What Are the Dead Sea Scrolls and Why Do They Matter?

I recently finished reading this nonfiction book & enjoyed reading it very much. What I enjoyed most about this book is how very readable it was. I am not very well schooled, if you will, in terms of religion or various religious thought/beliefs, so felt this book was perfect for the layperson (like myself) who wanted to know more about the Dead Sea Scrolls, where they came from and why they are an important part of history. This book is also written as a series of questions and answers; A format which I also found to be a wonderful way in which to present the topic of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This book is also a short and fast read and very much too the point with regards to the topic at hand.

Freedman and Kuhlken present a very teachable primer on the Dead Sea Scrolls. I have purchased half a dozen books on the Scrolls in preparation for an upcoming class I am teaching, and found this book to be unique in 1 way: it anticipates common questions regarding the Scrolls, and provides sound, concise answers. While not the most detail-oriented of the books I purchased, it still contains lots of meat, and none of the sensationalist claims of other, less academic books. This book does not get too lost in the extra-canonical material, discussing mostly the Hebrew Bible material, and its implications and impact on western political and religious thought. Highly recommended when purchased in conjunction with a copy of the DSS Bible, and perhaps Timothy H Lim's "The Dead Sea Scrolls: a very short introduction."

Selective analysis. Very informative and presented in a question and answer format. Good review of biblical history and how the Dead Sea Scrolls fits in to the big picture.

I met the author in a parking lot one day. He mentioned the fact that he was involved with the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Museum. He also mentioned his book which I promptly ordered. Pretty interesting- if you are interested. I like the format of the book-questions and answers. If you truly want to learn about the Dead Sea Scrolls and want it explained in layman's terms, this book is for you!