Description: By calling attention to the iconic dimension of books, James Watts argues that we can better understand how physical books mediate social value and power within and between religious communities, nations, academic disciplines, and societies both ancient and modern.
Brief description: James W. Watts is Professor of Religion at Syracuse University. He is the author of Understanding the Pentateuch as a Scripture (Wiley Blackwell, 2017) and the editor of Iconic Books and Texts (Equinox, 2013) and Sensing Sacred Texts (Equinox, 2018).
Review Quotes: "This important collection of essays from James W. Watts fills in many gaps left by previous studies of books in general, and religious scriptures in particular . . . The wide range of topics addressed and examples used in this volume demonstrate its usefulness to scholars in multiple fields that deal with [sic] in how and why the phenomena of books and texts, especially those with the status of scripture, exert influence and authority in individual lives and social groups." --Parmenter, Dorina Miller, Anthropos, 115.2020