A review of the Holman New International Version UltraThin Reference Bible in brown bonded leather (ISBN 0879818204). This is an older Bible, published in 1989. It contains only the 66 books of the Protestant canon and carries the older (1984) NIV text - not the more recent, gender inclusive 2011 text.

This volume is thin and lightweight. Text is presented in a ~8.5/9 point font in two columns, organized into paragraphs. It is not line matched. This Bible features in-text headings that sometimes list parallel passages; center column references; page-bottom text and translation notes; a 2000 word, 13,000 reference concordance; and eight pages of color maps.

The text block is sewn and the volume lies open and relatively flat in Genesis. Page edges are covered in gold. Head and tail bands are red and gold, and a single, 7 mm (~1/4 inch) brown ribbon marker is included.

The paper is thin and floppy, and show-through (ghosting) is noticeable. The paper weight is likely 22 gsm.

My translation continuum appears at the 20:50 point, followed by remarks on departures from the Masoretic Text (21:48) and scatter plots showing the 1984 NIV's rate of agreement with four different Greek New Testaments in 153 specific verses.

This video includes some observations on the 1984 NIV, beginning at the 24:57 point. It shows some noteworthy differences between the 1984 and 2011 editions of the NIV, beginning at the 28:41 point.

Contents
00:00 Introduction
02:34 Layout
08:30 Print characteristics
09:40 Paper quality
10:39 Concordance and maps
12:17 Sewn binding
12:45 A glued alternative
14:30 Liner, cover, ribbons
15:18 It lies open and fairly flat
16:04 The cover
16:45 Presentation, title, and copyright pages
19:06 Font comparisons
20:50 A translation continuum
21:48 Departures from the Masoretic Text
22:13 New Testament textual basis
24:57 Some thoughts about the NIV
28:41 Gender in the 1984 NIV
34:20 Summary