"Few books were composed over a longer period of time and have exercised more cultural and religious influence than the Psalms, the longest and most complex collection in the Hebrew Bible and arguably one of the most illustrious and durable texts in history. This book is an introduction to the world of the Psalms that focuses on the content and the poetic forms that are encountered in the collection, guiding the reader toward an appreciation of the purposes of the Psalms, and the contribution to the Scriptures of Israel. There is also some background discussion on the development of the Psalms and an overview of the variety and genres of these poetic texts"--
