Exactly. You may get the same information out of an encyclopedia or the internet without paying a dime and without taking space in your library. I understand perfectly it is a tough topic, ancient history, few sources, the names are hard to pronounce, there are too many characters, etc, etc. Whatever. If you are going to make a book of it you are supposed to be able to tell a story out of it. Anybody can know facts (or make them up), the question is "do you know how to tell them?".

It is specially a pity that one can't make anything out of this book when it's supposed to be a general public's book, a nice edition with graphics, maps, pictures et al as they generally come from this publisher. Yes, that makes it even irritating.

Unless you are a specialist in the subject stay away from this one. The books of Kings are more fun to read than this. Oh, and the excuse that there are not enough physical evidence to give testimony that help should tell you not to write about it, and not the other way around.

Brad E. Kelle's ANCIENT ISRAEL AT WAR: 853-586BC is a fine pick for both in-depth college-level Middle East history holdings and specialty military collections with strong sections in early military force. It covers the complex kingdom of Ancient Israel and 200 years of constant warring between kingdoms and neighbors, and considers both the social and political relationships involved and the military conflicts. While a specialty item, it promises vivid reading for any studying early wars and military conditions.

This was a dissapointing purchase. The author has provided a cursory review of ancient israel history but nothing illuminating to the initiated. More could be found in a wikipedia search and written more consisely. While the series is recommended this unfortunately is one to pass on unless you need to have it as part of a collection