A set of easily read Bible Studies designed for men. If I were reviewing the Bible Studies themselves, I could easily give book 4- or 4-½-stars - they are practical and are based on the text with sufficient depth to be of interest to men from a variety of backgrounds - pastoral, professional, blue-collar, etc.

My biggest concern, and the reason my review only gives 3-stars, is the lack of a table of contents or an index. A table of contents would provide access to the studies in the order found in the text. Indexes would allow the reader to find all studies referencing a specific scripture passage. A topical index would provide access to studies focusing on topics of interest to the reader. With neither a table of contents nor an index, much of the material is not easily accessible to the reader - except by stumbling upon it.

The book would make a good gift, but I would hesitate adding it to my personal library
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Bible study can be all too easy to forget, yet all too important for continued spiritual growth and connection with God and His Word. "The 5-Minute Bible Study for Men" by David Sanford, an author and teacher of the Bible with Spirit-granted gifts for both, seeks to introduce and nurture Scripture reading and application as a daily habit. Although this book appears to be targeted towards men, anyone of any gender and age can use this book.

Sanford includes a wide variety of Scripture passages from both the Old and New Testament, all of which one can read in a short setting, though the questions and application thoughts for each passage can last someone for the rest of the day. I love the "TA-CO, EH?" acronym Sanford uses for getting more in-depth with understand a passage, though he still emphasizes interpretation in moderation, stating that some passages (e.g. Psalm 22) can have multiple layers of meaning, but others must be taken at face-value and simply obeyed, though he doesn't discourage asking questions about a passage that could be troublesome to understand. By referencing entire passages, Sanford takes a small step towards helping the Bible student understand Scripture in context. I like that he also uses a variety of translations, and in one study section, asks the reader to consider the translation (s)he uses.

Be warned: this is not a book for Bible nerds. Sanford doesn't go so far as to apply advanced interpretation for each passage; he's not a theologian or Bible scholar, and he doesn't try to be one. In fact, some thoughts hardly match the actual Scripture, meaning that one must study the Scripture passage closer, as to not miss what the Scripture says as Sanford goes a different direction. Moreover, Sanford writes certain thoughts under the assumption of strict Biblical inerrancy and Scripture inspiration that is a hallmark of American Evangelical Christianity. Certain advanced Bible scholars may take issue with this, since the idea of Biblical inerrancy is a slippery slope. Nevertheless, this should not detract from the good habits of daily Scripture reading, study and application that Sanford hopes to instill, as is his primary goal for writing this book.

We need books like this, because it brings Scripture to a wider audience, spreading God's Word via another channel that God can use to grow, inspire, and bring closer to Him His children.

I received a copy of this book in electronic format via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.