Few topics are as complex as religion, and few educational references do as impressive a job of summing up in clear, precise, and easy-to-understand prose the precepts, history, and practices of the world's major faiths. Michael D. Coogan has all the background to tackle such a formidable task. Currently the director of publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum, he has taught at Harvard and Wellesley, excavated in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and edited both the Oxford Companion to the Bible and the Oxford History of the Biblical World. Beautifully illustrated with artwork, photography, maps, and graphs, this guide provides a lucid introduction to Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, as well as the religious traditions of China and Japan. Coogan explains each religion's origins and divine beliefs, sacred texts and individuals, the concepts of death and the afterlife, and how the religion is expressed in society, rites of passage, education, and gender roles. The reference shelves have been lacking a good, comprehensive yet accessible religion guide. It's a pleasure to see such a concise, readable, and attractive piece of erudition address that need. --Stephanie Gold