The Book of "Genesis": A Biography (Lives of Great Religious Books)
Genesis is the first book of the Bible. Even those who haven’t read it are familiar with its contents—stories about the creation of the world, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and Noah’s ark. Collectively, these stories make up a foundational text of Western civilization that has shaped our perception of reality by offering a unique conception of God, humanity, the nature of the world, and the interrelationships of all three. Hendel’s biography of Genesis—like The Dead Sea Scrolls, opposite, part of the Lives of Great Religious Books series, begins with the birth of the book among the ancient Israelites. He then traces subsequent interpretations, both figural-allegorical and plain sense, over the centuries, examining the work of Luther, Spinoza, Emily Dickinson, and Franz Kafka, among others. Though remaining a text of religious significance, Genesis is also viewed as a collection of ancient legends. Either way, Hendel’s engaging and accessible account reminds us that Genesis remains an astonishing book of marvelous realism and the root from which we came. --Christopher McConnell