The subtitle for this book is “The Splendor and the Scandal: Building St. Peter’s.” I didn’t realize how literal this was and found myself reading a book on architectural designs, construction flaws, crooked sub-contractors and building delays that ran into decades. Plus scandalous Popes and arrogant artists.

It’s a good book for what it is. I had hoped for a historical reflection — how the basilica itself triggered the Protestant Reformation, why the Spanish Emperor sacked Rome, and how the gold from the America’s funded the whole thing. Or even a focus on how the cost and arrogance of such a building brought ruin to many and wealth to others, and how such high stakes created blasphemes like indulgences. But the book only briefly touches on any of that and instead focuses on the actual construction of the building.

If that gets you excited, you’ll enjoy this book.