Not exactly an exhaustive examination of religious relics, nor does it try to be. Instead, this book explores the concept of religious relics as they have existed in the past and how they get by today, and includes extensive information on a few selected relics that seem pretty representative of the whole concept. It's not a reverent account, which made it more appealing for me, but it is respectful. Really, what it was lacking was a clear chronology (there simply isn't one, nor any overarching organization that I can see), as well as illustrations. This is certainly a book that could have done with a few full-color photographs inserted in the middle, but we had none of that. But it is readable, and interesting enough to get many reading further.