If you study the Bible, you should read this. However, I don't recommend reading it cover to cover as I did. The book has essentially two sections. The first section has lots of interesting and helpful things about exegisis and hermeneutics in general. The second part of the book is chapters about studying specific types of scripture (prophetic books, poetry, etc.). What I recommend is that you first read the general section, but then only read the later chapters as you enter a period of study to which that chapter pertains. That is, don't bother to read the chapter on Psalms unless you intend to study Psalms at that time. Then, carefully work your way through the appropriate chapter before you begin your study. You really would get the most out of this book if you took the time to stop reading and look up each passage of scripture that it mentions, read and prayerfully consider it, then move on to your study of the Bible.

I will certainly keep this book as a reference, and go back to it as a reference when I do my own studies. It took me a LONG time to read this one, but I wouldn't say it is because it is hard to read. It really does read well, and manages to make a difficult subject pretty interesting. It is probably pretty invaluable just for the bibligraphic references on commentaries, and its analysis of the different translations of the Bible. ( )

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I've taught on this book a number of times, and I still don't get sick of it. It's so essential to understand that the Bible is made up of a number of kinds of literature, and because of this, it's essential to know how to approach each kind on its own (while plugging it into the broad metanarrative of Scripture). Fee and Stuart help navigate these issues for the eager student of the Bible. ( )

Best book around for learning HOW to read and understand the Bible. Anything by Gordon Fee is great, but this book is accessible for anyone to read. ( )

How To Read the Bible for All It is Worth provides an approach to a study of the Bible that is sensible, practical, balanced and wise. The authors argue that before attempting to apply the biblical text to the “here and now” (which is how they narrowly define the principle of hermeneutics) it is important to perform exegesis (how the text was understood in the “there and then”).

The authors provide exegetical guidelines for the various types of biblical texts that will be encountered in reading the Bible. For example the prophets need to be understood by recognising and delineating the various oracles they record, the epistles need to be broken down into paragraphs, the psalms into types, etc. The authors show how to do this using common sense and Bible helps such as dictionaries, commentaries and Bible Handbooks. So, this is not just a book to read but to be used as a textbook for study.

The authors also give guidance on the types of Bible translations and their various strengths and weaknesses, whether the translation is literal, dynamic equivalence or paraphrase, and how to use these types of translation.

Overall this is an excellent book for providing a common sense approach to Bible study, I highly recommend it. ( )