Refined by over 40 years of dialogue with religious experts/practitioners around the world, this text is widely regarded for its fairness and accuracy. It is also the most thorough, yet concise history of world religions available in a single volume, treating many subjects neglected in other texts. The book's depth, breadth, and organization free instructors from having to “cover” everything in lectures, enabling them to use class time for questions, discussion, and their own favorite materials.