A controversial perspective on the Bible. Kirsch examines a selection of Bible stories that have been previously censored, mistranslated or even completely banned due to their sexual, violent or mysterious content. They address such age-old yet contemporary themes as seduction, revenge, incest, rape, murder, political assassination, inter-racial marriage and women's rights. Kirsch retells the stories in contemporary English alongside the original text, and demonstrates that their real power lies in their ability to graphically illustrate the often dark complexities of human nature. Thus he argues that people in Bible times were as vulnerable, confused and prone to weaknesses of the flesh as we are today.