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

"Jason Boyett′s Pocket Guides are smart and hilarious. And they′re sneaky too: You don′t realize how much you′re learning because you′re having so much fun." AJ Jacobs, author, The Year of Living Biblically

Americans consistently identify the Bible as the most influential book in history, but seriously: are you really reading it? Probably not. If all you know about the Bible are a few Psalms and the Christmas story, then you′re missing out on a book that′s wilder, weirder, and more entertaining than you ever imagined.

With a stealthy combo of entertainment and insight, Jason Boyett′s Pocket Guide to the Bible fills the gaps in your religious education. It introduces you to the characters you must know, reveals the thrilling development of the biblical canon, and details the less–churchy parts of Scripture (hello, sex and violence!). Don′t miss out on discovering

Which moral failures may result in an old–fashioned smiting

Why Catholic Bibles include books some Protestants refuse to recognize

Whether your New International Version of the Bible may in fact be demonic

With Pocket Guide to the Bible, you′ll finally realize what′s so good about the Good Book.

INTRODUCTION VII

Chapter one
BIBLICABULARY (A Glossary of the Good Book) 1

Chapter Two 
CAST OF CHARACTERS (A TO J) 31

Chapter Three
CAST OF CHARACTERS (K TO Z) 63

Chapter four
WHAT HAPPENS, PART 1 (The Old Testament at Breakneck Speed) 87

Chapter five
WHAT HAPPENS, PART 2 (The New Testament at Breakneck Speed) 117

Chapter six
THE BRIEF HISTORY OF HOLY WRIT (A Timeline) 133

Chapter seven
VERSIONS AND PERVERSIONS (A Selective Survey of Translations) 157

Chapter eight
LIST YE BE SMITTEN (Biblical Flotsam and Jetsam) 173

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 189

Jason Boyett is not a professional theologian or historian but that hasn′t stopped him from writing this book. His work has appeared in a variety of publications as well as on his blog (www.jasonboyett.com). He lives in Texas with his wife and children.

The Pocket Guide Series explains complex religious subjects with a lethal dose of educational hilarity, guided by the author′s insatiable curiosity, humor, and gentle irreverence. The Pocket Guide series includes Pocket Guide to Sainthood, Pocket Guide to the Afterlife, and this book. Discover more at www.pocketguidesite.com.