BACKGROUND TO THE BIBLE
By Chris Sinkinson, Clive Anderson, Brian Edwards
DayOne. 224 pages. £25
ISBN 978 1 846 257 025
In our kitchen there is a shelf in a cupboard devoted to snacks. Each day you can go to the cupboard and find a tasty treat to enjoy.
The snack cupboard was never designed to be where you should look for a proper meal, but for something to put a brief smile on your face it is probably the best place to head. Background to the Bible is a snack cupboard brimming with treats that help us as we come to the Bible. Even in the introduction it is clear that it is a book destined for coffee table perusing rather than reading cover to cover. Background to the Bible does what it says on the tin. From death rights in Egypt, to ancient musical instruments, to slavery in the first century, all have articles in the book. Most of the book is made up of single-page articles on different topics before some special articles on archaeologists and a few more extended subjects. The whole book is beautifully presented with excellent photos throughout. Perhaps the biggest weakness is that, just like our snack cupboard, you never quite know what you are going to get. It is difficult to navigate the main subjects, so it is a case of flicking through hoping to find what you are looking for.
