Michael L Satlow

“Satlow proposes new, interesting, and controversial answers to how and when the Bible received its authority as a ‘holy’ book. Impressive in its scope, daring in its claims, masterful in its scholarship, Satlow’s analysis reaches surprising historical conclusions that will challenge readers about how they understand the Bible—its origin, its character, and above all its status as a sacred collection of books, the ‘authoritative’ canon of Scripture.”—Bart D. Ehrman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“Michael Satlow gracefully challenges fundamental assumptions about the nature of Biblical authority in this powerful and important book. Prepare for a fascinating exploration of the changing ways in which Jews and Christians encountered the holy in divine oracles, sacred books, and the people who interpret them.”—Karen L. King, Harvard University

“How the Bible Became Holy is a lucid, learned and elegant guide to the history and ideas that gave us our holy books and changed the world.”—Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, author of Why Faith Matters

“Satlow is extremely well-versed in the scholarship and he very innovatively interprets known sources and arranges his interpretations coherently. This is a book that will shake the field.”—Evyatar Marienberg, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“This remarkable book will change the way you think about the Bible.”—A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically

“Thorough and impressive.”—Rathe Miller, Philadelphia Inquirer

“The author’s knowledge and his resources, both literary and archaeological, are vast. . . . Regardless of the reader’s familiarity with the material, the author’s expertise cannot be doubted.”—Kirkus Reviews