This is a refreshing work that steps beyond the superficial level of parallels between the Old Testament and the ancient Near East to consider the underlying psychological, presumptive and ideological worldviews of the general population. At the same time, Walton remains very aware of the dangers of academic anachronisms--keeping the discussion in check at regular intervals to ask, in essence, "To what degree do we moderns insist on interpreting the ancient world from a modern pretext?" Along the way he offers numerous "Comparative Analysis" side columns, very helpful for the student of the Hebrew scriptures specifically. As a new-comer to the arena of scholarship in this topic, I have so far found this book the most helpful synthesis of the genuine issues at play. ( )