The Literary Study Bible is an excellent Bible and one of the better ones I own. I will say its designed to be the best Bible possible for people who wish to study the Bible as literature, a large area of study by Leland Ryken, the author of most of the notes. The notes help you see the Bible from a literary perspective and the whole thing tries for an “old book” feel with the manila paper. Its very readable and well-bound. The Literary Study Bible fills a much-needed niche and will be your Bible of choice when you just want to READ long blocks of text without getting bogged down in little cross references and side notes. This Bible makes reading the Bible fun.
One of the biggest things this Bible does is axe the section headings! This is such a wonderful choice. It lets you read uninhibited by “stopping points.” The Bible wasn’t written with little headings and shouldn’t be read with them. Don’t automatically stop unless the section you’re trying to read is actually done. Sometimes the headings simply aren’t helpful or misdirect your interpretation of the point of the passage.
I have recently become something of a snob in book construction finding the lack of quality on some of the books I thought were “good.” This Bible really surpasses the bad construction Crossway has been delivering in its ESVs. This Bible has its pages sewn together (like the new ESV Study Bible) which means that it will probably last longer than you will without leaves falling out (unless you treat it brutally) and it will lie flat on a table. Both of these are huge pluses.
The paper itself is an odd manilla color I don’t really go for, but they are opaque and feel silky and smooth and turn nicely.
I do not really prefer the choice of font or typeface. Not “serious” or maybe “manly” enough. I suppose I’m nitpicking, but it is a little different and entirely personal preference. The text is large though and very readable. Another plus for me is that it is black letter. I believe every word of the Bible is the inspired word of God, and I try to avoid red letter Bibles.
The short of this: This won’t be your “main Bible” because of its size and lack of references. At this price, certainly buy the hardcover, but make sure you buy an ESV Study Bible on your shelf too. The ESV Study Bible is your best all-around desk study Bible. If you want a Bible for reading on your breakfast table in the morning though, you should buy a Literary Study Bible.
Purchase the Literary Study Bible at the Westminster Bookstore