Book Review: The Desire of the Everlasting Hills, by Thomas Cahill

It began as a research novel for a class that I'm taking. It ended as re-invigorating my perception of the Bible.

This book's subtitle, "The World Before and After Jesus," really only applies to the beginning and end of the book. The majority of "Desire" is devoted to an in-depth study of the four gospels and Paul's letters, with some smattering of other New Testament books thrown in.

Despite the title's incongruency, this book makes for an enlightening read. You will find yourself immersed in pre-Christian culture in a way that I have not yet experienced. Cahill writes with an offhanded quality that is rare among such scholars. I found myself enjoying his diatribes even if I didn't agree with them letter-for-letter.

This book is rare indeed, in that it keeps the reading lively with gee-whiz annotations on nearly every page.

I have learned more from this commentary than any other I have read. Cahill does an excellent job of setting the stage for every thought and then completing it in an often-entertaining manner. The reader will find knowledge and enjoyment in the pages of "Desire."

The Bottom Line: This book could be found on the shelf of a Evangelical Christian, a Jew, and an agnostic and they would all glean something meaningful from it. Worth owning, worth reading.

BTJ