Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit: Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus
by Jodi Magness
This is a well-written book based on good research in archaeology and literary sources. First-century Palestine comes alive in the little details from fish sauce (patis) to tombs. Pottery shards are puzzle pieces that tell a story of the Judean elite vis-a-vis the average Galilean villager, the socio-political environment, and purity practices. Not only is it a useful resource for writing a scholarly paper, this book is also a very interesting read for the layperson.
