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Book Review Updates

Book Reviews Collection cover image

Tuesdays are review days at Discerning Reader and this week we’ve added five new ones. Because I am reviewing so many books these days, I will only be posting some of them at my blog. The rest will appear over at Discerning Reader and you can read them there if you’re interested.

I’ve written reviews of a couple of popular titles, one coming from a professed Christian and the other from an ardent atheist. Sam Harris’ Letter to a Christian Nation is a reader-friendly, popular-level attempt to turn Americans against religion in general and Christianity in particular. I review it briefly and look forward to follow up this review with one of Douglas Wilson’s book-length response. I’ve also reviewed Anne Lamott’s latest book and posted that review here at the blog.

Turning to theology, I offer a brief look at John Blanchard’s extensive collection of quotes as compiled in The Complete Gathered Gold. I also provide a review of an important and controversial volume entitled Pierced for Our Transgressions which provides a biblical defense for the doctrine of penal substitution. This is a doctrine that is under attack in the church today and authors Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey and Andrew Sach take a firm stand in favor of it.

Though it won’t appeal to all, we’ve reviewed a beginner’s Hebrew grammar entitled Invitation to Biblical Hebrew. Reviewer Scott Lamb says, “If you have a desire to learn Hebrew, let me encourage you to purchase this grammar, along with the workbook and DVDs. Utilizing the deductive approach, the authors instruct you in a concept and then turn you loose to practice it through pages of drills and exercises. As long as you master each chapter before going onto the next, you can work your way into a solid understanding of the grammar and syntax of Biblical Hebrew.”

Next week I hope to have reviews of Douglas Wilson’s Letter From a Christian Citizen, Michael Behe’s The Edge of Evolution, and a couple of other titles. Reviewer Leslie Wiggins has written an excellent review of Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters and it will be posted to coincide with that book’s release. And we’ll see what the other reviewers turn in between now and then!


  • Hell

    Let Them Leap To Hell Over Our Bodies

    One of the most sacred and most important of our tasks in prayer is to intercede on behalf of the lost. We know that every one of our friends, neighbors, and family members needs to hear the good news of the gospel and repent and believe. We know that God is the Good Shepherd, who…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    Weekend A La Carte (June 28)

    A La Carte: Why you escape to the mountains / Evangelism for introverts / Come, Let Us Return to the Lord (a new song) / My child’s success isn’t my crowning glory / Watering dirt / and more.

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (June 27)

    A La Carte: The right has forgotten feeling / The case for morning devotions / I don’t feel forgiven / Dear saint / Warts and all / Anxiety and the gospel / Book and Kindle deals.

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (June 26)

    A La Carte: Everyone knows everything about you / The splendor of gray hairs / “Vanity” in Ecclesiastes / Jesus is the hero / Why does Satan continue opposing God / Your test of adversity / and more.