Category: Non-Fiction Page 19 of 54

The World Record Book of Racist Stories (Audiobook) by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar: Records No One Should Want to Hold (but too many vie for)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: November 22, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 4 hrs., 54 min.
Read Date: November 28-29, 2022

An Issue with Sequels/Follow Ups

As I’m sitting here thinking about what to write, I keep comparing this to last year’s You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism. This is intentional because this is very much a Part II to that book. But it’s different, too. So it makes sense to contrast it so I can give an idea of how it’s different.

At the same time, I run the risk of sounding dull—”You’ll Never Believe did X, The World Record Book did Y,” “The World Record Book is more Z than…,” and so on.

I don’t know how to avoid that—so I guess this is an apology in advance? I’ll try to limit the comparisons and keep this interesting, if only because the book deserves to give a good impression, even if I’m not able to do that.

What’s The World Record Book of Racist Stories About?

Because they got to share a bunch of stories in the first book—primarily about Lacey—the sisters wanted to give the rest of their family, and some friends, the chance to get their stories told. Or, as they put it, “air out [their] dirty racist laundry.”

Ruffin warns:

FYI: You’ll be able to tell the difference between this book and the last book. This one’s gonna be a bit heavier. A touch more serious. The reason for that is with the first book, Lacey and | got to giggle through silly racism stories, and it felt great. So, if the family wants to share their stories too, however they want to share, we welcome that. We want them to feel great and heard and blah, blah, bloo. There’s plenty of silliness, it’s just that the rest of the family is less likely to remember the funnier racist stories. They have not been keeping journals. But those terrible, scary racist stories? Maaaan, they remember those like a mug. So, to emotionally prepare you, I’d call this book fifty-fifty silly-scary racist stories. Okay? So, don’t come to me talking about “It wasn’t like the first book” ‘cause you’ve been warned.

To balance out these stories, the interplay between the sisters seems a bit sillier than before (in the print version, each has their own typeface so you can see it)—up to, and including, them singing their own little ditties in the audio. The authors also include some pictures for illustration of the ridiculousness of the story or for a little burst of joy or cuteness to alleviate the heaviness of the stories they’re telling.

I should add there are a couple of anecdotes that really silly or scary, just heartbreaking.*

* Granted, there’s a sense in which all of these are heartbreaking, humanity’s inhumanity always is. So I guess those stories are extra-heartbreaking. Heartbreaking cubed.

The Organization of the Book

So, the theme of this book is there in the title—it’s a Guinness World Records collection, but no one wants to get their stories told here (names have been changed to protect those involved—according to the authors, at Lamar’s insistence over Ruffin’s intentions). The anecdotes are arranged under broad topics (or for the person they’re about), and they are each given a title like “Most Confusing Racist Phrase,” “Worst Car Service,” “Most Racist Pilot,” “Worst Celebrity Look-Alike,” “Worst Teacher,” and so on. Several of the category names are clearly exercises in creativity by the authors, like “Most Regular Degular, Day-to-Day Racism” or “Most Racist Comment I Was Not Part Of”

These Worsts and Bests, it must be remembered, apply to their family and circle of friends. Most minorities in this country can probably come up with their own “Worst Nursing Home Experience,” “Second Worst Bar Patron,” or “Worst Interview.”

A Variety of Storytellers

In the previous book, the stories were predominately told about things that happened to Ruffin or Lamar, as I’ve said. This time out, they bring in stories about their mother, father, all their siblings, a sibling-in-law, a former Nebraska state senator, and even a couple of white people (for contrast).

In fact, the book opens with an anecdote from a white, male friend about a traffic stop. It’s really atypical encounter, and one that this white, male would enjoy having. But, Ruffin says that it’s the story that shocked her the most. I don’t blame her if what follows is what she’s used to. Roughly midway through the book, we get another five quick anecdotes from a friend that Ruffin trades “opposite stories” with:

Stories where I’m suffering some racist nonsense and she’s getting away with everything but murder. It’s so shocking to me. I can’t believe this is happening to my little bud. Being white is hilarious. So, as you read these next five stories, try to think about how out of place they are in this book. Try to imagine a Black man getting away with any of this. It’s fun because you can’t!

With at least four of these, I agree—I can’t imagine that. Probably not the other, either.

They also include some anecdotes from state senator Tanya Cook, a nice (?) reminder that it’s common to find this kind of behavior anywhere.

So, what did I think about The World Record Book of Racist Stories?

Lamar writes in her closing remarks:

I’m glad our family and people from the community got the chance to share these stories with you. No matter how you feel about them, they have happened and are happening out there to not just a small group of people in Omaha, Nebraska, but to absolutely anyone at anytime, anywhere. I personally feel that by sharing these stories we are shining a light on racism, ignorance, and just some all-around hilarious shit.

That’s a pretty good way to summarize this book. And it’s a light that needs to be shone in a way that the masses will take it in. In our culture, for better or worse, the best way to do that is to make it funny and chopped up into digestible bits*. Which is what Ruffin and Lamar did here.

* See Planet Funny by Ken Jennings for more on that.

I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first—no offense to the authors and contributors, but it wasn’t as fun. If only the Introduction had warned me… But the authors worked hard to make it enjoyable—it’s just hard to do with the subject matter. As it grawlix-ing should be. The fact that they succeeded at all is remarkable.

Pretty much, you can read what I said about You’ll Never Believe and apply it here, just with a little less laughter. But I did laugh audibly at a few points, so there’s that. I also shook my head enough in unbelief/despair/denial that I’m surprised I didn’t pull something.

It may not be my favorite non-fiction read of the year (but it’s close), but it might be the most important one. Pick this (and the predecessor) up, folks.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church by Michael J. Kruger: A Needed Call to Arms

By HCNewton

On December 4, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Bully Pulpit:
Confronting the Problem
of Spiritual Abuse in
the Church

by Michael J. Kruger

DETAILS:
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: November 8, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 145 pg.
Read Date: November 20-27, 2022

The Back of the Book

Are churches looking for the wrong kind of leaders?

The last decade has witnessed a rising number of churches wrecked by spiritual abuse—harsh, heavy-handed, domineering behavior from those in a position of spiritual authority. And high-profile cases are only a small portion of this widespread problem. Behind the scenes are many more cases of spiritual abuse that we will never hear about. Victims suffer in silence, not knowing where to turn.

Of course, most pastors and leaders are godly, wonderful people who don’t abuse their sheep. They shepherd their flocks gently and patiently. But we can’t ignore the growing number who do not. We have tolerated and even celebrated the kind of leaders Jesus warned us against.

We need gentle shepherds now more than ever, and in Bully Pulpit, seminary president and biblical scholar Michael J. Kruger offers a unique perspective for both church leaders and church members on the problem of spiritual abuse, how to spot it, and how to handle it in the church.

The Approach

Kruger is writing to defend the Church—all of it. Congregations and other organizations need to be aware of what to look for—both in leaders they are about to call, and those already called—both the attributes we want to see and the warning signs we should be aware of. We need to be able to take appropriate steps to protect the victims of abuse while investigating the claims, and part of that is recognizing the duty of leaders to do that. Yes, there’s an obligation to investigate thoroughly, to presume innocence, and to follow the existing ecclesiastical and accountability structures in place—but we shouldn’t set the well-being of a bruised reed up against those.

We—as individual believers and corporately—need to understand what spiritual abuse is, the damage it can do, and how we can inadvertently help abusers to get away with it. More than that, we need to look at the whole of Scripture to see the very consistent message that God has given when it comes to those leaders who would cause his people harm. Recognizing the seriousness of the problem from eternal and temporal perspectives ought to be the starting point.

Kruger knows his ecclesiology, he knows leadership of Christian organizations, he understands the warnings of the Bible—and he’s taken steps to learn from the abused. He puts these together to shape and inform the discussions here.

So, what did I think about Bully Pulpit?

The biggest problem with this book is that it’s an introductory volume. Kruger’s starting the conversation for many (for others, he’s continuing it, and hopefully bringing more into it). As it’s just an introduction, some of the suggestions are too vague. Also (and he admits this more than once), most of what he suggests would work best in larger congregations and organizations—which leaves out many/most of those in this country alone. Yes, most of this can be scaled down to meet a medium/small congregation’s needs, but that will present problems.

Those are really the only drawbacks I saw here. And they’re pretty minor—Bully Pulpit should serve to initiate people to the issue and prompt more people from the confessional and conservative wings of Protestantism to start addressing this problem. It’s not only an introduction in that it’s basic and a beginning—it’s introducing the topic to a whole lot of people.

Kruger is clear about the issues, he’s clear about the responsibility of the Church and her leaders to address them. This is a significant problem, and it appears to be growing (I think it’s really our being exposed to it that’s growing—as Kruger shows, we’ve seen it in the Church from the beginning). I hope that Kruger’s call to action is heeded.

Picking this up yourself or giving it away, would be a good step in that direction.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

The Excellencies of God: Exploring and Enjoying His Attributes by Terry Johnson: Not Quite as Good as Its Predecessor but Worth Your Time

By HCNewton

On November 27, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Excellencies of God:
Exploring and Enjoying
His Attributes

by Terry Johnson

DETAILS:
Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books
Publication Date: October 23, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 347 pg.
Read Date: October 23-November 20, 2022

The Excellencies of God‘s Jacket Copy

God’s attributes is the most practical of subjects, inspiring and shaping the entire Christian life. Contemplating who God is and what He has promised to do can bring great comfort to the most despairing soul. Moreover, it brings immense delight to all those who recognize their chief end as the glory and enjoyment of God. In The Excellencies of God, Terry L. Johnson explores several aspects of the divine character and shows how they play a crucial role in our Christian experience. May God’s mercy and grace, His patience and wisdom, His truth and faithfulness, His spirituality and blessedness prove to be a blessing to all who peruse these pages.

The Table of Contents

That’s kind of vague, so let’s look at the TOC.

Preface
Introduction: The Christian and the Attributes
The Mercy, Grace, and Patience of God
1. The Mercy of God
2. The Grace of God
3. The Patience of God
The Truth and Faithfulness of God
4. The God of Truth
5. Liberating Truth
6. Pursue and Proclaim the Truth
The Blessedness of God
7. The Blessed God
8. Our Blessedness in God
The Fatherhood of God
9. God Our Father
10. Pleasing Our Father
11. Our Father’s Children
12. Our Father’s Care
The Spirituality of God
13. The God Who Is Spirit
14. Serving an Invisible God
15. Spiritual Mindedness
16. Spiritual Worship
17. True Worship
The Wisdom of God
18. God Only Wise
19. Wisdom and Folly
20. Seeking and Submitting to God’s Wisdom

So, what did I think about The Excellencies of God?

I struggled to write a post about Johnson’s The Identity and Attributes of God two years ago, and I find myself in a similar position now with this follow-up. I went with the bare minimum above because it fits the book—Johnson lays things out very matter-of-factly, and you get exactly what the TOC lists. He takes each thought and explains it using citations from Scripture, the Fathers, Reformers, and some contemporary writers—with some illustrations of hymns.

I have the impression that Johnson gives 50-60% of the text, and the rest are quotations (mostly a sentence or less). I did not (would not) try to verify that—and I’m pretty sure I’m wrong, but that’s my impression as a whole. I wanted more of Johnson and less of everyone else. I think this is about the same as the previous volume, and I had a similar thought about it—but overall it was so good, I didn’t care. This book was a little less impressive so it stuck out to me more.

I don’t think I get the selection of the major topics and how they flowed one from the other—the chapters within each topic, on the other hand, flowed nicely.

Is this a decent read? Yeah, but it tends to the dull-side with the repeated quotations. But beyond that, it’s a pretty straightforward and thorough look at the topics. It’s helpful, it should push you to look more into some of the ideas that you find more provocative (and the footnotes will help with that). It’s sound and measured, majoring on the majors and not really spending time on minor issues.

It’s a good book that I can recommend without hesitation, I just wanted more from it.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition edited by Chad Van Dixhoorn

By HCNewton

On November 20, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition

edited by Chad Van Dixhoorn

DETAILS:
Publisher: Crossway
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Format: Clothbound
Length: 434 pg.

What’s Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition?

This is a collection of Ecumenical Creeds and some of the most-used Protestant Confessions and Catechisms. These are:
bullet The Apostles’ Creed
bullet The Nicene Creed
bullet The Athanasian Creed
bullet The Chalcedonian Definition
bullet The Augsburg Confession
bullet The Belgic Confession
bullet The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion
bullet The Canons of Dort
bullet The Westminster Confession of Faith
bullet The London Baptist Confession
bullet The Heidelberg Catechism
bullet The Westminster Larger Catechism
bullet The Westminster Shorter Catechism

Each document is given a 1-2 page introduction by the editor describing “its origins and significance” to the church (as the Publisher puts it).

As I’m not foolhardy enough to give pluses and minuses (or whatever) when it comes to the matieral, so this isn’t going to be my typical kind of post.

Questions I Had

While reading through this collection, I had a few questions about why Van Dixhoorn selected certain Confessions (no offense, Lutherans and Baptists) or why he picked particular translations of some of them. And I’d intended to spend a little time discussing them and speculating about the answers. But then I read on Crossway’s site that this book was “Adapted from ESV BIble with Creeds and Confessions,” so I guess that edition of the ESV probably did the selecting in the first place and Van Dixhoorn stuck with that.

Why Should You Buy Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition?

bullet It’s very attractive—the cover design is top-notch. The interior layout is pleasing to the eye and easy to read. The paper is nice and thick. It looks good on your shelf or in your hands. On the one hand, this is a minor point—but it’s a big selling point for a reference work.
bullet Along those lines, the binding and everything makes me think this is going to last a long time—and through repeated readings.
bullet The way it’s typeset and laid out would make it easier as a copy to read through some or all of the contents. I’ve got multiple copies of most of these documents, and a lot of them aren’t easy to read—they’re more things you consult briefly. This is one I could sit down with regularly and just read.
bullet That’s what it’s designed for—to read. It’s right there in the title. This isn’t an edition for people who are doing scholarship or research. You’ve got Schaff for that—or James Dennison’s set.
bullet Especially if you’re looking for an introduction to the Protestant standards, this is a handy edition and guide to the essentials.
bullet Van Dixhoorn’s introductions are user-friendly and helpful to orient the reader to the origin, concerns, and highlightings of each document.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

Christ of the Consummation, Vol. 1 by O. Palmer Robertson: The Beginning of A Wonderful Trilogy

By HCNewton

On November 13, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Christ of the Consummation:
A New Testament Biblical Theology
Volume 1: The Testimony of
the Four Gospels

by O. Palmer Robertson

DETAILS:
Publisher: P & R Publishing
Publication Date: June 1, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 321 pg.
Read Date: August 7-28, 2022

In these new phases of redemptive history, the heart of the revelation does not change, but it broadens and deepens in the realities of the truth. Jesus Christ is the same, but his church, his precious bride, is being built by the addition of nations being born in a day as a consequence of Christ’s pouring out the gifts of his Spirit on all flesh. The kingdom of God has come and continues to come. The kingdom of God is yet to come. It will arrive in all its fullness on that day, the great judgment day, the day of resurrection and restoration of all things. To God be the glory for the things he has done, is doing, and yet will do.

What’s Christ of the Consummation, Volume 1 About?

At some point when reading Vos’ Biblical Theology most readers like me* start to wonder, “How is he doing to have time to cover the New Testament? While Vos doesn’t give his readers the same kind of insight into the history of revelation of the NT as he does the OT, he does set out some principles. Robert’s work is the first book-length attempt to apply Vos’ directions to apply his method to the NT (actually, the first of three book-length attempts).

That’d be people who didn’t know what was coming from pre-knowledge about the book or reading the Table of Contents.

He begins by stating the difference between the two works—there are centuries upon centuries of history of OT revelation, and a maximum of one from the announcement of Jesus’ birth to Mary to the end of John’s writing on Patmos. But that doesn’t mean that there’s no development, but how best to approach that? Robertson focuses on three distinctives in his approach:

Retracing the Historical Progression across the Various Phases of New Covenant Revelation as the Organizing Principle
The Foundational Role of the Old Covenant Scriptures
Contemporary [to their writing] Application of New Testament Biblical Theology

With these distinctives in mind, Robertson looks at material concerning Jesus’ self-testimony; various phases of His life and work; the progressive revelation of the Kingdom during His life; His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension; and then he moves into closer looks at the various Gospels individually and corporately.

An Unexpected Bonus

A number of times throughout the text Robertson will hit pause on his exegetical work, the historical reflections, or the interpretative/theological conclusions from those, to offer application to the lives and hearts of the reader. Sometimes a broader or more general call and sometimes it’s a narrow focus. I really didn’t expect these at all, and I almost never saw them coming when he did pause for one. But I appreciated them all and found them to be a real enhancement to the work.

So, what did I think about Christ of the Consummation, Volume 1?

I’m clearly not qualified to evaluate Robertson’s application of Vos, but people like D.A. Carson and Richard Gaffin are, so I’ll take their word for it. Sure, they wrote the forward and a “further word” for this book, so it’s not like we’re talking about impartial evaluations.

Nor am I capable of—or willing to—give this a good and thorough review/evaluation. Although I do wish I could. So let me offer a few thoughts from my perspective as a lay reader. And I do think this is a book written with the layman in mind—it’s not a casual read by any means, but it is not a book solely for scholars.

I’m not sure I’ve read a Christian book this year that has made me think more, read slower/closer, and pushed my thinking more. It’s also been the most rewarding and I think it will prove the most fecund for my future reading, study, and devotion.

At the same time, the number of times that I read something I don’t think I’d ever been exposed to, or that was wholly novel to me is so small as to be negligible. This is not to say that it was all review or that he didn’t make me stop and think for a minute or ten to consider a point before moving on. But on the whole, it’s a reframing and refocusing of many things I’ve read in lay-friendly works or heard in sermons/lectures. It’s not “here’s a whole new way to read/think about the Gospels”—and Robertson would be the last to want something like that. Instead, this is a “here’s a way to profitably consider the way these things were revealed” and “here’s how the Gospels build upon one another and build up each other.”

I’m already trying to figure out when I can get in a re-read without ruining plans for next year—possibly in combination with a re-read of Vos’ Biblical Theology so I can more directly see for myself the connections between the two works and Vos’ influence.

This is the first in a trilogy—if the rest of the trilogy is as good as this one, the series will likely end up on shelves everywhere next to Vos. I know I’m already ready to dive into the next volume.

5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

The Life and Work of Jesus by Ra McLaughlin and Christopher Caudle: A Broad and Capable Introduction to Christology

By HCNewton

On November 6, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Life and Work of Jesus

by Ra McLaughlin and Christopher Caudle

DETAILS:
Series: Christian Essentials 
Publisher: P & R Publishing
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 286 pg.
Read Date: October 8-23, 2022

What’s The Life and Work of Jesus About?

One of the advantages of this series is that I can largely recycle what I said about the first volume (I tried to come up with something new, but it felt like I was wasting time reinventing it).

This is a basic and broad introduction to Christology—starting with the idea of a savior and dealing with the overall plan of salvation before moving into seeing the outworking of that idea in history through the Incarnation and Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Then it moves into a discussion of the offices Christ executes (prophet, priest, and king)–looking at them in the OT shadows, Christ’s fulfillment of them on Earth and now. It’s adapted from curriculum using language that’s easy to translate—particularly into languages that don’t have a well-developed theological vocabulary—so the English is kept basic, too. There’s almost no academic or technical theological language used, and those that are used are well-defined (including in a handy glossary).

The chapters are short (most around fifteen pages) and well-organized. Each contains a handful of side-bars consisting of a paragraph or two with the contents of interviews with pastors and theologians on the topic under discussion. These interviews were with people from a variety of theological perspectives helping broaden the text so that it’s not exclusively from a reformed perspective.

So, what did I think about The Life and Work of Jesus?

I wasn’t blown away by this, but I liked it. It was a good, basic but thorough introduction to both the life and work of Jesus. After the first book in the series, I thought I knew what to expect from this book–and got it, with a little bit more. I’d say these authors covered their topics a bit more thoroughly than the previous book did (but just a bit). I’m not as convinced that the sidebars were as helpful this time out, however, so maybe things evened out.

I didn’t stumble onto anything problematic in this work like I did in the previous one, which was very encouraging.

All in all, this is a solid work that would be great for a new believer or a young student looking to get a better grounding. It’s broad enough to appeal to any evangelical but solid enough to work for those who tend to prefer a bit more precision.

3 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

REPOSTING JUST CUZ: The Essential Trinity by Brandon D. Crowe and Carl R. Trueman, eds.

By HCNewton

On October 30, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

(the title’s not entirely true…there’s another re-run because I couldn’t stay awake Saturday to finish a new post. But there’s no event correlating with selecting this book. I’ve got three books to post about in the Sunday evening slot, hopefully you’ll see one of them here next week.)

The Essential Trinity: New Testament Foundations and Practical Relevance

by Brandon D. Crowe and Carl R. Trueman, eds.

Paperback, 273 pg.
Inter-Varsity Press, 2016

Read: July 31 – August 14, 2016

As far as consistency of quality amongst edited volumes goes, Crowe and Trueman have assembled one of the stronger line-ups I’ve read in a while — men from a spectrum of persuasions of Evangelical-ish thought have given the Church fourteen articles (approximately 20 pages each) to deepen our thinking about the Trinity. The aim was for a volume that “eschews overly technical discussion and focuses attention on the importance of the doctrine for every Christian.”

In Part 1, the articles look at the “trinitarian contours of every corpus of the New Testament, along with a chapter reflecting on the Old Testament roots of trinitarian doctrine.” If there are weak chapters in the volume, they’re in this part — but they aren’t that weak, either. Crowe’s chapter on Matthew is excellent, but the chapters on the Mark, Luke-Acts and John aren’t far off that Mark. Brian S. Rosner’s chapter on “Paul and the Trinity” is worth the price of the book. The chapters on the rest of the epistles are very helpful (particularity Hebrews). Mark S. Gignilliat’s article, “The Trinity and the Old Testament: real presence or imposition?” is very helpful and insightful — and as an added bonus, it’s the most stylistically entertaining and engaging piece in the book.

Benjamin Gladd’s chapter exploring Daniel’s influence on Revelation’s view of the Trinity is the biggest mental workout you’ll get in the book. I appreciated the material covered and the argument Gladd makes, but I’m going to have to read it a few more times before I think I have a good handle on it.

Part 2 addresses the importance of the Trinity for everyday living — many would say the doctrine is impractical and only belongs in Statements of Faith and academia. The authors here show the fallacy of that. It begins with a brief, but excellent, description of the doctrine by Scott R. Swain. Carl Trueman has the next chapter, “The Trinity and prayer,” which is probably as valuable as Rosner’s — it’s actually about more than prayer, but the material specifically on prayer is great — hugely indebted to John Owen (but not uncritically so). Robert Letham’s chapter on “The Trinity and worship” also draws deeply from Owen; if he doesn’t move you to worship as you understand the work of the Trinity in it, you aren’t paying attention (I probably have more problems with some of what he says than anything else in the book). Michael Reeves, typically, made me chuckle in his chapter on preaching — but he did more than that, too.

Timely, convicting, thoughtful and inspiring, this examination of the Trinity in Scripture and Life should be a great benefit to any believer ho reads it. It may not be the easiest thing read all year (but really, it’s not that difficult), but it’ll be one of the most rewarding.

—–

4 Stars

REPOSTING JUST CUZ: Heaven on Earth by Thomas Brooks

By HCNewton

On October 23, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Heaven On Earth

by Thomas Brooks

ebook
originally published 1654
Read: May 11 – 25, 2014

I just might have myself a new favorite Puritan (I’m not the only one who has a list, right?). I’m kicking myself for not getting to Brooks earlier in life. What a wonderful book — I’m looking forward to getting to read more by him.

Aesthetically, this is fantastic. The language sings — the book begs to be read aloud (and I frequently did so, interrupting whatever anyone around me was doing). You can feel the passion, the fervor throughout. A few paragraphs from different chapters illustrate this:

Divine light reaches the heart as well as the head. The beams of divine light shining in upon the soul through the glorious face of Christ are very working; they warm the heart, they affect the heart, they new mold the heart. Divine knowledge masters the heart, it guides the heart, it governs the heart, it sustains the heart, it relieves the heart. Knowledge which swims in the head only, and sinks not down into the heart, does no more good than the unicorn’s horn in the unicorn’s head.

The only ground of God’s love is his grace. The ground of God’s love is only and wholly in himself. There is neither portion nor proportion in us to draw his love. There is no love nor loveliness in us that should cause a beam of his love to shine upon us. There is that enmity, that filthiness, that treacherousness, that unfaithfulness, to be found in every man’s bosom, which might justly put God upon glorifying himself in their eternal ruin, and to write their names in his black book in characters of blood and wrath. God will have all blessings and happiness to flow from free grace.

Faith is the first pin which moves the soul; it is the spring in the watch which sets all the golden wheels of love, joy, comfort, and peace a-going. Faith is a root-grace, from whence springs all the sweet flowers of joy and peace. Faith is like the bee, it will suck sweetness out of every flower; it will extract light out of darkness, comforts out of distresses, mercies out of miseries, wine out of water, honey out of the rock, and meat out of the eater, Judg 14:14.

But beyond that, the book is sound, it is orthodox, it is Biblical — throughout Brooks points the reader to The Book and The One Who inspired it. His aim is to show “that believers may in this life attain unto a well-grounded assurance of their everlasting happiness and blessedness.” He then goes on to examine the nature of that assurance, hindrances that keep believers from it, reasons to encourage believers to seek it, and how they can go about it, the difference between true and counterfeit assurance, as well as answering questions about assurance. Examining the doctrine from so many angles, you really feel (and probably do) that you come away from this book having an exhaustive look at the doctrine.

Chapter 6 — which takes more than its fair share of space, almost half of the book — is an extended detour from the point of the book, but it still serves to support the theme. He begins by saying, “In the previous chapter, you saw the seven choice things which accompany salvation. But for your further and fuller edification, satisfaction, confirmation, and consolation, it will be very necessary that I show you,” these seven choice things. Which are:

(1.) What knowledge that is, which accompanies salvation.
(2.) What faith that is, which accompanies salvation.
(3.) What repentance that is, which accompanies salvation.
(4.) What obedience that is, which accompanies salvation.
(5.) What love that is, which accompanies salvation.
(6.) What prayer that is, which accompanies salvation.
(7.) What perseverance that is, which accompanies salvation.

It is such a great chapter, and would make a remarkable little booklet unto itself that I really can’t complain too much that it’s such a departure from the rest of the book (though it did take me a little bit to get used to the notion).

Banner of Truth puts this out in paperback, monergism.com puts this out as a free e-book. Either way you go for it, this is a treasure I heartily suggest you grab.

—–

5 Stars

A Few Quick Questions with…Danielle Higley

By HCNewton

On October 20, 2022

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Literary Locals, Non-Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

Earlier today, I gave my take on Danielle Higley’s great book, The Stories Behind the Stories, and now I’m very excited and pleased to share this Q&A with her. I hope you enjoy

What was the genesis of this project? How did you select the authors to feature?
This book came about in a somewhat unconventional way. In my spare time, I proofread and copy-edit for publishers and independent writers. I was referred to Bushel & Peck via another publisher and began proofreading for them in late 2020. I guess they liked my work, because shortly thereafter, they came to me with an idea for a nonfiction children’s book: The Stories Behind the Stories.

They gave me free rein to come up with what titles would be included and how those stories would be told. We did go back and forth on a few of the chapters—Peter Pan or Peter and Wendy was particularly challenging to write—but they gave me a lot of creative freedom. I chose the stories inside, initially, based on the books I’d consider the most famous or influential children’s classics. I then filled out the list by looking at other lists. I did consider diversity in my selection process, but looking back, I wish I would have included more books by authors of color.

I compare my publishing journey to that of The Magic School Bus creators, where Craig Walker, an editor for Scholastic, recruited Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen for the project. Walker believed that if someone could find a way to combine curriculum science with fun fiction, kids would be more engaged with the subject matter. He was challenged to find an author who could do all the research and writing, and an illustrator who could meld creativity with scientific sketches, but of course we know that the end result was a huge success. As a Magic School Bus enthusiast, I’m secretly very pleased to be in the same camp as Joanna Cole and all the other writers out there who’ve been gifted with this sort of incredible publishing opportunity.

I loved the design of this book—both the cover and interior—did you have a hand in that? If so, what can you tell us about that process?
Thank you! I’ve received so many kind comments about the art in this book! Alas, I don’t have that sort of talent. The art in The Stories Behind the Stories was all created by David Miles. He and his wife are also the founders of Bushel & Peck—an incredibly talented and busy power couple. David used a collage of images in the public domain, I believe, to create the artwork for each story.

Undoubtedly, there were facts/stories that you couldn’t work in—any spring to mind? How about authors that you’d wanted to cover, but because of time/space you had to cut? Any chance of a volume 2 to get those?
Oh man, it’s absolutely impossible to tell someone’s whole story in such a brief number of words. And also, in many cases, the story behind a book. The challenge, for me, was trying to keep all the stories fun. I knew children would be reading them—not just their parents. And that meant I had to leave out the gruesome details of Peter Pan’s history, and the somewhat boring (but really fascinating to English majors like myself) connection between The Golden Compass and Paradise Lost.

I did write a piece for The Hunger Games, but the quotes I used from Suzanne Collins were a bit dark. She talked about seeing Iraq war updates on the nightly news, interspersed with reality TV shows, and how unsettling it was when those two things fused together as entertainment. I thought that was really interesting, as well as her perspectives on “just-war theory,” but I have to say that after doing in-person readings with small children and seeing my book in elementary school libraries, I’m glad that story didn’t make the final cut.

I don’t know if there will be a volume 2 in the future, but I hope so!

What was the biggest surprise about the writing itself? Either, “I believe X is so easy” or “If I had known Y was going to be so hard, I’d have skipped this and watched more TV.”
I think the biggest surprise, for me, was finding that I could do it—on multiple levels. From the beginning, I knew this was a topic I wanted to write about, but I was also nervous. My baby was weeks old when Bushel & Peck sent the proposal. I didn’t know how I was going to write a book and take care of a newborn. I felt very much like I only had half a [mom] brain, and I was getting like two hours of consecutive sleep a night. Not exactly ideal conditions for being smart and creative.

But I also knew that if I didn’t say yes, I might be missing out on the biggest opportunity of my life. Book deals don’t just drop into people’s laps—believe me, I’ve been rejected by editors and agents many times. I’m so glad I said yes, though. I learned that I can write a lot of words in just a few months (provided they’re split into bite-sized chunks). I also learned that I can write, even under the most challenging circumstances. I feel like I’m stronger for that experience.

Given your subject, I have to ask: What’re your personal Desert Island Top 5 Children’s Books?

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 for sure; that book makes me laugh and cry every time, and the characters would make great company on a desert island!
The Mysteries of Harris Burdick because each page is so intriguing; I could spend the rest of my life coming up with stories for every illustration.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire because it’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
The Adventures of Mrs. Pepperpot because it’s perfectly nostalgic for me.
Some kind of nonfiction survival book, because the thought of being on a desert island gives me anxiety haha!

What’s next for Danielle Higley, author?
I’ve recently been asked to be on the jury for the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award for Children. Because of that, I’ll be doing a ton of reading between now and the end of the year. Still, I’m hoping to write more when I can. I’m working on some children’s picture books right now, and also an adult novel that needs some serious love and attention.

Thanks for your time—and thanks for The Stories Behind the Stories!

The Stories Behind the Stories by Danielle Higley, David Miles (Illustrator): Behind the Scenes of Some Childhood Favorites

By HCNewton

On October 20, 2022

In Literary Locals, Non-Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

I’ve got a Q&A with the author, Danielle Higley, coming up a little later this morning–be sure to come back for that!

The Stories Behind the Stories:
The Remarkable True Tales
Behind Your Favorite Kid’s Books

by Danielle Higley, David Miles (Illustrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Bushel & Peck Books
Publication Date: November 2, 2021
Format: Hardcover
Length: 90 pgs.
Read Date: September 24, 2022

What’s The Stories Behind the Stories About?

It’s right there in the subtitle, isn’t it? “The Remarkable True Tales Behind Your Favorite Kid’s Books.” Higley takes 29 well-known and well-loved children’s classics—most from the Twentieth-Century, with a couple from before and a few after it.

We get roughly two pages on each book, with a full page of art to go along with them—although one of those pages will be heavily illustrated, too. The text will give a little biographical information about the author and then talk about the book itself—maybe how it was written, or received, or what inspired it. There’s also a sidebar with a little trivia about the book, too.

The books discussed range from Curious George to The Boxcar Children to Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, books written for children too young to read through books for Middle Grade readers.

The Design and Art

This is a wonderfully put-together book—let’s start with the cover design, a giant “Little Golden Book” look is an inspired choice for this. The collages used to illustrate the rest of the book are equally well done. They jump off the page and are well-paired with each book discussed.

Sure, the text of the book is my focus—and it should be here, too. But when it comes in a package this great to look at? That’s just a bonus.

So, what did I think about The Stories Behind the Stories?

I sat down to read about one or two of the books before starting something else one day, and read five before I realized it and had to force myself to stop. I ended up reading the rest of the book in one sitting. It’s the literary equivalent of Lay’s Potato Chips, “bet you can’t read just one.”

I’ve read 24 of the books talked about, and meant to read most of the others, so I was primed and ready for this—many readers in the target range (7-11 will be familiar with at least half, and this might inspire them to read more of them).

I think I learned a little about each of the books selected for this—except maybe Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, because that’s been covered so well for so many years. Some of what I learned surprised me—The Boxcar Children was controversial? (okay, I probably should’ve guessed that one) Rawls almost didn’t get Where the Red Fern Grows published, and once it was, it took a lot of work to get it read—or put another way, I almost didn’t get my heart ripped out by it.

It’s engaging with a little dash of mild humor, nothing over-the-top—just enough to bring the occasional grin while not distracting from the point. It’s written in such a way that the target audience will have no problem reading it, and it’ll keep the attention of older readers, too—anyone who likes children’s books will find something to enjoy here. And you put that in an attractive package? It’s a win all the way around. I strongly recommend this book.

4 Stars

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