This is a very interesting book as a whole! The collection contains the reflections 32 writers and thinkers on The Bible (Old and New Testament) from various religious and personal paths. Some Jews, some Protestants, some Catholics; some believers, some sceptics. Some deals with their heritage and families (interestingly, mostly with their fathers), some reflects on their life, some remembers the influential Bible-connected moments from their own life. Some reflections reads like thesis, some like fiction. Some are boring, some are interesting. Some traditional, some very liberal (mostly Liberal I would say). Some I can use in my personal life, some I do not care about. Yet - they all contains the opinions I deal (or could deal) with in the course of my life, as people are spiritual beings, too - and if one cares to hold and maintain deeper personal relationships, the question of faith (or lack thereof) or parts and bits of it inevitably enter the conversation. As a practicing Catholic, I wish to go deeper in my own faith - and I believe thast to do that, I need to look for God constantly (even if sometimes this needs to ponder, question and sometimes fight my un/belief). And to go deeper in faith also means to touch my fellow people and share at least parts of their journeys. I can stay well rooted in my faith and be open to honest discussions.

Yes, some people do not wish to discuss with you, they wish to quarrel, manipulate, offend - you name it. But this is part of life, too.

So, this book is not for the narrow-minded. But I would also do not recommend it to the faith newcomers or to the people who are not sure of their own faith/beliefs - or these who have just "Sunday/Sabbath" faith. Because to enter the discussion, you should have opinions and you should know why you have them. You can change them, but the change should come of your own pondering/feeling process.