The Marvels of Media Attention

My first trade book – that is, book written for a general audience, instead of for fellow scholars (academic monographs) or college students (textbooks) — was 19 years ago now, Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium.   I think it’s safe to say that when I wrote the book, I knew virtually *nothing* about writing a trade book.  My editor at Oxford University Press urged me to write it and I reluctantly agreed.

I was reluctant because I did not want to write for a general audience.  At...