NetGalley Arc Review

This is definitely a desired read, with that if it’s for you then grab it. You won’t be disappointed, great for beginners but also advanced, might catch something you haven’t before.

This book is a basic study guide to the books of Enoch. It's filled with apocalyptic warnings and fallen angels. There is so much knowledge that has been hidden from us.
I was a little disappointed when I read through this intriguing book and realized that it is by no means The book of Enoch in it's entirety.

I’ve really enjoyed digging into the books of the Bible that were removed or seen as not cannon. I chose this book to dive deeper into the Book of Enoch as it’s recommended for Beginners. Unfortunately, the format that’s used doesn’t align with my learning style. I constantly felt like I was re-reading when I wasn’t then I had to re-read portions that were confusing. Overall, I left feeling even more confused then when I ran the text alone.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I was in Bible College I was given a fifteen-minute overview on the Book of Enoch which generally dismissed it as not being worth reading. Many years later I delved into The Book of the Watchers more deeply to try to understand the general knowledge and worldview of the Jews of Jesus day. I was particularly interested in how the Book of Enoch might have shaped the thinking of the apostles considering how it is referenced and quoted in the New Testament. There are all kinds of varying opinions on the work and when I saw this book available for review I thought it would be worth a read.

The author begins with the history of the book, when it was lost, how it was found and then gives an overview of how it was rejected as being part of the canon of Scripture by all but the Ethiopian church. The author also ventures to show why, even though the book isn’t itself Scripture, it is valuable for understanding the Jewish framework in viewing many theological ideas, some of which are included in the canon of Scripture. He also makes a point of illustrating how much the book is incorporated into modern ideas, entertainment and philosophy.

This text is exactly what it says, it’s a book for beginners. The book does not include the entire text of the book of Enoch, but instead pulls out key quotes. The author makes a simple and straightforward overview of the sections of the book. I was hoping for a little more depth and discussion of some of the things that are debated about the book, but again, this book is what it was advertised to be.

The book is written so that you don’t have to read it cover to cover, but can jump around through the sections. My full disclaimer is that I haven’t read all of the book. I read the sections I was most interested in. I also read through the full text of the book of Enoch alongside the chapters of this book so that I would have the full background to what the author was discussing.

If you’ve never heard of, or never engaged with the book of Enoch, but find yourself interested, then this might be a good place to start.

I received a digital copy of this book and in exchange I am giving my honest opinion in this review.

The Book of Enoch has fascinated me for a long time and I have heard a lot about it from other authors. There has also been a lot of wild claims and interpretations written about Enoch. Long's book however is a wonderful introduction and commentary to this ancient and puzzling Jewish writing! The writing is very clear and easy to read, providing summaries of each section of the Book of Enoch and pulling out key passages, points and showing the connections with the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. Refreshingly, Long does not divert into wild, speculative wackiness. This is not and academic book, but as the title says, a guide for "beginners". I highly recommend this book, for its clarity and thoroughness, to those interested in the Book of Enoch and the supernatural worldview of the Second Temple period and Scripture.

This is an excellent beginner book for understanding a literary reading of the book of Enoch and some of its theological consequences. Personally, I was investigating it for a better understanding of Ethiopian Judaism, and this book was definitely not that.

Nevertheless, if you’re not going to deeply research this exact topic, you can’t go wrong starting and finishing here.

The Book of Enoch has always been of interest to me. I read this book in amazement that there is so much information about it and Enoch too. Mr Long weaves an interesting story of angels and rebellion. To think this isnt well known is surprising to me. After reading this book the Bible makes more sense as well as the times we are in. Well written and relevant to today. I was especially interested in the book since so much modern paranormal history involves angels and magical studies. Interesting and well written.

The Book of Enoch for Beginners: A Guide to Expand Your Understanding of the Biblical World by Phillip J. Long is a remarkably interesting read! The author, Phillip J. Long, helps to bring some clarity to the timelines and some explanations of the vision of Enoch. You may want your copy of the Book of Enoch to follow along with this book as you read.
Those who enjoy researching books or writings by biblical prophets sometimes wonder why these books were not included as canonized or authentic writings included in most bibles. This author will give some insight into why the book was not accepted as an inclusion to the final authorized bible.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This book is an accessible summary of the Book of Enoch. It is even available on Kindle Unlimited giving everyone an opportunity to go through this guided telling. I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All of these opinions are my own.

As mentioned in the Intro, this is not a full translation of 1 Enoch, but is a guided summary into the history, content and context of this very interesting pseudepigrapha that helps to also set the milieu of the second temple period of Jesus. The author starts with a summary of each book (includes a Facts at a Glance bulleted call out) before reviewing the specific book in sections. These sections are further broken down into an historical and contextual review, followed by a “Key Verse” and commentary and often an added boxes digging a little more deeply into terms and concepts … such as “Who ARE the Watchers?” or “Demons in Early Judaism.”

Over all, this was an accessible academic work that I found absolutely fascinating from historical and theological context that definitely can contribute to canonical biblical exegesis … or simply as a history buff interested in that time period. The only downside I had was that it apparently doesn’t include the complete text, so this is really more of a companion piece .. albeit one that you should definitely use with a complete copy if you care to read it. As an added bonus, it is currently available on Kindle Unlimited making it super easy to take for a test drive.

Part One: An Introduction
Part Two: Uncovering the Five Books
- Book I: The Book of the Watchers
- Book II: The Book of Parables
- Book III: The Book of Astronomical Writings (aka The Book of Luminaries)
- Book IV: The Book of Dream Visions
- Book V: The Epistle of Enoch

I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#Enoch #NetGalley #KindleUnlimited