I have found there are as many versions of Bible critics critics as there are Bible critics. So time to research James Kugel's claims and find out where they came from, and the various alternetive rationale to the rationale he proposes. Before you know it all reality is called into question, because there is always and alternative to the alternative to the alternative of the alternative of the standard alternative of the standard.
Buying one man's opinion from the "secular" "gods" is as bad as buying the governing body's apostasy as of "divine origin". It really takes more research to find out the difference between the pan and the fire. If only it was so easy. Time for more research in my opnion. I found this out in college, the "gods" there were actually idiots acting like gods, everything I learned other than the law of gravity, has now been superceded. And since I have not checked the gravity debate, I could still be in the fire in that category.
Question everything, then question the answer, then question the answer to the question's answer and so on. When the Bible says "many decievers have gone forth into the world", that is certainly the truth. But even more people are out there just making many mistakes, not purposeul deception, and that number surpasses the number of purposeful decievers, imo, so you have to deal with the general ignorance of the majority. These are people who generally aid the ignorance by not researching and not questioning things as the first lie that fits right is the one they keep from point A to point Z (the grave). Research certainly cannot hurt in my opinion.
How lucky could you be that James Kugel is your Savior and you just happened upon him in the first try? Try door number three.