Book excerpt: "Reading the Bible in the 21st Century" (RTB) is meant for readers who are prepared to read the Bible with 21st-century acuity. In order to understand Abraham, Moses, Jonah, Jesus and the many other familiar biblical figures, you have to be able to place yourself in their time and know where they are, that is, where the action is taking place. This is what RTB addresses. In addition, the characters encountered in the Bible do not do their thinking the way we do, strange as that may seem. RTB explains the archaic mind as modern psychologists, such as Julian Jaynes, have come to understand it.