# Bookwi.se > A few thoughts about books, kindles and Christianity ## Posts - [The Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily Wilson](https://bookwi.se/the-odyssey-by-homer-translated-by-emily-wilson/): Summary: The classic story translated by Emily Wilson, narrated by Claire Danes. I have been preparing to go see Nolan's version of the Odyssey for the past... - [Odyssey: The Greek Myths Reimagined by Stephen Fry](https://bookwi.se/odyssey-fry/): Summary: A retelling of Odyssey. We are preparing to watch The Odyssey. We wanted to watch on IMAX and when we were buying tickets the best option was more... - [A Systematic Theology of Love, Volume 1: God and Creation by Thomas Jay Oord](https://bookwi.se/a-systematic-theology-of-love-2/): Summary: A second read of the first volume of Oord's trilogy on the systematic theology of love. About three months ago I read Thomas Jay Oord's recently... - [The Night Office by Doug Worgul (Thin Blue Smoke: Book Two)](https://bookwi.se/the-night-office/): Summary: A group of friends attempt to recover after a shooting.  In 2012, I posted about Thin Blue Smoke being my favorite novel of the year. I wasn't alone,... - [Murderbot Series by Martha Wells](https://bookwi.se/murderbot-series-by-martha-wells/): Summary: Now that the main characters have been introduced, stories can be told.  I needed something to listen to as I was doing some mindless work and the... - [The God Test Artificial Intelligence and Our Coming Cosmic Reckoning by Robert Wright](https://bookwi.se/the-god-test/): Summary: An exploration of Artificial Intelligence through a evolutionary and metaphysical lens.  I am not particularly interested in AI. I do not trust it to... - [The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene](https://bookwi.se/the-power-and-the-glory-again/): Summary: A bad priest tries to evade the police during anti-Catholic persecution in early 20th century Mexico. I read this for the first time about eight years... - [The New Abolition: W. E. B. Du Bois and the Black Social Gospel by Gary J. Dorrien](https://bookwi.se/the-new-abolition/): Summary: A sweeping history of Black Social Gospel movement from the end of the Reconstruction through the 1930s. This is the first of Gary Dorrien's long... - [James by Percival Everett (2nd Reading)](https://bookwi.se/james/): Summary: Retelling of Huck Finn from the perspective of Jim. I have hosted an online book club for about six years now. James was the first fiction book we... - [Young King: The Making of Martin Luther King Jr. by Lerone A. Martin](https://bookwi.se/young-king/): Summary: An in depth look at MLK's context and influences as he developed into an adult.  I have previously read Lerone Martin's biography of J Edgar Hoover.... - [Process-Relational Philosophy: An Introduction to Alfred North Whitehead by C. Robert Mesle](https://bookwi.se/process-relational-philosophy/): Summary: An intro to Process Philosophy. As I have said a number of times, I don't feel like I have a great philosophy background, especially modern... - [The Adventures of Huck Finn by Mark Twain](https://bookwi.se/huck-finn/): Summary:  A quest style adventure with a bit of satire. Last year I read James by Percival Everett. This year my book group chose to read it and I decided... - [All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries #1 by Martha Wells](https://bookwi.se/all-systems-red/): Summary: A sentient security robot who would rather watch soap operas than interact with humans, has to save the humans who are on his job from both the planet... - [Bones at the Crossroads by LaDarrion Williams (Blood at the Root #2)](https://bookwi.se/bones-at-the-crossroads/): Summary: After the death of his grandmother and the revelation that his mother (who he thought was dead) is behind a number of murders, Malik tries to settle... - [For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional by Hanna Reichel](https://bookwi.se/for-such-a-time-as-this/): Summary: Not really a devotional, but more of a Christian version of On Tyranny.  I listened to this as an audiobook. I put it on in my car and listened when... - [Never Let Me Go: A Novel by Kazuo Ishiguro](https://bookwi.se/never-let-me-go/): Summary: A first person narrative of growing up in a boarding school and moving into adulthood under the cloud of, sort of, knowing their fate. I continue to... - [A Systematic Theology of Love: Volume 1 by Thomas Jay Oord](https://bookwi.se/a-systematic-theology-of-love/): Summary: A systematic theology that is attempting to make love as the center. I have heard Thomas Jay Oord interviewed on several podcasts, including Gravity... - [Her Gates Will Never Be Shut: Hope, Hell, and the New Jerusalem by Bradley Jersak](https://bookwi.se/her-gates-will-never-be-shut/): Summary: An exploration of what the bible and Jewish and Christian traditions says about hell, and salvation. I was talking to someone recently and they asked... - [Artemis: A Novel by Andy Weir](https://bookwi.se/artemis/): Summary: A smuggler tries to save her city. I really liked The Martian and Project Hail Mary. And I have heard a lot of negative things about Artemis. So even... - [The Queen of Ebenezer by K.B. Hoyle](https://bookwi.se/the-queen-of-ebenezer-2/): Summary: Novella length magical realism where you are not supposed to know what is going on for quite a while.  I read The Queen of Ebenezer about three years... - [The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell: A Novel by Kelly Flanagan](https://bookwi.se/the-unhiding-of-elijah-campbell/): Summary: A man who has fooled himself into thinking he has it all together, comes to understand himself once his wife leaves him. I like novels that are about... - [Little Man, Little Man: A Story of Childhood by James Baldwin, Yoran Cazac illustrator](https://bookwi.se/little-man-little-man/): Summary: A children's book written by James Baldwin and illustrated by his friend. I very much appreciated the biography of James Baldwin that Nicholas Boggs... - [The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams](https://bookwi.se/the-book-of-hope/): Summary: An interview book with Jane Goodall about the importance of hope. I read the Book of Hope as part of a book group that I am have been a part of for... - [Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation by Collin Hansen](https://bookwi.se/timothy-keller/): Summary: Part biography, part intellectual history.  I have a lot of theological disagreements with Tim Keller even as I respect him and think the evangelical... - [All Riches Come From Injustice by Stephen Morrison](https://bookwi.se/all-riches-come-from-injustice/): Summary: A look at the early church's view of wealth. I would not have picked this up except it was part of a book group. I was not completely new to the... - [Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs](https://bookwi.se/baldwin-a-love-story/): Summary: A significant biography of James Baldwin. There have been several biographies of James Baldwin. David Leemings' biography is well worth reading, but... - [The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi](https://bookwi.se/the-kaiju-preservation-society/): Summary: Funny, sort of scifi novel, set during the covid pandemic. I first read John Scalzi's Agent to the Stars and then read a number of his other books... - [Call of the Camino: A Novel by Suzanne Redfearn](https://bookwi.se/call-of-the-camino/): Summary: A two generation story of self discovery on the Camino.  The Camino is something I will never do. I would love to do it, but it is highly unlikely... - [Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (2nd Reading)](https://bookwi.se/remains-of-the-day-2/): Summary: An untrustworthy narrator tries to excuse his failures.  Note: This post has a lot of spoilers because I am trying to grapple with how Ishiguro uses... - [LaGuardia by Nnedi Okorafor](https://bookwi.se/laguardia/): Summary: A fictional story in response to the Muslim immigration/travel ban from the first Trump administration. I picked this up on sale years ago, but like... - [Bel Canto by Ann Patchett](https://bookwi.se/bel-canto/): Summary: Beautifully written utopian tragedy. I am not sure if I am feeling nostalgic or tired of non-fiction or if something else is going on, but I have very... - [The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin](https://bookwi.se/the-fire-next-time-2/): Takeaway: One of the most effective books for discussion my book group has had. Last fall the book group I have been leading for about six years read The... - [Nonesuch: A Novel by Francis Spufford](https://bookwi.se/nonesuch/): Summary: A novel about World War II where the war is just some of the reality of the world. Francis Spufford is a novelist that I avoid all spoilers and... - [The Correspondent by Virginia Evans](https://bookwi.se/the-correspondent/): Summary: A beautifully told story in letters.  There is some irony that just a couple of days ago I wrote a post about not liking to read letter collections... - [Daughter of Rage and Ruin by K. B. Hoyle](https://bookwi.se/daughter-of-rage-and-ruin/): Summary: A retelling of some of the Jack and the Beanstalk stories.  I have made my love of KB Hoyle's writing well known. I have read every book she has... - [Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir](https://bookwi.se/project-hail-mary/): Summary: An astronaut works to recover his memory and save humanity. I was surprised when I looked back at the Martian that it has been 12 years since I read... - [Let God: Spiritual Conversations with François Fénelon by Winn Collier](https://bookwi.se/let-god/): Summary: Modern translation/paraphrase of the spiritual direction letters of François Fénelon. As I regularly say, I appreciate book clubs in part because... - [How to Hear God: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig](https://bookwi.se/how-to-hear-god/): Summary: Christian theology and practice assumes that God speaks to us, personally and corporately. But part of what is needed, is the development of "ears to... - [Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland](https://bookwi.se/dominion/): Summary: A secular historian's perspective on what impact Christianity made on the world. Dominion is not a new book. It has been out for about seven years at... - [The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality Within the Biblical Story by Christopher and Richard Hays](https://bookwi.se/the-widening-of-gods-mercy/): Summary: An exploration of God’s mercy and the ways that God seems to change. One of the reasons that I like to read widely is that I learn things in one... - [Ted Lasso and Philosophy: No Question Is Into Touch](https://bookwi.se/ted-lasso-and-philosophy/): Summary: A collection of essays that either point out philosophical ideas within Ted Lasso, use Ted Lasso to teach philosophical concepts or more broadly use... - [For the Love of Women: Uprooting and Healing Misogyny in America by Dorothy Littell Greco](https://bookwi.se/for-the-love-of-women/): Summary: An exploration of the ways that misogyny impacts our world. I reference this all the time, but George Yancy wrote an opinion piece in the New York... - [Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik](https://bookwi.se/spinning-silver-by-naomi-novik/): Summary: A late mediaeval Russian retelling of Rumplestiltskin. I have said before that I am a fan of remakes. I like retellings of stories, fairytales in... - [Lila: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson (Third Reading)](https://bookwi.se/lila-3/): Summary: A theological novel about a woman grappling with God about her life.  Recently I recommended Lila to someone that I thought would enjoy the novel. I... - [Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris](https://bookwi.se/positive-obsession/): Summary: A biography of the great Octavia Butler, but mostly focusing on her work more than her life.  I knew about Octavia Butler long before I read her.... - [Racial Justice for the Long Haul: How White Christian Advocates Persevere (and Why) by Christine Jeske](https://bookwi.se/racial-justice-for-the-long-haul/): Summary: An anthropologist studies what factors white advocates of racial justice have in common among those who continue in racial justice work.  As someone... - [Orion and the Door of Echoes by K. B. Hoyle (Orion Rising Book 2)](https://bookwi.se/orion-and-the-door/): Summary:Orion continues to discover more about himself and those around him, leading to more questions.  I have once again caught up with KB Hoyle's writing... - [Augustine the African by Catherine Conybeare](https://bookwi.se/augustine-the-african/): Summary: A biography of Augustine focusing on him being from Africa. It has been about 10 years since I have read a introduction to Augustine and then a few... - [Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush by Jon Meacham](https://bookwi.se/destiny-and-power/): Summary: Well written biography of a man that was interested in character and service to country.  Earlier this year, I read a biography of Jimmy Carter and I... - [Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws that Affect Us Today by Cynthia and Sanford Levinson](https://bookwi.se/fault-lines-in-the-constitution/): Summary: An advanced (but young adult) book about the constitution.  I am fairly familiar with the constitution. I have previously read America's... - [The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families by Kelsey Kramer McGinnis and Marissa Franks Burt](https://bookwi.se/the-myth-of-good-christian-parenting/): Summary: An evaluation of Christian parenting advice books from the past fifty years. As with many books that I end up recommending, I was initially going to... - [Why I Am Protestant by Beth Felker Jones (Ecumenical Dialogue Series)](https://bookwi.se/protestant/): Summary: A short defense of Protestant belief amid a larger ecumenical emphasis.  I picked up Why I am Protestant in part because I have previously read a... - [In Search of God’s Will: Discerning a Life of Faithfulness and Purpose by Trevor Hudson](https://bookwi.se/in-search-of-gods-will/): Summary: A very good introduction to discernment, mostly from the Ignatian perspective.  This is the second book I have read by Trevor Hudson, and the second... - [Weeds Among the Wheat by Thomas H. Green](https://bookwi.se/weeds-among-the-wheat/): Summary: Exploration of discernment from a Jesuit. This was my second reading of Weeds Among the Wheat. I read it the first time as part of my spiritual... - [Matrix: A Novel by Lauren Groff](https://bookwi.se/matrix/): Summary: A historical fiction book about Marie de France, a nun and author in the late 12th century. To say that we don’t know much about Marie de France is... - [Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840–1920 by Akhil Reed Amar](https://bookwi.se/born-equal/): Summary: An exploration of how the United States slowly became a country where additional people were increasingly more likely to be "born equal." Born Free... - [Starter Villain by John Scalzi](https://bookwi.se/starter-villain-by-john-scalzi/): Takeaway: I forgot how much I enjoyed the Scalzi/Wheaton author/narrator combo.  I first read John Scalzi because of Old Man's War, a book that reimagined... - [A Short History Of Ethics: A History Of Moral Philosophy From The Homeric Age To The Twentieth Century Alasdair MacIntyre](https://bookwi.se/history-of-ethics/): Summary: A history of how the concept of ethics (or moral philosophy) has been developed over time in western culture. In my long term reading project about... - [Tehanu by Ursula Le Guin](https://bookwi.se/tehanu/): Summary: Tenar (from Tombs) had a life after she left the Tombs.  I was a teen in the late 80s and early 1990s and I thought of Earthsea as a trilogy. I... - [The Gospel According to James Baldwin by Greg Garrett](https://bookwi.se/the-gospel-according-to-james-baldwin/): Summary: Reflections on what Baldwin can teach us.  I have been leading a zoom book group for about five years now. It started out of a Be the Bridge group at... - [Christ over Culture: A Gospel Journey to Racial Redemption by Dan Crain](https://bookwi.se/christ-over-culture/): Summary: An exploration of what it means to seek racial reconciliation.  Christ Over Culture is a good book for the right reader. I have gone back and forth... - [The Farthest Shore by Ursula Le Guin (Earthsea #3)](https://bookwi.se/the-farthest-shore/): Summary: A mature Ged tries to save magic. In the Farthest Shore, Ged, now mature and the Archmage (the head wizard of Roke) is on a quest with Prince Arren to... - [The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage by Richard Rohr](https://bookwi.se/tears-of-things/): Summary: A thematic look at the prophets, particularly looking at how those prophets can speak to today. I have mentioned before that I participate in a couple... - [The Black Wolf by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache #20)](https://bookwi.se/black-wolf/): Summary: The previous case continues to unfold I am a long term fan of the series. Most of the books I have read more than once. But starting at about the... - [The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula Le Guin (Earthsea #2)](https://bookwi.se/the-tombs-of-atuan/): Summary: A young girl grows up as the high priestess of ancient religion when Sparrowhawk comes to find a hidden treasure. I am writing about this later, but I... - [Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement by Elaine Weiss](https://bookwi.se/spell-freedom/): Summary: Tracing the story of "Freedom School" as one of the backbones of the Civil Rights movement. When I first heard about Spell Freedom, I thought it was a... - [To Clutch a Razor by Veronica Roth (Curse Bearer #2)](https://bookwi.se/to-clutch-a-razor-by-veronica-roth-curse-bearer-2/): Summary: A continued exploration of coming to find out that everything you thought you know is wrong. I have been looking forward to reading To Clutch a Razor... - [A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin (Fred Fordham – Adaptor)](https://bookwi.se/a-wizard-of-earthsea/): Summary: Faithful graphic novel adaptation of this classic fantasy novel. My kids are very big graphic novel fans. I read a handful of graphic novels a year,... - [Come Go With Me: Howard Thurman and a Gospel of Radical Inclusivity by C. Anthony Hunt](https://bookwi.se/come-go-with-me/): Summary: An introduction to Howard Thurman focusing on the role of radical inclusivity in his work. This is the fourth book by or about Thurman I have read... - [Reinhold Niebuhr and Christian Realism by Robin W. Lovin](https://bookwi.se/reinhold-niebuhr-and-christian-realism/): Summary: An exploration of the idea of Christian Realism through Reinhold Niebuhr as it best known proponent. When I started seminary, the first book that we... - [On Mysticism: The Experience of Ecstasy by Simon Critchley](https://bookwi.se/on-mysticism/): Summary: An agnostic explores the history and philosophy of Christian mysticism to understand how mystical experience seems to be a part of being human. This... - [All Fours by Miranda July](https://bookwi.se/all-fours-by-miranda-july/): Summary: Think "Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple" but with even less likable characters and a lot more masturbation. I don't tend to write about... - [Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline](https://bookwi.se/ready-player-two/): Summary: After winning nearly unimaginable wealth and power at the end of the last book, things do not really go that well, that is until there is another... - [Orion and the Starborn by K.B. Hoyle](https://bookwi.se/orion-and-the-starborn-2/): Summary: An adopted boy discovers not only is some of his family still alive, but he isn't even human.  I read this several years ago and then again as a... - [The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall](https://bookwi.se/the-dearly-beloved/): Summary: The story of two couples, a shared pastorate and their wives in mid 20th century NYC. There are not many books that I stay up too late on multiple... - [Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang](https://bookwi.se/superman/): Summary: A graphic novel adaptation of a 1940s Superman radio drama.  I don’t remember who recommended this, but when I saw the recommendation I reserved a... - [Disciplines of the Spirit by Howard Thurman](https://bookwi.se/disciplines-of-the-spirit/): Summary: Exploration of spiritual disciplines from 20th century mystic Howard Thurman. At the end of June I did a 8 day silent retreat with Jesuit Antiracist... - [How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy by Samuel Bray and Drew Nathaniel Keane](https://bookwi.se/how-to-use-the-book-of-common-prayer/): Summary: Introduction to what the Book of Common Prayer is, the different parts and uses of the book as well as some of the more technical structure and... - [Son of the Deep by KB Hoyle](https://bookwi.se/son-of-the-deep/): Summary: Another reading with my 11 year old daughter. This is my third reading of Son of the Deep. I read it in 2020 when it was only released digitally. And... - [Over from Union Road: My Christian-Left-Intellectual Life by Gary Dorrien](https://bookwi.se/over-from-union-road/): Summary: A memoir of Union Seminary professor, ethicist, community organizer and theologian Gary Dorrien. I picked up Breaking White Supremacy: Martin Luther... - [The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L Carter](https://bookwi.se/the-emperor-of-ocean-park/): Summary: The son of a judge investigates his death. Very often during the summer I get way behind on writing about the books I read. My kids are home, I do... - [White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism by Kevin M. Kruse](https://bookwi.se/white-flight-atlanta-and-the-making-of-modern-conservatism-by-kevin-m-kruse/): Summary: Local history matters. I am not going to repeat my previous review. I reread this after about six years with my book group. It is always interesting... - [Resisting the Bonhoeffer Brand: A Life Reconsidered by Charles Marsh](https://bookwi.se/resisting/): Resisting The Bonhoeffer Brand is a short book that is mostly a response to criticisms of Marsh’s biography, Strange Glory by Schlingensiepen, who also has a... - [The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann](https://bookwi.se/the-prophetic-imagination/): Summary: A genre redefining classic. I have known of Walter Brueggemann for a very long time, but I have never read anything significant by him. I am sure I... - [A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah Maas](https://bookwi.se/silver-flames/): Summary: Nesta has to grapple with her demons.  In some ways I think I liked this more than the rest of the series. It is more contained. Nesta isn't an easy... - [Ethics: Approaching Moral Decisions by Arthur F. Holmes](https://bookwi.se/ethics-holmes/): Summary: An introduction to ethics. I have been on a slow exploration of discernment for several years now and I am at the point where I want to return to... - [The Transforming Fire of Divine Love: My Long, Slow Journey into the Love of God by John H. Armstrong](https://bookwi.se/the-transforming-fire-of-divine-love/): Summary: "...the truth that God is love lies at the heart of all divine revelation." I am often reluctant to write about books where I know the authors. It is... - [Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America By Wil Haygood](https://bookwi.se/showdown/): Summary: An exploration of Thurgood Marshall’s confirmation hearing to the Supreme Court in 1967 as way to both give a biography and context to Marshall’s... - [An Extra Mile by Sharon Garlough Brown (Sensible Shoes #4)](https://bookwi.se/an-extra-mile/): Summary: The story of four women and their search for God and community.  Good Christian fiction is hard. I am a very skeptical Christian fiction reader. I... - [Cahokia Jazz: A Novel by Francis Spufford](https://bookwi.se/cahokia-jazz/): Summary: An alternate history of the midwest in the 1920s. This is the third novel of Francis Spufford that I have read. They have all been historical fiction... - [Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography by Eberhard Bethge](https://bookwi.se/dietrich-bonhoeffer/): Summary: Despite its age, this is still one of the best biographies of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bethge was one of Bonhoeffer's students at Finkenwalde, and became... - [Barefoot: A Story of Surrendering to God by Sharon Garlough Brown (Sensible Shoes #3)](https://bookwi.se/barefoot/): Summary: Third in the series, Barefoot starts immediately after Two Steps Forward. The four friends continue to discover more about themselves and their... - [Translation State by Ann Leckie](https://bookwi.se/translation-state/): Summary: A stand alone sci-fi novel set in the same universe as the Ancillary series, multiple people come together by change to grapple with belonging.  As I... - [Two Steps Forward: A Story of Persevering in Hope by Sharon Garlough Brown (Sensible Shoes #2)](https://bookwi.se/two-steps-forward/): Summary: Picking up right where Sensible Shoes left off, the four friends continue to find their way in the world and to find God more clearly.  Sensible... - [Racial Justice and the Catholic Church by Bryan Massingale](https://bookwi.se/racial-justice/): Summary: An exploration of the Catholic Church and its history and future around racial justice.  Some books on Catholic thought are about the universal... - [Sensible Shoes: A Story about the Spiritual Journey by Sharon Garlough Brown](https://bookwi.se/sensible-shoes/): Summary: A novel about spiritual formation.  I am a bit cynical about Christian novels. It isn't that I do not know that good Christian novels exist, I know... - [James: A Novel by Percival Everett](https://bookwi.se/james-a-novel-by-percival-everett/): Summary: A retelling of Huck Finn from Jim's viewpoint. While I have read some of Mark Twain's books, I have never read Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer. Almost all of... - [Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (series)](https://bookwi.se/ancillary-justice/): Summary: An AI seeks justice. I have been intentionally trying to read at least some fiction every day this year. I blew through this trilogy and I am going to... - [Revelations: A Novel by Mary Sharratt](https://bookwi.se/revelations/): Summary: A novel about the English mystic Margery Kempe, the author of what is usually considered the first autobiography written in English.  I have been... - [Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times by Gregory Boyle](https://bookwi.se/cherished-belonging/): Summary: Exploration of the role of love, community and belonging. I have known of Greg Boyle for a while, but I have not previously read his books. I thought... - [When Among Crows by Veronica Roth (Curse Bearer Book #1)](https://bookwi.se/when-among-crows/): Summary: Urban fantasy about what the role of guilt and repair is for those who have been raised to harm.  When Among Crows is the first of Veronica Roth's... - [Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson #7)](https://bookwi.se/wrath-of-the-triple-goddess/): Summary: Percy Jackson and gang's latest project is pet sitting.  Wrath of the Tripple Goddess is the second of a subtrilogy within the larger Percy Jackson... - [The Way of St Benedict by Rowan Williams](https://bookwi.se/the-way-of-st-benedict/): Summary: A series of loosely connected essays about the influence of the rule of Benedict and Benedictine spirituality on the church. I have read a number of... - [The Chalice of the Gods: The Senior Year Adventures by Rick Riordan](https://bookwi.se/the-chalice-of-the-gods-the-senior-year-adventures-by-rick-riordan/): Summary: Percy is back for his senior year of high school. It has been over a decade since I originally read all of the Percy Jackson books. My son read all... - [Stop Fixing Yourself: Wake Up, All is Well by Anthony DeMello](https://bookwi.se/stop-fixing-yourself/): Summary: A book that is hard to recommend, because it needs a lot of caveating. The right person will find it helpful, most will not. I have a ambivalent... - [Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America by Michael Harriot](https://bookwi.se/black-af-history/): Summary: A black history textbook wrapped up in a comedic wrapper.  I am all about a good Black history book. And I also really appriciate history told by... - [W. E. B. Du Bois’s Data Portraits: Visualizing Black America](https://bookwi.se/visualizing-black-america/): Summary: Short look at both the history of WEB Dubois 1900 World Fair project and how it predated much of the graphical data representation that became common... - [Blood at the Root: A Novel by LaDarrion Williams](https://bookwi.se/blood-at-the-root-2/): Summary: An orphan who aged out of foster care breaks his (chosen, not biological) brother out of an abusive foster care family, and that starts his discovery... - [Discipleship in a World Full of Nazis by Mark Nation](https://bookwi.se/discipleship-in-a-world-full-of-nazis/): Summary: An assessment of Bonhoeffer as a pacifist and how that pacifism remained unchanged throughout the 1940s, in opposition to how Bonhoeffer's story is... - [The Anti-Greed Gospel by Malcolm Foley](https://bookwi.se/anti-greed-gospel/): Summary: A reframing of the concept of racism, not as hatred on the basis of skin color, but as greed.  Racial capitalism is a concept that I have been aware... - [Wondla Trilogy by Tony DiTerlizzi](https://bookwi.se/wondla-trilogy-by-tony-diterlizzi/): Summary: Twelve year old Eva has grown up in an underground shelter, all alone with just a robot who has cared for her from birth. When the shelter is... - [Epiphany: The Season of Glory by Fleming Rutledge](https://bookwi.se/epiphany/): Summary: An exploration of the season of Epiphany, a celebration of the glory of Christ's incarnation and revelation of himself to us. I appreciate this book... - [King: A Life by Jonathan Eig](https://bookwi.se/king/): Summary: The first definitive style biography of King in nearly 40 years.  At the end of the audiobook is an interview with Jonathan Eig and Lerone A.... - [The Book of Hours: A Novel by Davis Bunn](https://bookwi.se/book-of-hours/): Summary: A widower inherits a British estate, but he may lose it before he is even unpacked.  I am trying to read more fiction. This is a goal that I have... - [The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien by John Hendrix](https://bookwi.se/mythmakers/): Summary: A graphic novel biography of Lewis and Tolkien’s friendship. This is the fifth book I have read by John Hendrix. I have written about his... - [His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life by Jonathan Alter](https://bookwi.se/his-very-best/): Summary: A comprehensive biography from an admiring, but critical author. I picked up His Very Best on audiobook a few days before President Carter passed... - [The Spiritual Formation of Evelyn Underhill by Robyn Wrigley-Carr](https://bookwi.se/the-spiritual-formation-of-evelyn-underhill/): Summary: Part biography, part spiritual direction guidebook, part instruction in wisdom. I have known of Evelyn Underhill for a long time, but she was one of... - [A Legend of Starfire by Marissa Burt](https://bookwi.se/a-legend-of-starfire/): Summary: After the inital win against the Magicians from Nod, Wren, Simon, Jack and others go to Nod to try to bring the Magicians and the Alchemists back... - [A Sliver of Stardust by Marissa Burt](https://bookwi.se/a-sliver-of-stardust/): Summary: Wren Matthews discovers that magic is real, and that not only can she perform magic (and that not everyone can) but that her magical gifts are quite... - [Discerning God’s Will the Jesuit Way By Joseph A. Tetlow](https://bookwi.se/discerning-gods-will/): Summary: Introduction to Jesuit discenrment.  I picked up two audio courses by Joseph Tetlow on discenment during a recent audible sale. Tetlow is now 95... - [Strange Religion: How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling by Nijay K. Gupta](https://bookwi.se/strange-religion/): Summary: A look at Roman religious practices and the how the early church was different from the religious practices of their surrounding culture. It took me a... - [The Technological Society by Jacque Ellul](https://bookwi.se/the-technological-society/): Summary: A dated, but at times quite helpful book on the movement toward modernism. I decided to read The Technological Society because of my reading project... - [Thin Blue Smoke by Doug Worgul](https://bookwi.se/thin-blue-smoke-by-doug-worgul-2/): Summary: A meandering novel set in Kansas City with BBQ  as a central setting.  In 2012 my favorite novel was Thin Blue Smoke. I ran across Doug Worgul on... - [Worth Celebrating: A Biography of Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline by Miriam Dixon](https://bookwi.se/worth-celebrating/): Summary: A book biography of Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. I have been aware of Miriam Dixon (Mimi) for a while. I assume it was a Renovare... - [Faith and Violence by Thomas Merton](https://bookwi.se/faith-and-violence/): Summary: This books is a series of essays about protest, racism, violence and was the last book published before his death. I decided to read Faith and... - [An Introduction to Christian Mysticism: Recovering the Wildness of Spiritual Life by Jason M. Baxter](https://bookwi.se/an-introduction-to-christian-mysticism/): Summary: A historical look at how Christian mystics understood mysticism and how that has changed.  Anyone reading along with my reviews is probably aware... - [The Anglican Tradition from a Postcolonial Perspective by Kwok Pui-Lan](https://bookwi.se/the-anglican-tradition/): Summary: An exploration of post-colonial practical theology in the Anglican world.  I am a fan of reading widely, but in my wide ranging reading I do not... - [Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire](https://bookwi.se/wicked/): Summary: The backstory on the Wicket Witch of the West in Oz. I do not remember when I read Wicked the first time. My guess is that I read it after I saw the... - [Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church by Hahrie Han](https://bookwi.se/undivided/): Summary: An ethnographic study of an antiracism program in a Cincinnati evangelical megachurch. Undivided was not a book on my radar. I had not planned on... - [Swing Low: A History of Black Christianity in the United States by Walter R. Strickland](https://bookwi.se/swing-low/): Summary: A broad overview of the history of Black Christianity, with a second volume that is a collection of writing from Black Christianity. Black... - [The Challenge of Acts: Rediscovering What the Church Was and Is by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/the-challenge-of-acts/): Summary: An overview of the book of Acts, paying particular attention to the temple and how the early church integrated gentiles into it while maintaining... - [The Other Evangelicals: A Story of Liberal, Black, Progressive, Feminist, and Gay Christians―and the Movement That Pushed Them Out by Isaac B Sharp](https://bookwi.se/the-other-evangelicals/): Summary: An exploration of what could have been had evangelical history gone other ways. I have always enjoyed history. But it has mostly been a reading hobby,... - [The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind by Jason M Baxter](https://bookwi.se/the-medieval-mind-of-c-s-lewis/): Summary: Discussion of how understanding the Medieval world and its books help to understand CS Lewis.  Over the years, I have read an enormous amount by or... - [The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown](https://bookwi.se/wild-robot-protects/): Summary: The Wild Robot discovers not just new animal friends, but also new roles for her life. I still have not seen the new Wild Robot movie, but I am a fan... - [Othered: Finding Belonging with the God Who Pursues the Hurt, Harmed, and Marginalized by Jenai Auman](https://bookwi.se/othered/): Summary: A discussion of how churches can harm, paraticularly those who have been previouly traumaized.  I think one of the reasons that people resist hearing... - [How to Walk Into a Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away by Emily P. Freeman](https://bookwi.se/how-to-walk-into-a-room/): Summary: A books about discernment.  Anyone who is a regular reader of my book reviews probably knows that I have been on a long-term reading project about... - [Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr](https://bookwi.se/falling-upward-2/): Summary: A look at the process of change as we age and mature. I am in a Tuesday morning book group at my local Jesuit retreat house. The group meets for about... - [The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache #19)](https://bookwi.se/the-grey-wolf/): Summary: Inspector Gamache is back at the job but corruption and murder are still present and it is up to Gamache to save everyone. I am a huge fan of the... - [Why Everything That Doesn’t Matter, Matters So Much: The Way of Love in a World of Hurt By Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth](https://bookwi.se/why-everything-that-doesnt-matter-matters-so-much/): Summary: A book of wisdom. I am a fan of memoirs, especially memoirs written toward the end of life that evaluate life and what is important. This isn’t a... - [A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah Maas](https://bookwi.se/a-court-of-frost-and-starlight/): Summary: A very special Solstice (Christmas) edition. I am of an age where we lived through "very special episodes" not just made fun of them. After a TV show... - [The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown](https://bookwi.se/the-wild-robot-escapes/): Summary: Roz becomes a farm robot and wants to find her son and make her way home to the island. At the end of the first book of the series, The Wild Robot,... - [The Late Scholar by Jill Paton Walsh (Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane Mysteries Book 4)](https://bookwi.se/the-late-scholar/): Summary: Peter discovers a new duty that his role of Duke brings. It leads him to a mystery and eventually to several deaths. I have enjoyed this series of... - [Son of Gold and Sorrow by KB Hoyle (Fairy Tale Collection)](https://bookwi.se/son-of-gold-and-sorrow/): Summary: Princess Aurelia is forced to ask James for help. A curse complicates everything. Son of Gold and Sorrow is the third in KB Hoyle’s series of fairy... - [A Court of Mist and Fury and A Court of Wing and Ruin by Sarah Maas](https://bookwi.se/a-court/): Summary: A single story arc split between two books. I am behind on writing about my reading and while I have enjoyed this series enough to keep reading it (I... - [Christianity as a Way of Life: A Systematic Theology by Kevin W. Hector](https://bookwi.se/christianity-as-a-way-of-life/): Summary: Theological account of Christianity as a way of living, not simply as an intellectual system. In an overly simplified sense, the point of the book is... - [The Wild Robot by Peter Brown](https://bookwi.se/the-wild-robot-by-peter-brown/): Summary: A new robot is lost, and as attempts to survive, it learns from the animals around it and becomes a "wild robot." My son read and enjoyed The Wild... - [John Lewis: A Life by David Greenberg](https://bookwi.se/john-lewis/): Summary: How do you summarize a life like John Lewis'? I am not new to the story of John Lewis, but this was the first full-length biography I have read about... - [The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh](https://bookwi.se/the-attenbury-emeralds/): Summary: After the war, Lord Peter starts telling Harriet about his first case, and that telling leads to a new case.  One of the ongoing themes of this set... - [A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas](https://bookwi.se/court-of-thorns-and-roses/): Summary: A retelling of Beauty and the Beast in a modern (spicy) romance/fantasy format. Recently my local school district removed A Court of Thorns and Roses... - [The Life You Save May Be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage by Paul Elie](https://bookwi.se/the-life-you-save-may-be-your-own/): Summary: A joint biography of Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Walker Percy, and Flannery O'Connor.  I have been wanting to get around to The Life You Save May Be... - [The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance by Jemar Tisby](https://bookwi.se/spirit-of-justice/): Summary: Stories of resistance. This is a natural next book for Jemar Tisby. His first book was a survey of the ways that the church in the US has been... - [A Presumption of Death by Jill Paton Walsh](https://bookwi.se/a-presumption-of-death/): Summary: In the early days of World War 2, Harriet is managing children while Peter and others are in the war effort.  A normal for me, I keep getting caught... - [Engaging Thomas Merton: Spirituality, Justice, and Racism by Daniel Horan](https://bookwi.se/engaging-thomas-merton/): Summary: A variety of essays or talks about Merton and how his life and work can impact people today. Engaging Thomas Merton is a book you can dip in and out... - [An End to Inequality: Breaking Down the Walls of Apartheid Education in American by Jonathan Kozol](https://bookwi.se/an-end-to-inequality/): Summary: A brief book about the problems of education reform. I picked this up because it was by Jonathan Kozol. I read several of his books in the 1990s and... - [Turning Points in American Church History: How Pivotal Events Shaped a Nation and a Faith by Elesha Coffman](https://bookwi.se/turning-points-in-american-church-history/): Summary: An introduction to American Church history. Mark Noll originally released his book Turning Points in Church History in 2001. (It is now in its 14th... - [Hildegard and Eckhart by Matthew Fox](https://bookwi.se/hildegard-and-eckhart/): Summary: A lecture that talks about the need to recover a mystical faith as a means to puch back against the problems of the age, particularly a lack of care... - [The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks](https://bookwi.se/the-other-half-of-the-church/): Summary: A look at whole-brained discipleship which uses insights from recent neuroscience to help develop Christian maturity.  A good friend recommended The... - [Our Unforming: De-Westernizing Spiritual Formation by Cindy S Lee](https://bookwi.se/our-unforming/): Summary: Exploring how our spiritual formation needs to be decoupled from western culture. I am not sure I can describe Our Unforming better than an edited... - [Ownership by Sean McGever](https://bookwi.se/ownership/): Summary: An exercise in discernment by exploring the legacy of three Christians of the same era and their relationship to slavery.  I read Ownership by Sean... - [The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism by Daniel Hummel](https://bookwi.se/dispensationalism/): Summary: A history of Dispensationalism from Darby to pop culture.  I did not grow up in a strongly dispensationalist church. But as I reflected throughout... - [The Enneagram of Discernment by Drew Moser](https://bookwi.se/enneagram-of-discernment/): Summary: Helpful thinking about the ways that enneagram impacts discernment. In my ongoing reading about discernment, this was a book that I found on Kindle... - [The Sparrow: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell (2nd Reading)](https://bookwi.se/the-sparrow/): Summary: A group mostly made up of Jesuits discovers that another world with intelligent creatures exists and secretly decides to visit it; tragedy ensues. I... - [Children of God: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell (2nd Reading)](https://bookwi.se/children-of-god-2/): Summary: The second half of the story of The Sparrow. When I first read The Sparrow, I did not realize that Children of God was actually part two of the book.... - [CS Lewis in America by Mark Noll](https://bookwi.se/cs-lewis-in-america-by-mark-noll/): Summary: Tracking the history of how Lewis was received in the United States. Not using these words, it seems that Noll is making the case that while... - [The Proof of the Pudding by Rhys Bowen (Royal Spyness Mystery #17)](https://bookwi.se/the-proof-of-the-pudding/): Summary: A very pregnant Georgie hosts her first dinner party with her new chef and that leads to a new mystery.  I enjoy reading long series as long as I do... - [If God Still Breathes, Why Can’t I?: Black Lives Matter and Biblical Authority by Angela N Parker](https://bookwi.se/if-god-still-breathes/): Summary: An introduction to hermeneutics through the lens of Womanist Biblical methods. Generally, when I read a book, I try to write about it within a few... - [When God Became White: Dismantling Whiteness for a More Just Christianity by Grace Ji-Sun Kim](https://bookwi.se/when-god-became-white/): Summary: A mix of history, memoir, and theology to discuss the problem of God being portrayed as White and how this has communicated Whiteness (an ideology of... - [Unruly Saint: Dorothy Day’s Radical Vision and Its Challenge for Our Times by DL Mayfield](https://bookwi.se/unruly-saint/): Summary: A biography of a radical Christian who took seriously the call to help the marginalized. Dorothy Day is someone that I have known about for a long... - [Brown Faces, White Spaces by Latasha Morrison](https://bookwi.se/brown-faces-white-spaces/): Summary: A survey of systems that perpetuate disparity, inequity, or racism in various areas of society. One of the aspects that is most frustrating to me... - [Hot Protestants: A History of Puritanism in England and America by Michael Winship](https://bookwi.se/hot-protestants/): Summary: A relevant history of a theological reform movement that became political. Every once in a while, I come across history revealing areas where I did... - [It Seemed Good to the Holy Spirit and to Us: Acts, Discernment, and the Mission of God by Mark Love](https://bookwi.se/it-seemed-good/): Summary: An exploration of the role of discernment in the first 15 chapters of Acts.  The title of the book, It Seemed Good to the Holy Spirit and To Us is... - [Theologizin’ Bigger: Homilies on Living Freely and Loving Wholly by Trey Ferguson](https://bookwi.se/theologizin-bigger/): Summary: Essays exploring the role of hermeneutics and theology for the Christian life. I am the kind of person who picks up an audiobook of theology because I... - [Barth, Bonhoeffer, and Modern Politics by Joshua Mauldin](https://bookwi.se/barth-bonhoeffer/): Summary: A reappraisal of Barth and Bonhoeffer's thinking around modernity and politics. I regularly recommend the Audible Plus lending library, where Audible... - [The Religion of Whiteness: How Racism Distorts Christian Faith by Michael Emerson and Glenn Bracey](https://bookwi.se/the-religion-of-whiteness/): Summary: An exploration of how Whiteness (the belief in white racial superiority) functions as a type of religion in the Durkheimian sense.  I have been... - [Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When He Speaks by Priscilla Shirer](https://bookwi.se/discerning-the-voice-of-god/): Summary: Discerning the Voice of God is a spiritual discipline that can be learned. I am about eight months into a project to understand what people mean when... - [Know Your Place: Helping White, Southern Evangelicals Cope with the End of The(ir) World by Justin Phillips](https://bookwi.se/know-your-place/): Summary: A series of essays exploring what it means to be Christian, White, and Southern in the context of the racial realities as they are. Racism isn't... - [Orthodox Christianity: A Very Short Introduction by A Edward Siecienski](https://bookwi.se/orthodox-christianity/): Summary: A brief introduction to Orthodox Christianity. I have said many times that as much as the Very Short Introduction series is uneven, I keep returning... - [Demon Copperhead: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver](https://bookwi.se/demon-copperhead/): Summary: A troubled childhood recounted. (A retelling of David Copperfield) One of my habits (sometimes bad and sometimes good) is to avoid reading about... - [The Chosen by Chaim Potok](https://bookwi.se/the-chosen/): Summary: A classic coming-of-age novel about two Jewish teens (one Orthodox, one Hasidic) who meet while playing against one another in baseball and become... - [In Praise of the Useless Life: A Monks Memoir by Paul Quenon](https://bookwi.se/in-praise-of-the-useless-life/): Summary: A meandering memoir about the life of a monk, with lots of time devoted to his novice master, Thomas Merton. I remember In Praise of the Useless Life... - [I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People by Terence Lester](https://bookwi.se/i-see-you/): Summary: All people are made in God's image, which can help us see and help the marginalized. I See You was a book that my book club read. I have some history... - [How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key](https://bookwi.se/how-to-stay-married/): Summary: A husband's memoir about his wife's affair and how he worked to try to save the marriage.  This is a book that I both appreciated and recommend... - [Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen by Mary Sharratt](https://bookwi.se/illuminations/): Summary: A historical novel of the life of Hildegard.  I do not read enough fiction. Generally, I want to read more fiction, but I always get caught up in... - [Reconstruction: A Very Short Introduction by Allen Guelzo](https://bookwi.se/reconstruction-2/): Summary: Fairly standard history of Reconstruction  I traditionally am a fan of these very short introduction books, but I have read enough of them to know... - [Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal by Esau McCaulley](https://bookwi.se/lent/): Summary: A brief exploration of the seasons of Lent and its purpose and practice.  Esau McCaulley's book on Lent came out a year ago, but I did not have time... - [The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)](https://bookwi.se/lightening-thief/): Summary: A young teen discovers that he is a demigod and that he (and a few others) have to go on a quest to stop a war between the gods. I think this is my... - [Faith Like a Child: Embracing Our Lives as Children of God by Lacy Finn Borgo](https://bookwi.se/faith-like-a-child/): Summary: An exploration of what it means to "become like little children." Faith Like a Child was the most recent of the Renovaré book club selections. I have... - [I Won’t Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When the World Tries to Silence You by Ally Henny](https://bookwi.se/i-wont-shut-up/): Summary: Part memoir, part encouragement for emotionally healthy activism, part grace for the journey. I have been blogging through my reading for about... - [Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World by Dalai Lama with Alexander Norman](https://bookwi.se/beyond-religion/): Summary: An attempt at devising a non-religious ethical system. Beyond Religion is a book I would not have picked up on my own. But it was the next book chosen... - [The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory by Tim Alberta](https://bookwi.se/the-kingdom-the-power-and-the-glory/): Summary: Well-constructed argument that the purpose of the church has been lost, but can be regained again. I was somewhat reluctant to pick up The Kingdom,... - [Praying With Discernment by Stephen Swihart](https://bookwi.se/praying-with-discernment/): Summary: The way to pray better is to ask the holy spirit to give you the words. I have been reading a wide range of books about discernment. While I am... - [Being God’s Image: Why Creation Still Matters by Carmen Joy Imes](https://bookwi.se/being-gods-image/): Summary: Tracing the ways that creation (including humans) is the image of God.  I have known of Carmen Joy Imes through social media for a few years but this... - [Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge by Dallas Willard](https://bookwi.se/knowing-christ-today/): Summary: Knowledge is not simply ideas that can be tested (naturalistic concepts) but also includes spiritual knowledge.  I read Knowing Christ Today with a... - [Ethics: A Very Short Introduction by Simon Blackburn (2nd Ed)](https://bookwi.se/ethics/): Summary: An introductory, but probably too brief to be helpful, look at Ethics. I have been working on a reading project to think through the concept of... - [Son of Bitter Glass by KB Hoyle](https://bookwi.se/son-of-bitter-glass/): Summary: A retelling of the Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson. Son of Bitter Glass is the second in KB Hoyle’s Fairytale series. This series is set in... - [My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows](https://bookwi.se/my-plain-jane/): Summary: Jane Eyre meets Sixth Sense, "I see dead people." I like the concept of remixes or retellings of classic stories. The very nature of a well known... - [A Quilted Life: Reflections of a Sharecropper’s Daughter by Catherine Meeks](https://bookwi.se/a-quilted-life/): Summary: A memoir from sharecropper's daughter to academic to retired anti-racist educator.  I do not know how I ran across Catherine Meeks' work. She was a... - [Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor](https://bookwi.se/remote-control/): Summary: A girl finds herself with powers she did not ask for, without a name or a family. Remote Control is the seventh book I have read by Nnedi Okorafor,... - [My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brody Ashton and Jodi Meadows](https://bookwi.se/my-lady-jane/): Summary: A very fictionalized retelling of Lady Jane Grey's marriage and assent to the throne with magic. My day job involves very significant data entry... - [Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones](https://bookwi.se/howls-moving-castle-2/): Summary: Sophie, the eldest daughter of a hatmaker, is cursed by an evil witch and has to figure out how to break that curse.  I am not sure why I have not... - [Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church by Katelyn Beaty](https://bookwi.se/celebrities-for-jesus/): Summary: A discussion about how the rise of independent celebrity authors, pastors, speakers, musicians, and churches is a problem, not just because of abuse... - [The Religion of American Greatness: What’s Wrong with Christian Nationalism by Paul D Miller](https://bookwi.se/the-religion-of-american-greatness/): Summary: The best critique of Christian Nationalism I have read, because Miller so clearly understands the reasons that Christian Nationalism can be attractive... - [Freedom’s Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the Black Founding Fathers by Richard S. Newman](https://bookwi.se/freedoms-prophet/): Summary: The biography of Richard Allen, the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination and one of the early Black leaders in the US.  Many... - [A Quaker Approach to Research: Collaborative Practice and Communal Discernment](https://bookwi.se/a-quaker-approach-to-research-collaborative-practice-and-communal-discernment/): Summary: An exploration of Quaker practices of group discernment in an academic or research setting.  I picked A Quaker Approach to Research because the two... - [Subversive: Christ, Culture, and the Shocking Dorothy L. Sayers by Crystal Downing](https://bookwi.se/subversive/): Summary: An exploration of the thought of Dorothy Sayers.  I picked up Subversive because it was free to me as part of the Audible Plus Catalogue (books that... - [Denmark Vesey’s Garden: Slavery and Memory in the Cradle of the Confederacy by Ethan J. Kytle and Blain Roberts](https://bookwi.se/denmark-veseys-garden/): Summary: An exploration of how historical memory has changed over time using Charleston, SC, as an example.  I have been fascinated with the concept of... - [Maigret’s Holiday by Georges Simenon](https://bookwi.se/maigrets-holiday/): Summary: Maigret goes on vacation. It doesn't go well. First his wife ends up in the hospital. Then, he gets an anonymous note asking him to visit someone at... - [Bearing God: Living A Christ-Formed Life in Uncharted Waters by Marlena Graves](https://bookwi.se/bearing-god/): Summary: At the funeral for her mother, Marlena Graves heard the Matthew 4 story about Jesus sleeping in the boat in a new way. And that frames the book's... - [Great Divorce by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/great-divorce-2/): Summary: CS Lewis imagines Heaven and Hell. This is the most recent Renovaré Book Club selection. My biggest problem with book clubs is staying on the... - [Ignatian Discernment in Daily Life: Finding God in All Things by Timothy M. Gallagher](https://bookwi.se/ignatian-discernment-in-daily-life/): Summary: A series of lectures based on The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living by Timothy Gallagher I previously read Gallagher's... - [When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion by Laura Anderson](https://bookwi.se/when-religion-hurts-you/): There is a report about Laura Anderson's ethics violations as a therapist that I think is worth paying attention to. Summary: High-control religious... - [Christmas: The Season of Life and Light by Emily Hunter McGowin](https://bookwi.se/christmas/): Summary: Spiritual and theological reflections on Christmas and its traditions.  Emily Hunter McGowin's Christmas is part of a series of books on the seasons... - [The Way of Discernment: Spiritual Practices for Decision Making by Elizabeth Liebert](https://bookwi.se/the-way-of-discernment/): Summary: An exploration of spiritual practices that can facilitate decision-making.  Over the next several months I will do a reading projection around the... - [Bellwether: A Novel by Connie Willis](https://bookwi.se/bellwether/): Summary: A satirically comic novel about scientists trying to understand the world around them. I needed something different to read, an audiobook novel,... - [Hunting Magic Eels: Recovering an Enchanted Faith in a Skeptical Age by Richard Beck](https://bookwi.se/hunting-magic-eels/): Summary: A discussion of the problem of disenchantment in Christianity.  It has been several years since I have picked up one of Richard Beck's books. I am a... - [The Black Tower by PD James (Adam Dalgliesh #5)](https://bookwi.se/the-black-tower/): Summary: Dalgliesh, recovering from surgery and a misdiagnosis of cancer, Adam heads to the coast to visit a family friend only to find that he had recently... - [Medieval Christianity: A New History by Kevin J. Madigan](https://bookwi.se/medieval-christianity/): Summary: Medieval Christianity is important to understand the development of Christianity, but also the development of Christianity is a result of both... - [Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling](https://bookwi.se/goblet-of-fire-2/): Summary: I read it (a sixth time?) through my kids' eyes, who were reading/listening for the first time. I love reading books to my kids, a lot more than my... - [Practicing Christian Doctrine by Beth Felker Jones](https://bookwi.se/practicing-christian-doctrine/): Summary: Well-written intro to theology text. I picked up Practicing Christian Doctrine because I had an audiobook credit that had to be used before it... - [Seeking Wisdom: Spiritual Direction and the Moral Life by Rev. Dennis J. Billy](https://bookwi.se/seeking-wisdom/): Summary: A series of lectures about spiritual direction from the perspective of St. Alphonsus de Liguori, who emphasized the moral life and prayer and was... - [Letters to a Young Pastor: Timothy Conversations between Father and Son](https://bookwi.se/letters-to-a-young-pastor/): Summary: Thirty-seven letters of varying lengths from Eugene Peterson to his son Eric about being a pastor. Eugene Peterson has strongly influenced me, and I... - [Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein](https://bookwi.se/plato-and-a-platypus/): Summary: A brief introduction to philosophy through jokes. I have repeatedly commented about my lack of a philosophy background in my education. I have been... - [What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman by Lerita Coleman Brown](https://bookwi.se/what-makes-you-come-alive/): Summary: Spiritual reflections on the life of Howard Thurman. I have been reading books by or about Howard Thurman for about six years. I started with Jesus... - [Cultural Christians in the Early Church by Nadya Williams](https://bookwi.se/cultural-christians-in-the-early-church/): Summary: A look at the ways that early Christians were "cultural Christians."  One of the ongoing discussions within the guild of historians (which I have... - [Into the Heart of Romans: A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter by N.T. Wright](https://bookwi.se/into-the-heart-of-romans/): Summary: A deep dive into Romans 8, making the case that it is centered on vocation and not soteriology. This will not be a particularly helpful review, but my... - [The Carver and the Queen Emma C. Fox](https://bookwi.se/the-carver-and-the-queen-emma-c-fox/): Summary: A retelling of a Siberian folktale.  I have come to The Carver and the Queen because I have begun to follow the work of Owl's Nest Publishers. It is... - [How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks](https://bookwi.se/how-to-know-a-person/): Summary: If we want to address the crisis of loneliness and the lack of community in American society, we need to learn how to listen and know others. Both of... - [The Gospel of J. Edgar Hoover by Lerone A. Martin](https://bookwi.se/the-gospel-of-j-edgar-hoover/): Summary: J. Edgar Hoover's understanding of Christianity significantly influenced his management of the FBI, and in turn, the FBI impacted the broader... - [After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory by Alasdair MacIntyre (3rd Ed)](https://bookwi.se/after-virtue/): Summary: More than 40 years ago, Alasdair MacIntyre gave us his version of why ethics and virtue are a problem in a post-enlightenment world.  I am on a new... - [Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction by Margaret Guenther](https://bookwi.se/holy-listening/): Summary: A modern classic about spiritual direction. It would not be surprising to anyone who regularly reads my book reviews that I generally have a book in... - [Wounded Prophet: A Portrait of Henri J.M. Nouwen by Michael Ford](https://bookwi.se/wounded-prophet/): Summary: A biography of Nouwen by a late-in-life friend (and journalist), which helps to give context to Nouwen's prolific writing.  Like many, I have been... - [Wheaton College Historical Review Task Force Report](https://bookwi.se/wheaton/): Summary: A Wheaton College task force released its report on Wheaton's history of racial issues on campus.  I am a 1995 alumni of Wheaton College, and since... - [How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family’s Story of Hope and Survival in the American South by Esau McCaulley](https://bookwi.se/how-far-to-the-promised-land/): Summary: A memoir grappling with the role of Esau McCaulley's father, his growing up and maturity, and how his community of origin shaped him.  I do not... - [The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: and the Path to a Shared American Future by Robert P Jones](https://bookwi.se/the-hidden-roots-of-white-supremacy/): Summary: Changing how we think of the starting date of US history can help us see different patterns.  The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy is the third book... - [The Ballot and the Bible by Kaitlyn Schiess](https://bookwi.se/ballot-and-the-bible/): Summary: The bible has been widely misused. It takes intention to use it well, but it is worth the effort. I do not know when I became aware of Kaitlyn... - [The Virgin Mary: A Very Short Introduction by Mary Joan Winn Leith](https://bookwi.se/virgin-mary/): Summary: Mary matters, but the response to her is widely varied. After finishing Jesus Wars, I wanted to pick up The Virgin Mary: A Very Short Introduction... - [Jesus Wars by Philip Jenkins](https://bookwi.se/jesus-wars-by-philip-jenkins/): Summary: A history of the early Christian political and theological history. I am not sure that the book's subtitle, "How Four Patriarchs, Three Queens, and... - [Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery](https://bookwi.se/anne-of-green-gables/): Summary: Anne, an orphan, is adopted and becomes a beloved family member. But there are SOOOOO many long descriptive passages that make it a less-than-great... - [Women and the Gender of God by Amy Peeler](https://bookwi.se/women-and-the-gender-of-god/): Summary: Theological discussion about God and gender. Women and the Gender of God has been on my to-read list since it came out. I have watched or listened to... - [Called to the Fire: A Witness for God in Mississippi-The Story of Dr. Charles Johnson by Chet Bush](https://bookwi.se/called-to-the-fire/): Summary: A brief biography of Charles Johnson, a pastor in Meridian, Mississippi, and one of the witnesses in the Mississippi Burning Trial.  I picked this up... - [The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self by Curtis Chang](https://bookwi.se/anxiety-opportunity/): Summary: Anxiety is part of how we were created. Like everyone (and in keeping with how anxiety is talked about in the book), I have anxiety. I hate conflict.... - [Officer Clemmons: A Memoir by Francois Clemmons](https://bookwi.se/officer-clemmons/): Summary: Many people know about Francois Clemmons because of his relationship with Mister Rogers, but this is Francois Clemmons' story. I picked up a hardcover... - [Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life by Henri Nouwen edited by Michael Christensen and Rebecca Laird](https://bookwi.se/discernment/): Summary: Discernment is an essential part of Christian life.  I am very mixed about posthumously completed books, especially those that are edited together.... - [A Gift of Love: Sermons from Strength to Love and Other Preachings by Martin Luther King Jr](https://bookwi.se/gift-of-love/): Summary: A collection of sixteen sermons, an original introduction by Coretta Scott King, and a new introduction by Raphael Warnock.  I have been slowly... - [American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the Church by Andrew L. Whitehead](https://bookwi.se/american-idolatry/): Summary: A helpful, somewhat personal look at how Christian Nationalism is a type of idolatry that distorts Christianity.  I am very much on board with the... - [America’s Book: The Rise and Decline of a Bible Civilization, 1794-1911 by Mark A Noll](https://bookwi.se/americas-book/): Summary: An exploration of the role of the Bible in American public life from the rise of the new country until just before WW1. I have read Noll's work... - [The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis by Karen Swallow Prior](https://bookwi.se/evangelical-imagination/): Summary: An exploration of how images and metaphors influence Evangelical thought (or don't.) The Evangelical Imagination is the fourth of Karen Swallow... - [Shroud for a Nightingale: An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery by PD James](https://bookwi.se/shroud-for-a-nightingale/): Summary: One mysterious death, and then another, among nurses-in-training, brings Adam Dalgliesh to the John Carpenter Hospital and the Nightingale House,... - [Poststructuralism: A Very Short Introduction by Catherine Belsey](https://bookwi.se/poststructuralism/): Summary: A brief exploration of a complicated topic. I am not adequately trained to discuss poststructuralism (or any philosophical idea.) But that is one... - [Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church by Nijay Gupta](https://bookwi.se/tell-her-story/): Summary: A biblical exploration of women's role in scripture.  Again, as I have said before, I am approaching Tell Her Story as an egalitarian that supports... - [Free books in the Audible Premium Plus Catalog](https://bookwi.se/free-books-in-the-audible-premium-plus-catalog/): This is a bit different. If you are a member of Audible and have access to the Plus catalog, these will be free (included in membership). They are all books... - [Unnatural Causes by PD James (Adam Dalgliesh Mystery #3)](https://bookwi.se/unnatural-causes/): Summary: Scotland Yard Inspector Adam Dalgliesh visits his aunt at her remote home for a vacation after a long case, and he is confronted with another murder... - [Ragged: Spiritual Disciplines for the Spiritually Exhausted by Gretchen Ronnevik](https://bookwi.se/ragged/): Summary: A very Lutheran perspective on spiritual disciplines, which is helpful for non-Lutherans to read as a different perspective. When I picked up Ragged,... - [A History of the Island by Eugene Vodolazkin](https://bookwi.se/a-history-of-the-island/): Summary: A novel that I am not sure I fully understood.  I am a big fan of Vodolazkin's earlier novel, Laurus, so when I heard the general positive buzz about... - [Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past](https://bookwi.se/myth-america/): Summary: Historians take on mostly conservative talking points.  Historians have been having an internal battle about their public role in current events.... - [Narrative of Sojourner Truth](https://bookwi.se/narrative-of-sojourner-truth/): Summary: An autobiography from Sojourner Truth as told to Olive Gilbert. This year's final book for the Renovaré Book Club was Narrative of Sojourner Truth.... - [Feminism: A Very Short Introduction by Margaret Walters](https://bookwi.se/feminism-a-very-short-introduction-by-margaret-walters/): Summary: A short history of the feminist movement, primarily focusing on first and second-wave feminism within England, with a follow-up chapter on feminism in... - [Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien](https://bookwi.se/misreading-scripture/): Summary: Very good introduction to hermeneutics (how we understand scripture), the cultural background of scripture, and how our own culture impacts our... - [Non-Toxic Masculinity: Recovering Healthy Male Sexuality by Zachary Wagner](https://bookwi.se/non-toxic-masculinity/): Summary: Can men have a non-toxic masculinity, and what would that look like? Non-Toxic Masculinity is a book that I decided not to read initially. And then... - [On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder](https://bookwi.se/on-tyranny/): Summary: A long lecture or short book on ways to prevent tyranny based on 20th-century history. I have looked at but not read On Tyranny several times. It came... - [The High King by Lloyd Alexander (Prydain #5)](https://bookwi.se/the-high-king/): Summary: The (mostly) satisfying conclusion of the Chronicles of Prydain series. As I said in my post on Taran Wanderer, it has been over a decade since I read... - [Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids by Mona Delahooke](https://bookwi.se/brain-body-parenting/): Summary: A clinical psychologist discussed how our bodies and brains relate to one another (in an integrated way) and how that applies to helping children... - [Taran Wander by Lloyd Alexander (Chronicles of Prydain #4)](https://bookwi.se/taran-wander/): Summary: A coming-of-age novel set in a fantasy world. I do not know when I first picked up the Chronicles of Prydain series. I do not remember why I picked it... - [Separate: The Story of Plessy v. Ferguson, and America’s Journey from Slavery to Segregation by Steve Luxenberg](https://bookwi.se/separate/): Summary: A contextual and narrative history of the Plessey V Ferguson Supreme Court Ruling. Part of what I appreciate about the framing of Separate is that... - [The Queen of Ebenezer by KB Hoyle](https://bookwi.se/the-queen-of-ebenezer/): Summary: Beatrice tries to understand this kingdom that she has awoken to.  I am a fan of KB Hoyle's work. I have read everything she has written (at least... - [Prince Caspian by CS Lewis (Narnia)](https://bookwi.se/prince-caspian/): Summary: A return to Narnia by the original four children, for them a year later. After I read My Side of the Mountain and thought it wasn't quite right as a... - [My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George](https://bookwi.se/my-side-of-the-mountain/): Summary: A young teen decides to escape his overcrowded NYC apartment and move to some family land in the Catskill Mountains.  My children have not yet... - [We Will Be Free: The Life and Faith of Sojourner Truth by Nancy Koester](https://bookwi.se/we-will-be-free/): Summary: A good biography about a woman that many recognize but don't know much about. For the past several years, I have joined the Renovare Book Club. The... - [Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of the Underground Railroad by Eric Foner](https://bookwi.se/gateway-to-freedom/): Summary: A history of the loosely defined movement known as the Underground Railroad in and around New York City. Eric Foner is one of the preeminent... - [A Voice That Could Stir an Army: Fannie Lou Hamer and the Rhetoric of the Black Freedom Movement by Maegan Parker Brooks](https://bookwi.se/a-voice-that-could-stir-an-army/): Version 1.0.0 Summary: A rhetorical biography of Fannie Lou Hamer. Fannie Lou Hamer, I think, has had a minor renaissance in the public's imagination over the... - [This Hallelujah Banquet: How the End of What We Were Reveals Who We Can Be by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/hallelujah-banquet/): Summary: A posthumously edited collection of sermons on Revelation, most from 1984.  I am a big fan of Eugene Peterson. By my count, this is the 14th of... - [Christianity and Critical Race Theory: A Faithful and Constructive Conversation by Robert Chao Romero and Jeff Liou](https://bookwi.se/christianity-and-critical-race-theory/): Summary: Two academics with pastoral experience process the potential help that Critical Race Theory can bring to the church. If you are "very online" and... - [The History of Race and Politics in the US Since 1968 by Candis Watts Smith (Great Courses)](https://bookwi.se/history-of-race-and-politics/): Summary: A history of race and politics since the civil rights era. I am a big fan of Great Courses-styled audiobooks. They often are helpful in summarizing... - [We the Fallen People: The Founders and the Future of American Democracy by Robert Tracy McKenzie](https://bookwi.se/we-the-fallen-people/): Summary: Framed around an oft-repeated but inaccurate quote, McKinzie points out that the theological and political anthropology of the founders changed within... - [Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit by Clark Pinnock (2nd Ed)](https://bookwi.se/flame-of-love/): Summary: A helpful, constructive theology of the Holy Spirit written from an Evangelical perspective.  I first ran across Flame of Love when Christian Century... - [Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen (Her Royal Spyness #16)](https://bookwi.se/peril-in-paris/): Summary: Georgie is now out of morning sickness and decides to go to Paris to visit her best friend Belinda while Darcy is there "on business." Trouble... - [Thrones, Dominations: A Lord Peter Wimsey / Harriet Vane Mystery by Dorothy Sayers with Jill Paton Walsh](https://bookwi.se/thrones-dominations-a-lord-peter-wimsey-harriet-vane-mystery-by-dorothy-sayers-with-jill-paton-walsh/): Summary: Picking up after the honeymoon, Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane learn to live together as a married couple while solving a mystery. Dorothy Sayers... - [Waiting ‘Til the Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power in America by Peniel Joseph](https://bookwi.se/waiting-til-the-midnight-hour-a-narrative-history-of-black-power-in-america-by-peniel-joseph/): Summary: The history of the Black Power movement is the lesser-known story of the end of the mid-20th-century civil rights movement.  Waiting 'Til the... - [Learning Humility: A Year of Searching for a Vanishing Virtue by Richard Foster](https://bookwi.se/learning-humility/): Summary: Based on journal entries, Richard Foster explores the concept of humility in the Christian life. Yesterday I recommended Learning Humility to someone... - [Faith Unleavened: The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin & George Floyd by Tamice Spencer Helms](https://bookwi.se/faith-unleavened/): Summary: A memoir of how Tamice Spencer Helms came to faith in Jesus, but then how she had to disentangle white culture and Jesus.  On the front end of this,... - [Man Born to be King by Dorothy Sayers, Annotated by Kathryn Wehr](https://bookwi.se/man-born-to-be-king/): Summary: A series of twelve radio plays that ran on BBC radio from Dec 1941 until Oct 1942.  Any attempt to portray Jesus artistically has to make artistic... - [All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir by Beth Moore](https://bookwi.se/all-my-knotted-up-life/): Summary: A touching, funny, and poignant memoir. Like many, I have known of Beth Moore for a long time. She is a women's bible teacher. She is about 15 years... - [To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #2)](https://bookwi.se/to-say-nothing-of-the-dog/): Summary: Time Traveling "historians" are sent back to block a couple falling in love because it will distort all of history.  This is the second of Connie... - [Christian Slavery: Conversion and Race in the Protestant Atlantic World by Katharine Gerbner](https://bookwi.se/christian-slavery/): Summary: An exploration of the ways that slavery as practices in the Caribbean and North America was "Christian." The rough thesis is that racial hierarchy... - [Absolute Truths by Susan Howatch (Starbridge #6)](https://bookwi.se/absolute-truths/): Summary: The final book returns to Charles Ashworth as narrator and revisits many of the themes and characters raised in the previous books. With all of the... - [Attached to God: A Practical Guide to Deeper Spiritual Experience by Krispin Mayfield](https://bookwi.se/attached-to-god/): Summary: Attachment style has an impact on the way you approach and interact with God. I primarily am approaching this book from my role as a Spiritual... - [Mystical Paths by Susan Howatch (Starbridge #5)](https://bookwi.se/mystical-paths-2/): Third Reading Summary: Nicholas Darrow is coming of age, attempting to prepare to become a priest and live a normal life. But his life is anything but typical... - [Scandalous Risks by Susan Howatch (Starbridge #4)](https://bookwi.se/scandalous-risks-2/): Third Reading Summary: Venetia Flaxton attempts to find meaning in her life and instead finds a disastrous romance.  One of the significant complaints I have... - [Thaddeus Stevens: Nineteenth-Century Egalitarian by Hans Trefousse](https://bookwi.se/thaddeus-stevens/): Summary: Controversial radical, but an important figure both in political and legislative history, and in the history of emancipation and reconstruction. ... - [Ultimate Prizes by Susan Howatch (Starbridge #3)](https://bookwi.se/ultimate-prizes-2/): Ultimate Prizes Summary: A working-class boy becomes a high-powered clergyman, but a tragedy brings about a crisis.  There are three main reoccurring... - [Glamorous Powers by Susan Howatch (Starbridge #2)](https://bookwi.se/glamorous-powers-3/): Summary: Jon Darrow, Spiritual Director and mystic, feels called to leave his role as an Anglican monk and return to the world. I am revisiting the Starbridge... - [Glittering Images by Susan Howatch](https://bookwi.se/glittering-images-by-susan-howatch/): Summary: A promising young theology professor is sent to investigate a bishop, leading to a romance, a breakdown, and a recovery.  A few months short of a... - [Seeking God: Finding Another Kind of Life with St. Ignatius and Dallas Willard by Trevor Hudson](https://bookwi.se/seeking-god-finding-another-kind-of-life-with-st-ignatius-and-dallas-willard-by-trevor-hudson/): Summary: Spiritual formation is about encountering God, not gaining knowledge.  It has been about 18 months since I finished my spiritual direction training.... - [God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen by Rhys Bowen (Her Royal Spyness #15)](https://bookwi.se/god-rest-ye-royal-gentlemen/): Summary: Georgie and Darcy are "invited" to spend Christmas with the royal family.  This past fall, I reread the Inspector Gamache book to prepare for the... - [Until Justice Be Done: America’s First Civil Rights Movement, from the Revolution to Reconstruction by Kate Masur](https://bookwi.se/until-justice-be-done/): Summary: The movement for Civil Rights prior to the Civil War is an under-told story and one which is important to the context of both the Reconstruction Era... - [Something’s Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse–and Freeing Yourself from Its Power by Wade Mullen](https://bookwi.se/somethings-not-right/): Summary: Emotional and spiritual abuse matters.  I am not new to the concept of emotional and spiritual abuse, but Something's Not Right is a good... - [A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Gamache #18)](https://bookwi.se/a-world-of-curiosities/): Summary: Gamache and Beauvoir’s first case together is introduced in flashback as a mystery in Three Pines slowly unfolds. This fall, I have reread the... - [Orion and the Starborn (Orion Rising Book 1) by KB Hoyle](https://bookwi.se/orion-and-the-starborn/): Summary: An adopted 12-year-old boy suddenly discovers he is not who he thought he was. Middle-grade books regularly have the concept that the main character... - [The Everlasting People: G. K. Chesterton and the First Nations by Matthew Milliner](https://bookwi.se/the-everlasting-people/): Summary: Using the life and work of GK Chesterton to grapple with North American Indigenous art, history, and Christianity.  Every review of The Everlasting... - [Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono](https://bookwi.se/surrender-40-songs-one-story-by-bono/): Summary: A memoir framed as a description of 40 songs.  I am a man of a certain age. One of the first CDs I ever purchased was Rattle and Hum. I had a bootleg... - [Faithful Antiracism: Moving Past Talk to Systemic Change by Christina Edmondson and Chad Brennan](https://bookwi.se/faithful-antiracism/): Takeaway: One of the most significant hindrances to systemic change is the inability of White Christians to speak clearly about the reality of race.  I am not... - [Mothers of Massive Resistance: White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy by Elizabeth Gillespie McRae](https://bookwi.se/mothers-of-massive-resistance/): Summary: An investigation of how White women drove policy around segregation and worked to uphold it in their daily lives. In studying history, there are... - [How to Inhabit Time: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future, Living Faithfully Now by James KA Smith](https://bookwi.se/how-to-inhabit-time/): Summary: Framed as three meditations on Ecclesiastes, Smith wants us to pay attention to our presence in time as part of an embrace of our humanity.  James KA... - [Dragons in the Water by Madeline L’Engle (O’Keefe series #2)](https://bookwi.se/dragons-in-the-water/): Summary: Polly, Charles, and Dr. O'Keefe travel to Venezuela by ship and meet 13-year-old Simon Renier (the main character) and his uncle, also traveling to... - [Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber (Book and Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/surprised-by-oxford-book-and-movie-review/): (There are spoilers here if you do not want to know anything about the story.) Years ago, back when there were more people contributing to this blog than just... - [The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy](https://bookwi.se/the-flag-and-the-cross-white-christian-nationalism-and-the-threat-to-american-democracy/): Summary: A brief look at the sociology and history of Christian Nationalism in regard to how it relates to democracy. Perry and Whitehead's Taking America Back... - [Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision by Barbara Ransby](https://bookwi.se/ella-baker-and-the-black-freedom-movement-a-radical-democratic-vision-by-barbara-ransby/): Summary: An excellent biography of a woman who is underappreciated but vitally important to the Civil Rights Movement.  I want to mention Alissa Wilkerson's... - [Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston](https://bookwi.se/barracoon/): Summary: Zora Neale Hurston, in 1927, interviewed Cudjo Lewis, then 86 years old. He was one of a group of 110 people captured and brought to the US... - [Trauma in the Pews: The Impact on Faith and Spiritual Practices by Janyne McConnaughey](https://bookwi.se/trauma-in-the-pews/): Summary: A guide to understanding spiritual development and practices with a trauma-informed lens.  As a spiritual director, I have been thinking about the... - [A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache Mysteries #4)](https://bookwi.se/a-rule-against-murder/): Summary: Inspector Gamache and his wife may be on vacation for their anniversary, but murder still follows them.  I am a big fan of the Inspector Gamache... - [The World of J.R.R. Tolkien by Dimitra Fimi (Great Courses)](https://bookwi.se/the-world-of-j-r-r-tolkien/): Summary: Intro to the work and context of JRR Tolkien.  When I tend to get too ambivalent with my current reading (both interested in the topic but not... - [The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharis](https://bookwi.se/the-rebellious-life-of-mrs-rosa-parks-by-jeanne-theoharis/): Summary: A nuanced and detailed biography of a woman that has primarily been reduced to a single act. I have read Jeanne Theoharis' books out of order. Her... - [The Old Testament by Amy-Jill Levine (Great Courses)](https://bookwi.se/the-old-testament/): Summary: A good overview of the Old Testament, not just the content of the Old Testament, but interpretative methods, ancient culture, and ways scholarship... - [At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance–A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power by Danielle McGuire](https://bookwi.se/at-the-dark-end-of-the-street/): Version 1.0.0 Summary: Even in civil rights history, the role of women, especially their work to end sexualized violence, has been under-appreciated. I have... - [The Bill of Rights Primer: A Citizen’s Guidebook by Akhil Reed Amar and Les Adams](https://bookwi.se/bill-of-rights-primer/): Summary:  A discussion of the history and role of the Bill of Rights. I have previously read Akhil Amar's America's Constitution: A Biography. One of my... - [The History of Christianity II: From the Reformation to the Modern Megachurch by Molly Worthen](https://bookwi.se/the-history-of-christianity-ii/): Summary: A summary of the history of Global Christianity since the reformation. I am not unfamiliar with Christian history. But this audiobook lecture series... - [Salty: Lessons on Eating, Drinking, and Living from Revolutionary Women by Alissa Wilkinson](https://bookwi.se/salty-lessons-on-eating-drinking-and-living-from-revolutionary-women-by-alissa-wilkinson/): Summary: From the isolation of covid-19 (in NYC) a book-length discussion of the nine women that Wilkinson would like to have dinner with. I think Alissa... - [White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity by Robert P Jones](https://bookwi.se/white-too-long/): Summary: A pollster and social science researcher looks at the relationship between Christianity and white supremacy in the US. (White supremacy in the sense... - [Learning from Henri Nouwen and Vincent van Gogh: A Portrait of the Compassionate Life by Carol A Berry](https://bookwi.se/learning-from-henri-nouwen-and-vincent-van-gogh/): Summary: Reflection on Vincent Van Gogh, what Henri Nouwen taught and learned about Van Gogh, and some personal reflections of Carol Berry, a student of... - [Castle of Llyr and The Foundling and Other Tales](https://bookwi.se/castle-of-llyr-and-the-foundling-and-other-tales/): Summary: The Castle of Llyr is mostly a story about Taran coming to understand that he has feelings for Eilonwy. The Foundling and Other Tales is a book of... - [Evangelical Anxiety: A Memoir by Charles Marsh](https://bookwi.se/evangelical-anxiety-a-memoir-by-charles-marsh/): Summary: A memoir primarily focusing on mental health and its connection to religious faith. I believe I have read two of Charles Marsh's books and that I own... - [The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present by David Treuer](https://bookwi.se/heartbeat-of-wounded-knee/): Summary: A reframing of Native American History and reminding the world that Native American history did not end in 1890.  I have intentionally focused my... - [Breaking Bread with the Dead: A Reader’s Guide to a More Tranquil Mind by Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/breaking-bread-with-the-dead/): Summary: A defense of reading old books as a way to counter an orientation toward bias.  I have read many of Alan Jacobs' books. I think he is one of the best... - [Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers](https://bookwi.se/gaudy-night/):   Version 1.0.0 Summary: Harriet reluctantly returns to Oxford after her murder trial and encounters a mystery that might end up as a murder. I have been... - [The Swarm by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston (Second Formic War Series #1)](https://bookwi.se/the-swarm/): Summary: Prequel series that goes back before the start of Ender's Game.  I am in a data entry season at work, and these are the times when I look for fiction... - [Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries #6)](https://bookwi.se/strong-poison-2/): Summary: Harriet Vane is introduced to the Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series. I read the final book of the Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series last week, and that... - [A Heart Lost in Wonder: The Life and Faith of Gerard Manley Hopkins by Catharine Randall](https://bookwi.se/a-heart-lost-in-wonder/): Summary: Brief biography of a Catholic Priest/Poet who was only published posthumously.  I am not a very good poetry reader. I appreciate poetry theoretically... - [The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song by Henry Louis Gates Jr](https://bookwi.se/black-church/): Takeaway: Watch the documentary, skip the book.  Books attached to documentaries are very mixed in quality and value. Some are designed to be companions and... - [Busman’s Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers](https://bookwi.se/busmans-honeymoon/): Summary: Lord Peter and Harriet finally get married and go on their honeymoon, only to have it be a 'working vacation' as they solve a murder.  I have very... - [Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair by Gregory Thompson and Duke Kwon](https://bookwi.se/reparations-2/): Summary: A biblical case for why reparations is a Christian concept using the example of Black Americans.  This is a second reading (original post) of... - [Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien](https://bookwi.se/lord-of-the-rings/): Takeaway: Genre defining book, theologically more revealing than I think Tolkien intended.  There is nothing that I can really write that hasn't been already... - [Heart of Atlanta: Five Black Pastors and the Supreme Court Victory for Integration by Ronnie Greene](https://bookwi.se/heart-of-atlanta/): Summary: A journalistic account of two Atlanta legal cases in response to the 1964 Civil Rights act, joined by the Supreme Court to uphold public... - [A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson by Winn Collier](https://bookwi.se/a-burning-in-my-bones/): Takeaway: I enjoyed it even more with the second reading. On my second reading of A Burning of My Bones, I am not sure how to say something new or roughly the... - [Son of the Deep by KB Hoyle](https://bookwi.se/son-of-the-deep-by-kb-hoyle/): Summary: A play on the traditional Little Mermaid story. I am a big fan of remixes and reimaginings of stories. Orson Scott Card's Enchantment is a reimagining... - [Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry (Port William Series)](https://bookwi.se/jayber-crow/): Summary: A barber, near the end of his life, tells of life in the small town of Port William, along the Ohio River.  I have been more interested in fiction... - [March Forward, Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine by Melba Pattillo Beals](https://bookwi.se/march-forward-girl/): Summary: A young adult memoir of Melba Pattillo Beals about her early years before integrating Little Rock's Central High. March Forward, Girl is a prequel to... - [Be Free or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls’ Escape from Slavery to Union Hero by Cate Lineberry](https://bookwi.se/be-free-or-die/): Summary: A biography (primarily of the Civil War years) of Robert Smalls, best known for captaining a steamship from Charleston harbor to escape from slavery... - [Gateway Chronicles by KB Hoyne](https://bookwi.se/gateway-chronicles/): Summary: Young Adult fantasy series that is well-plotted, character-driven, and relatable.  I first read the Gateway Chronicles series about four years ago.... - [Mycroft and Sherlock by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse](https://bookwi.se/mycroft-and-sherlock/): Summary: An 18-year-old Sherlock helps his older brother Mycroft.  Mycroft and Sherlock is the second in a trilogy of books that started with Mycroft Holmes.... - [God Gets Everything God Wants by Katie Hays](https://bookwi.se/god-gets-everything-god-wants/): Summary: A reminder that the church is (or should be) a radically inclusive gathering.  God Gets Everything God Wants is a book I would never have picked up... - [Emblem of Faith Untouched: A Short Life of Thomas Cranmer by Leslie Winfield Williams](https://bookwi.se/emblem-of-faith-untouched/): Summary: A brief biography of the compiler of the original Book of Common Prayer and the first Protestant head of the Church of England. I am a low church... - [Mycroft Holmes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse](https://bookwi.se/mycroft-holmes/): Summary: A new story about Sherlock Holmes' older brother Mycroft. I have known about this series for a few years but I was reluctant to pick up a book from a... - [Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness and Justice by Brenda Salter McNeil](https://bookwi.se/roadmap-to-reconciliation/): Summary: The second edition of an introduction to making reconciliation a real and tangible reality to Christian communities.  Generally, my approach to... - [Booked by Kwame Alexander](https://bookwi.se/booked-by-kwame-alexander/): Summary: A young adult novel in verse about an 8th grader grappling with his parent's potential divorce, his own love interest, and is grappling with his... - [Mighty Justice: My Life in Civil Rights by Dovey Johnson Roundtree with Katie McCabe](https://bookwi.se/mighty-justice/): Takeaway: Part of the importance of Black History Month is focusing on the less well-known figures because so much has been repressed or forgotten.  So many... - [The Thanatos Syndrome by Walker Percy](https://bookwi.se/thanatos-syndrome/): Summary: Dr. Thomas More has recently been released from two years of prison for selling prescription drugs and returns to his Louisiana community to discover... - [The Bible Told Them So: How Southern Evangelicals Fought to Preserve White Supremacy by J Russell Hawkins](https://bookwi.se/the-bible-told-them-so/): Summary: A history of Baptists and Methodists in South Carolina arguing for the continuation of segregation for theological reasons.  I have read a lot of... - [God Is a Black Woman by Christena Cleveland](https://bookwi.se/god-is-a-black-woman/): Summary: A memoir of the ways that beliefs about God impact our social reality and the ways that we can heal.  There are books that I know will be misread or... - [Until I Am Free: Fannie Lou Hamer’s Enduring Message to America by Keisha Blain](https://bookwi.se/until-i-am-free/): Summary: A brief biography of one of the civil rights era's most important voting rights figures.  I have known about Fannie Lou Hamer for a while. She was a... - [Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas](https://bookwi.se/stand-your-ground/): Summary: A theological exploration of the culture led to Stand Your Ground laws.  Stand Your Ground by Kelly Brown Douglas is on several lists for best book... - [The Problem of Slavery in Christian America: An Ethical-Judicial History of American Slavery and Racism by Joel McDurmon](https://bookwi.se/the-problem-of-slavery/): Summary: A legal and historical look at the development of slavery in the US written and oriented toward theonomist leaning Christians.  I honestly am not... - [A More Beautiful and Terrible History: The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History by Jeanne Theoharis](https://bookwi.se/a-more-beautiful-and-terrible-history/): Summary: A retelling of civil rights era history noting ways in which traditional framing distorts the history.  I am very interested in how framing and bias... - [Swing by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess](https://bookwi.se/swing/): Summary: A trio of high school students make their way through growing up, romance, jazz, and racism.  As I have been reading the Harry Potter books to my... - [Keys to Bonhoeffer’s Haus: Exploring the World and Wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Laura Fabrycky](https://bookwi.se/keys-to-bonhoeffers-haus/): Summary: An American ex-pat in Berlin becomes an English-speaking guide at Bonhoeffer's family home. As she encounters the physical spaces of Bonheoffer, she... - [Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling](https://bookwi.se/chamber-of-secrets-2/): Summary: My least favorite of the books, but with some new reasons when I read it to my kids. I have been reading the Harry Potter books to my kids. We will do... - [Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ by Fleming Rutledge](https://bookwi.se/advent/): Summary: 49 sermons on Advent from one of the best preachers alive today.  I have spent a lot of time watching Fleming Rutledge preach on youtube since I... - [Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter by Randall Balmer](https://bookwi.se/redeemer/): Version 1.0.0 Summary: A religious biography of Jimmy Carter focused on his progressive Evangelicalism and the rise of the religious right. I have begun to pay... - [The Elusive Dream: The Power of Race in Interracial Churches by Korie Edwards](https://bookwi.se/the-elusive-dream/): Summary: An ethnographic study of an interracial church with context from national church research.  A friend of mine recommended The Elusive Dream a year or... - [No Cure for Being Human: (and Other Truths I Need to Hear) by Kate Bowler](https://bookwi.se/no-cure-for-being-human/): Summary: A follow-up memoir-ish book about what it is like to shift from dealing with the active grief of a cancer diagnosis to an ongoing chronic illness that... - [Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins](https://bookwi.se/rickshaw-girl/): Summary: A Bengali girl tries to find a way to help her family meet their expenses.  Rickshaw Girl is an elementary-level book about a Bengali girl and her... - [2021 Reading Report](https://bookwi.se/2021-reading-report/): I have stopped doing traditional ‘best of’  lists the past couple of years. Instead, I have written about what has impacted me in different areas. Below I... - [Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical’s Inside View of White Christianity by Edward Gilbreath](https://bookwi.se/reconciliation-blues/): Summary: A discussion of the difficulties of being a Black Christian in predominately White Christian institutional spaces.  I met Edward Gilbreath at a Jude3... - [Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling](https://bookwi.se/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone/): Summary: Thoughts after reading this to my children. I am not going to do a full review of this, but I do want to note a couple of things. I have read Harry... - [The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green](https://bookwi.se/the-anthropocene-reviewed/): Summary: A series of essays, often biographical, formated as product or experience reviews.  I am a fan of John Green. We are not much alike, but I have often... - [Kindle Paperwhite (2021 Version)](https://bookwi.se/kindle-paperwhite-2021-version/): I am a diehard ebook fan. And I have stuck mainly to Kindles because that is where my ebooks are located, and there is a lock into a platform once you have... - [Light Perpetual: A Novel by Francis Spufford](https://bookwi.se/light-perpetual/): Summary: In 1944, a German rocket hit a Woolworths in South London, killing many. This novel explores what might have been if five of those children had not... - [Reconstruction and the Rise of Jim Crow: 1864-1896 by Christopher and James Lincoln Collier](https://bookwi.se/reconstruction-and-the-rise-of-jim-crow/): Summary: Short history of Reconstruction and Jim Crow. I am a fan of the idea of concise introductory books about big topics that give enough information and... - [Black Cop’s Kid: An Essay by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://bookwi.se/black-cops-kid/): Summary: An essay about racial conflict, the police, and the two worlds that Black police have to confront.  I do not remember ever having read anything by... - [Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History by John Dickson](https://bookwi.se/bullies-and-saints/): Summary: An overview of the tension between the church's good and bad behavior throughout church history.  I do not think I would have picked up Bullies and... - [The Last Mrs. Summers (Royal Spyness #14) by Rhys Bowen](https://bookwi.se/the-last-mrs-summers/): Summary: Georgiana's friend Belinda has inherited a small house. They go to inspect it while Darcy is away on "business." Eventually, there is a murder that... - [Buses Are a Comin’: Memoir of a Freedom Rider by Charles Person with Richard Rooker](https://bookwi.se/buses-are-a-comin/): Summary: Memoir of one of the two remaining Freedom Riders.  Two things can be true at one time. The era of overt legal segregation was not that long ago (my... - [James Baldwin: A Biography by David Leeming](https://bookwi.se/james-baldwin/): Summary: James Baldwin's chosen biographer, his friend and sometimes secretary and translator David Leeming. After reading my last Baldwin book, I knew I... - [Dorothy and Jack: The Transforming Friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C. S. Lewis by Gina Dalfonzo](https://bookwi.se/dorothy-and-jack/): Summary: The 15 years of friendship between Dorothy Sayers and CS Lewis, primarily via letter, helped shape and encourage them. History is always a balance... - [The Myth of Colorblind Christians: Evangelicals and White Supremacy in the Civil Rights Era by Jesse Curtis](https://bookwi.se/myth-of-colorblind-christians/): Summary: A history of the White Evangelical orientation toward colorblind approaches to race in the post-Civil Rights era.  Routinely, usually on Twitter or... - [Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith by Daniel Stillman](https://bookwi.se/reading-evangelicals/): Summary: Exploration of modern Evangelical history and culture through the discussion of five novels.  I am a Christian fiction skeptic. It is not that I... - [Frankenstein: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting](https://bookwi.se/frankenstein-2/): Summary: Karen Swallow Prior writes a helpful introduction and footnotes throughout the book to assist the modern reader.  One of the things that I have... - [Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction by John Fea](https://bookwi.se/was-america-founded-as-a-christian-nation/): Summary: Historical questions are often much more complicated than we would like to present. I have listened to John Fea's podcast for years now. And I have... - [Let the Trumpet Sound: A Life of Martin Luther King Jr. by Stephen Oates](https://bookwi.se/let-the-trumpet-sound-a-life-of-martin-luther-king-jr-by-stephen-oates/): Summary: A dated but well-written biography of Martin Luther King Jr.  I don't remember who suggested it, but someone, about four years ago, recommended Let... - [The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor by Kaitlyn Schiess](https://bookwi.se/liturgy-of-politics/): Summary: To have our faith impact our politics and not the other way around, we have to be intentional about our spiritual formation concerning our politics. ... - [Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege by Dominique DuBois Gilliard](https://bookwi.se/subversive-witness/): Summary: Privilege of all sorts is to be used to expand Jesus' kingdom and for the good of others.  Privilege has become a controversial word. Not so much for... - [Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith (Cormoran Strike #5)](https://bookwi.se/troubled-blood/): Summary: Cormoran and Robin are hired to look into a 40-year old cold case. Cormoran Strike is a standard grumpy private eye, ex-military, ex-cop. He has had a... - [Where the Light Fell: A Memoir by Philip Yancey](https://bookwi.se/where-the-light-fell/): Summary: A memoir of coming out of a fundamentalist, racist, and abusive upbringing. One reviewer described this as a prequel to his other books on grace and... - [Shoutin’ in the Fire: An American Epistle by Danté Stewart](https://bookwi.se/shoutin-in-the-fire/): Summary: A beautiful, poetic memoir of being Black in America.  Without question, this is one of the best memoirs I have ever read. I know part of my love of... - [One Nation Under God by Kevin Kruse](https://bookwi.se/one-nation-under-god-by-kevin-kruse/): Summary: The subtitle "How Corporate America Invented Christian America" does not work, but the history is still fascinating.  One Nation Under God is the... - [The Last Shadow by Orson Scott Card (The Shadow Series #6)](https://bookwi.se/the-last-shadow/): Summary: A conclusion (?) to the spin-off Shadow series about Bean and his family bringing them back into the Ender Quintet.  I have seen The Last Shadow both... - [The Last Tourist by Olen Steinhauer (Milo Weaver #4)](https://bookwi.se/the-last-tourist/): Summary: National interests may not be the primary driver of undercover and black-ops spying, but information will always have value.  As a reader, I like to... - [Dear White Christians: For Those Still Longing for Racial Reconciliation by Jennifer Harvey](https://bookwi.se/dear-white-christians/): Summary: A critique of the primary orientation of approaching racial issues within the church through relational unity, and an assertion that an approach of... - [Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin](https://bookwi.se/laurus-by-eugene-vodolazkin/): Summary: A second reading of this wonderful modern novel about a 15th century Russian healer. Like the last reading, I am still unsure how to describe the book... - [The Divided Mind of the Black Church: Theology, Piety, and Public Witness by Raphael Warnock](https://bookwi.se/the-divided-mind-of-the-black-church/): Summary: A theological history of the Black church and its relationship to liberation theology.  If Raphael Warnock had not been my Senator, I am not sure I... - [Art and Faith: A Theology of Making by Makoto Fujimura](https://bookwi.se/art-and-faith/): Summary: A theological vision for vocation and creativity and the connection between our work and our vision of the eschaton.  I really love Mako Fujimura's... - [The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart](https://bookwi.se/the-extraordinary-education-of-nicholas-benedict-by-trenton-lee-stewart/): Summary: A prequel with Nicholas Benedict being transferred to a new orphanage when he was nine.  After the initial trilogy, I quickly picked up the prequel.... - [The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache #17)](https://bookwi.se/madness-of-crowds/): Summary: After Covid, a researcher proposes mandated euthanasia and eugenics as an economic response, and Gamache is asked to protect her and then solve a... - [Love and Death Among the Cheetahs by Rhys Bowen (Royal Spyness #13)](https://bookwi.se/love-and-death-among-the-cheetahs/): Summary: The newly married Georgie and Darcy honeymoon in Kenya.  I have been reading almost entirely non-fiction for most of the last 2 years. I am hitting a... - [A Third Reading of Color of Compromise](https://bookwi.se/a-third-reading-of-color-of-compromise/): Summary: The church has been complicit in the creation of a racial hierarchy. Last night I finished up a discussion group for the Color of Compromise. I was... - [Run: Book One by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin](https://bookwi.se/run/): Summary: A follow-up to the March Trilogy, taking up John Lewis' story from 1964 until 1967.  I am a huge fan of the March Trilogy, a graphic novel trilogy... - [The Mysterious Benedict Society Series by Trenton Lee Stewart](https://bookwi.se/mysterious-benedict-society/): Summary: A talented quartet of children have to go to a boarding school to save the world from The Emergency.  I have been looking for shows to watch with my... - [Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right by Randall Balmer](https://bookwi.se/bad-faith/): Summary: An expansion of his 2014 Politico article. This is a very short book that is an expansion of a well-known and controversial article. I listened to the... - [How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith](https://bookwi.se/how-the-word-is-passed/): Summary: Reckoning with history through its landmarks and locations. It is no surprise to anyone that I like to read history. History gives us insight into our... - [The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr](https://bookwi.se/the-making-of-biblical-womanhood/): Summary: Historical exploration of the modern concept of Biblical Womanhood.  Right off from the start, I was not planning on picking up The Making of... - [The Wisdom of the Desert by Thomas Merton](https://bookwi.se/wisdom-of-the-desert/): Summary: A short collection of quotes and stories about the fourth-century Desert hermits.  A few weeks ago there was a sale on Audible and I picked up... - [Unteachable Lessons: Why Wisdom Can’t Be Taught (and Why That’s Okay) by Carl McColman](https://bookwi.se/unteachable-lessons/): Summary: Some lessons need to be experientially learned.  It would be wonderful if there were some curriculum, or better yet, some magic trick, where everyone... - [Starting Spiritual Direction: A Guide to Getting Ready, Feeling Safe, and Getting the Most Out of Your Sessions by John Mabry](https://bookwi.se/starting-spiritual-direction/): Summary: Basic introduction to the concept of Spiritual Direction and what to expect before you get started as a spiritual director. I am not completely sure... - [In This World of Wonders: Memoir of a Life in Learning by Nicholas Wolterstorff](https://bookwi.se/in-this-world-of-wonders/): Summary: A wonderful memoir of a philosopher who has attempted to live his Christian life well. My reading often goes in trends; I have gone back to reading... - [She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman by Erica Armstrong Dunbar](https://bookwi.se/she-came-to-slay/): Summary: A brief biography of Harriet Tubman, not dumbed down, just brief. A couple of years ago, the movie Harriet came out and helped raise the status of... - [Against the Hounds of Hell: A Life of Howard Thurman by Peter Eisenstadt](https://bookwi.se/against-the-hounds-of-hell/): Version 1.0.0 Summary: Most extensive biography of Howard Thurman to date.  I have been on a project to understand Howard Thurman over the past several years.... - [Contemplatives in Action: The Jesuit Way by William Barry and Robert Doherty](https://bookwi.se/contemplatives-in-action/): Summary: A brief exploration of Jesuit spirituality  No regular readers of my reviews will likely miss that I have spent the past couple of years studying to... - [Exactly as You Are: The Life and Faith of Mister Rogers by Shea Tuttle](https://bookwi.se/exactly-as-you-are/): Summary: A religious biography of Mister Rogers.  It has been two months since I have posted a review on my blog. I have been on vacation but mostly working... - [The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee](https://bookwi.se/sum-of-us/): Summary: Racism harms not just racial minorities but the country as a whole. Thinking of race as a zero-sum game prevents changes that would help everyone. The... - [Spiritual Consolation: An Ignatian Guide for Greater Discernment of Spirits by Timothy Gallagher](https://bookwi.se/spiritual-consolation/): Summary: A discussion of the second set of "Rules of Discernment" by Ignatius. In Ignatius' classic Spiritual Exercises, a guide for spiritual directors to... - [I Bring the Voices of My People: A Womanist Vision for Racial Reconciliation by Chanequa Walker Barnes](https://bookwi.se/i-bring-the-voices-of-my-people/): Summary: Centering Black women's experience as a model for racial reconciliation.  Over the nearly 2 years since I Bring the Voice of My People, it has been... - [God’s Voice Within: The Ignatian Way to God’s Will by Mark Thibodeaux](https://bookwi.se/gods-voice-within/): Summary: An exploration of Ignatius' Rules of Discernment primarily focused on exploring decision-making. As I have said before, I am exploring the concept of... - [Becoming Brave: Finding the Courage to Pursue Racial Justice Now by Brenda Salter McNeil](https://bookwi.se/becoming-brave/): Summary: A semi-autobiographical look at the book of Esther from the lens of US racial justice. I have long looked up to Brenda Salter McNeil. She doesn't know... - [Save It for Later: Promises, Parenthood, and the Urgency of Protest by Nate Powell](https://bookwi.se/save-it-for-later/): Summary: A memoir of parenting and activism over the past five years. Nate Powell is best known as the March Trilogy artist, a collaboration with John Lewis to... - [The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You’ve Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended](https://bookwi.se/great-sex-rescue/): Summary: There are many bad books written about marriage and sex in the Christian book market.  If you had asked me to recommend a good book about sex and... - [Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair by Kwon and Thompson](https://bookwi.se/reparations/): Summary: A call for reparations in the context of US slavery, largely making a case for an American Christian audience.  There are few things less popular... - [Holy Disunity: How What Separates Us Can Save Us by Layton Williams](https://bookwi.se/holy-disunity/): Summary: Unity is important for Christians, but there are times when unity can mask issues of justice and legitimate disagreement. I probably would not have... - [Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison Warren](https://bookwi.se/prayer-in-the-night/): Summary: Discussion of grief and the spiritual life framed with the Compline prayer from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.  I am a big fan of the book of common... - [Permission to Be Black: My Journey with Jay-Z and Jesus by AD Thomason](https://bookwi.se/permission-to-be-black/): Summary: An exploration of the relationship between relational, emotional, and spiritual health and being Black in America. It has been a week or so since I... - [After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging by Willie James Jennings](https://bookwi.se/after-whiteness/): Summary: An exploration of theological education as spiritual formation emphasizing its need to create belonging and explore how it has historically promoted... - [What’s Your Decision?: How to Make Choices with Confidence and Clarity: An Ignatian Approach to Decision Making](https://bookwi.se/whats-your-decision/): Summary: An exploration of decision-making using Ignatius' Rules of Discernment as a guide. Part of what I have wanted to explore this year is Ignatius' Rules... - [A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene H. Peterson by Winn Collier](https://bookwi.se/burning-in-my-bones/): Summary: The first full (and authorized) biography of Eugene Peterson I have long been a fan of Eugene Peterson. There is something about him and his... - [I Will Not Fear: My Story of a Lifetime of Building Faith Under Fire by Melba Pattillo Beals](https://bookwi.se/i-will-not-fear/): Summary: The faith-filled memoir of a woman who rose to fame as one of the Little Rock 9, but who continued throughout her life to work through the ways race... - [Lent of Liberation: Confronting the Legacy of American Slavery by Cheri Mills](https://bookwi.se/lent-of-liberation/): Summary: A lenten devotional based on the testimony of people that escaped slavery.  There has been a slow recovery of the practice of Lent in parts of the... - [White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America by Anthea Butler](https://bookwi.se/white-evangelical-racism/): Summary: An exploration of White Evangelicals and Racism, primarily focusing on recent history. Anthea Butler is a professor of religion and history at the... - [His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham](https://bookwi.se/his-truth-is-marching-on/): Summary: A exploration of John Lewis' life, focusing primarily on his time in SNCC and before.  I know Jon Meacham is a well-known biographer, but as someone... - [How to Fight Racism by Jemar Tisby](https://bookwi.se/how-to-fight-racism/): Summary: A practical, focused guide to opposing racism through the ARC model (awareness, relationships, commitment). Jemar Tisby has long been fighting... - [The Carpenter’s Son by Arnie Gentile](https://bookwi.se/the-carpenters-son-by-arnie-gentile/): Summary: A fictionalized story of Jesus and his family and then escape to Egypt and Jesus' early life. I am not sure I really appreciate the difficulty of... - [Piranesi by Susanna Clarke](https://bookwi.se/piranesi-by-susanna-clarke/): Summary: Piranesi's house is ancient and infinite. Filled with statues that never duplicate, but only one other person who is alive. Susanna Clarke's Jonathan... - [2020 Reading Report](https://bookwi.se/2020-reading-report/): I have stopped doing traditional 'best of'  lists the past couple of years. Instead, I have written about what has impacted me in different areas. I also have... - [White Lies: Nine Ways to Expose and Resist the Racial Systems That Divide Us by Daniel Hill](https://bookwi.se/white-lies-nine-ways-to-expose-and-resist-the-racial-systems-that-divide-us-by-daniel-hill/): Summary: An exploration of why Christians need to expose the evil of white superiority, not just attempt to increase diversity.  As with Rediscipling the... - [St. Ignatius Loyola and the Remarkable History of the First Jesuits by John O’Malley](https://bookwi.se/st-ignatius-loyola-and-the-remarkable-history-of-the-first-jesuits-by-john-omalley/): Summary: A five-hour course introducing the Jesuits. Part of what I keep returning to with my study of Ignatian Spiritual Direction is my need to fill in the... - [Howard Thurman and the Disinherited: A Religious Biography by Paul Harvey](https://bookwi.se/howard-thurman/): Takeaway: Amazingly, there has not been a good biography of Thurman in so long. This is the third book by or about Howard Thurman I have read this year, and I... - [Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism by Derrick Bell](https://bookwi.se/faces-at-the-bottom-of-the-well/): Summary: A classic book by one of the originators of the Critical Race Theory movement.  A few weeks ago, I presented an intro to Critical Race Theory to my... - [The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living by Timothy Gallagher](https://bookwi.se/discernment-of-spirits/): Summary: An overview of the first 14 'rules' of discernment.  Regular readers will know that I am working on a training program to become a spiritual... - [Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes: Patronage, Honor, and Shame in the Biblical World](https://bookwi.se/individualist-eyes/): Summary: An exploration of individualist culture (like the modern US) and collectivist cultures (like the biblical era) and how that leads us to misread... - [The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/horse-and-his-boy/): Summary: The only one of the Narian books that is primarily focused on the people of the world where the country of Narnia is located.  Earlier in the... - [Armchair Mystic: How Contemplative Prayer Can Lead You Closer to God by Mark Thibodeaux](https://bookwi.se/armchair-mystic/): Summary: An easy to read, story, and suggested exercise-oriented introduction to contemplative prayer.  Again, as I tend to do, I read a book that I had for a... - [How To Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig](https://bookwi.se/how-to-pray/): Summary: Good intro to prayer using the acronym PRAY: Pause, Rejoice, Ask, Yield. Pete Greig is the founder of the 24/7 prayer movement. As a movement that... - [Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church by Barbara Holmes](https://bookwi.se/joy-unspeakable/): Summary: An exploration of contemplation in the Black church. Part of the importance of reading widely is opening our perspectives to correction. Joy... - [The Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos](https://bookwi.se/diary-of-a-country-priest/): Summary: A novel describing the thoughts and life of a young country priest in France. Set in the post WWI era, it feels connected to the modern world and... - [The Discerning Heart: Discovering a Personal God by Maureen Conroy](https://bookwi.se/discerning-heart/): Summary: A book for those training to be spiritual directors focusing on developing discernment and using case studies to guide spiritual direction training.... - [Jack by Marilynne Robinson (Gilead #4)](https://bookwi.se/jack/): Summary: Jack, the prodigal child of Gilead, is in St Louis. This novel is set before the events in the earlier novel Home. Marilynne Robinson is one of the... - [No Name in the Street by James Baldwin](https://bookwi.se/no-name-in-the-street/): Summary: Memoir and social criticism, mostly focusing on 1963 to 1969, but with excursions to his childhood. Lots of reflection on the deaths of MLK, Malcolm... - [The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus by Rich Villodas](https://bookwi.se/deeply-formed-life/): Summary: Discipleship focused on five values: Contemplative rhythms, racial reconciliation, interior examination, sexual wholeness, and missional presence. ... - [Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad](https://bookwi.se/me-and-white-supremacy-combat-racism-change-the-world-and-become-a-good-ancestor-by-layla-saad/): Summary: Journaling based exploration of racism.  When discussing racism, a lot of pushback is focused on titles and approaches. And while I think there are... - [Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (Oxford Time Travel #1)](https://bookwi.se/doomsday-book/): Summary: Time travel gone wrong. I have not been reading nearly enough fiction lately. Doomsday Book was recommended by a friend a year or two ago. It came out... - [Vatican I: The Council and the Making of the Ultramontane Church by John O’Malley](https://bookwi.se/vatican-i/): Summary: A brief history of the movement toward Vatican I and the council itself.  I seriously considered not blogging about this book. Vatican I is an area... - [Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity by David Swanson](https://bookwi.se/rediscipling-the-white-church/): Summary: Stop emphasizing visual diversity and focus on solidarity.  Among those interested in racial justice, there is significant interest in how to help... - [The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America by Blum and Harvey](https://bookwi.se/color-of-christ/): Summary: History of the visual and descriptions of Jesus throughout the history of the United States. I have been interested in The Color of Christ for a... - [Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCaulley](https://bookwi.se/reading-while-black/): Summary: Exploration of how reading in the diverse Black Church Tradition works in several practical examples.  About a year ago, I first heard of Esau... - [All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache #16)](https://bookwi.se/all-the-devils-are-here/): Summary: As Gamache and his wife visit Paris to await the birth of their grandchild, crime continues to happen. Louise Penny is one of my favorite fiction... - [Sex and the City of God: A Memoir of Love and Longing by Carolyn Weber](https://bookwi.se/sex-and-the-city-of-god/): Summary: Follow up to the earlier memoir, Suprised by Oxford. I do not remember why I originally picked up Suprised by Oxford. It was probably a book I chose... - [Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own by Eddie Glaude Jr](https://bookwi.se/begin-again-2/): Summary: Exploration of why James Baldwin resonates so strongly. Begin Again is the second of Eddie Glaude's book that I have read. I appreciate Democracy in... - [Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin DuMez](https://bookwi.se/jesus-and-john-wayne/): Summary: American Christianity has slowly adopted a Jesus that looks and acts a lot like John Wayne, and that has distorted Christianity. When I first heard... - [Intersectional Theology: An Introductory Guide by Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Susan Shaw](https://bookwi.se/intersectional-theology/): Summary: The how and why of intersectional theology. There is lots of conversation right now about Critical Theory especially as it is related to the more... - [Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan Rah](https://bookwi.se/prophetic-lament-2/): Summary: Commentary on Lamentations and a primer on the importance of lament. I have joined a Be the Bridge group that is meeting via video call every other... - [Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Rowe](https://bookwi.se/healing-racial-trauma-the-road-to-resilience-by-sheila-wise-rowe/): Summary: Trauma is real; some of that trauma is based on racism or white supremacy; the hard work of healing is essential, not just for individuals but also... - [White Christian Privilege: The Illusion of Religious Equality in America by Khyati Joshi](https://bookwi.se/white-christian-privilege-the-illusion-of-religious-equality-in-america-by-khyati-joshi/): Summary: Discussion of the cultural and real privilege of being a White Christian (or at least conversant in Christianity) in America. I recently read Taking... - [The Way Up Is Down: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself by Marlena Graves](https://bookwi.se/way-up-is-down/):  Summary: An exploration of Kenosis, voluntary self-emptying, a renunciation of my will in favor of God's. Kenosis has a long history. Biblically, it is... - [A Multitude of All Peoples: Engaging Ancient Christianity’s Global Identity by Vince Bantu](https://bookwi.se/multitude-of-all-people/): Vince Bantu was fired for misconduct by Fuller and had previously been been forced to resign from multiple other jobs for similar types of misconuct. This... - [Some Recommended Books Around the Topic of Race](https://bookwi.se/book-recommendations-on-race/): I have read fairly widely around various issues of race, but certainly, there are far more books that I have not read than that I have read. So a book not... - [Stokely: A Life by Peniel Joseph](https://bookwi.se/stokely-a-life-by-peniel-joseph/): Summary: A biography of a young civil rights icon who called for 'Black Power'.  After reading Peniel Joseph's excellent joint biography of Malcolm X and... - [Burying White Privilege: Resurrecting a Badass Christianity by Miguel de la Torre](https://bookwi.se/burying-white-privilege/): Summary: A call to decolonize our faith. This is my first book of Miquela de la Torre. It is unlikely to be my last. It has now been about three weeks since I... - [Soul Care in African American Practice by Barbara Peacock](https://bookwi.se/soul-care/): Summary: Introduction to Soul Care (Spiritual Direction) and spiritual disciplines in the African American church setting.  I am now roughly halfway through... - [Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity by Robert Chao Ramero](https://bookwi.se/brown-church/): Summary: A well-written overview of issues of Latina/o theology and spiritual practice of the past 500 years. Like many, I have primarily focused on Black and... - [Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States](https://bookwi.se/taking-america-back-for-god/): Summary: Christian nationalism is a better predictor for voting for Trump than identifying as an Evangelical. Yesterday I pulled up Miroslav Volf's For the... - [Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah](https://bookwi.se/unsettling-truths/): Summary: Discussion of the role of the Doctrine of Discovery in shaping not only the development of the US but also the Christian church.  Usually, I write... - [White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo](https://bookwi.se/white-fragility-why-its-so-hard-for-white-people-to-talk-about-racism-by-robin-diangelo/): Summary: A discussion of white resistance to understanding the social dynamics of race.  I re-read White Fragility to participate in an online book... - [When Faith Becomes Sight: Opening Your Eyes to God’s Presence All Around You by Beth and David Booram](https://bookwi.se/when-faith-becomes-sight/): Summary: Beth and David Booram present spiritual direction as a method of discipleship to an Evangelical audience.  I am halfway through a program to become a... - [Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds](https://bookwi.se/stamped/): Summary: Jason Reynolds has taken the ideas of Ibram Kendi and written a young adult book about the history of racism. I have read a couple of Jason Reynold's... - [Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God by Kaitlin Curtice](https://bookwi.se/native/): Summary: The struggle to find identity and meaning as a Potawatomi woman who grew up with a better understanding of Southern Baptist Church culture than her... - [Good White Racist?: Confront Confronting Your Role in Racial Injustice by Kerry Connelly](https://bookwi.se/good-white-racist/): Summary: A White Christian talking to other White Christians about racism. If you have read my post on The Myth of the American Dream, you know I am ambivalent... - [The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr](https://bookwi.se/the-sword-and-the-shield/): Summary: A joint biography about Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr and how they influenced one another. The Civil Rights Era was made up of many more people... - [They Called Us Enemy by George Takei](https://bookwi.se/they-called-us-enemy/): Summary: A memoir of George Takei's time in the Japanese Internment camps during World War II with some discussion about how they shaped his life after that... - [With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman](https://bookwi.se/with-head-and-heart/): Summary: Fascinating autobiography of a pathbreaking and important man. Like many do, I learned about Howard Thurman through hearing about him in relation to... - [Son of the Deep by KB Hoyle](https://bookwi.se/silence-in-the-deep/): Summary: A reimagining of the Little Mermaid.  We all need some lightness in our lives. I tend to read heavy books, and I do this because I like them. But we... - [The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power by DL Mayfield](https://bookwi.se/myth-of-the-american-dream/): Summary: Is the American Dream and Christianity compatible? A couple of years ago, I learned that the word ambivalent means "having mixed feelings or... - [Care of Mind/Care of Spirit by Gerald May](https://bookwi.se/may/): Summary: A psychiatrist explores spiritual direction.  This is another assigned book from my spiritual direction class. The focus of this semester's class was... - [Having Nothing, Possessing Everything: Finding Abundant Communities in Unexpected Places by Michael Mather](https://bookwi.se/having-nothing/): Summary: Story filled book on the reimagining of what it means to serve a community.  I have read many books on 'urban ministry' or community development.  I... - [Paul: A Very Brief History by John MG Barclay](https://bookwi.se/paul-2/): Summary: A very brief intro to Paul. These short guides are both really helpful and difficult to write and write about. They assume some, but not too much... - [Maigret and the Good People of Montparnasse by Georges Simeon](https://bookwi.se/good-people/): Summary: A good man is shot in his home and there does not seem to be any suspects. I was first turned on to Georges Simeon's Inspector Maigret by John Wilson... - [Howard Thurman: Sermons on the Parables](https://bookwi.se/howard-thurman-sermons-on-the-parables/): Summary: Collection of sermons on the parables, mostly from the 1950s. This year I have been trying (with mixed success) to read a sermon a day. I have been... - [The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/lion-witch-wardrobe/): Summary: After almost two weeks of reading, my children watched the 2005 movie last night.  I have looked forward to my children being old enough that I... - [Breeder Cycle by KB Hoyle (all four books)](https://bookwi.se/breeder-cycle/): Summary: A dystopian trilogy (with a prequel) that is both an enjoyable read and prescient.  I have not been reading much fiction lately. But with my brain... - [Domestic Monastery by Ronald Rolheiser](https://bookwi.se/domestic-monastery/): Summary: Short book thinking about how we can arrange our lives to think about them as service to God. This is a short book, about 90 pages and just under an... - [Spiritual Conversations with Children: Listening to God Together by Lacy Finn Borgo](https://bookwi.se/spiritual-conversations-with-children/): Summary: A practical, story filled guide on how to have spiritual conversations with children. I am approaching this with a definite perspective. I am in... - [Accidental Preacher: A Memoir by Will Willimon](https://bookwi.se/accidental-preacher/): Summary: A memoir about a man who became a pastor because of calling.  I do not really know Will Willimon except through his book with Stanley Hauerwas,... - [Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? by Martin Luther King Jr](https://bookwi.se/where-do-we-go-from-here/): Summary: MLK's last book. It is frequently quoted, but I wonder how much it is read. It is probably trite to comment about how Martin Luther King Jr is... - [Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander](https://bookwi.se/black-cauldron-2/): Summary: A second adventure for Taran and his companions. Taran sees the problems of seeking glory and honor and the weight of leadership.  I have been in a... - [The Examen Prayer: Ignatian Wisdom for Our Lives Today by Timothy Gallagher](https://bookwi.se/examen/): Summary: Helpful, practical look at what the prayer of examen is, and its structure.  I think I was first introduced to the idea of the Prayer of Examen by... - [The Color of Compromise Video Study](https://bookwi.se/the-color-of-compromise-video-study/): Summary: A 12 part video study based on the original book. I continue to think that The Color of Compromise is an excellent short introduction to the role of... - [Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews](https://bookwi.se/home-work/): Summary: Second, in what is probably a trilogy of memoirs, roughly covering 1963 to 1986.  It has been almost exactly nine years since I read, and loved,... - [Addiction and Grace: Love and Spirituality in the Healing of Addictions by Gerald May](https://bookwi.se/addiction-and-grace-love-and-spirituality-in-the-healing-of-addictions-by-gerald-may/): Summary: We are all addicted to something; only grace can set us free. Addition and Grace is not a book I would have picked up on my own. It was assigned for... - [Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody: The Making of a Black Theologian by James H Cone](https://bookwi.se/said-i-wasnt-gonna-tell-nobody/): Summary: To understand Cone's theology, you need to understand Cone and his context. James H Cone has been a frequent concern in many conservative white... - [All That’s Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment by Hannah Anderson](https://bookwi.se/all-thats-good-2/): Summary: Discernment is a spiritual gift, something that all Christians should work to develop, and a role of a community of Christian practice  Any regular... - [How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind by Thomas C Oden](https://bookwi.se/africa/): Summary: Much of the early church was African. The west has largely forgotten its African character and misremembered the importance and reach of the African... - [Reflections by Rosa Parks: The Quiet Strength and Faith of a Woman Who Changed a Nation](https://bookwi.se/reflections-by-rosa-parks/): Summary: Very brief thoughts by Rosa Parks about her life.  I noticed this book was on sale for Black History month and realized that I had never read the... - [Doors Into Prayer: An Invitation by Emilie Griffin](https://bookwi.se/doors-into-prayer/): Summary: A collection of short thoughts on prayer. Doors into Prayer is not a book I would have picked up on my own. It is well worth reading, but I would not... - [Dust Tracks on a Road: An Autobiography by Zora Neale Hurston](https://bookwi.se/dust-tracks-on-a-road/): Summary: The memoir of one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. It was not until last year that I read Their Eyes Were Watching God, the best... - [Seasoned Speech: Rhetoric in the Life of the Church by James Beitler](https://bookwi.se/seasoned-speech/): Summary: A look at how five Christians have used rhetoric to impact the church. One of my goals over the next couple of years is to think more clearly about... - [Trains, Jesus, and Murder: The Gospel According to Johnny Cash by Richard Beck](https://bookwi.se/trains-jesus-and-murder/): Summary: Pop culture connections to the gospel and biography the way it is supposed to be done. I have long been a subscriber to Christ and Pop Culture... - [Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren](https://bookwi.se/liturgy-of-the-ordinary/): Summary: Seeking spiritual depth from ordinary life. I have been reluctant to pick this up because so many have recommended it. I know I shouldn't do that, but... - [End of the year thoughts and recommendations](https://bookwi.se/end-of-2019/): 2019 marks 10 years of blogging most of the books I have read. This year, like most years, I met some of my reading goals and not others. I read good books... - [Healing Together: A Guide to Supporting Sexual Abuse Survivors by Anne Marie Miller](https://bookwi.se/healing-together/): Summary: Part her own story of sexual abuse at the hands of a pastor and part guide to being with survivors of sexual abuse in your context.  I have "˜known'... - [Kindness and Wonder: Why Mister Rogers Matters Now More Than Ever by Gavin Edwards](https://bookwi.se/kindness-and-wonder/): Summary: Half biography, half inspirational insights into how to learn from Mister Rogers.  I am not unfamiliar with Mister Rogers' story. In addition to... - [How Not to Get Shot: And Other Advice From White People by DL Hughley and Doug Moe](https://bookwi.se/how-not-to-get-shot/): Summary: A standup around the idea of thinking about the advice that White people will give to Black people about how to not get shot.  How Not to Get Shot is... - [Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image by Philip Yancey and Paul Brand](https://bookwi.se/fearfully-and-wonderfully/): Summary: An allegory about the body and the body of Christ. Describing this as an allegory is not quite right, but I heard Yancey describe it as an allegory in... - [The Radical King edited by Cornel West](https://bookwi.se/the-radical-king/): Summary: If all you remember from Martin Luther King Jr is his "I have a dream" speech, The Radical King will round out his legacy. Last week I finished up an... - [The Living Wisdom of Howard Thurman: A Visionary for Our Time](https://bookwi.se/living-wisdom-of-howard-thurman/): Summary: A collection of portions of Howard Thurman's sermons, prayers, talks, and teaching. Jesus and the Disinherited is Howard Thurman's most influential... - [Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison](https://bookwi.se/be-the-bridge/): Summary: A mix of Latasha Morrison's personal story as well as the story of Be the Bridge. I have never met Latasha Morrison, but several people I know have. I... - [Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul by Eddie Glaude Jr](https://bookwi.se/democracy-in-black/): Summary: Democracy in Black addresses the 'values gap' between the claimed idealism of equity and democracy and the reality of history. One of the problems... - [Blessed Broken Given: How Your Story Becomes Sacred in the Hands of Jesus by Glenn Packiam](https://bookwi.se/blessed-broken-given/): Summary: A book that attempts to tell the story of how Christ uses the common. Blessed Broken Given has bread as the central metaphor of the book. Mostly that... - [The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution by Eric Foner](https://bookwi.se/second-founding/): Summary: A historical look at the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments in the context of reconstruction history. I am a big fan of Reconstruction: America's... - [White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism by Kevin Cruse](https://bookwi.se/white-flight/): Summary: “White Atlantans made clear when faced with the threat of desegregation they would abandon the public space, no matter how prized, rather than see... - [A Better Man by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Gamache #15)](https://bookwi.se/a-better-man/): Setup: After his suspension, Gamache returns to head up homicide, overlapping briefly with Jean-Guy Beauvoir before Beauvoir leaves the Sûreté to take a... - [Becoming an Ordinary Mystic: Spirituality for the Rest of Us by Albert Haase](https://bookwi.se/becoming-an-ordinary-mystic/): Summary: Haase attempts to show us that we are all just ordinary mystics.  As I said in my last post, I intentionally read Becoming an Ordinary Mystic in... - [Finding God in All Things by William Barry](https://bookwi.se/finding-god-in-all-things/): Summary: A companion to the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Finding God in All Things was an assigned book in my Introduction to Spiritual Direction class. Barry... - [Doctrine and Race: African American Evangelicals and Fundamentalism between the Wars by Mary Beth Swetnam Mathews](https://bookwi.se/doctrine-and-race/): Summary: Traditional Black denominations in the early 20th century were neither fundamentalist nor modernist. They were traditional Christians that upheld... - [On the Come Up by Angie Thomas](https://bookwi.se/on-the-come-up/): Summary: Bri, a 16-year-old high school sophomore, wins her first rap battle, but that does not solve any of the problems at school or home.  On the Come Up... - [May They All Be One: Origins and Life of the Focolare Movement by Chiara Lubich](https://bookwi.se/may-they-all-be-one/): Summary: Short biography of the Focolare Movement by one of its founders. A friend recommended this short audiobook/kindle book to me a couple of days ago. I... - [Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Davis](https://bookwi.se/freedom-is-a-constant-struggle/): Version 1.0.0 Summary: Controversial, but idealistic talks and essays. I am way too young to have known of Angela Davis in her early days. And I was too... - [Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins, Illustrated by Sara Palacios](https://bookwi.se/between-us-and-abuela/): Summary: A young girl, her brother, and mother visit the San Diego border to celebrate Las Posadas and see their Grandmother through the border fence at... - [Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation by M Robert Mulholland Jr](https://bookwi.se/invitation-to-a-journey/): Summary: "Spiritual formation is a process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others." I am now halfway through my "˜Intro to Spiritual... - [Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram Kendi](https://bookwi.se/stamped-from-the-beginning/): Summary: An extensive walk through the history of racism in America.  Stamped From the Beginning is another one of those books that I have waited too long to... - [The Last Segregated Hour: The Memphis Kneel-Ins and the Campaign for Southern Church Desegregation by Stephen Haynes](https://bookwi.se/last-segregated-hour/): Summary: A broad overview of the church desegregation protests, and then a deep dive into one particular church with extensive interviews and history. I think... - [A Pilgrim’s Journey: The Autobiography of St.Ignatius of Loyola](https://bookwi.se/pilgrims-journey/): Summary: The "˜autobiography' of Ignatius of Loyola with helpful commentary by Joseph Tylenda.  As mentioned several times lately, I have started a graduate... - [Open to the Spirit: God in Us, God with Us, God Transforming Us by Scot McKnight](https://bookwi.se/open-to-the-spirit/): Takeaway: As much as the use of the phrase, 'it is a relationship, not a religion' bugs me (because of how it is usually used), Christianity that pursues... - [Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible by Willie James Jennings](https://bookwi.se/acts/): Takeaway: Commentaries are under-appreciated forms of devotional literature. In general, I do not read the Bible straight through in a reading plan. I... - [How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi](https://bookwi.se/how-to-be-an-antiracist/): Summary: A personal, memoir informed, look at the difference between being 'not racist' and an antiracist. I picked up How to Be an Antiracist almost... - [You have the Right to Remain Innocent by James Duane](https://bookwi.se/you-have-the-right-to-remain-innocent/): Summary: A short book detailing how and why you should never talk to the police beyond identification and asking to speak with a lawyer. You Have the Right to... - [The Heartbreaker by Susan Howatch (St Benet’s #3)](https://bookwi.se/the-heartbreaker/): Summary: Conclusion of the trilogy of related stories loosely connected to downtown London parish healing center.  Susan Howatch is one of my favorite... - [Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter by Sidney Poitier](https://bookwi.se/life-beyond-measure/): Summary: Letters to his granddaughter with a mix of family history and life advice. Of course, I am aware of Sidney Poitier's acting. But I had no... - [Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the Selma Voting Rights March](https://bookwi.se/turning-15-on-the-road-to-freedom/): This is a short children/middle grade memoir of the Selma voting rights protests. Most of the focus is on the march which lasted a couple of days. But there is... - [The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity by Mark Noll](https://bookwi.se/the-old-religion-in-a-new-world/): Summary: A readable textbook about North American Christianity. Mark Noll is an author that I will always respect and read. I had him for two undergrad classes... - [America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America by Jim Wallis](https://bookwi.se/americas-original-sin/): Summary: A broad overview of racism in American told from the perspective of Christianity and our call toward justice. The preface to America's Original Sin... - [Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar, illustrated by Dave Johnson and Kilian Plunkett](https://bookwi.se/superman-red-son/): Summary: A reimagined Superman, played out as a Cold War story with Superman landing in the 1950s Soviet Union. As I say in almost all of my posts about... - [The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race by Willie James Jennings](https://bookwi.se/the-christian-imagination/): Summary: When the sociological construct of race was developed, Christianity was the dominant intellectual force. Jennings traces how theology impacted and... - [Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance by Reggie Williams](https://bookwi.se/bonhoeffers-black-jesus/): Summary: An excellent book about the missing part of Bonhoeffer's story within many of his biographies. Essentially, for the past month, I have not written... - [Pride by Ibi Zoboi](https://bookwi.se/pride-by-ibi-zoboi/): Summary: A retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in modern Brooklyn. Retellings or reimagining of classic stories is a staple, both for author development and... - [Cheap way to get a Kindle](https://bookwi.se/cheap-way-to-get-a-kindle/): I have been wanting a waterproof Kindle for a while. But I had the first generation Kindle Oasis and it was hard to justify spending $250 for waterproof. But... - [Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marble](https://bookwi.se/malcolm-x/): Summary: A fascinating life cut short. I read the Autobiography of Malcolm X around the release of the Spike Lee movie. And either right before or after that,... - [Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward](https://bookwi.se/sing-unburied-sing/): Summary: Sin begets sin, systems feed on those around them, history matters to the present. Sing, Unburied, Sing deserves its praise. This is not a genre that... - [The Darkest Child by Delores Phillips](https://bookwi.se/the-darkest-child/): Summary: Tragic story of brokenness begetting brokenness in the midst of systemic evil.  I am not sure where The Darkest Child caught my eye. Maybe it was... - [Becoming by Michelle Obama](https://bookwi.se/becoming-by-michelle-obama/): Summary: A memoir, including her years as First Lady, but not particularly focused on the politics.  I have heard a number of people commend Becoming to me,... - [Washington Black by Esi Edugyan](https://bookwi.se/washington-black/): Summary: I am not sure how to summarize this book. Washington Black was on a number of best books of 2018. It finally got to be my turn from the library this... - [Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor](https://bookwi.se/akata-warrior/): Summary: Sunny Nwazue, an American born Nigerian teen discovered in the last book that she has both powers and dangers she couldn't dream about, the story... - [The Spirituals and the Blues by James H Cone](https://bookwi.se/spirituals-and-the-blues/): Summary: A explication of the theological roots of spirituals and the blues. A good example of why White seminary students need to be reading Black and other... - [Lethal White (Cormoran Strike #4) by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)](https://bookwi.se/lethal-white/): Summary: A year after Robin was nearly killed by a serial killer, both Robin and Strike are still trying to figure out how to work together and deal with... - [The Awkward Thoughts of W Kamau Bell](https://bookwi.se/the-awkward-thoughts-of-w-kamau-bell/): Summary: Memoir and thoughts on life by Kamau Bell One of the things that I really love in this book was how subtly that important content can be shared. Kamau... - [The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks](https://bookwi.se/the-second-mountain/): Summary: A flawed but worth-reading argument for pursuing meaning and rejecting hyper-individualism. I was reluctant to pick The Second Mountain up. I watched... - [Between the world of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Christianity](https://bookwi.se/between-the-world-of-ta-nehisi-coates-and-christianity/): Summary: Seven essays on Ta-Nehisi Coates and Christianity.  I appreciate Ta-Nehisi Coates. And I was intrigued when I saw this book because Coates is a... - [Captain Marvel: What Makes a Hero by Pamela Bobowicz](https://bookwi.se/what-makes-a-hero/): Summary: Both an introduction to female heroes and an exploration of selfless values. My four year old son has started discovering Marvel superheroes. A couple... - [Twelve Lies That Hold America Captive: And the Truth That Sets Us Free by Jonathan Walton](https://bookwi.se/twelve-lies/): Summary: An exposure of how "˜White American Folk Religion' and Christianity are not the same things. It is not surprising at this point, or it should not be,... - [Beauty: A Very Short Introduction by Roger Scruton](https://bookwi.se/beauty-by-roger-scruton/): Summary: A brief introduction to what beauty is, why it is important and why we need to understand it. I listened to this on audiobook, which was fine, but may... - [A Legacy of Spies by John le Carré](https://bookwi.se/legacy-of-spies/): Summary: A follow up, along with back story for le Carré first big novel, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. About the time the movie Tinker, Tailor,... - [Can “White” People Be Saved?: Triangulating Race, Theology, and Mission](https://bookwi.se/can-white-people-be-saved/): Summary: Provocative and helpful look at how race impacts Theology and Missions. I have been VERY slowly reading Can White People Be Saved. Over the past three... - [White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson](https://bookwi.se/white-rage/): Summary: The recounting of five White backlashes to Black gains in the country.  White Rage is not particularly long. It does not talk about everything, but... - [The Forgotten Creed: Christianity’s Original Struggle against Bigotry, Slavery, and Sexism by Stephen J Patterson](https://bookwi.se/the-forgotten-creed/): Summary: A case for "There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus" being part of an ancient baptismal... - [How to Fix a Broken Record: Thoughts on Vinyl Records, Awkward Relationships, and Learning to Be Myself by Amena Brown](https://bookwi.se/how-to-fix-a-broken-record/): Summary: Part memoir, part life skills, part spiritual direction, lots of humor and heart.  I have seen Amena Brown perform her spoken word poetry live twice... - [Hannah Arendt: A Life in Dark Times by Anne C Heller](https://bookwi.se/hannah-arendt/): Summary: Brief (140 page) biography of the philosopher and public intellectual Hannah Arendt.  Like way too many books, I picked this up when I stumbled... - [If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin](https://bookwi.se/if-beale-street-could-talk/): Summary: A young woman recounts her relationship with her fiancee, while facing his imprisonment on trumped up charges and her pregnancy with their coming... - [Forward Me Back to You by Mitali Perkins](https://bookwi.se/forward-me-back-to-you/): Summary: Two teens meet in a church youth group and find friendship, healing, and purpose.  I recently listened to Mitali Perkins interviewed on the... - [Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory by David Blight](https://bookwi.se/race-and-reunion/): Takeaway: The resistance to remembering has implications for today. I first found out about David Blight when I was introduced to the podcast of his Yale... - [Black and White: Disrupting Racism One Friendship at a Time by Teesha Hadra and John Hambrick](https://bookwi.se/black-and-white/): Summary: Making the argument that racism is antithetical to the gospel and that the church needs to work to overcome it. With the primarily example that... - [When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro](https://bookwi.se/when-we-were-orphans-by-kazuo-ishiguro/): Summary:  An orphaned boy, now a man and a detective, searches for his missing parents. I do not really care enough about this book to write a longer review.... - [Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice That Restores by Dominique DuBois Gilliard](https://bookwi.se/rethinking-incarceration/): Summary: Theological Reflection on the problems of mass incarceration, especially in regard to racism and poverty. Rethinking Incarceration is a book well... - [Faith: A Journey for All by Jimmy Carter](https://bookwi.se/faith/): Summary: A short, but wide ranging book about not only Jimmy Carter's faith, but his approach to Christianity, culture, how his faith impacts his politics and... - [Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race By Beverly Tatum](https://bookwi.se/why-are-all-the-black-kids-sitting-together-in-the-cafeteria/): Summary: Good summary on racial issues especially focusing on child and adolescent racial identity development and many educational issues related to child... - [Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston](https://bookwi.se/their-eyes-were-watching-god/): Summary: A classic story of a Black woman's life in Jim Crow era. Their Eyes Were Watching God is a classic African American novel. Like many other books, I... - [How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns](https://bookwi.se/how-the-bible-actually-works/): Subtitle: In Which I Explain How An Ancient, Ambiguous, and Diverse Book Leads Us to Wisdom Rather Than Answers--and Why That's Great News  I first read Peter... - [The Seminarian: Martin Luther King Jr. Comes of Age by Patrick Parr](https://bookwi.se/the-seminarian/): Summary: Exploration of King's years at Crozer Seminary, from the time he was 19 to 21. The Seminarian is the first book to deal particularly with Martin... - [Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974 by Kevin Kruse and Julian Zelizer](https://bookwi.se/fault-lines/): Summary: A recent history from 1974 focusing on the increasing polarization as a result of four "˜Fault Lines', income inequality, racial division, changing... - [Costly Love: The Way to True Unity for all the Followers of Jesus by John Armstrong](https://bookwi.se/costly-love/): Summary: The emphasis on love is not just doctrinal, or practical, or pragmatic, it is central to the way of Christ. I sometimes have problems trying to figure... - [Go Tell It On the Mountain by James Baldwin](https://bookwi.se/go-tell-it-on-the-mountain/): Takeaway: I need to read this again. Go Tell It On the Mountain is my second Baldwin fiction book and my fourth book by Baldwin. Baldwin's fiction and... - [Solo by Kwame Alexander](https://bookwi.se/solo/): Summary: Blade, the son of a famous, but notoriously addicted rock star, tries to find his way to adulthood.  My first narrative verse book was Brown Girl... - [On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books by Karen Swallow Prior](https://bookwi.se/on-reading-well/): Summary: An exploration of reading as a means of learning virtue. It is hard to review books of people you know and like. I have been Facebook/Twitter friends... - [You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins](https://bookwi.se/you-bring-the-distant-near/): Summary: A family moves to the US and the three generations change, adapt and remain Bengali. As I said yesterday, I find good books quite often by listening... - [Monk!: Thelonious, Pannonica, and the Friendship Behind a Musical Revolution by Youssef Daoudi](https://bookwi.se/monk/): Summary: Great presentation of improvisation in art form. One of the important steps to reading great books, is surrounding yourself with people that like to... - [Backlash: What Happens When We Talk Honestly about Racism in America by George Yancy](https://bookwi.se/backlash/): Summary: A linguistic, philosophical and cultural commentary on the backlash to minorities talking about racism.  Backlash that was written in response to the... - [The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby](https://bookwi.se/color-of-compromise/): Summary: An introductory survey of American history and the relationship of the church to racism. Racism is hard to talk about because we have a hard time... - [Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys: A Native American Expression of the Jesus Way by Richard Twiss](https://bookwi.se/rescuing-the-gospel-from-the-cowboys/): Summary: What it means to be a Christian cannot be culturally constrained. I have been meaning to reading Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys pretty much... - [The Good Lord Bird by James McBride](https://bookwi.se/good-lord-bird/): Summary: A slave is "˜rescued' by John Brown in Kansas and tells his story through the Harper's Ferry raid. John Brown is rightly a controversial figure in... - [Notable Books Read in 2018](https://bookwi.se/notable-books-read-in-2018/): It is the time of the year when everyone is posting their "˜Best of' lists. This is not going to be a "˜Best of 2018' because less than half of these were... - [Miles Morales by Jason Reynolds](https://bookwi.se/miles-morales/): Summary: Miles Morales is Spiderman in an alternate reality. I am not really a comic book guy. But I like the idea of superheroes even if I have not spent a... - [Death Comes for the Deconstructionist by Daniel Taylor](https://bookwi.se/death-comes-for-the-deconstructionist-by-daniel-taylor/): Summary: An English lit grad school dropout is working as a researcher investigating the death of his former advisor.  Death Comes for the Deconstructionist... - [Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson](https://bookwi.se/brown-girl-dreaming/): Summary: Memoir of a childhood, in verse.  It was not really intentional, but I read Brown Girl Dreaming right after I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I... - [I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou](https://bookwi.se/i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings/): Summary: Beautiful writing, made better by her distinctive and haunting narration. There can be no criticism about a book like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,... - [2018 Reading Report](https://bookwi.se/2018-reading-report/): Every year I create reading goals and mostly fail at them. My goals are rough guidelines, more than hard goals. This year I accomplished some of them. I had a... - [Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler](https://bookwi.se/everything-happens-for-a-reason/): Summary: Tragic, often hard to read, but important reminders that the problem of evil is not easily solved. The phrase, "˜Everything Happens for a Reason'... - [Critical Race Theory: An Introduction by Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic](https://bookwi.se/critical-race-theory/): Summary: An introduction to the concepts, critique and future of Critical Race Theory. Opposition to Critical Race Theory has moved into the forefront of the... - [Woke Church: An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice by Eric Mason](https://bookwi.se/woke-church/): Summary: A Church that is asleep to injustice and racism is blind to the heart of God.  Honestly, I do not understand the current movement today within the... - [Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Gamache #14)](https://bookwi.se/kingdom-of-the-blind/): Summary: Gamache, Myrna and a guy neither of them knows, are called to be executors of a will for someone that none of them knows.  I am a huge fan of Louise... - [The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander (Prydain Chronicles #1)](https://bookwi.se/the-book-of-three-by-lloyd-alexander-prydain-chronicles-1/): Summary: Classic children's fantasy. I think probably the best children's epic fantasy series. Reading the excellent Gateway Chronicles this year has made me a... - [Weight of Glory by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/weight-of-glory/): Takeaway: Lots of classic Lewis here. I went through a period when I was reading a ton of CS Lewis (either by or about). I looked today and if I counted... - [Imago by Octavia Butler (Xenogenesis #3)](https://bookwi.se/imago/): Summary: The child of human and alien parents must find his own way. One of my reading goals this year was to finished the final two fiction books that Octavia... - [Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody: The Making of a Black Theologian by James H Cone](https://bookwi.se/cone-memoir/): Summary: Context to the why of Black Liberation Theology. A few months ago I generally stopped referring to my posts as reviews. I am not really reviewing... - [Home by Marilynne Robinson](https://bookwi.se/home/): Summary: An imperfect prodigal returns home to an imperfect father. Pretty much any time I hear someone answer the question, who is the best Christian author... - [Kierkegaard: A Single Life by Stephen Backhouse](https://bookwi.se/kierkegaard/): Summary: Helpful introduction to both Kierkegaard's life and work. To the best of my memory, I have never studied or read any Kierkegaard. I have heard several... - [The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix](https://bookwi.se/faithful-spy/): Summary: Brief graphic novel about Bonhoeffer with a very good understanding of the German context and Hitler's rise to power.  Bonhoeffer is one of those... - [Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor](https://bookwi.se/who-fears-death/): Summary: The child of a violent rape in a post-apocalyptic future Africa is named Onyesonwu, or Who Fears Death. Who Fears Death seems to be Nnedi Okorafor's... - [Finding Holy in the Suburbs: Living Faithfully in the Land of Too Much by Ashley Hales](https://bookwi.se/finding-holy-in-the-suburbs/): Takeaway: As Christians who believe in embodiment, we are Christians in a place, not just abstractly. When I was in college I thought I was called to the city.... - [Being Disciples: Essentials of The Christian Life by Rowan Williams](https://bookwi.se/being-disciples/): Takeaway: "Discipleship is about how we live; not just the decisions we make, not just the things we believe, but a state of being." I am a big fan of Rowan... - [The Dangers of Christian Practice: On Wayward Gifts, Characteristic Damage, and Sin by Lauren Winner](https://bookwi.se/dangers-of-christian-practice/): Takeaway: Spiritual practices are not magic bullets.  Over the past few years, I have become a disciple of spiritual practices. I have a spiritual director. I... - [Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David Blight](https://bookwi.se/frederick-douglass/): Takeaway: Well-written biography of a fascinating man. I first came across David Blight when I listened to a podcast of his Yale College History class on the... - [The Bone Whistle by KB Hoyle (The Gateway Chronicles Book 6)](https://bookwi.se/bone-whistle/): Summary: The final chapter.  Writing about the final book of a series is always difficult. I assume most people reading this have not necessarily read the... - [John Brown: His Fight for Freedom by John Hendrix](https://bookwi.se/john-brown/): Summary: Nuanced children's history for a difficult figure. A couple weeks ago a friend posted on facebook about a new graphic novel about Dietrich Bonhoeffer.... - [Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/walking-on-water/): Summary: What does it mean to be a Christian artist? What is the Relationship between faith and art? Walking on Water is a book that it is hard not to hear... - [Thoughts Kindle Oasis (2nd Generation)](https://bookwi.se/kindle-oasis-2/): I recently took advantage of the 25% off coupon when you trade in a kindle and bought a Kindle Oasis (2nd Generation) on behalf of a friend. Because the coupon... - [The Battle for Bonhoeffer by Stephen Haynes](https://bookwi.se/battle-for-bonhoeffer/): Takeaway: While Bonhoeffer is treated by many as a Rorschach test, there actually was a real person that should be dealt with honestly. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is... - [All That’s Good: Recovering the Lost of Art of Discernment by Hannah Anderson](https://bookwi.se/all-thats-good/): Takeaway: Discernment is about practice, wisdom, and intention.  For regular readers of my reviews, it will be repetitive to say that Christianity is not just... - [Audible on Apple Watch](https://bookwi.se/audible-on-apple-watch/): Just over a week ago, Audible released its first Apple Watch app. Considering the Apple Watch has now been out about 3.5 years now, Audible has not rushed an... - [The Children of Men by PD James](https://bookwi.se/children-of-men/): Takeaway: Only similar to the movie in the very broadest outlines. It has been a while, but I really liked the 2006 movie version of The Children of Men with... - [Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies by Dick Gregory](https://bookwi.se/dick-gregory/): Summary: How we tell stories matters to how we see the world. Just a little over a year ago Dick Gregory passed away. Defining Moments in Black History was his... - [The Scroll by KB Hoyle (Gateway Chronicles #5)](https://bookwi.se/the-scroll/): Takeaway: Well-crafted stories are a joy! The Scroll is the fifth book in the series. Discussing the book without giving away some spoilers from earlier books... - [So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo](https://bookwi.se/so-you-want-to-talk-about-race/): Summary: "A lot of people want to skip ahead to the finish line of racial harmony. Past all this unpleasantness to a place where all wounds are healed and the... - [A Mind to Murder by PD James (Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries #2)](https://bookwi.se/a-mind-to-murder-by-pd-james-adam-dalgliesh-mysteries-2/): Summary: An unliked, but somewhat unknown office manager is killed and there are too many suspects. PD James is frequently cited as one of the best modern... - [The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis by Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/the-year-of-our-lord-1943/): Takeaway: Education as virtue development has been on the horizon for a while. I feel inadequate to comment on The Year of Our Lord 1943. I spent about two... - [Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding by Rhys Bowen (A Royal Spyness Mystery #12)](https://bookwi.se/four-funerals/): Summary: She gets married. Finally. I have really enjoyed these light cozy mysteries as a change of pace. Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding is the twelfth in... - [The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King](https://bookwi.se/the-good-neighbor/): Summary: Fred Rogers was the person the person you saw on tv.  It is surprising that it has taken 15 years since his death for an actual biography of Fred... - [The Minority Experience: Navigating Emotional and Organizational Realities by Adrian Pei](https://bookwi.se/the-minority-experience/): Takeaway: If Christians want to reflect the diversity of the kingdom, then organizations have to acknowledge the reality of the minority experience and make... - [Everything that Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor](https://bookwi.se/everything-that-rises-must-converge/): Takeaway: I have no idea. One of my reading projects this year has been to read all of Flannery O'Connor's fiction this year. I have previously read A Good Man... - [The Skeptic’s Guide to the Great Books by Grant Voth (Great Courses)](https://bookwi.se/skeptics-guide-to-the-great-books/): Summary: A mix of "˜read this instead of that' guide to Great Books, with half of the time devoted to great book outside of the cannon. I am a fan of the... - [Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff](https://bookwi.se/lament-for-a-son/): Summary: A father's lament after his son's death. There is no way I can really "˜review' a book about a father's lament for his son's death in a rock climbing... - [Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind by Mark Noll](https://bookwi.se/life-of-the-mind/): Summary: An exercise in what it means to encourage the life of the mind, bounded by the creed, with the example of history and with illustrations of how that... - [Cover Her Face by PD James (Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries #1)](https://bookwi.se/cover-her-face/): Summary: An unlikable maid is found dead and there are too many people that could have killed her. PD James is one of those authors that I feel like I should... - [The Gospel in Color by Curtis Woods and Jarvis Williams](https://bookwi.se/gospel-in-color/): Summary: A set of books (one for parents and one for kids) to talk about race and racism in light of scripture and Christian faith. The authors are attempting... - [The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H Cone](https://bookwi.se/cross-and-the-lynching-tree/): Takeaway: Essential theological work not just about historic issues of lynching but the ongoing reality of the impacts of lynching and the modern permutations... - [My Life, My Love, My Legacy by Coretta Scott King with Barbara Reynolds](https://bookwi.se/my-life-my-love-my-legacy/): Summary: A strong woman who was Mrs King, but also Coretta. There were two main reasons I picked up this memoir. First, I read/heard/saw somewhere an excerpt... - [Bonhoeffer and King: Their Legacies and Import for Christian Social Thought](https://bookwi.se/bonhoeffer-and-king/):   Summary: King and Bonhoeffer both were killed at 39 after lives known for pushing the church toward greater ethical behavior. Their thinking, lives,... - [The Enchanted by KB Hoyle (Gateway Chronicle #4)](https://bookwi.se/the-enchanted/): Summary: On the fourth return to Alitheia, Darcy realizes she has fallen in love with Prince (soon to be King) Tellius. But each of their own desires to... - [A Light So Lovely: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L’Engle by Sarah Arthur](https://bookwi.se/light-so-lovely/): Takeaway: People are complicated. Over the past several years since I have started thinking more about how to spiritual formation works, I have been... - [On the Incarnation by Athanasius with introduction by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/on-the-incarnation/):   Version 1.0.0 Takeaway: The intro by CS Lewis is worth the cost of the book. But the rest proves his point. CS Lewis is known for advocating the reading... - [The Eternal Current: How a Practice: Based Faith Can Save Us from Drowning by Aaron Niequist](https://bookwi.se/eternal-current/): Summary: A realignment from attendance based worship to participatory Christianity. I was both interested in reading the Eternal Current and hesitant to read... - [Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor (Akata Witch #1)](https://bookwi.se/akata-witch/): Summary: An outcast finds out yet another reason for her to be outcast. Akata Witch is the fourth book by Nnedi Okorafor that I have read in about 18 months... - [The White Thread by KB Hoyle (Gateway Chronicles #3)](https://bookwi.se/the-white-thread/): Summary: The last book ended in tragedy. Now Darcy, and the others want to fix their error. The problem with reviewing a series is that the longer into the... - [The Oracle by KB Hoyle (Gateway Chronicles #2)](https://bookwi.se/the-oracle/): Summary: Does the prophecy (which says that the six will overcome the evil) really mean what it seems to mean. Young Adult fantasy is a popular category for... - [The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships by Suzanne Stabile](https://bookwi.se/the-path-between-us/): Summary: An orientation to the Enneagram focused on relationships. The Path Between us is my third book on the enneagram this year. I have been skeptical... - [How (Not) To Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor by James KA Smith](https://bookwi.se/how-not-to-be-secular-2/): Takeaway: Skip the audio and do this book in print. Four years ago, I was very favorable toward How (Not) to Be Secular, since then I have read a number of... - [The Lord and His Prayer by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/the-lord-and-his-prayer-by-nt-wright/): Takeaway: We are actually supposed to be praying the Lord's Prayer. I grew up reciting the Lord's Prayer as part of worship. I have no idea when I memorized... - [The Character of Virtue: Letters to a Godson by Stanley Hauerwas](https://bookwi.se/character-of-virtue/): Summary: 16 Letters to his Godson about virtues. Maybe I am just getting old. But as I spend more time studying spiritual formation, both for my own benefit... - [The Apostles’ Creed: A Guide to the Ancient Catechism by Ben Myers](https://bookwi.se/apostles-creed-2/): Summary: Short focused chapters on the meaning of the Apostles' Creed. I have been more focused on catechesis (the training and instruction about matters of... - [Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman: Portrait of an American Hero by Kate Clifford Larson](https://bookwi.se/bound-for-the-promise-land/): Summary: Detailed biography about a historical figure that most know very little about. Harriet Tubman is a figure that almost everyone knows, but most know... - [Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin](https://bookwi.se/giovannis-room/): Summary: An American man in Paris has a hard time choosing between his fiance and a beautiful Italian immigrant.  One of my reading goals this year was to... - [Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in a Distracted Age by Alan Noble](https://bookwi.se/disruptive-witness-speaking-truth-in-a-distracted-age-by-alan-noble/): Summary: In order to be a Christian within culture, we need to understand what the culture is. Which means we need to be rooted in historic Christianity as a... - [Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God by Brian Zahnd](https://bookwi.se/sinners/): Takeaway: How we read scripture and understand God impacts how we live and share the gospel with others. Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God is the fourth... - [The Six by KB Hoyle (Gateway Chronicles #1)](https://bookwi.se/the-six/): Summary: Young adult fantasy that knows the conventions of the genre, but isn't reduced to them. Thirteen year old Darcy Pennington doesn't have any friends.... - [Laurus by Evgenij Vodolazkin](https://bookwi.se/laurus/): Summary: The life and times of a 15th century healer.  I do not often just say, go buy a book, but if you like the mix of books that I tend to review, just go... - [To Light a Fire on the Earth: Proclaiming the Gospel in a Secular Age by Robert Barron and John Allen](https://bookwi.se/to-light-a-fire/): Summary: Sort of an interview, sort of a biography, sort of an introduction to Evangelism in Catholicism.  I have fallen out of my habit of reading at least... - [All the Old Knives by Olen Steinhauer](https://bookwi.se/all-the-old-knives/): Summary: A whole spy thriller reveal over dinner. Olen Steinhauer is often compared, favorably, to John le Carré. It has been a few years since I picked up... - [American Street by Ibi Zoboi](https://bookwi.se/american-street/): Summary: A teen girl, born in the US, but living in Haiti since soon after her birth, returns to the US. Her mother is detained by ICE, but Fabiola continues... - [Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump by John Fea](https://bookwi.se/believe-me/): Summary: An evangelical historian approaches why so many Evangelicals voted for Trump. I am a fan of the John Fea's history podcast, The Way of Improvement... - [The Healing Light by Agnes Sanford](https://bookwi.se/the-healing-light-by-agnes-sanford/): Summary: A book on physical and spiritual healing, published in 1947 by a Episcopal Priest's wife. Anges Sanford mentored and impacted many, included Dallas... - [White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo](https://bookwi.se/white-fragility/): Summary: The best book I have read so far explaining issues of racism to White people. If you are are a regular reader of Bookwi.se, you cannot have missed the... - [Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans](https://bookwi.se/inspired/): Summary: A broad overview of Rachel Held Evan's hermeneutics of reading the bible, written for people who don't really use the word hermeneutics. I very much... - [The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O’Connor](https://bookwi.se/the-violent-bear-it-away/): Summary: A 14 year old boy tries to escape his destiny.  One of my reading goals this year is to read all of Flannery O'Connor fiction, which is completely... - [Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie](https://bookwi.se/murder-on-the-orient-express-by-agatha-christie/): Summary: A classic Agatha Christie mystery with a small group of people, a murder and a detective.  According to the book's cover information, Murder on the... - [What Truth Sounds Like: Robert F. Kennedy, James Baldwin, and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America by Micheal Eric Dyson](https://bookwi.se/what-truth-sounds-like/): Summary: Roughly based on an actual meeting between Robert F Kennedy and a number of African Americans including James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, Jerome... - [Looking Before and After: Testimony and the Christian Life by Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/looking-before-and-after/): Summary: Based on a series of lecture about how our understanding of our personal testimonies impacts the way we understand Christian Faith. If I had any... - [Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda Hirshman](https://bookwi.se/sisters-in-law/): Summary: The first two women on the Supreme Court changed it dramatically, but also had different perspectives. I have been long fascinated with the Supreme... - [Children of God by Mary Doria Russell (Sparrow #2)](https://bookwi.se/children-of-god/): Summary: Part two of the story of a Jesuit mission to the planet of Rakhat.  There is no way to discuss Children of God fully without spoilers, so this review... - [Borrowing a Kindle Library Book to Sync to Audio](https://bookwi.se/borrowing-a-kindle-library-book-to-sync-to-audio/): I am not sure why it never occurred to me earlier, but I found a new trick to use with Kindle Library books. I really like to sync Audible.com Audiobook to a... - [Mirror for the Soul: A Christian Guide to the Enneagram by Alice Fryling](https://bookwi.se/mirror-for-the-soul/): Summary: Enneagram as a method of spiritual growth. More than anything, reading about the Enneagram makes me realize that I probably discount other people... - [When Godly People Do Ungodly Things: Arming Yourself in the Age of Seduction by Beth Moore](https://bookwi.se/when-godly-people-do-ungodly-things/): Summary: A discussion of spiritual attacks, sin, prevention of sin, forgiveness, repentance and restoration. I have been aware of Beth Moore for a long time... - [I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown](https://bookwi.se/im-still-here/): Summary: What it means to be a Black Woman in middle-class White America, even within the church. A little over a week ago I sat down with a list of the books... - [The Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson MD](https://bookwi.se/anatomy-of-the-soul/): Summary: Neuroscience and psychology can be helpful to understanding our spiritual life.  After having read The Body Keeps Score on the science and... - [Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith by Henri Nouwen](https://bookwi.se/spiritual-direction/): Summary: Spiritual Direction from a book. As I have mentioned a number of times in these reviews, I have been meeting with a spiritual director for more than... - [The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene](https://bookwi.se/the-power-and-the-glory/): Summary: A bad priest suffers persecution in Mexico in the 1920-30s. I can't really review or even comment on a book that is on almost every best of the 20th... - [James Baldwin and the 1980s: Witnessing the Reagan Era by Joseph Vogel](https://bookwi.se/james-baldwin-and-the-1980s/): Summary: Baldwin continued to grow and think keeping into the 1980s.  As someone born in the early 1970s, I am aware of the 1980s, I lived the 1980s, but I... - [City of Illusions by Ursula Le Guin (Hainish Cycle)](https://bookwi.se/city-of-illusions/): Summary: A man who appears to have had his brain completely erased is found in the woods in a future post-apocalyptic Earth. I have been very slowly working... - [The Warden and the Wolf King by Andrew Peterson (Wingfeather #4)](https://bookwi.se/warden-and-the-wolf-king/): Summary: The conclusion of the series. As I read The Warden and the Wolf King, the last of the series, I kept thinking about how it is impossible to... - [The Third Man by Graham Greene](https://bookwi.se/the-third-man-by-graham-greene/): Summary: A post WWII mystery set in Vienna.  In general I like to know almost nothing about fiction books going into them. I picked up the audiobook during an... - [The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein](https://bookwi.se/color-of-law/): Summary: One of the enduring realities of racism in the United States is the persistence of housing segregation. Many believe that housing segregation today is... - [Paul: A Biography by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/paul/): Summary: Known primarily for his theological and biblical writing, NT Wright's biographical work on Paul may be more helpful to understanding Wright's... - [North or Be Eaten and Monster in the Hollows by Andrew Peterson](https://bookwi.se/north-or-be-eaten-and-monster-in-the-hollows-by-andrew-peterson/): Summary: Books 2 and 3 develop characters and move the story along well. I am quite late to the Wingfeather series. The books were published between 2008 and... - [One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race by John Perkins](https://bookwi.se/one-blood/): Summary: At 87 years old, the message John Perkins will be focusing on the rest of his life is the importance of racial reconciliation within the church. One... - [The Body Keeps Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk](https://bookwi.se/body-keeps-score/): Summary: Trauma is varied, but that variation in how trauma occurs or its treatment, does not mean that it is not important. The Body Keeps Score is one of... - [Becoming Dallas Willard: The Formation of a Philosopher, Teacher, and Christ Follower by Gary Moon](https://bookwi.se/becoming-dallas-willard/): Summary: Spiritual maturity requires growth and formation. I have been intentionally reading a number of Christian biographies over the past year or two.... - [On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson](https://bookwi.se/on-the-edge-of-the-dark-sea-of-darkness/): Summary: A children's fantasy from musician Andrew Peterson. Entirely too often I find myself with kindle books and no time to read them. So I picked up the... - [Song Yet Sung by James McBride](https://bookwi.se/song-yet-sung/): Summary: An escaped slave dreams of the future while trying to survive. Song Yet Sung is my third book by James McBride and the first book of fiction. McBride... - [The Magnificent Story: Uncovering a Gospel of Beauty, Goodness, and Truth by James Bryan Smith](https://bookwi.se/magificent-story/): Summary: Story can help us envision God as beautiful, good and true in ways that proposition cannot fully show. I have read five previous books by James Bryan... - [What Are We Doing Here? Essays by Marilynne Robinson](https://bookwi.se/what-are-we-doing-here/): Summary: More essays to explore history, science and politics from a serious Christian. I am a fan of Marilynne Robinson. I have read all but one of her... - [Reconstructing the Gospel: Finding Freedom from Slaveholder Religion by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove](https://bookwi.se/reconstructing-the-gospel/): Summary: "There is no way to preach the gospel without proclaiming that the unjust systems of this world must give way to the reign of a new King." Over the... - [Souls of Black Folks by WEB DuBois](https://bookwi.se/souls-of-black-folks/): Summary: Series of 15 essays that range from personal (death of his son and his early teaching experience) to approaches toward racism (a break with Booker T... - [A Better Freedom: Finding Life as Slaves of Christ by Michael Card](https://bookwi.se/better-freedom/): Summary: Freedom in Christ is found through calling him Master. Years ago when I attended a small church in the years after I finished seminary, I used to... - [Affirming the Apostles Creed by JI Packer](https://bookwi.se/apostles-creed/): Summary: A Reformed exploration of the Apostles Creed, designed for small group discussion. I have an appreciation of the work that JI Packer did throughout... - [Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America](https://bookwi.se/divided-by-faith/): Summary: Sociological look at why Evangelicals are still divided racially. Divided by Faith is not a new book; it is nearly 20 years old at this point, and I... - [The Pietist Option: Hope for the Renewal of Christianity by Christopher Gehrz and Mark Pattic](https://bookwi.se/pietist-option/): Summary: The orientation of our faith matters a lot to the way we interact with the world. Pietism has a negative connotation much of the time. But as I went... - [A Subversive Gospel: Flannery O’Connor and the Reimagining of Beauty, Goodness and Truth by Michael Bruner](https://bookwi.se/subversive-gospel/): Summary: An exploration of Flannery O'Connor's writing, theology and influences. A Subversive Gospel is the type of book that will never find a large audience,... - [Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America by Patrick Phillips](https://bookwi.se/blood-at-the-root/): Summary: The story of how Forsyth County, GA expelled all African Americans in 1912 and continued to not have any African American residents until the late... - [The Illumined Heart: Capture the Vibrant Faith of the Ancient Christians by Frederica Mathewes-Green](https://bookwi.se/illumined-heart/): Summary: Short explanation of historic Orthodoxy's understanding of Christianity. Real life often gets in the road of, or impacts my reading. I am a stay at... - [The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth by Christopher Heuertz](https://bookwi.se/sacred-enneagram/): Note: Christopher Heuertz has been credibly accused of sexual harassment. There was first a group of 33 writers that wrote of spiritual and psychological... - [Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation by James KA Smith](https://bookwi.se/desiring-the-kingdom/): Summary: We as humans do not change simply through new information, but we are shaped by "˜liturgy', the habits and community rituals that surround us. I am... - [Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor](https://bookwi.se/wise-blood/): Summary: A 22 year old veteran,comes to the city since his only remaining relative (his mother) died and the country home is falling apart. One of my reading... - [The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor (Binti #3)](https://bookwi.se/night-masquerade/): Summary: Binti returned home to try to find stability; she found more confusion, realizing that the home she thought she understood was not what she... - [Boy of Dreams by Nathan Van Hoff (Kingdoms of Broken Stone #1)](https://bookwi.se/boy-of-dreams/): Summary: Boy of Dreams is start of an epic fantasy series. I grew up reading fantasy. Lloyd Alexander, Ursula LeGuin, Anne McCaffey, Piers Anthony, Raymond... - [Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America by Jennifer Harvey](https://bookwi.se/raising-white-kids/): Summary: A practical, example filled discussion of how to parent White children in a racially unjust America. My children are young, 2 and 4. I am not... - [Golden Hill: A Novel of Old New York by Francis Spufford](https://bookwi.se/golden-hill/): Summary: When New York City was young, a mysterious stranger comes to town with money. Francis Spufford is an author that authors that I love, love. Alan... - [Birmingham Revolution: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Epic Challenge to the Church by Edward Gilbreath](https://bookwi.se/birmingham-revolution/): Summary: King's Letters from a Birmingham Jail as well as the whole Birmingham campaign still have something to say to the modern church. I have known about... - [Slavery by Another Name by Douglas Blackmon](https://bookwi.se/slavery-by-another-name/): Summary: Approximately 70 years of slavery from the 1870s to the 1940s have largely been unknown or ignored. Part of what has been vital for me to recognize as... - [Kindred the Graphic Novel by Octavia Butler adapted by John Jennings](https://bookwi.se/kindred/): Summary: Graphic adaptation of the best of Octavia Butler's books. Over the past couple years I have begun to appreciate the art and promise of the graphic... - [Tales of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin](https://bookwi.se/tales-from-earthsea-2/): Summary: Several long and short stories that serve as background and a bridge between books 4 and 6 of the Earthsea cycle. I have not read the later books of... - [A Recounting of 2017 Reading and Plans for 2018](https://bookwi.se/2017-2/): I am ambivalent about posting a best of 2017 list. My books are not, for the most part books that were published in 2017. And what is best, or most important... - [Slaves, Women, & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis by William Webb](https://bookwi.se/webb/): Summary: How do we understand the relationship of culture to scripture and what in scripture is cultural and what is transcultural? Several years ago I spent a... - [An Explorer’s Guide to Karl Barth by David Guretzki](https://bookwi.se/explorers-guide-to-karl-barth/): Summary: If you are looking for how to approach Barth, this is your book. The more you read, the more you realize what you do not know. And one of those things... - [Still Evangelical? Insiders Reconsider Political, Social, and Theological Meaning](https://bookwi.se/still-evangelical/): Takeaway: The meaning of the word evangelical is complicated. The groups it refers to are still present, even if reform is necessary. I am ambivalent about the... - [The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas](https://bookwi.se/hate-u-give/): Summary: A teen watches her friend get killed by a cop during a traffic stop and her life and the lives of those around her spiral out of control. The Hate U... - [Kindle Now Does Audiobooks (again)](https://bookwi.se/kindle-now-does-audiobooks-again/): I started the blog that became Bookwi.se in 2009. The first kindle came out in 2007. I bought the original kindle about 6 months after it initially came out.... - [The Terrible Speed of Mercy: A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O’Connor by Jonathan Rogers](https://bookwi.se/the-terrible-speed-of-mercy/): Summary: A good short biography of O'Connor, but probably should not be subtitled "A Spiritual Biography." The more you read, the more you realize where your... - [Kill ‘Em and Leave- Searching for James Brown and the American Soul by James McBride](https://bookwi.se/kill-em-and-leave/): Takeaway: Can we really know someone who does not want to be known? It has been about two decades since I read James McBride's breakout book about his mother,... - [Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin](https://bookwi.se/left-hand-of-darkness-by-ursula-le-guin/): Summary: An ambassador, Genly Ai, attempts to bring the planet Winter, into Ekumen (an intergalactic United Nations). I like a number of Le Guin's books. I... - [Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman](https://bookwi.se/jesus-and-the-disinherited/): Summary: A view of Christianity as the empowerment of the poor and disenfranchised. Jesus and the Disinherited has been recommended to me a number of times.... - [My Soul Looks Back by James H Cone](https://bookwi.se/my-soul-looks-back/): Summary: Mid-career memoir of one of the founders of the Black Liberation Theology movement in the US. It has been years since I have picked up one of James H... - [Our Secular Age: Ten Years of Reading and Applying Charles Taylor](https://bookwi.se/our-secular-age/): Summary: A collection of essays about Charles Taylor's A Secular Age. At some point I will read A Secular Age. But frankly, the 900 page tome is far down my... - [The Ship of the Dead (Magnus Chase #3) by Rick Riordan](https://bookwi.se/ship-of-the-dead/): Summary: Final chapter in Riordan's Norse trilogy. Rick Riordan has become a young adult/children's author powerhouse. Churning out nearly 30 books or graphic... - [The Hangman by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Gamache #6.5)](https://bookwi.se/the-hangman/): Summary: A novella in the middle of the series. Louise Penny was asked to write this novella by ABC Life Literacy Canada. It was intentionally written with an... - [Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces That Keep Us Apart by Christena Cleveland](https://bookwi.se/disunity-in-christ/): Summary: Unity is actually a pretty big deal. I am not sure why it took me so long to get around to reading Disunity in Christ, but it has. The book came out... - [Philosophy and Religion in the West by Phillip Cary](https://bookwi.se/philosophy-and-religion/): Summary: Overview of how Philosophy and religion in the west have impacted one another. Phillip Cary was the professor in my favorite Great Courses course, The... - [The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life by John Le Carré](https://bookwi.se/the-pigeon-tunnel/): Summary: Memories from a great novelist. John le Carré (the pen name for novelist David John Moore Cornwell) has had a long career. He turned 86 last week,... - [America’s Constitution: A Biography by Akhil Reed Amar](https://bookwi.se/americas-constitution/): Summary: History, Law and Political Science together help us understand the origin and meaning of the Constitution. I have been very slowly working my way... - [Is the Bible Good for Women by Wendy Alsup](https://bookwi.se/is-the-bible-good-for-women/): Takeaway: The fact that this question (and the related questions about whether the church or Jesus is good for women) needs to be asked is depressing. Maybe it... - [The Color Purple by Alice Walker](https://bookwi.se/color-purple/): Summary: Life is horrible, then it gets a bit better. I have spent a lot of the past year or so reading history and other non-fiction about racism, slavery,... - [How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds by Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/how-to-think/): Summary: How to think is as much art as science, but it needs to become a habit to make a difference Alan Jacobs is one of my favorite essayists. He was a... - [The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead](https://bookwi.se/underground-railroad/): Summary: Historical fiction imagining the Underground Railroad, as an actual Railroad. The underlying idea of the Underground Railroad is fascinating. It feels... - [New Kindle Oasis Announced](https://bookwi.se/new-kindle-oasis-announced/): Amazon has announced the 2nd Generation Kindle Oasis. There has a couple of very nice new features. Larger Screen: Since the original Kindle in 2007, Kindle... - [The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin](https://bookwi.se/fire-next-time/): Summary: Two essays from 1963. Since I saw the documentary I am Not Your Negro, about James Baldwin, I have been wanting to read more of him. This is my second... - [Hannah’s Child: A Theologian’s Memoir by Stanley Hauerwas](https://bookwi.se/hannahs-child/): Summary: Hauerwas theological and personal memoir. I have been on a memoir kick this year. I tend to read through a genre or subject areas quite a bit and then... - [We Were Eight Years In Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://bookwi.se/we-were-eight-years-in-power/): Summary: A reflection on eight years of Atlantic Essays during the time of Obama. When I first heard about We Were Eight Years in Power, I was excited for a... - [Flee, Be Silent, Pray: An Anxious Evangelical Finds Peace with God through Contemplative Prayer by Ed Cyzewski](https://bookwi.se/flee-be-silent-pray/): Summary: An Evangelical discovers contemplative prayer. Ed Cyewski is a freelance author. He is roughly my age, a stay at home Dad, a seminary grad and from... - [A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards by George Marsden](https://bookwi.se/edwards/): I am reposting this 2014 review of A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99 Summary: A short, readable, popular... - [Glass Houses by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Gamache #13)](https://bookwi.se/glass-houses/): Summary: Gamache, now head of the Sûreté du Québec gambles. The Chief Inspector Gamache series has been consistently the best mystery series I have... - [Two Part Invention: The Story of a Marriage by Madeleine L’Engle (Crosswick Journal #4)](https://bookwi.se/two-part-invention/): Summary: The last of the series of memoirs, about her husband and their marriage. Memoirs are about recounting and processing different of life. I appreciate... - [Still Christian: Following Jesus Out of American Evangelicalism by David Gushee](https://bookwi.se/still-christian/): Summary: A brief memoir about how Gushee's attempt to follow his calling moved him out of Evangelicalism. David Gushee is one of those authors that I know... - [White Awake: An Honest Look at What it Means to Be White by Daniel Hill](https://bookwi.se/white-awake/): Summary: The nature of what it means to be White in American, especially as a Christian, is not looked at nearly enough. When I was thinking about graduate... - [Aliens in the Promised Land: Why Minority Leadership is Overlooked in White Churches and Institutions](https://bookwi.se/aliens-in-the-promised-land/): Summary: Minorities consistently talk of the feelings of alienation within White church culture. We should listen. Part of what should be convicting is the... - [Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution 1863-1877 by Eric Foner](https://bookwi.se/reconstruction/): Summary: There is few parts of American history that are less understood but have more importance to modern political problems. Over the past year, I have... - [When The Soul Listens: Finding Rest and Direction in Contemplative Prayer by Jan Johnson](https://bookwi.se/when-the-soul-listens/): Summary: Contemplative prayer is about hearing from God and resting in his care. Part of my exploration of Spiritual Direction is looking into specific... - [The Practice of Spiritual Direction by William Barry and William Connolly](https://bookwi.se/the-practice-of-spiritual-direction/): Summary: Good overview of the how and why of Spiritual direction. I am a bit unsure how to proceed with my blogging about books about spiritual direction. I... - [Move Toward the Mess: The Ultimate Fix for a Boring Christian Life by John Hambrick](https://bookwi.se/move-toward-the-mess/): Summary: Consumer Christianity is boring. John Hambrick is one of the pastors at my church. I have heard some of this book in stories from sermons that either... - [The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward Baptist](https://bookwi.se/half-has-never-been-told/): Summary: Slavery was intimately tied to the early economy of the United States regardless of where you were located. Slavery, history, and racial issues are... - [The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris](https://bookwi.se/theodore-roosevelt/): Summary: First of a trilogy of biographies on Theodore Roosevelt; this one takes us up until the point where he is told of the death of President McKinley. I... - [The Irrational Season by Madeleine L’Engle (Crosswicks Journal #3)](https://bookwi.se/irrational-season/): Summary: More wisdom, riffing off of the liturgical year or the Irrational Season. The Crosswick Journals are hard to describe. Each of the three that I have... - [Christianity and Race in America: A Brief History by Bobby Griffith](https://bookwi.se/christianity-and-race-in-america/): Summary: A short survey of the problems and history of race within the Christian church in America. Christianity and Race in America is a modified lecture... - [On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service by Rhys Bowen](https://bookwi.se/frightfully-secret-service/): Summary: Georgie is again sent to check up on her cousin (who happens to be the Crown Prince.) The series premise is that Georgie, now 35th in line to the... - [The History of Christianity: From the Disciples to the Dawn of the Reformation by Luke Timothy Johnson](https://bookwi.se/history-of-christianity/): Summary: Catholic theologian/historian recounts the history of the early church. Luke Timothy Johnson is a professor at the Candler School of Theology at Emory... - [The Community of God: A Theology of the Church from a Reluctant Pastor by Douglas Bursch](https://bookwi.se/community-of-god/): Summary: The church is essential, even if it is messy. I am writing this way too long after I read it. When I finished it, I immediately purchased a copy for a... - [American Religious History by Patrick Alitt (Great Courses)](https://bookwi.se/american-religious-history/): Summary: Primarily focusing on post Civil War eras, the religious history of the United States is fascinating. I am a fan of Christian history. Even though I... - [The Spy Who Came In From the Cold by John le Carre](https://bookwi.se/the-spy-who-came-in-from-the-cold/): Takeaway: Being a spy, influencing the other side is difficult to do and prone to morally questionable decisions. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is the book... - [An American Conscience: The Reinhold Niebuhr Story by Jeremy Sabella](https://bookwi.se/an-american-conscience-the-reinhold-niebuhr-story-by-jeremy-sabella/): Summary: A companion book to the PBS documentary on Reinhold Niebuhr. The past couple of months I keep running across Reinhold Niebuhr. While I read him in... - [The Templars’ Last Secret by Martin Walker (Bruno Chief of Police #10)](https://bookwi.se/templars-last-secret/): Summary: Seemingly unrelated events all come together in rural France (yet again.) I really like the Bruno, Chief of Police series. Bruno, the late 30s, single... - [How to Survive the Apocalypse by Robert Jourstra and Alissa Wilkinson](https://bookwi.se/how-to-survive-the-apocalypse/): Summary: An exploration of how the stories that Movies and TV tell us teach us about what it means to be human in a secular world. (With lots of reference to... - [The Modern Intellectual Tradition from Descartes to Derrida by Lawrence Cahoone](https://bookwi.se/the-modern-intellectual-tradition-from-descartes-to-derrida-by-lawrence-cahoone/): Summary: A firehose of philosophy.The idea of the Great Courses series is great. Record good professors lecturing on their best subjects and absorb what you... - [Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson](https://bookwi.se/aurora/): Summary: A multi-generational starship is attempting to build a human colony on another world. One of the reasons that science fiction has been historically... - [Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail by Robert Webber](https://bookwi.se/evangelicals-on-the-canterbury-trail/): Summary: An update to the 1985 book from Robert Webber. I knew of Robert Webber more than I knew anything about Robert Webber as a college and seminary... - [The Arm of the Starfish by Madeleine L’Engle (O’Keefe Family #1)](https://bookwi.se/arm-of-the-starfish/): Summary: L'Engle's writing style and ideas, but re-imagined as a young adult spy thriller. My wife and children were gone for the weekend so I spent most of... - [The Patriarch by Martin Walker (Bruno Chief of Police #8)](https://bookwi.se/patriarch/): Summary: Bruno is invited to the birthday party of a national hero, but when there is an accidental death, Bruno isn't so sure. Somehow I missed the Patriarch... - [All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy](https://bookwi.se/all-the-pretty-horses/): Summary: Beautifully written tragic story of desire for what cannot be. Cormac McCarthy is a spare writer. Lots of detail and almost poetic language. But this... - [The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege by Ken Wytsma](https://bookwi.se/myth-of-equality/): Summary: Racism and injustice have to be important to Christians if our faith is relevant to relationships on this side of heaven. Race, Injustice, Privilege... - [A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L’Engle (Crosswicks Journals #1)](https://bookwi.se/circle-of-quiet/): I am reposting this review from earlier this year because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. Summary: The wisdom comes with reflection by those that... - [The Relic Master by Christopher Buckley](https://bookwi.se/the-relic-master-by-christopher-buckley/): Summary: A relic hunter is forced into a quest for the "˜true shroud'. Christopher Buckley has a history of writing smart comic novels, usually about... - [Little Better Than a Beast by Tom King (Vision #2)](https://bookwi.se/little-better-than-a-beast/):   Version 1.0.0 Summary: Vision continues to struggle to live a normal family life. About a year ago I picked up then first volume of this series. Vision,... - [A Live Coal in the Sea by Madeleine L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/a-live-coal-in-the-sea/): Summary: Camilla, now in her 60s, recounts her story to a questioning granddaughter. A Live Coal in the Sea is a sequel to Camilla, published 45 years later.... - [Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace](https://bookwi.se/free-of-charge/): Summary: We should give not out of obligation but out of appreciation for what God has given to us.  Forgiveness is a particular type of giving, but it is... - [As Kingfishers Catch Fire by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/as-kingfishers-catch-fire/): Summary: A collection of 49 sermons that illustrate how Peterson thinks we should be formed by God. Scripture is always the central focus of Eugene Peterson's... - [The Spy Who Came In From the Cold by John le Carré](https://bookwi.se/the-spy/): I am reposting this 2013 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. Summary: A classic double (or is it triple) cross spy story. Originally... - [Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Rowen](https://bookwi.se/her-royal-spyness/): Summary: Fun mystery set in the early 1930s with a down on her luck 34th from the throne Royal. I have to admit, that being a new parent and trying to keep up... - [The American Presidency by Charles Jones (Very Short Introduction Series)](https://bookwi.se/american-presidency/): Summary: A brief book on the powers and limitations of the office of President. The American Presidency is a good example of where the Very Short Introduction... - [Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life by Makoto Fujimura](https://bookwi.se/culture-care/): Takeaway: Culture matters. Culture needs cultivation. Beauty is central to combating utilitarian theology. Makoto Fujimura is a gift to the church. He is now... - [Bloodchild and other Stories by Octavia Butler](https://bookwi.se/bloodchild/): Summary: Six short stories and introductions by Octavia Butler. As regular readers know, I am not a fan of short stories. Most of the time the issue is that I... - [Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes the Soul by Hannah Anderson](https://bookwi.se/humble-roots/): Summary: Humility is the root to spiritual growth. Humility is a hard topics. It is widely misunderstood. It is easy to have a false view of humility. And how... - [The Summer of the Great-Grandmother by Madeleine L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/the-summer-of-the-great-grandmother/): Summary: Thoughts and memories of Madeleine's early life and family as she deals with her mother's impending death. I have been really enjoying reading several... - [The Sphinx At Dawn: Two Stories by Madeleine L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/the-sphinx-at-dawn/): Summary: Two short stories about Jesus as a child in Egypt. I have been reading Madeline L'Engle's Crosswick Journals. These are a series of four memoirs that... - [Reviving Old Scratch: Demons and the Devil for the Doubters and Disenchanted by Richard Beck](https://bookwi.se/reviving-old-scratch/): Summary: Satan, at least as a concept, is a pretty important part of Christianity. Even for those who are resistant to seeing Satan behind every sin or... - [The Thing Itself by Adam Roberts](https://bookwi.se/the-thing-itself-by-adam-roberts/): Summary: There is no way to really describe this book. I have never heard of Adam Roberts prior to this book. But he has written several books as a sci-fi... - [The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi (Old Man’s War #2)](https://bookwi.se/the-ghost-brigades-by-john-scalzi-old-mans-war-2/): Takeaway: Super soldiers, bred for combat get frustrated with worthless wars too. It has been five years since I read the first book in this years, Old Man's... - [Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman](https://bookwi.se/norse-mythology/): Summary: Fairly straight retelling of a number of Norse myths. I am a big Neil Gaiman fan. And I love his voice as a narrator. So it was really inevitable that... - [April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr’s Death and How it Changed America by Michael Eric Dyson](https://bookwi.se/april-4-1968/): Summary: A scattered look King and his legacy. This is the third book by Michael Eric Dyson that I have read this year. Tears We Cannot Stop and The Black... - [Bourbon Empire: The Past and Future of America’s Whiskey by Reid Mitenbuler](https://bookwi.se/bourbon-empire/): Summary: Clear eyed history of both pre and post-prohibition history of Bourbon. I grew up in a non-drinking stream of Christianity. And then I went to Wheaton... - [Tudors: The History of England from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I by Peter Ackroyd](https://bookwi.se/tudors-ackroyd/): Takeaway: The history of the Tudors is in large part a history of the English Reformation. When I was a student, history was always one of my favorite... - [Beautiful Ruins: A Novel by Jess Walter](https://bookwi.se/beautiful-ruins/): I am reposting this 2014 review because the kindle version is on sale for $1.99 today only as one of the kindle deals of the day. There are a number of books... - [Anniversary Day by Kristine Kathryn Rusch](https://bookwi.se/anniversary-day/): Summary: On the anniversary of the worst disaster in the moon's history, a terrorist plot may be even more devastating. A Facebook friend of mine loves this... - [Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan Rah](https://bookwi.se/prophetic-lament/): Summary: A current events focused commentary on the book of Lamentations. I veer wildly between an honest concern about too much focus on the bad in the world... - [Have His Carcase by Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey #8)](https://bookwi.se/have-his-carcase/): Summary: Harriet Vane and Peter Wimsey back together again. I have been slowly working my way through the Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy Sayers. Sayers is... - [Kindle Oasis Review](https://bookwi.se/kindle-oasis-review/): In January I make the classic, and dumb, mistake of leaving my Kindle Paperwhite in an airline seatback pocket. And that was the last time I saw my Paperwhite.... - [News of the World by Paulette Jiles](https://bookwi.se/news-of-the-world/): Summary: An elderly man (former newspaper man, former military courier, current newspaper reader) gets roped into transporting an orphaned girl that was... - [The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation by Rod Dreher](https://bookwi.se/benedict-option/): Takeaway: A better book than I really want it to be, but fundamentally flawed as conceived. There have been so many good reviews and helpful critiques of The... - [The Black Presidency by Michael Eric Dyson](https://bookwi.se/black-presidency/): Summary: A first run take of the role of Obama's race in how he acted as President and was received as President. With lots of critique of his Presidency. ... - [Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson](https://bookwi.se/tears-cannot-stop/): Summary: Loosely structured as a sermon which calls White Christian America to repentance and change. After reading James Baldwin's Notes on a Native Son I... - [The Great Divorce by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/great-divorce/): Summary: CS Lewis imagines Heaven and Hell. Fiction is important for working through difficult ideas. Many people underestimate the power of fiction to help... - [Water To Wine: Some of My Story by Brian Zahnd](https://bookwi.se/water-wine-story-brian-zahnd/): Summary: Christian maturity needs to be a real goal. But writing about that maturity can be difficult. Brian Zahnd is a pastor of a large church that helped to... - [The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings by Philip and Carol Zaleski](https://bookwi.se/the-fellowship/): Summary: A joint biography of a group of writers that impacted the 20th century, perhaps more than any other group of writers. Several years ago I read a ton... - [Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America by Michael Wear](https://bookwi.se/reclaiming-hope/): Summary: Thoughts on issues and politics from a young staffer in the Obama White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Michael Wear seems... - [Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor](https://bookwi.se/binti-home/): Summary: After spending a year at college, Binti goes home to face her family. Science Fiction is the perfect genre to explore so many different ideas. Binti... - [People to Be Loved by Preston Sprinkle](https://bookwi.se/people-to-be-loved/): Takeaway: Regardless of whether you theologically agree with Sprinkle's position, the title and tone of the book is right. This isn't just about an issue, it... - [Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin](https://bookwi.se/notes-of-a-native-son/): Summary: A collection of literary and personal essays written in the mid 1950s by James Baldwin. I recently went to see the documentary I am Not Your Negro.... - [White Trash by Nancy Isenberg](https://bookwi.se/white-trash/): Takeaway: Class matters. The idealism of a classless society and the myth that everyone can move up the social ladder with a little hard work has never been... - [Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura (#1)](https://bookwi.se/vinland-saga/): Summary: A Japanese Manga story about Viking history. A Facebook friend runs a comicbook/graphic novel review blog. He has been doing a series of daily... - [Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Charles March](https://bookwi.se/strange-glory-a-life-of-dietrich-bonhoeffer-by-charles-march/): Summary: A nuanced and in depth look at one of the most influential Christians of the 20th century. The best of the Bonhoeffer biographies I have read. Charles... - [Call for the Dead by John Le Carré](https://bookwi.se/call-for-the-dead/): Reposting this 2013 review because the Kindle version is on sale for $1.99. If you like to start at the beginning of a series, this is the first of the George... - [Kindred by Octavia Butler](https://bookwi.se/kindred-octavia-butler/): Summary: A 26 year old newlywed African American woman from 1976 somehow gets sent back in time to save the life of a young Maryland plantation owners son, in... - [Lost History of Christianity by Philip Jenkins](https://bookwi.se/lost-history/): Summary: At one point the church of the East was as strong, or stronger than the Church of the West, but then it started a slow decline under persecution. Once... - [Binti by Nnedi Okorafor](https://bookwi.se/binti/): Summary: An African teen in the future leaves her (traditional) home to attend a university on another planet. A couple of days ago, I was describing Octavia... - [Dream With Me- Race, Love and the Struggle We Must Win by John Perkins](https://bookwi.se/dream-with-me/): Summary: Thoughts from an elder as he reflects on his life, the church and the world. I have read just about everything that John Perkins has written. So I... - [Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/till-faces-cs-lewis/): Takeaway: A story of regret and complaint, joy and pain. Much like the story of many of us. As regular readers of this blog well know, I have been... - [Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering by Makoto Fujimura](https://bookwi.se/silence-and-beauty/): Summary: Thoughts on faith, art, Japan and the novel Silence. Despite the movie Silence bombing at the box office (I didn't have a chance to see it before it... - [The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford by Ron Hansen](https://bookwi.se/jesse-james/): I am reposting this 2015 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. Takeaway: The downfall of greatness seems to be written in advance by the... - [Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee](https://bookwi.se/go-set-a-watchman/): Summary: Scout (now Jean Louise) returns home to Atticus as an old man and her view of the world is shaken. Reading this nearly two years after it came out,... - [The Late Monsieur Gallet by George Simenon](https://bookwi.se/the-late-monsieur-gallet-by-george-simenon/): Summary: Overworked and understaffed, Inspector Maigret has an obscure murder that doesn't seem to make sense. I keep hearing about the brilliance of Georges... - [The Master Musician- Meditations on Jesus by John Michael Talbot](https://bookwi.se/master-musician/): Summary: A short devotional using music to to think about Jesus and our role as Christians. John Michael Talbot was a popular musician in his teens in the... - [Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling](https://bookwi.se/goblet-of-fire/): Summary: If you really need a summary, you probably aren't going to read the review. I have been craving some comfort reading lately. So I picked up the... - [Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan](https://bookwi.se/magnus-chase/): Summary: New series, new characters, a new set of gods, all of what made Percy Jackson good.  I have had a hard time finding time to read lately. With two... - [Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab](https://bookwi.se/darker-shade-of-magic/): Summary: A fantasy multi-verse where four worlds are connected via the city of London, and a dark magic wants to destroy them all. I have not enjoy a good... - [The Rich Are Different by Susan Howatch](https://bookwi.se/the-rich-are-different/): Summary: Historical fiction with the rough story of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Mark Antony and Augustus Caesar set in 1920-40 financial world of New York and... - [Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer](https://bookwi.se/let-your-life-speak/): Over the past several months I have started meeting with a spiritual director.  This is a result of reading the Church of England series and several books on... - [Best Books I Read in 2016](https://bookwi.se/best-books-read-2016/): This is my annual best of 2016 list. (Way late I know.) This is my list of the books that at the end of the year I still think about. They are not all from... - [Bel Canto by Ann Patchett](https://bookwi.se/bel-canto-by-ann-patchett/): Summary: Beautiful, tragic story of a temporary utopia that can never last. Just over a year ago I listened to a short audiobook by Ann Patchett about... - [Faith and the Public Square by Rowan Williams](https://bookwi.se/faith-and-the-public-square/): Summary: Wide ranging series of essays about faith, ethics, public morality and the theological concept of the common good. Some authors are more aural in... - [Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah](https://bookwi.se/born-a-crime/): Summary: The story of a Trevor Noah's birth and childhood at the end of the apartheid and early days of freedom in South Africa. A celebrity memoir that isn't... - [The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan (Trials of Apollo #1)](https://bookwi.se/hidden-oracle/): Summary: Zeus got mad at Apollo, so he sent the self centered God to Manhattan and made him mortal to learn a lesson. I am an unabashed fan of Rick Riordan.... - [Thank You for Being Late by Thomas Friedman](https://bookwi.se/thank-you-for-being-late/): Summary: Three increasingly fast movements are unsettling the world. Friedman, without minimizing the danger, gives an optimistic account of how we... - [A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir by Thomas C Oden](https://bookwi.se/change-of-heart/): I am reposting this 2015 review because Thomas Oden passed away yesterday at the age of 85. Summary: A memoir of a theologican's movement from classic... - [The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt](https://bookwi.se/righteous-mind/): Takeaway: Different people view the world differently, not just because they see the world differently or because they experience the world differently, but... - [Alan’s War: The Memories of GI Alan Cope by Emmanuel Guibert](https://bookwi.se/alans-war/): Summary: A WWII soldier tells his story. As I have said with most of the graphic novels I have read this year, Alan's War was a recommendation from Seth Hahne... - [Changing Our Mind by David Gushee](https://bookwi.se/changing-our-mind/): Summary: A Christian Ethicist makes a case for full inclusion of LGBT Christians within the church. This is the second of my books trying to explore the... - [People of the Book: A Novel by Geraldine Brooks](https://bookwi.se/people/):   Summary: A Fictionalized history of the real Sarajevo Haggadah, an illuminated Jewish prayer book for the Passover Seder that is now around 500 years... - [Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Erin Camron and Shana Knizhnik](https://bookwi.se/notorious-rbg/): Summary: A pop-culture infused brief biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I am fascinated by the Supreme Court. I have read a number of books about the history of... - [Silence and Beauty Hidden Faith Born of Suffering by Makoto Fujimura](https://bookwi.se/silence-beauty/): I am reposting this review from earlier this year because the Kindle Edition has dropped to $6.99. I am planning on re-reading this in December in prepreation... - [This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett](https://bookwi.se/happy-marriage/): Summary: A series of essays that shows why short form writing is still worth reading. I am a sucker for a free book. A couple years ago, Audible gave away a... - [The Second Coming: A Novel by Walker Percy](https://bookwi.se/the-second-coming/): Takeaway: Evidently I am old enough to understand and appreciate mid-life crisis books. Recently I have decided that I need to read more 20th-century literary... - [Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler](https://bookwi.se/parable-sower-octavia-butler/): Summary: A young woman in a dystopian world strives to build a life, a community, and a faith, in the midst of chaos. I have been slowly working my way through... - [Flight Behavior: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver – Favorites of 2012](https://bookwi.se/flight-behavior/): (Comments were part of the 2012 best book series) I definitely have a trend in my favorite fiction books of the year of reading multiple books by the same... - [The Dispossessed: A Novel by Ursula Le Guin](https://bookwi.se/dispossessed-novel-ursula-le-guin/): Summary: A brilliant physicist leaves his insular utopian community to study in the world that his world rebelled against. And he learns the weaknesses of both... - [Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist](https://bookwi.se/present-over-perfect/): Summary: A somewhat repetitive, although important call, to focus on the important things in life, and not get overwhelmed attempting to do everything or... - [No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy](https://bookwi.se/no-country-for-old-men-by-cormac-mccarthy/): My first introduction to Cormac McCarthy was the movie version of No Country for Old Men. My sister-in-law had read the book before the movie and told me the... - [How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/god-became-king/): Summary: Jesus' time on earth was more than just preparation for his death and resurrection. I originally bought How God Became King when it was on sale for... - [God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships by Matthew Vines](https://bookwi.se/god-and-the-gay-christian/): Summary: An attempt to use scripture to defend same sex relationships. Discussion of the role of gay Christians within the church is fraught with difficulty.... - [Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman and Andy Kubert](https://bookwi.se/marvel-1602/): Summary: Marvel heroes reimagined in 1602 Elizabethan England. I love a good reimagined work. I like cover songs. I like re-told fairy tales. I like alternate... - [Books I Gave Up On](https://bookwi.se/books-i-gave-up-on/): I realized today that I had had a book on my currently reading list for just over a year. And so I gave up on four books in my Goodreads list. I may come back... - [The End of White Christian America by Robert P Jones](https://bookwi.se/end-of-white-christian-america/): Summary: The era of White (Protestant) Christian cultural, political, and demographic dominance of the United States is over. The starkness of the message of... - [The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’s Crucifixion by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/day-the-revolution-began/): Summary: NT Wright, using his traditional tools of biblical narrative theology and 1st-century Jewish/Christian cultural understanding, assesses some of the... - [March (Books 2 and 3) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell](https://bookwi.se/march-2-3/): Summary: The continued story of John Lewis and the broader Civil Rights movement from the Freedom Riders, to the March on Washington, to the voting... - [The Silence of Our Friends by Mark Long, Jim Demonakos and Nate Powell](https://bookwi.se/silence-of-our-friends/): Summary: A semi-autobiographical tale of a white and black family that decide to intentionally become friends in the context of 1967 Houston protests. I picked... - [Vision (Vol 1): Little Worse Than a Man by Thom King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta](https://bookwi.se/vision/): Summary: Vision creates a family, moves to the suburbs and eventually faces reality. Comics, and the broader Science Fiction and Fantasy genres, are often best... - [March Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell](https://bookwi.se/march/): Summary: First in a trilogy of autobiographical graphic novels on Civil Rights leader John Lewis. I have mentioned before that I subscribe to Christ and Pop... - [Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous, and Inspiring Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible](https://bookwi.se/good-book-the-bizarre-hilarious-disturbing-marvelous-and-inspiring-things-i-learned-when-i-read-every-single-word-of-the-bible/): I am reposting this 2009 review because The Good Book is on sale for $.99 for the Kindle Edition and audiobook is $3.99 with purchase of the Kindle Edition.... - [The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan (Mangus Chase #2)](https://bookwi.se/hammer-of-thor/): Summary: Thor has lost his hammer again and Magnus Chase and his friends have to find it before the giants know it is gone and decide to invade. Rick Riordan... - [Super Famous (Ms Marvel Vol 5) by GW Wilson](https://bookwi.se/super-famous/): Summary: Ms Marvel is actually starting to grow into her role as a super hero. But fame doesn't give her more time or energy to devote to what is important in... - [Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life’s Storms by Tim Tebow and AJ Gregory](https://bookwi.se/shaken/): This review was written by Bookwi.se Contributor Vikki Huisman I'm not a football fan by any stretch of the imagination but I do know who Tim Tebow is. Or at... - [A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Gamache #12)](https://bookwi.se/great-reckoning/): Summary: Stepping out of retirement, former Chief Inspector Gamache, has agreed to take over Surete (Quebec police) academy.  A Great Reckoning is not a... - [New Prime Benefit – Prime Reading](https://bookwi.se/prime-reading/): Amazon has added a new benefit for Amazon Prime members. Prime Reading is a light version of Kindle Unlimited. Prime members can now read up to 10 books,... - [Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult](https://bookwi.se/great-small-things-jodi-picoult/): This review was written by Bookwi.se Contributor Vikki Huisman. Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse with over two decades of experience. During a... - [Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries #6)](https://bookwi.se/strong-poison/): Summary: A female crime novelist is accused of poisoning a former lover, and Lord Peter falls for her, but he has to prove she is innocent first. After... - [Silence by Shusaku Endo (Read Again)](https://bookwi.se/silence-shusaku-endo-read/): Summary: A 17th missionary from Portugal to Japan recounts the persecution of Christians and his own crisis of faith. This is the year of Silence. First, I... - [Wild Seed by Octavia Butler](https://bookwi.se/wild-seed-octavia-butler/): Summary: Two long lived people interact, love and fight over generations. Wild Seed is now the fourth book and the start of the second series I have read by... - [The Emergence of Liberty in the Modern World by Douglas F. Kelly](https://bookwi.se/emergence/): Reviewed by Bookwi.se Contributor Seth Simmons The basic premise of The Emergency of Liberty in the Modern World is that the philosophical and theological... - [Amends: A Novel by Eve Tushnet](https://bookwi.se/amends/): Summary: A groups of alcoholics is the subject of a reality TV show. Eve Tushnet is a writer that I have been wanting to read more from. I have read a number... - [Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why by Paul Tough](https://bookwi.se/helping-children-succeed/): Summary: Helping children from difficult backgrounds succeed, is more about creating the right environments for them to be successful than it is teaching them... - [Love in the Ruins: The Adventures of a Bad Catholic at a Time Near the End of the World by Walker Percy](https://bookwi.se/love-in-the-ruins/): Summary: A slightly neurotic psychiatrist faces the end of the world after inventing a device that can read the state of a person's soul. Walker Percy is one... - [Monk Habits for Everyday People: Benedictine Spirituality for Protestants](https://bookwi.se/monk-habits-for-everyday-people-benedictine-spirituality-for-protestants/): I am reposting this 2013 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. Also his recent book, Dangerous Passions, Deadly Sins: Learning from the... - [The End of All Things by John Scalzi (Old Man’s War #6)](https://bookwi.se/end-of-all-things/): Summary: More inter galactic political intrigue and death defying heroics. Old Man's War was a great book. It was a nice update to Robert A. Heinlein's... - [Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (Cormoran Strike #3)](https://bookwi.se/career-evil/): Summary: The reader may have the thoughts of the killer, but we won't know the identity until the end. I do not particularly like knowing the thoughts of a... - [As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes](https://bookwi.se/as-you-wish/): Summary: Funny, warm hearted recounting of one of the best movies ever made. Seth Simmons turned me on to this book several years ago (his review here). It... - [The Twilight of American Enlightenment by George Marsden](https://bookwi.se/twilight-of-american-enlightenment/): Takeaway: All of our fears about how bad the world is, are completely not unique.  Marsden is a wide ranging and important historian. His biographies of... - [CS Lewis’s ‘Mere Christianity’: A Biography by George Marsden](https://bookwi.se/mere-christianity-bio/): Summary: The history and influence of Mere Christianity. I stumbled across the audiobook of CS Lewis' Mere Christianity: A Biography when I was looking for... - [The Name of God is Mercy by Pope Francis and Andrea Tornielli](https://bookwi.se/mercy/): Summary: A long interview with Pope Francis and the declaration of the Year of Mercy statement. I keep meaning to read something by Pope Francis. But I have... - [While the World Watched by Carolyn Maull McKinstry with Denise George](https://bookwi.se/while-the-world-watched/): Summary: It is important to remember that it was normal every day people, not just civil rights heroes that participated in the Civil Rights movement. A few... - [Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living by Krista Tippett](https://bookwi.se/becoming-wise/): Summary: Tippett shares what she has learned about wisdom and life from her many interviews from her shows On Being and Speaking of Faith. I have been a fan of... - [Table in the Wilderness: A Memoir of God Found, Lost and Found Again by Preston Yancey](https://bookwi.se/table-in-the-wilderness/): I am reposting this 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $0.99. Summary: An early memoir of finding God through the church. I am not sure when... - [Foundation: The History of England from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors by Peter Ackroyd](https://bookwi.se/foundation/): Takeaway: History is complicated.  In my continuing quest to understand European history, I picked this up on sale from Audible a while back. It is the first... - [Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany](https://bookwi.se/harry-potter-cursed-child/): Summary: 19 Years after the setting of the final defeat of Voldemort, an older Harry Potter and the gang, and their children face a new challenge.  If you... - [No Way to Treat a First Lady by Christopher Buckley](https://bookwi.se/no-way-to-treat-a-first-lady-by-christopher-buckley/): I am reposting this 2010 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. When you read as much as I do every once in a while you need some palate... - [Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen (Her Royal Spyness #10)](https://bookwi.se/crowned-and-dangerous/): Summary: Darcy has decided to take Georgie away so they can elope. But his father is accused of murder and yet again the two them must put aside their own... - [As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes](https://bookwi.se/as-you-wish-inconceivable-tales-from-the-making-of-the-princess-bride-by-cary-elwes/): I am reposting this 2014 review by Bookwi.se Contributor Seth Simmons because the Audible.com Audiobook is on sale today only for $3.95. This is a fantastic... - [The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell](https://bookwi.se/sparrow-mary-doria-russell/): Summary: A returning missionary has to work through the problem of evil in light of the death of his whole team and what he previously understood as God's... - [Surprised by Oxford: A Memoir by Carolyn Weber (Read Again Review)](https://bookwi.se/surprised-by-oxford-a-memoir-by-carolyn-weber-read-again-review/): Takeaway: The love story, whether between man and woman or God and human is one that brings joy to those that have experienced it. I have said it before.  But... - [The Magician by Michael Scott](https://bookwi.se/the-magician-by-michael-scott/): I am reposting this very early Bookwi.se review from 2009 because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99 Image via Wikipedia It is hard not to compare this... - [The God I Don’t Understand by Christopher Wright](https://bookwi.se/understand/): Takeaway: It is fine (and biblical) to admit we do not understand God. I have recently discovered the blog Black, White and Gray. Bradley Wright (links to... - [The Lion’s World: A Journey into the Heart of Narnia by Rowan Williams](https://bookwi.se/lions-world/): Summary: A theologian and scholar walks us through CS Lewis' Narnia. The Narnia books, and maybe Screwtape Letters or Mere Christianity, are all that many know... - [A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara](https://bookwi.se/a-little-life-by-hanya-yanagihara/): Review from contributor Vikki Huisman The opening chapters of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara seem pretty straight forward. Characters graduate from college,... - [Sacred Texts of the World (The Great Courses) by Grant Hardy](https://bookwi.se/sacred-texts/): Summary: An overview of many of the sacred texts of world religions. After my last positive experience with a Great Courses audiobook, I picked up several... - [Introduction to Christian Liturgy by Frank Senn](https://bookwi.se/introduction-christian-liturgy/): Summary: Helpful, but dry, look at history and variety of practice within the Christian Church's liturgy. Frank Senn's Introduction to Christian Liturgy was... - [Pines (Wayward Pines #1) by Blake Crouch](https://bookwi.se/wayward-pines/): Summary: A secret service agent wakes up in the woods outside of small town where nothing seems quite right. The Wayward Pines trilogy hit the world a few... - [Countdown City by Ben Winters (Last Policeman #2)](https://bookwi.se/countdown-city/): Summary: The end of the world is coming soon, but there are still cases to solve and people to help. Maybe it is just too easy to envision the end of the... - [The Grace Outpouring: Blessing Others Through Prayer by Roy Godwin with Dave Roberts](https://bookwi.se/grace-outpouring/): Summary: A wandering, but very encouraging story of how obedience can be used by God. I know that some dismiss books that are written "˜with"¦'.  These are... - [The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good by Peter Greer with Anna Haggard](https://bookwi.se/spiritual-danger/): Reposting this 2013 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99. Takeaway: Serving God and others can be its own reward, and that is the root of the... - [All Hallows’ Eve: A Novel by Charles Williams](https://bookwi.se/all-hallows-eve/): Summary: A ghost story about the nature of good and evil. Charles Williams was one of the Inklings, the famous literary group that included CS Lewis and JRR... - [JI Packer: An Evangelical Life by Leland Ryken](https://bookwi.se/ji-packer-2/): I am reposting this 2015 review because the kindle edition is on sale for $2.99 Takeaway: JI Packer has focused on the church more than his own career and that... - [Chronicle of a Last Summer by Yasmine El Rashidi](https://bookwi.se/chronicle-last-summer/): Reviewed by Bookwi.se Contributor Vikki Huisman. A young Egyptian woman recounts her personal and political coming of age in this debut novel by Yasmine El... - [Kindle Unlimited Take Two](https://bookwi.se/kindle-unlimited-take-two/): During the Amazon Prime Day sale last week I decided to take another run at Kindle Unlimited. There was a six month subscription to Kindle Unlimited for $45,... - [Credo: Meditations on the Apostles’ Creed by Hans von Balthasar](https://bookwi.se/credo/): Summary: Brief exploration of the Apostles' Creed by a significant 20th century Catholic theologian. I have been interested in von Balthasar for a while. He is... - [Fatal Pursuit by Martin Walker (Bruno Chief of Police #9)](https://bookwi.se/fatal-pursuit/): Summary: Bruno loves his community, helps prevent crime, meets a new woman and solves a big crime (but not much really happens). Bruno is one of my favorite... - [The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction by William Doyle](https://bookwi.se/french-revolution/): Takeaway: Taxes, abuse of power, responsiveness to the citizenry, and corruption seem to be involved in most revolutions. My European history is lousy. I... - [Landline by Rainbow Rowell](https://bookwi.se/landline/): I am reposting this 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99 Summary: A 14 year marriage is in danger, and a magic phone to the past may be... - [Five Red Herrings by Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey #7)](https://bookwi.se/five-red-herrings/): Summary: Lord Wimsey is vacationing in an artist's community when one of the artists, someone no one likes, is found dead. Five artists have motive and... - [This Strange Wilderness: The Life and Art of John James Audubon by Nancy Plain](https://bookwi.se/strange-wilderness/): A guest post from regular contributor Seth Simmons. A brief and very readable biography of America's best known naturalist and ornithologist. John James... - [Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson](https://bookwi.se/just-mercy/): Takeaway: Justice requires working systems. Part of working systems is adequate defense and reasonable sentencing. No one that I know that has read this has... - [New Kindle Available for Pre-Order](https://bookwi.se/new-kindle-available-pre-order/): Amazon released information about new kindle this morning (available for pre-order with delivery in early July). The new kindle replaces the Kindle Basic Touch... - [How Music Got Free: The End of an Industry, the Turn of the Century, and the Patient Zero of Piracy](https://bookwi.se/music-got-free/): A guest post from regular contributor Seth Simmons. How Music Got Free is a totally fascinating account of the mp3 and how it almost destroyed the music... - [Approval Junkie: Adventures in Caring Too Much by Faith Salie](https://bookwi.se/approval-junkie/): This review is by regular contributor Vikki Huisman. I enjoy Faith Salie's segments on CBS Sunday Morning and I've wanted to catch her on NPR's "œWait Wait... - [Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ by Dallas Willard](https://bookwi.se/renovation-of-the-heart/): Summary: An extended reflection on what it means to truly change through Christ's power. Dallas Willard is one of the originators of the modern spiritual... - [Wright Brothers by David McCullough](https://bookwi.se/wright/): Takeaway: A reminder how (im)possible some of our dreams are.  A few weeks ago I went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (the one at Dulles Airport). We... - [Coraline by Neil Gaiman](https://bookwi.se/coraline/): Neil Gaiman has credibly been accused of sexual assault and abuse. Summary: Coraline finds the perfect parents and life in a creepy children's book. Neil... - [What It Means to Be a Man by Rhett Smith](https://bookwi.se/what-it-means-to-be-a-man/): Summary: Short, highly readable book that would make a great discussion in a teen or 20/30 something mens group. The subject of what it means to be a man in... - [Loving My (LGBT) Neighbor: Being Friends in Grace and Truth by Glenn Stanton](https://bookwi.se/loving-my-lgbt-neighbor/): Summary: Basic reminders that loving your neighbor includes LGBT people. I picked up and read Loving My (LGBT) Neighbor because of Karen Swallow Prior's review... - [The Faith of Christopher Hitchens: The Restless Soul of the World’s Most Notorious Atheist by Larry Alex Taunton](https://bookwi.se/faith-christopher-hitchens-restless-soul-worlds-notorious-atheist-larry-alex-taunton/): A guest post from regular contributor Seth Simmons. Everybody knows Christopher Hitchens by the prominent and public role he played in the culture as the bold... - [A Life Observed: A Spiritual Biography of C. S. Lewis by Devin Brown](https://bookwi.se/life-observed/): Takeaway: Lewis really was a gift to the church as a whole. This year is the 50th anniversary of CS Lewis' death. So there have been several new books on... - [The Clockwork Three by Matthew J Kirby](https://bookwi.se/clockwork-three/): The Clockwork Three is one of the best middle grade children's books I've read in a long time. It's charming, the characters are genuine and realistic, the... - [Lock In by John Scalzi](https://bookwi.se/lock-john-scalzi/): I am reposting my 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99. Summary: A flu-like virus (Haden's Virus) leaves millions without the ability... - [Read Again: You Are What You Love by James KA Smith](https://bookwi.se/read-love-james-ka-smith/): Takeaway: Expressive Worship and Formative Worship, while both valid, have different purposes. It is good to re-read books. I can not remember where I read it,... - [Fear of Physics: A Guide for the Perplexed by Lawrence Krauss](https://bookwi.se/fear-of-physics/): Takeaway: Even introductions can be difficult I am fascinated by physics. I don't understand physics, but I am fascinated by it.  So I tend to pick up at... - [The Comic Book Story of Beer: The World’s Favorite Beverage from 7000 BC to Today’s Craft Brewing Revolution](https://bookwi.se/comic-book-story-of-beer/): Perhaps it depends on the topic and the artist depicting it, but I've become convinced that the graphic novel as a medium for narrating history--at a high... - [Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi](https://bookwi.se/agent-stars/): Summary: Comedy about an alien race that contacts a Hollywood agent about introducing them to the planet earth. This was a book I picked up on a whim. I was a... - [The Legend of Sam Miracle by ND Wilson](https://bookwi.se/legend-sam-miracle-nd-wilson/): The Legend of Sam Miracle is an exciting and intense story. I read this to my 8 year old, and he loved it. I'm not sure he fully understood all of the... - [The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution, 1783-1789 by Joseph Ellis](https://bookwi.se/quartet/): Summary: The American Revolutionary War won freedom from Britain. It took another six years to create 13 separate states into a single country. Since I have... - [Free Audiobook – The Oedipus Plays](https://bookwi.se/free-audiobook-oedipus-plays/): No longer free - Sorry Audible is giving away a free audio drama of The Oedipus Plays. This is a pre-order with a release date of June 14th. It may still be... - [Fortress Introduction to Contemporary Theologies](https://bookwi.se/fortress-introduction-contemporary-theologies/): Summary: Short profiles of 13 theologians from the 20th century. Last year Fortress Press had a sale and I picked up several books. I started reading the... - [Country Cooking from a Redneck Kitchen by Francine Bryson](https://bookwi.se/country-cooking-redneck-kitchen-francine-bryson/): Francine Bryson is a national pie champion and a former finalist on The American Baking Competition. She's written two cookbooks, "œBlue Ribbon Baking from a... - [Audible Now Has Book Sharing](https://bookwi.se/audible-now-book-sharing/): One of the best parts of physical books is the ability to share that book with friends. Digital books publishers have attempted to both encourage and limit... - [The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber](https://bookwi.se/book-strange-new-things-michel-faber/): Summary: A missionary to aliens has marriage problems. The concept of The Book of Strange New Things is so simple that it really did not catch my attention... - [Prayer by Richard Foster (Read Again)](https://bookwi.se/prayer-foster/): Version 1.0.0 Takeaway: If you are serious about learning about prayer and have not read this book yet, you need to. I have read this book at least once... - [The Comedians by Graham Greene](https://bookwi.se/comedians-graham-greene/): Takeaway: Sometimes the best thing we can do in the face of tragedy is continue to face life. I picked up The Comedians when it was on sale at Audible because... - [Amazon Kindle Oasis Reviews are Out](https://bookwi.se/amazon-kindle-oasis-reviews/): The Amazon Kindle Oasis officially was released today. However, if you did not pre-order it, you will have to wait until June because they are back ordered.... - [Brazen: The Courage to Find the You That’s Been Hiding by Leeana Tankersley](https://bookwi.se/brazen/): I read Leeana Tankersley's first book, "œFound Art" several years ago. I found it to be a fascinating read about life and faith as Tankersley lived in the... - [The History of Christian Theology by Philip Cary (Great Courses)](https://bookwi.se/history-christian-theology-great-courses/): Summary: Many of the shifts of theology and practice makes sense in historical context. My first quarter of Divinity School I had a history of Christian... - [Marvel Civil War Comics](https://bookwi.se/marvel-civil-war-comics/): The new Marvel movie Captain America Civil War opens this weekend. The reviews are very good. I have been looking forward to it, but I still haven't seen... - [Why I Canceled Scribd](https://bookwi.se/why-i-canceled-scribd/): When the idea of subscription book programs first started, a number of people asked me about them. It seemed like a natural fit for me. I read a lot of books,... - [Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr](https://bookwi.se/falling-upward/): Takeaway: We need to think theologically about the importance of elders and sharing wisdom. A few days ago on Facebook, someone that I know was lamenting the... - [Paris Street Style: A Coloring Book by Zoe de las Cases](https://bookwi.se/paris-street-style/): The biggest trend in the publishing world last year was adult coloring books.  According to the New York Post, more than 2,000 adult coloring books hit the... - [Ms Marvel (Generation Why, Crushed and Last Days)](https://bookwi.se/ms-marvel-generation-crushed-last-days/): Takeaway: The big stuff matters to good stories. I participate in a private Facebook group with Christ and Pop Culture Magazine subscribers. There was a... - [Housekeeping: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson](https://bookwi.se/housekeeping/): Takeaway: Life if not permanent. I have had an odd reluctance to read Housekeeping (and Home) because Lila and Gilead have been some of the best fiction books... - [Deep River by Shusaku Endo](https://bookwi.se/deep-river-shusaku-endo/): Summary: Story of four Japanese tourists on a trip to India and the Ganges River. I picked up Deep River on sale from Audible a while ago but it did not listen... - [The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More Than Our “Correct” Beliefs by Peter Enns](https://bookwi.se/sin-of-certainty/): Takeaway: Trust in Christ and Love of other are not in opposition to right theological understanding. A number of books have been written in the last decade... - [Space Boy by Orson Scott Card (and Audible Channels))](https://bookwi.se/space-boy/): Summary:  An 8th grade boy discovers that his mother hasn't abandoned the family, but been sucked into a wormhole. My paying job involves program evaluation... - [You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith](https://bookwi.se/love/): Summary: Discipleship and spiritual formation are not primarily about gaining new information but being formed over time through habit and worship. I have been... - [New Kindle Oasis](https://bookwi.se/new-kindle-oasis/): Amazon released a new high end kindle today. It is an oddly shaped kindle, thicker on one side than the other because it is meant to be used with a charging... - [Hamilton: The Revolution by Jeremy McCarter and Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://bookwi.se/hamilton-revolution/): Summary: A fanboy's dream. If you are a fan of Hamilton the Musical, you own a copy of the soundtrack, you have read the Chernow biography (my review), you... - [Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow](https://bookwi.se/alexander-hamilton-ron-chernow/): Summary: Well written biography which is the inspiration for the broadway hit. I am obsessed with the musical Hamilton (free if you have Amazon prime).... - [Me, Myself, and Bob: A True Story About God, Dreams, and Talking Vegetables by Phil Vischer](https://bookwi.se/bob-true-story-god-dreams-talking-vegetables-phil-vischer/): Takeaway: Honesty is refreshing, although a bit surprising in a memoir. Like pretty much every Evangelical, I have been a big fan of Veggie Tales. I bought... - [A War of Gifts: An Ender Story by Orson Scott Card](https://bookwi.se/war-gifts/): Summary: A novella about battle school at Christmas. I have been using up the last of my audiobook credits at Scribd before canceling my subscription. So I... - [The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers: Spiritual Insights from the World’s Most Beloved Neighbor by Amy Hollingsworth](https://bookwi.se/simple-faith-mister-rogers/): Summary: Spiritual insights from the author's friendship with Mr Rogers. There really are surprisingly few books about Mister Rogers. Outside of the books by... - [New Release – The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, Narrated by Emma Thompson](https://bookwi.se/turn-screw/): Audible has continued producing new content with A List actors as narrators. The newest release this month is the short (96 pages in print) creepy novel by... - [The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien by Georges Simenon (Maigret #3)](https://bookwi.se/hanged-man/): Summary: Maigret solves a cold case by following a suspicious man. The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien is the third book in the Inspector Maigret series, although... - [The Arkadians by Lloyd Alexander](https://bookwi.se/arkadians/): Summary: A humorous middle grade quest fantasy book from Lloyd Alexander. When I was young, my favorite series was the Prydain Chronicles (Book of Three, Black... - [The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell](https://bookwi.se/bone-clocks/): Summary: Told over a 60 year period as the world descends into dystopia, there is something more than what it initially seems. The Bone Clocks has been... - [The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (Cormran Strike #2)](https://bookwi.se/silkworm/): Summary: Cormran Strike is searching for an unlikable author that has disappeared. Regular commenter Sheila Brennan said a few days ago that my opposition to... - [Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life by James Martin](https://bookwi.se/heaven-mirth/): Summary: An exploration of why joy and humor should be a more important part of the spiritual life. Donald Kim's A Down and Dirty Guide to Theology, is the... - [Pietr the Latvian (Inspector Maigret Book 1) by Georges Simenon](https://bookwi.se/pietr-the-latvian/): Takeaway: Smart mysteries look at character. As with many other books, I picked up the first of the Inspector Maigret books based on a recommendation from John... - [Meeting God in Paul: Reflections for the Season of Lent by Rowan Williams](https://bookwi.se/meeting-god-in-paul/): Summary: An overview of Paul to help us see Christ. I have appreciated reading a couple of Rowan Williams' books over the last year. Williams writes on a... - [Whose Body? by Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries #1)](https://bookwi.se/whose-body/): Reposting my 2013 review because the Kindle Edition is free today only. The audiobook is $2.99 with the purchase of the free kindle book. Summary: An amateur... - [Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis (Space Trilogy)](https://bookwi.se/out-of-the-silent-planet/): Summary: A Philology professor is kidnapped and taken to Mars It has been a few weeks since I have picked up a CS Lewis book so my goal of reading one a week... - [Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain](https://bookwi.se/wired-intimacy-struthers/): Takeaway: Social and personal effects of pornography really are more devastating than I thought. The promise of Wired for Intimacy is that it can speak to the... - [The Jesus Prayer: A Cry for Mercy, A Path of Renewal by John Michael Talbot](https://bookwi.se/jesus-prayer/): Summary: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." It is easy to read about prayer instead of praying. But good books on prayer, when... - [Surrender to Love: Discovering the Heart of Christian Spirituality by David G Benner](https://bookwi.se/surrender-to-love/): Takeaway: God is love is not the only important thing in theology, but it may be one of the harder parts of the Christian life to truly accept. I have a... - [The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It by Peter Enns](https://bookwi.se/the-bible-tells-me-so-why-defending-scripture-has-made-us-unable-to-read-it-by-peter-enns/): I am reposting this 2015 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99 again. Takeaway: A high view of scripture is not based only on literal reading.... - [The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (Cormoran Strike #1)](https://bookwi.se/cuckoos-calling/): Summary: An ex-military police investigator turned PI is asked to investigate the suicide of a famous model. The Cuckoo's Calling has been on my radar since it... - [Carrots: A Shelby Nichols Adventure by Colleen Helme](https://bookwi.se/carrots-shelby-nichols-adventure-colleen-helme/): Summary: A stay at home mom get shot in a robbery and starts being able to read minds.  I have mostly stopped picking up free kindle books. Mostly because I... - [Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World? by Eugene Cho](https://bookwi.se/overrated/): Reposting this review from 2014 because the Kindle Edition is free. Eugene Cho challenges us to truly pursue justice, and to be willing to make the personal... - [Rain: A Natural and Cultural History by Cynthia Barnett](https://bookwi.se/rain-natural-cultural-history-cynthia-barnett/): Rain. It's a simple subject with somewhat of an easy explanation of what causes it. We don't think about rain unless we've had too much or not enough. Cynthia... - [Know the Creeds and Councils by Justin Holcolm](https://bookwi.se/know-the-creeds-and-councils/): Takeaway: While we are not saved by our beliefs, knowing why we believe what we believe is essential to right belief. One of the things that I have become more... - [The Disappeared by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Retrieval Artist #1)](https://bookwi.se/the-disappeared/): Summary: A scifi police procedural that is a set up for a longer series. In addition to being a stay at home Dad to two, I have a part time gig that involves... - [Strong and Weak: Embracing a Life of Love, Risk and True Flourishing by Andy Crouch](https://bookwi.se/strong-and-weak/): Summary: Flourishing requires both authority and vulnerability (or risk). I have read and appreciated both of Andy Crouch's recent books. Culture Making made... - [Adulthood Rites by Octavia Butler (Xenogenesis Trilogy #2)](https://bookwi.se/adulthood-rites-by-octavia-butler/): Summary: a human/alien construct explores both his alien and human background and finds both lacking.  Adulthood Rites is the second book in a trilogy. After... - [Discover the Mystery of Faith: How Worship Shapes Believing by Glenn Packiam](https://bookwi.se/discover-the-mystery-of-faith/): Summary: A brief look at why Evangelicals should start looking to older forms of liturgy. I love my church.  But I also have been exploring the liturgy of... - [The Folded Clock: A diary by Heidi Julavits](https://bookwi.se/the-folded-clock-a-diary-by-heidi-julavits/): I enjoy reading personal memoirs, essays and diaries of others, especially works on the caliber of Ann Patchett's "œThis is the Story of a Happy Marriage".... - [The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin](https://bookwi.se/jesuit-guide/): Takeaway: Understanding your own Christian background can help you better understand other Christians. I have barely posted this year. I have been both too... - [Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling](https://bookwi.se/harry-potter-prisoner-azkaban-jk-rowling/): Takeaway: A perfect book for reading blahs. I am a fan (as many are) of the Harry Potter series. I have all of the books in hardcover, two copies of the last... - [God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution by Thomas Kidd](https://bookwi.se/god-of-liberty/): Summary: The relationship between Christianity and the founding of the United States is a complicated matter. As I was finishing up In the Beginning Was the... - [The Fifth Wave (Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/46658-2/): Given the popularity of such film adaptations as The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner and Divergent series, it's not surprising that authors and filmmakers alike... - [In the Beginning Was the Word: The Bible in American Public Life, 1492-1783 by Mark Noll](https://bookwi.se/in-the-beginning/): Summary: As with everything, it's complicated. Noll is one of my favorite historians. He is well respected but probably not well known outside of those that... - [Eifelheim by Michael Flynn](https://bookwi.se/eifelheim/): Summary: A joint story between a 14th century German town that has first contact with aliens and modern academics that discover the first contact. I have... - [Flourishing: Why We Need Religion in a Globalized World by Miroslav Volf](https://bookwi.se/flourishing/): Summary: Globalization requires attention to religion. Miroslov Volf has been in the news lately because of Dr Hawkins at Wheaton College referenced his book... - [Tricked by Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles #4)](https://bookwi.se/tricked/): Tricked (Book 4 of The Iron Druid Chronicles) is a chance for the reader to catch his breath. Book 3 ended with an epic battle up in Asgard against the Norse... - [Fresh Air: The Holy Spirit for an Inspired Life by Jack Levison](https://bookwi.se/fresh-air-the-holy-spirit-for-an-inspired-life-by-jack-levison/): Summary: A readable (and devotional) look at the Holy Spirit. I picked it up Fresh Air: The Holy Spirit for an Inspired Life when it was originally on sale... - [For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards by Jen Hatmaker](https://bookwi.se/for-the-love-by-jen-hatmaker/): I've never read Jen Hatmaker before and still don't really know who she is compared to her legion of fans. I've long been familiar with her name and knew she... - [Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by Jame Runcie (Grantchester Mysteries #1)](https://bookwi.se/sidney-chambers-and-the-shadow-of-death-by-jame-runcie-granchester-mysteries-1/): Summary: The basis for the TV show Grantchester (PBS). Last year, around the time when Downton Abbey's fifth season came out, my wife and I watched the short... - [Hammered by Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles #3)](https://bookwi.se/hammered/): The mythical backdrop completely shifts in Hammered (the third book of the Iron Druid Chronicles). In order to secure the assistance of a powerful Hindi witch,... - [The Givenness of Things: Essays by Marilynne Robinson](https://bookwi.se/the-givenness-of-things-essays-by-marilynne-robinson/): Summary: Mostly thoughts on religious things. Marilynne Robinson is a fantastic novelist. Her most recent novel, Lila, is among my favorite novels ever and I... - [Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Robert Barron](https://bookwi.se/catholicism/): Summary: A useful introduction to the Catholic expression of Christianity. As I continue on my project of reading about Catholicism, I stumbled on a book that... - [The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George](https://bookwi.se/the-little-paris-bookshop-by-nina-george/): Jean Perdu has devoted his life to his floating bookshop, The Literary Apothecary. Perdu has the amazing ability to diagnose his customers' ailments and... - [Joy: Poet, Seeker, and the Woman Who Captivated C. S. Lewis by Abigail Santamaria](https://bookwi.se/joy-poet-seeker-and-the-woman-who-captivated-c-s-lewis-by-abigail-santamaria/): Takeaway: Real life is usually not like the movies. Joy Davidman is best known, not for her own work, but as the wife of CS Lewis. The story of their marriage... - [Monkess the Homunculus by Seth Hahne](https://bookwi.se/monkess/): Takeaway: Monkess the Homunculus has the wonder of childhood, in graphic novel form. I do not read a ton of children's book. My daughter is just starting to... - [Where to Find Free Kindle Books](https://bookwi.se/where-to-find-free-books/): When I deleted a lot of old Free and Sale Kindle Book posts, I accidentally deleted this one as well. I am reposting it because I think it is still helpful.... - [5000th Post](https://bookwi.se/quick-note/): This is the 5000th Bookwi.se post. I have decided to delete free and sale book posts that are more than 50 days old, so there are just under 1700 posts still... - [The New Testament: A Very Short Introduction by Luke Timothy Johnson](https://bookwi.se/the-new-testament-a-very-short-introduction-by-luke-timothy-johnson/): Summary: A great overview of the New Testament in less than 150 pages. I love the idea of the Very Short Introduction series. Short books, around 150 pages,... - [Hexed by Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles #2)](https://bookwi.se/hexed/): Atticus O'Sullivan survived his battle with the Celtic fairy god and a coven of witches, but the events in Hounded have set off a new round of magical threats... - [Favorite Books of the Year – Non-Fiction](https://bookwi.se/favorite-books-year-non-fiction/): Each year I round up the best books I have read that year. This year I am doing it in three posts. Earlier I posted about my favorite fiction books that I read... - [Favorite Books of the Year – Fiction](https://bookwi.se/favorite-books-year-fiction/): Traditionally I put together some sort of list of the best books I have read each year.  These are highly subjective and often have more to do with what... - [Gilead: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson (2nd Reading)](https://bookwi.se/gilead-a-novel-by-marilynne-robinson-2nd-reading/): Takeaway: Pastoral wisdom like this is rare. Lila (the third of the trilogy that starts with Gilead) came out just over a year ago. I read it immediately and... - [Hounded by Kevin Hearne (Iron Druid Chronicles #1)](https://bookwi.se/hounded/): Atticus O'Sullivan is the last of the Druids. After making an enemy of a very powerful Celtic fairy in an ancient battle, and has been in hiding for the last... - [A Prayer Journal by Flannery O’Connor](https://bookwi.se/a-prayer-journal-by-flannery-oconnor/): Summary: A slim volume of prayers by a young writer in training, seeking after God for her vocation. A Prayer Journal by Flannery O'Connor made a splash when... - [The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel by Neil Gaiman (2nd Reading)](https://bookwi.se/ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane-2/): Neil Gaiman has credibly been accused of sexual assault and abuse. Takeaway: The world of adults can be scary for children. I have read, and in most cases... - [The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction by Adam McHugh](https://bookwi.se/listening-life/): Takeaway: "Hearing is an act of the senses, but listening is an act of the will." I have been looking forward to this book for a while now. Adam McHugh's first... - [Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien](https://bookwi.se/rats-of-nimh/): Summary: A mother risks her own safety to protect her children. I was about 9 when the movie version, The Secret of NIMH came out. I remember seeing it in the... - [The Cairo Affair by Olen Steinhauer](https://bookwi.se/the-cairo-affair/): I am reposting 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99 (Today only). Summary: Information is money (and/or power). But it is the people... - [Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens](https://bookwi.se/christmas-carol/): Summary: We all know this story. At some point, Audible was giving away this edition of Christmas Carol with Tim Curry as the narrator. As a certified book... - [The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen (Her Royal Spyness #6)](https://bookwi.se/the-twelve-clues-of-christmas/): Reposting this 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. The audiobook is only $3.49 with the purchase of the Kindle Edition. Summary:... - [The Locust Effect: Why The End of Poverty Requires the End of Violence by Gary Haugen](https://bookwi.se/locust-effect/): Takeaway: "œThe temptation is to think that people that endure unimaginable pain and devastation are somehow different than me. Maybe they just do not feel... - [Debt: The First 5,000 Years by David Graeber](https://bookwi.se/debt-first-5000-years-david-graeber/): Summary: Anthropological look at the history of debt, currency and economics. I have read a fair amount of economics. I find it interesting, both because its... - [Mockingjay Part 2: The Hunger Games Comes to a Close](https://bookwi.se/mockingjay-part-2-hunger-games-comes-close/): In the beginning of a long-loved series, Katniss Everdeen had much simpler goals living in District 12. However, after the Games, she's become a completely... - [Sale Books I am Buying](https://bookwi.se/sale-books-buying/): Personally I have picked up way too many books over the past few days. Here are some of the books I have purchase or intend to purchase today. Magnus Chase and... - [Shaken Awake Book Release](https://bookwi.se/shaken-awake-book-release/): Last October, Bookwi.se Contributor Allen Madding released his new book Shaken Awake. The Kindle edition is free through Dec 2. I invited him to write a... - [Random Kindle Sales](https://bookwi.se/random-kindle-sales/): Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview and Cultural Formation by James KA Smith is $5.98 on kindle  The New Testament: A Very Short Introduction by Luke... - [Arts and Entertainments: A Novel by Christopher Beha](https://bookwi.se/arts-and-entertainments-a-novel-by-christopher-beha/): Takeaway: What we think we want may not be what we need. Christopher Beha is an editor at Harper's Weekly and co-editor of Ecco Anthology of Contemporary... - [A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community and Mission around the Table by Tim Chester](https://bookwi.se/meal-with-jesus/): Takeaway: Meals are an important part of being human, being Christian, being missional and being with Jesus. There is much to commend about A Meal with Jesus.... - [The Bible Made Impossible by Christian Smith](https://bookwi.se/bible-smith/): I am reposting this review because the kindle version is on sale for $1.99. Before the sale I had planned on re-reading this book and it is on my very long... - [First Draft Father by Ed Cyzewski](https://bookwi.se/first-draft-father-by-ed-cyzewski/): I appreciate Ed Cyzeski's writing. I have read three or four of his books now. This is a collection of blog posts and articles that were mostly written in the... - [The Court and the World: American Law and the New Global Realities by Stephen Breyer](https://bookwi.se/the-court-and-the-world/): Takeaway: The globalization of the world in economics, travel and relationships require the US courts to grapple with international law. I am fascinated with... - [The Tudors: A Very Short Introduction by John Guy](https://bookwi.se/tudors/): Takeaway: A strong monarchy does not prevent political complaints about taxes and the economy. As the saying goes, "so many books, so little time." Very Short... - [The Last Thing I Remember (Homelanders #1) by Andrew Klavan](https://bookwi.se/the-last-thing-i-remember/): Reposting my 2012 because the Kindle Edition Box set (complete four books nearly 1200 pages) is on sale for $3.99. Takeaway: Tight young adult thriller set in... - [Halloween Photo](https://bookwi.se/halloween-photo/): Out full extended family costume photo.     - [Out of Sorts: Making Peace With an Evolving Faith by Sarah Bessey](https://bookwi.se/out-of-sorts/): Takeaway: While they may be flawed, our faith communities are essential. Ever since I ran across Sarah Bessey's writing and especially when reading her first... - [Letters to a Young Calvinist by James KA Smith](https://bookwi.se/letters-to-a-young-calvinist/): Summary: A series of letters (modeled somewhat after Hitchen's Letters to a Young Contrarian and Weigel's Letters to a Young Catholic) It is part of... - [The Meal Jesus Gave Us: Understanding Holy Communion by NT Wright (Revised Version)](https://bookwi.se/the-meal-jesus-gave-us/): Summary: A highly readable, brief look at the central practice of Christian worship. NT Wright is not only an incredibly prolific writer, he also seems to be... - [Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell](https://bookwi.se/lafayette/): Summary: Sarah Vowell is back with her distinctive voice (real and literary) and snarky style of history telling. I have listened to all of Sarah Vowell's... - [John Quincy Adams by Harlow Giles Unger](https://bookwi.se/john-quincy-adam/): Takeaway: Bad decisions during one period of your life does not mean your whole life is doomed. John Quincy Adams may have been one of the most prepared... - [John Henry Newman: A Mind Alive by Roderick Strange](https://bookwi.se/john-henry-newman/): Takeaway: influential nearly a century and a half later. John Henry Newman is a figure that is frequently referenced, but I have not read anything by or about... - [All is Grace by Brennan Manning](https://bookwi.se/grace/): I am reposting this 2011 review because the Kindle Edition is free through Oct 20, 2015. Takeaway: In the end, all really is Grace. Spiritual biography and... - [A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter](https://bookwi.se/a-full-life/): Takeaway: Regardless of your politics, Carter is a fascinating man. Carter is a fascinating man. I have read a couple of his books, but this the first of his... - [The Pastor’s Kid: Finding Your Own Faith and Identity by Barnabas Piper](https://bookwi.se/the-pastors-kid/): I am reposting this 2014 review because the kindle edition $1.99 Summary: A pastor's kid talks to pastors and other pastor's kids about being a pastor's kid. I... - [Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds by Phillip Johnson](https://bookwi.se/defeating-darwinism-by-opening-minds-by-phillip-johnson/): Phillip Johnson wrote this in 1997 to equip students for the intellectual battle over evolution in philosophy and science. While it discusses a few scientific... - [The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister (The Ancient Practices Series)](https://bookwi.se/the-liturgical-year-by-joan-chittister-the-ancient-practices-series/): I am reposting this 2009 review because the Kindle Editionn is on sale for $1.99 I grew up as a low church baptist.  We didn't pay attention to the liturgical... - [The Last Policeman by Ben H Winters](https://bookwi.se/last-policeman/): Summary: There is only 6 months before the world ends, but Detective Palace still has crimes to solve. Mostly I picked up this book because I liked the... - [The Scorch Trials, a Step Away From the Book](https://bookwi.se/scorch-trials/): Unfortunately for Thomas and his fellow Gladers, the maze was only the beginning. With an impressive opening weekend in the box office, the second installment... - [The Children Act by Ian McEwan](https://bookwi.se/children-actd/): Summary: A family law judge wrestles with the ethical issues of her job and the personal issues of her life. I once primarily read science fiction because it... - [The High Flyer by Susan Howatch](https://bookwi.se/high-flyer/): Summary: A high flying lawyer, with no time for the spiritual life, is forced to confront the spiritual world. Carter Graham is a no nonsense lawyer that has a... - [Holy is the Day: Living in the Gift of the Present](https://bookwi.se/holy-is-the-day-2/): Summary: Another beautifully written book about finding God in the present. I love blogging. But every once in a while, I get tired of the pressure to keep... - [Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert on Sexual Identity and Union with Christ by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield](https://bookwi.se/openness-unhindered-further-thoughts-of-an-unlikely-convert-on-sexual-identity-and-union-with-christ-by-rosaria-champagne-butterfield/): This book is a lot of things. It's a mini autobiography of the author and her transformation from liberal feminist and queer theorist to evangelical Christian;... - [Waterfi Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite Review](https://bookwi.se/waterproof-kindle/): If you asked me what my favorite thing to do, on the list would be floating in the ocean, reading. Several years ago I found a floating waterproof case for my... - [Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are by Shauna Niequist](https://bookwi.se/savor-living-abundantly-where-you-are-by-shauna-niequist/): Reposting this review from earlier this year because but the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are is the first... - [Vanishing Grace: Whatever Happended to the Good News by Philip Yancey](https://bookwi.se/vanishing-grace-whatever-happended-good-news-philip-yancey/): Summary: The central message of the gospel is grace. If the world around us understands the central message of the church to be judgement, then we have messed... - [Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Soul’s Path to God by Gary Thomas](https://bookwi.se/sacred-pathways-thomas/): I am reposting this 2011 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99 for the month of October. The audiobook edition is $3.99 with the purchase of... - [Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints by James Martin](https://bookwi.se/becoming/): Summary: Brief exploration of seeking after who you were created to be. I originally read this just over a year ago. James Martin originally put this together... - [Take and Read: Spiritual Reading — An Annotated List by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/take-and-read/): Summary: Eugene Peterson's list of books that he has found helpful in developing his own spiritual life. Take and Read is a simple concept. Peterson said he... - [Unclean: Meditations on Purity, Hospitality, and Mortality by Richard Beck](https://bookwi.se/unclean/): Summary: Moving our psychological revulsion (based around food) to morality, ethics and people, fundamentally distorts our Christianity. I appreciate Richard... - [Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women](https://bookwi.se/jesus-feminist/): I am an unapologetic egalitarian in regard to women's roles in the church.  I am glad to call myself a feminist (at least in the classic sense of the word.)... - [A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion by Gary Burge](https://bookwi.se/a-week-in-the-life-of-a-roman-centurion-by-gary-burge/): This is a textbook on Roman/Jewish culture at the time of Christ disguised as a novella. It follows the story of Tullus, a newly captured slave purchased at... - [Simply Tuesday: Small Moment Living in a Fast Moving World by Emily Freeman](https://bookwi.se/simply-tuesday-small-moment-living-in-a-fast-moving-world-by-emily-freeman/): We live in a world touting the maxim "œbigger (or more) is better"; bigger homes, bigger bank accounts, more clothes, bigger status, bigger dreams, more... - [Letters From a Skeptic by Greg Boyd](https://bookwi.se/letters-from-a-skeptic-by-greg-boyd/): Reposting this 2013 review because the Kindle Edition is free In 1989 Greg Boyd was teaching Christian apologetics at Bethel University. He hadn't discussed... - [Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan](https://bookwi.se/crazy-dangerous/): Summary: A pastor's kid is thrust into something bigger than he could imagine. Andrew Klavan is a big deal in the thriller world.  He has had two books made... - [Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng](https://bookwi.se/everything-i-never-told-you-by-celeste-ng/): Summary: "œLydia is dead. But they don't know that yet." As the Lee family sits down for breakfast one morning in their small Ohio town, they learn their... - [Young Adult Dystopian Fiction Avoids the Big Issues](https://bookwi.se/young-adult-dystopian-fiction-avoids-the-big-issues/): The young adult dystopian genre has, in recent years, reached far beyond its eponymous target audience and found fertile ground in the imaginations of adults... - [The Structure of Scientific Revolutions](https://bookwi.se/kuhn/): Reposting this 2012 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.25. There is a sale of University of Chicago Press books including books... - [The Irony of American History by Reinhold Niebuhr](https://bookwi.se/the-irony-of-american-history-by-reinhold-niebuhr/): Takeaway: I wish more people read Reinhold Niebuhr.  He has much to say both about politics and international relations, and also about the limits of security... - [The Nature of the Beast: Chief Inspector Gamache #11 by Louise Penny](https://bookwi.se/the-nature-of-the-beast-chief-inspector-gamache-11-by-louise-penny/): Summary: A retired Inspector Gamache continues to need to respond to the deaths around him in Three Pines. Popular murder mystery series always have the... - [The Porcelain Thief: Searching the Middle Kingdom for Buried China by Huan Hsu](https://bookwi.se/the-porcelain-thief-searching-the-middle-kingdom-for-buried-china-by-huan-hsu/): Liu Feng Shu was a wealthy intellectual and landowner in Chinese village during the early 1900s. As Japanese invaders worked their way across China in 1938,... - [Lucky: How the Kingdom Comes to Unlikely People by Glenn Packiam](https://bookwi.se/lucky-packiam/): Takeaway: Scripture needs to be retold, so we can hear it again for the first time and be changed. There are lots of ways to study scripture.  But two ways... - [Economics of Good and Evil: The Quest for Economic Meaning from Gilgamesh to Wall Street](https://bookwi.se/economics/): I am reposting Seth Simmons 2013 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale (probably only today) for $1.99. There is also an earlier 2009 review by Adam... - [Wonder by RJ Palacio](https://bookwi.se/wonder-by-rj-palacio/): Reposting this 2013 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. (Wonder was one of my favorite books of 2013) Summary: Middle grade fiction about a... - [The Martian: A Novel by Andy Weir](https://bookwi.se/the-martian/): Summary: An astronaut believed to be dead, gets left on Mars. My reading this past week has shaken up my best of 2014 book lists. The Martian and Unappologetic... - [The Road to Character by David Brooks](https://bookwi.se/road-to-character/): Summary: We need to be pursuing eulogy virtues, not resume virtues. I like David Brooks. I don't always agree with his politics, but he is largely a reasonable... - [The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/contemplative-pastor/): Summary: How should pastors spend their time and focus. After re-reading Eugene Peterson's memoir The Pastor, I looked around for something else of Peterson's... - [Queen of Hearts (A Royal Spyness Mystery #8 by Rhys Bowen](https://bookwi.se/queen-of-hears/): Summary: Georgiana and her mother travel to the US and encounter theft and murder. Queen of Hearts came out just over a years ago. Many of the initial reviews... - [The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/the-pastor-a-memoir-by-eugene-peterson-2/): Summary: A pastor's thoughts on being a pastor (and I think an essential book for anyone that relates to pastors.) This past week I have started walking to the... - [After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/after-you-believe-why-christian-character-matters-by-nt-wright/): Summary: Christianity is not just about the salvation event, it is also (or maybe primarily) about the life we live after the salvation event. Maybe it is my... - [Peaceful Neighbor: Discovering the Countercultural Mister Rogers by Michael Long](https://bookwi.se/peaceful-neighbor-discovering-the-countercultural-mister-rogers-by-michael-long/): Summary: A look at how Mr Rogers communicated his countercultural Christianity through his life and tv show. I am a big fan of Mr Rogers. Part of what made me... - [The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield](https://bookwi.se/the-secret-thoughts-of-an-unlikely-convert-by-rosaria-champagne-butterfield/): Summary: An conversion story that stumbles with long digressions into particular styles of worship and other minor issues of Christian life. I first heard of... - [Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More “Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist” by Karen Swallow Prior](https://bookwi.se/fierce-convictions/): Takeaway: Not everyone important is known. I have written before of the importance of good Christian biography as part of spiritual growth. (And by good, I... - [The Silver Chair by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/the-silver-chair/): I am reposting my 2013 review of the Silver Chair because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. Summary: More allegorical than many of the Narnia books,... - [Is Dark Places Another Cinematic Hit for Gillian Flynn?](https://bookwi.se/is-dark-places-another-cinematic-hit-for-gillian-flynn/): Dark Places author Gillian Flynn is no stranger to exploring the shadowy side of human nature. After the success of Gone Girl in theaters, many people are... - [How to Read Literature Like a Professor](https://bookwi.se/how-to-read-literature-like-a-professor/): Summary: Every story has ideas or meaning that is more than the words on the page. If you know me, you know I love to read. But reading words on the page, and... - [Coffee With Jesus by David Wilkie](https://bookwi.se/coffee-jesus-david-wilkie/): I am reposting this 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99 this week. Summary: Comics with Jesus, usually over coffee Coffee With Jesus is... - [Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://bookwi.se/between-the-world-and-me-by-ta-nehisi-coates/): Summary: An impassioned letter from an African American father to his 15 year old son. Between the World and Me deserves all of its praise. It will be on... - [The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield](https://bookwi.se/unlikely-convert/): I am reposting this 2013 review because christianaudio.com is giving away this book as an MP3 (or M4B) audiobook for the month of August 2015. Rosaria... - [The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity by Philip Jenkins](https://bookwi.se/the-next-christendom-the-coming-of-global-christianity-by-philip-jenkins/): Summary: A data heavy look at the state of Christianity around the world. Earlier this year I read Philip Jenkins' Lost History of Christianity. Jenkins was... - [Absolute Truths by Susan Howatch](https://bookwi.se/absolute-truths-by-susan-howatch/): Summary: Spiritual leaders are human, full of sin as all of us, but willing to have their sin redeemed by God for greater glory. Over the last couple months I... - [Paper Towns by John Green](https://bookwi.se/paper-towns/): I am reposting this review because the Kindle Edition sale for $0.99 and the movie released today. Summary: A troubled girl goes missing.  And no one seems to... - [Go Set a Watchman: A Novel by Harper Lee](https://bookwi.se/go-set-a-watchman-a-novel-by-harper-lee/): As with millions of readers, I've long loved To Kill a Mockingbird and waited with great excitement for the release of Go Set a Watchman. As the release date... - [Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach](https://bookwi.se/gulp/): I am reposting this 2013 review because Audible.com is having a sale on all of Mary Roach's books. Each of the books is on sale for $4.95.  Bookwi.se has also... - [The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman](https://bookwi.se/the-graveyard-book/): Neil Gaiman has credibly been accused of sexual assault and abuse. Takeaway: All of life is about growing up. I am a big fan of Neil Gaiman.  I think he is... - [The Adventures of the Brothers Brave and Noble by Cynthia Hampton](https://bookwi.se/the-adventures-of-the-brothers-brave-and-noble-by-cynthia-hampton/): What if our childhood imaginary friends are real? Noble Hewlett encounters this very situation when he finds himself magically transported from his home to a... - [Wisdom Chaser: Finding My Father at 14,000 Feet by Nathan Foster](https://bookwi.se/wisdom-chaser/): I am reposting this 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99 until July 6th. Summary: A son seeks and finds more than just his father... - [The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of Our Calling by John Stott](https://bookwi.se/radical-disciple-stott/):   Takeaway: Discipleship is about following Christ in non-conformity.  Hearing from an elder who has lived the life is a great encouragement to continue... - [Dust by Hugh Howey](https://bookwi.se/dust/): Reposting this 2014 review because this book, and the two earlier collections that made up the trilogy are all on sale for $2.99 each on kindle (Wool Omnibus... - [The Allure of Gentleness: Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus by Dallas Willard](https://bookwi.se/the-allure-of-gentleness-defending-the-faith-in-the-manner-of-jesus-by-dallas-willard/): Summary: The method of apologetics is intrinsically linked to the work of apologetics. I like Dallas Willard. He has been very helpful, if not always directly,... - [Looking for Alaska by John Green](https://bookwi.se/looking-for-alaska-by-john-green/): I am reposting my 2012 review because the audiobook is today's Audible Deal of the day and on sale (no membership required) for $2.95 today only. Summary: John... - [Ender’s World: Fresh Perspectives on the SF Classic Ender’s Game](https://bookwi.se/enders-world-fresh-perspectives-on-the-sf-classic-enders-game/): Summary: A series of diverse essays about Ender's Game, from leadership and military applications to how it has impacted children's literature and a lot in... - [The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson Book 1)](https://bookwi.se/lightning-thief/): Takeaway: Fun young adult fantasy novel. There are some serious themes, but they are written in a way that is appropriate for 11 and up. I have been reading a... - [A New Kindle Paperwhite](https://bookwi.se/a-new-kindle-paperwhite/): Update: Ken Edgerly of Kindle Chronicles has a video, the only one I have seen, comparing the 2nd generation Paperwhite, 3rd Generation Paperwhite and the... - [How to Be Rich: It’s Not What You Have. It’s What You Do With What You Have. by Andy Stanley](https://bookwi.se/be-rich/): I am reposting this review from early 2014 because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $3.99 on Jan 3 and 4. The audiobook is discounted to $2.99 with... - [Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins](https://bookwi.se/girl-on-the-train-by-paula-hawkins/): Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins is an exciting thriller about what you might notice when you are looking out the train window on your daily work commute.... - [Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evans](https://bookwi.se/searching-for-sunday-by-rachel-held-evans/): Summary: Roughly based on the seven sacraments of the Catholic church, Rachel Held Evans explores her history of leaving the church, helping to plant a church... - [A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans](https://bookwi.se/a-year-of-biblical-womanhood-by-rachel-held-evans/): I am reposting this 2012 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale as part of the Kindle Big Deal sale through June 28th for $2.99. (Note: I just finished... - [Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions and Hurtful Acts](https://bookwi.se/mistakes-were-made-but-not-by-me-why-we-justify-foolish-beliefs-bad-decisions-and-hurtful-acts/): I am reposting this 2010 review because the audiobook is the Audible deal of the Day and on sale for $3.95 Takeaway: The human brains ability to justify and... - [A Dirty Job: A Novel by Christopher Moore](https://bookwi.se/dirty-job/): Reposting this 2011 review because the Kindle Edition is the Amazon Deal of the Day and on sale for $1.99 today only. Takeaway: Funny, but very irreverent look... - [Life of Pi by Yann Martel](https://bookwi.se/life-of-pi-by-yann-martel/): Life of Pi is a fiction novel that was written by Yann Martel. One of Martel's most famous works, Life of Pi, which was published in 2001, is about an Indian... - [Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture](https://bookwi.se/introverts-in-the-church-finding-our-place-in-an-extroverted-culture/): I am reposting a lightly edited version of my 2010 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99. This is the first time the book has been on sale... - [A Vacation](https://bookwi.se/a-vacation/):   My son turned two months yesterday.  And my daughter will be 19 months at the end of next week.  My wife's last (paid) day as a teacher for this... - [From the Library to the Megaplex, Five More Books Come to Life Onscreen](https://bookwi.se/from-the-library-to-the-megaplex-five-more-books-come-to-life-onscreen/): Filmmakers have long turned to novels as a consistent source of inspiration. Over the past few decades, the phenomenon has taken on a life of it's own with a... - [Seven Men: And the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas](https://bookwi.se/seven-men/): Reposting this 2014 review because the Kindle Edition of Seven Men is on sale for $1.99. Summary: Short Biographies of seven men that Metaxas thinks... - [Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy With God by Tim Keller](https://bookwi.se/prayer-tim-keller/): Summary: It is much easier reading about prayer than actually praying. I have read a ton of books on prayer. About a year ago, some book that I don't remember... - [So Beautiful: Divine Design for Life and the Church by Leonard Sweet](https://bookwi.se/so-beautiful-divine-design-for-life-and-the-church-by-leonard-sweet/): Reposting this a lightly edited version of this 2009 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99. Takeaway: Christianity is about a life lived, more... - [Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography](https://bookwi.se/neil-patrick-harris-choose-your-own-autobiography/): Summary: Neil Patrick Harris plays with the old choose your own adventure format while telling his own story. I like Neil Patrick Harris. He seems like a... - [The Next Story by Tim Challies (Summary Review)](https://bookwi.se/next-story-challies-summary/): I am reposting my 2011 review of The Next Story. There is now an expanded and revised version of the book, so it may have addressed some of my criticisms, but... - [The Children Return (Bruno Chief of Police #7) by Martin Walker](https://bookwi.se/the-children-return/): Summary: The Children of War, new and old, return to St Denis. I am an unabashed fan of the Bruno Chief of Police series. This is the seventh book in the... - [Run With the Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/run-horses-quest-life-best-eugene-peterson/): Reposting my 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale this week. Summary: An Exploration of the life of Jeremiah as a model for excellence in the... - [Why I am a Christian by John Stott](https://bookwi.se/why-i-am-a-christian-by-john-stott/): I am reposting this 2010 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99 Takeaway: Your own story of faith is often the best apologetic. In general I am... - [Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem](https://bookwi.se/crazy-busy/): Takeaway: God wants us to be focused on what God wants us to do, not everything else. Crazy Busy is a book that I enjoyed and got a lot more out of than I... - [The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame](https://bookwi.se/wind-willows-kenneth-grahame/): Reposting this 2014 review because it is the Audible Book of the Day and on sale for $2.95 Summary: A Classic children's book about a water rat, a mole, a toad... - [Werewolf Cop: A Novel by Andrew Klavan](https://bookwi.se/werewolf-cop/): Summary: It is actually about a cop that is turned into a werewolf. And it isn't bad. Anyone that reads a lot has to have sources for ideas about what to read.... - [A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O’Connor](https://bookwi.se/a-good-man-is-hard-to-find/): Summary: collection of ten short stories that established O'Connor as a Southern Gothic master. I am not a huge fan of the short story.  In general I like... - [Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7) by Jim Butcher](https://bookwi.se/dead-beat-the-dresden-files-book-7-by-jim-butcher/): Summary: A group of necromancers come to Chicago looking to make themselves into Gods. Dresden Files is a summer reading series for me. One of those books that... - [For All God’s Worth: True Worship and the Calling of the Church by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/gods-worth/): Summary: Who we worship, and why we worship is central to the role of the church. Last month, NT Wright's For All God's Worth was on sale. For All God's Worth... - [Most Read Reviews in April](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-in-april/): The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Gamache #8) by Louise Penny and How the Light Gets In (Chief Inspector Gamache #9) Books 8 and 9 were both in the most... - [Old Man’s War by John Scalzi](https://bookwi.se/old-mans-war/):   Summary: Old men (and women) make better warriors because they have something to live for, and fight for. Old Man's War makes five John Scalzi books in... - [How the Light Gets In (Chief Inspector Gamache #9) by Louise Penny](https://bookwi.se/gamache-9/): Summary: The threat running through most of this series comes to a head. The Inspector Gamache series is a traditional murder mystery series. Every book, Chief... - [Someone Could Get Hurt: A Memoir of Twenty-First-Century Parenthood by Drew Magary](https://bookwi.se/someone-could-get-hurt/): Summary: Funny, heartfelt memoir of parenting by a normal guy that loves his kids. The world may not need another memoir by a Dad about being a Dad, but if the... - [One More Thing By B. J. Novak](https://bookwi.se/one-more-thing/): One More Thing is a collection of stories and musings by comedian, actor, producer and now writer, B.J. Novak. B.J. Novak first gained notoriety for his work... - [A Fifty-Year Silence: Love, War, and a Ruined House in France by Miranda Richmond Mouillot](https://bookwi.se/fifty-year-silence/): Home is the center of Miranda Richmond Mouillot's book A Fifty-Year Silence; a memoir about the author's quest to learn what happened to her grandparents... - [Spiritual Friendship: Finding Love in the Church as a Celibate Gay Christian by Wesley Hill](https://bookwi.se/spiritual-friendship/): Summary: We may be able to live without sex, but we cannot live without friendship. In Wesley Hill's earlier book Washed and Waiting, Hill makes a case for the... - [Station Eleven: A Novel by Emily St John Mandel](https://bookwi.se/station-eleven/): Summary: A virus kills nearly everyone, society collapses, but some survive. Station Eleven has had a lot of hype. It has been short listed for a ton of... - [Amazon Fire HD 6 Initial Review](https://bookwi.se/amazon-fire-hd-6-initial-review/): The HD 7 (internally the same machine) is on sale today only for $79 for the 8 GB or $99 for the 16 GB (configure the size in the checkout page). That is a... - [The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2-3 and the Human Origins Debate by John Walton](https://bookwi.se/lost-world-of-adam-and-eve/): Summary: An extension of Walton's earlier work to Genesis 2 and 3. I wish I could say everything that is important is also interesting. But I cannot. There are... - [Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Book and Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/insurgent-2/): Insurgent is the second novel in the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth. The second novel shows what life is like for Tris and the other survivors now that... - [9000 New Audiobooks at Scribd](https://bookwi.se/9000-new-audiobooks-at-scribd/): Scribd just added about 30% more to their audiobook library. As I glanced through their library, I think roughly half of the books that Bookwi.se has reviewed... - [Spiritual Direction and Meditation by Thomas Merton](https://bookwi.se/spiritual-direction-meditiation/): Summary: Two pamphlet length articles joined together for a short book. Spiritual Direction has been an interest of mine for the past several years. With the... - [The Beautiful Mystery (Chief Inspector Gamache #8) by Louise Penny](https://bookwi.se/beautiful-mystery/): Summary: A previously hidden order of monks calls on Gamache when their Prior is murdered. Louise Penny has frequently hinted at religious issues in the... - [Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by Randoph Richards and Brandon O’Brien](https://bookwi.se/misreading-scripture-with-western-eyes-removing-cultural-blinders-to-better-understand-the-bible-by-randoph-richards-and-brandon-obrien/): Summary: Culture and assumptions matter. And when reading scripture, something written to a different culture, time and place, those considerations are... - [A Trick of the Light (Chief Inspector Gamache #7) by Louis Penny](https://bookwi.se/a-trick-of-the-light-chief-inspector-gamache-7-by-louis-penny/): Summary: Clara is finally getting her art show, but someone is murdered at the party. Series fiction is a tricky thing. Veer too far from what made the stories... - [Books By or About Dietrich Bonhoeffer on the 70th Anniversary of his Death](https://bookwi.se/books-by-or-about-dietrich-bonhoeffer/): Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed on April 9, 1945.  In honor of that date I wanted to post about the best books I have read on Bonhoeffer.  I waited later in... - [Ms Marvel Vol 1: No Normal](https://bookwi.se/ms-marvel-vol-1-no-normal/): Summary: The new superhero Ms Marvel is a 16 year old Muslim girl from Jersey City. Being a new parent not only take time, it takes brain cells. Some of the... - [Ruby by Cynthia Bond](https://bookwi.se/ruby/): I have no idea how to review Ruby by Cynthia Bond. Ephram Jennings is the adult son of a deceased backwoods preacher and has been in love with Ruby for as long... - [Bury Your Dead (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #6) by Louise Penny](https://bookwi.se/bury-your-dead/): Summary: Gamache and Beauvoir are both recovering after serious emotional and physical injury after a mission gone wrong. The first five book of this series I... - [Family update](https://bookwi.se/family-update/): I hope to get back to a semi normal posting schedule this week. But I thought I would post some pictures as part of that... - [Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did & Why He Matters](https://bookwi.se/simply-jesus/): Takeaway: Jesus is important. I had decided to not read Simply Jesus until more reviews were out.  I read Wright's The Challenge of Jesus earlier this year.... - [Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/letters-malcolm-chiefly-prayer-cs-lewis/): I am reposting this 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99 Takeaway: The gift of friends that allow us to explore and try out and explore... - [Jumping Through Fires by David Nasser](https://bookwi.se/jumping-through-fires-by-david-nasser/): Takeaway: This is a great example of Christian autobiography.  It tells a good story, inspires me to greater devotion, and makes me want more. David Nasser... - [What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe](https://bookwi.se/what-if/): Reposting this 2014 review because What if is today's Audible Deal of the day (March 30) and on sale for $2.95 for the Audible.com Audiobook. This is one that... - [Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by John Safran Foer](https://bookwi.se/extremely-loud-and-incredibly-close/): Reposting this 2012 review because the Kindle Edition is on the the Kindle Deals of the day and on sale for $2.99 today only. Extremely Loud and... - [Upside: Surprising Good News About The State of Our World by Bradley Wright](https://bookwi.se/upside/): Takeaway: In most ways, the world is better now than it ever has been. It might be surprising to many of us, especially in the midst of our current economy,... - [Know the Heretics by Justin Holcomb](https://bookwi.se/heretics/): Takeaway: Knowing theology is more than just knowing the positive (creeds and beliefs) it is also understanding the negative (the Heresies). We are all... - [Meet William Thomas Shields](https://bookwi.se/meet-william-thomas-shields/): My son was born this morning at 2:17 AM.  He is 6lbs, 12ozs and 19in long. He and my wife are doing well. Bookwi.se posting schedule will probably be... - [The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good?](https://bookwi.se/anxious-christian/): Takeaway: Anxiety is real emotion. Allow God to use it to help you and do not allow it to control you. I have followed Rhett Smith on twitter for several years... - [How the West Won: The Neglected Story of the Triumph of Modernity by Rodney Stark](https://bookwi.se/how-the-west-won-the-neglected-story-of-the-triumph-of-modernity-by-rodney-stark/): Takeaway: Sometimes in the attempt to tell a fuller story, part of the story gets lost. But the correction usually has the same problem. I really appreciate... - [Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites…and Other Lies You’ve Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media by Bradley R.E. Wright](https://bookwi.se/christians-are-hate-filled-hypocrites/): Takeaway: Statistics are important. And if you are a Christian that believes in truth, you need to be even more careful with numbers. I like numbers. My day... - [Glamorous Powers by Susan Howatch](https://bookwi.se/glamorous-powers-2/): Summary: An Abbot feels he receives a call from God to leave his order and return to the world. I am working my way back through Susan Howatch's Church of... - [America’s Pastor: Billy Graham and the Shaping of a Nation by Grant Wacker](https://bookwi.se/americas-pastor/): Summary: An evaluation of Billy Graham's place in history. I have been reluctant to read biographies of living people recently. Sometimes it just feels like we... - [Practice Resurrection: A Conversation on Growing Up in Christ by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/practice-resurrection/): Summary: The church is where we we can learn to grow up as Christ intends. A bit over 4 years ago I first read Practice Resurrection. It affected me then and... - [Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio](https://bookwi.se/argo-how-the-cia-and-hollywood-pulled-off-the-most-audacious-rescue-in-history-by-antonio-mendez-and-matt-baglio/): Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood pulled off the most audacious rescue in History by Tony Mendez is his first-hand account of the rescue of six Americans during... - [Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer by Rowan Williams](https://bookwi.se/being-christian/): Summary: Quick look at four universal Christian practices.  Many people have a lot of respect for Rowan Williams. He was the Archbishop of Canterbury for ten... - [It Was Me All Along: A Memoir by Andie Mitchell](https://bookwi.se/it-was-me-all-along/): The tough part about reviewing a memoir is not to critique the author's story but to review how they told it. A memoir is an account from a real person so a... - [Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis by Lauren F. Winner](https://bookwi.se/still/): Takeaway:  Loneliness is often a spiritual disease, which is a profound insight for a country that has more people living by themselves than ever before. I... - [Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters by Mallory Ortberg](https://bookwi.se/texts-from-jane-eyre/): Mallory Ortberg must read books like I do. I remember reading the Sweet Valley High series as a pre-teen and thinking "œJessica Wakefield is totally an evil... - [Glittering Images (Church of England Series #1) by Susan Howatch (Second Reading)](https://bookwi.se/glittering-images-2/): Takeaway: One of the best examples of how fiction is important to give form to important ideas. Almost exactly two years ago, while on vacation I first read... - [The God Of The Mundane: reflections on ordinary life for ordinary people by Matt Redmond](https://bookwi.se/the-god-of-the-mundane/): Summary: God is God of all of us, not just the extraordinary that get the world's attention. I think I am in a season where I want to re-read books that have... - [5 Most Read Reviews in Feb 2015](https://bookwi.se/5-most-read-reviews-in-feb-2015/): The most read review of the month was not of a book but of the Scribd ebook/audiobook subscription service. I am a fan of the service, although it does not... - [Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor](https://bookwi.se/learning-to-walk-in-the-dark/): Summary: We need to be able to see God in the Dark as well as the light. Barbara Brown Taylor is a beloved memoir writer. I know a number of people that she... - [Inferno by Dan Brown](https://bookwi.se/inferno-by-dan-brown/): Inferno is the fourth book in the Robert Langdon series by Dan Brown. The first two books in the series were made into successful movies starring Tom Hanks. In... - [Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy by Donald Miller](https://bookwi.se/scary-close/): Donald Miller has always been unlike any Christian author I have read before. He rocked my world in Blue Like Jazz.  He inspired me to get off my rear end and... - [Disquiet Time: Rants and Reflections on the Good Book by the Skeptical, the Faithful, and a Few Scoundrels](https://bookwi.se/disquiet-time/): Summary: 45 Reflections on how the bible pushes us toward disquiet. I am not a devotional guy. I rarely read devotionals and I even more rarely find them... - [Art of Work by Jeff Goins](https://bookwi.se/art-work-jeff-goins/): Bookwi.se Note: Officially Art of Work will not be released until March, but if you go here, the author will send you a free paperback copy of the book if you... - [Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey](https://bookwi.se/elizabeth-is-missing-by-emma-healey/): Elizabeth Is Missing is Emma Healey's first novel about an older woman suffering from dementia. The story is from Maud's point of view and gives the audience... - [The Brutal Telling: Chief Inspector Gamache #5 by Louise Penny](https://bookwi.se/brutal-telling/): Summary: How do you solve the murder of an unknown man? Chief Inspector Gamache is again back in Three Pines. That small little village that he loves, filled... - [He Wanted the Moon: The Madness and Medical Genius of Dr. Perry Baird, and His Daughter’s Quest to Know Him by Mimi Baird with Eve Claxton](https://bookwi.se/he-wanted-the-moon/): Mimi Baird embarks on a journey to learn why her father, Dr. Perry Baird quite literally disappeared from his daughter's life in the mid-1940s. Dr. Baird was,... - [Stardust by Neil Gaiman](https://bookwi.se/stardust-gaiman/): Neil Gaiman has credibly been accused of sexual assault and abuse. Takeaway: Fairytales are not just for children. Stardust is intentionally a fairytale... - [Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life by Ed Cyzewski](https://bookwi.se/coffeehouse-theology/): Summary: If you know you want to explore more about theology and the bible but are not sure where to start, this is a good place. This is the third of Ed... - [A Rule Against Murder: A Chief Inspector Gamache #4 by Louise Penny](https://bookwi.se/rule-against-murder/): Summary: Inspector Gamache and his wife go away to their favorite vacation spot for their 35th anniversary, murder follows them. This is my fourth Inspector... - [Scribd Adds 10,000 Comics and Graphic Novels](https://bookwi.se/scribd-adds-10000-comics-graphic-novels/): Today Scribd announced that in addition to their 30,000 Audiobooks and over 900,000 ebooks, they are adding 10,000 comic books and graphic novels to their... - [Firefight (Reckoners #2) by Brandon Sanderson](https://bookwi.se/firefight/): Sanderson continues to impress with book two in The Reckoners series. He shifts location (a flooded Manhattan, where everyone lives on rooftops), brings in... - [You Don’t Understand the Bible Because You Are Christian by Richard Gist](https://bookwi.se/you-dont-understand/): Summary: We as modern Christians miss a number of nuances of scripture because we do not understand ancient Hebrew culture. The title of this book is... - [This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper](https://bookwi.se/this-is-where-i-leave-you/): This is Where I Leave You is a novel by Jonathan Tropper mainly about how life is always a bit more complicated than we imagine it will be. This book is mainly... - [The Cruelest Month: A Chief Inspector Gamache #3 by Louise Penny](https://bookwi.se/cruelest-month/): Summary: When a group from Three Pines decides to have a séance to purge the evil spirits of the Hadley house, one of the participants appears to die of... - [When the Church Was Young: Voices of the Early Fathers by Marcellino D’Abrosio](https://bookwi.se/when-the-church-was-young/): Summary: A history and guide to early church theologians, pastors and writers. I am sorry if you are not interested in Christian History, I think I am going to... - [Provence, 1970: M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, James Beard, and the Reinvention of American Taste by Luke Barr](https://bookwi.se/provence-1970/): The 1950s were a dark time for the American cook, although she may not have realized it at the time. World War II introduced new food technologies such as... - [The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker](https://bookwi.se/day-angels-fell-shawn-smucker/): When 12-year-old Samuel Chambers mother dies, he struggles with his thoughts and beliefs regarding death. He swears that he will do anything to bring his... - [Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande](https://bookwi.se/being-mortal/): Summary: Our current system of caring for the elderly and sick could be better. Mortality is something that no one really likes to consider. However, Atul... - [A Fatal Grace: Chief Inspector Gamache #2 by Louise Penny](https://bookwi.se/a-fatal-grace/): Summary: What comes around...? When a murder mystery series is based around a small town there has to be some questions about how/why murders will... - [How to Use an Runaway Truck Ramp by Shawn Smucker and Maile Smucker](https://bookwi.se/use-runaway-truck-ramp-shawn-smucker-maile-smucker/): Version 1.0.0 After years of talking about taking a trip across the United States, Shawn and Maile Smucker step out on the adventure of a lifetime. They move... - [The Honorable Schoolboy: A George Smiley Novel by John Le Carré](https://bookwi.se/the-honorable-schoolboy/): Summary: George Smiley is not in charge of the circus. After ferreting out a mole, Smiley can not be sure he can trust anyone. John le Carré is an author I... - [Wild by Cheryl Strayed](https://bookwi.se/wild-cheryl-strayed/): Wild: from Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail is a memoir written by Cheryl Strayed that recounts her 1,100 mile hike and explains how her life had... - [Looking Back on Arthur C. Clarke’s Predictions](https://bookwi.se/looking-back-on-arthur-c-clarkes-predictions/): Looking Back on Arthur C. Clarke's Predictions Born almost 100 years ago, Arthur C. Clarke showed an interest in space travel and futuristic ideas at a very... - [Lila by Marilynne Robinson (Second Reading)](https://bookwi.se/lila-second-reading/): Takeaway: Love, in essence, is the greatest expression of Grace. It is not often that I re-read a book so quickly after a first reading, but Lila was the best... - [The Ancient Path: Old Lessons from the Church Fathers for a New Life Today by John Michael Talbot with Mike Aquilina](https://bookwi.se/ancient-path-old-lessons-church-fathers-new-life-today-john-michael-talbot-mike-aquilina/): Summary: John Michael Talbot's memoir-ish look at how the Early Church Fathers changed his faith. I grew up Evangelical, I went to an Evangelical College and... - [Letter from a Birmingham Jail](https://bookwi.se/letter-from-a-birmingham-jail/): The first time I remember reading Letter from a Birmingham Jail was in Divinity School pastoral ministry class. And while I have read portions of it since, I... - [Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel by Louise Penny](https://bookwi.se/still-life/): Summary: A town too small to show up on most maps has a woman shot dead by an arrow. After talking about my love of the Bruno Chief of Polic series, Sheila... - [The God of the Mundane: Reflections on Ordinary Life by Matthew Redmond](https://bookwi.se/god-of-the-mundane/): Reposting my 2013 review because God of the Mundane is free at NoiseTrade in mobi (kindle format), PDF or epub. Takeaway: God is the God of our every day... - [The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver](https://bookwi.se/poisonwood-bible/): I am reposting this 2012 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99. Summary: A 1960s Southern Baptist family moves to the Congo to be... - [Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling](https://bookwi.se/is-everyone-hanging-out-without-me/): Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) is a collection of essays by the comedic television actor, writer, director and producer, Mindy... - [What Your Body Knows About God: How We Are Designed to Connect, Serve and Thrive by Rob Moll](https://bookwi.se/body-knows-god-designed-connect-serve-thrive-rob-moll/): Summary: Science can help us better understand how we are created to know God. Everyone is price conscious, at least a little bit. I knew that Christianity... - [The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation by Jonathan Hennessey and Aaron McConnell](https://bookwi.se/the-gettysburg-address/): Summary: Sophisticated history and political science in graphic novel form. I like the idea of being someone that reads graphic novels. And I have enjoyed most... - [Bonita Avenue: A Novel by Peter Buwalda](https://bookwi.se/bonita-avenue-novel-peter-buwalda/): Bonita Avenue is the debut novel from Dutch journalist, Peter Buwalda and tells the story of renowned math professor and former judo champion, Siem Sigerius.... - [Areas of Improvement for Scribd](https://bookwi.se/areas-improvement-scribd/): I have been using Scribd for about 8 weeks now. I am very happy with the service as a whole and really do think it is something worth exploring for ebooks and... - [The Hardest Peace: Expecting Grace in the Midst of Life’s Hard by Kara Tippetts](https://bookwi.se/the-hardest-peace/): Bookwi.se Note: The Kindle edition is currently on sale for $2.99. Author, blogger, wife and mother Kara Tippets has written "œThe Hardest Peace: Expecting... - [Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life: From the Cross, for the World by Stephen Nichols](https://bookwi.se/bonhoeffer-nichols/): Reposting this review because the publisher has this as well as three others from the series on sale this week for $1.99. The two other books from the same... - [Simply Good News: Why the Gospel Is News and What Makes It Good by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/simply-good-news/): Summary: "The one true God has now taken charge of the world, in and through Jesus and his death and resurrection." NT Wright is an author that many are... - [Love Is Stronger Than Death by Peter Kreeft](https://bookwi.se/love-is-stronger-than-death/): ""¦life is either totally meaningful or totally meaningless, depending on what death is. Therefore we had better try to find out what death it." So begins... - [Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Meditations on Psalms edited by Edwin Robertson](https://bookwi.se/dietrich-bonhoeffers-meditations-psalms-edited-edwin-robertson/): Summary: A collection of sermons, letters, devotional writing, etc on the psalms with helpful biographical introductions. When I wrote the review of Martin... - [Stuff You Should Know About Stuff by Tripp and Tyler](https://bookwi.se/stuff-know-stuff-tripp-tyler/): Summary: A bunch of random thoughts about various things.  I love Tripp and Tyler's videos, especially the Christian Tingle and Conference Call in Real Life.... - [The Good News About Marriage: Debunking Discouraging Myths about Marriage and Divorce by Shaunti Feldhahn](https://bookwi.se/good-news/): Summary: Despite what you might have heard, marriage is actually doing pretty well these days. One of the reasons I like to read good social science is that... - [Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1) by Jim Butcher](https://bookwi.se/storm-front-the-dresden-files-book-1-by-jim-butcher/): Reposting this 2010 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. Cover of Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1) Takeaway: A fun modern fantasy... - [The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot](https://bookwi.se/henrietta-lacks/): Reposting this 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99 Summary: An excellent human interest, medical history, social commentary, practical... - [2014 Bookwi.se Year in Review](https://bookwi.se/2014-bookwi-se-year-review/): Last night I read my post on my 2014 plans for Bookwi.se. I am not sure I accomplished any of them except for posting less. I posted a full 1/3 less posts in... - [2015 Reading Goals](https://bookwi.se/2015-reading-goals/): Several years ago, I started doing pretty specific reading goals. Last year I moved away from it because it felt a bit constraining and my life was changing.... - [Bookwi.se Favorite Books 2014 (Non-Fiction)](https://bookwi.se/bookwi-se-favorite-books-2014-non-fiction/): It always feels much harder to pick my favorite non-fiction books. I feel like I read a lot more non-fiction than fiction, but this year it was 73 fiction and... - [Bookwi.se Favorite Books of 2014 – Fiction](https://bookwi.se/bookwi-se-favorite-books-2014-fiction/): Favorite books of the year lists are the ultimate in subjectivity. Yes, there is a thing that is called a good book. But I tend to think that the book that... - [Emily Flury’s 2014 Best of Books and their Movies](https://bookwi.se/emily-flurys-2014-best-books-movies/): The following is my list of the books and their movies that I enjoyed reading and watching the most this year. In looking back over my reviews for these books,... - [The Zimzum of Love: A New Way of Understanding Marriage by Rob and Kristen Bell](https://bookwi.se/zimzum-love-new-way-understanding-marriage-rob-kristen-bell/): Summary: A decent (quick) book on the Christian understanding of marriage without a lot of Christian language. I generally don't like reviewing books that have... - [Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Letters and Papers from Prison”: A Biography by Martin Marty](https://bookwi.se/dietrich-bonhoeffers-letters-papers-prison-biography-martin-marty/): Summary: The history of how and why this Bonhoeffer's Letters and Papers from Prison spread so widely and became so influential. At this point I have read far... - [So Now I Have a Kindle, What Do I Do With It? How to Get Started](https://bookwi.se/getting-started/): So you received a new Kindle for Christmas. Now what do you do.  Below the jump you can find out about borrowing books, importing books, audiobooks, tracking... - [To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Movie and Audiobook Review)](https://bookwi.se/kill-mockingbird-harper-lee-movie-audiobook-review/): To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic and well-beloved fiction novel by Harper Lee.  The novel is from the perspective of a young girl, Scout, growing up in a... - [How to Gift Kindle Ebooks](https://bookwi.se/gift-kindle-ebooks/): Because of all the sales, I wanted to repost about how to give a kindle book as a gift. First you go to the kindle edition of the book. Then look below the... - [Unapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity Can Still Make Surprising Emotional Sense by Francis Spufford](https://bookwi.se/unapologetic/): Summary: Maybe, at least for some, the right apologetic is not about logic, but emotion and experience. It would be hard to over emphasize how many people I... - [Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II by George Weigel](https://bookwi.se/witness-to-hope/): Takeaway: Regardless of whether you are Protestant or Catholic, John Paul II was important. Last year, I picked up Witness to Hope for Kindle when it was on... - [Christianity Today’s Best Books of 2014 List](https://bookwi.se/christianity-todays-best-books-2014-list/): Christianity Today released their Best Books of 2014 list. Like normal they have several categories and with a couple of ties, there are 23 books on the list.... - [Soul Keeping: Caring For the Most Important Part of You by John Ortberg](https://bookwi.se/soul-keeping/): Summary: It is not a violation of faith in Christ's work, to pay attention to our own soul. Lately I have been increasingly frustrated with Christian Living... - [More Best of 2014 Book Lists](https://bookwi.se/best-2014-book-lists/): The best of 2014 Books lists are coming out strong now. There are a lot of repeat books (last year there was a summary list that someone put together to... - [Why I Wrote Another Book About Grace](https://bookwi.se/wrote-another-book-grace/): Welcome Bob Santos. I asked him to talk about the reason he wrote yet another book about Grace. His new book, The Divine Progression of Grace "“ Blazing a... - [Unbroken: A Movie Review](https://bookwi.se/unbroken-movie-review/): Once upon a time, I used to work as a denominational staff person (13 years ago) and was ordained. I must still be on some clergy mailing lists because I was... - [Scribd: A Review](https://bookwi.se/scribd-a-review/): Over the past three weeks I have been using Scribd, a subscription ebook service, similar to Kindle Unlimited and Oyster. While not perfect, this is the... - [A Farewell to Mars: An Evangelical Pastor’s Journey Toward the Biblical Gospel of Peace by Brian Zahnd](https://bookwi.se/farewell-to-mars/): Takeaway: Very few take Jesus seriously when he about having a different type of kingdom. As American Christians have started looking again at their... - [The Butterfly and the Stone by Dan Mayhew](https://bookwi.se/butterfly-stone-mayhew/): I am reposting this 2011 review because the Kindle edition is $2.99. Summary: Whether you have a prodigal child, were a prodigal child or know a prodigal... - [Doctor Who: The Writer’s Tale: The Final Chapter by Russell Davies and Benjamin Cook](https://bookwi.se/doctor-who/): I am a big fan of the BBC series, Doctor Who. I usually don't get too locked into a television series but I quickly fell in love with the Doctor, especially... - [Start of the Best of the Year Lists](https://bookwi.se/start-best-year-lists/): I love reading through best of the year Book lists to see what I missed. I tend to read a lot of books that are a few years old and not that many that are... - [Essays on the Church by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/essays-church-cs-lewis/): Summary: Three essays about the church. I have been working on a two month free trial of Scribd, a Kindle Unlimited and Oyster competitor that offers unlimited... - [Most Read Book Reviews in November 2014](https://bookwi.se/read-book-reviews-november-2014/): Takeaway: Someone that has found meaning in a new stream of Christianity may not be the best person to talk about the stream of Christianity that they walked... - [Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement](https://bookwi.se/prayers-for-the-stolen/): "œThe best thing you can be in Mexico is an ugly girl". From the very first page of "œPrayers for the Stolen", Jennifer Clement grabs the reader and does... - [Why We Run From God’s Love by Ed Cyzewski](https://bookwi.se/run-gods-love-ed-cyzewski/): Summary: Short book about the common reality of not wanting to seek after God. This is a short little book, only 19 pages.  The cheap distribution of ebooks... - [God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill](https://bookwi.se/gods-smuggler/): Reposting this review from earlier this year because the kindle edition is on sale for $1.99. Takeaway: A Classic 20th Century Missionary Biography Christians... - [The Book Thief by Markus Zusak](https://bookwi.se/book-thief-markus-zusak/): The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is novel that shows the reader what many Germans (Jewish, Communist or otherwise) might have felt and experienced during World... - [The Three Dimensions of Reading from Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/the-three-dimensions-of-reading-from-alan-jacobs/): Alan Jacobs recently gave a talk at Vassar College about the three dimensions of reading attention. He posted his slides and some comments to give commentary.... - [Yes Please by Amy Poehler](https://bookwi.se/yes-please/): I'm a big fan of actress and comedian, Amy Poehler. I admire her ability to completely immerse herself into any character she played on SNL with fearless... - [Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Edward Craig](https://bookwi.se/philosophy-2/): Summary: How out we to live? What really exists? How to we Know? Very Short Introduction series has been pretty hit or miss, as are most short introductions.... - [Holy Ground: Walking With Jesus as a Former Catholic by Chris Castaldo](https://bookwi.se/holy-ground-walking-jesus-former-catholic-chris-castaldo/): Takeaway: Someone that has found meaning in a new stream of Christianity may not be the best person to talk about the stream of Christianity that they walked... - [Week of Thanksgiving Plans](https://bookwi.se/week-thanksgiving-plans/): I will be traveling this whole coming week. First for work and then to see family. I have new reviews scheduled for Monday to Friday (taking Thanksgiving Day... - [Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth](https://bookwi.se/call-the-midwife/): Reposting this review from earlier this year because the Kindle edition is on sale for $2.99 Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth is the first memoir in a three... - [Night by Elie Wiesel](https://bookwi.se/night-by-elie-wiesel/): Takeaway: A book everyone should read to remind us that suffering is not a reality show or an abstract discussion. I have never read any of Elie Wiesel's... - [Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl](https://bookwi.se/charlie-chocolate-factory-roald-dahl/): This is a joint book and movie review written by Bookwi.se Contributor Emily Flury with Jack, a fifth grade student. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a... - [Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand](https://bookwi.se/unbroken-hillenbrand/): I am reposting this review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99. The movie is coming out Christmas day. Takeaway: There is good reason that this... - [The One by Kiera Cass (The Selection #3)](https://bookwi.se/the-one-by-kiera-cass/): Takeaway: Beautiful dresses on the cover are not enough to carry a trilogy. The best summary of the third book is this paraphrase of a conversation that felt... - [Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God by John Piper](https://bookwi.se/think/): Reposting my earlier review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $0.99. Summary: An encouragement to the church from the heart of a pastor to properly... - [Prototype: What Happens When You Discover You’re More Like Jesus Than You Think? by Jonathan Martin](https://bookwi.se/prototype/): Takeaway: Jesus' life on earth was for more than just taking us to heaven. Every once in a while I am truly surprised by a book. I have read several blog posts... - [Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill](https://bookwi.se/washed-and-waiting-reflections-on-christian-faithfulness-and-homosexuality-by-wesley-hill/): Takeaway: Sometimes not having something really allows you to look and understand. One of the things I remember from a grad class about understanding diversity... - [The Devil’s Cave by Martin Walker (Bruno, Chief of Police #5)](https://bookwi.se/devils-cave-martin-walker-bruno-chief-police-5/): Summary: A scandalous death and the threat of devil worship shake up the quiet village of St Denis. Maybe it is hard to call St Denis quiet at this point. It... - [The Resistance Man by Martin Walker (Bruno, Chief of Police #6)](https://bookwi.se/resistance-man-martin-walker-bruno-chief-police-6/): Takeaway: History and heritage matter. One of the nice features of the Bruno, Chief of Police series is the mixing in of real history, culture and geography... - [A Grief Observed by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/grief-observed-cs-lewis/): Takeaway: An image of what grief may be like. A Grief Observed is one of those books that I have felt like I needed to read but have not wanted to read. I have... - [An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor](https://bookwi.se/altar-world-geography-faith-barbara-brown-taylor/): Summary: Finding spiritual practices for those that have become dead to spiritual practices. One of the problems for me in loving Amazon and enjoying book... - [If I Had Lunch with CS Lewis: Exploring the Ideas of CS Lewis on the Meaning of Life by Alister McGrath](https://bookwi.se/lunch-with-lewis/): Summary: McGrath tries to imagine what type of advice Lewis would give, if you had lunch over 8 weeks. McGrath has written one of the two or three best... - [The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker (Bruno Chief of Police #4)](https://bookwi.se/the-crowded-grave/): Takeaway: Justice is sometimes different than what happens with our legal systems. What I love about this series is the sense of responsibility that Bruno has... - [Scribd Adds 30,000 Audiobooks](https://bookwi.se/scribd-adds-30000-audiobooks/): Note Bookwi.se now has a full review of Scribd Scribd is a document sharing and ebook subscription service. Originally it was mostly to share unpublished... - [Black Diamond by Martin Walker (Bruno Chief of Police #3)](https://bookwi.se/black-diamond/): Summary: Bruno looks into a shady community market and stumbles on a series of international crimes. More than anything else, this series of books leads me to... - [The Niebuhr Brothers for Armchair Theologians by Scott Paeth](https://bookwi.se/niebuhr-brothers/): Summary: A short book that felt longer than it was because it felt like a book report. I like the idea of introduction books. Short books that are able to give... - [The Dark Vineyard by Martin Walker](https://bookwi.se/the-dark-vineyard/): Summary: An arson on a remote (and illegal) genetically modified research farm leads to a crisis. And it might be related to a potential new investment by a... - [Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship and Direction](https://bookwi.se/sacred-companions/): Summary: A guide for giving and receiving Spiritual Direction. I have been interesting the concept of spiritual direction for several months now.  As with... - [Most Read Bookwi.se Reviews in October](https://bookwi.se/read-bookwi-se-reviews-october/): This month I am a bit broader and including my reviews of the Kindle Unlimited after Three Months and the new Kindle Voyager and Kindle Basic Touchscreen since... - [Haunting Reads for the Halloween Season](https://bookwi.se/haunting-reads-halloween-season/): Halloween, the season of creepy monsters and cavities, is also the perfect time to curl up with a good book. Whether you like to be scared stiff by your... - [Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn](https://bookwi.se/gone-girl-gillian-flynn/): Gone Girl is the third and most popular of Gillian Flynn's published works. Like her previous two novels, Gone Girl is a rather dark novel about how people may... - [Click-Clack the Raddlebag by Neil Gaiman](https://bookwi.se/click-clack-the-raddlebag-by-neil-gaiman/): Note: Neil Gaiman has been accused of sexual assault and abuse.  I am a big fan of Neil Gaiman.  I like his writing style, the sense of wonder that he... - [The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson](https://bookwi.se/the-rithmatist-by-brandon-sanderson/): Reposting this 2013 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale today only for $1.99 Brandon Sanderson develops a new magic system for each fictional world he... - [From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg](https://bookwi.se/mixed-files-mrs-basil-e-frankweiler-e-l-konigsburg/): Summary: The children's classic story about running away, living in a museum and solving a great mystery all the while finding the important things in life.... - [The Book of Strange New Things by Michal Faber](https://bookwi.se/the-book-of-strange-new-things/): Releases today Book jacket summaries can offer an intriguing glimpse of the riches within its contents or have the opposite effect. A poor summary will result... - [For Calvinism by Michael Horton](https://bookwi.se/for-calvinism/): Reposting this 2011 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99 Summary: A moderate Calvinism explained. One of the comments on the review of... - [The Good and Beautiful Life by James Bryan Smith](https://bookwi.se/good-beautiful-life-james-bryan-smith/): Summary: We are saved by grace but by grow by discipline.  I am very supportive of the Spiritual Formation work of James Bryan Smith and his mentors Dallas... - [The Princess Bride by William Goldman](https://bookwi.se/the-princess-bride/): Takeaway: The classic 1973 book, which was made into the 1987 movie, is still worth reading. Like most of my generation and later, I was introduced to the... - [Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan](https://bookwi.se/food/): Summary: Funny, but read more like a series of jokes than a cohesive book. I am not sure who introduced me to Jim Gaffigan, but I thank whoever it was. I have... - [The Good Luck of Right Now by Matthew Quick](https://bookwi.se/good-luck/): Summary: A 38 year old man (maybe on the Autism spectrum?) learns to cope with his Mother's death by writing letters to Richard Gere. Mental Illness is... - [Pound Foolish by Dave and Netta Jackson](https://bookwi.se/pound-foolish/): I met a Christian screenwriter and producer a few years ago and he gave me a piece of advice I have never forgotten, "œwriting stories about faith cannot be... - [Jesus: The Human Face of God by Jay Parini](https://bookwi.se/human-face-god/): Summary: A traditional liberal understanding of Jesus. This is a short review because I did not completely finish the book. This is one of the books that... - [Your Church Is Too Small by John Armstrong (Part 1: Introduction)](https://bookwi.se/your-church-is-too-small-by-john-armstrong/): I am reposting this 2010 review (yes it is a nearly 2100 hundred word review that I posted in 3 parts) because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $4.99.  I... - [New Kindle Reviews (Kindle Voyager and Kindle Basic 2014)](https://bookwi.se/new-kindle-reviews-kindle-voyager-kindle-basic-2014/): This morning reviews for the new Kindle Voyager has starting popping up in the press. The Kindle Voyager is a new high end eink Kindle.* The summary of the... - [All In by Mark Batterson](https://bookwi.se/all-in/): "œIf Jesus is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all" In a concise and ease to understand approach, Batterson challenges the reader to perform a... - [Pure Pleasure: Why Do Christians Feel So Bad about Feeling Good? by Gary L. Thomas](https://bookwi.se/pure-pleasure-why-do-christians-feel-so-bad-about-feeling-good-by-gary-l-thomas/): I am reposting this 2010 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99 (along with the also reviewed Sacred Pathways and Sacred Marriage). Takeaway:... - [39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan](https://bookwi.se/39-clues/): The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones is the first book in a 10 book series about a large-scale scavenger hunt that takes family members all over the world in search... - [Patternmaster (Patternist #4) by Octavia Butler](https://bookwi.se/patternmaster/): Summary: The world has devolved into perpetual war between the clayarks and the patternists. A young patternist must find his way and try to avoid getting... - [Lila: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson](https://bookwi.se/lila-novel-marilynne-robinson/): Summary: A woman familiar with abandonment learns about Grace. Every once in a while you stumble on something beautiful. I happened to be looking for another... - [My 3 Month Review of Kindle Unlimited](https://bookwi.se/kindle-unlimited-review/): If you signed up for Kindle Unlimited when it first was announced your first three months is just about to end. I have been using Kindle Unlimited actively... - [Jack: A Life of CS Lewis by George Sayer](https://bookwi.se/jack-a-life/): Summary: An older biography of Lewis, but with the memories of a friend and student.  I continue, after about 18 months of reading about one book a month on... - [Clay’s Ark by Octavia Butler (Patternist #3)](https://bookwi.se/clays-ark/): Summary: A human starship has returned from its first visit to another star system, but it did not come back alone. As I am writing this I have finished the... - [The Magician’s Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia) by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/the-magicians-nephew-chronicles-of-narnia-by-cs-lewis/): Reposting this 2011 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99 Takeaway: Wonderful illustration of creation as metaphor It has been... - [The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett](https://bookwi.se/maltese-falcon-dashiell-hammett/): The Maltese Falcon is a detective novel written in 1929 by Dashiell Hammett and immortalized in film in 1941 by director John Huston. The detective in the... - [The Anglican Way: A Guidebook by Thomas McKenzie](https://bookwi.se/the-anglican-way/): Summary: A readable, recent introduction for those new to Anglicanism. Fads are a reality of the world, Christian as well as not. In my world right now,... - [Intimacy With God: An Introduction to Centering Prayer by Thomas Keating](https://bookwi.se/intimacy-god/): Summary: An introduction to the theology, but not much on the practice of Centering Prayer If you have been reading Bookwi.se for a while you have probably... - [Mind of My Mind by Octavia Butler (Patternist #2)](https://bookwi.se/mind-mind-octavia-butler-patternist-2/): Summary: The subject of Doro's breeding program, after several thousand years, comes of age. The first book in this series, Wild Seed, was more of a... - [Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God’s Everything](https://bookwi.se/embracing-obscurity-2/): Takeaway: Obscurity, humility, smallness.  All undervalued and difficult disciplines in a world of individualism, social media and mixed messages. I ran... - [The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Book and Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/maze-runner/): The Maze Runner By James Dashner is the first part in a three part series about a group of teenagers who find themselves in the middle of a maze. Every month a... - [Out of Town Again](https://bookwi.se/town/): Roughly once a year, a group of my guy friends from college go on a trip together.  We have been doing this since 1995 and this is our 21st trip.  (We are... - [A House Like a Lotus by Madeleine L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/house-like-lotus-madeleine-lengle/): Takeaway: On today's after school special, Polly has to deal with serious things. I love Madeleine L'Engle's writing. She takes young adults seriously, she... - [Home Game: An Accidental Guide to Fatherhood by Michael Lewis](https://bookwi.se/home-game/): Summary: Author Michael Lewis (The Big Short, Money Ball, The Blind Side) gives his account of the new world of  fatherhood. Michael Lewis is one of those... - [The Soloist by Steve Lopez](https://bookwi.se/soloist-steve-lopez/): The Soloist is the retelling of Steve Lopez' relationship with Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a homeless musical prodigy whom Lopez meets while out riding his bike... - [Unnatural Death by Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey #3)](https://bookwi.se/unnatural-death/): Summary: Lord Peter Wimsey overhears a doctor talking about a case and is convinced it is the perfect crime. When I think of Lord Peter Wimsey, I most often... - [Identity Crisis: 21 Days of Discovering Who God Says You Are by Michael D. Perkins](https://bookwi.se/identity-crisis/): For years many of us have struggled with trying to measure up to others standards for us and for our own. We walk around calling ourselves failures. We tell... - [Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen](https://bookwi.se/bad-monkey-carl-hiaasen/): Bad Monkey is Carl Hiaasen's latest novel that came out at the beginning of the summer of 2013. Similarly to many of Hiaasen's novels, the book is about a... - [Help Thanks Wow: Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott](https://bookwi.se/help-thanks-wow/): Reposting my 2013 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.75 Summary: SHORT, but helpful look at the essence of prayer. I am not an Anne Lamott... - [How (Not) to Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor by James KA Smith](https://bookwi.se/how-not-to-be-secular/): Summary: The traditional story of how to the world came to be secular (a subtraction of belief) is not the real story. Starting last year I have been paying a... - [Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan](https://bookwi.se/dad-is-fat-by-jim-gaffigan/): Summary: Funny stories mixed in with some advice. I like comedy.  I don't laugh nearly enough.  I have a tendency to be a little too serious.  But I have a... - [How Sweet the Sound: A Novel by Amy K. Sorrells](https://bookwi.se/how-sweet-the-sound/): In her debut novel, Amy Sorrells has established herself as a story teller and poet. How Sweet the Sound is a story of an Alabama family, the Harlans, and... - [A Christian Survival Guide by Ed Cyzewski](https://bookwi.se/christian-survival-guide-ed-cyzewski/): Summary: The basics of Christian practice and belief from someone that survived their faith. One of the problems of my life is that I spend very little time... - [Vacation](https://bookwi.se/vacation/): Starting tomorrow I am going on a week's vacation.  I have book reviews scheduled, but I am not sure if I will be posting any free book posts. All should be... - [Outlander TV Review](https://bookwi.se/outlander-tv-review/): The Outlander novels, written by Diana Gabaldon, have transcended multiple generations and are generally recognized as one of the bestselling series of all... - [Perelandra by CS Lewis (Space Trilogy #2)](https://bookwi.se/perelandra/): Summary: In the second book of the series Ransom visits Venus. The books of Lewis's space trilogy are hard to review.  How to you review a classic work of CS... - [The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis](https://bookwi.se/the-big-short/): The financial crash of 2008 surprised almost everybody--the investment banks, the government, and the Federal Reserve, not to mention millions of American... - [1Q84 by Haruki Murakami](https://bookwi.se/iq84-by-haruki-murakami/): Reposting this 2013 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $3.25 Takeaway: The world is not what it seems. This is a wide ranging book, originally... - [Building a Life Out of Words by Shawn Smucker](https://bookwi.se/building-a-life-out-of-words/): Version 1.0.0 Often times when life throws us a curve ball, out natural tendency is to find some corner somewhere, cry in cup of coffee, and sing our favorite... - [The Art of Letting Go: Living the Wisdom of St Francis by Richard Rohr](https://bookwi.se/the-art-of-letting-go/): Summary: A series of six lectures on spiritual development. Just over a year ago I first listened to The Art of Letting Go. And at the time I absorbed much,... - [CS Lewis: A Life by Alister McGrath](https://bookwi.se/cs-lewis-a-life/): Summary: An important, highly readable biography of Lewis. More than several people agree that this is the best Lewis biography to date (see links below).  So... - [Wealth and Poverty: A New Edition by George Gilder](https://bookwi.se/wealth-and-poverty/): A full-throated moral, philosophical, and practical defense of capitalism. Rather than advocate with reluctance for capitalism, granting critics' charges of... - [The Giver by Lois Lowry (Book and Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/the-giver/): The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993) is a children's book that is about a seemingly utopian society where "œsameness" is what provides the people with stability.... - [Tenth of December by George Saunders](https://bookwi.se/tenth-of-december/): Takeaway: Another short story collection I didn't like, surprise! Anyone that has read my blog regularly over the past year or so will not be surprised that I... - [The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure: Why Pure Capitalism Is the World Economy’s Only Hope by John Allison](https://bookwi.se/the-financial-crisis/): John Allison was the CEO of one of the only large banks that stayed profitable during the financial upheaval that came to a head in 2008. During his 20 year... - [Our Great Big American God: A Short History of Our Ever Growing Deity by Matthew Paul Turner](https://bookwi.se/our-great-big-american-god/): Summary: A romp through American religious history with a bit of humor and cynicism, but a lot of serious questions about how Christianity has changed on... - [The Man Who Knew Too Much by GK Chesterton](https://bookwi.se/man-knew-much-gk-chesterton/): Summary: A collection of 8 short stories (mysteries) centered around the character Horne Fisher, someone that knows everyone and know why the system usually... - [2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke](https://bookwi.se/2001-space-odyssey/): Takeaway: The unknown may be the greatest horror of all. I am a fan of science fiction.  And I know I have seen 2001 at least twice.  But I did not really... - [Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose](https://bookwi.se/twelve-angry-men/): Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose is a play that recounts the deliberation of a jury in the murder trial. The jury is tasked to determine the future of an... - [Mere Christianity by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/mere-christianity/): Summary: A classic book of apologetics. I know it is near heretical in some Evangelical circles, but I have never read Mere Christianity before.  As you are... - [Citizen Insane by Karen Cantwell](https://bookwi.se/citizen-insane-karen-cantwell/): Summary: A suburban housewife and her two friends find out that their neighborhood struggles (PTA, school year books, crazy neighbors, etc) all might be... - [Ignorance: How It Drives Science by Stuart Firestein](https://bookwi.se/ignorance/): Summary: It is ignorance, not knowledge that really drives science. Stuart Firestein is a professor of Neurobiology and a researcher.  At one point he... - [Waterfall: A Novel by Lisa Bergren (River of Time #1)](https://bookwi.se/waterfall/): Summary: A surprisingly prepared 17 year old gets sent back into time to 14th Century Italy. I have a pretty high tolerance for cheesy stories. But... - [Sort of Off Topic – The John Yoder Problem](https://bookwi.se/sort-topic-john-yoder-problem/): This is out of place in my normal book blogging.  But over the past several months I have been thinking about the John Yoder problem (or to a lesser extent... - [Time’s Echo by Rysa Walker (Chronos Files #1.5)](https://bookwi.se/times-echo/): Summary: A short novella (about 100 pages) from an alternate perspective to keep interest in the series until the next book comes out later this fall. I really... - [Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote (Book and Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/breakfast/): Reposting this review from earlier this spring because the audiobook is on sale today only (Aug 13) for $1.95. Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of Truman Capote's... - [Mercury Falls by Robert Kroese](https://bookwi.se/mercury-falls/): Summary: Did you read Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett? Well this is basically the same plot. I am trying to give KindleUnlimited a good shot.... - [The Magicians by Lev Grossman](https://bookwi.se/magicians/): Summary: An adult look at what it would be like to be a magician, and get everything you could possibly want, and still not find meaning or purpose in life. I... - [The End of the Affair by Graham Greene (Book and Movie)](https://bookwi.se/end-affair-graham-greene-book-movie/): The End of the Affair by Graham Greene is a novel that takes place during and after World War II about the affair between a writer, Maurice, and a civil... - [Invisible Wealth: The Hidden Story of How Markets Work by Arnold King](https://bookwi.se/invisible-wealth-hidden-story-markets-work-arnold-king/): This book is a loose collection of interviews the authors had with ten economists about the free market--its history, future, and contemporary intersection... - [To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee](https://bookwi.se/mockingbird/): Takeaway: An American Classic. To Kill A Mockingbird deserves all of its praise.  I had not read it since middle school or early high school, so when it came... - [July Most Read Reviews](https://bookwi.se/july-reviews/): Sex, Mom and God by Frank Schaeffer Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites"¦and Other Lies You've Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and... - [Deep and Wide by Andy Stanley – Favorite of 2012](https://bookwi.se/deep-and-wide/): Reposting because the Kindle edition is on sale for $2.99. (And the audiobook is only $3.99 with the purchase of kindle book.) Summary: The Church at its core... - [Outlander: A Novel by Diana Gabaldon](https://bookwi.se/outlander/): Outlander is the Audible.com Book of the Day and on sale for $5.95. If you have any interest in the Starz series that starts next week, this is a good excuse... - [Ubik by Philip K Dick](https://bookwi.se/ubik-philip-k-dick/): Takeaway: Is anyone better at writing paranoid fiction than Philip K Dick? Philip K Dick was brilliant and deeply troubled.  Which seems to make for a good... - [Among the Unseen by Jodi McIsaac (The Thin Veil #3)](https://bookwi.se/among-the-unseen/): Summary: Cedar, the new Queen of Tír na nÓg, is trying to adjust to her new life and new powers.  But all the Unseen (the magical creatures of Earth)... - [The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike #2) by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)](https://bookwi.se/the-silkwork/): Another fast-paced, well-written whodunit from JK Rowling. It's been 8 months since Cormoran Strike solved the murder of model Lula Landry, and now an Owen... - [Resolving Everyday Conflict by Ken Sande](https://bookwi.se/resolving-everyday-conflict/): Summary: Very practical and biblical look at the way we are to handle the everyday small and large conflicts in our lives. Every month Christianaudio.com gives... - [Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi](https://bookwi.se/fuzzy-nation-by-john-scalzi/): Summary: A first contact story with cute small fuzzy beings. One of the things I really like is reinterpretations.  I like to listen to remakes of classic... - [I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference](https://bookwi.se/i-am-a-church-member/): Reposting this review because the Kindle edition is on sale for $0.99. Summary: Short discussion oriented book about what being a church member really is all... - [Evangellyfish by Douglas Wilson](https://bookwi.se/evangellyfish-douglas-wilson/): Summary: A skewering of some convenient targets. I don't read a lot of Christian fiction.  Most of it I think tries too hard to get a message across and not... - [The Attachments by Rainbow Rowell](https://bookwi.se/the-attachements/): Summary: An IT worker, tasked with reading company emails, falls in love with one of the people he is snooping on. Last year, Rainbow Rowell started getting a... - [Looking for Alaska by John Green](https://bookwi.se/looking-alaska-john-green/): Looking for Alaska by John Green is the first of five novels written by the young adult author. Published in 2005, this novel is about a young high school... - [Dawn by Octavia Butler (Exenogenesis Trilogy #1)](https://bookwi.se/dawn/): Summary: A Woman wakes up to discover the Earth as she knows it is no longer, and the only hope of survival is an alien species that has... - [Death Masks by Jim Butcher](https://bookwi.se/death-masks-jim-butcher/): Summary: Dresden, not quite as much of a mess this time, is searching for the Shroud of Turin, everyone else is trying to kill him. Dresden is Chicago's only... - [Money: How the Destruction of the Dollar Threatens the Global Economy — And What We Can Do about It by Steve Forbes with Elizabeth Ames](https://bookwi.se/money/): In Money, Steve Forbes provides a brief history on the development of money and monetary systems, and then spends a lot of time explaining his opinion about... - [Thoughts on KindleUnlimited](https://bookwi.se/thoughts-kindleunlimited/): KindleUnlimited is a product that as a big reader I am interested in.  But I do not think this is a product for everyone. After a day of playing with it and... - [KindleUnlimited](https://bookwi.se/kindleunlimited-2/): KindleUnlimited is now live.  I am not sure if Amazon moved up their release because of the leak or if it was always planned for release today. Kindleunlimied... - [The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle](https://bookwi.se/complete-sherlock-holmes-arthur-conan-doyle/): The Complete Sherlock Holmes: The Heirloom Collection is indeed the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. All four of his... - [Amazon Testing An All You Can Read Plan? KindleUnlimited](https://bookwi.se/kindleunlimited/): As has been reported in on Lilliputing, TechCruch, Goodereader, and several other places, Gigaom has a screen shot of an Amazon page that appears to be... - [1000 Book Review Posts](https://bookwi.se/1000-book-review-posts/): Yesterday marked the 1000th Book Review post. I want to thank the contributors that have helped me get to this point, including Emily Flury and Seth Simmons... - [Strip Tease by Carl Hiaasen](https://bookwi.se/strip-tease-carl-hiaasen/): Summary: A farcical skewering of politicians, money and regular people trying to make a living. A few months ago Audible was having a buy one get one free... - [Ready Player One by Ernest Cline](https://bookwi.se/ready-player-one-by-ernest-cline/): Summary: A classic young adult quest novel based in 2044, but built on 1980s culture.  A fun book for both adults that lived the 1980s and teens that were... - [The Fall of Interpretation: Philosophical Foundations for a Creational Hermeneutic by James KA Smith](https://bookwi.se/the-fall-of-interpretation/): Summary: Maybe our need for interpretation and our finiteness as humans is a feature of our creation, not a consequence of the fall. The more I read James KA... - [MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker](https://bookwi.se/mash/): Summary: Basis of the movie and beloved TV show, and well mined by them both for ideas. Every night my senior year of college MASH was on at 10 PM and was... - [The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde](https://bookwi.se/importance-earnest-oscar-wilde/): Summary: A farce in the style of PG Wodehouse (or vice versa) poking fun at the triviality of Victorian society. I know that Wilde has the reputation of being... - [Life’s Biggest Questions: What the Bible Says about the Things That Matter Most by Erik Thoennes](https://bookwi.se/thoennes/): I am reposting this 2011 review because Life's Biggest Questions is part of the July $3.99 or Less Kindle sale. It is $1.99 through the end of July 2014... - [Heirs and Graces by Rhys Bowen (Her Royal Spyness #6)](https://bookwi.se/heirs-graces-rhys-bowen-royal-spyness-6/): Summary: Georgie is tasked by the Queen to help with the transition of lost distant relative to his new role as heir to a Duke. (Of course someone ends up... - [A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L’Engle (Austin Family #4)](https://bookwi.se/ring-endless-light-madeleine-lengle-austin-family-4/): Summary: Death, Life, Meaning and other light topics. Nothing reminds me more of the importance of not wasting time on bad books like reading a really good... - [Reclaiming Francis: How the Saint and the Pope Are Renewing the Church](https://bookwi.se/reclaiming-francis/): Summary: A rough bio of St Francis with a little bit of Pope Francis thrown in for good measure. St Francis has had a ton of biographies and spiritual growth... - [Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (Read Again)](https://bookwi.se/neverwhere-by-neil-gaiman-read-again/): Neil Gaiman has credibly been accused of sexual assault and abuse. Takeaway: Is comfortable better? After I reviewed Neil Gaiman's latest novel (The Ocean at... - [American Gods by Neil Gaiman](https://bookwi.se/american-gods/): Neil Gaiman has credibly been accused of sexual assault and abuse. Takeaway: America is a difficult land for the gods. American God's is a classic postmodern... - [Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming](https://bookwi.se/live-and-let-die/): Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming is the second novel in the James Bond series (Casino Royale is the first). James Bond is an English officer in the secret... - [Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st-Century Church by George Weigel](https://bookwi.se/evangelical-catholicism-deep-reform-21st-century-church-george-weigel/): Summary: A helpful look at a reforming movement within Catholicism, but a lot of inside baseball. I have read a number of positive reviews of Evangelical... - [The Man With Two Left Feet and Other Stories by PG Wodehouse](https://bookwi.se/man-two-left-feet-stories-pg-wodehouse/): Summary: Collection of humourous short stories, but the dog one is not to be missed. I was complaining that I needed something different to read a few weeks... - [I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter](https://bookwi.se/tell-you/): Summary: A student at a exclusive girls school for spies falls in love with a normal boy. If I had to guess, the recent article about why adults should be... - [Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints by James Martin](https://bookwi.se/becoming-insights-true-self-thomas-merton-saints-james-martin/):   Summary: God has created you to be who you are, not to be like someone else. I picked Becoming Who You Are up on a whim.  I had some promotional... - [Summer Knight by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #4)](https://bookwi.se/summer-knight-jim-butcher-dresden-files-4/): Summary: Everyone is out to get Dresden and all he is trying to do is save the world. What makes the Dresden Files work is that Butcher knows when to bend the... - [The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Book and Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/fault-stars-john-green-book-movie-review/): This original book review has been updated with thoughts on the movie The Fault In Our Stars is a novel by John Green about two teenagers who find love under... - [The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/the-horse-and-his-boy-by-cs-lewis/): Re-posting this 2013 review because the Kindle Edition of The Horse and His Boy is on sale for $0.99.  (Also The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is only... - [The Dragon Business by Keven J Anderson](https://bookwi.se/dragon-business/): Summary: A middle ages fantasy version of How I Met Your Mother. Kevin J Anderson is one of those authors that seems to produce a superhuman amount of books.... - [Now Audio and Text in the iOS Kindle App](https://bookwi.se/now-audio-text-ios-kindle-app/): Amazon released a big update to the iOS kindle apps (iphone, ipod touch and ipad) yesterday.  This brings it in line with the Kindle Fire apps. The main new... - [The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer](https://bookwi.se/the-jesus-prayer-the-ancient-desert-prayer-that-tunes-the-heart-to-god-by-frederica-mathewes-green/): Summary: A description of the famous short Orthodox prayer with a lot of insight into the Eastern Orthodox Church. I read a lot of books on prayer. I... - [Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs](https://bookwi.se/peregrine/): Takeaway: Slightly creepy, odd young adult book.  Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is one of the best modern children books I have read for a... - [EntitleChristian – A New eBook Subscription Service](https://bookwi.se/entitlechristian/): Last year Oyster launched what I think was the first ebook subscription service.  For $9.99 a month you can read as many of their books as you want.... - [Surprised by Scripture: Engaging Contemporary Issues by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/surprised-by-scripture/): Summary: Wright at his best tells a new narrative about an old story. In this book too many issues cut short the narrative. I am an unabashed fan of NT Wright.... - [Slavery of Death by Richard Beck](https://bookwi.se/slavery-death-richard-beck/): Summary: Differing perspectives on theological issues allow us to see other views and approach our views with more clarity. I have recently started reading... - [The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi](https://bookwi.se/androids-dream/): Reposting this 2012 review because the Audiobook is today's Audible Deal of the Day and on sale for $3.95 today only (June 7) Summary: Two trade... - [The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (Movie/Book Review)](https://bookwi.se/lion-witch-wardrobe-2/): Takeaway: You do not need long books to tell big stories. The thing that keeps striking me as I read through the Chronicles of Narnia recently is how short... - [Behind the Candelabra by Scott Thorson and Alex Thorleifson](https://bookwi.se/candelabra/): Behind The Candelabra is a memoir about Scott Thorson's life with Liberace.  Scott recounts how he met, came to live with, love, work with, and got rejected... - [Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare Ask God for the Impossible by Steven Furtick](https://bookwi.se/sun-stand-still-what-happens-when-you-dare-ask-god-for-the-impossible-by-steven-furtick/): I am reposting this 2010 review because Sun Stand Still is part of the June 2014 Monthly Sale. It will be $3.99 until the end of the month. Summary: God can... - [In Praise of Slowness by Carl Honore](https://bookwi.se/slowness-honore/): Reposting this 2011 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99. Takeaway: A bit repetitive, but the basic idea, that slowing down, enjoying life,... - [A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of AW Tozer by Lyle Dorsett](https://bookwi.se/passion/): Summary: AW Tozer is one of the great spiritual writers of the 20th century, and a prime example of God using less than perfect people. I read A Passion for... - [Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes](https://bookwi.se/bread-wine/): Summary: Meandering essays about food, life, friend and family. Shauna Niequist loves food, life, her friends and her family. This book exudes pleasure at the... - [Seven Grams of Lead by Keith Thomson](https://bookwi.se/seven-grams-of-lead/): Summary: A journalist tries to stay alive while tracking down a story about abuse of power by a rogue agent. Several years ago I was turned onto Keith Thomson... - [Most Read Book Reviews for May 2014](https://bookwi.se/read-book-reviews-may-2014/): Below are the eight most read book reviews over the past month. I am very excited that three of the eight are from Bookwi.se Contributors. I very much... - [Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman (TV/Book Review)](https://bookwi.se/orange-is-the-new-black/): Orange Is the New Black is a memoir written by Piper Kerman that chronicles the year that she spent in a minimum-security prison.  The book starts with Kerman... - [Eat That Frog: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating by Brian Tracy](https://bookwi.se/procrastinating/): Reposting this review because Eat That Frog is the daily deal today and on sale for $0.99 for the audiobook at audible.com Takeaway: Inefficiency at work often... - [Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell](https://bookwi.se/gone-with-the-wind/): Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is a well-beloved book and seen as an integral part to American literature. The book is essentially a coming-of-age... - [Land of the Blue Burqas by Kate McCord](https://bookwi.se/land-blue-burqas-kate-mccord/): Kate McCord is the pseudonym of the author of In The Land of Blue Burqas, a memoir of her five years in Afghanistan. McCord chronicles her experiences... - [Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes](https://bookwi.se/flowers-for-algernon/): Reposting my 2013 review because Flowers for Algernon is today's (May 28) Audible Deal of the Day. You can buy the audiobook for $3.95 (no membership required,... - [Great Expectations by Charles Dickens](https://bookwi.se/great-expectations/): Summary: A Classic novel about wanting what is not good for you. For some reason that I can't really explain, I always have felt I did not like Charles... - [Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen (Royal Spyness #5)](https://bookwi.se/naughty-in-nice/): Summary: Georgie tries living on the wild side.  Things do not go well. Almost five years ago when I started the blog that eventually turned into Bookwi.se, I... - [WARP: The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer](https://bookwi.se/reluctant-assassin/): Summary: An orphan from 1898 and a disgraced teen FBI agent from the present team up to survive (and hopefully defeat) a time traveling homicidal maniac.  ... - [Lord Peter Views the Body by Dorothy Sayers (Peter Wimsey Mysteries #4)](https://bookwi.se/lord-peter-views-the-body/): Summary: A series of short stories about Lord Peter Wimsey. It has literally been months since I started reading Lord Peter Views the Body.  I am not really a... - [One Bible, Many Versions: Are All Translations Created Equal?](https://bookwi.se/one-bible-many-versions/): Summary: Highly recommended book about biblical translations. I do not have a lot of patience for bible version arguments.  But we continue to see large... - [The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith](https://bookwi.se/hundred-one-dalmatians-dodie-smith/): The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith, a story written in 1956 primarily for children, is about a robbery of 15 Dalmatian puppies that results in a... - [Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier](https://bookwi.se/rebecca-by-daphne-du-maurier/): Takeaway: A haunting and beautiful novel.  Shows what can really be done with suspense. I have been a big fan of the 1940 movie Rebecca by Alfred Hitchcock.... - [Into the Fire by Jodi McIsaac (The Thin Veil #2)](https://bookwi.se/into-the-fire/): Summary: Cedar returns to Tir na nOg with her husband Finn and daughter Eden to restart their lives after they defeated the previous evil King. Last summer I... - [The Battle for the Beginning: The Bible on Creation and the Fall of Adam by John MacArthur](https://bookwi.se/battle-for-the-beginning/): John MacArthur's reasoning in The Battle for the Beginning is simple: a straightforward, "œliteral" reading of the Genesis creation text, considered... - [Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen (A Royal Spyness Mystery #4)](https://bookwi.se/royal-blood/): Summary: Georgie goes to a wedding in Transylvania.  I am sure no bodies will turn up.  I am a big fan of fluff reading.  So turn the noses up at the idea... - [Jesus is Better than You Imagined by Jonathan Merritt](https://bookwi.se/jesus-is-better/): Summary: Memoir as spiritual growth encouragement. Jonathan Merritt is a journalist and writer.  His two previous books, A Faith of Our Own (politics and... - [Discipleship in the Present Tense: Reflections on Faith and Culture by James KA Smith](https://bookwi.se/discipleship-in-the-present-tense/): Summary: A series of essays on faith and culture. James KA Smith is a philosophy professor at Calvin College and editor of Comment Magazine.  He keeps coming... - [Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue/ The Untold Story of English by John McWhorter](https://bookwi.se/our-magnificent-bastard-tongue/): Summary: Every area of study has its rebels and story tellers. McWhorter's is rebelling by claiming that English gained more from the Celts than others. One of... - [Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design by Stephen C Meyer](https://bookwi.se/darwins-doubt/): A devastating critique of Darwinian and neo-Darwinian theories of life's origins, and a rigorous defense of Intelligent Design as a legitimate and compelling... - [Crash Course – A Review](https://bookwi.se/crash-course-review/): The last couple weeks I have been a bit burned out on reading.  Part of it is good, I am doing a lot of processing and that requires time.  But part of it is... - [Another Tired Ereaders Might be Bad Article](https://bookwi.se/another-tired-ereaders-might-bad-article/): I was glancing through my RSS feed today and Marc Cortez (theology prof at Wheaton) linked to a yet another Wired article about the problems of ereading and... - [Testing Blogging Software](https://bookwi.se/testing-blogging-software/): Starting this morning I am going to be testing a desktop blogging software called Desk PM.  This is a very early beta test of the software.  So things may be... - [Evangelical Christian Publishers’ Association Books of the Year](https://bookwi.se/ecpa-books-of-the-year/): The ECPA is a trade group for Christian Publishers.  The winners of the Book of the Year was announced on Tuesday at an awards banquet at Focus on the Family... - [Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen](https://bookwi.se/pride-prejudice-jane-austen/): Part of my goal this year is to catch up on all of the classic audiobooks that I have picked up over the years. I picked up nearly 20 free classics last year... - [The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy](https://bookwi.se/scarlet-pimpernel/): Summary: An early 20th century romantic thriller set during the French Revolution. When I was an elementary student I had two 'go to' reading choices, a set of... - [Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro](https://bookwi.se/remains-day-kazuo-ishiguro/): The Remains of the Day is a very well known British novel by Japanese-born British novelist, Kazuo Ishiguro.  The novel is a first person narrative coming... - [100 Mysteries to Read in a Lifetime (Amazon Editor’s List)](https://bookwi.se/100-mysteries-read-lifetime-amazon-editors-list/): Amazon's Editors have released 100 Mysteries and Thrillers to Read in a Lifetime.  (This is similar to their 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime that they... - [A Spiritual Formation Primer by Richella Parham](https://bookwi.se/spiritual-formation-primer-richella-parham/): Summary: A brief overview of the role of spiritual formation in the Christian life. One of the areas that I think that many Evangelicals have missed is the... - [The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon](https://bookwi.se/kavalier-clay/): Summary: Two cousins in New York City get in on the ground floor of comic books.  The book follows them for 15 years through their highs and lows. Michael... - [On Her Majesty’s Secret Service by Ian Fleming](https://bookwi.se/majestys-secret-service/): Summary: Ernst Bloefeld (of SPECTRE) is back and has come up with a new scheme. When I was a kid I loved James Bond movies.  And I still mostly like new James... - [Paper Towns by John Green](https://bookwi.se/paper-towns-john-green/): Paper Towns is the third novel by the increasingly popular young adult novelist, John Green.  The book is about a graduating senior in high school, Quentin... - [Mark: The Gospel of Passion by Michael Card](https://bookwi.se/mark/): I am reposting this 2014 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $2.99. Summary: A good devotional commentary on Mark. Over the past couple of months... - [Angels and Saints: A Biblical Guide to Friendship with God’s Holy Ones by Scott Hahn](https://bookwi.se/angels-saints-biblical-guide-friendship-gods-holy-ones-scott-hahn/): Summary: Brief introduction to the Catholic perspective on Saints (with a little bit about Angels). Over the past couple years I have tried to read a book a... - [PhiLOLZophy: Critical Thinking in Digestible Doses by Chrissy Stockton and Sarah Heuer](https://bookwi.se/philolzophy/): Summary: An attempt to make philosophy young and hip and applicable to the modern world (using question like What does it mean to be a slut, How to reject... - [Divergent by Veronica Roth (Movie and Book Review)](https://bookwi.se/divergent-movie/): Divergent by Veronica Roth is a novel set in post-modern America where as a result of war the city of Chicago and its population has been spilt into 5... - [Scripture and the Authority of God by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/scripture-authority-wright/): Takeaway: I do not know any book that takes the reading, study and importance of scripture more seriously than this book. I am a fan of NT Wright.  Primarily... - [Solaris by Stanislaw Lem](https://bookwi.se/solaris/): Takeaway: Another example of why you should read the book and not depend on the movie. Solaris is a classic science fiction book.  It was written in 1961 by... - [The Devil Walks in Mattingly by Billy Coffey](https://bookwi.se/devil-walks-mattingly/): Bookwi.se  want to welcome a new contributing reviewer, Allen Madding. Mattingly, Virginia Sheriff Jake Barnett, his wife Kate, and Taylor Hathcock have spent... - [The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith by Marcus Borg](https://bookwi.se/heart-of-christianity/):   Summary: The Emergent (or old school liberal) stream of Christianity has a real faith, and something to teach Evangelicals. A long time ago and in a far... - [Timebound by Rysa Walker (Chronos Files #1)](https://bookwi.se/timebound/): I am reposting this review because the kindle edition of Timebound on sale for $1.99 is part of the Oct $3.99 or less sale. Also the rest of the series is... - [I am on vacation enjoying this](https://bookwi.se/i-am-on-vacation-enjoying-this/): Nap 3, while the cousins turn into a mermaid & a pirate - [The Hangman’s Daughter by Oliver Potzsch](https://bookwi.se/hangmans-daughter/): Reposting this 2013 review because the Kindle version is on sale for the month of April as part of the April $3.99 or less Sale. Summary: Historical Fiction... - [Hitch-22: A Memoir by Christopher Hitchens](https://bookwi.se/hitch-22/): Summary: Frustrating, fascinating and ultimately unfinished. Christopher Hitchens is one of those people that I feel like I need to read.  I have not really... - [The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee](https://bookwi.se/normal-christian-life/): Summary: A discussion of the first half of Romans and how we are to live as Christians. Every month Christianaudio.com gives away a free MP3 audiobook.  I am... - [Amazon Issues Credits for eBook Antitrust Settlement](https://bookwi.se/amazon-issues-credits-ebook-antitrust-settlement/): In December 2013 the federal court approved the final settlements against the major publishers around their price fixing with the help of Apple.  Today is the... - [Posts will be occasion for next two weeks or so](https://bookwi.se/posts-will-occasion-next-two-weeks/): Over the next two weeks Bookwi.se will be mostly taking a vacation. There may be an occasional post, but mostly I am taking the next two weeks off. I have some... - [Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones](https://bookwi.se/howls-moving-castle/): Howl's Moving Castle is a fantasy novel written by Diana Wynne Jones.  The story is about a young girl who lives in a world where magic, which is a very... - [Basic Christianity by John Stott](https://bookwi.se/basic-christianity-john-stott/): Summary: A book of basic discipleship.  Not apologetics or evangelism as much as teaching. As I get older (alway a bad way to start out a review), I am... - [Room of Marvels by James Bryan Smith](https://bookwi.se/marvels/): I am reposting this 2011 review because the Kindle Edition is currently on sale for $1.99 as part of the Big Deal Sale Takeaway: Heaven is not just a promised... - [The Real Crash: America’s Coming Bankruptcy—How to Save Yourself and Your Country](https://bookwi.se/the-real-crash/): Peter Schiff accurately predicted the 2008 meltdown of the mortgage market and financial sector. Before it all hit the fan, though, he was called a doomsayer... - [The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare](https://bookwi.se/witch-blackbird-pond/): Summary: A 16 year old English girl that grew up in the free society of Barbados moves to a closely controlled community of Puritans in Connecticut in... - [Lendle.me – an updated review](https://bookwi.se/lendle-updated-review/): It has been about 18 months since I last updated my review of Lendle.  And since I loaned my 350th book there yesterday it seemed like a good time to do that.... - [Packing Light: Thoughts on Living Life with Less Baggage by Allison Vesterfelt](https://bookwi.se/packing-light/): Summary: A great reminder of what is gained and lost by stability, and what happens when we are willing to find out. There is a great quote by CS Lewis from... - [African History: A Very Short Introduction by John Parker and Richard Rathbone](https://bookwi.se/african-history/): Summary: A Very Short Introduction to the Academic field of African History, not actual history itself. Oxford Press' Very Short Introduction series continues... - [The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky](https://bookwi.se/perks/): This book, along with The Fault In Our Stars (which I recently finished), is a great representation of the way a young adult book should be. The book is not... - [Beastly by Alex Flinn](https://bookwi.se/beastly-alex-flinn/): Summary: A young adult retelling of Beauty and the Beast.  Although it feels more like a retelling of the Disney movie than the original story. YA sync is a... - [The Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle](https://bookwi.se/the-sign-of-four/): Reposting this 2012 review because the Kindle and Audible Audiobooks are free for the month of March as part of a promotion of whispersync. See the bottom of... - [The Mortgage Wars: Inside Fannie Mae, Big-Money Politics, and the Collapse of the American Dream](https://bookwi.se/mortgage-wars/): Timothy Howard was an executive at Fannie Mae through the 90s and into the 2000s, leaving just a few years before the big crash of 2008 when the government... - [Doctor Sleep by Stephen King](https://bookwi.se/doctor-sleep/): Doctor Sleep by Stephen King is the sequel to his second novel, The Shining.  This novel, which comes 36 years after the release of The Shining, shows what... - [Neuromancer by William Gibson](https://bookwi.se/neuromancer/): Summary: The book that coined the word cyberspace turns 30 this year.  Arguably the start of the cyberpunk movement. Growing up, my go-to genres were Science... - [A Loving Life: In a World of Broken Relationships by Paul Miller](https://bookwi.se/loving-life/): Summary: Using the book of Ruth to explore relationships as a Christian. When I was offered this book to review, I was excited. I have read Miller's previous... - [Most Read Book Reviews February 2014](https://bookwi.se/read-book-reviews-february-2014/): These were these most read book reviews during February 2014.  A mix of new reviews and old reviews reposted. What Wives Wish their Husbands Knew about Sex: A... - [Christians In An Age of Wealth by Craig Blomberg](https://bookwi.se/christians-age-wealth/): Christians In An Age of Wealth is a survey of all the passages in the Bible that address (however tangentially) issues of wealth, poverty, economics, money,... - [Columbine by Dave Cullen](https://bookwi.se/columbine-dave-cullen/): The Columbine High School massacre took place on April 20, 1999 in Columbine, Colorado.  It has been almost 15 years since the lives of 12 students and 1... - [When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself](https://bookwi.se/when-helping-hurts/): Summary: A very helpful book, when used rightly. When Helping Hurts is a book that has really changed the way that many have looked at Christian social... - [The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek](https://bookwi.se/road-serfdom-friedrich-hayek/): The Road to Serfdom's status as a classic of economic and political philosophy is well-deserved. Hayek makes political theory compelling as he describes the... - [Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick (Book and Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/silver-linings-playbook-2/): The Silver Linings Playbook is a novel that was written in 2008.  Recognizing a winner, the Harvey Weinstein production  company snatched up the movie rights... - [Navigating the Interior Life: Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God by Daniel Burke](https://bookwi.se/navigating/): Summary: A Catholic understanding of the role of spiritual direction. One of the most important reasons to regularly read outside your stream of Christianity... - [Cronkite by Douglas Brinkley](https://bookwi.se/cronkite-douglas-brinkley/): Summary: A mediocre biography of a formative figure in the history of journalism. I have been keeping my New Year's resolution of not buying more than one book... - [Pirates of Manhattan by Barry James Dyke](https://bookwi.se/pirates/): The modern finance industry, what Dyke calls "The Casino Age," is focused on rapid wealth using risky investment vehicles and screwing the little guy. Banks... - [The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John Walton](https://bookwi.se/genesis-walton/): Takeaway: Professional biblical scholars bring important understanding to texts. We need to spend more time being taught, not just by pastors, but by the... - [Through the Door by Jodi McIsaac](https://bookwi.se/through-the-door-by-jodi-mcisaac/): Reposting this review from last summer because Through the Door and the sequel Into the Fire are on sale for $1.99 (audiobooks are only $0.99 with purchase of... - [Apologies](https://bookwi.se/apologies/): I have now completed my transition to the new server.  Unfortunately there was an error and I lost 10 days of posts.  I have reposted the book reviews.... - [Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick](https://bookwi.se/forgive/): Summary: A teen decides to commit a murder/suicide on his 18th birthday. Like a number of other youth adult books that I have enjoyed recently, this is a very... - [Naked Statistics: Stripping the Dread from Data by Charles Wheelan](https://bookwi.se/naked-statistics/): Summary: A little understanding can be worse than no understanding. Part of my job is dealing with statistics for program evaluation for a non-profit.  So I... - [The Meaning of It All: Thoughts of a Citizen-Scientist by Richard Feynman](https://bookwi.se/meaning/): Summary: A scientist riffs on religious, political and social issues of the day, and how science can help. I am interested in physics.  I don't really... - [Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones](https://bookwi.se/jim-henson/): Summary: Fascinating and in depth look at a man that changed TV. Everyone knows that Jim Henson was the creator of the muppets and was instrumental in the... - [Nothing to Hide by J Mark Bertrand (Roland March #3)](https://bookwi.se/nothing-to-hide/): Summary: More back story on Roland March and a step outside of the traditional police procedural. I have loved the first two books of this trilogy, and I would... - [What Wives Wish their Husbands Knew about Sex: A Guide for Christian Men](https://bookwi.se/what-wives-wish-their-husbands-knew-about-sex-a-guide-for-christian-men/): Takeaway: Most sex books are either Puritan or Pornographic.  This book tries to show the Christian view is neither. In general I am not a fan of Christian... - [5 Free From Audible.com](https://bookwi.se/5-free-audible-com/): Audible.com often has free shorts or prequels and occationally longer books.  Here are three that I have run across lately.  (I have not listened to any of... - [January Most Read Reviews](https://bookwi.se/january-read-reviews/): Discovering Your Heart with the Flag Page Test by Mark Gungor Beautiful Ruins:  A Novel  by Jess Walter Packing Light: Thoughts On Living Life With Less... - [The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort](https://bookwi.se/wolf-of-wall-street/): The Wolf of Wall Street is a memoir written by the wolf, himself, Jordan Belfort.  The book is about how Jordan got his start in the stockbroker business, how... - [A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/wrinkle/): Takeaway: Reading classic children's books as an adult is an odd experience. The first time I heard A Wrinkle in Time was from my 3rd grade teacher. I think... - [Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen (Royal Spyness #3)](https://bookwi.se/royal-flush/): Summary: Third book in a series about a minor British royal that is also an accidental detective. The Royal Spyness series is a fun light hearted mystery... - [Pattern of Wounds by J Mark Bertrand (Roland March #2)](https://bookwi.se/pattern/): Summary: A well written standard police procedural that stands out precisely because it is a Christian fiction book Pretty soon I am going to stop saying I... - [Overdrive Drops DRM on Audiobooks](https://bookwi.se/overdrive-drops-drm-audiobooks/): English: Librarians against DRM (Photo credit: Wikipedia) As I said earlier, I have decided to not buy more than one book a month for the first six months of... - [God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/god-dock-essays-theology-ethics-cs-lewis/): Summary: Wide variety of essays, written versions of talks and letters compiled posthumously. I have been on a Lewis kick over the last year.  But I have... - [Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card (Ender #4)](https://bookwi.se/ender-4/): Summary: Who knows how to summarize this book? It is no secret that I am a big fan of Orson Scott Card.  I love many of his books (and hate a few as well.)... - [A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918 by GJ Meyer](https://bookwi.se/world-undone/): Summary: A history of an incredibly tragic and costly war. One of the things I love about reading is learning about things that I know almost nothing about.... - [Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood](https://bookwi.se/oryx/): Summary: One of the last, maybe the last, human recounts the end of the world. Last year I listened the audiobook of Margaret Atwood's famous, and excellent,... - [Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (Book & Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/little-women/): Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is known by many to be an American classic.  The novel, which takes place during the American Civil War, is about a family... - [Hobbit Lessons: A Map for Life’s Unexpected Journeys by Devin Brown](https://bookwi.se/hobbit-lessons/): There is a lot of hidden wisdom in Tolkien's writings, seldom explicit (he hated allegory) but usually simple and always profound. His stories are famous for... - [Bruno, Chief of Police: A Novel of the French Countryside by Martin Walker](https://bookwi.se/bruno/): Summary: A small town police chief in rural France must protect his community, in more ways than one.   Seven years ago, my wife and I went to France to visit... - [Theme Testing](https://bookwi.se/theme-testing/): I am not much of a design guy.  I like to write my blog not tweak it.  So it has been over two years since I have had a major re-design of the blog.  A... - [Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work by Melissa Gira Grant](https://bookwi.se/playing-the-whore/): Summary: A jungle of confused polemics. I'm not exactly sure who the author is trying to convince in this short book. She claims to want to argue that sex work... - [16 Books into Movies in 2014](https://bookwi.se/16-books-movies-2014/): Buzzfeed has a round up of the 16 movies that will be released as movies in 2014. Bookwi.se has reviews of Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars, The Giver, The... - [The Maze Runner by James Dashner (Maze Runner #1)](https://bookwi.se/the-maze-runner/): Summary: First in a dystopian series about a group of boys trapped in a maze. When Thomas wakes up all he can remember is his name.  A group of teenage... - [Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (Book & Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/memoirs-geisha-arthur-golden/): Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden is a fictional account of the life of a successful geisha in Gion, Japan during the early to mid 1950s.  Golden wrote... - [Our Common Prayer: A Field Guide to the Book of Common Prayer](https://bookwi.se/common-prayer-2/): Summary: A guide to the parts and functions of the book of common prayer service (not really to using the book itself). Over the past several years I have... - [Farewell: The Greatest Spy Story of the Twentieth Century](https://bookwi.se/farewell/): Reposting this review because Farewell is the Jan 8 Kindle Daily Deal and on sale for $1.99 (the audiobook is only $0.99 with purchase of the kindle book.)... - [The Good and Beautiful Community by James Bryan Smith](https://bookwi.se/good-and-beautiful-community/): Summary: Spiritual growth is not accidental, it is intentional and it needs to be intentional as part of a community. The Good and Beautiful Community is the... - [Most Read Book Reviews in 2013](https://bookwi.se/read-book-reviews-2013/):    The God of the Mundane by Matt Redmond  Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism by Molly Worthen  The Fault in Our Stars... - [The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (Book 1 of the Kane Chronicles)](https://bookwi.se/red-pyramid/): Reposting this review because Red Pyramid is free on Kindle. I was not a huge fan, but I have heard from several who thought that I was too hard on the book... - [Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue](https://bookwi.se/room-a-novel-by-emma-donoghue/): Reposting this review because Room is the Kindle Daily Deal on Jan 5 and on sale for $2.99 for kindle. (Only on sale on Jan 5). Rating: 4 Stars Imagine your... - [True Grit by Charles Portis (Book & Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/true-grit/): Summary: Good Book, 2010 movie is very true to the book. I picked up this audiobook on sale a few months ago and just got around to listening to it.  I... - [The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind](https://bookwi.se/whole-brain-child/): Summary: Parenting is a full time job, but the goal is not entertainment, but preparing children for their future life. We don't do it often, but occasionally... - [2014 Focus for Bookwi.se](https://bookwi.se/2014-focus/): Cover via Amazon I have been blogging regularly at Bookwi.se (and before that MrShields.com) since Sept 2009.  As of this post, Bookwi.se has 3288 blog posts... - [Amazon Prime Trial Membership](https://bookwi.se/prime-trial-membership/): From now until January 10 Amazon is having a promotion for Amazon Affiliates (like me). If you are unaware, any purchase that you make after having clicked... - [Bookwi.se Favorite Books of 2013 (Non-Fiction List)](https://bookwi.se/2013-non-fiction/): Sunday I started my list of favorite books by posting the 9 Honorable Mentions that I wanted to highlight but for one reason or another didn't main the main... - [Beauty Will Save the World: Rediscovering the allure and mystery of Christianity by Brian Zahnd](https://bookwi.se/beauty-zahnd/): Summary: The concept of beauty is an under appreciated and very important concept in Christian Theology. Over the past couple years I have occasionally thought... - [End of the Month Reminders](https://bookwi.se/end-month-reminders-2/): Today is the last day of the month and these are a few reminders. Today is the last day to: Borrow a book from the Kindle Lending Library (if you are an Amazon... - [Bookwi.se Favorite Fiction Books of 2013](https://bookwi.se/2013-fiction/): Yesterday I posted the honorable mentions (the books I wanted to mention, but didn't make the top 10 fiction or non-fiction lists). Today I am starting with my... - [Bookwi.se Favorite Books of 2013 (Honorable Mentions)](https://bookwi.se/2013-honorable-mentions/): I have posted my list of favorite books I read over the previous year since I started Bookwi.se.  In years' past, I wrote a brief introduction and then... - [Bookwi.se Income and Expense Disclosure](https://bookwi.se/2013-income/): I know I am not required to disclose Bookwi.se income and expenses.  But I want to be transparent (and be clear that this isn't a money making venture.) This... - [Mere Churchianity by Michael Spencer](https://bookwi.se/mere-churchianity-by-michael-spencer/): Reposting this review because the Kindle version is on sale for $4.73. Takeaway: Moving the church and Christianity away from polemics means moving toward... - [A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen (A Royal Spyness Mystery #2)](https://bookwi.se/royal-pain/): Summary: More bodies keep piling up around the 34th in line to the throne.  And she needs to find some answers in order to stop an international incident. The... - [Audible.com 2013 Books of the Year](https://bookwi.se/audible-2013-books-of-the-year/): Audible: It was a really close call this year, but after much spirited debate among our editors, the top prize goes to Stephen King's Doctor Sleep, narrated... - [Offsite Review: Coffee With Jesus](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-coffee-jesus/): If you are looking for a last minute Christmas gift, you might look at the Coffee With Jesus by David Wilkie.  I have been a regular reader of the comic... - [The House of Hades by Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus #4)](https://bookwi.se/house-of-hades/): Summary: The character continue to get deeper into the mythology and danger. This is essentially the 9th fully book (with a couple more short story... - [More Best of 2013 Lists](https://bookwi.se/best-2013-lists/): I am all about the best of 2013 lists.  Earlier I posted Christianity Today, Goodreads and Amazon. But you may also be interested in The Gospel Coalition's... - [Empire of Bones by ND Wilson (Ashtown Burials #3)](https://bookwi.se/empire-bones-nd-wilson-ashtown-burials-3/): Empire of Bones is the third and final book in the Ashtown Burials series, and it's best one. Wilson does a superb job of sourcing his villains and... - [The 2014 Christianity Today Book Awards](https://bookwi.se/2014-christianity-today-book-awards/): The 2014 Christianity Today Book Awards have been announced. It seems, like all books of the year lists, that I have not read most of these.  I read Crazy... - [Goodreads.com Reader’s Choice Best Books of 2013](https://bookwi.se/goodreads-com-readers-choice-best-books-2013/): Goodreads.com has released their 2013 Best Books Reader's choice awards.  I have only read a handful of the winners, but I liked the ones I read. - [Slumdog Millionaire By Vikas Swarup (Book and Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/slumdog-millionaire/): The book, Slumdog Millionaire, written by Vikas Swarup was previously published as Q and A. With the success of the movie, the book was re-published under the... - [Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (Reconers #1)](https://bookwi.se/steelheart/): Summary: Good, but not quite up to par with the rest of Sanderson's impressive body of work. It's the near future. The United States is fractured into mini... - [The Case for the Psalms: Why They Are Essential by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/psalms/): Takeaway: The Psalms are an important part of historic worship and the modern church needs to work to keep them apart of our current worship. Five years ago,... - [Buried Alive: The Startling, Untold Story About Neanderthal Man by Jack Cuozzo](https://bookwi.se/buried-alive/):   Version 1.0.0 The mainstream narrative of evolutionary science is that man developed slowly, progressively, linearly"”over hundreds of thousands of... - [I’m growing](https://bookwi.se/im-growing/): Nearly 2 pounds more than leaving the hospital. And about 1.5 inches longer. - [In Search of Deep Faith: A Pilgrimage by Jim Belcher](https://bookwi.se/deep-faith/): Summary: Faith is about deep understanding and devotion, not right behavior and moral understanding. I am not sure what I was expecting when I picked up In... - [Amazon’s Best Books of the Year Lists](https://bookwi.se/amazons-best-books-year-lists/): Amazon has released their Best Books of the Year Lists. Editor's Best 100 Books (Also best selling in Literature and Fiction, Mystery, Thriller and Suspense,... - [The Giver by Lois Lowry](https://bookwi.se/giver-lois-lowry/): Summary: The children's dystopian book that everyone but me has read. The Giver always makes me think of the Giving Tree.  That association has kept me from... - [Most Read Reviews in November](https://bookwi.se/read-reviews-november/): The 8 most read book reviews in November were: Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism by Molly Worthen Discovering Your Heart... - [The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer](https://bookwi.se/cancer/): Reposting the review because the Audiobook is the Audible Daily Deal for Dec 3 - $5.95 Takeaway: The history of cancer is a good proxy for the history of... - [Lonely Vigil: Coastwatchers of the Solomons by Walter Lord](https://bookwi.se/lonely-vigil/): During World War II, the unexpected heroes of the Pacific front were the Coastwatchers in the Solomon Islands, located off the northeast coast of Australia.... - [Xenocide by Orson Scott Card (Ender Quintet #3)](https://bookwi.se/xenocide/): Summary: A near retirement age Ender has to deal with another attempt at Xenocide, this time against two alien species and all of Ender's family may die in the... - [The King’s Speech by Mark Logue](https://bookwi.se/the-kings-speech/): This book, The King's Speech, is not the book that the movie was based on.  Mark Logue explains in the introduction that because he is Lionel Logue's grandson... - [Little, Big by John Crowley](https://bookwi.se/little-big-john-crowley/): Ultimately, I have no idea what this book is about. It involves a multi-generational family, many of whom live in a large and mysterious house in what I think... - [Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith](https://bookwi.se/delighting-in-the-trinity/): Summary: The Trinity is not just one of our theological points, it is essential to the entire Christian faith. My year of reading about the Trinity has been... - [The Myth of a Christian Nation by Gregory A Boyd](https://bookwi.se/myth/): There are lot of books out there about how Christians should (or should not) engage in politics, but I've had three popular-level works on my to-read list... - [The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P Kelly](https://bookwi.se/trumpeter-of-krakow/): When I was in 5th grade I aspired to reading every single Newberry Medal winner. I never succeeded, but I'm pretty sure I beat out everyone else in my... - [Fangirl by Rainbow Roswell](https://bookwi.se/fangirl/): Summary: A college coming of age novel about a young writer of fanfiction. For all of my reading, I have read very little fanfiction. But I loved another one... - [New Kindle Paperwhite Firmware](https://bookwi.se/new-kindle-paperwhite-firmware/): Amazon released new firmware for the 2nd Generation Kindle Paperwhite (5.4.2).  This firmware brings some promised features to the Paperwhite. Kindle... - [Mariette in Ecstasy by Ron Hansen](https://bookwi.se/mariette-in-ecstasy/): Summary: A young nun experiences the stigmata in a 1906 upstate New York convent. I do not remember where I was reading, but at some point earlier this year I... - [The Prestige By Christopher Priest](https://bookwi.se/prestige-christopher-priest/): I don't know if this makes me biased but my husband and I really like the movie, The Prestige.  I have been thinking that I should read this book for a while... - [Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (Book and Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/enders-game-by-orson-scott-card/): (Updated with movie review at the bottom of the post.) With Ender's Game, which was published in 1985, Orson Scott Card was successfully able to make guesses... - [The Yearling by Majorie Kinnan Rawlings](https://bookwi.se/yearling/): The Yearling was required summer reading my 7th grade year, and I likely would have hated it had I been forced to read it then (I started attending that... - [Corporal Punishment in the Bible: A Redemptive-Movement Hermeneutic for Troubling Texts by William Webb](https://bookwi.se/corporal-punishment/): Summary: A useful book to work through Hermeneutical issues (biblical interpretation) in modern culture, and worth reading as a book on parenting. One of the... - [The Undercover Revolution: How Fiction Changed Britain by Iain Murray](https://bookwi.se/undercover-revolution/): Iain H. Murray's book, The Undercover Revolution: How Fiction Changed Britain, has a fascinating premise--that the sharp uptick in the popularity of novels in... - [Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury](https://bookwi.se/fahrenheit-451/): Takeaway: Society has a responsibility for its own maintenance. Unlike most of the rest of the world, I did not read Fahrenheit 451 in high school.  (I didn't... - [The Triumph of Christianity by Rodney Stark – Favorites of 2012](https://bookwi.se/the-triumph-of-christianity/): Summary: An essential book for debunking historical myths about Christianity. Christian history is am important, but undervalued subject for Christian... - [Wayfaring: Essays Pleasant and Unpleasant by Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/wayfaring-essays/): The essay, in which a writer has ample space--but not too much--to meander across seemingly unrelated topics before eventually drawing them together with... - [Red to Black by Alex Dryden](https://bookwi.se/red-black-alex-dryden/): Summary: A spy story with the feel of John le Carré. If you like spy stories that feel like they could be real, with a healthy dash of paranoia and... - [How to Be Rich: It’s Not What You Have. It’s What You Do With What You Have. by Andy Stanley](https://bookwi.se/how-to-be-rich/): This is not a book about economics, and there are no tips inside on how to get rich. Instead, Andy Stanley is focused on how we modern Americans need to live... - [Bookwi.se is Taking a Few Days Off](https://bookwi.se/bookwi-se-taking-days/): It looks like I am off to the hospital with my wife for the birth of our daughter Henley Grace.  I have three weeks worth of book reviews already scheduled so... - [3 Giveaways](https://bookwi.se/3-giveaways/): There are three giveaways the I thought readers of Bookwi.se might be interested in. Sarah Beesley one of the bloggers at a Deeper Story is giving away five... - [Quintessence by David Walton](https://bookwi.se/quintessence-david-walton/): In an alternate version of the sixteenth century the world is flat, its outer edges still unexplored. An ambitious alchemist, a boundary-pushing doctor and his... - [Embracing Shared Ministry: Power & Status in the Early Church and Why It Matters Today](https://bookwi.se/shared-ministry/): Takeaway: Shared Ministry (not single head pastor) is both the biblical model and a more healthy form of leadership. Embracing Shared Ministry: Power and... - [Most Read Reviews in October](https://bookwi.se/read-reviews-october/): The six most read reviews in October The Book of Common Prayer: A Biography by Alan Jacob Divergent by Veronica Roth Year Zero by Rob Reid The Conscience of a... - [Whodunnit? – Murder in Mystery Manor and Murder on Mystery Island](https://bookwi.se/whodunnit/): The Whodunnit? book series is based on the television series of the same name.  The television series is an actual competition where 10 or so individuals are... - [Amazon’s New Kindle Book Sale Page](https://bookwi.se/amazons-new-kindle-book-sale-page/): Amazon has a new Kindle Countdown Deals Page. From reports it sounds like the page is supposed to tell you how long until the book is no longer on sale.  But... - [Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (Comparing Versions)](https://bookwi.se/ender/): Summary: A comparison of the difference in storyline between Ender's Game and Ender's Game Alive. After I listened to Ender's Game Alive last week (a... - [4 Kindle Tools You Should Use: Dictionary, Wikipedia, Translation, Content Errors](https://bookwi.se/dictionary/): Obviously I am a fan of ebooks.  But I am a fan, not just because they are portable, are sometimes cheaper, or because they don't take up shelf space.  I am... - [I Am John Galt by Donald Luskin and Andrew Gretta](https://bookwi.se/john-galt/): This book delivers on a fascinating concept: find real-world people who embody the virtues and vices of the protagonists and villains in Ayn Rand's novels.... - [Is the Reformation Over? An Evangelical Assessment by Mark Noll and Carolyn Nystrom](https://bookwi.se/is-the-reformation-over/): Summary: A very clear and balanced look at how the Evangelical and Catholic churches are moving closer but still have theological issues that hold them... - [Kindle Matchbook – Discounted or free Ebooks with Purchase of Print](https://bookwi.se/kindle-matchbook/): Amazon's Kindle Matchbook program was released overnight.  You can now check and see what print books that you have purchased in the past participate and what... - [Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism by Molly Worthen](https://bookwi.se/apostles-of-reason/): Takeaway: The strength and weakness of Evangelicalism as a movement is its attachment to culture and it flexibility around authority. Evangelicalism is my... - [Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power by Andy Crouch](https://bookwi.se/playing-god/): Takeaway: Power is too important for us as Christians to not think deeply about. This has been a hard review for me to write.  I finished Playing God nearly... - [Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Divergent #3)](https://bookwi.se/allegiant/): Short Review: I wanted to like it more than I did. But not nearly as bad as many of the reviews. Allegiant is the highly anticipated third book in dystopian... - [Huntress (A Grace Murphy Novel) by Nicole Hamlett](https://bookwi.se/huntress-a-grace-murphy-novel-by-nicole-hamlett/): Reposting this review because the Kindle version is free. Summary: Romance author, single mom, recent divorcee, Grace just found out she is the daughter of... - [Ender’s Game Alive (Full Cast Audioplay)](https://bookwi.se/enders-game-alive/): Summary: Interesting as a new version of the classic, but not as good as the full book. I am not an objective listener to Ender's Game Alive.  I have read... - [Return to the Willows by Jacqueline Kelly](https://bookwi.se/return-willows/): To attempt a sequel to one of the most beloved children's books in the Western cannon might seem audacious at best, arrogant at worst. But with only a few... - [The Rise of Evangelicalism: The Age of Edwards, Whitefield and the Wesleys by Mark Noll](https://bookwi.se/the-rise-of-evangelicalism/): Takeaway: Evangelicalism seems to keep having the same battles while trying to achieve the same successes. I try to read pretty much anything that Mark Noll... - [The Sword of Six Worlds by Matt Mikalatos](https://bookwi.se/the-sword-of-six-worlds/): Reposting the review of The Sword of Six Worlds because the the kindle edition is on sale for $2.99 Summary: A girl discovers she is the protector (Paladin) of... - [Silence: A Christian History by Diarmaid MacCulloch](https://bookwi.se/silence/): Bookwi.se has also reviewed the novel Silence by Shusaku Endo which is occasionally incorrectly linked to the book Silence by Diarmaid MacCulloch. Takeaway:... - [A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology](https://bookwi.se/a-little-book-for-new-theologians/): Summary: A wonderful little books for young pastors, academics and lay leaders on the importance of theology and the humble advice on how to do theology right.... - [Clouds of Witness by Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries #2)](https://bookwi.se/clouds-of-witness/): Summary: Lord Peter's brother is accused of murdering his sister's fiance and Peter has to find the truth. Dorothy Sayers is best known as an early 20th... - [A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (Movie and Book Review)](https://bookwi.se/clockwork-orange/): A Clockwork Orange is another case where I have seen the movie before reading the book.  My original impressions of the film were that watching the movie is... - [Borrowing a Book from Amazon Prime Lending Library](https://bookwi.se/borrowing-book-amazon-prime-lending-library/): On twitter I was asked about the likelihood of Amazon getting an Oyster-like feature (all you can read ebooks for a monthly fee.)  I think the 'all you can... - [Oyster, Now Open for Everyone, On the iPad and a Free Trial](https://bookwi.se/oyster-now-open-everyone-ipad-free-trial/): Earlier I reviewed Oyster, an all you can read plan for ebooks.  Or as most people describe it, "Netflix for ebooks".  The summary of my review is that it... - [The Book of Common Prayer: A Biography by Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/common-prayer/): Takeaway: English Christianity has been formed, whether you know it or not, by the Book of Common Prayer. I grew up Baptist. And I currently attend a... - [Year Zero: A Novel by Rob Reid](https://bookwi.se/year-zero-novel-rob-reid/): Summary: The universe is listening and may destroy the Earth as a result. I am a fan of the geek novel.  Because I am a wanna-be geek.  Not an actual geek,... - [Malala Yousafzai](https://bookwi.se/malala-yousafzai/): This is outside of my normal posts, but after having watched parts of this several times today I thought I would share. Below is a 3 part interview that Jon... - [Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions by Rachel Held Evans](https://bookwi.se/evolving-in-monkey-town-how-a-girl-who-knew-all-the-answers-learned-to-ask-the-questions-by-rachel-held-evans/): I am reposting this review from 2010 because Evolving in Monkey Town is on sale for $2.99 on Kindle. Summary: Coming of age in faith as well as years. I picked... - [And God Said “Billy!” by Frank Schaeffer](https://bookwi.se/billy/): Summary: A man leaves his family and heads to Hollywood to direct a film that God told him to direct. Frank Schaeffer is an acquired taste.  I have mostly... - [Amazon Matchmaker](https://bookwi.se/amazon-matchmaker/): Yesterday evening Amazon announced their Amazon Matchmaker program. (h/t Goodereader and Gospel ebooks). Amazon Matchmaker is a single location for Kindle... - [The Conscience of a Liberal by Paul Krugman](https://bookwi.se/liberal/): Takeaway: Mix of interesting and important questions with a handful of wild unsupported conspiracies. I picked up The Conscience of a Liberal on audiobook on a... - [The Mystery of God: Theology for Knowing the Unknowable](https://bookwi.se/mystery-of-god/):   Takeaway: The Mystery of God is a real part of historical Christian Theology.  But it is not useful as a way to explain away all the difficult parts of... - [Simply Christian by N T Wright](https://bookwi.se/simply-christian-wright/): Takeaway: A modern classic of what it means to be a Christian I am on an NT Wright kick.  I was given a copy of Jesus, Paul and the People of God for review... - [Night Film By Marisha Pessl](https://bookwi.se/night-film/): Night Film is Marisha Pessl's second novel about a New York investigator who gets in over his head when searching for the truth behind the mysterious... - [New Paperwhite Review (2013)](https://bookwi.se/new-paperwhite-review/): I have spent the weekend with the new Kindle Paperwhite and I am ready for the final review. Visually, it is almost indistinguishable from the first... - [Books Coming Soon](https://bookwi.se/books-coming-soon/): Prices are for Kindle Editions unless noted. The Screwtape Letters: The Annotated Edition by CS Lewis - $10.99 272 pages, releases Oct 8 On the occasion of the... - [God and Race in American Politics: A Short History by Mark Noll](https://bookwi.se/god-race-politics/): Takeaway: The story of American Politics, without God or Religion is an incomplete history. I very much respect Mark Noll's work as a historian.  So after... - [Oyster Book – An All You Can Read Ebook Plan – A Review](https://bookwi.se/oyster-initial-impressions/): Oyster is an all-you-can-read ebook subscription program.  Commonly described as Netflix-for-Books.  Officially it was opened up in September, but it is... - [Embracing Obscurity: Becoming Nothing in Light of God’s Everything](https://bookwi.se/embracing-obscurity/): I am reposting the review of this very good book because the Kindle version is on sale for $0.99 until Oct 7 Takeaway: Obscurity, humility, smallness.  All... - [The 8 Most Read Reviews at Bookwi.se in September 2013](https://bookwi.se/8-read-reviews-bookwi-se-september-2013/):     - [The Awakening of Hope: Why We Practice a Common Faith](https://bookwi.se/awakening-hope-practice-common-faith/): Summary: A modern narrative form of catechesis teaching. I have read several of Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's books previously (God's Economy and The Wisdom of... - [That Hideous Strength by CS Lewis (Space Trilogy #3)](https://bookwi.se/hideous-strength/): Summary: A woman starts having dreams about the future, and her estranged husband, a college Don, starts working with a secretive research organization called... - [Book Giveaway: Holy Is the Day by Carolyn Weber](https://bookwi.se/book-giveaway-holy-day-carolyn-weber/): InterVarsity Press mailed me a final copy of the excellent Holy is the Day by Carolyn Weber last week. I read (and reviewed) the Advance Copy (which I then... - [How I Changed My Mind about Women in Leadership: Compelling Stories from Prominent Evangelicals](https://bookwi.se/women-in-leadership/):   Takeaway: Stories make a difference. Listening to how people change their mind over difficult issues is a good exercise whether you are interested in... - [The Book Thief by Markus Zusak](https://bookwi.se/the-book-thief-by-markus-zusak/): Summary: Story of a young German girl during World War II who finds meaning through stealing books. It is always hard to come to a book with high expectations.... - [Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane by Suzanne Collins (Underworld Chronicles #2)](https://bookwi.se/bane/): Summary: Gregor leave New York to find his baby sister Boots, who has been kidnapped. A few months ago, Gregor and his 2 year old sister Boots were sucked into... - [Return to Rome: Confessions of an Evangelical Catholic](https://bookwi.se/return/): Summary: Evangelical Philosopher tells his story of conversion to Catholicism. Over the past 18 months or so I have been reading a variety of books about... - [New Kindle Fire Tablets](https://bookwi.se/new-kindle-fire-tablets/): Overnight Amazon released three new Kindle Fire Tablets. The Kindle Fire HD now starts at $139 making it the cheapest of the tablets, just $20 more than the... - [Offsite Review: Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-playing-god/): The year is not over, but Andy Crouch's new book Playing Good: Redeeming the Gift of Power is definitely on my short list of best books I have read this year.... - [The Elite by Kiera Cass (The Selection #2)](https://bookwi.se/elite/): Takeaway: To work within to transform the system or fight outside the system, that is the question. I was less than thrilled with the first book in this... - [The Civil War as Theological Crisis by Mark Noll](https://bookwi.se/civil-war/): Takeaway: Cultural blind spots affect our reading of scripture far more than we realize. There are very few books I have recommended more over the past year or... - [World War Z by Max Brooks (Book and Movie Review)](https://bookwi.se/world-war-z/): I'm not into zombie stories. I don't watch movies or tv shows about them (although I'm told The Waking Dead is quite good) and I don't usually read about them.... - [Offsite Review: God in My Everything by Ken Shigematsu](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-god-everything-ken-shigematsu/): Yesterday I posted a review of Kevin DeYoung's new book Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem.  DeYoung's book was helpful and I... - [Amazon Updates iOS Kindle App](https://bookwi.se/amazon-updates-ios-kindle-app/): Yesterday Amazon released and update to the Kindle app for Apple devices to go along with the update to iOS 7.  It was more than a visual update.  The update... - [Bonhoeffer, Christ and Culture edited by Johnson & Larsen](https://bookwi.se/bonhoeffer-christ-and-culture/): Summary: A Book summary of the 2011 Wheaton Theology Conference on Dietrich Bonhoeffer I am always so excited to read the book produced from the papers of... - [Two New Books by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/two-new-books-nt-wright/): I just picked up NT Wright's new The Case for the Psalms.  It is a fairly short book about why the Psalms are important to Christian worship and theology.... - [Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (Underland Chronicles #1)](https://bookwi.se/gregor-the-overlander/): Summary: An 11 year old boy and his sister get suck to a world beneath and realize that their missing father needs them to find him. I first noticed the... - [Offsite Review: Fight: A Christian Case for Nonviolence](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-fight-christian-case-nonviolence/): I am not a pacifist, but I do think that most Christians could stand to learn a bit more about what Christian pacifism really is all about, especially its long... - [Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows JK Rowling](https://bookwi.se/deathly-hallows/): Takeaway: I take it back, this is my favorite Harry Potter Just like Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, this is the first time I have re-read the book... - [Back on Murder by J Mark Bertrand (Roland March Mysteries #1)](https://bookwi.se/back-on-murder/): Summary: A police detective that has been off his game finds his way back. I don't read a lot of mysteries or police procedurals.  But Back on Murder has been... - [Meet the Austins by Madeleine L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/meet-the-austins/): Takeaway: I am glad that we have moved past the point where children's books have to be completely wholesome and teach morals.  Because they can be a bit... - [Digital Parenting With Pressgram](https://bookwi.se/digital-parenting-with-pressgram/): Pressgram was released yesterday for iphone (android coming later).  I have been using the alpha and beta test versions since they were released and I am very... - [Offsite Review: Reading the Christian Spiritual Classics](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-reading-christian-spiritual-classics/): You know how it can be hard to motivate yourself to do things that are good for you, even when you know you will enjoy them?  Well if you don't I do.  Once... - [The Boy In the Striped Pajamas by John Boynea](https://bookwi.se/striped-pajamas/): The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas is a novel by Irish author, John Boynea.  The story is about a 9-year-old German boy, Bruno, whose father becomes a very... - [An eInk Case for Your Galaxy S4](https://bookwi.se/eink-case-galaxy-s4/): (Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET) I am a fan of eInk technology.  It is low power, low eye-strain, good for lots of reading conditions.  So I am interested in the... - [Oyster: A New Netflix for eBooks – All you can read for $10 a month](https://bookwi.se/oyster/): Lilliputing and GoodEreader and others have articles about about the new Netflix-like all you can read ebook service from Oyster. Right now Oyster is iOs only... - [Redshirts by John Scalzi](https://bookwi.se/redshirts/): Reposting the review of Redshirts because it won the 2013 Hugo Award on Sept 1. Summary: The Redshirts realize they keep dying. If you are a fan of science... - [Two Announcements from Amazon – Kindle MatchBook and New Paperwhite](https://bookwi.se/two-announcements-amazon/): There were two announcements from Amazon this morning (one accidental). The first, and intended announcement is that Amazon is going to start Kindle MatchBook... - [Philosophy: A Student’s Guide by David Naugle](https://bookwi.se/philosophy/): Takeaway: Content may be king, but organization is important to communicate the message. I read because I love to read.  But one of the biggest reasons that I... - [10 Most Read Book Reviews for August 2013](https://bookwi.se/august-book-reviews/): The ten most read reviews during August 2013 - [The Death Cure by James Dashner (Maze Runner #3)](https://bookwi.se/the-death-cure/): Takeaway: Sometimes desperate situations lead to desperate measures.  But there should always be a limit if we are to claim the title human. The final book in... - [Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling (#6)](https://bookwi.se/half-blood-prince/): Takeaway: Even after I have read most of these books multiple times, Harry Potter is still engaging. I picked up Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince on a... - [John Knox for Armchair Theologians by Suzanne McDonald](https://bookwi.se/knox/): Takeaway: Ways of reading scripture that we take for granted as today were revolutionary in the past. Short histories, like the Armchair Theologian series or... - [Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell](https://bookwi.se/eleanor-park-by-rainbow-rowell/): Summary: A coming of age high school romance between two unlikely teens set in 1986. In the last year I read almost everything that John Green has written.... - [Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku](https://bookwi.se/physics-of-the-impossible/): Takeaway: My brain is not designed for complex physics. But I keep reading anyway. The premise of the book is fascinating.  Physicist Michio Kaku takes... - [Activist Faith: From Him and For Him by Burroughs, Darling and King](https://bookwi.se/activist-faith/): Takeaway: The particular work of the church and the individual Christian is less important than the fact that we are working in an area where we feel a... - [The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (Maze Runner #2)](https://bookwi.se/the-scorch-trials/): Takeaway: Would you consent if you knew that your death (or the deaths of your friends) might save millions? What if you had already consented, but you don't... - [A History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage](https://bookwi.se/six-glasses/): The Kindle version of this book is on sale for $1.99 today (Aug 24) Takeaway: Most drinks have become popular because safe water was not available.   It is... - [Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas](https://bookwi.se/bonhoeffer-pastor-martyr-prophet-spy-by-eric-metaxas/): Takeaway: The first popular biography of Bonhoeffer. Not perfect, but well worth reading. (Read Charles Marsh's biography instead) Like many Evangelicals I... - [The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood](https://bookwi.se/the-handmaids-tale-by-margaret-atwood/): Summary: A dystopian novel where women have become chattel and a theocratic government has taken over the US. The Handmaid's Tale was written in 1985 and I... - [New Sony Ereader Comes Out Sept 19](https://bookwi.se/new-sony-ereader-comes-sept-19/): Sony had always made solid, but relatively unimpressive ereaders.  Back in 2007-2008 when ereaders were just taking off, Sony was a major player.  But their... - [Offsite Review: An Unpredictable Gospel: American Evangelicals and World Christianity, 1812-1920](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-an-unpredictable-gospel-american-evangelicals-and-world-christianity-1812-1920/): John H Armstrong has introduced me to a number of good books. He has a wide ranging reading list and more importantly, he is interested in the whole church,... - [Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech](https://bookwi.se/walk-two-moons/): Takeaway: In a novel it seems to be appropriate to spread out a simple story over a five day car trip. I am a fan of young adult fiction.  But I often do not... - [Reverting to Type: A Reader’s Story by Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/reverting-to-type/): Takeaway: The background to a book can be as interesting as the book itself (so read those epilogues and acknowledgements and introductions, they are often... - [Offsite Review: Aliens in the Promise Land: Why Minority Leadership is Overlooked in White Christian Churches and Institutions](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-aliens-in-the-promise-land-why-minority-leadership-is-overlooked-in-white-christian-churches-and-institutions/): The church in the US has many things to say to culture about how to minister to the poor, how to advocate for the weak and how to value family.  But one area... - [Specs and Benchmarks for new Amazon Fire Tablets Leaked](https://bookwi.se/specs-and-benchmarks-for-new-amazon-fire-tablets-leaked/): Everyone suspects that Amazon will announce a complete refresh of the Kindle Fire Tablet line and probably a new version of eink Paperwhite sometime in the new... - [To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World by James Davidson Hunter](https://bookwi.se/to-change-the-world/): Summary: The irony from the title is that Hunter believes that we cannot really change the world. When I first started using Lendle, I did not realize that... - [Offsite: Sermonsmith](https://bookwi.se/sermonsmith/): Pastors are readers.  Based on a Barna research project the digital world is also changing the way Christians read. But within the church, the role of... - [The Beggar Queen by Lloyd Alexander (Westmark #3)](https://bookwi.se/beggar-queen/): Summary: The Queen takes a larger role in the final book of this trilogy. It is unfortunate that this series is out of print and not yet on kindle It does not... - [Where to Get Free Audiobooks](https://bookwi.se/where-to-get-free-audiobooks/): I am a fan of audiobooks.  About 1/3 of all of my reading is audiobook.  Goodereader Blog has a very good post about the huge growth of audiobooks... - [The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks (Movie and Book Review)](https://bookwi.se/the-lucky-one-by-nicholas-sparks-movie-and-book-review/): It is what it is and what it is is Nicholas Sparks.  I certainly would not even argue that it is Sparks at his best.  All the same, I enjoyed the book.  I... - [Offsite: Read GK Chesterton’s Orthodoxy Together](https://bookwi.se/offsite-read-gk-chestertons-orthodoxy-together/): Matthew Lee Anderson and Trevin Wax are hosting a group discussion of GK Chesterton's classic book Orthodoxy.  I have read Orthodoxy (but it has been a... - [Saint Francis of Assisi by GK Chesterton](https://bookwi.se/saint-francis/): Summary: A classic biography of St Francis from one of the great Christian authors of the 20th century. GK Chesterton's biography of St Francis is one of the... - [Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick](https://bookwi.se/silver-linings-playbook/): Summary: A man struggles to find love as he struggles to connect again with reality. I saw the movie before reading the book.  So there was not a surprise... - [The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting](https://bookwi.se/the-story-of-doctor-dolittle-by-hugh-lofting/): Summary: The original classic children's book, where a doctor and lover of animals learns to speak animal language. Audible.com gave away several short books... - [Yet Another Reason to Read](https://bookwi.se/yet-another-reason-to-read/): Because it slows cognitive decline as we age. - [What Kind of Reader Are You?](https://bookwi.se/what-kind-of-reader-are-you/): Please include attribution to Laura E. Kelly with this graphic. (Click to view at original large size.) Visit Laura-e-Kelly.com for more about books, reading,... - [The Kestrel by Lloyd Alexander (Westmark #2)](https://bookwi.se/the-kestrel/): Summary: Mickle (Queen Augusta) is on the throne, but now Westmark is being invaded by the Kingdom of Regina. My memory of this series is that it was the most... - [How The Bible Came To Be by J Daniel Hays and J Scott Duvall](https://bookwi.se/how-the-bible-came-to-be/): Takeaway: If we are going to take scripture seriously, we need to understand how it came to be. Part of the movement within Christianity and the modern world... - [Offsite: Christian Fiction is Not a Victimless Crime](https://bookwi.se/offsite-christian-fiction-is-not-a-victimless-crime/): I ran across a provocatively titled blog post Christian Fiction is Not a Victimless Crime today. The short version of the post is that most Christian fiction... - [The Selection by Kiera Cass](https://bookwi.se/the-selection/): Summary: Mix the Bachelor and Hunger Games, drop the blood, increase the romance and throw in a few dystopian elements and you get the Selection. I think like... - [The End of Our Exploring by Matthew Lee Anderson](https://bookwi.se/the-end-of-our-exploring/): Takeaway: An attitude of doubt and the ability to ask a good question are two different things. One of the problems of reading a large number of books on top... - [Offsite Review: After You Believe by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-after-you-believe-by-nt-wright/): I have not read a lot of NT Wright lately, but I have read many of his books.  One of the important parts of reading an author widely is that you can see a... - [Cashelmara by Susan Howatch](https://bookwi.se/cashelmara/): Summary: A multi-generational family drama based around the Irish estate Cashelmara. Cashelmara was originally published in 1974. It is a good example of the... - [Hourglass by Myra Mcentire](https://bookwi.se/hourglass/): I am reposting this review because this book, and the following book are on sale for $1.99. Summary: Emerson discovers that she is not just a messed up kid... - [Divergent by Veronica Roth](https://bookwi.se/divergent/): Summary: A utopian future that realizes it dystopian potential. If you are impatiently waiting for the Hunger Games movie, you should pick this up.  It is a... - [Tell It Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus in His Stories and Prayers by Eugene H. Peterson](https://bookwi.se/tell-it-slant-a-conversation-on-the-language-of-jesus-in-his-stories-and-prayers-by-eugene-h-peterson/): Takeaway: If theology was taught like this more often, it would not be such a bad word for so much of the church. I am a fan of Eugene Peterson. I think he is... - [Peter Pan by James Barrie](https://bookwi.se/peter-pan/): I have always loved the Peter Pan story.  I didn't realize how much I loved it until I found myself watching those new Tinker Bell movies on Netflix with my... - [New Bookwi.se Category – Book and Movie Reviews](https://bookwi.se/new-bookwi-se-category-book-and-movie-reviews/): A couple weeks ago Emily Flury (regular contributor at Bookwi.se) suggested a new category for Bookwi.se: Book and Movie Reviews.  These reviews will review... - [Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell](https://bookwi.se/eleanor-and-park/): I am pleased to report that Eleanor and Park By Rainbow Rowell is another book that can be included in a list of books that is redeeming the young adult genre.... - [Offsite: 7 Lesser Known CS Lewis Books Worth Reading](https://bookwi.se/offsite-7-lesser-known-cs-lewis-books-worth-reading/): This is the 50th Anniversary of CS Lewis' death.  That is why McGrath's new biography of Lewis was released along with his even newer academic treatment of... - [Westmark by Lloyd Alexander](https://bookwi.se/westmark/): Summary: A young adult coming of age book in a fictional 18th century setting. Lloyd Alexander is known for his Prydain novels (The High King, Book of Three,... - [The Other Wind by Ursula Le Guin (Earthsea Cycle #6)](https://bookwi.se/the-other-wind-by-ursula-le-guin-earthsea-cycle-6/): Summary: The final book of the Earthsea Cycle. Urusula Le Guin is one of the classic authors of young adult fantasy. I read the first three books in this... - [An Abundance of Katherines by John Green](https://bookwi.se/an-abundance-of-katherines-by-john-green/): An Abundance of Katherines is my second John Green novel. SInce I immensely enjoyed The Fault In Our Stars, this novel was recommended to me also. While I... - [The Fault In Our Stars by John Green](https://bookwi.se/the-fault-in-our-stars/): Summary: "The World is Not A Wish-Making Factory" (a frequently used line from the book that quite adequately sums up reality.) The Fault in Our Stars is... - [Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan](https://bookwi.se/dad-is-fat-by-jim-gaffigan-2/): As a departure from my usual fiction novel, Dad is Fat was a good book and an even funnier book to listen to. Of all the comedians, I enjoy Jim Gaffigan... - [Free by Chris Anderson: a post about the church](https://bookwi.se/free-by-chris-anderson-a-post-about-the-church/): This is one of the first reviews I wrote on what eventually became Bookwi.se. I am reposting it because Noisetrade is giving away the MP3 version of the... - [The Last Battle by CS Lewis (Chronicle of Narnia #7)](https://bookwi.se/the-last-battle/): Summary: For many, this is an early introduction to eschatology. It has been years since I have read the Last Battle (probably close to 25).  I know it is... - [Offsite Review: The End of Our Exploring by Matthew Lee Anderson](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-end-of-our-exploring-by-matthew-lee-anderson/): One of the best young public Christian intellectuals that I know of is Matthew Lee Anderson.  He is the lead blogger at MereOrthodoxy and author of Earthen... - [Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman](https://bookwi.se/light-between-oceans-by-m-l-stedman/): The Light Between Oceans was not a great book of fiction but it was pretty good. The reason, I believe, that it is so popular and is chosen for book clubs... - [Once a Spy by Keith Thomson](https://bookwi.se/once-a-spy-by-keith-thomson/): Once a Spy is today Kindle Daily Deal and on sale for $1.99.  Well worth reading at that price. Takeaway: An original take on the traditional spy novel. I... - [First Person Narrative in Books and Movies](https://bookwi.se/first-person-narrative-in-books-and-movies/): I am not a movie reviewer.  I am a not an expert in literature.  I read books and what I enjoy, I enjoy.  What I do not like, I do not like.  Sometimes I... - [Most Read Reviews in June 2013](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-in-june-2013/): The most read book reviews in June 2013: Holy is the Day: Living in the Gift of the Present by Carolyn Weber Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis (Space... - [From Russia With Love by Ian Fleming](https://bookwi.se/from-russia-with-love-by-ian-fleming/): Summary: Bond knowingly walks into a trap and still manages to get caught. Just over a week ago all of the James Bond novels were on sale in kindle format.... - [The Art of Letting Go: Living the Wisdom of St Francis](https://bookwi.se/the-art-of-letting-god-living-the-wisdom-of-st-francis/): Summary: Series of lectures on spiritual development. Over the last couple months I have come to the conclusion that Evangelicals (of whom I am one) are good... - [Hungry for God: Hearing God’s Voice in the Ordinary and Everyday by Margaret Feinberg](https://bookwi.se/hungry-for-god-hearing-gods-voice-in-the-ordinary-and-everyday-by-margaret-feinberg/): So how do you review a book that you were supposed to review 2 years ago?  I received a copy of the book from Amazon with my first Amazon Vine review.  And I... - [Offsite: 14 Books Becoming Movies](https://bookwi.se/offsite-14-books-becoming-movies/): Ender's Game Movie Poster Obviously I am a fan of books.  But I am also a fan of books being made into movies.  In part because I like to see things from a... - [Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple](https://bookwi.se/bernadette/): Summary: Good writing, mixed storyline. I picked up the audiobook of Where'd You Go, Bernadette from the library because I thought it has been nominated for an... - [The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas](https://bookwi.se/the-count-of-monte-cristo/): The Count of Monte Cristo is a really really really long novel. I checked and at 46 hours it is the longest novel that I have listened to. 1Q84 is at a very... - [The Complete Thinker: The Marvelous Mind of GK Chesterton](https://bookwi.se/the-complete-thinker/): Dale Ahlquist would rather be reading Chesterton than reading anyone else, and he wants to bring us, his readers, to the same place. I will readily affirm that... - [The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman](https://bookwi.se/the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane-by-neil-gaiman/): Takeaway: Fairytales are important, especially for adults. We need more fairy tales in the world. And I don't mean either vampire paranormal tales or... - [Offsite Review: Words for Readers and Writers: Spirit-Pooled Dialogues](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-words-for-readers-and-writers-spirit-pooled-dialogues/): I am a big fan of beautifully written words.  It is not just a good story, good stories are important and necessary for good fiction.  But there... - [Waterfi’s Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite](https://bookwi.se/waterfis-waterproof-kindle-paperwhite/): I am a huge fan of my - [Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro](https://bookwi.se/remains-of-the-day/): Summary: A Butler of one of the great houses in England reflects back on his life. Remains of the Day ended up in my reading list after being nominated for a... - [Plastic Donuts: Giving That Delights the Hearts of the Father](https://bookwi.se/plastic-donuts/): Summary: Quick read about the things that are important to think about when we think about Christian giving. Giving is something that church staff fear talking... - [Guest Post: Marketing Tips for Self-Published eBook Authors](https://bookwi.se/marketing-tips/): Welcome Jori Sams, author of several independent books with an article about ebook marketing. A Picture of a eBook (Photo credit: Wikipedia One night I was... - [Catholic Spiritual Practices: A Treasury of Old and New](https://bookwi.se/catholic-spiritual-practices-a-treasury-of-old-and-new/): Summary: Short introductions to a variety of spiritual practices. This book is good for what it is, concise introductions to spiritual practices. But the... - [Volcanoes by Nicole Hamlett (A Grace Murphy Novel)](https://bookwi.se/volcanoes/): Summary: Third book in a fun adventure series where a single mom finds out she is the daughter of the Diana (of Greek God fame) and suddenly has a variety of... - [Rifts by Nicole Hamlett (A Grace Murphy Novel)](https://bookwi.se/rifts/): I am on vacation this week, so only pre-written reviews will be posted. Everything will be back to normal next week. Summary: Everyday single mom finds out she... - [The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory](https://bookwi.se/the-elegant-universe/): Summary: An 'introductory' look at superstring theory and the quest for a unified theory of physics. Every once in a while I feel like I need to try to read... - [Offsite Review: Faith and Creeds by Alister McGrath](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-faith-and-creeds-by-alister-mcgrath/): The older I get the more I think Christians need to pay attention to the traditional creeds of Christianity.  And I think there is increasing interest in... - [The Great Gatsby (Movie and Audiobook Review)](https://bookwi.se/great-gatsby/): The Great Gatsby is simply a an excellent work of American fiction. I don't many people who will argue otherwise so I will not review the book itself. While I... - [Most Read Book Reviews in May](https://bookwi.se/most-read-book-reviews-in-may/): The most read book review posts in May.  Also you might want to check out the four part series on suggested books for Summer ( - [Absolute Truths by Susan Howatch (Church of England #6)](https://bookwi.se/absolute-truths-by-susan-howatch-church-of-england-6/): Takeaway: Best of the series. God's Truth matters more than our own presentation of God's Truth. This last book of the Church of England series has been the... - [Summer Beach Reads – Part 4 – New Releases](https://bookwi.se/summer-beach-reads-part-4-coming-out-soon/): This is part four in a series of suggested summer reads.   - [Sacred Marriage DVD and Participant Guide](https://bookwi.se/sacred-marriage-dvd-and-participant-guide/): Summary: Great book, disappointing discussion guide. I am a big fan of the book Sacred Marriage.  My wife and I read it six or seven years ago and thought it... - [Non-Fiction Beach Reads – Part 3 – Non-Fiction](https://bookwi.se/non-fiction-beach-reads-part-3-non-fiction/): This is part 3 of my series on potential beach reads for this summer.  Bookwi.se Review (Second Reading) 474 pages, 146 of 167 reviews are 4 or 5-star This... - [Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Man Who Would Cure the World](https://bookwi.se/mountains-beyond-mountains/): Takeaway: An example of what one person, with help, can do to change the world. Paul Farmer is one of the heroes of the modern medical world.  A man of... - [Summer Beach Reads – Part 2 – More Fiction](https://bookwi.se/summer-beach-reads-part-2-more-fiction/): Yesterday, I posted part Wool is still an independent series that is just being published in paperback because it has sold so well. Wool is a dystopian world... - [What is the Trinity? by RC Sproul](https://bookwi.se/what-is-the-trinity/): Summary: Short Introduction to the Trinity. Last week RC Sproul and his publisher (Reformation Trust) released the entire Crucial Questions series for free on... - [Beach Read Suggestions – Part 1](https://bookwi.se/beach-read-suggestions/): Summer is a traditional time for reading.  Vacations, beach, pool all give us time to relax, unwind and read. I have three posts of books so far (Fiction Part... - [The Genius of Ancient Man: Evolution’s Nightmare! by Don Landis](https://bookwi.se/the-genius-of-ancient-man-evolutions-nightmare-by-don-landis/): The authors of this book are very straightforward about the assumptions underlying their approach to science: they believe the Bible is true and authoritative,... - [The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova](https://bookwi.se/the-swan-thieves-by-elizabeth-kostova/): Summary: I gave up after 40 percent because I just didn't care any more. I borrowed Swan Thieves from the library because I loved Kostova's first book, The... - [Sony 13.3 inch Ereader](https://bookwi.se/sony-13-3-inch-ereader/): This week is SID Display week, a trade show for display makers.  The guys at Goodereader are at the show looking at the new displays for ereaders. Sony has a... - [Mystical Paths by Susan Howatch (Church of England #5)](https://bookwi.se/mystical-paths/): Summary: The son of Jon Darrow, Nicholas, has to come to his own faith and purpose.   I am continuing to really enjoy the Church of England Series.  Mystical... - [Jesus is Lord, Ceasar is Not: Evaluating Empire in the New Testament](https://bookwi.se/jesus-is-lord/): Summary: Jesus is Lord does not necessarily mean that early Christians were also saying Caesar is not. Jesus is Lord, Caesar is Not sounded like a great... - [Overdrive Launches Big Library Read](https://bookwi.se/overdrive-launches-big-library-read/): Overdrive is the system that most libraries uses to distribute ebooks and downloadable audiobook via the web to its patrons.  Starting last week (May 15th)... - [2500th Post](https://bookwi.se/2500th-post/): This is the 2500th post on Bookwi.se.  Thanks for supporting us. - [Third Shift – Pact – Part 8 of Silo Series by Hugh Howey](https://bookwi.se/third-shift/): Summary: The final of the second series. Hugh Howey is an independent author phenomenon.  Most authors do not make $15-20,000 a month and decide to turn down... - [Offsite Review: Into the Free by Julie Cantrell](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-into-the-free-by-julie-cantrell/): Parchment Girl is blogging regularly again and has a newly updated blog design.  I appriciate her reviews because she reviews so many books I would not... - [Scandalous Risks by Susan Howatch (Church of England #4)](https://bookwi.se/scandalous-risks/): Summary: A young woman recounts her affair with the Dean of Starbridge. One of the things I have enjoyed about reading the Church of England series is learning... - [Pandora Park by Piers Anthony](https://bookwi.se/pandora-park-by-piers-anthony/): Summary: Two children find their way into a magic park. This is Piers Anthony's first children's book and it shows. It isn't horrible, but Anthony doesn't... - [Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn](https://bookwi.se/ella-minnow-pea-by-mark-dunn/): Nollop is a (fictional) sovereign state on a small island off the coast of South Carolina, named for the man who purportedly composed the famous pangram: "The... - [Who’s Tampering With the Trinity? by Millard Erickson](https://bookwi.se/tampering-with-the-trinity/): Takeaway: Erickson focuses on how to disagree well and evaluate different Christian positions.  As I have been reading about the trinity over the past two... - [Ebooks now make up 20% of Total Publisher Revenue](https://bookwi.se/ebooks-now-make-up-20-of-total-publisher-revenue/): English: A Picture of a eBook (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The annual survey of publishers, BookStats, is out and like recent years there was a significant... - [The Fiddler’s Gun (Fin’s Revolution #1) by A.S. Peterson](https://bookwi.se/the-fiddlers-gun/): Phineas (Fin) Button is a tomboy and a fighter. She's spent all of her 19 rebellious years causing trouble at an orphanage near Savannah, Georgia, in the... - [Beer Is Proof God Loves Us: Reaching for the Soul of Beer and Brewing by Charles W Bamforth](https://bookwi.se/beer-is-proof-god-loves-us-reaching-for-the-soul-of-beer-and-brewing-by-charles-w-bamforth/): This book is free today on Kindle, so I am reposting this review from 2010. Takeaway: Short, very informative book about the state of beer in the world from a... - [Amazon Bought Liquavista (Color e-Paper Maker)](https://bookwi.se/amazon-bought-liquavista-color-e-paper-maker/): Image via CrunchBase Yesterday Amazon confirmed that they bought Liquavista from Samsung.  Samsung bought them in 2011 but never did anything with the... - [Ultimate Prizes by Susan Howatch (Church of England #3)](https://bookwi.se/ultimate-prizes/): Summary: An Archdeacon, with a fondness for drink, seeks after his debutante. The Church of England Series continues to enthrall me.  As I write this I am... - [Offsite: Straining at the Oars: Case Studies in Pastoral Leadership](https://bookwi.se/offsite-straining-at-the-oars-case-studies-in-pastoral-leadership/): I am not a pastor, (but I play one on TV).  No I don't, but I did go to seminary and in many ways I quite understand many people's frustration with pastoral... - [The Fault in Our Stars by John Green](https://bookwi.se/the-fault-in-our-stars-2/): First, a note about the author: John Green has had success as an online vlogger, as well as an author. In 2007, John and his brother, Hank, who lived in... - [Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works by James KA Smith](https://bookwi.se/imagining-the-kingdom/): Takeaway: Worship, Spiritual Development, Discipleship, all are based on what we do, not just what we think.  Plans for growth and worship based primarily on... - [Offsite: John Le Carré](https://bookwi.se/offsite-john-le-carre/): Yesterday as I was sorting through my RSS feed I ran across several John Le Carré articles on Slate.  Since I posted a review of Smiley's People (last book... - [Smiley’s People (A George Smiley Novel) by John le Carré](https://bookwi.se/smileys-people/): Summary: Smiley catches Karla's trail again. This is the sixth George Smiley I have read since August.  It is also the third of the sub-trilogy that started... - [Offsite Review: Prototype by Jonathan Martin](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-prototype-by-jonathan-martin/): James Matichuk is certainly the person I seem to link to most often on these offsite reviews. He reviews books that are interesting to me and he seems to have... - [Through the Eye of a Needle by Peter Brown](https://bookwi.se/through-the-eye-of-a-needle/): Takeaway: The variety of ways that the Christian church understands wealth and economics has a long history. One of the reasons that we should read Christian... - [Giveaway of Print Copies of Permission to Speak Freely](https://bookwi.se/giveaway-of-print-copies-of-permission-to-speak-freely/): I have read both of Anne Miller's books, Permission to Speak Freely and Mad Church Disease.  Both are worth reading.  But Permission to Speak Freely is one... - [Heat Wave (Nikki Heat) by Richard Castle](https://bookwi.se/heat-wave/): Summary: First of a series of book that are written to be the books of Richard Castle (the author in the TV series Castle.) My wife and I are huge fans of the... - [Offsite Review: Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-dad-is-fat-by-jim-gaffigan/): I am a fan of Jim Gaffigan.  I love to read.  I will be a dad soon.  So this new book by Jim Gaffigan on parenting (reviewed at the very good site... - [A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A. W. Tozer by Lyle Dorsett](https://bookwi.se/a-passion-for-god-the-spiritual-journey-of-a-w-tozer-by-lyle-dorsett/): Takeaway: God uses people. They will not be perfect, but those that are used, are usually changed by God. A. W. Tozer has had a resurgence in my world lately.... - [Dude, You’re Gonna Be a Dad! by John Pfeiffer](https://bookwi.se/dude/): Summary: Humorous look at the pregnancy process from the Dad's perspective. If you are just joining us, my wife is pregnant and our first child is due in... - [The Year I Almost Drowned by Shannon McCrimmon](https://bookwi.se/the-year-i-almost-drowned/): Summary: 19 Year old Finn just found her grandparents, the love of her life and started college.  A couple weeks ago I went on cruise.  I did almost nothing... - [Enemies of the Heart: Breaking Free from the Four Emotions that Control You by Andy Stanley](https://bookwi.se/enemies-stanley/): April 30th is the last day to get Enemies of the Heart free as an MP3 Audiobook from Christianaudio.com Takeaway: Emotions can harm us.  Spiritual Disciplines... - [Offsite Review: The Relational Pastor by Andrew Root](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-relational-pastor-by-andrew-root/): I have been increasingly impressed with James Matichuk's reviews on his blog Thoughts, Prayers and Songs.  Yesterday he posted a glowing review of The... - [Reflections on the Psalms by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/reflections-on-the-psalms-by-cs-lewis/): Summary: Lewis reads the Psalms as an insightful outsider. I am continuing my quest to read more CS Lewis after reading McGrath's new biography a few weeks... - [Glamorous Powers by Susan Howatch (Church of England #2)](https://bookwi.se/glamorous-powers/): Takeaway: Even spiritual directors need spiritual directors. I promise I will wait a few days before I review another book from the series, but I am a bit... - [Abba, Give Me a Word: The Path of Spiritual Direction by Roger Owens](https://bookwi.se/abba-give-me-a-word/): Summary: A guide to the need and experience of what it means to be under spiritual direction. After reading fictional account of spiritual direction in Susan... - [Offsite: Christian Century Short Reviews](https://bookwi.se/offsite-christian-century-short-reviews/): I am not a subscriber to Christian Century, but I do occasionally read it and I have an RSS on their book reviews (most of which are subscriber only.)  But... - [Glittering Images by Susan Howatch (Church of England Series #1)](https://bookwi.se/glittering-images/): Summary: Internal Church of England political intrigue from 1937. This is another one of those books that someone recommended (Rhett Smith) and I bought, but... - [Why Frontlight is Important](https://bookwi.se/why-frontlight-is-important/): The guys at Goodereader.com ran through a comparison the Kobo Aura HD against all of the other major front lit ereaders. I was most interested in their... - [E-Readers and Reading Comprehension](https://bookwi.se/e-readers-and-reading-comprehension/): Salon posted an article (originally in Scientific American) about ereaders and reading comprehension on Sunday (h/t Marc Cortez) that I think sums up a lot... - [Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature Is Almost Certainly False](https://bookwi.se/mind-and-cosmos/): The basic thesis is pretty self explanatory from the title alone; what makes it extra fascinating is that Nagel is an atheist. He argues that evolutionary... - [The Summer I Learned to Dive by Shannon McCrimmon](https://bookwi.se/the-summer-i-learned-to-dive-by-shannon-mccrimmon/): Takeaway: Coming of age means realizing your dreams may not be what is important. I am not sure why I enjoy reading young adult coming of age books, but there... - [Offsite Review: The New Kobo Aura HD Ereader Revew](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-new-kobo-aura-hd-ereader-revew/): Goodereader.com has an advance hands on review of the new Kobo Aura HD ereader.  Kobo has been making solid, but unimpressive ereaders for a while.  But... - [Portofino: A Novel (Calvin Becker Trilogy) by Frank Schaeffer](https://bookwi.se/portofino/): Takeaway: Frank Schaeffer's autobiographical novel has the unique ability to tell difficult truths without making the characters completely unlikable. Just... - [M-Edge – Great Customer Service](https://bookwi.se/m-edge-great-customer-service/): Guardian Waterproof Case (image credit Engaget) Last week I went on my first cruise.  I unexpectedly was the subject of a lot of pictures from strangers... - [Back on Murder (A Roland March Mystery, #1) by J. Mark Bertrand](https://bookwi.se/back-on-murder-a-roland-march-mystery-1-by-j-mark-bertrand/): Roland March used to be a rising star as a homicide detective, but after a family tragedy knocked the wind out of him, so to speak, he's lost the respect of... - [Offsite: 50 Books for Aspiring Seminarians](https://bookwi.se/offsite-50-books-for-aspiring-seminarians/): English: The main entrance to the Sofia Seminary building. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) I always like to glance through book lists.  The Christian Humanist Blog... - [Psalms: the Prayerbook of the Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://bookwi.se/psalms-the-prayer-books-of-the-bible-by-dietrich-bonhoeffer/): Summary: A (very) short Christological look at the psalms for prayer. About a year ago I re-read Life Together in the new translation.  At the time I was... - [Camilla by Madeline L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/camilla/): I am on vacation this week, so this is a 'best of' review. Summary: Coming of age novel the way coming of age novels should be written.  All about realizing... - [Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/letters-to-malcolm-chiefly-on-prayer-by-cs-lewis/): Takeaway: There is real value in working through ideas with friends. I picked this up yesterday with some promotional credits from Audible.com.  I have wanted... - [Assaulted by Joy: the redemption of a cynic by Stephen Simpson](https://bookwi.se/assaulted-by-joy-the-redemption-of-a-cynic-by-stephen-simpson/): I am on vacation this week. So this is a 'best of review'. Assaulted by Joy is a good example of what seems to be a new genre of Christian memoir.  These are... - [Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson](https://bookwi.se/jobs/): Takeaway: It seem a rule of life that great people are also greatly broken people. Steve Jobs is one of the few books that I have read recently that is being... - [On Vacation](https://bookwi.se/on-vacation/): I thought I would get a couple more posts in buy I ran out of time. I am now on vacation until April 13. I have some 'best of' reviews set to auto-post during... - [A Little Exercise for Young Theologians by Helmut Thielicke](https://bookwi.se/little-exercise-for-young-theologians/): Summary: A classic book of advice for young pastors and theologians. I have previously read A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology,... - [Offsite Review: Amazon Kindle Fire HD](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-amazon-kindle-fire-hd/): I am a regular reader of the Churchm.ag blog. It is a great technology blog focused on church staff and volunteers.  I even have posted there once or twice.... - [Taking God Seriously by J. I. Packer](https://bookwi.se/taking-god-seriously-by-j-i-packer/): Takeaway: What we believe and how we act is important to who we are as Christians. (Just wish the book was more about that.) I really want to like this book... - [Offsite Review: The 5 Love Languages of Children](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-5-love-languages-of-children/): In case you are wondering (and are a facebook or twitter friend) yesterday's announcement of my wife's pregnancy was real.  So I am anticipating reading... - [Ebooks vs. Physical Books vs. Used Books – The Changing Book Market](https://bookwi.se/ebooks-vs-physical-books-vs-used-books-the-changing-book-market/): This is a guest post from Sylvia Nankivell one of the owners of http://www.usedbooksearch.net, a price comparison site for used books Books (Photo credit:... - [Creating With God: The Holy Confusing Blessedness of Pregnancy](https://bookwi.se/creating-with-god/): Takeaway: Pregnancy, as spiritual discipline and holy work, is often not as valued in the Evangelical world as it should be.  This book does much to rectify... - [Offsite Review: Pub Theology by Bryan Berghoef](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-pub-theology-by-bryan-berghoef/): I almost picked up Pub Theology: Beer, Conversation and God to review when it came out last summer.  But I had too many review books already and I decided to... - [Another Best Books List](https://bookwi.se/another-best-books-list/): AListOfBooks.com is a compilation of 13 'top 100 Books' lists that have been combined and sorted into one master list.  It has 623 different books and the... - [Silence by Shusaku Endo](https://bookwi.se/silence-by-shusaku-endo/): Takeaway: A perfect book to read Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Silence is a difficult book.  It is not difficult to read but it is difficult because of the... - [Amazon Is Buying Goodreads.com](https://bookwi.se/amazon-is-buying-goodreads-com/): I am a big fan of Goodreads.com.  It is the best (in my opinion) of the social networks for readers.  I have been tracking all of my book reading there for... - [The Kindle Touch: Back from the Dead – Now What Kindle to Buy?](https://bookwi.se/what-kindle-to-buy/): Evidently, a software upgrade was enough to bring the Kindle Touch (that hasn't been sold new at Amazon in about 6 months) back from the dead.  The Touch has... - [Offsite Review: The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-pastor-a-memoir-by-eugene-peterson/): Since reading Matt Rddmond's excellent book the God of the Mundane, I have been a subscriber to his blog.  Today he posted a 'non-review' of Eugene Peterson's... - [Offsite Review: Imagining the Kingdom](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-imagining-the-kingdom/): I am still a few pages short of finishing Imagining the Kingdom.  I will post my review next week.  I am convinced that it is an important book for those... - [The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone–Especially Ourselves](https://bookwi.se/honest-truth/): Takeaway: We do not always know why we do what we do, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't try to understand. I am a fan of behavioral economics.  Basically it is... - [Kindles on Planes by Next Year](https://bookwi.se/kindles-on-planes-by-next-year/): I am a big fan of kindles.  I vastly prefer digital books (either audio or kindle) to paper.  Part of it is connivence, part of it is clutter.  The only... - [Offsite: Silence by Shusaku Endo](https://bookwi.se/offsite-silence-by-shusaku-endo/): Slow Church Blog has a post (from the book Besides the Bible: 100 Books that Have, Should or Will Create Christian Culture) about Shusaku Endo's masterpiece... - [Kindle Touch Software Upgrade Makes it More like the Paperwhite](https://bookwi.se/kindle-touch-software-upgrade-makes-it-more-like-the-paperwhite/): The Kindle Touch, a now discontinued, Kindle has a major software upgrade today.  The Touch now has an entirely new menu and interface to make it almost... - [The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason](https://bookwi.se/rule-of-four/): Summary: An intellectually satisfying novel about four college students on the verge of solving the mystery of a well-known but inscrutable renaissance... - [The Innocence of Father Brown by GK Chesterton](https://bookwi.se/the-innocence-of-father-brown-by-gk-chesterton/): Summary: A series of short stories, originally serialized, about a mystery solving priest. I am trying to read more old books that have stood the test of time.... - [Offsite: Interview with Rachel Marie Stone about Eat With Joy](https://bookwi.se/offsite-interview-with-rachel-marie-stone-about-eat-with-joy/): Lavonne Neff, a regular contributor at Christianity Today, has a very good interview with Rachel Marie Stone, author of the new Eat With Joy: Redeeming God's... - [Offsite: Interview with James Smith about Imagining the Kingdom](https://bookwi.se/offsite-interview-with-james-smith-about-imagining-the-kingdom/): I am getting close to being finished with James KA Smith's new book Imagining the Kingdom.  I am both very impressed with the books and a little puzzled by... - [Offsite: When Theology Becomes an Assault Weapon](https://bookwi.se/offsite-when-theology-becomes-an-assault-weapon/): I think about about how to properly share the idea that I wrestle out of books.   So many books have good pieces that are mixed up in a bad book.  And so... - [On to Round 2 of the Best Christian Book of All Time](https://bookwi.se/on-to-round-2-of-the-best-christian-book-of-all-time/): The Emerging Scholars Blog is doing a March Madness style tournament to determine the best Christian Book of All Time.  Round one is over and there is a post... - [The Quest for the Trinity by Stephen R Holmes](https://bookwi.se/the-quest-for-the-trinity/): Summary: An important look at the historical development of the Doctrine of the Trinity and how modern language drift has changed the historical definitions. I... - [Best Christian Book of All Time Bracket](https://bookwi.se/best-christian-book-of-all-time-bracket/): I am NOT a sports fan.  I know in March college basketball has a tournament and lots of people work up brackets and win and lose lots of money betting on the... - [Offsite: 10 Books About Pope Francis](https://bookwi.se/offsite-10-books-about-pope-francis/): Anyone who has read more than 2 posts at Bookwi.se knows that I am a big fan of digital publishing.  The only time I consistently reading paper books is... - [Offsite Review: Imagining the Kingdom by James K.A. Smith](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-imagining-the-kingdom-by-james-k-a-smith/): I am about 1/3 of the way through Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works by James KA Smith.  It is not an easy book to read, (fortunately for me according... - [The Human Division (Episodes 4-10) by John Scalzi](https://bookwi.se/the-human-division-episodes-4-10-by-john-scalzi/): Summary: A 13 episode series of connected short stories set in John Scalzi's Old Man's War universe. I have long been in favor of authors and publishers... - [Offsite Review: Fruit at Work by Chris Evans](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-fruit-at-work-by-chris-evans/): Work, the stuff that the average Christian does to support themselves and their families, is often undervalued by the church except as a means for funding... - [Kindle Paperwhite Software Update](https://bookwi.se/kindle-paperwhite-software-update/): Amazon announced an update (5.3.4) to the Paperwhite software.  If you have a Paperwhite you can make sure it is connected to wifi and it will likely update... - [Offsite Review: The Romance of Grace by Jim McNeely](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-romance-of-grace-by-jim-mcneely/): I am convinced that Grace, while being one of the topics that Christian like to talk about most, is one of the topics that Christians understand least and talk... - [Evangellyfish by Douglas Wilson](https://bookwi.se/evangellyfish/): Chad Lester is an extremely successful megachurch pastor who secretly sleeps with as many women as he can (literally) get his hands on. Most of the church... - [Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award](https://bookwi.se/amazon-breakthrough-novel-award/): For the past several years, Amazon has had a Breakthrough Novel Award contest.  This year, Amazon has included multiple categories and has changed the awards... - [Tales of the Dim Knight by Andrea and Adam Graham](https://bookwi.se/dales-of-the-dim-knight-by-andrea-and-adam-graham/): Summary: Good idea. The world biggest comic book fan becomes a superhero. In general I read a lot of Christian non-fiction and very little Christian fiction.... - [Wool – Books 1-3 by Hugh Howey](https://bookwi.se/wool-books-1-3-by-hugh-howey/): Summary:  Creative post-apocalyptic independent novel. Whenever I hear about the death of publishing I tend to 1) dismiss the claim, 2) remind the person of... - [Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI](https://bookwi.se/jesus-of-nazareth/): Summary: First of a trilogy of books about Jesus written by Pope Benedict XVI written after he became Pope. I have heard repeatedly and from various people how... - [Deep Things of God: How The Trinity Changes Everything by Fred Sanders](https://bookwi.se/deep-things-of-god/): Takeaway: The Trinity is who God is, not just how God reveals himself. I am glad there is a new interest in the Trinity among the Evangelical world.  Like... - [Wool on Wall Street Journal](https://bookwi.se/wool-on-wall-street-journal/): Hugh Howey, author of the Wool series, was the feature of a very good article on Wall Street Journal over the weekend.  The article is about how independent... - [Offsite Note: Harry Potter for Charity](https://bookwi.se/offsite-note-harry-potter-for-charity/): Goodereader.com has a post about JK Rowling bringing two of her suplemental books about Harry Potter to ebook format for charity. Two books (Quidditch Through... - [Living the Resurrection by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/living-peterson/): Takeaway: Good introduction to Peterson's idea of 'practicing resurrection' through engagement within the church. I am pretty invested in Amazon's store... - [The Catholic Church: What Everyone Needs to Know by John Allen Jr](https://bookwi.se/the-catholic-church-what-everyone-needs-to-know-by-john-allen-jr/): Summary: A well written succinct account of the Catholic church.  Primarily concerned with the workings and practice of the church. Written in a question... - [Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel Review](https://bookwi.se/wrinkle-in-time-the-graphic-novel-review/): Reposting review because the book is now available in a Kindle Edition Summary: The wonderful story with a new comic book feel in honor of its... - [Marvel Unlimited Now on iOS](https://bookwi.se/marvel-unlimited-now-on-ios/): English: Logo of Marvel Comics (Photo credit: Wikipedia) A few years ago before I started regularly blogging when I had first picked up my iPad, I started... - [Offsite Review: Good Busy by Julia Scatliff O’Grady](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-good-busy-by-julia-scatliff-ogrady/): I am not the most driven person around.  In fact, I am pretty lazy.  Apart from reading, I tend to procrastinate on just about everything.  I like to say... - [Bossypants by Tina Fey](https://bookwi.se/bossypants/): Kindle book dropped to $5.99 so I am reposting the review. Takeaway: Funny memoir, and surprisingly insightful discussion about the role of women in... - [Offsite Review: St Francis and Brother Duck: A Graphic Novel](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-st-francis-and-brother-duck-a-graphic-novel/): I have realized that one of the big reasons I am a reader is that I was given age appropriate books that sparked my imagination.  Different kids need... - [Offsite Review: 4 Theology Books for Youth Ministry by Andrew Root](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-4-theology-books-for-youth-ministry-by-andrew-root/): There is a upsurge in attention on strengthening youth ministry.  Many people (youth and leaders) are no longer interested in youth ministry as entertainment.... - [Offsite Review: Killing Calvinism by Greg Dutcher](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-killing-calvinism-by-greg-dutcher/): Critiquing someone that you mostly agree with is one of the hardest things to do well.  But I think it is important that groups (of whatever sort) try to... - [Operation Screwtape: The Art of Spiritual War by Andrew Farley](https://bookwi.se/operation-screwtape/): Summary: A modern take on CS Lewis' Screwtape Letters. I remember reading CS Lewis' Screwtape Letters when I was pretty young.  I am not sure, but I think I... - [iTunes U Passed 1 Billion Textbook Downloads](https://bookwi.se/itunes-u-passed-1-billion-textbook-downloads/): Goodereader.com posted today that iTunesU has passed the 1 billion textbooks download since opening in.  iTunes was launched in 2005 as a partnership with... - [Second Shift – Order (Wool #7) by Hugh Howey](https://bookwi.se/second-shift-order-wool-7-by-hugh-howey/): Summary: Now that we know the background of the silos, we return to a different perspective, the instigators. One of the unique perspectives that Hugh Howey... - [Offsite: Children’s Bible Reviews from Christian Century](https://bookwi.se/offsite-childrens-bible-reviews-from-christian-century/): Earlier this year, a friend tweeted that her 6 year old daughter had started reading her husband's Manga (comic book) bible.  She also was reminded that the... - [Offsite Review: Soul Unfinished by Robert Atwell](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-soul-unfinished-by-robert-atwell/): I have been very interested in the Paraclete Press sale.  I have read a number of the books (and reposted reviews for them).  If I had unlimited time and... - [Buying Your Way Onto the Bestseller’s List](https://bookwi.se/buying-your-way-onto-the-bestsellers-list/): The New York Times logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia) I have recently discovered a good blog about ereader news.  There have been several interesting articles,... - [Offsite Review: 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family](https://bookwi.se/3-big-questions/): Rhett Smith, a marriage and family counselor and author of the very good The Anxious Christian and the upcoming What it Means to Be a Man has a four post... - [Do Not Update iOS Kindle App](https://bookwi.se/do-not-update-ios-kindle-app/): Update: The new update to 3.6.2 is out and is safe.  If you updated to 3.6.2 and did not open the app, updating to 3.6.2 and then opening the app is safe.... - [A Life Together: Wisdom from the Christian East by Seraphim Sigrist](https://bookwi.se/sigrist/): I am reposting this review because A Life Together is on sale for $2.99 for Kindle until March 1. Takeaway: Community, like all great Christian paradoxes, is... - [How (Not) to Speak of God by Peter Rollins](https://bookwi.se/rollins/): I am reposting this review because How (Not) to Speak of God is on sale for $2.99 for Kindle until March 1. I have read one other Peter Rollins book, The... - [Who is the Holy Spirit? A Walk With the Apostles by Amos Yong](https://bookwi.se/holy-spirit-yong/):   Version 1.0.0 Takeaway: The Holy Spirit is with us today just as he was with the apostles in Acts. Who is the Holy Spirit uses the parallel books of... - [Wisdom of Stability: Rooting Faith in a Mobile Culture](https://bookwi.se/the-wisdom-of-stability-rooting-faith-in-a-mobile-culture-by-jonathan-wilson-hartgrove/):   Takeaway: The hard work of building community and developing others has to start with a commitment to stability.  If we are serious about changing the... - [The Orthodox Heretic and Other Impossible Tales by Peter Rollins](https://bookwi.se/orthodox-heretic-rollins/): Takeaway: We as Christians need to continually search for meaning in scriptures. This was a free book on kindle a couple months ago.  It has 33 short... - [Offsite Review: Handbook of Women Biblical Interpretors](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-handbook-of-women-biblical-interpretors/): There is a small controversy going on about whether graduate students should blog or not.  (Will it negatively impact their future job prospects, no one... - [Offsite: Why Pastors Should Read Over Their Heads](https://bookwi.se/offsite-why-pastors-should-read-over-their-heads/): Keven DeYoung has a good blog post about why Pastors should read over their heads.  I think it is good for people that are not pastors as well. I know I try... - [Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke](https://bookwi.se/lit-reinke/): Summary: Advice for the reluctant reader. Lit opens with an explanation that its purpose is to convince people that do not like to read, why they should read.... - [Amazon Changes To Free Kindle Book Promotion](https://bookwi.se/amazon-changes-to-free-kindle-book-promotion/): English: Amazon Kindle wordmark. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) It appears that Amazon is concerned that free Kindle book promotion blogs are becoming too... - [Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/surprised-by-joy/): Summary: Memoir of CS Lewis' early life and how he came to faith. CS Lewis is an author that you just have to read if you are a Christian.  If you have not... - [Just Courage by Gary A. Haugen](https://bookwi.se/just-courage-by-gary-a-haugen/): Takeaway: It takes courage to stand up to violence.  But Christians should not be lacking in courage when we have Christ.  God desires to use us, not to keep... - [The Science of Fear: How Culture of Fear Manipulates Your Brain](https://bookwi.se/the-science-of-fear/): Takeaway: Humans are very bad as understanding risk whenever risk becomes complicated. The Science of Fear feels like a book that was written specifically for... - [New Book – Holy Is The Day by Carolyn Weber](https://bookwi.se/holy-is-the-day/): I follow a lot of book bloggers and publishers because I want to find out about good books. I am not intentionally focused on new books (I actually work pretty... - [Offsite Review: The Undead and Theology](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-undead-and-theology/): I am not a horror movie fan.  I like the occasional vampire book (both the Twilight and the Bram Stoker variety) and I have read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein... - [First Shift – Legacy (Wool #6) by Hugh Howey](https://bookwi.se/first-shift-legacy/): Summary: A Prequel to Wool, we find out how it all started or at least we start to find out. First Shift: Legacy (Wool #6) is the start to a prequel trilogy... - [2012 Best Books for Preachers](https://bookwi.se/2012-best-books-for-preachers/):   English: Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Al Mohler has a round up of the 2012 best books for... - [Offsite Review: The Underground Church by Robin Meyers](https://bookwi.se/underground-church-2/): My uncle recommended the Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Way of Jesus by Robin Meyers. I picked it up before Christmas but I have only read the... - [Bookish.com – Discover More Books](https://bookwi.se/bookish-com-discover-more-books/): Bookish.com, a new book recommendation website, has entered the fray. Bookish uses recommendation algorithms like Amazon or Goodreads, but also real... - [New Harry Potter Covers](https://bookwi.se/new-harry-potter-covers/): According to a Scholastic press release and a gawker article, Harry Potter is getting new covers to celebrate its 15th anniversary of the publication of... - [Offsite Review: The Quest for the Trinity by Stephen Holmes](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-quest-for-the-trinity-by-stephen-holmes-2/): Brian LePort has a good review of Quest for the Trinity at his blog NearEmmaus.com.  After reading several positive reviews of Quest for the Trinity I think... - [Offsite Review: Beyond Ordinary: When a Good Marriage isn’t Good Enough](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-beyond-ordinary-when-a-good-marriage-isnt-good-enough/): One of the people I pay attention to for good advice about relationships is Rhett Smith.  Rhett is a counselor and former pastor and the author of Anxious... - [Writers on the Classics](https://bookwi.se/writers-on-the-classics/): Chris Smith, the editor of Englewood Review of Books, has challenged us all to read more classics this year. To give us suggestions, Smith has asked a number... - [Wool Books 4 and 5 (The Unraveling & Stranded) by Hugh Howey](https://bookwi.se/wool-books-4-and-5-the-unraveling-stranded-by-hugh-howey/): Summary: After the first three books gave background, book four and five move into full blown action. There is no way to review books 4 and 5 without giving... - [Offsite: Read This, Not That](https://bookwi.se/offsite-read-this-not-that/): The Parchment Girl blog is back.  Parchment Girl (aka Kate) after a hiatus has started blogging again.  Today she posted, "Read This, Not That: Overrated... - [Offsite Review: Do We Worship the Same God edited by Miroslav Volf](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-do-we-worship-the-same-god-edited-by-miroslav-volf/): Miroslav Volf wrote a fairly controversial book a couple years ago called Allah: A Christian Response (I have not read it).  From what I have read about the... - [MacMillan Reaches Price Ebook Fixing Settlement with DOJ](https://bookwi.se/macmillan-reaches-price-ebook-fixing-settlement-with-doj/): Seal of the United States Department of Justice (Photo credit: Wikipedia) I have posted about ebook price fixing settlements in the past.  The short version... - [RSS Feed](https://bookwi.se/rss-feed/): It seems the last week that most RSS subscribers have not received any updates.  I believe that it is now fixed.  Please glace back at the last week and see... - [Scida – Kindle Management App for Mac](https://bookwi.se/scida-kindle-management-app-for-mac/): If there is something that is lacking for the kindle, it is book management.  Many people are like me and have increasingly large ebook libraries and no good... - [Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad](https://bookwi.se/heart-of-darkness-by-joseph-conrad/): Summary: A superb performance by Kenneth Branagh of the modern classic about the decent into madness brought on by the savage heart of Africa. The Heart of... - [Sneak Peak at ‘What It Means to Be a Man’ by Rhett Smith](https://bookwi.se/sneak-peak-at-what-it-means-to-be-a-man-by-rhett-smith/): I am a fan of Rhett Smith's work.  I regularly read his blog and I really liked his book Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good. (Bookwi.se... - [Crossway Impact](https://bookwi.se/crossway-impact/): Crossway Impact is a reward program from Crossway Books.  There is a one time registration fee (but you choose what that fee is) and then you get 25% off of... - [Academy of Parish Clergy 2013 Books of the Year](https://bookwi.se/academy-of-parish-clergy-2013-books-of-the-year/): Englewood Review of Books announced the Academy of Parish Clergy annual books of the year.  Their two main books of the year were: Parish Ministry Book of the... - [Every Day by David Levithan](https://bookwi.se/every-day-by-david-levithan/): Summary: A wonderfully unique young adult love story about a teen that wakes up in a different body every day.  I love original ideas.  And Every Day by... - [Leadership Journal’s 2012 Leadership Book Awards](https://bookwi.se/leadership-journals-2012-leadership-book-awards/): Leadership Journal, one of Christianity Today's magazines, posted their 2012 Leadership Book Award list this morning.  These are mostly directly church... - [Offsite Review: Introduction to Christian Liturgy by Frank Senn](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-introduction-to-christian-liturgy-by-frank-senn/): By background I am Baptist.  I grew up American Baptist, I worked for a while for a Southern Baptist Association of churches.  But I have moved a bit away... - [The Human Division by John Scalzi](https://bookwi.se/the-human-division-by-john-scalzi/): Summary: A 13 episode serial audiobook (or kindle book) from John Scalzi set in the Old Man's War universe. Publishers and authors will never... - [Marginalia: A Review of Books in History, Theology and Religion](https://bookwi.se/marginalia-a-review-of-books-in-history-theology-and-religion/): Last night I saw an announcement for the new Marginalia Review of Books. The About describes the new journal this way: The Marginalia Review of Books (ISSN... - [Les Miserables by Victor Hugo](https://bookwi.se/les-miserables-by-victor-hugo/): Summary: One of the great classics on grace and the law. Last spring my wife and I went to go see a student production of Les Mis that her cousin's daughter... - [Offsite Review: The Mystery of God: Theology for Knowing The Unknowable](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-mystery-of-god-theology-for-knowing-the-unknowable/): I am continuing to read about the nature of God and specifically about the Trinity.  I picked up The Mystery of God: Theology for Knowning the Unknowable in... - [Offsite Review: The Kingdom of God edited by Morgan and Peterson](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-kingdom-of-god-edited-by-morgan-and-peterson/): In a previous life I actually left the house occasionally other than to take my nieces to school in the morning.  I used to work for a local association of... - [Thoughts on Reading Trashy Novels](https://bookwi.se/thoughts-on-reading-trashy-novels/): It is not a surprise to anyone that reads this blog regularly that I enjoy reading.  It is one of my favorite ways to relax, think and process.  So this past... - [Kindle Paperwhite Available in Canada](https://bookwi.se/kindle-paperwhite-available-in-canada/): The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, and regular Amazon Kindle are now both available in Canada.  Both are available for immediate shipping. The Amazon Kindle... - [Offsite: Cost of Discipleship Online Discussion](https://bookwi.se/offsite-cost-of-discipleship-online-discussion/): I really like reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  I have reviewed two different biographies (Schligensiepen is better than Metaxas) and Life Together as well as... - [Amazon Bought Text-To-Speech Software Company](https://bookwi.se/amazon-bought-text-to-speech-software-company/): Lilliputing (a great little tech website) is reporting that Amazon has purchased Ivona Software, which specializes in text to speech software.  Currently it... - [137 Books in One Year: How to Fall in Love With Reading](https://bookwi.se/137-books-in-one-year-how-to-fall-in-love-with-reading/): Summary: Practical steps on how to read more, and fall in love with reading, because you enjoy it, not because it is good for you. One of those books I have... - [Offsite Review: Contextualization in World Missions by Scott Moreau](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-contextualization-in-world-missions-by-scott-moreau/): I don't know about you, but I really like reading books by people I know. There is something that makes the book better when I have a context for the author.... - [Offsite Review: Why Can’t We Talk? by John Backman](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-why-cant-we-talk-by-john-backman/): I hear a lot about how the world is divided.  Lots of people claim to want to build unity (the is the Week of Christian Unity).  But it is pretty rare to... - [Amazon is not Renting Kindle Books](https://bookwi.se/amazon-is-not-renting-kindle-books/): It is always odd to me how little people pay attention to blog posts past the initial headline and first paragraph or two.  I have seen about a dozen... - [How to Find and Thrive With a Mentor by Tyler Braun](https://bookwi.se/how-to-find-and-thrive-with-a-mentor-by-tyler-braun/): Summary: A quick book on the importance of finding a mentor. At different points in my life I have actively sought out a mentor.  In College I asked a couple... - [Kindle Tips (Account Sharing, Discounts, Lending, Parental Controls)](https://bookwi.se/kindle-tips-account-sharing-discounts-lending-parental-controls/): Kindle Paperwhite (Photo credit: Zero2Cool_DE) I was reminded last week that there are a lot of small trick that I use to manage content on my kindle that I... - [Augustine: A Very Short Introduction by Henry Chadwick](https://bookwi.se/augustine/): Summary: Augustine is very important to the the history of Christian thought and often misappropriated by all sides. Augustine is not my favorite Christian... - [Offsite Review: The Sun at Midnight: Monastic Experience of Christian Mystery](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-sun-at-midnight-monastic-experience-of-christian-mystery/): Last year there was a bit of an internet hubbub when a well known Christian Reformed blogger reviewed a a well known book by an offbeat female author.  The... - [Lendle.me Quietly Removed Payments for Lending](https://bookwi.se/lendle-me-quietly-removed-payments-for-lending/): One of the mostly underutilized features of the Kindle is book lending.  About 30 percent of my books are lendable.  Lending is a bit of a pain.  You only... - [End of Sexual Identity: Why Sex is Too Import To Define Who We Are](https://bookwi.se/end-of-sexual-identity/): Summary: Sexual identity is not the same as full identity, so we need to define ourselves as a person, not a sexual identity. When I started The End of Sexual... - [Spire Christian Comics from the 1970s](https://bookwi.se/spire-christian-comics-from-the-1970s/): Last week in my review of the Wrinkle in Time Graphic Novel, I mentioned that I had read the comic book version of the book God's Smuggler as a child.  Today... - [A Murder of Quality (A George Smiley Novel) by John Le Carre](https://bookwi.se/murder-of-quality/): Summary: The second book of the George Smiley series, Smiley works to solve a murder. I am going back and reading the first two of the George Smiley series... - [Offsite Review: Journey to the Kingdom by Vassilios Papavassiliou](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-journey-to-the-kingdom/): I try to read about one book a month that is clearly outside my Evangelical tradition.  It has been a little while since I have read much about the Eastern... - [The Truth About Organic Foods by Alex Avery](https://bookwi.se/the-truth-about-organic-foods/): According to Alex Avery, it is scientifically proven that organic foods are not safer than non-organic. Organic food is not more nutritious, overall.... - [Offsite Review – Worshipping Trinity by Robin Parry](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-worshipping-trinity-by-robin-parry/): Nick Norelli found my review of The History of the Doctrine of the Trinity and commented, and because of that I found his blog.  Norelli writes about and... - [Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton](https://bookwi.se/ethan-frome-by-edith-wharton/): Summary: A poor New England man, his ailing wife and her orphaned cousin are trapped together. This is a short book, the paperback is around 100 pages and the... - [Offsite Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-book-thief-by-markus-zuzak/): Since I started doing the offsite reviews (I have been trying to do one or two a day) I have started actively searching out good reviewers. I like larger... - [Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver](https://bookwi.se/prodigal-summer-by-barbara-kingsolver/): Prodigal Summer (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Summary: Three intertwining story lines in a rural Kentucky community After reading Poisonwood Bible and Flight... - [Offsite Review of the Holy Bible](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-of-the-holy-bible/): Most of the time I really look for good reviews of good books.  I tend to not post negative offsite reviews because I am trying to help people find good books... - [Read More Classics](https://bookwi.se/read-more-classics/): Christian Smith, Editor of the very fine Englewood Review of Books has an article in the Huffington Post about his desire to focus more on the classics and... - [Kindle Touch Gets New Software Upgrade](https://bookwi.se/kindle-touch-gets-new-software-upgrade/): Amazon Kindle Touch (Photo credit: LoKan Sardari) Today Amazon released a new major update to the Kindle Touch software.  (You know the kindle that they... - [Challies on the Ethics of Book Reviews](https://bookwi.se/challies-on-the-ethics-of-book-reviews/): Challies posted an article about how and why he gives good and bad reviews on his blog and more importantly how he evaluates a work on context of the larger... - [Offsite Review: Was America Founded As a Christian Nation by John Fea](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-was-america-founded-as-a-christian-nation-by-john-fea/): There are far too many good books to read them all. That is the main point for reviews. It is also important to pay attention to experts in a field when... - [Offsite Review: The Oxford Handbook of the Trinity](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-oxford-handbook-of-the-trinity/): The Oxford Handbook of The Trinity is not available for kindle and the hardcover version is $131 used ($145 new, $150 suggested retail).  So I probably will... - [Another Best Books of 2012 List](https://bookwi.se/another-best-books-of-2012-list/): I have one more Best Books of 2012 list that I forgot to share.  EmilyReads is a great blog.  All of her reviews (usually 3 a week) are in haiku. She used to... - [Offsite Review: A Killer in the Wind by Andrew Klavan](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-a-killer-in-the-wind-by-andrew-klavan/): John Wilson, the editor of Books and Culture Magazine is the one that originally introduced me to Andrew Klavan.  Klavan has written a number of thriller and... - [Planet Narnia: The Seven heavens in the Imagination of CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/planet-narnia/): Despite being modern classics beloved by children, laymen adults, and critics alike, the Chronicles of Narnia are admittedly somewhat of a literary... - [Old Man’s War is the January Sword and Laser Book Club Pick](https://bookwi.se/old-mans-war-is-the-january-sword-and-laser-book-club-pick/): In a previous iteration of my life I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts and one of my favorite was the CNet's Buzz Out Loud.  When I was listening to... - [Offsite Review: The Best Question Ever by Andy Stanley](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-best-question-ever-by-andy-stanley/): Seems like a good book to read at the beginning of the year when people are making resolutions. We  all face difficult decisions. We  also carry regrets... - [Andrew Toy Thinks You Need to Read More Fiction](https://bookwi.se/andrew-toy-thinks-you-need-to-read-more-fiction/): Andrew Toy, blogger at AdoptingJames and author of the recent book The Man in the Box has made a commitment to read more fiction.  I fully agree with this... - [Offsite Review: The Quest for the Trinity](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-quest-for-the-trinity/): I am interested in The Quest for the Trinity: The Doctrine of God in Scripture, History and Modernity as a corrective to some other modern theology movements... - [2013 Reading Goals](https://bookwi.se/2013-reading-goals/): Last year I posted my 2012 reading goals.  In summary, the goals were to read more old books, more fiction and more Christian history, read about the Trinity... - [Offsite Review: Torn by Justin Lee](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-torn-by-justin-lee/): I have seen several very good reviews of TORN: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate by Justin Lee.  I could link to several different... - [Complete Favorites of 2012 Book List](https://bookwi.se/complete-favorites-of-2012-book-list/): I spread out the favorites of 2012 posts over nearly two weeks.  If you are interested here is the complete list in a single post.  I am going to... - [Reminder to take the Bookwi.se Reader Survey](https://bookwi.se/reminder-to-take-the-bookwi-se-reader-survey/) - [Happy New Year 2013 (Some Sparkler Art)](https://bookwi.se/happy-new-year-2013-some-sparkler-art/): This is off topic, but my wife and two friends of ours had fun with sparklers last night.  Here are some of the better pictures.  Hope everyone has a... - [Four More Best of 2012 Book Lists](https://bookwi.se/four-more-best-of-2012-book-lists/): I really do like to read what other people think about book and find new books to read.  So I keep reading best of book lists. Here are four lists from blogs... - [Bookwi.se Stats for 2012](https://bookwi.se/bookwi-se-stats-for-2012/): In 2012 Bookwi.se posted 1009 posts (so far) from seven different contributors.  Today's review was the 600th overall book review. There were about 110,000... - [10 Most Read Reviews of 2012](https://bookwi.se/10-most-read-reviews-of-2012/): Here are the 10 most read reviews of 2012.  Mostly this seems to tell me about the oddities of Social Media, Search Engine Optimization and chance more than... - [History News Network Best History Books of 2012](https://bookwi.se/history-news-network-best-history-books-of-2012/): George Mason University's History News Network has the best history books of 2012.  These are all US history, but have a pretty wide range. The fourth volume... - [Near Emmaus Top Ten Books of 2012](https://bookwi.se/near-emmaus-top-ten-books-of-2012/): I was referred to NearEmmaus by a friend earlier this year and I have been consistently impressed with the quality of blogging the whole team, but particularly... - [New York Times Article About Libraries Filling Bookstore Niche](https://bookwi.se/new-york-times-article-about-libraries-filling-bookstore-niche/): This is a pretty good article in the New York Times about how Libraries are filling a niche of books stores as the large bookstores are closing.  Lots of... - [Workaround or Solutions to the top 10 Problems with the Kindle Fire](https://bookwi.se/workaround-or-solutions-to-the-top-10-problems-with-the-kindle-fire/): Ireaderreview.com has some genuinely helpful blog posts and reviews as well as good daily lists of free books. Kindle Fire: Out of the Box (Photo credit: Brian... - [Christianity Today’s 2013 Book Awards](https://bookwi.se/christianity-todays-2013-book-awards/): Christianity Today's Book Awards are always a list that I pay attention to.  It tends to be a bit on the academic side but is often a quite good look at where... - [Offsite Review: Listening to Madeleine by Leonard Marcus](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-listening-to-madeleine-a-portrait-of-madeleine-lengle-in-many-voice/): I was talking to a friend last night.  He was talking about he new found love of comic books since he started reading them on his iPad.  I have read a lot of... - [The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle](https://bookwi.se/the-adventure-of-the-blue-carbuncle-by-arthur-conan-doyle/): Summary: A short Christmas themed Sherlock Holmes mystery. Audible.com gave away The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle as a Christmas gift to its members.  I... - [Thin Blue Smoke by Doug Worgul – Favorite of 2012](https://bookwi.se/thin-blue-smoke-by-doug-worgul/): Summary: An engaging story of the staff and customers of a Kansas City BBQ joint. Feels like Wendell Berry but modern and urban. I always find it hard to write... - [Offsite Review: Through The Eye of A Needle (2nd Review)](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-through-the-eye-of-a-needle-2nd-review/): I posted another review of Peter Brown recent book Through the Eye of a Needle last week.  Today Christianity Today posted Peter Leithart's review.  It is a... - [The Civil War as a Theological Crisis by Mark Noll – Favorite of 2012](https://bookwi.se/crisis/): I am even more convinced of the importance of this book nearly a year after I first read the book.  I am planning on re-reading this in 2013. Takeaway: A... - [An Abundance of Katherines by John Green – Favorite of 2012](https://bookwi.se/an-abundance-of-katherines/): Similar to my pick of - [How To Give a Kindle Book as a Gift](https://bookwi.se/how-to-give-a-kindle-book-as-a-gift/): If you need a last minute gift and want something more personal than a gift card, you can now give Kindle books as a gift. As an example I decided to give... - [Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906-1945: Martyr, Thinker, Man of Resistance – Best of 2012](https://bookwi.se/1906-1945/): Takeaway: Bonhoeffer is a complicated and fascinating figure in Christianity. There were two biographies of Bonhoeffer published in 2010.  It was not a... - [The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy and Kathy Keller – 2012 Favorite](https://bookwi.se/marriage-keller/): Marriage is a deeply important topic for Christians. Many think about it primarily in public policy terms (gay marriage and/or divorce). But I think it is more... - [Offsite Review: Reading the Gospels Wisely by Jonathan Pennington](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-reading-the-gospels-wisely-by-jonathan-pennington/): Brian LePort from nearemmaus.com has a review of Reading the Gospels Wisely: A Narrative and Theological Introduction by Jonathan Pennington.  LePort thinks... - [Best of Best of 2012 Books List](https://bookwi.se/best-of-best-of-2012-books-list/): The website Flavorwire.com consulted 16 different Best Books of 2012 lists and counted how many times each of book was mentioned to create a Best of Best of... - [The End of the Affair by Graham Greene – Favorite of 2012](https://bookwi.se/greene/): This is the oldest of the books that I am listing among my favorites of 2012.  My requirement is that I read them in 2012, not that they were written in 2012.... - [Offsite Review: The Unity Factor: One Lord, One Church, One Mission](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-unity-factor-one-lord-one-church-one-mission/): I reviewed John Armstrong's little book The Unity Factor earlier this year.  It is a helpful short book that talks about why the church should work together... - [NPR’s Best Books of 2012](https://bookwi.se/nprs-best-books-of-2012/): NPR posted their best books of 2012 in four categories. They are Best Biographies of 2012, Best Mysteries of 2012, Best Young Adult of 2012 and Best Romance... - [Bookwi.se Favorites of 2012](https://bookwi.se/bookwi-se-favorites-of-2012/): Over the next 12 days I am going to share my 13 favorite books of 2012.  The list is not based on the 'Best books' but rather the books that stayed with me,... - [Offsite Review: Through the Eye of a Needle by Peter Brown](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-through-the-eye-of-a-needle-by-peter-brown/): These long titles kill me.  The full title of the book is Through the Eye of a Needle: Wealth, the Fall of Rome, and the Making of Christianity in the West,... - [Offsite Review: Community is Messy by Heather Zempel](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-community-is-messy-by-heather-zempel/): As someone that is part of a large mega-church.  And who is getting ready to head off to dinner with my small group.  This books (Community is Messy: The... - [Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia by Michael Korda](https://bookwi.se/hero-the-life-and-legend-of-lawrence-of-arabia-by-michael-korda/): It is nearly the end of the year.  I am looking forward to posting my books of the year and recycling some content over a Christmas break so that I read some... - [Independent Bookstores Doing Well – New York Times Article](https://bookwi.se/independent-bookstores-doing-well-new-york-times-article/): Image via CrunchBase The New York Time books section had an article yesterday about Independent book stores.  And it was actually fairly up beat.  The... - [Review: Verso Prologue Cover](https://bookwi.se/review-verso-prologue-cover/): The Verso Prologue Cover for Amazon Kindle has changed my mind about using a cover. I have used this cover for nearly three months now. What I do not... - [Offsite Review: Booked: A Reader’s Story](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-booked-a-readers-story/): I really liked Karen Swallow Prior's memoir Booked.  It is a memoir that is organized around the books that she read growing up.  I have read several good... - [Win $100 Amazon Gift Card from Lendle.me](https://bookwi.se/win-100-amazon-gift-card-from-lendle-me/): I am a fan of book lending sites like Lendle.me.  I updated the review a couple months ago.  Since then Lendle has undergone a change in ownership.  So far... - [Audible.com Reader’s Choice Best of 2012](https://bookwi.se/audible-com-readers-choice-best-of-2012/): Audible.com released their Best of 2012 list, based on reader's reviews.  There are 20 overall, and then the best 10 books in 11 different categories. Our of... - [Offsite Review: The Quest for the Trinity by Stephen Holmes](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-quest-for-the-trinity-by-stephen-holmes/): I have been reading books about the Trinity this past year.  I think I am going to extend this reading project another year because I am not really happy with... - [Review: Amazon Paperwhite Leather Cover](https://bookwi.se/review-amazon-paperwhite-leather-cover/): I am not a big fan of covers for kindles.  In general I like to use them without a cover.  But the most common problem with kindle is a cracked screen and... - [Offsite Review: A Hobbit Journey by Matthew Dickerson](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-a-hobbit-journey-by-matthew-dickerson/): The full title is A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Timothy Stege reviewed it last week over at Englewood Review... - [Amazon’s Best Selling Books of 2012](https://bookwi.se/amazons-best-selling-books-of-2012/): Amazon Announced its best selling books of 2012 lists today. It is interesting to see the minor variations between the print and kindle versions of the list.... - [John Wilson’s Favorite Books of 2012](https://bookwi.se/john-wilsons-favorite-books-of-2012/): You may not know who John Wilson is, but he is a reader worth paying attention to.  He is the editor of Christianity Today's Books and Culture magazine and... - [Bookwi.se Reader Survey](https://bookwi.se/bookwi-se-reader-survey/): Bookwi.se has grown significantly this year.  The average daily visits to the site are six times higher than last year.  And in the last couple months RSS... - [Misguided Copyright Protection](https://bookwi.se/misguided-copyright-protection/): I saw a quick post at BoingBoing today that linked to a short article on the Atlantic.  Both were centered around this shocking graphic of Amazon books sold... - [Random House is Giving $5000 Bonus to All Employees](https://bookwi.se/random-house-is-giving-5000-bonus-to-all-employees/): The drum beat of the news in regard to publishers is that the traditional publishers are dying.  Some reporters try to assert that reading is dying (which it... - [Best and Worst Covers of 2012 (From Englewood Review of Books)](https://bookwi.se/best-and-worst-covers-of-2012-from-englewood-review-of-books/): Number 10 on the worst book covers of 2012 list. In all of the best and worst book lists that I keep reading, Englewood Review of Books is the first that I... - [When I Was a Child I Read Books by Marilynne Robinson](https://bookwi.se/when-i-was-a-child-i-read-books-by-marilynne-robinson/): Most of the time I finish books that I start.  Sometimes it is months for me to finally work through a book.  But I usually do eventually finish. But this... - [NPR: Indie Bookseller’s 2012 Best Books](https://bookwi.se/npr-indie-booksellers-2012-best-books/): NPR had a story yesterday about the best books as chosen by some of the better known Indie Bookstores.  It is another list of books where not only have I not... - [Offsite Review: The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-secret-life-of-emily-dickinson/): I have been facinated by Emily Dickinson since I had a class with Roger Lundin in college.  That was several years before he published a biography of... - [Dedicated e-ink Ereaders Dead?](https://bookwi.se/dedicated-e-ink-ereaders-dead/): Cnet has an alarmist post today about the death of eink ebook readers like the Kindle and the Nook.  According to a study by IHS iSuppli (original press... - [Cheapest SquareTrade Warranty for Kindles](https://bookwi.se/cheapest-squaretrade-warranty-for-kindles/): Warranties on consumer electronics are a questionable business.  I know many people that swear by them and many others that suggest they are a waste of money.... - [Gilead: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson](https://bookwi.se/gilead-a-novel-by-marilynne-robinson/): Takeaway: An essential novel for Pastors. Gilead is one of those books that pretty much everyone should read.  Gilead won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.... - [Offsite Review: The Weight of Mercy: A Novice Pastor on the Streets](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-weight-of-mercy-a-novice-pastor-on-the-city-streets/): One of the things I have grown to learn about myself is that I thought I was much better at many things than I really am.  I have a degree in social work.  I... - [Jesus Creed Blog’s Books of the Year](https://bookwi.se/jesus-creed-blogs-books-of-the-year/): This morning Scot McKnight posted his list of 2012 Books of the Year.  I have only read 2 of list of books. (Deep and Wide by Andy Stanley and Still: Notes... - [Kindle FreeTime Unlimited](https://bookwi.se/kindle-freetime-unlimited/): The Kindle FreeTime Unlimited is now out.  It is unlimited access to books, tv, movies, games and educational apps curated and oriented to 3 to 8 year olds.... - [Offsite Review: Delighting in the Trinity](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-delighting-in-the-trinity/): I like to get second opinions.  So I really like it when others contribute reviews to books I have already reviewed on Bookwi.se.  Regardless of whether you... - [Off Site Review: Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus](https://bookwi.se/off-site-review-walking-in-the-dust-of-rabbi-jesus/): If I am going to highlight book reviews from other sites, you might as well highlight book reviews about books that are currently on sale.  Walking in the... - [Unbroken: A World War II Story Laura Hillenbrand (Andy’s Review)](https://bookwi.se/unbroken-andy/): My brother in law was in town for Thanksgiving, and he had a copy of Unbroken with him. As soon as I saw the book cover, I wondered to myself why I had not yet... - [This is Who I Am: Our Beauty in All Shapes and Sizes by Rosanne Olson](https://bookwi.se/this-is-who-i-am-our-beauty-in-all-shapes-and-sizes-by-rosanne-olson/): Bookwi.se note: I inadvertently pulled the wrong review off of Goodreads and posted it last week. This is actually Teressa Sinnett's review. I apologize for... - [Offsite Review: Jesus: A Very Short Introduction](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-jesus-a-very-short-introduction/): I don't know anything at all about The Jesus Blog.  But Brian LePort at NearEmmaus, listed this in his weekly recommended reading list today.  I am a fan of... - [Offsite Review: Hazardous: Committing to the Cost of Following Jesus](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-hazardous-committing-to-the-cost-of-following-jesus/): Englewood Review of Books is a great small Christian book review journal.  I encourage everyone to pay attention to their reviews and subscribe. They are... - [Amazon Releases Unlimited Content for Kids](https://bookwi.se/amazon-releases-unlimited-content-for-kids/): Amazon has recently announced a new program to Children's content on the Amazon Fire.  Kindle Free Time Unlimited is a curated list of kid friendly games,... - [Kindle Paperwhite in Stock for Christmas](https://bookwi.se/kindle-paperwhite-in-stock-for-christmas/): I just noticed this morning that the Kindle Paperwhites are back in stock for Christmas.  With a few caveats (no audio, no buttons) the paperwhite... - [The Search For God And Guinness by Stephen Mansfield](https://bookwi.se/god-and-guinness/): Summary: A fascinating history, but the writing was sophomoric. Searching for God and Guinness is a "biography" of beer's role in history and culture through... - [Goodreads Reader’s Choice Awards](https://bookwi.se/goodreads-readers-choice-awards/): Goodreads is my favorite reader's focus social media site.  If you love reading and you are not on Goodreads, you should give it a try.  The 2012 Reader's... - [How to Spot Fake Product Reviews](https://bookwi.se/how-to-spot-fake-product-reviews/): CNet has a helpful article on how to spot fake product reviews.  It is oriented toward tech products and not books, but Amazon has a serious problem with... - [Offsite Review: A Little Book for New Theologians by Kelly Kapic](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-a-little-book-for-new-theologians-by-kelly-kapic/): I keep meaning to pick up A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology by Kelly Kapic.  It is a small book, only 126 pages.  And cheap,... - [Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold](https://bookwi.se/captain-vorpatrils-alliance-by-lois-mcmaster-bujold/): Summary: Ivan finally gets to play lead in this long running series. Science fiction is such a moldable setting.  There are the hard science books, the space... - [Audible.com Best Books of 2012 List](https://bookwi.se/audible-com-best-books-of-2012-list/): Audible.com published their best books of 2012 list recently.  I am doing better on Audible's list.  I have have read 6 of the mentioned books.  But there... - [Most Read Reviews from Nov 2012](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-from-nov-2012/): The most read review from November 2012. Click the titles for the full review. Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me by Karen Swallow Prior I love books.... - [Offsite Review: Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-misreading-scripture/): Misreading Scripture With Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible has interested me since it came out.  It is on my list of... - [God’s Life in Trinity edited by Miraslov Volf](https://bookwi.se/gods-life-in-trinity/): Summary: A series of 18 essays about the implications of the Trinity of a variety of areas of a theology and practice.  Compiled in honor of Jürgen... - [Sound the Holiday Alarm](https://bookwi.se/sound-the-holiday-alarm/): A friend of mine is trying a digital experiment with his latest book.  Dan Mayhew is releasing it as a serial.  The first chapter is free and you pay $0.40... - [Offsite Review: Mission of God by Christopher Wright](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-mission-of-god/): I have only read two books by Christopher Wright, but they have been very good books (The God I Don't Understand and The Mission of God's People).  I have... - [Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West](https://bookwi.se/theology-of-the-body-for-beginners/): Summary: Very helpful, quick overview of John Paul II's theology of the body. I purchased this about a year ago after I read Matthew Lee Anderson's very good... - [More Best of 2012 Books Lists](https://bookwi.se/more-best-of-2012-books-lists/): Image from Slate's Overlooked Books of 2012 Article Slate posted their Best Books of 2012 and then the Most Overlooked Books of 2012.  That along with the New... - [Offsite Review: The Hole in Our Holiness](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-the-hole-in-our-holiness/): A couple months ago I reviewed Tyler Braun's book on Holiness.  I really liked it.  So I thought he was a good person to review Kevin DeYoung's new book that... - [New York Times “Notable Children’s Books of 2012”](https://bookwi.se/new-york-times-notable-childrens-books-of-2012/): The New York Times list of best children's books are out.  I am a fan of the young adult genre, but I don't read much of middle grade or picture books.  That... - [Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling](https://bookwi.se/casual-vacancy/): I started The Casual Vacancy with eyes wide open to the fact that this was no Harry Potter novel--and yet, even though I wasn't offended by the much more... - [Offsite Review: Altared by Claire and Eli at Mereorthodoxy.com](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-altared-by-claire-and-eli-at-mereorthodoxy-com/): One of my favorite blogs for a wide range of thoughtful posts is MereOrthodoxy.com.  Matthew Lee Anderson and other bloggers consistently cause me to think... - [The Knockoff Economy: How Imitation Sparks Innovation](https://bookwi.se/knockoff-economy/): Summary: Fascinating look at creative areas of the economy where copyright and patent law do not apply. According to the common line of thinking, without... - [Offsite Review: Family Ministries: A Comprehensive Review](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-family-ministries-a-comprehensive-review/): Looks interesting for pastors and church staff Our families are either a source of great joy or great pain for us. Probably both. Families are the context in... - [Offsite Review: Keeping the Feast](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-keeping-the-feast/): This seems like an appropriate book topic for Thanksgiving. In Keeping the Feast: Metaphors for the Meal Milton Brasher-Cunningham draws on his gifts as a... - [Posting Schedule](https://bookwi.se/posting-schedule/): English: Saying grace before carving the turkey at Thanksgiving dinner in the home of Earle Landis in Neffsville, Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Over... - [Offsite Review: The Evolution of Adam: What The Bible Does and Doesn’t Say About Human Origins](https://bookwi.se/evolution-of-adam/): The Christian understanding of creation, original sin and our first parents is very controversial.  Peter Enns has been at the center of the controversy for... - [Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin](https://bookwi.se/wizard-of-earthsea/): Summary: A young wizard must find himself to make right a wrong he created. Wizard of Earthsea is one of those classic books that I remember reading as a young... - [Initial Thoughts On Kindle Fire 8.9](https://bookwi.se/kindle-fire-2/): My sister-in-law received her Kindle Fire 8.9 on Saturday.  I have not had a lot of time to play with it.  But here are a few initial thoughts. 1) Feels much... - [2012 National Book Award Winners](https://bookwi.se/2012-national-book-award-winners/): 2012 National Book Award Winners (Link to all the finalists) Fiction: The Round House by Louise Erdrich 499 pages, 95 of 96 reviews are 4 or 5 star One Sunday... - [Family Christian Stores Buys Itself](https://bookwi.se/family-christian-stores-buys-itself/): Christianity Today is reporting that the largest chain of Christian retail stores has purchased itself from its previous private equity owners.  Family... - [Offsite Review: Godly Republicanism: Puritans, Pilgrims and a City on a Hill](https://bookwi.se/offsite-review-godly-republicanism-puritans-pilgrims-and-a-city-on-a-hill/): Books and Culture magazine is one of the best magazines for longer form book reviews, seriously articles on history, science and philosophy and in-depth... - [Goldfinger by Ian Fleming](https://bookwi.se/goldfinger/): Summary: An over the top villain tarnishes an otherwise decent Bond novel. James Bond is one of those cultural items that everyone 'needs' to know.  We know... - [Offsite Review: One Second After](https://bookwi.se/one-second-after/): I read a lot of book reviews.  That is my main source of good books to read along with personal recommendations.  So I want to start trying to highlight good... - [20 Top Teen Books of 2012 (According to Amazon)](https://bookwi.se/20-top-teen-books-of-2012-according-to-amazon/): Amazon's Omnivoracious blog just released their list of the top 20 best Teen books of 2012.  I have read one of them and was just recommended the number one... - [The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison](https://bookwi.se/stainless-steel-rat/): Summary: There is no one better the catch a crook than another crook. When I was a kid I read a good bit.  A lot of it was fairly worthless pulp science... - [Biblical Hermeneutics: Five Views](https://bookwi.se/biblical-hermeneutics/): Summary: Five different perspectives on how we seek out meaning in scripture. Over the past two years I have spent a fair amount of time coming to terms with... - [Audible.com’s Newest Innovation, Pre-orders](https://bookwi.se/audible-coms-newest-innovation-pre-orders/): If you are interested, you can now pre-order Audible.com Audiobooks.  Woohoo! I am being a bit sarcastic, but Audible has started allowing for pre-orders.... - [A Kindle for Christmas?](https://bookwi.se/a-kindle-for-christmas/): If you are thinking about giving a kindle for Christmas your options are going to be limited.  First, the Kindle Paperwhite (Bookwi.se Review) is backordered... - [The Stephanies by Lexi and Kevin Hendricks](https://bookwi.se/the-stephanies-by-lexi-and-kevin-hendricks/): Summary: A cute early reader books about two girls that do not like one another because both of them are named Stephanie. One of the things I have most... - [Nearing Home: Life, Faith and Finishing Well by Billy Graham](https://bookwi.se/nearing-home/): Takeaway: Old age is hard, but part of life, and part of God's plan. Billy Graham has a distinctive clear style of writing and his latest book (published at... - [Bookwi.se Reviewed Books on Disagreement Among Christians](https://bookwi.se/disagreement/): Since Bookwi.se now has more than 600 book reviews, I felt it was time to start making the back catalogue a bit more useful.  I will continue to add to these... - [Why Be Catholic by Richard Rohr](https://bookwi.se/why-be-catholic/): Summary: A series of lectures on the state of the Catholic Church that was later turned into a book. Over the past several months I have been reading... - [Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me by Karen Swallow Prior](https://bookwi.se/booked/): I love books.  I love people that love books.  I love books about books by people that love books. Karen Swallow Prior is an English Professor, writer, and... - [Small Rant About Ebook Formatting](https://bookwi.se/small-rant/): If you have read many ebooks (no matter the format) you have probably run across a badly formated book, random spacing, blank pages, page number or titles in... - [Most Read Reviews in Oct 2012](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-in-oct-2012/): Below are the most read reviews (by on site pageview, it is different by the RSS feed, which is approximately equal to on site pageviews). Earthen Vessels: Why... - [Spirit of Love: A Trinitarian Theology of Grace by Amos Yong](https://bookwi.se/spirit-of-love-2/):   Some authors really do bring a different and fresh perspective on things.  Amos Yong is one of those authors.  He wrote a good book on the Books of... - [Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley](https://bookwi.se/frankenstein/): Takeaway: The common conception of the book has nothing to do with what is really in the book. So here is what is probably most interesting about reading 'The... - [Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun by Paul Barrett](https://bookwi.se/glock/): Fascinating. I started with only a pop-cultural familiarity with the Glock line, mostly from movies. The narratives I found particularly interesting involved... - [Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: A George Smiley Novel by John le Carré](https://bookwi.se/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy/): Summary: A spy forced into retirement comes back to ferret out a mole. George Smiley is the anti-Bond.  The author, John le Carré, was actually a British... - [From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart by Chris Haw](https://bookwi.se/chris-haw/): Summary: From cradle Catholic to Willow Creek to radical servant to Sacred Heart. Over the past couple of months I have been reading a good bit... - [The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien](https://bookwi.se/the-hobbit-by-jrr-tolkien/): Summary: Bilbo is recruited from his life of ease to become a thief to steal gold from a dragon. I imagine a lot of people will be reading the Hobbit over the... - [Amazon Author Rank](https://bookwi.se/amazon-author-rank/): We all know about best seller lists.  Best seller lists make a different.  A lot of people buy based on what is on the top of the list.  This is not just... - [Earthen Vessels: Why Our Bodies Matter](https://bookwi.se/earthen-vessels/): Summary: Our bodies are important not just to life, but to our faith as well. Reading book again is an under-valued exercise.  I try to re-read at least one... - [Lendle – A Kindle Borrowing Site: Review After 6 Weeks](https://bookwi.se/lendle-review/): Since it has nearly 3 years since I first signed up for Lendle I thought it was time to update my review.  I am leaving the original review at the bottom and... - [Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll](https://bookwi.se/alice/): Summary: A brat of a girl falls into a fantasy world One of my reading goals this year was to read more old books. Some of these I am re-reading, some I am... - [A Thought From Jeff Bezos](https://bookwi.se/a-thought-from-jeff-bezos/): Image via CrunchBase In spite of the fact that I am a huge fan of the Kindle, I don't really pay that much attention to Jeff Bezos.  But I really identify... - [Call of the Wild by Jack London](https://bookwi.se/call-of-the-wild/): Summary: Classic children's books about a dog that is kidnapped to work the Klondike Gold Rush. I remember reading Call of the Wild as a child.  I am sure it... - [Finding God in the Hunger Games by Ken Gire](https://bookwi.se/finding-god-in-the-hunger-games/): Summary: Mostly Gire does not find God at the hunger games. I loved the Hunger Games.  I have read it twice, watched the movie twice.  I spent long hours... - [Kneeling With Giants: Learning to Pray with History’s Best Teachers](https://bookwi.se/kneeling-with-giants/): Summary: A look at 10 different forms of prayer through  biographical sketches. There are so many books on prayer.  As Evangelicals have started paying... - [Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julie Child by Bob Spitz](https://bookwi.se/dearie/): Takeaway: Julia is one of the most fascinating women of the 20th century. Julia Child is one of those fascinating characters that gives me hope that I may... - [Primal Credo: Your Entrance into the Apostle’s Creed by Derek Vreeland](https://bookwi.se/primal-credo/): Summary: The Apostle's Creed is the most basic of theological statements.  It is one that every Christian should know and understand. With the exception of a... - [Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan](https://bookwi.se/mark-of-athena/): Summary: All of the heroes have been assembled.  Now they are on the way to Rome to defeat Gaia. I really like this extended series by Rick Riordan.  The... - [Kindle Book Price Fixing Settlement](https://bookwi.se/kindle-book-price-fixing-settlement/): US Dept Of Justice Seal (Photo credit: methodshop.com) The US Department of Justice and Hachette, Harper Collins and Simon & Schuster have settled an... - [BestBuy to Match Amazon Prices For Holiday Shopping](https://bookwi.se/bestbuy-to-match-amazon-prices-for-holiday-shopping/): Wall Street Journal and others are reporting that BestBuy announced that they will match the prices of Amazon and other online retailers this holiday season.... - [A Shot of Faith (to the Head): Be a Confident Believer in an Age of Cranky Atheists by Mitch Stokes](https://bookwi.se/shot-of-faith/): Summary: A readable look at the philosophy of reason and human inquiry. A common frustration in arguing with someone about, well, anything, is the problem of... - [Prime Kindle Lending Library Expands to Europe](https://bookwi.se/prime-kindle-lending-library-expands-to-europe/): Amazon is expanding the free Kindle Prime Lending Library to Europe.  The Lending Library was launched in Nov 2011 with 5000 book but has expanded since then... - [A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel](https://bookwi.se/a-wrinkle-in-time-the-graphic-novel/): I am a fan of Madeline L'Engle.  I re-read the whole five book Wrinkle in Time series last year and several of her young young adult books from the late 40s.... - [Peace Like a River by Leif Enger](https://bookwi.se/peace/): Reuben Land grew up believing in miracles. He is eleven, living in rural Minnesota in the 1960s with his father and two siblings, when his older brother Davey... - [Use Library to Get Whispersync Discounts](https://bookwi.se/library-discount/): This morning when I was writing up the review for Coraline I noticed that I was getting the discounted price for the Audible.com Audiobook instead of the... - [Dragon Ship (Theo Waitley #4) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller](https://bookwi.se/dragon-ship/): Summary: Theo Waitley is now a pilot, has found out that she is the brother of the Delm of Korval and is going on the first run with her new ship. The most... - [Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review](https://bookwi.se/paperwhite-review/): The new Amazon Paperwhite Kindle is a very nice ereader.  Arguable, it is the best ereader on the market today.  I have only spend five days with it so far,... - [The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffengger](https://bookwi.se/time-travelers-wife/): Summary: The paradoxes of a science fiction time travel books wrapped in the tragic story of a romance. A couple weeks ago someone asked me what my favorite... - [Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson (Seth’s Review)](https://bookwi.se/steve-jobs/): This was an incredible, riveting biography. Isaacson does a phenomenal job bringing the story of Steve Jobs to life. For me there was a natural division in the... - [Initial Impressions of the Kindle Paperwhite](https://bookwi.se/initial-impressions-of-the-kindle-paperwhite/): UPDATE: I also have a longer review. I opened up (my friend's) new Kindle Paperwhite this morning. These are my very quick initial impressions. Even though I... - [How Harry Cast His Spell by John Granger](https://bookwi.se/how-harry-cast-his-spell/): In this book John Granger succeeds phenomenally in describing--and defending the very existence of--the Christian symbolism and doctrine that veritably burst... - [Sex, Mom and God by Frank Schaeffer](https://bookwi.se/sex-mom-and-god/): Take Away: Our ideals and reality rarely match up. Frank Schaeffer is the son of Evangelical power couple Francis and Edith Schaeffer.  He is an author of a... - [Facebook is Becoming a Problem](https://bookwi.se/facebook/): Image via CrunchBase Over the last few months the Bookwi.se Fan page has been growing.  We have added almost 150 'fans' in the last four months.  But we are... - [Paperwhite Kindle Reviews](https://bookwi.se/paperwhite/): The new Amazon Paperwhite has started shipping.  A few reviews are out (Cnet, Verge, Kindle Chronicle). A friend of mine needed to replace their kindle... - [Father Hunger: Why God Calls Men to Love and Lead Their Families by Douglas Wilson](https://bookwi.se/father-hunger-why-god-calls-men-to-love-and-lead-their-families-by-douglas-wilson/): Bookwi.se Note: Welcome Seth Simmons, a new Bookwi.se Contributor. If you would like to contribute reviews to Bookwi.se read our brief guidelines. Fatherhood... - [Invitation to Submit Book Reviews](https://bookwi.se/invitation/): Bookwi.se is a better book review site when more people contribute reviews.  Over the past year or two nearly 10 different people have contributed at least... - [Ghost Ship (Theo Waitley #3) by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller](https://bookwi.se/ghost-ship/): Summary: Theo meets the rest of the Clan Korval Family and meets her new ship. How do you review a book that is #3 is a sub-series and number 14 is a larger... - [Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller](https://bookwi.se/saltation-by-sharon-lee-and-steve-miller/): Several years ago I was reading a book review; I don't remember where or what book was being reviewed. I  just remember that the reviewer said that she (I do... - [Walmart and Target No Longer Selling Kindles](https://bookwi.se/walmart-and-target-no-longer-selling-kindles/): I saw on Lilliputing today that Walmart has announced that it will no longer sell Kindle products.  The article also noted that Target announced the same... - [Disability and the Gospel by Michael Beates](https://bookwi.se/disability/): Summary: "...The world is divided into two groups after all....the line is drawn between those that are aware of their disabilities and those that are blind... - [The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde](https://bookwi.se/dorian-gray/): Summary: A Faustian bargain to keep beauty and youth in exchange for your soul. One of my reading priorities this year was to read more classics.  I have... - [Apology to Email Subscribers](https://bookwi.se/apology-to-email-subscribers/): I am currently using built in WordPress email system to allow people to subscribe to Bookwi.se post via email.  Lately there have been several problems. 1)... - [56 Broken Kindle Screens – A Coffee Table Book](https://bookwi.se/56-broken-kindle-screens/): This is an interesting art project. A compilation of images from 56 different broken kindle screens has been turned into a printed book. I certainly have... - [The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson](https://bookwi.se/girl-hornet/): This is really the second half of the second book.  There is no real separation other than the fact that it is too long for a single book. Larsson split the... - [Conquests and Cultures: An International History by Thomas Sowell](https://bookwi.se/conquest/): Takeaway: Culture is the result of a wide variety of influences. Thomas Sowell is an economist.  I have read three of his economics book (Basic Economics,... - [Advertising on Bookwi.se](https://bookwi.se/advertising-on-bookwi-se/): Blogging is not a lucrative project.  Since starting this blog my return has been less than $0.50 per post, and that is before expenses.  My blogging is not... - [Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids by Kara Powell and Chap Clark](https://bookwi.se/sticky-faith-everyday-ideas-to-build-lasting-faith-in-your-kids-by-kara-powell-and-chap-clark/): Bookwi.se Note: Vikki Huisman wrote this review for her church blog but agreed to let Bookwi.se repost it here.  You shouldn't wait to get this book.... - [The Dip: When to Quit (And When to Stick) by Seth Godin](https://bookwi.se/the-dip-by-seth-godin/): "The difference between a mediocre club player and a regional champion isn't inborn talent. It's the ability to push through in the moments when it is easier... - [Little Fuzzy by Henry Beam Piper](https://bookwi.se/little-fuzzy/): Summary: Classic Science Fiction look at what it means to be sentient. Several weeks ago I had never heard of H Beam Piper or his book Little Fuzzy.  nstead I... - [Ebook Price Fixing Settlement Results In Some Lower Prices](https://bookwi.se/price-fixing-settlement/): Seal of the United States Department of Justice (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The Department of Justice sued HarperCollins, Hachette, Apple, Macmillian and... - [All 15 of the Liaden Universe Books by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller are now on Audible.com](https://bookwi.se/all-15-of-the-liaden-universe-books-by-sharon-lee-and-steve-miller-are-now-on-audible-com/): http://www.audible.com/series?asin=B00939352E - [Four Steps Back for the New Paperwhite Kindle](https://bookwi.se/four-steps-back-for-the-new-paperwhite-kindle/): For the most part the new kindle announcement is good news.  The new Kindle Paperwhite has a much better screen and continues to focus on reading as its main... - [Art and the Bible by Francis Schaeffer](https://bookwi.se/art-schaeffer/): Summary: Art is fundamental to the way that we express the truth of Christianity. I am late to the Francis Schaeffer party. This book is more than 30 years... - [Whispersync for Voice](https://bookwi.se/whispersync-for-voice/): The most exciting new feature for me from today's new Kindle announcement is Whispersync for Voice.  This is a feature that seems natural for Amazon.  It... - [New Kindles](https://bookwi.se/new-kindles/): Summary: from CNet New E-Ink Kindle (Paperwhite) with higher resolution screen (212 ppi).  A whiter screen, new fonts and a lighted touch screen.  The... - [The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson](https://bookwi.se/girl-fire/): Summary: A couple of murders and it seems that Lisbeth may have committed them.  After reading it, I think that the trilogy has been mis-marketed.  The Girl... - [The New Shape of World Christianity: How American Experience Reflects Global Faith by Mark Noll](https://bookwi.se/new-shape-of-world-christianity/): Takeaway: The world is changing and Christianity is changing with it.   Mark Noll is one of the most important academics of Christianity in the world. He is a... - [Most Read Reviews from August 2012](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-from-august-2012/): I hadn't noticed, but this is Bookwi.se's 1500th post. Below are the most read reviews from August 2012.  Part of what this shows is I am getting better... - [Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective by Donald Sobol](https://bookwi.se/encyclopedia-brown/): When I was a boy I read a lot of books (surprising I know).  Some I have been revisiting over the past couple years (CS Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, etc.)  I... - [Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets](https://bookwi.se/chamber-of-secrets/): I have been in a reading malaise the last couple weeks.  I have been reading a ton, but bouncing all over the place trying to find something that really... - [The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson](https://bookwi.se/dragon-tattoo/): Summary: A Thriller that most of the world has already read or watched. I am way behind on this trend.  This has been made into two different movies and was... - [Princess of Wands by John Ringo](https://bookwi.se/princess-of-wands/): Summary: Christian soccer mom fights demons and bad guys. I have been in a reading rut for the last couple weeks.  It is not that I don't have lots to read (I... - [The Sky Is Falling! Rate of Ebook Sales Increase Is Dropping](https://bookwi.se/the-sky-is-falling-rate-of-ebook-sales-increase-is-dropping/): The Sky Is Falling (Pearson novel) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) I do not often comment on publishing and business matters.  I frankly do not know much at all... - [Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl](https://bookwi.se/boy-dahl/): Summary: Roald Dahl's autobiography of his childhood written for children. As you can imagine, I spend a good bit of money on books.  I saw an estimate that... - [USA Today Article About JK Rowling’s New Book](https://bookwi.se/usa-today-article-about-jk-rowlings-new-book/): USA Today Article About JK Rowling's new book for adults. - [Orgasms are for Women, Marriage is for Men by A. Jesus Wrighter](https://bookwi.se/orgasms-are-for-women/): Summary: A funny (occasionally crass), but real self-help book for married men. Last week Orgasms are for Women and Marriage is for Men was offered free for... - [Amazon Press Conference Announced](https://bookwi.se/amazon-press-conference-announced/): Let the speculation begin (or increase).  It is being reported on The Kindle Chronicles and Lilliputing that Amazon has sent out press invitations for a press... - [The Magician King by Lev Grossman](https://bookwi.se/magician-king/): Summary: A cynically nihilistic take on some of the most beloved fantasy books. As much as I enjoy books stealing ideas and remaking stories (like Fuzzy... - [The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan](https://bookwi.se/son-of-neptune/): Summary: The parallel book to Lost Hero This is a book that is hard to discuss without at least some spoilers.  The Percy Jackson Series was a complete series... - [How to Understand Online Star Ratings](https://bookwi.se/how-to-understand-online-star-ratings/): This is the latest xkcd comic.  And it is pretty much the way I understand online rankings. - [Catholic Matters: Confusion, Controversy, and the Splendor of Truth by Richard John Neuhaus](https://bookwi.se/catholic-matters/): If you are just joining in, I am slowly working through several books on Catholic theology and practice.  Catholic Matters was recommended by a friend and is... - [Send to Kindle Extension for Chrome](https://bookwi.se/send-to-kindle-extension-for-chrome/): One of the lesser known features of the kindle is that you can send books, article or other documents to your kindle.  This can be useful for editing, or... - [32 Free Books to Give Away](https://bookwi.se/32-free-books-to-give-away/): I made a committment to myself to give away the vast majority of my paper books when I am done with them.  Many of the books below were given to me by others... - [The Lost Hero (Heros of Olympus #1) by Rick Riordan](https://bookwi.se/lost-hero/): Summary: A new set of heroes are on a quest to free Hera and stop something worse than the Titans from destroying the Gods (and maybe all of humanity with... - [Why Holiness Matters by Tyler Braun](https://bookwi.se/why-holiness-matters/): Summary: Holiness is affection for God and a way of life, not a set of rules that we have to live by. Holiness is a difficult topic to discuss.  About halfway... - [Bookwi.se Reviewed Books on Prayer](https://bookwi.se/reviewed-books-on-prayer/): Since Bookwi.se now has more than 500 book reviews, I felt it was time to start making the back catalogue a bit more useful.  I will continue to add to... - [New Kindle Speculation](https://bookwi.se/new-kindle-speculation/): July 31st (the rumored for a Amazon Press conference for new kindle models) has come and gone.  But there are still speculation that new kindles are... - [Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How it Can Help You Find and Keep Love](https://bookwi.se/attached/): Summary: We have a way that we attached to romantic partners.  Finding a partner that is compatible with our attachment type makes those attachments more... - [Need Book Suggestions for Newly Married Couples](https://bookwi.se/newly-married/): Over the past two years my wife and I have lead a small group for newly married couples.  We are getting ready to start a third group at the end of the month... - [The Cry of the Halidon by Robert Ludlum](https://bookwi.se/the-cry-of-the-halidon-by-robert-ludlum/): Summary: A geologist is paid to survey Jamaica by a secret cabal of financiers that wants to take over the island and create their own country.  MI-5 enlists... - [Plugged: A Novel by Eoin Colfer](https://bookwi.se/plugged-a-novel-by-eoin-colfer/): Summary: A former Irish military man is trying to escape his past by working as a bouncer at a seedy New York City club.  When a girl he likes ends up dead,... - [Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley](https://bookwi.se/enemies/): What goes on inside us can be very complicated. This book by Metro-Atlanta pastor, Andy Stanley, works to untangle and uncomplicate what goes on by breaking... - [The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum](https://bookwi.se/wizard-of-oz/): Takeaway: Books are never the same as the movie. It has been a long time since I have sat down and watched the entire Wizard of Oz movie.  My 3 and 4 year old... - [July 2012 Most Read Reviews](https://bookwi.se/july-2012-most-read-reviews/): These are the most read reviews for July 2012.  This month 3 of the 7 most read reviews were primarily written in previous months.  Discovering Your Heart is... - [The Hidden Life of Prayer: The Life-Blood of the Christian by David McIntyre](https://bookwi.se/the-hidden-life-of-prayer-the-life-blood-of-the-christian-by-david-mcintyre/): Takeaway: Prayer requires intention. It has always seemed to me that the late 19th and early 20th century produced some of the best works on prayer.  EM... - [Livrada: e-book gift cards for your Kindle or Nook](https://bookwi.se/livrada/): I love ebooks.  I primarily read digital formats.  But there are a couple of things I miss about physical books.  One of them is the ability to give books... - [Kindle 3G Monthly Data Cap](https://bookwi.se/kindle-data-cap/): Cover via Amazon One of the most unused, but nice features of the Kindle with Keyboard 3G is that it has web access.  Web access on a Kindle is not easy.  It... - [Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card](https://bookwi.se/ender-in-exile/): Summary: The follow up to Ender's Game set right before the last chapter of Ender's Game with ideas from the Shadow Series and before the Xenocide and later... - [Two Books I Did Not Like](https://bookwi.se/the-sword-by-brian-m-litfin/): I listened to about two hours of both of these books on audio.  I just could not get into either one.   I really want to watch Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy.... - [Eagle in Flight: The Life of Athanasius, The Apostle of the Trinity by Allienne Becker](https://bookwi.se/athanasius/): Takeaway: In this novelization of ancient Church history, the persecution of the church and the fight for orthodox christianity are made very real. This year... - [Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way by Shauna Niequist](https://bookwi.se/bittersweet-by-shauna-niequist/): Takeaway: Life that is all good, is not life.  Real life is bittersweet. About two years ago I received a promotional copy of Bittersweet and Cold... - [Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card](https://bookwi.se/pathfinder-by-orson-scott-card/): Summary: A very special boy can see the paths of everything that has ever lived.  And he is not just any boy.  But he does not know that yet. Orson Scott... - [Spycatcher by Matthew Dunn](https://bookwi.se/spycatcher-by-matthew-dunn/): Summary: A super spy saves the United States from a really bad terrorist. Spy novels, with very few exceptions, have the same basic story line.  There are bad... - [Grave Peril (Dresden Files #3) by Jim Butcher](https://bookwi.se/grave-peril/): Summary: Dresden and a 'Righteous man' fight the latest set of nasties in order to protect Chicago from vampires, ghosts and more. It is always interesting to... - [Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice by David Teems](https://bookwi.se/tyndale/): Summary: A speculative biography about an important figure in English Christianity.  But one that we know very little about. It is hard to write a biography... - [The Last Guardian (Artemis Fowl #8) by Eoin Colfer](https://bookwi.se/last-guardian/): Summary: Artemis is cured and life is good.  But Opal Koboi has figured out yet another way to escape and this the her target is not just power, the the... - [Matched by Ally Condie](https://bookwi.se/matched/): Today's Kindle Book of the Day for July 15. On sale for $2.99.  I am reposting the full review. Takeaway: A romantic cross between Cory Doctorow's Little... - [Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer](https://bookwi.se/artemis-fowl/): I am on vacation at the beach this weeks so I am posting some older reviews of books that make great beach reads. I finished the last Artemis Fowl book this... - [Finding Juliet by Frank Sennett](https://bookwi.se/finding-juliet-by-frank-sennett/): I am at the beach this week. So I decided to post some of my favorite beach reads instead of writing new reviews. Summary: Classic guy meets girl romance with... - [Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (Second Review)](https://bookwi.se/beauty-queens-2/): Note: Bookwi.se contributor Emily Flury posted a review of this book earlier.  This review is from Adam Shields. Summary: A humorous satire about a group of... - [King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight (Read Again Post)](https://bookwi.se/king-jesus/): Takeaway: Asserting that the Gospel is about Jesus, does not minimize the need for salvation, the need for evangelism, the need for social ministry or God's... - [Most Read Reviews in June 2012](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-in-june-2012/): I believe for the first time ever, every one of the most read books reviews this month are fiction books. The books in order are Agent to the Stars by John... - [Scheduling](https://bookwi.se/scheduling/): Posts will likely be pretty light over the next two weeks. I am with my family from today to next week And then on vacation with my wife's family the week... - [Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots by Scott Hahn](https://bookwi.se/signs/): Takeaway: The more I explore Catholic belief, the more it pushes me to think about my own beliefs. If you have not noticed, I have been reading about Catholic... - [They Eat Puppies, Don’t They? by Christopher Buckley](https://bookwi.se/puppies/): Summary: A novel about a defense contractor lobbyist and a political commentator who get together to whip up furor over China in order to justify more... - [The Unity Factor: One Lord, One Church, One Mission by John Armstrong](https://bookwi.se/unity-factor/): Summary: A brief book about why the church needs to pursue unity as part of our Mission. "We must understand that the unity of the church is not an end in... - [Love/Hate Relationship With Book Reviews](https://bookwi.se/lovehate-relationship-with-book-reviews/): I have mostly stopped doing reviews of new popular books in the Christian world.  Occasionally I will.  But I prefer reading books I want to read, when I... - [New Kindles in July?](https://bookwi.se/new-kindles-july/): NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 28: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos holds the new Amazon tablet called the Kindle Fire on September 28, 2011 in New York City. The Fire,... - [When Beauty Pursues You by Elora Ramirez](https://bookwi.se/when-beauty-pursues-you/): Summary: A brief, poetic look at the pain and redemption of growing up as a girl seeking to be cherished. For someone that reads as much as I do, and someone... - [The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern](https://bookwi.se/night-circus/): Summary: A competition/duel between two magicians that work at the Night Circus, a circus that arrives without warning and only occurs at night. My feelings... - [Small Faith – Great God by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/small-faith-great-god/): Summary: A reissue of a 1978 book. A decent intro to many of Wright's ideas, but not as fully developed as later books. This books is primarily based on a... - [How to Go from Being a Good Evangelical to a Committed Catholic in Ninety-Five Difficult Steps by Christian Smith](https://bookwi.se/how-go-being-good-evangelical-committed-catholic-ninety-five-difficult-steps-christian-smith/): Takeaway: If you are thinking about joining the Catholic church this has many good questions, clarification and guidance. I am on a project to understand more... - [Caleb’s Crossing: A Novel by Geraldine Brooks](https://bookwi.se/calebs-crossing/): Summary: A richly told story of early Puritans and the struggle against the New England wilderness and the missionary outreach to Native Americans. This is my... - [Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism by Scott and Kimberly Hahn](https://bookwi.se/rome-sweet-home-our-journey-to-catholicism-by-scott-and-kimberly-hahn/): Summary: Memoir of a couple's conversion from Presbyterian to Catholicism. Recently a good friend of mine has converted to Catholicism.  This has been on... - [The Enchantress by Michael Scott](https://bookwi.se/enchantress/): Summary: The conclusion of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series. This is a good example of a books that was given away free on kindle, I liked the books and I... - [Beauty Queens by Libba Bray](https://bookwi.se/beauty-queens/): Summary: This novel was just a fun book to listen to. You know how some books are just meant to be listened to? Well, this is one of them. This is not a book... - [Fifty Shades Freed by EL James](https://bookwi.se/fifty-shades-freed-by-el-james/): Note: Fifty Shades Darker is a sexually explicit book. Please be aware of that before purchase Summary: The conclusion of the trilogy, with a little suspense... - [The Color of Rain: How Two Families Found Faith, Hope & Love in the Midst of Tragedy by Michael Spehn](https://bookwi.se/the-color-of-rain/): If I could sum up this book, I would say that it gives a wonderful example of how beauty can come from tragedy. The book is about two families, each of whom... - [Most Read Reviews for May](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-for-may/): Here are the top reviews (by traffic) for the month of May Now You're Speaking My Language: Honest Communication and Deeper Intimacy for a Stronger Marriage by... - [Don’t Know Much About History by Kenneth Davis](https://bookwi.se/dont-know-much-about-history-by-kenneth-davis/): Takeaway: History is important. I do not need to be convinced that history is important.  It is a lesson that I have understood well and in spite of the fact... - [Fifty Shades Darker by EL James](https://bookwi.se/fifty-darker/): Note: Fifty Shades Darker is a sexually explicit book. Please be aware of that before purchase Summary: Christian Grey and Ana Steele separated at the end of... - [Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James](https://bookwi.se/fifty-grey/): Note: Fifty Shades of Grey is a sexually explicit book.  Please be aware of that before purchase Takeaway: In spite of the explicit sex, this relatively... - [Review of Refurbished Kindle (4 or Basic)](https://bookwi.se/kindle-4/): This post is brought to you by My Life Scoop Get Tips For A Connected Lifestyle » Summary: A very good eink reader, highly recommended. Last week on Amazon... - [Bark of the Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers](https://bookwi.se/bark-of-the-bog-owl-by-jonathan-rogers/): Over the last couple months, I have been reading much more fiction than I have in recent years.  I am not sure if I am just burned out with non-fiction or I... - [Scheduling Note](https://bookwi.se/scheduling-note/): This week is going have a very light schedule.  I am going to go on my 19th guys trip (an approximately annual trip that we have been doing since college.)... - [The Bible Wasn’t Written To You by David Ker](https://bookwi.se/bible-written-david-ker/): Takeaway: The Bible was written to people very distant from us.   Last year I undertook a project of reading about how to understand, interpret and think... - [Insurgent by Veronica Roth](https://bookwi.se/insurgent/): Summary: Tris and Four continue to have a rocky relationship and continue to try and figure out why being Divergent, like they are, is such a threat to... - [The Shallows: What The Internet is Doing To Our Brains by Nicholas Carr](https://bookwi.se/the-shallows/): Takeaway: Everything we do changes our brains.  The repetitive action of computer and internet work is very effective at changing our brains.  This has... - [Book Reviews from Englewood Review of Books](https://bookwi.se/erb/): I started out to cobble together some reviews from around the web, when I realized that Englewood Review of Books had enough very good reviews to have their... - [The Reformation: A Very Short Introduction by Peter Marshall](https://bookwi.se/the-reformation-a-very-short-introduction-by-peter-marshall/): Takeaway: The Reformation is very important to the history of Christianity and Europe, but the mythology of the Reformation is often overplayed... - [Some Kindle Rumors and News](https://bookwi.se/some-kindle-rumors-and-news/): Cover via Amazon CNet is reporting that Amazon is likely to ship a color e-ink kindle sometime in 2012.  E-ink screens are important because they do not have... - [The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler](https://bookwi.se/the-expliciet-gospel/): Takeaway: The Gospel needs to be understood and Explicit. I want to affirm Chandler's desire that people really understand the Gospel. (Although we have a... - [Fields of Gold (Generous Giving) by Andy Stanley](https://bookwi.se/fields-of-gold/): Takeaway: In spite of the fact that some Christians misuse scripture about giving, those portions of scripture are still there and we need to focus on the... - [Wife Review of Divergent by Veronica Roth](https://bookwi.se/divergent-wife-review/): I suppose this means my posts may be more like every couple of months rather than weekly. You will be proud to hear that I have actually read several books... - [Most Read Book Reviews in April](https://bookwi.se/most-read-april/): I have not been posting these lately but, I find it interesting that the top book reviews this month are all from this month.  And the most read book review... - [Now You’re Speaking My Language: Honest Communication and Deeper Intimacy for a Stronger Marriage by Gary Chapman](https://bookwi.se/chapman-read-again/): Summary: A wide ranging book on communication in marriage. Last night we finished discussing this book in my small group.  My wife and I lead a small group... - [The Diety Formerly Known As God by Jarrett Stevens](https://bookwi.se/the-diety-formerly-known-as-god-by-jarrett-stevens/): Version 1.0.0 Takeaway: A reminder that we are not God.  We need to submit to God and not try to get our idea of God to submit to us. Books that help us... - [And Both Were Young by Madeline L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/both-were-young/): Summary: A post-World War II boarding school is the setting of a classic coming of age story. I have read a number of Madeleine L'Engle books over the last... - [The Road by Cormac McCarthy](https://bookwi.se/the-road/): Takeaway: Subject matter and writing style and content do not always match.  Odd to hear tragic, violent and heart rending action in such beautiful prose. I... - [Shadows in Flight by Orson Scott Card](https://bookwi.se/shadows-in-flight/): Summary: Bean and his three gifted children are flying through space searching for a cure and a home. I am a pretty big Orson Scott Card fan.  I have read... - [Kindle Books Updates, Now With Your Notes and Highlights](https://bookwi.se/kindle-updates/): A Picture of a eBook (Photo credit: Wikipedia) One of the biggest promises of digital books is the ability to continuously update, correct and improve the... - [Crazy for God by Frank Schaeffer](https://bookwi.se/crazy-for-god/): Takeaway: Christians need to allow their heroes to be real people.  Putting people up on a pedestal not only harms those looking, but those on the pedestal.... - [Requests for Books about Christianity and Beauty](https://bookwi.se/beauty/): Hagia Sophia ; Empress Zoë mosaic : Christ Pantocrator; Istanbul, Turkey (Photo credit: Wikipedia) This weekend I have finished Frank Schaeffer's Crazy for... - [An American Spy by Olen Steinhauer](https://bookwi.se/american-spy/): Quick Thoughts: Milo Weaver, hero of the first two books is not in this one until 1/3 in. Either a good conclusion or a set up for a re-start of the series. I... - [The Final Hour (Homelanders #4) by Andrew Klavan](https://bookwi.se/the-final-hour/): Summary: The conclusion, this time, is real. The end of The Truth of The Matter (book #3), felt like a conclusion.  Because there is a book four, I knew it... - [The Doctrine of the Trinity in the Early Church by Franz Dunzl](https://bookwi.se/the-doctrine-of-the-trinity/): Takeaway: Doctrine is the attempt to speak of God faithfully to our culture, but it is limited to the tools that are available to our language, philosophy and... - [The Truth of the Matter (Homelanders #3) by Andrew Klavan](https://bookwi.se/the-truth-of-the-matter-homelanders-3-by-andrew-klavan/): Summary: Charlie now knows who actually killed Alex and he is searching for Waterman, his best clue on how to get back to his normal life. This is book three... - [A Spirituality of Living by Henri Nouwen](https://bookwi.se/nouwen/): Takeaway: We are created to need solitude, community and to do service. I don't remember when I first became acquainted with Henri Nouwen.  Probably some... - [The Long Way Home (Homelanders #2) by Andrew Klavan](https://bookwi.se/the-long-way-home-homelanders-2-by-andrew-klavan/): Summary: Charlie West is on the run, from the police and a group of unknown terrorist.  How can he prove that he is innocent and at the same time stay alive... - [How to Return a Kindle Book for Refund](https://bookwi.se/return-a-book/): If you try to buy free kindle books long enough you will accidentally purchase a book that is no longer free, or at a price you are unwilling to pay.  The... - [A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink](https://bookwi.se/whole-new-mind/): Takeaway: Right Brained creative thinking is the basis for the new economy (and you are less likely to have your job off-shored). I like Daniel Pink.  His... - [Harry Potter Books are Now Available Legally for Kindle](https://bookwi.se/harry-potter/): Pottermore (Photo credit: Wikipedia) JK Rowling is late to the ebook game.  And she still has not really bought into it completely.  But it is now possible... - [Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work by Matthew Crawford](https://bookwi.se/shop-class/): Takeaway: There are pleasures and value in physical labor that should not be degraded. The best line in Shop Class as Soulcraft is "Work is toilsome and... - [Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Read Again)](https://bookwi.se/hunger-games/): Takeaway: Still a great book. Violence came through even more in audio format. This is a review of the book, not the movie. Yesterday I finished listening to... - [Kushiel’s Dart by Jaqueline Carey](https://bookwi.se/kushiels-dart/): Note: This is an adult book. Discretion advised. Primarily I read and review non-fiction books.  While I like to read fiction, fiction tells a story and its... - [Identity Man by Andrew Klavan](https://bookwi.se/identity-man/): Takeaway: Explores the idea of whether a person can really change, and what it takes to motivate them if they can change. I first heard about this book, as I... - [The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery](https://bookwi.se/hedgehog/): Summary: The Elegance of the Hedgehog is a wildly popular French novel in 2007 and was translated into English in 2008.   The story takes place entirely in a... - [Roam: A Novel with Music by Alan Lazar](https://bookwi.se/roam/): As I have enjoyed many books about dogs in the past such as The Art of Racing in the Rain, One Good Dog, and A Dog's Purpose, I picked up this novel because I... - [Other Things Around the Web](https://bookwi.se/other-things-around-the-web/): Daniel Darling reviewed Jonathan Merritt's soon to be released A Faith of our Own The Englewood Review of Books has a review by Bob Cornwall of Amos Yong's The... - [Bookwi.se Reviewed Books on Theology of Technology](https://bookwi.se/bookwi-se-reviewed-books-on-theology-of-technology/): Since Bookwi.se now has more than 450 book reviews, I felt it was time to start making the back catalogue a bit more useful.  Over time I am going to add... - [Our Triune God: Living in the Love of the Three in One by Philip Ryken and Michael LeFebvre](https://bookwi.se/our-triune-god/): I am way behind in my 2012 reading goals.  I am reading about the Trinity this year.  I started out with this book to read with some friends in a little... - [How to Reset Your Place in a Kindle Book](https://bookwi.se/how-to-reset-your-place/): Sometime earlier this week Amazon made a small little change that will be very helpful to people that share a kindle account with several people or like to... - [For Men Only: A Guide to the Inner Lives of Women by Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn](https://bookwi.se/for-men-only/): At this point I would recommend reading Great Sex Rescue and once you are done with that, then maybe you can find value in For Men/Women Only. Takeaway: Women... - [Bookwi.se Wife](https://bookwi.se/bookwise-wife/): I am not a blogger. I have tried and failed miserably. Adam however, has found a way to challenge himself and enjoy reading more with this blog. He considers... - [IQ84 by Haruki Marakami](https://bookwi.se/iq84/): Welcome Emily Flury, a new contributor to Bookwi.se. Go friend Emily at her GoodReads page. Also author bios are now below each post. This book is my first... - [The Atlantis Complex (Book #7) by Eoin Colfer](https://bookwi.se/atlantis-complex/): Summary: Some of the ramifications of Artemis' past life of crime (and his guilt) come back to haunt him. This is the penultimate book of the series and it is... - [A Call for Bookwi.se Book Review Contributors](https://bookwi.se/contributors/): Originally when I switched from MrShields.com to Bookwi.se a year ago I had two purposes. First, I wanted to expand the brand to be about the books, not about... - [The Trinity (Life Changing Series) by Burton Rager](https://bookwi.se/trinity-ranger/): Summary: Basic ideas of the trinity in a short pamphlet form. One of my reading projects this year is to read about the trinity.  I am currently (very slowly)... - [Sacred Friendship Gathering](https://bookwi.se/sacred-friendship-gathering/): Last March, Bookwi.se hosted a blog discussion of the book Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions by Dan Brennan. I also listed it as one of my books of the year.... - [Unity by Q. Apelles](https://bookwi.se/unity/): Takeaway: I have no idea This is one of my Prime lending library books.  I went out on a limb and the limb snapped off underneath me. This is a book on... - [Journeys of Faith: Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Anglicanism](https://bookwi.se/journeys/): Summary: Stories of conversion from Evangelicalism to Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism and from Catholicism to Evangelical I am a big... - [The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl #6) by Eoin Colfer](https://bookwi.se/time-paradox/): Summary: Artemis's mother is sick.  And some how she has a magical sickness that can only be cured by a now extinct lemur.  Artemis' 10 year old self was... - [Other Reviews Around the Web](https://bookwi.se/other-reviews-around-the-web/): Image via Wikipedia Carolyn Webber, author of Surprised by Oxford, I reviewed last year), Jane Austen's Persuasion and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Weber is... - [Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie](https://bookwi.se/crossed/): Summary: In book two of this young adult romantic dystopian novel, Cassia is looking for Ky, who has been shipped off to the outer provinces as a decoy in... - [Original Sin: A Cultural History by Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/sin/): Takeaway: The concept of original sin has greatly shaped Western culture. Original Sin is a doctrine I have always had trouble understanding. It is not that I... - [The Myth of the Garage and other Minor Surprises by Chip and Dan Heath](https://bookwi.se/heath/): Takeaway: Variety of essays on business and leadership matters, especially focused on issues that are not intuitive, but still true. I used to read a lot more... - [The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl #5) by Eoin Colfer](https://bookwi.se/the-lost-colony-artemis-fowl-5-by-eoin-colfer/): Takeaway: This series is very good at keeping it fresh and mixing science fiction and fantasy elements. I swear this is not going to become a young adult... - [Thoughts on Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas](https://bookwi.se/thoughts-on-three-musketeers-by-alexander-dumas/): Summary Thoughts: Classics are classic, but they do not necessarily have good values. One of my reading goals this year is to read more old books.  I checked... - [The Mark of a Christian by Francis Schaeffer](https://bookwi.se/mark-of-a-christian/): Summary: Short introduction to why we should pursue unity within the church. This short pamphlet (60 pages in paper, just over an hour in audio) was written to... - [Living Water: Powerful Teaching by Brother Yun](https://bookwi.se/living-water/): Summary: Powerful teaching of a Chinese Christian leader calling the church to greater devotion and service. I recently read the autobiography (Heavenly Man)... - [Why ebooks may save some authors from extinction](https://bookwi.se/extinction/): As I have been publishing free ebook posts over the past month.  I have started seeing a trend that I have not noticed before.  A number of authors, many in... - [The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl: Book 4) by Eoin Colfer](https://bookwi.se/opal-deception/): Summary: Artemis is once again dragged into the Fairy world to help save it from destruction. At the end of the last book, Artemis and all of his human... - [The Gospel of Luke by Joel Green](https://bookwi.se/luke-green/): Takeaway: Very thorough and helpful commentary on Luke. I have greatly enjoyed my Luke reading project.  Last year I read a suggestion by Jerry Bridges that... - [The Bookwi.se 1000th Post Book Give Away – 60 Books](https://bookwi.se/1000th-post/): This is officially the 1000th post on Bookwi.se. (A few short term posts got deleted, so it is probably 1012 or something, but there are currently 1000... - [Historical Theology by Gregg Allison – The Trinity](https://bookwi.se/allison-trinity/): Takeaway: Theology requires history and church tradition.  I already wrote a summary review on Historical Theology.  But I am still using it as background.... - [This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett](https://bookwi.se/marriage-patchett/): Takeaway: It is really many stories of divorce (her own and those in her family) followed by an almost accidental discovery of an actually happy marriage (so... - [The Resignation of Eve: What if Adam’s Rib is No Longer Willing to Be the Church’s Backbone? by Jim Henderson](https://bookwi.se/eve/): Takeaway: The stories of women and their views on women in church leaders, backed by statistical research can be powerful. Women in church leadership is a... - [Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture by Lesslie Newbigin](https://bookwi.se/foolishness/): Takeaway: Outsiders can sometimes see us better than we can see ourselves. Lesslie Newbigin is one of the most important Christian thinkers of the last couple... - [Book Reviews Around the Web](https://bookwi.se/book-reviews-around-the-web/): I read a lot of good book reviews.  So I thought I might start sharing them. The Cross and The Lynching Tree by James H Cone at Englewood Book of Reviews -... - [The Broken Gun by Louis L’Amour](https://bookwi.se/lamour/): Takeaway: A classic western that was actually set only a couple decades ago. Westerns were a staple of my teenage years.  I was not a 'manly man'.  I have... - [Burned by Digital Media](https://bookwi.se/burned-by-digital-media/): Image by agirregabiria via Flickr I am a fan of digital media.  I prefer my kindle to paper books.  I haven't purchased a physical CD in a while.  I no... - [Love Walked Among Us: Learning to Love Like Jesus by Paul Miller](https://bookwi.se/love-walked/): Takeaway: Jesus did not love in some abstract ethereal way.  He loved the people around him personally, physically and in a very human manner. Love Walked... - [Send to Kindle App (For Windows PCs)](https://bookwi.se/send-to-kindle-app/): Amazon released an app to make getting your documents from your computer to your kindle just a bit easier.  It only works on Windows PCs, but seems to work... - [The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, Book 3) by Eoin Colfer](https://bookwi.se/eternity-code/): Summary: Artemis is up to his old tricks. But this time he is outsmarted and he needs Holly to help get him (and all of the fairy world) out of trouble. For... - [The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun by Brother Yun and Paul Hattaway](https://bookwi.se/heavenly-man/): Takeaway: The Christian world outside the US is much more important than what we usually acknowledge Christian biography and autobiography is... - [Bookwi.se Reviewed Books on Scripture, Inspiration and Hermenutics](https://bookwi.se/scripture/): Bookwi.se Reviewed Books Directly On Scripture Inspiration and/or Hermenutics I am not at the end of my exploration of scripture and how we should be... - [Bookwi.se Reviewed Books on the Holy Spirit](https://bookwi.se/holy-spirit/): Since Bookwi.se now has more than 400 book reviews, I felt it was time to start making the back catalogue a bit more useful.  Over the next couple weeks I am... - [Book Give Away](https://bookwi.se/book-give-away/): I have been cleaning up my house and decided that it is time to give away some books.  Most of them I purchased and read before I stared Bookwi.se, a couple... - [Paul: In Fresh Perspective by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/paul-wright/): Takeaway: Paul is a formidable character and NT Wright believes he is often misunderstood. Honestly I am not sure how to review this book.  First, it is not... - [Got some books to give away](https://bookwi.se/got-some-books-to-give-away/): I have had a very nice Christmas break.  I have not worked hardly at all and I honestly have not read all that much either.  I misplaced my kindle somewhere... - [Movie “Red”, Spy Thrillers and a Deal](https://bookwi.se/red/): I watch the movie Red tonight with my wife.  I really like spy thrillers, especially the post-cold war spy thrillers.  I find it interesting that from... - [I Am A Follower: The Way, Truth and Life of Following Jesus by Leonard Sweet](https://bookwi.se/follower/): Takeaway: "We have been told our entire lives that we should be leaders...but the truth is that the greatest way to create a movement is to be a follower and... - [Not Really a Review of The Origin of the Bible edited by Philip Comfort](https://bookwi.se/comfort/): With the new Kindle Lending Library, you can borrow one book from Amazon per month if you are a Amazon Prime Member. I have decided that I am going to... - [2012 Reading Priorities](https://bookwi.se/2012-reading-priorities/): I am mostly a 'Read by Whim' reader.  But that does not mean that I do not make plans about what I want to read.  While I may change my mind, these are my... - [Complete 2011 Books of the Year List](https://bookwi.se/complete-2011-books-of-the-year-list/): Here is the Complete Books of the Year 2011 List (with Honorable Mentions).  In reverse alphabetical order by name of author. - [The Good, Mildly Frustrating and Bad About the Kindle Fire](https://bookwi.se/fire/): I have not purchased a Kindle Fire for myself.  I have a Kindle with Keyboard and an iPad so I did not feel the need to buy a Kindle Fire.  But my Mother got... - [Surprised by Oxford: A Memoir by Carolyn Weber – 2011 Books of the Year](https://bookwi.se/surprised/): I read a number of good memoirs this year (Brennan Manning, Eugene Peterson, Ian Cron, etc.) but Surprised by Oxford was my favorite.  A beautifully written... - [Economics of Good and Evil: The Quest for Economic Meaning from Gilgamesh to Wall Street by Tomas Sedlacek](https://bookwi.se/economics-good-evil-sedlacek/):   Takeaway: We have begun to think that modern capitalism is the only right way to think about economics.  This book tracks how economics has been... - [Merry Christmas!](https://bookwi.se/merry-christmas/): This is a scan of our actual Christmas card (I need a new scanner).  I really do hope you have a very nice Christmas. We have received more positive comments... - [Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling by Andy Crouch – 2011 Books of the Year](https://bookwi.se/culture-making-recovering-our-creative-calling-by-andy-crouch/): This is the one of the first books I read in 2011.  And it actually came out in 2010, but still I think it is a book that more people need to read.  The... - [The Erosion of Inerrancy in Evangelicalism by GK Beale](https://bookwi.se/the-erosion-of-inerrancy-in-evangelicalism-by-gk-beale/): Takeaway: If you are going to respond to another author, it is best to deal with their actual arguments. GK Beale opens the book with a fictional discussion... - [Review of Booklending.com: A Book Sharing Site](https://bookwi.se/booklending/): Many, many people will be getting a Kindle for Christmas.  If the numbers continue then Amazon will have sold more than 5 million kindles (all models... - [Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions: Engaging the Mystery of Friendship Between Men and Women by Dan J Brennan – 2011 Books of the Year](https://bookwi.se/sacred-unions-brennan/): This may be the most polarizing of the books I have on my 2011 Bookwi.se Books of the Year.  Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions is a provokative book about why... - [Earthen Vessels by Matthew Lee Anderson – 2011 Books of the Year](https://bookwi.se/earthen-vessels-anderson/): Over the next 10 days Bookwi.se will be re-posting my books of the year. They are in alphabetical order by author. Matthew Lee Anderson has given the... - [Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie (Guest Post)](https://bookwi.se/start-something/): Guest post by Chris Moore. He blogs at aboyandhisgod.blogspot.com and is on twitter Takeaway: With creativity, a website, and a plan to make a difference,... - [Bookwi.se 2011 Books of the Year and Honorable Mentions](https://bookwi.se/2011-books-of-the-year/): Image via Wikipedia The List has been decided.  Starting tomorrow, I will re-post the reviews of the books that made the most impact on me this year.  These... - [The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer](https://bookwi.se/the-short-second-life-of-bree-tanner-by-stephanie-meyer/): Summary: The story of last battle of the 3rd Book of Twilight (Eclipse) told from one of the newborn vampires. So I am going to out myself up front.  I read... - [The Wisdom of Each Other: A Conversation Between Spiritual Friends by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/friends/): Takeaway: Spiritual friendship is important and undervalued. I intentionally picked this up with CS Lewis' Letters to Malcolm (my review) because they seem to... - [How Many Kindles is Amazon Selling?](https://bookwi.se/how-many/): Image via Wikipedia Amazon is the king of not actually saying anything in a press release.  According to this Press Release these things are true: 1) Amazon... - [Fool Moon (Dresden Files #2) by Jim Butcher](https://bookwi.se/fool-moon/): Summary: A classic hero: a good guy that is a bit bad, but still sacrifices himself for the girl I first heard about the Dresden Files books when they were... - [Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray and Still Loving My Neighbor by Jana Riess](https://bookwi.se/flunking/): Note: Christianity Today women's Blog Her-meneutics, had a blog post about this book on Feb 1, 2012.  It seems that Reiss converted to Mormonism in 1993 and... - [Which Kindle to Buy for Christmas](https://bookwi.se/which-kindle/): Left to right (Kindle Basic, Kindle Touch, Kindle with Keyboard, Kindle Fire) A friend asked me this morning which Kindle she should buy for Christmas. Here is... - [Junia is Not Alone by Scot McKnight](https://bookwi.se/junia/): Takeaway: There was a woman in Roman 16:7 that Paul says was one of the apostles.  Many Christians do not know this. Junia is Not Alone is short. Frankly, it... - [Reading on the Rise – NEA Study](https://bookwi.se/reading-on-the-rise/): Takeaway: This is a very good time to be a reader. The National Endowment for the Arts has been studying how Americans read since 1982.  Over that time there... - [Most Read Book Reviews of Nov 2011](https://bookwi.se/most-read-nov/): Here are the most read book reviews of November 2011.  For the first time I am looked at both the RSS and the website views.  It seems that RSS readers and... - [The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl #2) by Eoin Colfer](https://bookwi.se/arctic-incident/): Summary: Artemis may have found his father, and he is suspected to be smuggling human goods (and weapons) to Faire. The second book in a series makes or breaks... - [The Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett](https://bookwi.se/good-omens/): Neil Gaiman has credibly been accused of sexual assault and abuse. Summary: The end of the world is coming.  An angel and a demon happen to like the world the... - [Read My Lips by Debby Herbenick and Vanessa Schick](https://bookwi.se/read-my-lips/): Takeaway:  Yes, this book is about celebration of women's genitalia. If you have a book review blog you get asked to review all kinds of books.  Some I... - [Semi-Vacation](https://bookwi.se/semi-vacation/): Image via Wikipedia Today starts a semi-vacation at my Mother in Law's cabin for the next 10 days. We are going to have Thanksgiving first with my side of the... - [Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine by Gregg Allison](https://bookwi.se/historical-theology/): Takeaway: Theology does not exist in a vacuum.  Historical Theology is a massive and far reaching undertaking.  All theology has a history and a context for... - [Medici Effect: What Elephants and Epidemics Can Teach Us About Innovation by Frans Johansson](https://bookwi.se/medici-effect/): Takeaway: Innovation occurs at the intersection of different fields of study. My wife originally told me about this book.  She saw the author... - [How to Succeed in Evil by Patrick E McLean](https://bookwi.se/mclean/): Summary: Real evil isn't the villains, it is the accountants/consultants behind the villains About 6 or 7 years ago I was listening to a lot of independent... - [Following Jesus, The Servant King: A Biblical Theology of Convenintal Discipleship by Jonathan Lunde](https://bookwi.se/lunde/): Takeaway: God is a Covenant God Up front I want to say, I only read about half of this book.  Part of the issue is that I had several other books that were... - [The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan](https://bookwi.se/demigod/): I gave up on this book.  I checked it out of the library as an audiobook through the Overdrive system.  I really enjoyed the rest of the Percy Jackson... - [I read to be changed](https://bookwi.se/i-read-to-be-changed/): http://tentblogger.com/steve-jobs-book/ One of the people that has most encouraged me to blog is John Saddington.  He has created a whole community of people... - [Most Read Reviews in October](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-in-october/): A few days late, but these are the most read Book Reviews in October. Against Calvinism by Roger Olson The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo Luke's Gospel... - [Kindle Owner’s Lending Library: New Service for Prime Members](https://bookwi.se/prime/): Last night, Amazon introduced their Kindle Owner's Lending Library. This morning there is an announcement about it on Amazon's front page. The Kindle Owner's... - [Aquinas for Armchair Theologians by Timothy Renick](https://bookwi.se/aquinas/): Takeaway: Aquinas is important, an understatement I know. This is the second book in the Armchair Theologians series that I have read.  I like the idea of a... - [Little Brother by Cory Doctorow](https://bookwi.se/little-brother/): Takeaway: Protection from terrorism means protection of freedoms Little Brother is classic Cory Doctorow.  Doctorow is a science fiction writer/free speech... - [Kindle Software Upgrades](https://bookwi.se/kindle-software-upgrades/): Cover via Amazon Over the past two weeks Amazon has been distributing the latest firmware upgrade (3.3) for the Kindle 3 (now called the Kindle with Keyboard).... - [Lendle – A Kindle book sharing site](https://bookwi.se/lendle/): I am planning on doing a longer review of Lendle next week. But I wanted to do a short introduction and review now. One of the new features this year for... - [Short Break](https://bookwi.se/short-break/): I have been kind of fried lately.  I have kept up a 4 or 5 book a week posting schedule much of the year and posted 141 book reviews so far this year... - [The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo](https://bookwi.se/despereaux/): Takeaway: A dark fairytale where a mouse can be as important as a knight. As I get older and start reading children's books, not just for my own pleasure, but... - [Together in Prayer: Coming to God in Community by Andrew Wheeler](https://bookwi.se/prayer/): Takeaway: Small group prayer is fundamentally different than individual prayer or pastoral prayers.   Prayer is an important part of the growth of any... - [An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/acceptable-time/): Takeaway: Interesting how preconceptions affect the reading of a story. It is odd to read a book for the first time as an adult, when you started the series as... - [Against Calvinism by Roger Olson](https://bookwi.se/against-calvinism/): Takeaway: This might better be called 'Against a strong version of TULIP' Against Calvinism is part of a two book series that try to present the arguments For... - [Advertising](https://bookwi.se/advertising/): Over the past two years of Bookwi.se (and the previous MrShields.com) I have messed around with advertising but I have not actually made any money except from... - [The Bible: A Very Short Introduction by John Riches](https://bookwi.se/bible-riches/): Takeaway: Still not the book I am looking for on the bible. Last week I stumbled on the Very Short Introduction series and was very impressed with Mark Noll's... - [Fyodor Dostoevsky (Christian Encounters Series) by Peter Leithart](https://bookwi.se/dostoevsky/): Takeaway: Biography is not historical fiction. I am a fan of Dostoevsky.  I have read several of his book and want to read more.  I have... - [Whose Bible Is It?: A Short History of the Scriptures by Jaroslav Pelikan](https://bookwi.se/pelikan/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: The Bible has a long history. I started listening to this because I am looking for a book on the history of the canon and how we use... - [The High King by Lloyd Alexander (Prydain Chronicles #5)](https://bookwi.se/high-king/): Takeaway: The final story is strangely satisfying. The High King is the last of one of the best-known Young Adult fantasy series before Harry Potter.  It won... - [Luke’s Gospel From Scratch by Donald L Griggs and Paul W Walaskay](https://bookwi.se/luke-scratch/): Takeaway: A basic introduction to Luke that is not simplistic or reductionist. Regular readers of my blog know that I am working through a six month study of... - [Protestantism: A Very Short Introduction by Mark Noll](https://bookwi.se/protestantism/): Takeaway: The common thread of Protestantism is diversity, focus on scripture and change. I first heard of Protestantism: A Very Short Introduction on a... - [Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander (Prydain Chronicles #4)](https://bookwi.se/taran-wanderer/): Takeaway: At some point, growing up means finding meaning and joy in work and yourself. Taran Wander is my favorite book of the series. In many ways, it is... - [The Night of the Living Dead Christian by Matt Mikalatos](https://bookwi.se/living-dead/): Takeaway: There is no other author quite like Matt Mikalatos We need more theologians that use an allegorical/satirical look at monsters to get their... - [Thoughts on the Basic Kindle](https://bookwi.se/basic-kindle/): The Basic Kindle Lost amid the excitement about the Kindle Fire Tablet and the Kindle Touch is the fact that there is a new Basic Kindle that is only $79.... - [Thoughts on the Kindle Touch](https://bookwi.se/touch/): The new Kindle Touch is what I would purchase right now if I were buying my first kindle. I strongly prefer reading on an eink screen (instead of an LCD... - [Thoughts on the Kindle Fire](https://bookwi.se/kindle-fire/): Many have probably already heard about the new line of kindles.  I am not going to give a full description, but just comments on them. Kindle Fire The Fire... - [Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander (Book 3 of Chronicles of Prydain)](https://bookwi.se/castle-of-llyr/): Takeaway: Part of growing up is realizing the role of romantic love. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition The Castle of Llyr is the most romantically... - [The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander](https://bookwi.se/black-cauldron/): Takeaway: The bad things we do, can often be seen better through others. Or, I never noticed how annoying that thing I do was, until I saw you do it. The Black... - [How To Check Out A Library Book on a Kindle](https://bookwi.se/library/): In 2011 Amazon started working with Overdrive to allow Amazon Kindle users to check books out of the library to be read on their Kindle devices. Any Kindle or... - [Reading Slumps](https://bookwi.se/reading-slumps/): Image via Wikipedia Everyone that reads, especially if you blog about your reading, hits a reading slump.  I seems to hit a slump of one variety or another... - [The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander](https://bookwi.se/book-of-three/): Summary: A teen leaves home to fix a problem he created and stumbles of a task to save the kingdom from a great evil. This blog is not going to become a young... - [The Monster at the End of the Book (iPad App Book Review)](https://bookwi.se/the-monster-at-the-end-of-the-book-ipad-app-book-review/):  Summary: My favorite of the iPad books Purchase links: iTunes, Print Book from Amazon Regular readers of this blog know that I am a nanny for my two nieces.... - [A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/swiftly/): Takeaway: About 25 years after first reading it, this is still one of my favorite novels. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition I am not sure why I have... - [Kindle Library Lending Support is Announced](https://bookwi.se/kindle-library/): Cover via Amazon Several days ago Amazon announced that Seattle Library would be testing their new kindle library lending.  Evidently it went very well and... - [Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury](https://bookwi.se/something-wicked-this-way-comes-by-ray-bradbury/): Status: Gave Up I am up for someone convincing me that I am wrong.  But I gave up on Something Wicked This Way Comes.  I have not actually read anything by... - [Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication](https://bookwi.se/outspoken/): Takeaway: Wide ranging book on practical, theological and theoretical importance of communication in the church world. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle... - [Many Waters by Madeline L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/many-waters/): Summary: The twins, Sandy and Denis, go back into biblical history and find their place in their special family. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition Many... - [Dr No by Ian Fleming](https://bookwi.se/dr-no/): Summary: Bond fights the bad guy, tries to get the girl I feel like I watched a lot of James Bond movies growing up.  But when I go back and watch old James... - [A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle](https://bookwi.se/wind-in-the-door/): Takeaway: Continuing with the theme that Love is most important. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition After reading A Wrinkle in Time, which I have not... - [Updated About Page and the BlogX Challenge](https://bookwi.se/updated-about-page-and-the-blogx-challenge/): I am participating in Tentblogger BlogX Challenge (modeled after the P90X).  John has been incredibly helpful in giving suggestions and helping me make... - [Amazon May Launch a Netflix for Books](https://bookwi.se/netflix/): Image via CrunchBase According to a Wall Street Journal article (behind a pay wall), Amazon is in talks with publishers to release a Netflix style subscription... - [Book Giveaways](https://bookwi.se/book-giveaways/): I have had a build up of paper books.  My commitment is to give away the majority of paper books, including all review books. Here are the books I have to... - [Luke: The Gospel of Amazement by Michael Card](https://bookwi.se/luke-card/): Takeaway: A guided devotional reading of scripture can bring new insights. The Gospel of Amazement is the latest in my current bible reading strategy.  This... - [Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament by Peter Enns](https://bookwi.se/inspiration-and-incarnation/): Takeaway: Scripture is a diverse, important, human-written, God-breathed book.   Over the past couple months I have been wandering through an exploration of... - [Most Read Reviews in August](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-in-august/): These are the six most read reviews in August. - [From The Garden to The City Blog Discussion](https://bookwi.se/garden-discussion/): I am kicking off the discussion of John Dyer's From the Garden to the City over at Churchm.ag. I was very favorable in my earlier review of the book and am... - [2 Short Reviews of Eugene Peterson Books](https://bookwi.se/peterson-short/): Before I started blogging on Bookwi.se I started tracking my books on Goodreads.com (social network for readers).  I have number of short reviews on Goodreads... - [Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World by Richard Mouw](https://bookwi.se/decency-mouw/): Takeaway: Start with your own sinfulness and the other's humanness Next week I am going to talk to a small group of college students about how to disagree with... - [The Mission of God’s People: A Biblical Theology of the Church’s Mission by Christopher Wright](https://bookwi.se/mission-of-god-wright/): Takeaway: The church, God's people, are on mission, or should be. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook I picked up this book on a... - [Money Secrets of the Amish](https://bookwi.se/money-secrets-of-the-amish/): Book Giveaway: See end of review for rules Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook In "Money Secrets of the Amish" Lorilee Craker... - [Bookwi.se is on Facebook](https://bookwi.se/bookwi-se-is-on-facebook/): Bookwi.se is now has a facebook fan page.  It is time to move it from my personal facebook page, so that people that like pictures of my nieces but not... - [3 Short Fiction Reviews: 1984, Snow Crash, The Tourist](https://bookwi.se/1984-snow-crash-tourist/): Before I started blogging on Bookwi.se I started tracking my books on Goodreads.com (social network for readers).  I have number of short reviews on Goodreads... - [3 Short Non-Fiction Reviews: Shane Claiborne, NT Wright, Peter Scazzero](https://bookwi.se/claiborne-wright-scazzero/): Before I started blogging on Bookwi.se I started tracking my books on Goodreads.com (social network for readers).  I have a handful of short reviews on... - [The Meaning of Prayer by Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://bookwi.se/prayer-fosdick/): Takeaway: I read on the basis of a recommendation from Eugene Peterson's book Pastor. It was good, especially for free. Purchase... - [The Oak and the Calf by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://bookwi.se/oak-calf-solzhenitsyn/): Takeaway: Being a writer is a calling. One thought that struck me early in the book. Solzhenitsyn was writing in 'the underground'. He was only sharing his... - [How to Lend a Kindle Book](https://bookwi.se/how-to-lend-a-kindle-book/): One of the underused features on the Amazon Kindle is borrowing.  Maybe others use it more, but I do not know many people that read a lot of the same type of... - [The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/reading-jacobs/): Takeaway: We should read more of what we want in order to develop a love of reading and worry less about developing ourselves by reading 'what is important'.... - [Evil and the Justice of God by N.T. Wright](https://bookwi.se/evil-wright/): Takeaway: Forgiveness is supremely important (chapter 5 is probably worth the price of the book.) Purchase Links: Hardcover (with DVD), Kindle Edition,... - [The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love With the God Jesus Knows by James Bryan Smith](https://bookwi.se/good-beautiful-god-smith/): Takeaway: There are many false narratives that detract us from the real God.   Purchase Links: Hardcover, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook The Good and... - [With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God by Skye Jethani](https://bookwi.se/with-jethani/): Takeaway: Christianity is about a relationship With God. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition You know how sometimes you read a book and at 10% in you are... - [In the Basement of the Ivory Tower: Confessions of an Accidental Academic by Professor X](https://bookwi.se/professor-x/): Takeaway: College may not be for everyone. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition Professor X challenges the American notion that everyone should... - [The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck–101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers by Ron Clark](https://bookwi.se/molasses/): Takeaway: If children are not succeeding in school, you are not trying hard enough.  And that 'you' includes means, parents are not trying hard enough,... - [The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning](https://bookwi.se/furious-longing-manning/): Takeaway: Brennan Manning is the greatest communicator about the radical grace of God that I know. I often hear complaints that a church or particular stream... - [Saying Yes to No: A Biblical Approach to Disagreement Among Christians by Patrick Webb](https://bookwi.se/saying-yes-to-no-a-biblical-approach-to-disagreement-among-christians-by-patrick-webb/): Takeaway: If there are people, there will be disagreement.  Avoiding disagreement, or insisting on a 'be nice' Christianity does not solve the problem.... - [A ‘Down and Dirty’ Guide to Theology by Donald McKim](https://bookwi.se/theology-mckim/): Takeaway: A unique, and useful overview of what theology is about.  More of introduction to the study of theology and Christian thought than introduction to... - [Most Read Reviews in July](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-in-july/): I am two days late, but these were the most read reviews in July. I am excited that they are all new books.       - [The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson Book 5)](https://bookwi.se/olympian-riordan/): Takeaway: The Hero is often the hero in a way they do not anticipate. Percy Jackson, in the last book of the series, is sure he is "the one" of the prophecy.... - [The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4) by Rick Riordan](https://bookwi.se/labyrinth-riordan/): Takeaway: The difference between friends and enemies is sometimes difficult to discern. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com... - [The Grace and Truth Paradox: Responding with Christlike Balance by Randy Alcorn](https://bookwi.se/grace-truth-alcorn/): Takeaway: We cannot be 50 percent truth and 50 percent grace.  We have to be 100 percent truth and 100 percent grace. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Kindle... - [A Visit to Vanity Fair: Moral Essays on the Present Age by Alan Jacobs](https://bookwi.se/moral-essays-jacobs/): Purchase Links: Hardcover I do not often read books of essays. Frankly, I do not frequently read essay length works. I read a lot of blog posts and I read a... - [How to Track the Price of Kindle Book](https://bookwi.se/ereaderiq/): I fairly frequently get asked how I find all of the sale and free books that I post on Bookwi.se. One of the best tools I use is ereaderiq. There are three... - [Streetwalking with Jesus: Reaching Out in Justice and Mercy by John Green](https://bookwi.se/streetwalking-green/): Takeaway: Not all of us are called to minister to male prostitues, but all of us are called to work out Micah 6:8 "And what does the LORD require of you? To... - [After a Couple Months: Kindle With Special Offers](https://bookwi.se/kso/): It has been a while since I have had a reading tools post.  But after a couple months of using my new kindle, I thought it might be time to give my... - [Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson Book 3)](https://bookwi.se/titans-curse/): Takeaway: Some new friends, some characters die. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook (Kindle Edition is lendable if someone wants... - [Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson Book 2) by Rick Riordan](https://bookwi.se/sea-of-monsters/): Takeaway: Friends are important. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook In the second book of the series, Percy is getting... - [The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways That Jesus Is the Way by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/jesus-way-peterson/): Takeaway: We often live like Jesus is the Life, sometimes like Jesus is the Truth, but often forget that Jesus is the Way.  It is a path that we are to... - [Welcoming Justice: God’s Movement Toward Beloved Community by Charles Marsh and John Perkins](https://bookwi.se/perkins-marsh/): Takeaway: Very few topics get more to the heart of Christian love and community more than racial,  class and economic reconciliation. Purchase Links:... - [No new posts until July 15.](https://bookwi.se/no-new-posts-until-july-15/): I am heading out of town to go backpacking early tomorrow morning.  No computer or phone access, so no new posts until July 15th.  Have a good week - [Read Again: Scripture and the Authority of God by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/scripture-authority-wright-again/): Takeaway: I do not know any book that takes the reading, study and importance of scripture more seriously than this book. Normally I do not read a book so... - [Luke by John MacArthur](https://bookwi.se/luke-by-john-macarthur/): Takeaway: Learning scripture from a variety of teachers is important. I have decided I am going to try a different format of scripture reading.  The main... - [From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology by John Dyer](https://bookwi.se/garden-city-dyer/): Takeaway: Technology is shaped by its human creators, but also in turn shapes its human users. (This is the book I have been searching for on Technology and... - [Now You’re Speaking My Language Honest Communication and Deeper Intimacy for a Stronger Marriage by Gary Chapman](https://bookwi.se/language-chapman/): Takeaway: Communication is the center of marriage.  Almost everything, both good and bad, is a result of communicating with our spouse. One of the best things... - [The Naked Gospel by Andrew Farley](https://bookwi.se/naked-gospel-farley/): I had a conversation with the Author in the comments of my review on Amazon. I am reprinting that conversation here. I need to re-read the books because... - [Most Read Book Reviews of June](https://bookwi.se/most-read-book-reviews-of-june/): These are June's most read book reviews.  Pretty standard, one review from 2009, one about a bible passage, one on economics, one on - [Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto by Chuck Klosterman](https://bookwi.se/sex-drugs-cocoa/): Rating: 3 Stars Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook I first heard of Klosterman a few weeks ago on Bill Simmons's BS... - [The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is by NT Wright](https://bookwi.se/challenge-jesus-wright/): Takeaway: The search for who Jesus is, is important for every generation, not because Jesus changes, but because we do. I honestly cannot express how... - [Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (David’s Review)](https://bookwi.se/unbroken-hillenbrand-david/): One of the benefits of multiple reviewers is that we can read the same books and give our different takes.  Adam's previous review of Unbroken is here. Louie... - [Today and 14 years ago today](https://bookwi.se/today-and-14-years-ago-today/): It is summer.  Over the next three weeks I am either on vacation or sort of on vaction.  Some of this time I will have lots of time to read and post, other... - [New Bible Reading Strategy](https://bookwi.se/new-bible-reading-strategy/): I have been hit over and over and over again lately about how important it is to be intentional and regular in my bible study.  I have read through the bible... - [Digital Disciple: Real Christianity in a Virtual World by Adam Thomas](https://bookwi.se/digital-disciple-thomas/): Takeaway: God is with us, whether we are in the virtual world or the physical world. Billed as one of the first Episcopal priests of the Millennial generation... - [Milrose Munce and the Plague of Toxic Fungus by Douglas Anthony Cooper](https://bookwi.se/milrose-munce-fungus-cooper/): Takeaway: Young Adult literature should still be written for young adults. The first book in this series, Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help (my... - [The King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight](https://bookwi.se/king-jesus-gospel/): Takeaway: The Gospel is about proclaiming Christ as Lord over all, not primarily about personal salvation. Some books just give words to those ideas that have... - [Don’t Get Too Comfortable: The Indignities of Coach Class, The Torments of Low Thread Count, The Never- Ending Quest for Artisanal Olive Oil, and Other First World Problems](https://bookwi.se/comfortable-rakoff/): Takeaway: Great subtitle, not interested in the book Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition Today is going to be my day for writing about books that I am... - [The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm, illustrated by Gail Schoonmaker](https://bookwi.se/big-picture-bible-helm-schoonmaker/): Takeaway: A picture bible for Pre-school/early readers that shows the whole story of the bible as centered on Christ. I do not often review kids books, but I... - [When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado](https://bookwi.se/lucado-god-whispers/): Takeaway: God Loves you personally. I understand why Max Lucado is such a popular author.  He is a great story teller.  He wraps up good lessons in humorous... - [Discovering Your Heart with the Flag Page Test by Mark Gungor](https://bookwi.se/discovering-your-heart-with-the-flag-page-test-by-mark-gungor/): It has been a while since I have read this. I think there is likely still some value in the Flag personality system, but there are a lot of personality tests... - [The Reality Bug (Pendragon Book 4) by D.J. MacHale](https://bookwi.se/the-reality-bug-pendragon-book-4-by-d-j-machale/): Summary: As an adult these are just good enough that I keep reading/listening if I can find them free. This is another power of free illustration.  I found... - [Heaven is For Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story by Todd Burpos and Lynn Vincent](https://bookwi.se/heaven-burpos/): Takeaway: I am not sure all of the interest in heaven is completely positive. I want to say up front, I am very skeptical about this book.  I am very... - [The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges](https://bookwi.se/holiness-bridges/): Takeaway: God wants us to be holy. I, and I think many modern Christians, have an difficulty getting my mind around holiness. While I know that there are... - [Satan Loves You: A novel by Grady Hendrix](https://bookwi.se/satan-hendrix/): Takeaway: No matter how serious the topic, sometimes it is good to just laugh. Purchase Links: Kindle Edition One of the chapters that I really enjoyed with... - [The Warlock (Book 5) by Michael Scott](https://bookwi.se/warlock-scott/): Takeaway: Quite a recovery for the series. Probably best book so far. Very interesting cliff hanger. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Kindle Edition, Audible.com... - [ReChurch: Healing Your Way Back To The People of God by Stephen Mansfield](https://bookwi.se/rechurch-healing-your-way-back-to-the-people-of-god-by-stephen-mansfield/): Takeaway: As with many other areas of life, holding grudges against the church hurts you more than the church. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Kindle Edition... - [For Us, The Living: A Comedy of Customs by Robert Heinlein](https://bookwi.se/robert-heinlein/): Takeaway: There is a reason that 'lost novels' were lost in the first place.  Only attempt if you are a very big fan of Heinlein. Purchase Links: Paperback,... - [Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://bookwi.se/committed-gilbert/): Takeaway: Marriage can be scary, and that is not necessarily bad if it makes you think before getting married. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle... - [Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire by William Cavanaugh](https://bookwi.se/being-consumed-cavanaugh/): Takeaway: I like the interesting take on the Eucharist and consumerism.  But the book as a whole was disappointing. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition... - [God’s Economy: Redefining the Health and Wealth Gospel by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove](https://bookwi.se/gods-economy-wilson-hartgrove/): Takeaway: Taking Jesus seriously on economic issues is hard. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook (Paperback is on sale for $6... - [Jesus, My Father, The CIA and Me: A Memoir of Sorts by Ian Morgan Cron](https://bookwi.se/jesus-father-cia-cron/): Takeaway: This really is as good as people have been saying.  A story of a boy seeking after God in a round about way.  Told wonderfully and with great love.... - [Darwin’s Radio by Greg Bear](https://bookwi.se/darwins-radio-bear/): Quick Review: Good biological near-term science fiction book.  The next phase of evolution is coming, quickly. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition,... - [The Next Story by Tim Challies (Is it a Reformed view?)](https://bookwi.se/next-story-challies-reformed/): My general review of The Next Story: Life and Faith After The Digital Explosion is basically very positive. I had a lot of disagreements about Challies'... - [Why We Read Fiction by Lisa Zunshine](https://bookwi.se/fiction-zunshine/): Takeaway: Fiction is one example of ways that our minds fill in details and help us understand how we may act in different situations.  This is a fairly... - [Guest Post on Reading](https://bookwi.se/guest-post-on-reading/): My friend Vikki asked me to write a guest post about six months ago.  I kept forgetting to write it and so she re-asked again yesterday.  I kept with my... - [The Next Story by Tim Challies (Authority and Truth)](https://bookwi.se/challies-authority-truth/): Takeaway: Conceptions of Authority and Truth are changing, the question is are they changing because of culture or technology. And if they are changing, is it... - [No Argument for God: Going Beyond Reason in Conversations About Faith by John Wilkinson](https://bookwi.se/no-argument-for-god-going-beyond-reason-in-conversations-about-faith-by-john-wilkinson/): Takeaway: A faith that can be fully understood by science or logic is no longer faith.  As Christians we need to embrace that Christianity is above human... - [Ideas for the next book discussion](https://bookwi.se/next-book-discussion/): I would love to get some ideas for another book discussion. These are three books that I thought might discuss well but I am wide open to other books. 1) No... - [Naked Economics: Undressing the Dismal Science by Charles Wheelan](https://bookwi.se/naked-economics/): Rating: 4 Stars Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook Economics has always been fascinating to me. I regret never taking... - [Cinderella: The Love of a Daddy and His Princess by Steven Curtis Chapman](https://bookwi.se/cinderella-the-love-of-a-daddy-and-his-princess-by-steven-curtis-chapman/): Takeaway: As much as I hate to admit it, there are whole categories of book that just do not work in ebook format. Purchase Links: Hardback, Kindle Edition I... - [Many Ways to Say I Love You: Wisdom for Parents and Children from Mr Rogers](https://bookwi.se/many-ways-to-say-i-love-you-wisdom-for-parents-and-children-from-mr-rogers/): Takeaway: Mr Rogers really was wise. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook Over the weekend there were a bunch of sales on kindle... - [Isaac Newton by James Gleick](https://bookwi.se/newton-gleick/): Takeaway: Sometimes it is ok to give up. Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback, Kindle Edition Audible.com Audiobook I am intrigued by science.  But I really... - [How to Pray by R. A. Torrey](https://bookwi.se/how-to-pray-torrey/): Takeaway: There is something unique about the authors on Prayer in the late 19th and early 20th century. Purchase Links: Google Books (free... - [Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions: Chap 7](https://bookwi.se/susp-chap-7/): Image via Wikipedia It's been said that females and males can't be friends because of the big S word involved.....that friendship without sex equals... - [We Can Remember it for You Wholesale by Philip K Dick](https://bookwi.se/remember-wholesale-dick/): I am not going to do a regular review because this was just a single short story.  Audible was giving it away a while ago and I just got around to listening... - [Most Read Reviews in May](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-in-may/): These were the most read reviews. The top read posts were the discussion posts around the Sacred Union, Sacred Passion book. Those... - [Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions Chapter 6](https://bookwi.se/susp-chap-6/): Image via Wikipedia For as long as I have been a Christian, I remember being taught, repeatedly, the story of Billy Graham and his attempt to always be above... - [Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions – Chapter 5](https://bookwi.se/sacred-unions-sacred-passions-chapter-5/): Mary Magdalene had a difficult couple of days after her best friend Jesus was crucified. She was numb all over. When she couldn't stand it any longer she... - [Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://bookwi.se/life-together-bonhoeffer/): Takeaway: This is one of the classics that everyone should read. Over the past few years there has been renewed interest in Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  There is a... - [SUSP Chapter 3 – Second Opinion](https://bookwi.se/susp-chapter-3-second-opinion/): Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal, Image via Wikipedia Note: Due to a mis-communication, there were two posts for chapter 3.  Here is the second... - [Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World by C.J. Mahaney](https://bookwi.se/worldliness-mahaney/): Takeaway: We should pay attention to sin and spend time thinking about whether we are focusing more on loving the world or loving God. Purchase Links:... - [Eastertide: Prayers for Lent Through Easter from The Divine Hours](https://bookwi.se/eastertide-prayers-for-lent-through-easter-from-the-divine-hours/): Takeaway: One of the few books where I am more disappointed by the publisher than the book Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition I like fixed hour prayer.... - [Sacred Unions Sacred Passions Chap 4](https://bookwi.se/susp-chap-4/): Image via Wikipedia In October 1939, the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a speech in which he famously likened Russia to a riddle, wrapped in a... - [Sacred Unions Sacred Passions Chapter 3](https://bookwi.se/susp-chapter-3/): Chapter 3 has three basic points as there is a shift in the book to a more positive description from a reactive teaching model. I think the first point is the... - [What’s the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?: A Guide to What Matters Most](https://bookwi.se/believe-christian-thielen/): Takeaway: Theology has to be built on the basics.  Everything else, by definition is non-essential. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition I really like... - [The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement](https://bookwi.se/narcissism-epidemic/): Takeaway: Narcissism is a serious and real issue in the modern world. May be even more important spiritually. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle... - [Till We Have Faces…A Myth Retold by CS Lewis](https://bookwi.se/faces-lewis/): Takeaway: An unusual re-telling of a greek myth. I have never heard of this book before I stumbled across it on Audible.  I was in the mood for some fiction... - [Amazon Announces Kindle Library Support](https://bookwi.se/amazon-announces-kindle-library-support/): According to Amazon (I first saw the announcement on Kindle Review), Amazon will support the ability for Kindle to 'check out book' from the Overdrive Library... - [Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions Book Discussion: Chapter 2](https://bookwi.se/sacred-unions-sacred-passions-cha/): Photo by Phil Kates Guest Post by Joanna, she blogs at http://joannamuses.com/ The first post in the series is here. Our culture loves romance. Pop music is... - [Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions Books Discussion: Chapter 1](https://bookwi.se/sacred-unions-sacred-passions-chap-1/): Cover of When Harry Met Sally Over the next couple weeks a group of people will be reading and responding to the book Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions by Dan... - [SuperFreakonomics by Steve Levitt and Stephen Dubner](https://bookwi.se/superfreakonomics/): Takeaway: More unconventional ways of looking at the world around us. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook I like... - [The Pastor: A Memoir (The Audiobook Review) by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/pastor-peterson-audiobook/): Takeaway: On Audio, still the best general book on what it means to be a pastor I have ever read. Purchase Links: Hardback, Kindle Edition, christianaudio.com... - [Google Books – A Review of the Reader Software](https://bookwi.se/google-books/): It should be no surprise that I use the Kindle software.  I prefer reading on an actual Kindle, but about 2 months ago I broke the screen on my kindle and... - [True Grit by Charles Portis](https://bookwi.se/true-grit-portis/): Rating: 5 Stars Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook I think 5 stars should only be given to the best of the best - this... - [Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell](https://bookwi.se/unfamiliar-fishes-vowell/): Takeaway: Sarah Vowell is both one of my favorite narrators and one of my favorite historians.  That probably says a lot about me. Sarah Vowell is a unique... - [Hannah Coulter: A Novel by Wendell Berry](https://bookwi.se/hannah-coulter/): Takeaway: Progress is not always an improvement.  How do you discuss a book like this?  It is a beautiful story.  Berry knows how to draw you into the world... - [Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr](https://bookwi.se/falling-upward-rohr/): Takeaway: Maturing is not a straight line and it does not automatically come with growing old. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition (Kindle available now,... - [The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II: Words of Inspiration](https://bookwi.se/pope-inspiration/): Takeaway: One of the most inaccurate titles ever. Actually a series of letters to lay Christians working around the world. Purchase Links:... - [Poke the Box by Seth Godin](https://bookwi.se/poke-the-box-by-seth-godin/): Takeaway: More inspiration about how to start something new from whatever position you are in.  Godin is about innovation and if we want a strong economy, we... - [Reading Tools: Keurig Coffee](https://bookwi.se/solofill-keurig-coffee/): I am a big fan of coffee.  I drink a lot of it, every day.  It is not about the caffeine, I really like the taste.  And I like it fairly strong.  For the... - [The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card](https://bookwi.se/lost-gate-card/): Summary Review: Best Card book in years. He is always best when writing about gifted young teens. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition,... - [Most Read Reviews in March](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-in-march/): First, I want to thank everyone for their patience in the transition from MrShields.com to Bookwi.se.  I made some mistakes and broke the RSS feed for most... - [Overdrive Android App](https://bookwi.se/overdrive-android-app/): One of the big complaints about electronic media is the lack of support of library systems.  Because libraries lend at no cost and an electronic copy is the... - [The Gospel According to the Son by Norman Mailer](https://bookwi.se/the-gospel-according-to-the-son-by-norman-mailer/): Summary: A fictional re-telling of the Gospels from the perspective of Jesus. Sort of like Christopher Moore's book Lamb, but much less funny. Purchase Links:... - [Pulpit Fiction by Dan Mayhew](https://bookwi.se/pulpit-fiction-by-dan-mayhew/): Recommendation: Buy this short book of light church humor.  Everyone needs some humor in their weekend. Purchase Links: Kindle Edition, Other Ereaders I am... - [Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch](https://bookwi.se/christianity-macculloch/): Takeaway: It is hard to discuss 3000 years of history. Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback,Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook (The price has dropped in... - [The Imp of the Mind: Exploring the Silent Epidemic of Obsessive Bad Thoughts by Lee Baer](https://bookwi.se/imp-mind-baer/): Summary: A thorough review regarding obsessional thought only Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (aka "Pure O") Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition... - [Three Junes by Julia Glass](https://bookwi.se/three-junes-by-julia-glass/): Takeaway: Probably best suited for bored winter moments I recently read Three Junes after it was recommended to me by several avid readers with glowing... - [RSS problems](https://bookwi.se/rss-problems/): I had a problem with the RSS feed.  It seems to have been caught in a loop with the MrShields.com and Bookwi.se but not actually getting the any of the RSS... - [When Two Become One: Enhancing Sexual Intimacy in Marriage by Christopher and Rachel McCluskey](https://bookwi.se/two-become-one-mccluskey/): Takeaway: Sex is too important to ignore and too important to just read about.  We need more mentors for couples. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle... - [Free Books, Paper Ones!](https://bookwi.se/free-books-paper-ones/): I love my kindle in large part because I do not need shelves for the books.  Part of my commitment to myself when I bought the kindle was to not build up a... - [Twice a Spy by Keith Thomson](https://bookwi.se/twice-a-spy/): Takeaway: Spy Thrillers are about the chase. Purchase Links: Hardback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook Twice a Spy is a sequel to Once a Spy, one of my... - [3 Free Kindle Books on Money](https://bookwi.se/3-free-kindle-books-on-money/): Some of the books from previous Free Book posts are still available for free. If you want to see all free books as they come out you should follow Books on... - [Sex, Lies and Religion by Randy Elrod (Read Again)](https://bookwi.se/sex-lies-and-religion-by-randy-elrod-read-again/): Takeaway: Sex is too important to either leave in the youth room or just make a part of an attention grabbing sermon series. Purchase Links: Hardcover,... - [Citadel: Troy Rising Book 2 by John Ringo](https://bookwi.se/citadel-troy-rising-ringo/): Takeaway: Not really a fan of travel for work, but I am glad for fairly mindless audiobooks to keep me entertained. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Audible.com... - [Live Free or Die (Book 1 of Troy Rising) by John Ringo](https://bookwi.se/live-free-or-die-book-1-of-troy-rising-by-john-ringo/): Takeaway: It seems most modern science fiction authors have become small government conservatives.  But apart from the political 'speechifying' it is a good... - [Sacred Union, Sacred Passions Book Discussion](https://bookwi.se/sacred-union-sacred-passions-book-discussion/): Around Christmas, John Armstrong had a couple posts about this book.  The basic idea of the book is to encourage non-erotic (platonic) cross gender... - [The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene Peterson](https://bookwi.se/the-pastor-a-memoir-by-eugene-peterson/): Takeaway: The role of a pastor is not to fix people, but fix people's eyes upon God.  Best general book on what it means to be a pastor I have read. Purchase... - [Churched: One Kid’s Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess by Matthew Paul Turner](https://bookwi.se/churched-one-kids-journey-toward-god-despite-a-holy-mess-by-matthew-paul-turner/): Takeaway: If you want a recovered fundamentalist version of David Sedaris this is a good attempt. Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Free... - [Home: A memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews](https://bookwi.se/home-a-memoir-of-my-early-years-by-julie-andrews/): Takeaway: This is what memoir and audiobooks should be about. Hard to praise it too much. There are books and authors that should be listened to and not read.... - [The Englewood Review of Books](https://bookwi.se/the-englewood-review-of-books/): I have had several people ask me how I decide what books to read.  Primarily, I listen to friends and read reviews.  The two best book review... - [God Is My Broker: A Monk-Tycoon Reveals the 7 1/2 Laws of Spiritual and Financial Growth by Christopher Buckley and John Tierney](https://bookwi.se/god-is-my-broker-a-monk-tycoon-reveals-the-7-12-laws-of-spiritual-and-financial-growth-by-christopher-buckley-and-john-tierney/): Takeaway: If you don't know what good satire is all about, you have not read anything by Christopher Buckley. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Audible.com... - [Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality by Manjit Kumar](https://bookwi.se/quantum-einstein-bohr-and-the-great-debate-about-the-nature-of-reality-by-manjit-kumar/): Takeaway: There is a reason that the concept of paradigm shifts was originated in science history. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition,... - [Intimacy with the Almighty by Charles Swindoll](https://bookwi.se/intimacy-with-the-almighty-by-charles-swindoll/): Takeaway: The urgent often detracts from the real relationships in our lives. Intimacy with God or others takes time and attention. Purchase Links: Hardcover,... - [The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World by David Kirkpatrick](https://bookwi.se/the-facebook-effect-the-inside-story-of-the-company-that-is-connecting-the-world-by-david-kirkpatrick/): Guest Post by David Sawyer Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook Undoubtedly the most exhaustive book on Facebook's... - [Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between the Rich and the Poor in an Interconnected World by Jacqueline Novogratz](https://bookwi.se/the-blue-sweater-bridging-the-gap-between-rich-and-poor-in-an-interconnected-world-by-jacqueline-novogratz/): Takeaway: It is easy to do more harm than good when working among the poor. Developing people and infrastructure is usually harder, but more important for the... - [New Kindle Lending Page](https://bookwi.se/new-kindle-lending-page/): I have been working on creating a lending page for my kindle books that are authorized to be loaned.  This is a new feature that was added to the kindle at... - [The Grace of God by Andy Stanley](https://bookwi.se/the-grace-of-god-by-andy-stanley/): My Takeaway: Grace really is the central message of the Gospel. I have been meandering through this book for a while.  I bought it pre-release when it was... - [Most Read Reviews of January](https://bookwi.se/most-read-reviews-of-january/): These were the top 7 book review for the month of January.  I think for the first time ever, they were all originally posted in January. - [Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard](https://bookwi.se/hearing-god-developing-a-conversational-relationship-with-god-by-dallas/): Takeaway: Classics are classics for a reason.  If you are serious about trying to follow after God, this is a book that will challenge you no matter what your... - [Sabbath: The Ancient Practice Series by Dan Allender](https://bookwi.se/sabbath-the-ancient-practice-series-by-dan-allender/): Takeaway: Sabbath should be about delight in God and pretend play to discover how to risk for Christ.  Best book on Sabbath I have read, best book in the... - [Be Still and Know: A Study in the Life of Prayer by Michael Ramsey](https://bookwi.se/be-still-and-know-a-study-in-the-life-of-prayer-by-michael-ramsey/): Takeaway: A fairly basic overview of prayer from Jesus and the Apostles. Purchase Links: It is out of print.  Amazon has some used versions I have been trying... - [Evangelical Theology: An Introduction by Karl Barth](https://bookwi.se/evangelical-theology-an-introduction-by-karl-barth/): Takeaway: We really need to read theologians for themselves and not allow others to define them for us.  Barth was not a US Evangelical, but he was clearly a... - [The Economist Magazine on the iPad](https://bookwi.se/the-economist-magazine-on-the-ipad/): Reading on the iPad is a mixed bag.  Many love it, many hate it.  But there just is not another good alternative, if you want full color digital reading that... - [The Sacredness of Questioning Everything by David Dark](https://bookwi.se/the-sacredness-of-questioning-everything-by-david-dark/): Takeaway: Openness to questioning your beliefs and understanding primarily is about relationship.  If we are unable to question, we are unable to build... - [Passion Is Not Enough: Four Elements to Change the World by Greg Darley](https://bookwi.se/passion-is-not-enough-four-elements-to-change-the-world-by-greg-darley/): Takeaway: Passion is good, but we need more if we are going to accomplish something that is lasting. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition - Lendable- 180... - [Guest Post: Decision Points by George W Bush](https://bookwi.se/guest-posts-decision-points-by-george-w-bush/): Guest post by David Sawyer, a lawyer in Atlanta, married to Ashley, and in my small group. Find him on Goodreads a online community for readers. Takeaways: As... - [Night School by Mari Manciusi](https://bookwi.se/night-school-by-mari-manciusi/): Takeaway: Teen vampire books don't all have to be overly concerned with Team Edward/Team Jacob to be good. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition - Not... - [Phenomenal Girl 5 by A. J. Menden](https://bookwi.se/phenomenal-girl-5-by-a-j-menden/): Takeaway: This is a superhero/comicbook/romance novel.  No great take aways.  But a fun book. Purchase Link: Paperback, Kindle Edition Almost ever fiction... - [Most Read Posts of 2010](https://bookwi.se/most-read-posts-of-2010/): The last post was about my favorite books.  This post is about the most read posts of 2010.  The first was actually written in 2009.  The rest of posts were... - [My Favorite NonFiction Books of 2010](https://bookwi.se/my-favorite-nonfiction-books-of-2010/): I read 131 books this year (if I counted right).  These are the books that I liked most or were most inflential to my life.  This is a non-fiction list,... - [On Bullshit by Harry G Frankfurt](https://bookwi.se/on-bullshit-by-harry-g-frankfurt/): Takeaway: Bullshit, like Truth is hard to define. But still worth thinking about. Purchase Links: hardcover, kindle edition, Audible.com audiobook (Audiobook... - [God’s Battalions: The Case for the Crusades by Rodney Stark](https://bookwi.se/gods-battalions-the-case-for-the-crusades-by-rodney-stark/): Takeaway: This is a good example of why scholarship is about the sum of multiple takes on a subject, not just one side.  Stark attempts to show that the... - [The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle](https://bookwi.se/great-emergence-the-how-christianity-is-changing-and-why-by-phyllis-tickle/): Takeaway: Many stories can be told about the changes that have been going on in Christianity. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook... - [Christmas Kindle Deals](https://bookwi.se/christmas-kindle-deals/): Books on the Knob made a list of some deals in the Amzon store.  There are 34 books that are on sale 40-90% (all for $5). Included on the list are The Girl... - [Eight Female Focused Free Kindle Books](https://bookwi.se/some-female-focused-free-kindle-books/): Some of the books from previous Free Book posts are still available for free. If you want to see all free books as they come out you should follow Books on... - [What is So Great About the Doctrine of Grace by Richard D. Phillips](https://bookwi.se/what-is-so-great-about-the-doctrine-of-grace-by-richard-d-phillips/): Takeaway: A useful (but not all that balanced) look at Calvinism through the TULIP acrostic. Purchase Links: Hardback, Kindle Edition Sometimes the books we... - [Practice Resurrection by Eugene H Peterson](https://bookwi.se/practice_resurrection/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: There are no quick fixes for spiritual growth.  Growth happens as a result of interaction with the church.  That is how God set it... - [Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch – Part 8 (Reformation)](https://bookwi.se/christianity-the-first-three-thousand-years-by-diarmaid-macculloch-part-8-reformation/): Takeaway: Long books like this have their weaknesses. Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook (If purchasing, you want to... - [Calvin for Armchair Theologians by Christopher Elwood](https://bookwi.se/calving-for-armchair-theologians-by-christopher-elwood/): Takeaway: Whether you agree with him or not, Calvin is one of those theologians that everyone should know about.  Calvin was not nearly as Calvinist as many... - [Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch – Part 7 (Eastern Orthodox to 1800)](https://bookwi.se/christianity-the-first-three-thousand-years-by-diarmaid-macculloch-part-7-eastern-orthodox-to-1800/): Takeaway: The relationship of the church to the government is important. Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook (If... - [Buy a Membership to Audible.com Get $100 Credit on Amazon](https://bookwi.se/buy-a-membership-to-audible-com-get-100-credit-on-amazon/): It should not be a surprise that I am a fan of audiobooks.  And the majority of my audiobooks are from Audible.com.  I wrote a general review of Audible... - [Anxious Souls Will Ask: The Christ Centered Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by John Matthews](https://bookwi.se/anxious-souls-will-ask-the-christ-centered-spirituality-of-dietrich-bonhoeffer-by-john-matthews/): Takeaway: Attempts to present a pastoral understanding of Bonhoeffer to the lay person.  Not sure it accomplishes it.  And the audio was off putting.  So... - [Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch – Part 6 (Theology and Understanding of God)](https://bookwi.se/christianity-the-first-three-thousand-years-by-diarmaid-macculloch-part-6-theology-and-understanding-of-god/): Takeaway: The way we support our thinkers and 'do theology' makes a big difference to the way that theology is done. Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback,... - [Gracenomics: Unleash The Power Of Second Chance Living by Mike Foster](https://bookwi.se/gracenomics-unleash-the-power-of-second-chance-living-by-mike-foster/): Takeaway: Grace is in short supply in the world, but as Christians we have been given Grace and should be leaders in giving grace. Purchase Links: Kindle... - [Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch – Part 5 (Crusades and Monasteries)](https://bookwi.se/christianity-the-first-three-thousand-years-by-diarmaid-macculloch-part-5-crusades-and-monasteries/): Takeaway: Unintended consequences are myriad. Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook (If purchasing, you want to think... - [Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch – Part 4 (Augustine and rise of Western Thought)](https://bookwi.se/christianity-the-first-three-thousand-years-by-diarmaid-macculloch-part-4/): Takeaway: All theology is really a responsive theology to the conditions around us. Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook... - [The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams](https://bookwi.se/the-restaurant-at-the-end-of-the-universe-by-douglas-adams/): Takeaway: The story keeps moving.  I like the humor as much or better than the first.  Not a stand alone book. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition,... - [Branding Survey](https://bookwi.se/branding-survey/): I am considering re-branding this blog.  I am looking for a new blog name that would be easy to remember, not have my name in it, and still get across the... - [Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch – Part 3](https://bookwi.se/christianity-the-first-three-thousand-years-by-diarmaid-macculloch-part-3/): Takeaway: Eastern Christianity is much more complicated than what is usually understood as an Evangelical Protestant.  I need more about this period to really... - [Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch – Part 2](https://bookwi.se/christianity-the-first-three-thousand-years-by-diarmaid-macculloch-part-2/): Takeaway: Christians that want to return to the Christianity of the early church probably do not know much about church history. Purchase Links: Hardback,... - [Christmastide: Prayers for Advent Through Epiphany from The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle](https://bookwi.se/christmastide-prayers-for-advent-through-epiphany-from-the-divine-hours-by-phyllis-tickle/): Takeaway: This is a great way to both start practicing fixed hour prayers and celebrate Advent. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition I am going to break... - [Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos](https://bookwi.se/imaginary-jesus-by-matt-mikalatos/): Takeaway:  Imaginary Jesus is a fun romp through some real spiritual issues that could not be done another way with quite the same effect. I think... - [The Death of Joan of Arc: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott](https://bookwi.se/the-death-of-joan-of-arc-a-lost-story-from-the-secrets-of-the-immortal-nicholas-flamel-by-michael-scott/): Takeaway: Ebooks allow for some experimentation.  This quick story tells some back story while we wait for the next book in the series. Purchase Links: Kindle... - [Waiting for Superman: The Movie Review](https://bookwi.se/waiting-for-superman-the-movie-review/): A few weeks ago I reviewed the companion book to Waiting for Superman. Finally I went to go see the movie this morning. I was accompanied by my teacher wife... - [Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch (Part 1: Pre-religious history of Christianity)](https://bookwi.se/christianity-the-first-three-thousand-years-by-diarmaid-macculloch/): Takeaway: History is complicated.  Christian history as written by Diarmaid MacCulouch is long (but worth it so far.) Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback,... - [A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole](https://bookwi.se/a-confederacy-of-dunces-by-john-kennedy-toole/): Takeaway: I have tried twice.  I still can't get through it.  I just do not care about these people. - [christianaudio.com everything is $7.49 sale](https://bookwi.se/christianaudio-com-everything-is-7-49-sale/): I love audiobooks.  christianaudio.com gives away 1 book every month.  So I always download at least one book a month from them.  And frequently they have... - [Read Again: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney – Bible Intake](https://bookwi.se/read-again-spiritual-disciplines-for-the-christian-life-by-donald-whitney-bible-intake/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway for this chapter: If we are serious about our Christianity we must be intentional about scripture intake.  Reading is good, but we... - [Conversations with Myself by Nelson Mandela](https://bookwi.se/conversations-with-myself-by-nelson-mandela/): Takeaway: DO NOT get this on audiobook. It may be a great book for paper (friends I know have loved it) but it is completely unintelligible in audio format.... - [Waiting For Superman Participant Book](https://bookwi.se/waiting-for-superman-how-we-can-save-americas-failing-public-schools-participant-guide-media-edited-by-karl-weber/): Takeaway: Decent overview of problems facing education in the United States.  Primarily essays from people in the movie, not as a supplement to the movie.... - [Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit by Clark H. Pinnock](https://bookwi.se/flame-of-love-a-theology-of-the-holy-spirit-by-clark-h-pinnock/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: If you liked Francis Chan's Forgotten God, but wanted more depth, this is your book. Best theology book I have read in a long while.... - [The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University by Kevin Roose](https://bookwi.se/the-unlikely-disciple-a-sinners-semester-at-americas-holiest-university-by-kevin-roose/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: If you are from an Evangelical background, you need to read this book. Others will be interested in a stunningly good ethnography... - [The Holiness of God by RC Sproul](https://bookwi.se/the-holiness-of-god-by-rc-sproul/): Takeaway: Immanently readable (or listenable) book about a relatively neglected topic. Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com... - [Welcome to a Reformed Church: A Guide for Pilgrims by Daniel Hyde](https://bookwi.se/welcome-to-a-reformed-church-a-guide-for-pilgrims-by-daniel-hyde/): Takeaway: A overview of a diverse theological part of the church.  A bit heavy on the theological language if it really is intended for an introduction. ... - [Cryoburn: A Miles Vorkosigan Adventure by Lois McMaster Bujold](https://bookwi.se/cryoburn_by_lois_mcmaster_bujold/): Takeaway: A dozen or so books into the series and it is still enjoyable and fresh. Purchase Links: Hardback, Audible.com Audiobook, Free ebook (most ereader... - [And God Came In: The Extraordinary Story of Joy Davidman by Lyle W. Dorsett](https://bookwi.se/and-god-came-in-the-extraordinary-story-of-joy-davidman-by-lyle-w-dorsett/): Takeaway: The real story can be even more dramatic, tragic and meaningful than the Hollywood story.  I was very taken by this biography and wish it was twice... - [The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer](https://bookwi.se/the-pursuit-of-god-by-aw-tozer/): Cover of The Pursuit of God Takeaway: A very readable classic about how to pursue after God. I like Christian biographies.  I use them quite often as both... - [Cleaning out my paper library](https://bookwi.se/cleaning-out-my-paper-library/): I try to read and pass on paper books.  Yesterday as I was cleaning house I put together some more books that are in need of passing on. These are all books I... - [The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams](https://bookwi.se/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-by-douglas-adams/): Image via Wikipedia   Takeaway: Not as funny as I remember from 20 years ago, but at less than $10 for all five books on kindle, well worth picking up. I... - [The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community by Hugh Halter andMatt Smay](https://bookwi.se/the-tangible-kingdom-creating-incarnational-community-by-hugh-halter-andmatt-smay/):   Takeaway: If we want to reach people further away from the church, we need to change our methods.  At the very least we need to be around people far... - [Praying God’s Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds by Beth Moore](https://bookwi.se/praying-gods-word-breaking-free-from-spiritual-strongholds-by-beth-moore/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: If you are interested in how to use scripture to guide your prayers, this is a good practical introduction. Do not get audio... - [Give away Bill Hybels’ Power of a Whisper](https://bookwi.se/give-away-bill-hybels-power-of-a-whisper/): Cover via Amazon I received a copy of Bill Hybels' Power of a Whisper in the mail today. Since I have already reviewed it, thought it was very good, and have a... - [The Conservative Nanny State: How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Richer by Dean Baker](https://bookwi.se/the-conservative-nanny-state/): Takeaway: There are many different ways to view economics.  It is good for us to wrestle through alternative views and you do not have to agree with something... - [Plan B:What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would? by Pete Wilson](https://bookwi.se/plan-b-by-pete-wilson/): Cover via Amazon   Takeaway: Our plans for ourselves do not always work out.  God can still work in our lives for his own glory, even we do not have the... - [Derailed: Five Lessons Learned from Catastrophic Failures of Leadership by Tim Irwin](https://bookwi.se/derailed-five-lessons-learned-from-catastrophic-failures-of-leadership-by-tim-irwin/): Takeaway: Derailed is a decent business book on Character.  I support the idea of Nelson Free (buy a hardback, get the ebook and audiobook free) but in this... - [Toyota Prius Manual](https://bookwi.se/toyota-prius-manual/): Image via Wikipedia This is a slightly facetious review, but last week we bought a new Toyota Prius.  Last summer we rented a Prius while in Chicago and... - [The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson](https://bookwi.se/the-strange-case-of-dr-jekyll-and-mr-hyde-by-robert-louis-stevenson/): Image via Wikipedia I am continuing to work though a backlog of books that I have picked up from a variety of places. I found a Scott Brick narrated audiobook... - [The Next Christians by Gabe Lyons](https://bookwi.se/the-next-christians-by-gabe-lyons/): Takeaway: Creating culture and solving problems are often much more effective than protest. Purchase Links: Christianaudio.com audiobook, Amazon... - [Spiritual Leadership by J Oswald Sanders](https://bookwi.se/spiritual-leadership-by-j-oswald-sanders/): Takeaway: The age of the book often has little to do with the quality of its advice. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook from Audible.com If I had... - [Intelligence: A Novel of the CIA by Susan Hasler](https://bookwi.se/intelligence-a-novel-of-the-cia-by-susan-hasler/): Takeaway: A very realistic portrayal of the pressures of the intelligence services, from an author that did the actual work she writes about. Purchase... - [Dirt Cheap eBook Sale from Multnomah/WaterBrook Publishers](https://bookwi.se/dirt-cheap-ebook-sale-from-multnomahwaterbrook-publishers/): Multnomah/WaterBrook Publishers has a monthly sale on ebooks.  Usually there are 4 to 6 books with a mix of non-fiction and fiction books.  The sale price is... - [Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton](https://bookwi.se/contemplative-prayer-by-thomas-merton/): Takeaway: Reading from different traditions really is a very good way to expand your understanding of the Christian faith. I found years ago, that I could... - [Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity by Mark Batterson](https://bookwi.se/primal-a-quest-for-the-lost-soul-of-christianity-by-mark-batterson/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: A partially lame church is not going to show the fullness of the incarnation. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition,... - [Beginning to Pray by Anthony Bloom](https://bookwi.se/beginning-to-pray-by-anthony-bloom/): Cover of Beginning to Pray Takeaway: Good introduction to an Eastern Orthodox conception of prayer. Purchase Links: Paperback, Audible.com Audiobook I have... - [Primal by Mark Batterson (Group Blogging Project Chapter 4)](https://bookwi.se/primal-by-mark-batterson-group-blogging-project-chapter-4/): Cover via Amazon You are jumping into chapter 4 of a group blogging project of Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity by Mark Batterson.  Scroll to... - [Eternity’s Edge (Echoes from the Edge Book #2) by Bryan Davis](https://bookwi.se/eternitys-edge-echoes-from-the-edge-book-2-by-bryan-davis/): Summary: A decent second book in a Christian science fiction (young adult) series. Falls a bit flat with some characters but overall worth the read. Purchase... - [Group Blogging Project: Primal by Mark Batterson](https://bookwi.se/group-blogging-project-primal-by-mark-batterson/): Starting today I will be participating in a group blogging project.  Each chapter will be discussed by a different blogger at their own site.  My day is... - [Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace by Anne Jackson](https://bookwi.se/permission-to-speak-freely-essays-and-art-on-fear-confession-and-grace-by-anne-jackson/): I am not sure when I stumbled across Anne Jackson's blog.  It has been several years now.  And while I am not an every day reader, it is in my Google Reader... - [The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond by Bill Hybels](https://bookwi.se/the-power-of-a-whisper-hearing-god-having-the-guts-to-respond-by-bill-hybels/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: God still speaks.  It is our job to listen. Purchase Links: Kindle Edition, Hardback, Audible.com Audiobook I expect that The... - [A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller – A Second Look](https://bookwi.se/a-praying-life-connecting-with-god-in-a-distracting-world-by-paul-miller-a-second-look/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: "Until you are convinced that you can't change your child's heart, you will not take prayer seriously." This is the first of my... - [The Christian Atheist: When You Believe in God But Live as if He Doesn’t Exist by Craig Groeschel](https://bookwi.se/the-christian-atheist-when-you-believe-in-god-but-live-as-if-he-doesnt-exist-by-craig-groeschel/): Cover via Amazon I have added an ending to this review after reconsidering it a bit.  I have not edited the original review, just added at the end. Purchase... - [Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty by Roger Thurow and Scott Kilman](https://bookwi.se/enough-why-the-worlds-poorest-starve-in-an-age-of-plenty-by-roger-thurow-and-scott-kilman/): Takeaway: Africa is not poor and hungry all by itself.  There are many reasons, but Africa (and other areas of poverty) do not need to remain hungry. Purchase... - [Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins](https://bookwi.se/mockingjay-by-suzanne-collins/): Takeaway: A good end to the series, not perfect, but still very enjoyable. How do I review the conclusion of a series when I have already said the first two... - [Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman](https://bookwi.se/neverwhere-by-neil-gaiman/): Neil Gaiman has credibly been accused of sexual assault and abuse. Takeaway: Do you really want what you think you want? Neverwhere has been on my to read list... - [Beyond the Reflection’s Edge by Bryan Davis](https://bookwi.se/beyond-the-reflections-edge-by-bryan-davis/): Cover via Amazon Summary: A unique young adult science fiction/fantasy book that has Christian characters and doesn't suck. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle... - [Gutenberg Tech Support for How to Read Books (video)](https://bookwi.se/gutenberg-tech-support-for-how-to-read-books-video/): I am having a hard time focusing on anything lately. I have read about 10 percent of six books in the last three days and just cannot get into anything.  So... - [Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach](https://bookwi.se/stiff-the-curious-lives-of-human-cadavers-by-mary-roach/): Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers is a mostly gross and occasionally very interesting book. I purchased the book in the first place because I... - [Divine Justice by David Baldacci](https://bookwi.se/divine-justice-by-david-baldacci/): I am on a self imposed book buying fast.  I am trying to work through a significant portion of my long backlog of books between now and the new year.... - [Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: Movie Review](https://bookwi.se/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-movie-review/): Image via Wikipedia I am not going to turn this site into a movie review site.  But my wife and I used to watch a lot of movies.  We joined Netflix soon... - [Early Thoughts on "Beyond Opinion"](https://bookwi.se/early-thoughts-on-beyond-opinion/): I am not a huge fan of apologetics.  So is is a bit odd that I picked this book to read and review.  I am not trying to be disingenuous, but rather I hoped... - [Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink](https://bookwi.se/drive-the-surprising-truth-about-what-motivates-us-by-daniel-h-pink/): I have been hearing nuggets about the book Drive fairly regularly since it came out last December.  Finally after yet another positive review from Tony... - [The Biography of Robert Murray M’Cheyne by Andrew A Bonar](https://bookwi.se/the-biography-of-robert-murray-mcheyne-by-andrew-a-bonar/): Takeaway: Classic Christian biographies are well worth reading to show us what God has done before us, even if they occasionally fall into hagiography. One... - [Florence of Arabia: A Novel by Christopher Buckley](https://bookwi.se/florence_of_arabia/): Every once in a while I need something to clense the pallet.  Wait, that is how I started my review of No Way to Treat a First Lady.  Well I am a big fan of... - [The Necromancer (Book 4 of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott](https://bookwi.se/the-necromancer-book-4-of-the-secrets-of-the-immortal-nicholas-flamel-by-michael-scott/): The Necromancer is the fourth book in a series. So not one I would recommend jumping directly into. These are not stand alone books.  The series starts with... - [New Kindles are out!](https://bookwi.se/new-kindles-are-out/): Cover via Amazon I tweeted yesterday that I am going to take a book buying fast until the new year.  And I feel I need to include the kindle in that book... - [Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier](https://bookwi.se/rework-by-jason-fried-and-david-heinemeier/): I have been hearing about the book Rework in my web circle for a while.  I think John Saddington at Human3rror and ChurchCrunch were first, but also Carlos at... - [Ten Stupid Things That Keep Churches from Growing: How Leaders Can Overcome Costly Mistakes by Geoff Surratt](https://bookwi.se/ten-stupid-things-that-keep-churches-from-growing-how-leaders-can-overcome-costly-mistakes-by-geoff-surratt/): I am not a pastor.  This book was written for pastors.  I would not have purchased it, except that Amazon was giving the book away free. But given that I am... - [Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins](https://bookwi.se/catching-fire-by-suzanne-collins/): I am not sure how to even blog Catching Fire.  Short version, I think this is the best fiction book I have read this year.  I know I do not read as much... - [WaterBrook Press ebook discounts](https://bookwi.se/waterbrook-press-ebook-discounts/): WaterBrook Press has started a new monthly ebook promotion.  They are heavily discounting 3 or 4 books a month.  This is a different tack than several other... - [Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream by David Platt](https://bookwi.se/radical-taking-back-your-faith-from-the-american-dream-by-david-platt/): Radical is not an original idea.  Throughout Christian history authors and preachers have called Christians from their lax ways to a deeper devotion.  This... - [Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins](https://bookwi.se/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins/): I have been reading a lot of young adult fiction lately. I am not sure why. But my sister-in-law gave me Hunger Games to read on our beach vacation. I read it... - [Legacy by Cayla Kluver](https://bookwi.se/legacy-by-cayla-kluver/): Legacy is the first book by Cayla Kluver.  Legacy is also the first book in the AmazonEncore program.  The Encore program takes small run independent books... - [On Earth as It Is in Heaven: How the Lord's Prayer Teaches Us to Pray More Effectively by Warren W. Wiersbe](https://bookwi.se/on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven-how-the-lords-prayer-teaches-us-to-pray-more-effectively-by-warren-w-wiersbe/): I am at the beach this week on vacation.  My wife's family has for years gone to Panama City Beach as an extended family.  My nieces that I nanny are here... - [Lost Boys by Orson Scott Card](https://bookwi.se/lost-boys-by-orson-scott-card/): Cover of Lost Boys I am a big fan of Orson Scott Card (and Stefan Rudnicki, who reads all of Orson Scott Card's audiobooks).  I have read (or listened to)... - [Humanitarian Jesus by Christian Buckley and Ryan Dobson](https://bookwi.se/humanitarian-jesus-by-christian-buckley-and-ryan-dobson/): Takeaway: Evangelism and Social Justice are not antithetical. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook (Paperback is a great price) I... - [Lullaby Baby by Audrey Fiocociello (An extended Audio Kindle Book)](https://bookwi.se/lullaby-baby-by-audrey-fiocociello-an-extended-audio-kindle-book/): On Monday Amazon announced enhanced edition kindle books for ipad, ipod touch and iphone.  These books have embedded audio and/or video.  There are only a... - [Kindle for Android now available](https://bookwi.se/kindle-for-android-now-available/): I do not have an Android phone so I cannot review this.  But Kindle reader for Android is now available.  All the same basic features of the readers for... - [Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy](https://bookwi.se/free-range-kids-by-lenore-skenazy/): Free Range Kids: How to raise safe, self-reliant children (without going nuts with worry) is the best parenting book I have ever read.  Ok, it is the only... - [Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help by Douglas Anthony Cooper](https://bookwi.se/milrose-munce-and-the-den-of-professional-help-by-douglas-anthony-cooper/): One of the best things about ebook readers is the ability to sample smaller independent authors, or in this case an established author that does not have a... - [EM Bounds: Man of Prayer by Lyle Dorsett (give away)](https://bookwi.se/em-bounds-man-of-prayer-by-lyle-dorsett-give-away/): I was originally introduced to EM Bounds by Lyle Dorsett when I was a student at Wheaton College.  Dorsett spoke to a summer missions group that I was a part... - [Price battle between Amazon and Barnes and Noble](https://bookwi.se/price-battle-between-amazon-and-barnes-and-noble/): There were two significant announcements in the ebook world yesterday. Barnes and Noble  announced a new Nook Lite (a wifi only reader) for $149 and a lower... - [Red Church by Scott Nicholson](https://bookwi.se/red-church/): This is the second of Scott Nicolson's books I have read (my review of Skull Ring).  The Red Church is a similarly creepy book. The story centers around a red... - [Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional by Jim Belcher](https://bookwi.se/deep-church-a-third-way-beyond-emerging-and-traditional-by-jim-belcher/): I have followed the debate over the Emerging church for quite a while.  In general I have agreed with many of the criticisms that the Emerging church has had... - [Guardian waterproof/floating case for Kindle](https://bookwi.se/guardian-waterprooffloating-case-for-kindle/): Update: This is a picture of my kindle in a hot tub.  I used it over several days and left it floating once for quite a while.  No water in the case.  The... - [A week off](https://bookwi.se/a-week-off/): I am up (it is 4 AM) to fly out to my 17th Guy's Trip.  These are about annual trips that 6 of us guys from college take to re-connect with one another an... - [Jesus Manefesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola](https://bookwi.se/jesus-manefesto-by-leonard-sweet-and-frank-viola/): In many ways I am of the mind that this book probably did not need to be written. It is not that I do not think that we pay enough attention to Christ. But... - [The Nearest Exit by Olen Steinhauer](https://bookwi.se/the-nearest-exit-by-olen-steinhauer/): The Nearest Exit is the follow up book after The Tourist.  I read The Tourist early in 2009 soon after it came out but before I started reviewing books here.... - [The Never War by D. J. MacHale](https://bookwi.se/the-never-war-by-d-j-machale/): The Never War is the third in the Pendragon series (not the Steven Lawhead Pendragon Series).   I liked the first book (it was free on Audible) and was pretty... - [Overdrive Media Console for ipad/iphone](https://bookwi.se/overdrive-media-console-for-ipadiphone/): I am a little over half way through my first Overdrive Audiobook. Like my previous review of NetLibrary. Overdrive is a system that your local library system... - [Cocoon Harlem Ipad Case Review](https://bookwi.se/cocoon-harlem-ipad-case-review/): Ok, I know I am expanding the reading tools idea a bit much, but as my wife says, "he is a bag whore." I like just the right bag for how I am going to use... - [Second Opinion: The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns](https://bookwi.se/second-opinion-the-hole-in-our-gospel-by-richard-stearns/): The Hole in our Gospel and related search strings are consistently one of the top books that bring people to this blog. And Monday May, 31, 2010 is the last... - [Addition by Adoption by Kevin Hendricks (A book review)](https://bookwi.se/addition-by-adoption-by-kevin-hendricks-a-book-review/): I posted a book review over at ChurchCrunch. Here is the start of the review: Twitter is ubiquitous.  Now it is even a format for books ideas.  It seems odd,... - [Ipad as Comic Book Reader](https://bookwi.se/ipad-as-comic-book-reader/): One of the best uses I have seen on ipad are the comic books.  I have been a fan of comic books, but I never wanted to pay for them, so I have not collected... - [The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie (my first full ipad book)](https://bookwi.se/the-body-in-the-library-by-agatha-christie-my-first-full-ipad-book/): Agatha Christie's The Body in the Library was offered free on kindle very briefly a few weeks ago.  So briefly that I assume it was a pricing mistake, not a... - [Three weeks with an Ipad: My review](https://bookwi.se/three-weeks-with-an-ipad-my-review/): After three weeks with an ipad I have a variety of thoughts.  First as a device, I love it.  I carry it with me all the time.  I think it is the perfect... - [Skin Tight by Carl Hiaasen](https://bookwi.se/skin-tight-by-carl-hiaasen/): Cover of Skin Tight Takeaway: A summer beach read that treats Florida like a character. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook Skin... - [Top Non-Fiction Book Reviews so far this year](https://bookwi.se/top-non-fiction-book-reviews-so-far-this-year/): I am behind on my reading.  I was out of town for work 7 out of 10 days and I have been playing (but not reading much) on my ipad.  I hope I will finish a... - [One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic: A history of the church in the Middle Ages by Thomas Madden](https://bookwi.se/one-holy-catholic-and-apostolic-a-history-of-the-church-in-the-middle-ages-by-thomas-madden/): Church history is complicated.  The problem with accepting complication is that some, maybe most, just ignore it.  Many others want to suggest that the... - [Beauty and the Beast by Madame Leprince de Beaumont](https://bookwi.se/beauty-and-the-beast-by/): I share my kindle account with several other people.  And when others order books I quite often get them sent to my kindle because my name is first in the... - [Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely](https://bookwi.se/predictably-irrational-by-dan-ariely/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: People make bad decisions, Ariely shows us why. Predictably Irrational is all about behavioral economics.  Dan Ariely, unlike most... - [The Divine Commodity: Discovering a Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity by Skye Jethani](https://bookwi.se/the-divine-commodity-discovering-a-faith-beyond-consumer-christianity-by-skye-jethani/): Divine Commodity is a provocative book.  Probably the most provocative I have read since Flickering Pixels.  (I ended up writing five blog posts about... - [From Jesus to Christianity: A History of Early Christianity by Thomas Madden](https://bookwi.se/from-jesus-to-christianity-a-history-of-early-christianity-by-thomas-madden/): This is my first experience with the Modern Scholar Series.  Basically these are college lectures packaged as audiobooks.  If the rest of the series is the... - [Follow Me to Freedom by Shane Claiborne and John Perkins](https://bookwi.se/follow-me-to-freedom-by-shane-claiborne-and-john-perkins/): The idea of Follow Me to Freedom is that in order to be a good leader, you first have to be a good follower (of Christ).  This book is an attempt to teach us... - [Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of the Faith by Richard Foster](https://bookwi.se/streams-of-living-water-celebrating-the-great-traditions-of-the-faith-by-richard-foster/): Foster is known for a several classic Christian books, Celebration of Discipline and Prayer. These are both classics for a reason. I have also previously read... - [ipad as reading device](https://bookwi.se/ipad-as-reading-device/): I bought an ipad. I have no real idea how good it is to read on yet because I am still playing with it. I will write a reading review someday, when I actually... - [Boomsday by Christopher Buckley](https://bookwi.se/boomsday-by-christopher-buckley/): I am a big fan of Christopher Buckley's fiction (I have not read any of his non-fiction yet.)  No one writes better political satire than Buckley.  So far I... - [Different Eyes: the art of living beautifully by Steve Chalke](https://bookwi.se/different-eyes-the-art-of-living-beautifully-by-steve-chalke/): There are several books on virtue/character/ethics that have come out in the last couple months. I am currently reading NT Wright's After You Believe and Tim... - [Prodigal God by Tim Keller](https://bookwi.se/prodigal-god-by-tim-keller/): My wife had Spring Break last week (she is a 3rd grade teachers). I had two days of meetings in Chicago. What that meant was a half vacation/half work week. It... - [Goodreads.com Social Networking for Readers](https://bookwi.se/goodreads-com-social-networking-for-readers/): I have had several people ask me how I find good books.  My first response is almost always, "When you read enough you find at least some good books."  But... - [A Series of Unfortunate Events Books 1-3 by Lemony Snicket](https://bookwi.se/a-series-of-unfortunate-events-books-1-3-by-lemony-snicket/): In general I like Young Adult books.  I do not read a lot of YA books because I do not make them a priority for my reading.  I am around much younger... - [Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan](https://bookwi.se/forgotten-god-reversing-our-tragic-neglect-of-the-holy-spirit-by-francis-chan/): I liked Crazy Love (my review), Francis Chan's first book.  It was a challenge to live your life as if you actually believed all of that stuff that we as... - [Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen](https://bookwi.se/tourist-season-by-carl-hiaasen/): Cover of Tourist Season Takeaway: A somewhat dated humorous mystery. Decent writing, liked it, did not love it. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition,... - [Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet by Jonathan Merritt](https://bookwi.se/green-like-god-unlocking-the-divine-plan-for-our-planet-by-jonathan-merritt/): Takeaway: Being Green is fashionable. Being Anti-Green is almost as fashionable. Being reasonable about things, definitely not fashionable. Purchase Links:... - [Unfashionable by Tullian Tchividjian Part 2 (Scripture and Truth)](https://bookwi.se/unfashionable/): Wednesday Unfashionable was introduced.  Today I am pulling out one particular issue that I think is import. (Part one of review) Scripture and Truth... - [Unfashionable by Tullian Tchividjian Part 1](https://bookwi.se/unfashionable-by-tullian-tchividjian-part-1/): Unfashionable is not the book I thought I was getting.  And that is a good thing.  I picked it up in audiobook because it was just $6.36 at Audible.  I... - [Kindle on Blackberry: A Review](https://bookwi.se/kindle-on-blackberry-a-review/): I am a reader.  I want to be able to read whenever I have a chance.  And as much as I love my kindle, I do not bring it with me wherever I go.  It is not... - [The Noticer by Andy Andrews](https://bookwi.se/the-noticer-by-andy-andrews/): What I liked about The Noticer The Noticer was the first book that Thomas Nelson Publishers tried in their NelsonFree program.  NelsonFree was an attempt at... - [Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff](https://bookwi.se/stuff-christians-like-by-jonathan-acuff/): I have been reading Jon Acuff since before he started Stuff Christians Like blog. That is both good and bad. It is good because it means that I am a fan. I... - [A Praying Life by Paul Miller](https://bookwi.se/a-praying-life-by-paul-miller/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: Practically, prayer is about investing in those around you.  Developing a life of prayer requires that we have relationships that... - [Calibre: ebook management software](https://bookwi.se/calibre-ebook-management-software/): Once you have an ereader for a while you need some system for managing the book, a library.  When you have physical books that means getting shelves and maybe... - [Sin Boldly: A Field Guide for Grace by Cathleen Falsani](https://bookwi.se/sin-boldly-a-field-guide-for-grace-cathleen-falsani/): I have no idea how to review Sin Boldly (Amazon link).  I found the book when it was offered for free on kindle earlier this year.  I had not heard of the... - [The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle](https://bookwi.se/the-divine-hours-prayers-for-summertime-by-phyllis-tickle/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: Fixed hour prayer is a great way to focus on God throughout the day, but hard to do in a modern, busy world. Purchase... - [Netlibrary.com: A free download, library option for audiobooks](https://bookwi.se/netlibrary-com-a-free-download-library-option-for-audiobooks/): Last week I profiled my favorite audiobook source Audible.com.  This week it is a free source for audiobooks, at least for some people.  NetLibrary is not... - [Chronological Guide to the Bible: Explore God's Word in Historical Order](https://bookwi.se/chronological-guide-to-the-bible-explore-gods-word-in-historical-order/): When I agreed to review this book I was specifically thinking of a friend that had asked me for a recommendation for a Chronological bible earlier this... - [Your Church Is Too Small by John Armstrong (Part 3: Moving Forward)](https://bookwi.se/your-church-is-too-small-by-john-armstrong-part-3-moving-forward/): Friday I posted about why the church should be working toward greater unity.  Saturday I posted about John Armstrong's understanding of how to deal with... - [Your Church Is Too Small by John Armstrong (Part 2: Truth, Church and God in History)](https://bookwi.se/your-church-is-too-small-by-john-armstrong-part-2-truth-church-and-god-in-history/): Part one of this review is here and part three is here. ___ Yesterday I posted an introduction to Your Church is too Small. It was mostly about why we as a... - [Hear No Evil: My Story of Innocence, Music, and the Holy Ghost by Matthew Paul Turner (Book Giveaway)](https://bookwi.se/hear-no-evil-my-story-of-innocence-music-and-the-holy-ghost-by-matthew-paul-turner/): I wanted to like Hear No Evil before I even picked it up. I have been following Matthew Paul Turner on twitter for a while.  And most of the time I have... - [Audible.com: A Review](https://bookwi.se/audible-com-a-review/): This review is a bit over 4 years old now.  I have left the main review in place and just added some of the new features at the top. _______ Since Amazon... - [Tithing by Douglas LeBlanc: The Ancient Practice Series](https://bookwi.se/tithing-by-douglas-leblanc-the-ancient-practice-series/): Tithing can be a tricky topic in some crowds. I have never really understood why it is such a taboo subject. Maybe it is because I am a pastor's kid, maybe it... - [Skull Ring by Scott Nicholson](https://bookwi.se/skull-ring-by-scott-nicholson/): If you read my reviews frequently, then this book is going to be way outside my normal content.  Only about 1 in 8 books I review is fiction.  And all except... - [Ebooks: a rant from a consumer](https://bookwi.se/ebook-prices-an-opinion-from-a-consumer/): Ebooks are here to stay.  Whether you like the idea of ebooks or not, they are going to be sticking around.  Personally, I am trying to move more and more of... - [Organic Church by Neil Cole](https://bookwi.se/organic-church-by-neil-cole/): Takeaway: What is important about the church should be Jesus, not the structure. Purchase Links: Hardback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook,... - [Humility: True Greatness by C. J. Mahaney](https://bookwi.se/humility-true-greatness-by-c-j-mahaney/): Cover of Humility: True Greatness Update: I am not removing this review because I want it to be found, but I also think it matters that CJ Mahaney may have... - [Crazy Love by Francis Chan](https://bookwi.se/crazy-love-by-francis-chan/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: Life according to God's purpose for us, may seem radical to others, but it should be more about obedience than an attempt at... - [Kindle Review: 1 year later – Part 2](https://bookwi.se/kindle-review-1-year-later-part-2/): Last week, I wrote about the eink screen, the main reason that I bought the Kindle that ended up being wrong (it has a browser, but it is unusable) and the... - [A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene H Peterson](https://bookwi.se/a-long-obedience-in-the-same-direction-by-eugene-h-peterson/): Takeaway: Discipleship and change both are accomplished by doing what it takes over the long term. This book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction is not... - [Horizon (The Sharing Knife, Book 4) by Lois Mcmaster Bujold](https://bookwi.se/horizon-the-sharing-knife-book-4-by-lois-mcmaster-bujold/): I am not sure how to review Horizon. It is the fourth book in a series. I have listened to all this series on Audible. The narration is good and the story... - [Kindle Review: 1 year later](https://bookwi.se/kindle-review-1-year-later/): A year ago, the Kindle 2 was released.  I bought the first version of the Kindle in November 2008.  I was fairly pleased, but it was far from a perfect... - [Praying the Book of Acts (and the General Epistles) by Elmer Towns](https://bookwi.se/praying-the-book-of-acts-and-the-general-epistles-by-elmer-towns/): Praying the Book of Acts is a good idea in theory.  The idea is that the author paraphrases scripture into a format that can be prayed.  It is a good idea.... - [Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret](https://bookwi.se/hudson-taylors-spiritual-secret/): I have been wanting to read Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret for a while.  I read a short biography on Hudson Taylor a while ago and have been wanting to read... - [Stones to Schools by Greg Mortenson](https://bookwi.se/stones-to-schools-by-greg-mortenson/): Stones to Schools is the second book by Greg Mortenson.  The first, Three Cups of Tea (my earlier review), tells of his failed attempt at climbing K2 and how... - [New Series: Reading Tools](https://bookwi.se/new-series-reading-tools/): Given the positive comments that I have had from my Thursday free books posts I decided to add a Tuesday series as well.  I will continue to post reviews on... - [Sex, Lies and Religion by Randy Elrod](https://bookwi.se/sex-lies-and-religion-by-randy-elrod/): Takeaway: Sex and Christianity have an uneasy relationship, but that is not the way God intended. Purchase Links: Hardback, Paperback, Kindle Edition (This is... - [My Own Kind of Freedom: A Firefly Novel by Steven Brust](https://bookwi.se/my-own-kind-of-freedom-a-firefly-novel-by-steven-brust/): This is a hard book to review.  First of all it isn't an official book.  Steven Brust wrote a fan fiction piece based on Joss Whedon's Firefly/Serenity... - [The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns](https://bookwi.se/the-hole-in-our-gospel-by-richard-stearns/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: There is a difference between the Gospel and the ramifications of the Gospel.  This book is about the ramification of recieving the... - [Kindle, Free Books, Site Theme Update and Guest Posts](https://bookwi.se/kindle-free-books-site-theme-update-and-guest-posts/): I had a post scheduled for this morning that I bumped to Wednesday to make room for an unusual post. First, many people may know that I am a huge fan of my... - [Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S Whitney](https://bookwi.se/spiritual-disciplines-for-the-christian-life-by-donald-s-whitney/): Cover via Amazon Takeaway: Spiritual Growth requires intention and discipline. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook Spiritual... - [In Constant Prayer by Robert Benson (Ancient Practice Series) – a book about fixed hour prayer](https://bookwi.se/constant-prayer-by-robert-benson-ancient-practice-series/): This is the fourth book in the Ancient Practice Series that I have read.  Two previous books, The Sacred Meal (my review) and The Liturgical Year (my review)... - [Grace [Eventually]: Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott](https://bookwi.se/grace-eventually-thoughts-on-faith-by-anne-lamott/): Anne Lamott is one of those authors I keep meaning to read.  Many people I know are great fans, but I have just not picked anything up before now.  About... - [The Future of Justification: A Response to NT Wright by John Piper](https://bookwi.se/the-future-of-justification-a-response-to-nt-wright-by-john-piper/): This is the first book that I have started reading by John Piper. (I know I did a review of his fasting book two weeks ago, but I started this long before... - [Her Fearful Symmetry: A Novel by Audrey Niffenegger](https://bookwi.se/her-fearful-symmetry-a-novel/): I loved Time Traveler's Wife. I own the paperback and the audio versions.  It might be my favorite fiction book of the last decade. This was a very different... - [Lessons from the Road by Nigel James](https://bookwi.se/lessons-from-the-road-by-nigel-james/): Takeaway: Good book for Third Day fans. Listen if you can. Purchase Links: Kindle Edition, Paperback, Audible.com Audiobook, christianaudio.com MP3 Audiobook... - [Book Give Away: Living Prayer: The Lord's Prayer Alive in You by Dennis Fuqua](https://bookwi.se/living-prayer-the-lords-prayer-alive-in-you-by-dennis-fuqua/): Some books are great for information and you read them quickly and you file the information away and move on.  Other books require time to digest and respond.... - [A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer by John Piper](https://bookwi.se/a-hunger-for-god-desiring-god-through-fasting-and-prayer-by-john-piper/): Takeaway: A very good, pastoral look at the reasons to fast and the purpose behind fasting. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition This is the second... - [Fasting by Scot McKnight](https://bookwi.se/fasting-by-scot-mcknight/): Takeaway: "Fasting is the natural, inevitable response of a person to a grievous sacred moment in life." Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition Our pastor,... - [Top Fiction Books of the Year](https://bookwi.se/top-fiction-books-of-the-year/): Looking back I read a lot more non-fiction than fiction books this year.  I love fiction, but honestly was a bit disappointed in the fiction books I read this... - [Top Nonfiction Books of the Year](https://bookwi.se/top-10-nonfiction-books-of-the-year/): These are my top nonfiction books of the year.  I tried for a top 10 list, but gave up and just made it my top books.  They are not in order by which is... - [Lost City of Faar by DJ MacHale](https://bookwi.se/lost-city-of-faar-by-dj-machale/): This was the second book in a series.  The first was free as an audiobook from Audible.com.  I am a big fan of Audible and I listen to about 20-30 audiobooks... - [Hidden Empire by Orson Scott Card](https://bookwi.se/hidden-empire-by-orson-scott-card/): Cover of Hidden Empire Takeaway: Solid near term science fiction/political thriller. More Card doing what he does best. Purchase Links: Amazon... - [A few thoughts from Living Prayer](https://bookwi.se/a-few-thoughts-from-living-prayer/): I just started reading Dennis Fuqua's new book Living Prayer yesterday.  I first met Dennis about 10 years ago when he came to meet with the leadership team... - [The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher](https://bookwi.se/the-sacred-meal-by-nora-gallagher/): Part of the Ancient Practice Series, "œThe Sacred Meal" looks at practice of the Eucharist (or communion or Lord's Supper) within the church.  This is a... - [Gang Leader for a Day: a Rouge Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh](https://bookwi.se/gang-leader-for-a-day-a-rouge-sociologist-takes-to-the-streets-by-sudhir-alladi-venkatesh/): Takeaway: Poverty, the reasons for poverty and the ways out of poverty are never simple. Good, rich stories are one way to show the complexity. I love reading... - [Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron](https://bookwi.se/chasing-francis-by-ian-morgan-cron/): I like the concept of this book, introduce a saint to modern Christians through story and not just biography.  Saint Francis, was a transitional Christian and... - [Together in Prayer by Andrew Wheeler](https://bookwi.se/together-in-prayer-by-andrew-wheeler/): Takeaway: Best book I have read on leading prayer in a small group setting Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition Small groups have become a standard among... - [The Host by Stephanie Mayer](https://bookwi.se/the-host-by-stephanie-mayer/): Very different feel from the twilight books.  This is a faintly science fiction book.  It is an invation of the body snatchers story (or at least as much as... - [Lowell Snow’s Prayer Guide](https://bookwi.se/two-more-books-on-corporate-prayer/): Frustration is probably the first thing I think about when I think of church prayer meetings.  Maybe you have had much better experiences than I have.  But... - [Two books on prayer by Daniel Henderson](https://bookwi.se/two-books-on-prayer-by-daniel-henderson/): I have read a lot on prayer.  I am interested for a number of reasons but most of them come back to my participation in Pastor's Prayer Summits.  These 3 or... - [Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples](https://bookwi.se/simple-church-returning-to-gods-process-for-making-disciples/): Takeaway: Simple churches are more focused on the mission of the church. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Audible.com Audiobook, Kindle Edition (You can... - [Thoughts on Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand](https://bookwi.se/thoughts-on-atlas-shrugged-by-ayn-rand/): I picked up the audiobook version of Atlas Shrugged for $5 when it was on sale at Audible.com. It is 63 hours long.  This will be my longest audiobook yet,... - [Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps](https://bookwi.se/flickering-pixels-by-shane-hipps/): Takeaway: This is a book that should be read, because even if you really disagree with it, the ideas are important. I have a tendency (probably bad) to read... - [Sun of Suns by Karl Schroeder](https://bookwi.se/sun-of-suns-by-karl-schroeder/): This is another free book from Audible.com  I am not linking because it has been removed from the site.  I have never heard of the author before.  It is a... - [Eye of the Storm by John Ringo](https://bookwi.se/eye-of-the-storm-by-john-ringo/): As I have said before, I am a big fan of Baen publishers.  They have been working with ebooks long before the Kindle.  I have been reading Baen ebooks since... - [Amazing Grace:William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery](https://bookwi.se/amazing-gracewilliam-wilberforce-and-the-heroic-campaign-to-end-slavery/): This was another book that I purchased at a sale on Audible.com.  It was $5 and 10 hours long.  It was cheap and I knew a movie had been based loosely on... - [High Fidelity by Nick Horby](https://bookwi.se/high-fidelity-by-nick-horby/): This was a free audiobook from Audible.com.  I saw the movie but hadn't read the book before.  The book was based in London instead of Chicago (Not New... - [Julia Child's "My Life In France"](https://bookwi.se/julia-childs-my-life-in-france/): Like most people currently reading My Life in France, I recently saw the movie Julie and Julia. And like everyone that I know, the movie made me interested in... - [Light and Glory Initial Impressions](https://bookwi.se/light-and-glory-initial-impressions/): I have just finished listening Light and Glory.  I picked it up in an Audible.com sale for $5.  I had heard it was a good book and didn't even bother to read... - [Trust Agents Group Blog](https://bookwi.se/trust-agents-group-blog/): I am participating in another group blog.  This time with the book "Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust".... - [Simple Church – Chapter 3 – Group Blogging Project](https://bookwi.se/simple-church-chapter-3-group-blogging-project/): If you are joining late to the game.  This is a group blogging project.  I am only writing about chapter 3 of Simple Church.  (Note I linked to the Amazon... - [American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer](https://bookwi.se/american-prometheus-the-triumph-and-tragedy-of-j-robert-oppenheimer/): Takeaway: Real people are complicated, which shouldn't keep us from appreciating great work. I started reading this book because I did not know much about... - [FTC's double standard](https://bookwi.se/ftcs-double-standard/): The FTC has announced guidelines (PDF) that will lead to officials rules concerning disclosure requirements for bloggers.  These rules as I understand them... - [Simple Church Group Blogging Project](https://bookwi.se/simple-church-group-blogging-project/): I am participating in another group blogging project.  This time we are discussing  "œSimple Church" by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger. We hope you'll join... - [The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World](https://bookwi.se/the-search-for-god-and-guinness-a-biography-of-the-beer-that-changed-the-world/): This is an unusual book.  First of all, the in the US there is a pretty clear anti-drinking message by the church, so anything that merges drinking and God... - [A Million Miles in a Thousand Years and Blue Like Jazz: The story of a story](https://bookwi.se/a-million-miles-in-a-thousand-years-and-blue-like-jazz-the-story-of-a-story/): Cover via Amazon   When I started reading "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" I had never read a book by Donald Miller (or at least I didn't think I... - [Watch on the Rhine by John Ringo](https://bookwi.se/watch-on-the-rhine-by-john-ringo/): Here is the good part, Baen is a great publisher and believes in DRM-free books.  They sell their books at reasonable prices and give a lot of them away free.... - [Fearless by Max Lucado](https://bookwi.se/fearless-by-max-lucado/): Fearless I have not read any books by Max Lucado (other than a couple of children's books).  I know who he is, how could anyone in the Christian world, at... - [Sacred Marriage](https://bookwi.se/sacred-marriage/): This is one of the books that my wife and I have used for an read together before we go to bed book. This is not a standard Christian marriage book. In fact,... - [200 Pomegranates and an Audience of One: Creating a Life of Meaning and Influence](https://bookwi.se/200-pomegranates-and-an-audience-of-one-creating-a-life-of-meaning-and-influence/): Takeaway: Our work is for God, not just for ourselves or those around us. Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition (You can also borrow this book on kindle,... - [Fledgling by Octavia Butler](https://bookwi.se/fledgling/): Summary: A very different vampire story than the recent Twilight/True Blood variety. Do you get tired of me saying, "This is an author that I have been wanting... - [Flickering Pixels Group Blog Chapter 11 – an extra post](https://bookwi.se/flickering-pixels-group-blog-chapter-11-an-extra-post/): I have been participating in a group blog discussion around Shane Hipps book, "œFlickering Pixels".  I had too much to talk about in the official blog... - [Good books mixed up in a bad book](https://bookwi.se/good-books-mixed-up-in-a-bad-book/): Again it has been a while since I have posted.  I have participated in two group blog discussions, one about the book Flickering Pixels by Shane Hipps and one... - [Mad Church Disease Chapter 6](https://bookwi.se/61-2/): This post is based on the sixth chapter of Mad Church Disease. There are both previous and later blog posts for this blog group book discussion. This is a hard... - [The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)](https://bookwi.se/the-alchemyst-the-secrets-of-the-immortal-nicholas-flamel/): I decided I needed some inspiration to keep posting on this blog.  So I am going to start crossposting my book reviews that I do over at... - [Blogs on a Kindle](https://bookwi.se/blogs-on-a-kindle/): I now have a Kindle 2 and really need to update the review that I did of the Kindle 1.  Yes I didn't need to upgrade but I was able to sell the Kindle 1 for... - [Tribes Group Blogging Project](https://bookwi.se/tribes-group-blogging-project/): I listened to this book on audio book about a year ago and thought it was great. I encouraged some work contacts to use it as a discussion book, I supported... - [Tribes: a blogging book club](https://bookwi.se/tribes-a-blogging-book-club/): Churchcrunch.com is hosting a blogging project to discuss the Seth Godin book Tribes.  You can get the overview here. Each day a different person is leading... - [Amazon Kindle Review](https://bookwi.se/amazon-kindle-review/): I haven't used this blog for much recently. Most of my time is going to twitter or my niece's blog. But I was asked last night about my new Amazon Kindle and... - [Summer Reading Club Update Week 4](https://bookwi.se/summer-reading-club-update-week-4/): Have been at the beach the last two weeks so I have been able to get some reading done (in between having to put in a few hours of work a day and swimming in... - [Summer Reading Club Update Week 3](https://bookwi.se/summer-reading-club-update-week-3/): This week I read a very good book about a guy that builds schools in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is called "Three Cups of Tea". There are several... - [Summer Reading Club](https://bookwi.se/summer-reading-club/): Mark Lee of Third Day fame has started his summer reading club on his blog. Instructions are that we are supposed to talk about the last two books we read. I... ## Pages - [subscribe](https://bookwi.se/subscribe/) - [Sample Page](https://bookwi.se/sample-page/): This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most... - [Various Topical Book Recommendations in areas related to Race](https://bookwi.se/various-topical-book-recommendations-in-areas-related-to-race/): I have read fairly widely around various issues of race, but certainly, there are far more books that I have not read than that I have read. So a book not... - [Search Results](https://bookwi.se/search-results/) - [Comment Policy](https://bookwi.se/comment-policy/): This site provides the opportunity for visitors to communicate in the public domain through visitor-submitted, published comments. The nature inherent in... - [Privacy Policy](https://bookwi.se/ftc-disclosure-statement/privacy-policy/): This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do we store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and... - [Manage subscriptions](https://bookwi.se/manage-subscriptions/): Oops, Huston we have a problem! Please contact the administrator of this blog for further details. - [FTC Disclosure](https://bookwi.se/ftc-disclosure-statement/): The FTC has now finalized the disclosure requirements for bloggers.  (See my complaints about the early process here.)  The official FTC requirement is here.... - [About](https://bookwi.se/about-2/): History This blog grew out of a love of reading and a desire to share.  Started in 2009 as MrShields.com, it transitioned to March 2011 to Bookwi.se to bring... ## Full content For complete content, see [llms-full.txt](https://bookwi.se/llms-full.txt)