At the heart of the Jewish and Christian faiths lie the five books of the Torah, a text that has had enormous influence on Western ethics, politics, family, art and spiritual guidance. The authors analyze each of the five books in turn, and explore how Jews and Christians have each read this common scripture, examining key debates and different interpretations. Enduring questions regarding the authorship and historicity of the Torah are considered alongside more contemporary concerns such as reconciling difficult passages with modern values. This primer offers readers the key tools needed to engage more deeply with this seminal text.