What do you think?
Rate this book
The Insect and the Buffalo: how the story of the Bible changes everything
When we read the Bible, it's easy to feel like God wrote the wrong book. We come with twenty-first century problems and we are given a collection of ancient stories. Yet these stories form a unified narrative, one that points us to Jesus, and through Jesus, reshapes the way we see the world.
The Insect and the Buffalo is a short introduction, designed to help you re-read, re-think and re-engage with the Bible.
For more information, see www.insectandbuffalo.com
"Nothing is more urgent for the church today than learning to live in the story of the Bible. This delightful little book will enable the young reader to hear God's story in contemporary language and imagery. In fact, any Christian could benefit from taking some time to enjoy this creative little summary of the story of salvation. I heartily recommend this creative book as a faithful and appealing sketch of the true story of the world."
Michael W. Goheen
Geneva Professor of Worldview and Religious Studies, Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C.
Teaching Fellow in Mission Studies, Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.
"Our world is directionless and lost. Like the proverbial bull in a China shop, our culture rampages forward with seemingly no thought for consequence, cost or coherence. What we desperately lack is a story, an expansive framework of meaning which brings wholeness, purpose and life. The Insect and the Buffalo is a brilliant and concise reminder that tucked away at the back of our dusty bookshelves, is such a life breathing story. Allpress and Shamy coax us to step back, look up and drink in the grandeur the narrative arc of redemption that is found in the collection of books known as the bible. Essential reading for anyone engaged in ministry and mission in the 21st century West."
Mark Sayers
Cultural Commentator and author
"When the Bible is reduced to motivational maxims, the credibility of faith itself is on the line. We need a generation of leaders who know the historical Gospel and who read the Bible intelligently in the light of it. The Insect and the Buffalo is exactly what we needed. Short, witty, sensible, and always geared to the big story. There is nothing like it. Nothing. Get it and read it."
Dr Mark Strom
Former Principal, Laidlaw College
The Insect and the Buffalo is a short introduction, designed to help you re-read, re-think and re-engage with the Bible.
For more information, see www.insectandbuffalo.com
"Nothing is more urgent for the church today than learning to live in the story of the Bible. This delightful little book will enable the young reader to hear God's story in contemporary language and imagery. In fact, any Christian could benefit from taking some time to enjoy this creative little summary of the story of salvation. I heartily recommend this creative book as a faithful and appealing sketch of the true story of the world."
Michael W. Goheen
Geneva Professor of Worldview and Religious Studies, Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C.
Teaching Fellow in Mission Studies, Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.
"Our world is directionless and lost. Like the proverbial bull in a China shop, our culture rampages forward with seemingly no thought for consequence, cost or coherence. What we desperately lack is a story, an expansive framework of meaning which brings wholeness, purpose and life. The Insect and the Buffalo is a brilliant and concise reminder that tucked away at the back of our dusty bookshelves, is such a life breathing story. Allpress and Shamy coax us to step back, look up and drink in the grandeur the narrative arc of redemption that is found in the collection of books known as the bible. Essential reading for anyone engaged in ministry and mission in the 21st century West."
Mark Sayers
Cultural Commentator and author
"When the Bible is reduced to motivational maxims, the credibility of faith itself is on the line. We need a generation of leaders who know the historical Gospel and who read the Bible intelligently in the light of it. The Insect and the Buffalo is exactly what we needed. Short, witty, sensible, and always geared to the big story. There is nothing like it. Nothing. Get it and read it."
Dr Mark Strom
Former Principal, Laidlaw College
85 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2009
4 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 2, 2023
Simple and helpful! Though this is a very short book (I hesitate to even call it a book, it's so short), this is a very helpful guide for those who have not read or have read the Bible and have come away confused or sceptical about that which is written in it (especially old testament to the beginning of the new testament).
Though it does not go into great detail and is not what I would call an introduction to the Bible, it is still a little-book worth reading, especially for those genuinely curious in the Bible and wanting to read it for the first time.
He gives modern examples to help put certain stories into perspective and to help better prepare you for some of the more hardcore and tragic stories in the Bible (Old Testament especially) that I know can and has caused a lot of confusion and agitation among both believers and non-believers.
I've been reading and have had the Bible read to me for years (my whole life) and reading this book helped offer a new and helpful perspective in which I can read the Bible and view the more difficult to process and understand stories of the Bible (specifically those involving murder, exile and the genealogy of Jesus).
I can understand why this book wouldn't be for everyone— it does not go into as much detail as many would like (or as much as it probably should), but, I think, because it is simple and to-the-point, this would be a very good starting point for those with little experience or background in reading the Bible on their own— or for those who haven't had much luck reading and then being able to understand or comprehend those Bible stories and historical figures (Abraham, Moses, David and their children), or for those who are simply disappointed that the Bible isn't full of heroic stories, and is, instead, full of the tragic downfalls of people like David and Sampson— pretty depressing and can sometimes leave me wondering why this is relevant— so I'm happy I found and read this book, that was able to explain to me the bigger picture in a way I've never really thought much about before.
✨ 4.75/5 stars ✨
Though it does not go into great detail and is not what I would call an introduction to the Bible, it is still a little-book worth reading, especially for those genuinely curious in the Bible and wanting to read it for the first time.
He gives modern examples to help put certain stories into perspective and to help better prepare you for some of the more hardcore and tragic stories in the Bible (Old Testament especially) that I know can and has caused a lot of confusion and agitation among both believers and non-believers.
I've been reading and have had the Bible read to me for years (my whole life) and reading this book helped offer a new and helpful perspective in which I can read the Bible and view the more difficult to process and understand stories of the Bible (specifically those involving murder, exile and the genealogy of Jesus).
I can understand why this book wouldn't be for everyone— it does not go into as much detail as many would like (or as much as it probably should), but, I think, because it is simple and to-the-point, this would be a very good starting point for those with little experience or background in reading the Bible on their own— or for those who haven't had much luck reading and then being able to understand or comprehend those Bible stories and historical figures (Abraham, Moses, David and their children), or for those who are simply disappointed that the Bible isn't full of heroic stories, and is, instead, full of the tragic downfalls of people like David and Sampson— pretty depressing and can sometimes leave me wondering why this is relevant— so I'm happy I found and read this book, that was able to explain to me the bigger picture in a way I've never really thought much about before.
✨ 4.75/5 stars ✨
April 21, 2021
A phenomenal little book that inspires the reader to embody the story of the Bible as they live in between its two endings.
This is a must-read for anyone who wants to see how the various books of the Bible overlap into one grand narrative that bears witness to the Word from the beginning made flesh, having been crucified and resurrected into a new order of life, eternal.
This is a must-read for anyone who wants to see how the various books of the Bible overlap into one grand narrative that bears witness to the Word from the beginning made flesh, having been crucified and resurrected into a new order of life, eternal.
April 3, 2022
The broad brush of scripture is so refreshing to be reminded of but, as the writers say in their other little book, The Hare and the Tortoise, the challenge is not to settle for a third party summary but to do the work ourselves!
September 30, 2023
This book is an excellent overview of the story of the Bible and how the pattern of Creation, Fall and Redemption. I love how it ties into world view and helps give and overview on how the Bible truly changes everything.
December 29, 2024
The Insect and the Buffalo: How the Story of the Bible Changes Everything, Roshan Allpress, Andrew Shamy
An informative and refreshing rephrasing of the biblical narrative. Excellent resource for group discipleship.
An informative and refreshing rephrasing of the biblical narrative. Excellent resource for group discipleship.
April 27, 2019
Great little book that summarises the story of God and His people from Creation to re-creation. Profound insights wrapped in an easy to read narrative.
November 12, 2022
Very well written book exploring the panoramic story of the Bible. A great perspective. Worth reading.
November 1, 2023
Excellent summary and introduction to the overall story of the Bible. Highly recommend for anyone no matter where you are along your walk!
March 23, 2013
Just a short little book but a worthwhile read. It provides a good apologetic for the difficulty that accompanies the reading of the Bible. Understanding how to read the Bible and understand what may or not be being said is a near hopelessly contentious task but this book provides a good starting point.
July 1, 2011
Absolutely Brilliant!
April 11, 2013
A good and brief overview of the Bible with some key takeaways and interesting perspectives.
May 27, 2014
This is a short quick read about opening your perspective of the story of God.
It begins with a great analogy and makes connections between Biblical stories that I had seen before.
It begins with a great analogy and makes connections between Biblical stories that I had seen before.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews