While I can certainly appreciate Mr. Pearl's idea for this book and the research and effort that went into writing it, I must say I found it unbelievably slow and plodding. I honestly had to force myself to finish it. I would suggest to anyone wishing to read this book that they familiarize themselves with Dante's DIVINE COMEDY. Since I am not as familiar with it as I could be, it made it that much more difficult to get through the book.