I struggled with how to rate this book. I think it would be an enjoyable read for anyone interested in the region and eager to gain cursory insight into the history and cultures there. I think my problem with the book stems from my own experiences in the region and I found it difficult to separate my own perspective and memories from what the author was conveying. Many of her insights closely reflected my own memories of journeying to Israel and Palestine as a naive history and archeology buff during college. Ultimately, I based my rating on writing style and voice. Perhaps one of the reasons it felt so familiar is because the writing style was so informal. This will likely appeal to many readers who enjoy travel logs, but I found it a but distracting. Overall an interesting read and fun look at a fascinating part of the world.

super interesting book! I ate it up so fast. So rich in amazing information while at the same time being fun and engaging.

Absolutely loved this book. Loved the information, the tone. Normally find these sorts of books quite hard to read but this one was easy to absorb. Fascinating on so many levels it really interested me. I will look out for more by the author and I have subscribed to her website. Great stuff! :-)

First of all, I have to thank the author for producing this amazing book, the publisher for allowing me to read it for free and ahead of its publication time, and NetGalley for creating this great online intellectual atmosphere.
After thanking all who deserve to be thanked, let us talk about this book.
The writer is telling her story from a young school girl interested in archeology to a real archeologist. this quite long sentence - in my opinion is perfect to describe this great experience.

In The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel, Haley takes us on a journey through the lands of the Bible – past and present – with a trowel in one hand, a camera in the other, and plenty of sun cream. To show us how Christians can use archaeological finds to better understand Israel’s history, read the Bible in its original context, and comprehend today’s religious conflicts in the Holy Land. What begins as a search for the meanings of ancient Scripture also gives a clearer perception of our current neighbours and how Jesus would have us love them today.

While most of the narration is based on a two-week trip Haley took with her husband and parents through the Holy Lands, Haley also reflects back on her many years working on several dig sites and tells. If I am honest these are the bits I enjoyed the most, as Haley described the wonderful and everyday finds, and how they can inform us about the lives of those living in the time of King David, Herod, Jesus and his disciples! However through her family holiday she is able to show us more sites, including: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea and Galilee.

Haley as a Harvard-trained biblical archaeologist, scholar and author brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this exploration of the history of the Bible, but also as a practicing Christian, Haley shares with us her awe, wonder and meaning that these discoveries inspired within her. I enjoyed seeing and experiencing the Holy Lands through her eyes, especially as it is not somewhere I think I will be able to visit anytime soon. What with the ongoing pandemic and the recent violence that erupted again between Hamas and the Israeli government.

Another unexpected side to this memoir was Haley’s discussion on the ongoing tensions between the peoples of Israel and their neighbouring Arab countries, particularly Palestine, Jordan and Egypt. Sadly these are not just tensions that have come about since Jewish settlers came back to the lands after the devastation of WWII and the holocaust, instead these tensions stretch back thousands of years – chronicled in the Bible itself. I liked how Haley didn’t take sides and tried to give a fair assessment of the wrongs and rights on both sides.

All in all The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel by Amanda Hope Haley was an easy, interesting and faith-filled read, that taught me more about the historical and modern contexts to help me understand better both the Bible and God’s people.

I have always been fascinated with archaeology, and archaeology in Israel is especially interesting, so I thought this book would be really good. It was, just not in the way I expected. There is not very much in it about digging up the past. Rather, it was mostly about a tour the author took through Israel with her parents and husband. I did find that quite interesting, especially the chapter about Hebron. I was fascinated by the way the Muslims and Israelis lived there in separate areas, and both sides described the atrocities that the other side had inflicted on them. I also appreciated the last paragraph of the book. We were created from dust; it's good for us to get our hands dirty, as we'll have more of an appreciation for our Creator and His creation when we work in the dirt!
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the style of writing! I would recommend if you are interested in archeology with a personal touch!

I feel like this is more a "travel-memoir entree with an archaeology appetizer" than I was expecting. It's absolutely still enjoyable, don't get me wrong! I simply expected more archaeology throughout the book (beyond the first half in actuality).

There were also extensive biblical passages quoted that I felt could have been referenced, i.e. "Look up XYZ verses for the full story," to make it more interactive and less "trying to meet a word count." She definitely made interesting cases for challenging the status quo on some well-known Bible stories--much like we don't know that there were actually 3 wise men, she notes how tradition and word of mouth have played a greater role in some respects than the biblical accounts themselves. So that was thought-provoking.

I've traveled to Israel myself, in 2010, and really enjoyed the albeit unexpected travel stories she shared. So even though I expected more archeology than I got, her travel stories were a definite bonus! Her writing style and passion for Israel really shined in this area, and she did a great job at setting present-day locations in their biblical and historical settings.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for the ARC to read and review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse into Israeli archaeology and travel with Amanda. Her insights were both travelogue and archaeology which helped keep me interested unlike so many dry and dusty archaeology books. I hope to hear more from Amanda in the future!

Amanda Hope Haley takes the reader on an adventure of a lifetime through historical and present day Israel. You’ll feel as if you are alongside her experiencing the excitement as she travels across the country.
The book gives the reader not only travel information, but also educates on the current state of Israel and also its past. I enjoyed learning new facts about the Bible and seeing pictures of locations where history took place. Her stories of the digs she’s been on made me want to quit my job and begin a new career. If you love history or are a Bible enthusiast this book is perfect for you!
(I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.)

What a great read. Not what I expected as I thought that it would define more the digs but that just might have been very dry. This is a guide to Israel both now and in the past as described by Amanda’s journey around Israel with her family. The constant references to the Bible and how different archaeologists came up with different views and even dating items. An amazing thought provoking read.

I was prepared, because I fully expected this to be a dry read on archaeological digs and the history that can be revealed through a¬ thorough examination of dig sites. I was ready for an informative book, and was totally surprised to find that “The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel” would also be incredibly entertaining.

Author Amanda Hope Haley’s book focuses on a vacation she took with her parents and husband, crisscrossing Israel while sharing a continuous stream of information that would make a tour guide salivate. Ms. Haley brings history alive and explains how the holy books of three major religions – Christianity, Islam, and Judaism – work in a symbiotic relationship with the historical sites, as the holy books support the history and vice versa.

The author does her best to maintain a balanced perspective when discussing sites that are holy to all three religions, which was refreshing. Ms. Haley’s prose is anything but dull, and is a mixture of serious tones while maintaining the lightheartedness of a conversation over dinner. I plan on checking out the author’s other books. If they are anything like this one, I will be very satisfied. Five stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.

The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel
by Amanda Hope Haley
Harvest House Publishers
Christian | History | Religion & Spirituality
Pub Date 23 Feb 2021


I am reviewing The Red Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel through Harvest House publishers and Netgalley:


Come on a journey to the land of where the events of the Bible took place, and see the stories you’ve known since Sunday school through new eyes.


In this book you will travel alongside the Harvard trained biblical archaeologist Amanda Hope Haley and learn about its history, people, and God. You’ll go on a vivid journey through both the memories and photographs Amanda brought back from her explorations and excavations, you can witness sites and artifacts that bring the Bible to life.


Amanda shares with you her humorous travel stories, including her misadventures with customs agents, eye-opening experiences with international cuisine, and crash-course education on driving in a new culture. In the process, she demonstrates how you can In the Red Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel. This book will help you too use archaeological findings to better understand Israel’s historyshed your Western mindset and read the Bible in its intended contextcomprehend today’s ongoing religious conflicts in the Holy Land If you long to better know God’s creation and the people who occupy it. The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel will give you the chance to do so as you gain invaluable new perspectives on the cultures and landscapes of the Bible.


I give The Red Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for the ARC to read and review.

The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel by Amanda Hope Haley is part travel guide, part memoir of the authors adventures in Israel with her husband and parents. This book is packed full of real experiences of Israel that a traveler on a guided tour would never experience. She also intersperses lots of history of both the Land and the modern conflicts that make the Holy Land.

This book will be enjoyed by anyone who wants to dig further beneath the surface of Israel and learn more about their faith.

Amanda Hope Haley brings the reader on her adventure to Israel with insights on culture and customs from an archaelogist's point of view. The adventures and archaelogy take the reader on a wild ride that is can't put the book down good.

This is a very good book that gives context to many of the stories, places, and people depicted in the Bible. It isn't presented as a scholarly journal. Rather, it is written in first person. It is as if you are walking alongside an archaeologist, telling you all the interesting details of a dig. This includes everyday things like booking a hotel or picking the right food at a restaurant. It is not a travel guide, but in a similar format, you can say it's an archaeological travel guide.

The various pictures and maps really help to make this journey more real. It almost feels like I'm right there. It's also a good introduction who wants to visit the Holy Land and know that its rich history is also preserved in its archaeology. I highly recommend this book.

First thing to note is that this isn't a straight archaeology book as the archaeology is interspersed with what is a bit like a travel guide as well. It does provide great insight into what it's like to be an archaeologist and the role archaeology can play in supporting the biblical record although I'd have to add that at times the author plays a bit fast and loose with biblical interpretation. Haley takes us on a tour of Israel and you do get a feel for the place. I think archaeology is a very neglected science in churches in general which is a pity as it has so much to say. While I wouldn't agree with everything the author says especially regarding some biblical passages I think this book is a good starting point for anyone interested in the field of archaeology and how this informs our study of the Bible. It's also an easy read and you don't get bogged down in academics. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for ARC.

I cannot recall if I’ve read any book at all about archaeological digs or finds. I might have read magazines on specific sites. My lack of recall may have been due to the subject itself, which for most of my life has seemed to me to be totally dull and uninspiring.

So why did I request for this book from the publisher to read? Two reasons: (1) I wanted to gain some perspective on the sights, sounds and history of the historical places in Israel, a country I’ve keen interest in, and (2) I wanted to know how archaeology can expand my understanding of the Bible in its historical and cultural context. I’m glad to say this book, through the travel stories of biblical archaeologist and author Amanda Hope Haley, delivered on both counts.

The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel reads like a travelogue of the cities and towns she and her family visited in 2019, which included Ashkelon, Ekron, Masada, Hebron, Jerusalem, Qumran, Nazareth and Magdala, but it’s much more than that. It’s a very fascinating excursion into Israel’s history through archaeological findings, and a commendable attempt to explain the ongoing conflicts in that land.

To set the stage, Haley describes what it’s like to get into and travel, lodge and dine in Israel, with some hilarious episodes. Then, for every city or town visited, she provides a fascinating historical background of the place, such as when it was first founded, its inhabitants then, and the economic activities they engaged in. She then informs readers what excavations had taken place and what had been found. Most of the excavations revealed mundane items like broken pottery pieces, animal bones, iron tools but there have been some significant discoveries from the Bible’s standpoint, like a Canaanite ‘golden calf’ found in Ashkelon, three bronze wheels found in Ekron that would have supported water basin stands used in mid-tenth century BC, and many others, a first-century synagogue stumbled upon in Magdala (famed for Mary Magdalene), and many others.

Haley didn’t shy away from visiting controversial places like Jerusalem and Hebron. Given the ongoing tensions between the Palestinians and the Israelis, there is a palpable sense of anxiety and fear as you read the riveting accounts of her travels there. But it was all good for Haley and her family!

Apart from Indiana Jones, archaeologists don’t seem to garner much mainstream fascination or interest for their work or discoveries. Hopefully Haley’s book, with its story-like and non-technical narrative, would plant that seed of imagination and wonder to arouse such interest. A commendable read indeed.

It was an entertaining read but not quite what I was expecting. I wanted more archeological information and less current travel guide

i really enjoyed going on the journey with Ms. Haley, it was a fun read and I enjoyed the archaeology. I look forward to more from the author.