James Joyce's "Ulysses" has a reputation for being difficult -- some would say impossible -- to read. With thousands of books and articles that explicate, analyze and argue over it, the book has spawned an entire academic industry.

But this reputation is unfair, says Declan Kiberd, professor of Anglo- Irish literature at University College Dublin and one of Ireland's leading literary scholars, in his new book "Ulysses and Us: The Art of Everyday Life in Joyce's Masterpiece."

Joyce never intended "Ulysses" to be the exclusive property of intellectuals and academics. Rather, he wanted it to offer wisdom for the common reader, much like the books he weaves into his masterpiece -- the Bible, "Hamlet," "The Divine Comedy" and, of course, "The Odyssey."

The problem, says Kiberd, is that "Ulysses" became famous at about the same time as the profession of English professor came into its own. "Ulysses" quickly became one of the principal texts that required the special services of this new type of academic, and as scholars worked "Ulys-ses" over and published more and more about it, the novel got saddled with its intimidating reputation.

Setting aside the irony of another professor writing another book explaining "Ulysses," Kiberd tries hard to write for the common reader without oversimplifying the book.

Perhaps most helpful in "Ulysses and Us" is its chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the novel. Here, Kiberd's discussion highlights the delights in each chapter and traces the thematic strands that knit the whole together. And there are many. Readers' fears that they are out of their depth will not initially be allayed by the flurry of details discussed. Patience is rewarded, though, as Kiberd shows how themes repeat and develop and solidify. It is easy to forget to use such basic reading skills when tackling "Ulysses," but Kiberd never lets us.

Kiberd also calms readers' fears and bolsters confidence. Many who attempt "Ulysses" get along fine until they reach the third chapter, which is a nearly incomprehensible torrent of the young artist Stephen Dedalus' thoughts. Don't fret, says Kiberd, "no one can understand it!" The confusion that readers feel is precisely Joyce's point: Stephen is too book-smart for his own good and needs to live less in his own head. Kiberd encourages bewildered readers to press on to the next chapter, where they encounter the calmer, more worldly thoughts of the book's main hero, Leopold Bloom.

In the end, though, "Ulysses" is a difficult book. Reading it for the first time requires commitment. And, frankly, it helps to have a guide. There have been many over the years to help readers understand Joyce's intellectual jokes and puzzles. Kiberd's new book addresses Joyce's more important message about the profound and timeless meanings in everyday experience, which is ultimately why Joyce's fans love it and return to it time and again.

Mike Stoffel is an editor at the University of Minnesota Press.