I love writing book reviews and I love reading them. Since I cannot possibly read and review all of the interesting books out there, I’ve decided to put together some occasional round-ups of reviews written by other writers. Here are a few notable links I’ve collected over the past few weeks.
William Carey: Obliged to Go by Janet & Geoff Benge, review by Monique Bergmeier. “All the books in the Christian Heroes series we have read are very well written, with a style that draws our children in as we read aloud together. … [it] is a valuable resource in providing concrete examples of true heroes of the faith after which we and our children may follow in seeking God’s will for our own lives.”
The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler, review by Camden Bucey. “The Explicit Gospel is a useful book with many admirable qualities. Principally, it points us to the matter of first importance, that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). I agree with the principle concerns of this book, but I believe the author could clarify and improve his case in several ways.”
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller, review by “quaesitor” (Mark Meynell). I’m very pleased this is out in print now, simply because it gets to the heart of such a crucial contemporary issue: the power of the Ego. … This booklet contains all the hallmarks of a Keller treatment: close attention to the details of the text (in this case, a handling of 1 Corinthians 3:21-4:7), explicit debts to the thought of C S Lewis, an appreciation of how contemporary thinking is developing and shifting, as well as a vital understanding of real people’s pastoral needs.”
Relationships: A Mess Worth Making by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp, review by Mark Tubbs. “I can confidently say it is a book that every Christian should read on the threefold basis of theology, applicability, and accessibility.”
The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon by Steven Lawson, review by David Steele. Steele gives it five stars, saying that it “is a much-needed antidote in a church that downplays theology and especially has a nasty habit of misrepresenting historic Reformed theology. It reminds pastors of the need for courage and conviction. … It is time to open the Book and preach with the passion and fervor of Charles Haddon Spurgeon.”
Fools Rush In Where Monkeys Fear to Tread by Carl Trueman, review by Aimee Byrd. “Anyone who wants to be sharpened should read this book. While you may not agree with everything he says, you will be challenged by the gospel’s implications. Your sense of humor will be challenged as well. And your vocabulary.”
Reformation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow by Carl Trueman, review by David Steele. “Trueman’s work is a delight to read. My hope is that this reprinted edition receives the credit it deserves. Grounded in the great truths of the Protestant Reformation, this work inspires, educates, and corrects mistakes some evangelicals are currently making.”
