Richard S. Briggs (PhD, University of Nottingham) is director of biblical studies and hermeneutics at Cranmer Hall, St. John’s College, University of Durham in Durham, England. He is the author of several books.
Is there some good academic info in this book? Sure. But there's good academic info in most academic studies of the Pentateuch.
The problem is that it focuses intensely on individual books and not so much on helping readers and students see the 5-in-1 design of the Torah / Pentateuch. I honestly learned more about the scope and design of the Pentateuch from Gordon Wenham's small Numbers commentary (TOTC series) than from this book.
Also, the style is not up to date. There is technical information but no sense of awe and wonder at the artistry, scope, design, and ultimately theology of the Pentateuch. These days, many many books in biblical studies can provide the academic info while not sacrificing good writing and a reverent tone considering the subject matter.
Tried to use this as one of two books in a Pentateuch class---this one more academic, another one more theological and missional---will not make that mistake again.