The Talmud

If you have interest in getting a flavor of the Talmud in English, this book does it well. The introduction is long but critical to the understanding of the content, and provides deep insights into the interpretation and development of Talmudic scholarship. The material itself is easily accessible in English, and consists of extracts from multiple tractates that are most commonly quoted or are considered important. Approachable for the non-Jew, the work provides an appreciation for the depth of scripture and the very real alternative to Biblical literalism. The Classics of Western Spirituality series, of which this book is a part, is an extraodinarily well done anthology, and is a must for any library if you have an interest in comparative theology.