biblepalooza's-worth of information (biblical terminology, character and content summaries, history of the Bible itself). To some, this might sound duller than sitting through last quarter's earnings summary report again. However, Boyett's conversational tone is both humorous and engaging, making PGTTB a very enjoyable reading experience.

Beneath the winking and smirking, readers will find PGTTB a useful reference - and not only Bible novices. Even long-time Bible readers will probably find themselves asking, "Is that in there?" as they read through some of Boyett's insightful breakneck summaries. The Biblicabulary will help readers understand key insider lingo faster than King Nebuchadnezzar can say to the Israelites, "All your base are belong to us." Chapter Six, "The Brief History of Holy Writ," is an invaluable resource for both understanding how that Purpose-Driven Pimply Teen Boy's Extreme Study Bible ended up on your coffee table and as a concise survey of some important church history.

And, really, what Bible readers haven't found their thoughts wandering in some of the more obscure texts into thoughts such as, "Now *that* would totally rule as a band name!" Look no further than page 186 for seven such would-be awesome band names. In fact, I think his list of awful health conditions (see page 173) would make correspondingly wicked lead singles for some of these bands. Imagine the intro, "And after the break, we'll hear `Smited Bowels,' the hot new track from Forsake My Sweetness."

This is a quick rundown on some of the big (and not so big) stars and themes in the Bible. Jason Boyett also does a good job of giving a snappy overview of the history of the scriptures. It is probably not for the man on the street just looking for a few scriptures to get by, but more for someone wanting to know more. I see it being in a lot of youth groups and college ministries before fall.

I grew up in the church - Sunday School, Bible Quizzing, Pioneer Girls, Potlucks - so I consider myself FULLY indoctrinated. I loved the book. Even though it was hilarious, I actually learned a bunch of stuff I didn't know. For the un-indoctrinated, you are in for some great laughs along with an excellent education. I really think it should be required reading for Bible 101.*

*And Jason Boyett writes great footnotes...don't miss them.

In reading the Pocket Guide to the Bible I found myself re-visiting the good old days of Bible Study, Church History and general theological development that took place during my studies. This was a refreshing recap of things learned in the past with the pleasant and entertaining insertion of quick humor and hip language. If all you remember about studying the Bible is long and boring, keep-yourself-awake-with-a-whole-pot-of-coffee cram sessions then Pocket Guide will definately revive your soul and help you realize how exciting this big "book" really was, AND IS, to you.
Overall, I definately recommend this book to anyone. (well, anyone of the adequate age anyway) I especially recommend it to the "I'm too spiritual, you can't say those things about God and the Bible" type of people because it may help them out of their stuffiness. (Sorry, just had to write that.)
ENJOY!

Going through seminary, I gathered a ton of books. I kept the ones most useful, and I also kept a few that are useful but cumbersome. Along the way, I began to believe that the reason most folks don't read theology books is not because they are above everyone's head (though this is the case sometimes) but because they are unattractive and laid out poorly and uninvitingly.

What this means then is that folks miss out on some excellent information. That probably explains why I know some folks that will spend hours a day reading blogs/message boards and the like, taking in who knows how reliable information but they will never ever open up Calvin's "Institutes" - which I highly recommend btw. The websites are easy and convenient; the "Institutes" look like a doorstop.

So, in seminary I purchased copious and various systematic theologies and overviews of the Bible. Two of the best overviews are "An Introduction to the Old Testament" by Dillard and Longman and "An Introduction to the New Testament" by Moo and Morris. But despite the beautiful pictures of sunsets and flowing streams on their covers, most everyone is not purchasing these books b/c they feel and look like 8th grade textbooks. John MacArthur took a stab at making the info in those books more assessable in his "MacArhur's Quick Reference Guide to the Bible" but the book is so blatantly dispensational/MacArthuresque and its interior is so ugly and cumbersome that I think he missed the mark.

So to solve this problem, along comes Jason Boyett's "Pocket Guide to the Bible". He's the author the "Pocket Guide to the Apocalypse" and the "Pocket Guide to Adulthood." What he is attempting is to take this cumbersome material and package it in an attractive easy to use book and gasp...throw in some humor along the way. He wants to remind everyone that despite the fact that the Bible is a controversial book, "there's good stuff in there. Just about everyone can find something to enjoy."

For example, have you ever been hanging out with your Christian friends and they drop the name of someone from the Bible and you have no idea who the person is? Of course you have. And of course, what you did was to nod intelligently so that no one in the room had any idea that you were a charlatan. Don't worry; I've been there too.

But now, thanks to the "Pocket Guide to the Bible" you can carry around this handy tool in your, well I guess...pocket, and never be afraid of appearing ignorant again. All you have to do is politely excuse your self to the bathroom, pull out your handy-dandy pocket guide, and look up Ehud or Dorcas.

I'm sure that some will worry that this approach to understanding the Bible can't be informative, but it is. Jason writes along the lines of the kid that laughed in the back of the Vacation Bible School class. He finds the comical and idiotic amid the pious. Who knew that kid was paying attention? If you didn't, this book will be a help.

Honestly, folks want to know what's in the Bible but just are too overwhelmed to get started. As great as Matthew Henry's Commentary is on the Bible, it's still freaking huge and bigger than the Bible itself. Not as theologically comprehensive as Henry's, PGTTB does give a nice overview of what's actually in the Bible. Along the way to learning something, you'll find a chuckle or two.

...that uses the word "bazongas". (To quote the author accurately, he's defining the Biblical usage of the word "flesh", giving an example in the sentence: "When Angelina Jolie showed up with her newly adopted AIDS orphan, my spirit sympathized with her concern for the hurting children of the world, but my flesh kept staring at her bazongas.")

And that, my friends, is an excellent litmus test to see if you'll enjoy and/or find a use for the Pocket Guide To The Bible: A Little Book About the Big Book, written by Jason Boyett & published by Relevant Books. If the thought of an overview of the Holy Bible making irreverent pop cultural references to explain theological concepts makes your skin crawl, you are probably not the audience for this book. OTOH, if describing the Egyptians pursuing the Israelites across the Red Sea with the pithy aside that "at which point Pharoah's army realizes 'Swim Like An Egyptian' will never be the title of a hit Bangles song," then this might be right up your alley.

It's important to define what this book is and is not. (I'll leave it to ex-President Clinton to attempt to define what is is.)

- It is a funny book... on purpose. The author is trying (and often succeeding) at penning humorous glimpses at the stories of Scripture and the history of how it got into our hot little hands. It feels a bit like The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy for the Bible. (Please understand - I mean this as a compliment. And I'm not referring to the less-than-spectacular feature film.)

- It is informationally sound... even if it's primary purpose is humor, the basic information presented is a reasonably fair & accurate representation of current scholarship on the Bible.

- It is NOT a tract. As far as I can tell, the author does not intend for this book to be used as a tract for evangelism. There are plenty of church-y concepts & words spiced through the book that could be a bit daunting for the uninitiated. Heck, they can be a bit daunting for the initiated who didn't pay attention in confirmation class (not me - I'm Baptist) and/or seminary (that would be me.)

- It is NOT about to replace a good quality Bible handbook and/or commentary. The author raises a number of important questions about Scripture (Why the blase attitude towards slavery? What's with all the killing in the Old Testament? Why do the major & minor prophets all start to sound like broken records?) without giving any kind of commentary on possible answers to those questions. In other words, the book is primarily about a humorous & thought-provoking overview of the Bible, rather than an attempt to deal with the questions raised by the Scriptures.

So, who do I think could enjoy/use/at least find amusing this (check all that apply) this book?

- long-time followers of Christ who need a wake-up call about the Bible - Those of us who've been doing "the Christian thing" for a long time need to take a funhouse mirror look at this stuff every once in a while so we don't get caught in our own preconceived "this is the way it is" ruts as we journey with Jesus. And it doesn't hurt if we get to laugh while we're doing it.

- people who have no Bible background and are in an ongoing conversation with a follower of Christ - I can think of a couple of guys (atheists both) who would appreciate the humor and get something out of the content of the book. I'd hesitate to hand it to them and walk away... but it would be great starter material for conversation about the Bible.
Closing Thoughts:

I'd liked the book... more in a "chuckle chuckle... hmm, hadn't thought about that" kind of way rather than a "guffaw/laugh so hard I am in danger of needing a Depends... wow! incredible spiritual insights abound" kind of way.

I will take this opportunity to recommend the Pocket Guide To The Apocalypse (by the same author) which does a bang-up job of explaining a variety of end-times theories/theologies and poke fun at the Left Behind series at the same time!

I enjoyed this book. It provides a fresh, modern approach to the Bible, spelling out characters, plots, and the history of the Bible itself in a way that is funny and informative. I could not help but laugh and share the funny things I was reading with my friends. This book is surprisingly funny and I would highly recommend it for some enjoyable yet educational reading. I wish Jason Boyett was writing my college textbooks.