Thursday, September 22, 2005

Cliffs Notes Bible

At first I was skeptical, but to be honest - I'm onboard.

The 100 Minute Bible is out and ready. Why not? If we can get more people to understand the "bold faced items" of the Bible, say, more than the French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy knows about The Holocaust, wouldn't it be all the better?
A new version of the Bible which its author says can be read in less than two hours has been launched.

The 100-Minute Bible, written as a page-turner for those who do not have the time to read the full version, was unveiled at Canterbury Cathedral.

Its author, ex-headteacher the Rev Michael Hinton said: "We have majored on Jesus, because he is the central figure in the Bible."
...
"I don't think most people know the Bible very well," he said.

"This is an attempt to say, 'Look, there's a great story here - let's get into it and let's not get put off by the things that are going to be the sub-plot. Let's give you the big plot'."
...
It took Mr Hinton more than two years to cut down the 66 books of the Bible into a version that could be read in 1hr 40min.
...
Len Budd, proprietor of the 100-Minute Press, said: "This is a book for adults and has been written in a style to encourage readers to keep turning the pages, but without resorting to any literary gimmicks."
Hey, I have already advertised my preference, but lets be honest - it's a tough read. People have dedicated their life trying to understand it. That puts off a lot of people - a lot of people who need it.

If you are to tell someone, "Hey give it a shot, it won't take more than three re-runs of Friends.", that is a good selling point. They can get to the meaty bits later.

Bravo Zulu Reverend Michael Hinton. Do you have it on CD?

Oh, and for my dear, lovely Bookie - here is a peak inside the Tyburn Convent in London. That would be such a waste of wonderful womanhood though; but I'm just being selfish.

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