The Ark Before Noah: Decoding the Story of the Flood (Paperback)

A serious book, but rarely a heavy one: in a sprightly, good-humoured way, Finkel communicates the thrill of true scholarship...it feels fresh and exciting here. * The Sunday Times *
The charged thrill of Finkel's chase permeates the book - the pages don't just join dots, they supply new pieces for a beautiful, Bronze-Age jigsaw-puzzle... Scholarly and droll, Finkel's writing is also eccentrically vivid... it is a joy. * The Times *
One of the most important human documents ever discovered... his conclusions will send ripples into the world of creationism and among ark hunters. * The Guardian *
A painstaking and lively investigation ... there are remarkable scholarly insights to admire ... brilliant. * Literary Review *
Finkel is a master at deciphering these ancient cuneiform clay tablets, but this book is far more than a fine piece of detective work: it is a humane work of scholarship that enlarges the soul. -- Richard Holloway * The Observer *
Delightful...a digressive, amusing personal book for the general reader, a book that is willing to ask big questions. -- Stephen Moss * The Guardian *
Finkel's account is wryly and entertainingly told. -- Tom Holland * The Guardian *
Exudes the enthusiasm of an expert deeply absorbed in his subject. * Times Literary Supplement *
A gem of a book. * The New Yorker *
Engaging and informative . . . Finkel is an enthusiast and shows evident delight in bringing this find to the wider public. * The Wall Street Journal *
Immensely erudite (I assume) and very funny. Anyone with the odd 45 years to spare should seriously think of retraining in Assyriology. * The Spectator *