An enchanted forest of history
Gardner's book represents a lifetime of study, and he's had extraordinary sources of ancient documents available to him that most researchers don't. Naturally he has his own bias; I suggest that those who understand mythology as a meaningful presentation of historical, oral traditions and who don't equate it with fantasy will be most informed by Gardner's deep erudition regarding arcane aspects of history. This book is a fascinating, rich alternative to the Received View; it incorporates a large body of historical data which is commonly "swept under the rug," as well as numerous epic sagas and traditions that have informed human cultures for millennia. Many of the chapters are self-contained nuggets; by absorbing them all in a holistic manner, a complex synthetic view is generated. This book is one of three in a series of thematically-related material. Not a textbook.
