Why does the library now have a copy of The Bible for Dummies (220 G)? When I started my studies to become a Commissioned Ruling Elder/Commissioned Lay Pastor, it was on either the “recommended” or “required” list for my first two courses. I thought the professors were joking! As it turns out, I used the book often. The authors know what they are talking about — hey, they are (or were) college professors.

I used it when I needed a quick overview, as in, who are the minor prophets anyway, and what did they write? (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi — they’re called “minor” not because you’ve never heard of half of them; but because they wrote relatively short books, as opposed to Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, who wrote “major” books.) Or when I wanted an outline or needed to know the theme of a particular book of the Bible.

And now that my classes are over I still refer to it. The authors have made the Bible accessible and relevant, and have done so with humor. As they write in the introduction, “In short, The Bible for Dummies is your one-stop reference for understanding the Bible and its continuing impact on the political, religious, and artistic landscapes of our world.”

~ Connie Knapp