Randall Price
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By: Harvest House Publishers
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Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Social Sciences -> Archaeology -> Biblical
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Social Sciences -> Archaeology -> General
Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Social Sciences -> Archaeology -> General AAS
Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14
Average rating: 4.5 of 5
Great Concept - poor writing! 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 12 people found this review helpful.
I was really excited to receive this book... however, I've had a difficult time enjoying reading it. The run-on sentences, poor grammer, and loose sentence structure are so distracting, that as a reader, you loose interest. I spent more time editing in my mind, then pulling together what the author was saying. Rather long-winded, I kept having the feeling of "let's get to the point." On a positive note, there are some fun pictures and the author does string together some interesting concepts. Personally, I just couldn't get past the writing. Summary - although interesting, don't expect concise writing.
Definitely worth a read for everyone interested in archeology 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
This book has so many strong points:
First of all, the author's uncompromising integrity gives his information tremendous plausibility. He rejects popular theories that lack true evidence, even if those theories would support his own beliefs. He's very honest about the limits of archeology, whether you are a biblical skeptic or a believer. He also admits that, due to ongoing discoveries, any book on archeology is outdated before it goes to print. Such humility is a refreshing change from how many archeologists, both minimalists (biblical scholars who minimize the authority of biblical text as a reliable source of historical and factual information about the past)and maximalists (biblical scholars who give maximum authority to the Bible as a source of, etc.), present their finds. Regardless, the finds that have stood the test are presented here in fascinating detail, both photographic and literary.
Price also emphasizes archeology's limits (mostly do to financial constraints). For example, Price writes that only 10% of discovered cuneiform tablets have been published. So yes, 50,000 tablets is a lot, but remember that means that there are 450,000 tablets that haven't been published. There is a lot of information like this in the book.
The discoveries and their conclusions are fascinating. I particularly liked the chapter discussing Sodom, its possible location, and the evidence discovered there showing that the houses had burned from the rooftops and downward.
Great photos throughout the book, and good organization,including a glossary.
Price maintains an admirably respectful tone when writing about minimalist archeologists, even though their beliefs and archeological philosophies must totally contradict his.
Price is obviously and enthusiastically Christian, but he doesn't in any way force his religious views on the reader, nor does he put down other religions. I'm Jewish, so I think I would've picked up on any slights (to my own religion, at least).
The style and tone of his writing is enjoyable. He has a sense of fun and wonder about his work that really comes through. It could be a dry subject, but Price gives it life.
Just a FYI: Here in Israel, a minimalist archeologist repeatedly insists that archeological evidence shows that camels were absolutely not domesticated in the time of Abraham. When a maximalist archeologist showed him clear and numerous evidence that camels WERE domesticated then, and that the Bible wasn't lying, the minimalist said he didn't care, and continues to this day to restate his original (and proven false) claims. Minimalists are obviously no more objective than maximalists, which is why I think it's very important to read books by straight-shooting archeologists (regardless of their religious views)like Randall Price in order to get the whole story.
It goes without saying: I loved this book!
Editorial Review:
Recently uncovered ancient artifacts shed light upon the lives of the patriarchs, the Ark of the Covenant, the fall of Jericho, King David, and more. More than 80 photos demonstrate the incontrovertible facts that support biblical truth.
