The Ark Before Noah is about Irving Finkel and his exploration of the history of the ark story. It is a story of linguistic detective work, with some really interesting history and quite a bit of humor.

Before we go further, be aware that this book is written to be read by both members of the public and students. I think that because it can be intended for students, who might not want to read the whole thing, it has summaries at the end of each chapter and sometimes repeats itself. In my experience, this kind of repetition is fairly common in books that might be used in academic settings.

With all nonfiction books, I like to ask: is reading this book better than just reading a summary of the main points? The answer for this is absolutely. Finkel isn't internet famous for no reason. He comes across as someone who is witty and engaging throughout the book and has such fantastic stories to tell. By the end, I felt as though I could go up to him and give him a hug and also like he took me on a wonderful adventure. I'm guessing that part of that feeling is that he reads the audiobook, so it is really like he is there with you.

I am definitely going to read more of his books, as this one was super interesting.

Should you read this book? I had no problem listening to all the detail about cuneiform, but it looks like some people didn't go for it. I didn't think it was that bad at all. Sure, it isn't a thrilling rollercoaster, but it isn't supposed to be. If you are okay with a book that tells you about how cuneiform evolved (not in any great detail) so that you can understand later how Finkel figured out some things about the tablets, then you should read it. If you want something more directly applicable to your life, then skip it.