This book is not a comparison of the beliefs and practices of the world's major religions, but rather an intellectual history of how the field of comparative religion emerged and developed since the 19th century. Sharpe outlines its origins, beginning with scholars such as Max Müller and early anthropologists (Edward Tylor, Andrew Lang, Robertson-Smith, James Frazer), who used evolutionary approaches to explain the origins of religion. The book also discusses the contributions of American psychologists of religion, including Starbuck, Leuba, and William James, and the relevance of Freud and Jung's ideas to the study of religion. The text examines the tensions between comparative religion and theology, and the roles of prominent figures such as Nathan Söderblom and Rudolf Otto. In short, this book provides a masterful and insightful overview of how academics in the West have understood, researched, and defined other religions over time.