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Ehrman argues for two theses, one practical and one more abstract. The practical thesis can be summarized as: We do not possess any of the original writings of the New Testament, and the copies we have are riddled with negligent and/or intentional alterations. Therefore, the New Testament we read today, which is based upon numerous altered copies, is not very close to the original text. And if the original text is the Word of God, the Word of God is lost. The abstract thesis can be summarized as: For any text, both the author's and the reader's subjective beliefs and experiences condition the meaning of the words, and therefore color the interpretation of the text. As a result, there is no such thing as an objectively true interpretation of a text. The search for the "correct" meaning is fruitless. Therefore, no one can claim to know the true meaning of the text of the New Testament. The upshot? The New Testament we read today is of human, and not divine, origin (practical thesis), and, in any event, any claim to "the One True Interpretation" is in principle false (abstract thesis). I will not take a stand on Ehrman's claims but hope I've faithfully outlined them for people deciding whether to purchase the book. I am familiar with but not well-versed in either the New Testament or textual criticism. Nonetheless, I found his arguments and analysis easy to track. The broad historical information was interesting, and the biblical passages he focuses on to illustrate his points are engaging instead of arcane. Some may consider this book anti-religious, but Ehrman's tone is respectful and honest, not polemical. For such a short, accessible book, the reader can gain a lot from reading it.