Asimov’s Guide to the Bible: Two Volumes in One, the Old and New Testaments by Isaac Asimov (PDF)

Description

In Asimov’s Guide to the Bible, Isaac Asimov explores the historical, geographical, and biographical aspects of the events described in the Old and New Testaments. Asimov’s attempts to illuminate the Bible’s many obscure, mysterious passages prove absorbing reading for anyone interested in religion and history.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Amazon.com Review Isaac Asimov thinks big; readers of his science fiction works are familiar with his grasp and mastery of scale and how the individual stories unfold within the epic work. In Asimov’s Guide to the Bible he utilizes this skill to pare down and untangle the many intertwined threads of biblical history and mythology. He views this guide as a way to illuminate the world of the Bible by incorporating the secular aspects of history, biography, and geography into a deeper understanding. Asimov’s Guide to the Bible is not a book to be read in continuum but an indispensable companion to any journey through the Bible. Situating the writers of the various books of the Bible in time and space, Asimov gives its writings context and also explains how that context has morphed with time. While some of his conclusions and “qualified speculations” may challenge certain traditional assumptions (for example, there is no reference in the gospels to Mary Magdalene as a prostitute; rather, she was a madwoman whom Jesus cured by casting out seven demons), his aim is not to tear it apart but to flush out some of its mysteries, give it a context that the average Bible reader can understand, and therefore make it more real. –Jodie Buller From the Inside Flap In Asimov’s Guide to the Bible, Isaac Asimov explores the historical, geographical, and biographical aspects of the events described in the Old and New Testaments. Asimov’s attempts to illuminate the Bible’s many obscure, mysterious passages prove absorbing reading for anyone interested in religion and history.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Absolutely wonderful and a pleasure to read. Not trying to boast, but I do read the Bible everyday and have for years. Asimov is one of my favorite, if not my favorite Sci-Fi writers. When I came across this book, I had to get it. Absolutely blow away! Outside of the Bible and Sci-Fi, my other love is History. What I enjoy about this book is that it gives you an incredible overview of each book of the Bible from an unbiased perspective – Asimov is not trying to convert you, he is trying (and succeeds!) in teaching you about each book and its history throughout time.Was starting my 15th read through of the entire Bible when I found this book – I was in 2 Chronicles so read his overview of both 1 & 2 Chronicles. Could hardly wait to finish up 2 Chronicles so that I could get started on Ezra and read Asimov’s summary.A invaluable resource!

⭐This is my second purchase of this book. I like the way this book puts context of the culture and politics of the times together with the Bible verses. It helps to make the passages more meaningful. Azimov’s editing is a gain superb.This book is for anyone wanting to understand more about how and why the Bible was written. It is not pro or anti-christian. It is an objective statement about the social and political forces of the times. VERY instructional and helps a lot to understand the context.

⭐I was amazed by the incredible erudition necessary to write this book. Asimov gives us a historical tour of biblical times, taking each book of the bible one at time, for which the book is absolutely incredible and accessible (it would be priceless in my opinion for the chapters on the books of Kings alone). His objectives weren’t to analyze the spiritual and humanistic aspects of the bible, only to narrate and contextualize the environment in which the biblical stories take place.The maps, especially from the Old Testament segment, are very interesting; but together with the coherent and continuous narrative this is an incredible way to dive into a historical context unfamiliar to most.Since Asimov’s ambition is to narrate historical events, he at times must point out discrepancies between known historical chronology and the order in which biblical events take place. His take on the synoptic gospels is to comment on a possible historical Jesus, the reasonableness of the described census that takes Mary and John to make their travel, the historical Herod, and many interesting facts. Don’t go in expecting any spiritual analysis; he is going for the historical realities and a possible non-miraculous “historical Jesus”. This is the basic proposal of the book; it is a valuable, informative and fun read regardless of the religious convictions of the reader, but you should go in expecting a Historical Guide to the Bible.

⭐I read the volumes a long time ago and wanted the books for my Study. Asimov presents many (non-religious) alternate explanations for stories in the Bible. True (religious) believers will probably severely balk at the explanations but faith isn’t the same thing as scientific study. The book I received had obviously been sitting on a shelf for many years. Print date was 1981. The pages are slightly brown indicating other than chemically neutral paper was used in printing. This is the only regret I have.

⭐This out of print book arrived in perfect condition and ahead of schedule!

⭐I appreciate all the maps. They are simple but applicable to what the text is about. There are so many references to towns and places in the bible that getting a better mind picture of where they are has greatly enriched my understanding. I am reading the bible all the way through again and I’m reading Asimov’s guide along with it. I was curious and read up on Asimov and was amazed that he was an atheist. He treats the bible more as a historical record.

⭐By looking at the Bible from a strictly historical and geographical view, Asimov provides a new perspective on the events and people recorded so long ago. It was especially interesting to see the Bible presented in the context of contemporary politics through the ages, and the effect that the great powers of various eras had on Palestine and the Israelites. I recommend this book to students of both the Bible and ancient history.

⭐This purchase was a gift to a friend who had become fascinated with my own copy from many years back. Asimov was a brilliant and prolific researcher and writer and this book is historically a remarkable creation. I bought this copy used so the price was quite low. It was in excellent condition and is a treasure of a find. Highly recommend it as a permanent tool on the biblical research shelf.

⭐Fascinating from a sociological perspective

⭐Big but a delight to read. The information is comprehensive and fascinating, but presented in a highly readable, non-academic way. A fabulous book.

⭐This is a must-read for anyone who has an interest in the Bible and especially those who follow its teachings. An intelligent, objective, detailed analysis of the entire Bible that stands tall due to its cogency and reasoning.The inheritance of pagan myths into Christianity via fables like Samson and Delila are revealed. The jaw-dropping murder by Jephthah of his own daughter in a needless act of sacrifice to God for winning a battle. The murder of boys by she-bears allegedly instigated by God just because they laughed at Elisha for being bald. Assassinations, murder, rape, plunder, genocide, invasion, all in the name of God.If people behaved like his in modern times they’d be committed to mental institutions. All the more bewildering that so many people refer to the Bible as the “good book” and live their lives by it evidently because they haven’t actually read it nor Asimov’s excellent analysis of it.

⭐bought this as a Christmas present. received it fairly quickly however no dust jacket included. went back and forth with customer service and they offered to send another one out. book good but i noticed other reviews of people having to write in for their missing jacket as well.

⭐What a genious

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