The Bible can be intimidating because of its length and its complexities. In an entertaining and insightful way, the Our Daily Bread Bible Sourcebook provides an easy guide to better understand Scripture. This unique format explores the who, what, when, where, why, and wows of each book of the Bible. It can be used as both a great introduction and a handy companion to the Bible. You’ll learn interesting facts, read narratives about the authors, discover archaeological and geographical information, and so much more!

This is a wonderful book for those looking to further their study of the Bible. It's very informative and helpful.

In the early 1950’s Henrietta Mears wrote a helpful Bible introduction for the layman entitled What the Bible Is All About. It has been updated a number of times, but it still shows its age. Dave Branon has created a new book written for the same audience and for the same purpose but for the 21st century.

The author, in his introduction, provides a good overview of the book's contents. Each book is described in two sections:

Top Ten List - an on overview of the author, time of writing, themes, etc.

The W’s - Answers the questions of Who, What, When, Where, Why, Wow!, Worth Remembering, and Wonders from the Past. The answers provided here are in a bit more detail than those provided in the first section.

The material is current, including reference to modern archaeological discoveries and research. The biggest concern this reader has is the minimal references provided - there are some, but in this 300-page book are only 15 footnotes. The author does list 15 sources dating from 1958 to 2016, but he gives no specific page numbers from which he pulls his data. Even though written for a lay audience, it is my feeling that an author should include detailed references to material borrowed from others. A good teacher (i.e. even a Sunday School teacher) should be able to verify and guide his or her students to more information on the topics discussed.

Given these limitations, the book would still be handy for the pastor for quick reference and for the lay Sunday School teacher as a source for supplemental material. The book will find a home in most church libraries.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

This book is perfect for anyone who studies the Bible. It's one of those books you don't realise you were missing all long. This is a great addition to my Bible Study sessions.

I just reviewed Our Daily Bread Bible Sourcebook by Dave Branon. #OurDailyBreadBibleSourcebook #NetGalley

This book is what I really need at the moment. While doing my Bible Study, there are times I was stuck in the history. So many people, and places, and similar names, not counting the way of living those years. By reading this as source, I am now able to get a glimpse of the part that I'm doing.

It got nice insights on what happened that time, what precedes, and what follows. Also the relevancy with today's events. What movies were made, what discoveries state that those events were true.

This is an ideal book for any faith blogger or writer., it puts a wealth of topical scripture at your fingertips in moments. It’s especially helpful for someone like me who would like to avoid having to search the internet for references while writing.

This book has a wealth of useful information about Biblical terms, places and people. If you want to locate a specific person or a place the table of contents is arranged alphabetically so that they are easy to find.
The New Testament and the life and miracles of Jesus are the focus of this book, you will enjoy learning more about the places and the people that Jesus ministered to.
You will find subcategories that are linked to major categories such as (DIVORCE) the link will state “See Marriage and Divorce”. This is another example : (ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI). “See Seven Sayings from the Cross, No. 5.”
There are headings with links that will give you more information about the event too - The First Christmas has links to Gabriel, the Annunciation, Herod Number 1, and Star of Bethlehem.
You will be able to link the events, people, and teachings of the Bible together as you read this book.

This is a great resource for Bible reading and study! Each book of the Bible is included with 10 facts about the book, then a who, what, when, where and why of the book. I especially enjoyed the wow and historical moments in the chapters that pointed out where this book of the Bible can be seen in popular culture, history or archeology. I would highly recommend this book to someone unfamiliar with the Bible or who simply wants a quick reference for context or key elements as they read!

Dave Branon has compiled interesting information about each book of the Bible. This includes a Top Ten List, who wrote it, what it’s about, when the events in the book occurred, where they took place, why the book is included in the Bible (its purposes and themes), some Wow! references as to how the book has been used or referred to outside of the religious world, verses worth remembering, and archeological discoveries related to each book.

Our Daily Bread Bible Sourcebook is a highly readable, informative and enjoyable book that helps the reader put each book of the Bible into a broader perspective. I found it very helpful, and it left me wanting to learn more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Discovery House for giving me the opportunity to read an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. All opinions expressed are my own.

As of today, this book is now available to the public.

Ever wanted a quick interesting snapshot not just of the whole Bible? What about having a concise introduction to every book in the Bible? That would be great isn't it? Many people know of interesting stories like the sacrifice of Isaac at Mount Moriah, the great exodus, the mighty king David, the wisdom of King Solomon, the parables of Jesus, and many more. Do we know exactly where they come from? Who were the authors? Why were the books written? When and where were they written? These questions are dealt with in this one volume called the "Bible source book." The word "source" should clue us in on what the book is trying to achieve. It is to help us go back to the origins of the Bible and to help us appreciate the ancient contexts better. By doing so, we will be more equipped with background information as we open up each book of the Bible for study or for discussion. For each Bible book, the author gives:
A short title to summarize the theme;
A Top Ten list of interesting facts;
WHO wrote the book;
WHAT the book is about;
WHEN the events took place;
WHY the book was written;
WOW to show us the impact of the book in culture and society both in the past and after;
Worth Remembering is about popular verses that inspire;
Wonders from the past show us the archaeological discoveries.

My Thoughts
This guide should go hand in hand with the open Bible. With a good introduction to every single book of the Bible, readers who are on a Read-Through-The-Bible program would find this a helpful map to see the big picture. For new believers attempting to read the Bible, it makes the reading of the Bible less daunting and more interesting. For researchers who want a quick reference to the contexts of each book, this book could be used as a primer to teach, to preach, and to frame our curriculum. The eight Ws provide us with some useful handles as we dive into the Word of God. By having a consistent framework throughout, readers will find this book a convenient reference tool to be consulted on a regular basis.

If asked to critique this book, I would say that the author might have over-simplified the Bible. There are a lot more complexities surrounding the contexts and the interpretation of the book. For instance, are the "Top Ten" comments about the Bible really top of the list? Shrinking 66 books of the Bible into a small volume may mean a lot of reductionism at work. Of course, one can counter that the purpose of the book is to give a broad overview of the Bible and is not meant to give us all the information we needed to know. Thus, it is good to see this work as an invitation to study the Bible in depth. Branon gives us a Bible brochure. We as readers ought to make the personal journey through the Bible ourselves.

Dave Branon was the managing editor of the award-winning Christian magazine Sports Spectrum for 18 years, and is now an editor for Discovery House and Our Daily Bread Ministries. Dave has written over 2,000 devotional articles and 14 books, including Heads Up and Undefeated. Dave and his wife, Sue, live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Discovery House Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

The format of this book is a wonderful companion when studying everyday. It helps you hone in on the specifics of whichever book you're studying. I've found it to be a great a study aid to my studies!

"Our Daily Bread Bible Sourcebook " by Dave Branon is an excellent resource for the Christian. It starts with Genesis and progresses on to Revelation. He starts out each book with the top ten main points. Then it progresses to answering the question who wrote the book. Then the book answers who the person is that wrote the book. After that you will find out what the book is about. After that you will find out when it is written. Then the book will tell you where and why the book was written. It is easier to understand the Bible passages you are reading with this back round. It is a very valuable and important resource for the Christian. When the Bible is read the reader often does not understand the times and all the details in the passage to get the full impact of the author and what God is trying to communicate r. I appreciate the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this excellent resource. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, facebook, my blog , with pastors, friends.

Just like the title says this book provides a 'Who, What, Where, Wow' guide to the Bible. The book goes through each book in the Bible, giving information the author has gathered. It was very interesting, seeming to provide proof and support for the authenticity of the each book in the Bible. The author does not debate, nor provide in-depth discussion about any controversies. This book provides nice summaries of each book and it's background, but I found myself wishing there was more. As an example, the author sites 'Dr. Samuel Kellogg considered the book of Leviticus the most important book in the Bible.' But he doesn't explain why, it left me feeling the information wasn't complete.


I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley, #OurDailyBreadBibleSourcebook

I really enjoyed reading and using this book! It is excellent for both student and teacher to use in providing an overview of each book in the Bible. I especially like the format the author uses to present the overview which includes providing a Top Ten List for each book before presenting the eight W’s. I recommend this book for use by the individual as well as in study groups. It also makes an excellent gift!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book that was provided by the publisher through Net Galley. However, the thoughts and opinions presented here are my own.

Our Daily Bread Bible Sourcebook
By Dave Branon
Each chapter of the Bible were shared through these topical sections: Top 10, Who, What, Where, When, Why, Wow, Worth Remembering, Wonders of the Past
A surprisingly fun book full of intriguing facts and information on the Bible and the people inside. The information shared gave a great deal of context and perspective on what was happening throughout each book of the Bible. I really have enjoyed getting to know Bible through this book and learning facts from these biblical times. God is real, the Bible is real and that is what was special about this book. It brought the truths of Gods Word and that facts that make you realize and believe its reality together. It was a really enjoyable read.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I share here.

If we look at shelf of books like a buffet this book would be an appetizer. This is not to diminish the book because I like appetizers. It is presented as the who, what, where and wow guide to the Bible and it accomplishes that purpose and leaves a taste for more.
It certainly doesn’t give all the details about any of the books of the Bible. There are several good books out there for in-depth study but as an introduction to the Bible this is a good start.
Each book is introduced with a Top Ten of details about the book. For example, for Obadiah Mr. Branon gives details about the prophet and suggest why Obadiah is placed next to Amos in the canon of Scripture. He also gives us information about the region and the historical events leading up to this prophecy.
One of the interesting aspects of this guide book is Wow factor. In this section of each chapter the author gives us tidbits about how each book has been quoted by others. Sometimes the book is quoted in other books of the Bible but sometimes the quote is in a song. I found myself humming “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds as I read through the guide to Ecclesiastes.
I have been reading through the guide as I teach a class on Old Testament Introduction. It has provided a good overview as I read more academic resources on each book. I have also found the archeological discoveries good conversation starters in class.
I can hardly wait till I present the book of Obadiah and ask if anyone in the class knew that that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was set in Petra, the city that Obadiah wrote about.

Dave Branon has compiled a wondeful sourcebook on religion and Biblical studies. I enjoyed this book as a believer and as a reader. Recommended for those who want to read more and explore the Bible more fully.

Having books that help you gain better understanding about the Bible is useful. Many books in the Bible include little or no information about the author and time periods. The Our Daily Bread Bible Sourcebook has collected the background information that is known about each book in one place.

The Bible Sourcebook provides many different pieces of information about each book in the Bible. It gives the who, what, when, where, why, and wow (interesting facts) about each one. If something, for example the author, is not known for sure, it makes this clear and tells some possibilities.

Other items in the sourcebook include the top 10 events that you will find in each book, verses that are good to memorize, and archeological finds that have to do with events in the books.

The Our Daily Bread Bible Sourcebook is a handy reference to help either in personal Bible study or lesson preparation. It helps you to better understand the context of the Bible.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved this so much and I'm happy I got aa chance for a free copy! A well detailed and documented book that I definitely recommend having it.

This is a very useful reference tool. It gives The who, what, when, where, and even a wow for each book of the Bible. It’s a nice quick reference to help gets your berrings in a book before you begin it. It will also give some extra information for some books like relavent references from the media and archeological finds related to that book. Glad to have this at my disposal as I read through the Bible this year!

Thanks to Netgalley for an eArc!

I am so glad that netgalley offers this gem of a book. There are so many reference books that tout that they break down the Books of the Bible but are wanting when it's all said and done. Not this one!
It's set up using the Who, What, Where, Why, When and Wow formula and is a perfect resource or companion guide for Bible Study. Everything is laid out in a manner that makes searching for answers extraordinarily simple.
Easy to use for new believers with enough content for those with more Scripture knowledge, this is one reference book that I fully intend to purchase.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.