Chris Hubbs' Booklog

Breakneck by Dan Wang

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Wang compares China and the USA by saying that China is run by engineers, while the US is run by lawyers. Both can have their upsides and downsides. To become great again, he says, the US needs to once again embrace engineering and manufacturing. Hard to argue there.

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A npshort, sharp novella. Not sure where I picked it up but worth the quick read.

Nightfaring by Megan Eaves-Egenes

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A really lovely book that’s part memoir, part experiential diary, and part ecological meditation on the disappearance of the night sky.

In Accordance With the Scriptures by John Behr

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Behr’s lectures are pretty slow going, but good stuff if you take the time.

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A lovely story.

Murderland by Caroline Fraser

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Fraser's writing is compelling, even with the subject matter almost too much to handle at times. Maybe not the book to read the week I'm traveling to Seattle? Still, quite a read.

Godric by Frederick Buechner

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A peculiar and yet lovely short novel retelling the life of a 12th-century holy man.

Picks and Shovels by Cory Doctorow

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Doctorow writes in a comfortable technical prose, capturing the vibe of early '80s Silicon Valley tech culture in a delightful way. Loved it.

On Fire for God by Josiah Hesse

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Hesse is a skillful writer, weaving a tale that's half memoir, half political commentary. It's a terrifying picture of growing up the product of roigious and family trauma, mental illness, and substance abuse. While I hope the book was cathartic for him to write, I am reminded of my songwriter friend who says you should write about your scars, not your wounds. I hope that Hesse continues to find healing from his wounds, but I think a memoir with some more distance would (will?) be more effective.

Train Dreams by Denis Johnson

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A fine little story, but didn't quite resonate with me the way the movie adaptation did.

Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Superbly executed country noir.

Her Gates Will Never Be Shut: Hell, Hope, and the New Jerusalem by Bradley Jersak

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Jersak, in his own personal and yet theologically deep way, paints a picture of eternal hope for all in a New Jerusalem whose gates are always open.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A delightful story, and an artfully draw picture of 1890s immigrant communities in New York.

When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Bought back when I was still an evangelical, finally got it cleared off my to-read shelf. It's still painfully evangelical, but the impetus toward community organizing and enabling is solid. Would recommend it for lots of evangelicals I know... and probably nobody else.

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

I unabashedly love Becky Chambers' stuff. This one is no exception.

The Inescapable Love of God by Thomas Talbott

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Talbott's combination of theology and logic is, for me, inescapable. Fresh and brilliant.

Varieties of Christian Universalism by David W. Congdon

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Four chapters, containing four distinct perspectives on Christian Universalism. Some more familiar than others, all helpful as an exploration of various angles Christian theologians have taken in support of that view. Aimed probably a little bit above my head, but still manageable and accessible. The fourth option, Existential Universalism, was new to me and will have me thinking for a while.

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Interesting, but a little heavy-handed and very on the nose.

God After Einstein by John F. Haught

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Tediously repetitive. Not enough science to engage on that front, not enough theology to engage on the other.

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

A reasonably entertaining adventure story. Not sure it accomplishes everything the author wants from a philosophical standpoint, but it was an easy and fun read.

Freeing Jesus by Diana Butler Bass

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Bass's "memoir theology" rings true, reminding us of Jesus the friend, teacher, savior, lord, way, and presence. Unsurprisingly, I found her chapter on "way" where she describes being trapped in the world of Calvinist evangelicalism and the painful path leaving it to be particularly resonant.

Katabasis by R. F. Kuang

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Hell is... graduate school? Clever and creative storytelling. I enjoyed it.

And the Mighty Will Fall by K. B. Wagers

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

After 3 volumes of training and inter-personal conflict, NeoG has to do some real fighting. An enjoyable series.

Nightmare Obscura by Michelle Carr

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

An interesting scientific look into dreams.

The Bottom of the Harbor by Joseph Mitchell

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Beautifully-voiced essays telling stories of New York's harbor and the people that lived around it. A picture of a long-lost time. "Mr. Hunter's Grave" might be the most memorable of the pieces.

The Spirit of Hope by Byung-Chul Han

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Readable and yet very deep. Need to revisit it to let it soak in a little more.

The Alteration by Kingsley Amis

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

On the upside: very imaginative alt history. On the downside: why must the story be centered on testicles?

Dead Money by Jakob Kerr

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A really solid debut thriller set in Silicon Valley. Twisty enough to keep me guessing all the way until the end. Really enjoyed it!

On Repentance and Repair by Danya Ruttenberg

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Short, clear, and profound. Rabbi Danya does us all a service unpacking the concepts of repentance and repair.

All That We See or Seem by Ken Liu

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A remarkably prescient vision of an AI-dominated near future. Wraps up a little too quickly and cleanly, but if Liu writes more books in the series, I'll be there for them.

The Human Being by Walter Wink

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Wink's thoughts on Jesus' own sayings as "the Son of Man" are fascinating. His handling of the post-resurrection sayings and after is less compelling.

We Did OK, Kid by Anthony Hopkins

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I've always enjoyed Anthony Hopkins as an actor since seeing him in The Remains of the Day when I was in high school. His memoir here is brisk and easy to read, but you get the sense that he has slowly done the work to come to peace with and acceptance of himself. May we all be willing to do that work.

The Door by Magda Szabo

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Stunning writing. A vivid portrait of a stubborn, magnificent elderly Hungarian woman.

Strike Three You're Dead by R. D. Rosen

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

If you really love baseball, this lightweight mystery is passable. I do, and it was. That's about it.

Inverted World by Christopher Priest

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Beautifully written, hard speculative sci-fi. Didn't know what I was getting into, so glad that I did.

Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I enjoyed the setting in the old Soviet Union and the relatively low stakes, but the novel as a whole just didn't grab me.

Brighton Rock by Graham Greene

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

None

The Trees by Percival Everett

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I objectively can get why so many people loved this book and it was up for awards; somehow it just didn't work for me, though.

The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

An engaging kickoff to a new series. It pulled me in, looking forward to where it goes next.

Against the Machine by Paul Kingsnorth

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

So many thoughts. [I wrote a separate blog post](https://chrishubbs.com/2025/11/02/against-the-machine-paul-kingsnorths/).

Holy Hurt by Hillary L. McBride, PhD

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A wonderful, insightful book looking into the hurt of spiritual trauma.

Royal Gambit by Daniel O'Malley

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

It's a spy adventure novel with a little bit of paranormal thrown in... love it.

Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide: Lessons in Engaged Contemplation by Adam Bucko

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A short, practical meditation on living an active, engaged, yet contemplative life. Encouraging.

Peyton Place by Grace Metalious

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Scandalous in the 1950s, tame by today's standards, but regardless: a well-written story, and an enjoyable read.

The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Moves fast, not sure it really holds together. I appreciate the attempt, though.

The Meaning of the Bible by Douglas A. Knight

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Interesting approach to make a topical overview of the Old Testament, but well written, easy to study through, and so delightful to think through the OT in a non-fundamentalist way.

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT

It's a classic, I get it. It's also LOOOOONG. Glad I read it, glad I'm done.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Stunning, marvelous writing. A classic for a reason. How do you tell a story where the end is known from the beginning and make it compelling for more than 400 pages?

The Hidden Universe by Alexandre Antonelli

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A highly readable lay-level introduction to biodiversity and ecology.

Two Truths and a Lie by Cory O'Brien

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Sort of an interesting universe concept, overall not quite my jam.

Dressed for Death by Donna Leon

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Just lovely mystery novel prose. Brunetti is a delightful detective.

Quantum Cage by Davis Bunn

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The idea was semi-interesting. The writing was pedestrian. The story didn't go anywhere. At least it was short!

Spin by Robert Charles Wilson

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maybe I would take a quarter point off for the sheer length, but _this_ is what speculative science fiction is supposed to be. Really enjoyed this one.

The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier by Thad Carhart

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

As a pianist and the son of a piano technician, I'm basically the ideal target demographic for this book... and it doesn't disappoint. Beautifully written, capturing the magic of the piano as an instrument and of music as a thing to be shared and enjoyed. Lovely.

Beyond Justification by Douglas A. Campbell

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Wow. Just wow. Completely changes the paradigm for reading Paul, particularly Romans 1-3. (Also defangs the "clobber passage" in Romans 1 used so much against LGBTQ people.) It will take a while for this to fully soak in but it sure feels like the right reconception of those chapters.

Theory of Bastards by Audrey Schulman

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A fascinating novel that doesn't fit neatly into the usual categories. It's part Michael Crichton, part romance, part The Road... Wasn't thrilled with the ending but was definitely worth the read.

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A cross between a philosophical treatise and a morality play... set in a robot-laden future. Tchaikovsky is taking a big swing here and he mostly makes it work. I enjoyed it.

Christianity and the New Spirit of Capitalism by Kathryn Tanner

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A very thorough examination of the current spirit of capitalism, with shorter examinations of how Christian thought should differ. A beautiful theological vision, though with very little practical idea of how we might get there.

If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future by Jill Lepore

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Half a history of Simulmatics; half a history of the introduction of behavioral science into the 1960s. Chilling to recognize that nearly all the Simulmatics founders ended up going mad; wonder what conclusions we should draw seeing how the methods they pioneered in the 1960s are everywhere today.

Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Maybe not as charming as the first novel, but still a series I'll keep going on.

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Autonomous.

Introduction to Tantra by Thubten Yeshe

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Haven't read much of any Buddhist stuff before. Earnest but baffling in its ambiguity.

The Ghosts of Trappist by K. B. Wagers

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Still enjoying this series.

Big Chief by Jon Hickey

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Behind the scenes of life on an Indian reservation in Wisconsin. The empty pettiness of small-scale politics. Not a bad debut for Mr. Hickey.

Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A charming detective novel set in Venice. The first of a long series... I'll be back.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Unabashedly loved this one.

The Midnight Club by Margot Harrison

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Sort of an interesting concept, but didn't really grab me.

The Death of Ayrton Senna by Richard Williams

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A short journalistic introduction to the life and untimely death of F1 racer Ayrton Senna. For fans like me who are recent to the sport, it's a nice bit of background to understand why this man's name is spoken so reverently.

Confessions of a Recovering Evangelical by Daniel Henderson

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Henderson is a retired Iowa history teacher who grew up in and then left Evangelical Christianity. As he acknowledges in the preface, this book is more or less a collection of blog posts on various "why evangelicals are wrong" or "what evangelicals need to learn" topics. It's well-meaning, not particularly deep, and badly in need of an editor and a proof-reader. (Homonyms sneak past spell check every time!) I did find his chapter on "what Evangelical men could learn from gay men" and "why Christians should be Humanists" to be unusual additions to the usual topics, and worth some thought. On the whole, maybe a decent starter book for someone trying to understand American Evangelicalism, but definitely feels like an amalgamation of high-level content rather than a primary source.

The Quiet American by Graham Greene

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Beautiful, subtle stuff from Graham Greene. His prose is just lovely.

Meet Me At The Crossroads by Megan Giddings

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Partly soft speculative sci-fi; mostly a meditation on love, and loss, and family. Quite lovely.

A Country of Ghosts by Margaret Killjoy

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Something of a utopian / anarchist manifesto in short book form. A decent little story, though not a lot of plot, and the plot that does exist is flexible to meet the needs of the treatise.

City of Nets by Otto Friedrich

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A well-written, very readable overview of a transitional decade in Hollywood's history. I found the earlier chapters, focused on personalities, more interesting and engaging than the latter ones, focused more on unions and the start of the blacklists. Still, a decent read.

The Transforming Fire of Divine Love by John H. Armstrong

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

What a beautiful book. A long-time Calvinist and PSA adherent acknowledging, explaining, and embracing a shift to a love-based view of God and salvation. And leaning heavily on Brad Jersak at the end. Wonderful.

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Becky Chambers. So good. A beautiful little novella about the wonder of exploration and the longing for home.

The Not-Yet God by Ilia Delio

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Ilia Delio's most comprehensive statement yet of her synthesis of Teilhard and Jung. We need a framework for thinking about God that embraces what we know today about quantum physics and evolution. I'm not entirely convinced by her enthusiasm for tech-based transhumanism, but the integration of all things seems very right to me.

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Brilliant world building and exploration of political ideologies and ways to live in a civilization. A classic for a reason.

Murder Under Her Skin by Stephen Spotswood

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Such a fun, lighthearted mystery series.

Lower than the Angels by Diarmaid MacCulloch

Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I guess when your previous book was a huge history of Christianity you have a lot of notes left over. Epic in scope, mostly Western-focused, this is an interesting survey of Christian attitudes toward and practices around sex and marriage. MacCulloch still definitely has opinions but doesn't feel like he's putting his thumb on the scale _too_ much.

The Seventh Floor by David McCloskey

Fri, 23 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Superb spy novel. Love this series.

Secrets Typed In Blood by Stephen Spotswood

Wed, 14 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Think I'm caught up on the series now. Enjoyed it!

The Cosmic Landscape by Leonard Susskind

Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

String theory, beautifully explained. What's not to love?

Playworld by Adam Ross

Sat, 03 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A coming-of-age story working to be epic in scope and almost achieving it. A really lovely read.

The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson

Sat, 03 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Argonauts.

Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

OK, that's good fun. A sort of Holmes/Watson lady detective series set in the 1940s. Sign me up.

Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

An absolutely harrowing account from The Troubles in Ireland in the 1970s through the 1990s. Keefe doesn't seek to moralize, and somehow by just recounting the facts it's even more disturbing than it otherwise would be. Brilliant book.

Eurotrash by Christian Kracht

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A brief, poignant novel of family history and the challenge of a mentally ill parent.

Mysticism by Simon Critchley

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

An interesting attempt at the subject, but the author is personally intrusive so far into the narrative that it was distracting.

The Framed Women of Ardemore House by Brandy Schillace

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A really well done mystery novel featuring a neurodivergent protagonist. Bravo.

Bedeviled by Jimena Canales

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A history of "demons" in science - that is, the unexplainable forces in the universe that get characterized as spooky actions until they can be scientifically explained.

Dead in the Frame by Stephen Spotswood

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A solid little noir mystery, with some modern genderqueer awareness. It's almost like if Becky Chambers was writing Daschiell Hammett stories. I'll probably go backfill the series now.

Where God Happens by Rowan Williams

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A short, lovely collection of insight on Christian community drawing from the Desert Fathers.

Moscow X by David McCloskey

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Not as compelling as the first one, but still head and shoulders above most spy novels being written these days.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Big, sprawling, messy, and transcendent.

Polostan by Neal Stephenson

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Glaringly incomplete in some ways, but I can't wait to see where it goes.

What's Next by Melissa Fitzgerald

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I love _The West Wing_ and wanted to love the book. It's sort of an oral history of the show mashed up with the cast members' stories of civic service. And while that's a noble and commendable cause, the writing is just too informal, and the book goes on way too long.There's no reason this needs to be 640 pages. It feels like a fan magazine that went about 6 issues too long.

Damascus Station: A Novel by David McCloskey

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

So many modern espionage novels have gotten cheap and quick and predictable... this one wasn't. Enjoyed it a lot, looking forward to reading the next one.

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Sat, 08 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A beautiful, lyrical, intimate story of life, love, and displacement.

Moral Man and Immoral Society by Reinhold Niebuhr

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

The first half of the book: solid 5-stars. Niebuhr's analysis of cultural and group dynamics is as applicable to 2025 as it was to 1931. The second half of the book: unfulfilling. Two chapters dallying with socialism and Marxism. Final couple chapters with some vague gestures of what approaches might bring hope. Interesting as political philosophy but ultimately didn't really do it for me.

Incompleteness by Rebecca Goldstein

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A very readable biography of a brilliant and sad character.

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester

Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A fascinating story and easy read.

How to Make Sense of Any Mess by Abby Covert

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A little more than a pamphlet, a lot less than a book. Good for the basics, not nearly what I was expecting or hoping for.

The World According to Physics by Jim Al-Khalili

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A wonderfully-written and explained overview of the current state of physics. Enough detail to be really engaging, explained well enough to not be too dense. Fantastic.

The MANIAC by Benjamin Labatut

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A stunning, chilling work. The front section about Von Neumann was powerful but the final section on Go put the whole book over the top.

Tech Agnostic by Greg Epstein

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Not sure I fully buy that tech has become a religion, but interesting insights into group dynamics.

Hold Fast Through the Fire by K. B. Wagers

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Good fun. You know the author is bang home some principles but the story is enjoyable and comforting anyway.

Jesus and the Forces of Death by Matthew Thiessen

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A short, concise, very readable argument that Jesus held to the importance of Jewish purity law, but that He introduced to the world a power of purity so strong that it overwhelmed the forces of death and impurity around Him. Really fascinating stuff. (If I never have to read the phrase 'genital discharge' again, though, it'll still be too soon.)

The Ground We Share by Robert Aitken

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Structured as a series of conversations between a Christian monastic and a Zen Buddhist monk. These men provide some practical life insights and remind the reader that Buddhism has never been too distant from a contemplative Christian practice.

Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Short, clear, and to the point. McCaulley, an Anglican priest, explores a Scriptural hermeneutic that addresses issues relevant to the American Black church.

Language for God in Patristic Tradition by Mark Sheridan

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A very readable overview of how early Christian fathers read the OT scriptures, specifically around anthropomorphic descriptions of God, and passages that describe God in troubling ways. Heartening to see that their consensus was that the truest picture we have of God is in the teaching of Jesus, and then that they used all sorts of rationalization and vibes to figure out what to do with the Old Testament.

Into the Unknown by Kelsey Johnson

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

A thoughtful, reasonable exploration of some of the challenging scientific questions in the universe. Written maybe just a baby step above the popular level, Dr. Johnson still makes these big questions very understandable and is willing to draw the lines around what we do know, what we can know, and what is impossible to know. A delightful and entertaining read.

The Widening of God's Mercy by Christopher B. Hays

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

I'm conflicted on how to rate this one. Do I like their conclusion? Yes. Is it heartening to see men be willing to change their minds on a difficult topic? Absolutely. But for the life of me I don't understand why _this_ is the approach they take to the question.

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Another stunning book from Coates. First, he's just a beautiful writer, crafting prose with carefully chosen words that add layers of color, texture, and meaning. Second, he's written an insightful and challenging book, letting us follow along as he questions his own understanding of the narratives he's been taught (and promulgated). From the streets of Dakar to the hills of Palestine, Coates works to open our eyes as he recognizes his eyes are opening. A superb book.

Blessed One: Protestant Perspectives on Mary by Cynthia Rigby

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

11 short essays with Protestant views of Mary. Started slowly, but as it progressed provided some good insights on how Protestant ignorance of Mary has also driven the current patriarchal flavor within the church. The final essay on Mary as a co-creator with God is worth the whole thing.

A Pale Light in the Black by K. B. Wagers

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

It's as if you crossed Becky Chambers with Dale Brown or some other lightweight military adventure author. Not as subtle or graceful as Chambers, but still very pleasant entertainment.

How To Read a Book by Mortimer Adler

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A how-to manual for analyzing books. Reminds me of the textbook that Robin Williams had his students rip pages from in _Dead Poets' Society_. I was not inspired.

A Private and Public Faith by William Stringfellow

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Sharp, brief, and sadly just as applicable to the 2020s church as it was the 1960s church.

Spark by John Twelve Hawks

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A little hit man thriller set in a dystopian future that very creatively explores the question of what it means to be alive. Well written and paced, with a narrator unlike any you've read before.

Tripwire by Lee Child

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Ah, back when Jack Reacher books had at least some amount of plot to go with the violence.

The Hours of the Universe by Ilia Delio

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A nice summation of Delio's thought in more condensed form than her previous books. Short readings, almost blog post length, not so much _new_ if you've read her other material, just differently organized and expressed.

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I'm not usually a business book guy, and I intensely dislike negotiating. But one of my leaders at work suggested I'd benefit from this, and I think I have. Will be interesting to try some of the basic tactics when the situation arises.

Shadow of Doubt by Brad Thor

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Every once in a while I read one of these to remember why I don't usually waste my time. Adventure novels have gotten so thin and repetitive these days.

Debt by David Graeber

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Insightful exploration of the history of the concept of debt. Maybe Adam Smith didn't have it all right?

Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America by Michael Harriot

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Harriot tells the hard truths of American history from a black perspective. Employing a deft sense of humor paired with a justified outrage, Black AF History provides an unfamiliar view to those of us who grew up learning the whitewashed version. A must-read for white Americans, really.

2054 by Elliot Ackerman

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

It wanted to be smart and futurist but ended up being thin and weak. Disappointing.

Rise and Kill First by Ronen Bergman

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A fascinating, detailed story of the Israeli intelligence services up through about 2010. So much to think about here.

Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

More vibe than story... underwhelming.

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

This story is doing some interesting things. Not sure it quite manages to pull them off, but it's a fine and entertaining entry in the sci-fi universe.

Moonbound by Robin Sloan

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

My favorite novel of this year so far. Hints of Monk & Robot and Narnia. Delightful fun.

Die Trying by Lee Child

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Ah, this is back when Lee Child was still spinning real adventure stories. Yeah, Reacher is Reacher. But there's a solid thriller built around it here. Entertaining stuff.

All Things Are Too Small by Becca Rothfeld

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

An uninspiring little book of essays. Rothfeld really dislikes the practice of mindfulness and really, *really* likes sex. To those observations I would only add that her reasoning is often sketchy and her arguments tepid. I was hoping to have my imagination inflamed but only got tired of her endless chapters about sex.

Killing Floor by Lee Child

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Where it all started. An entertaining read for sure.

Extinction by Douglas Preston

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In a _Jurassic Park_-like setting, Preston has multiple characters say at various times in the story "this isn't _Jurassic Park_". And it's not... at least, not exactly. Preston knows how to write a brisk, lightweight thriller, and this one doesn't disappoint.

Airframe by Michael Crichton

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I'm sure I read this long ago, but it's an interestingly different read now that I've spent a career in aircraft certification. Crichton's strength is adventure thrillers, but I'll give him credit - he got the cert details pretty much right.

Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde

Sat, 21 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A wonderful combination of clever humor and dystopian fantasy of a flavor I have never before encountered. I was afraid for the first 20% that it was just going to be all clever humor, but the dystopian plot balanced it out delightfully.

An Autobiography, Or, The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

If one of the Desert Fathers was a lawyer by training and had a Substack newsletter, he would write this kind of autobiography. Gandhi: super weird, writing in short episodes. Published in 1927 but effectively only covers his life up to 1921 when he took leadership of the Indian National Congress. Reasonably informative; unreasonably boring.

The Experience of God by David Bentley Hart

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Extended review to come.

Heavenbreaker (Standard Edition) by Sara Wolf

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

This thing is trying to be the Hunger Games, set in futuristic space. There's a decent nut of an idea there, but the execution is bad. So much repetition, so much left murky and unexplained, so many clueless choices. Fortunately didn't take a lot of time to read.

Do We Not Bleed? by Daniel Taylor

Sat, 24 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

None

Blue Moon by Lee Child

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Jack Reacher, vigilante, inciting a gang war between rival Eastern European crime syndicates and then killing them all with the help of some friends? This series is in decline, methinks.

Reaching Out by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A beautiful, practical little book. Need to come back to it in 6 months and absorb some more.

The Midnight Line by Lee Child

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Sometimes you just need some cheap, easy, reliable entertainment. Jack Reacher is still that entertainment.

The Hidden Spring by Mark Solms

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I'm a little (or maybe a lot) out of my depth with this one. Don't remember why I thought it was something that was a must-read. There were parts of interest, but the middle part was far too deep in neuroscience for me.

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

As my friend Amanda said: more a vibe than a story. Still, Enger paints beautiful pictures with his words.

Space Oddities by Harry Cliff

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Cliff is a particle physicist writing about the fun, unexplained quirks of particle physics. Probably a little dense for the casual reader, but hit the sweet spot for me. It becomes clear that he mostly wants to write about his own project - at least, the chapter on his project is about 3x as long as all the others. Still, he communicates really well and his enthusiasm for the subject is on every page.

Making All Things New by Ilia Delio

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Perhaps the most succinct compilation of Delio's theology and philosophy. There are pieces of it that blow me away, and a few other bits that I pretty strongly disagree with.

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Well, that was delightful. Moving. Innovative.

Lamb of the Free by Andrew Remington Rillera

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A brilliant reinterpretation of the lamb sacrifice language of the Bible and how it can upend our view of Jesus' death. So good.

The Revisionaries by A. R. Moxon

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Maybe literary fiction isn't my thing... maybe it's really just as big and confusing and overwrought and overly clever as I think it is.

Cultish by Amanda Montell

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I like the idea... the execution needed some help. I *will* hold onto the idea of conversation-ending cliches, though.

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Wounded Pastors by Carol Howard Merritt

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Short and quite practical. I can imagine it being helpful to almost every pastor and person in ministry.

The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Went from a middling espionage thriller to "WTF is this even?" in about 10 chapters. Meh.

A Window to the Divine by Zachary Hayes

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A short but dense treatise proposing a way harmonize Christian perspective on creation with a modern understanding of science. Draws on Teilhard and Whitehead, and while the middle chapters suffer from the author's need to deal with some Roman Catholic nuances, the opening and closing chapters are fully worth the weight of the book.

From the Maccabees to the Mishnah by Shaye J. D. Cohen

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A fairly readable textbook. The chapter on the evolution of the scriptural text was particularly interesting.

A General Theory of Love by Thomas Lewis

Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Clinical psychiatrists examining the phenomenon of love. A nice primer on regulation, attachment, and limbic resonance. Annoyingly flowery in some aspects, but helpful for those who want to better understand these principles.

3 Shades of Blue by James Kaplan

Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Meticulously researched and compellingly told. Kaplan strings together the development of bebop and the evolution of free jazz and fusion through the stories of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans. I'm struck mostly by the tragedy of it all. Troubled men, forever addicted to and strung out on drugs and alcohol, somehow in the midst of it creating brilliant, amazing music.

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

Fri, 17 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A simple story attempting to capture the essence of Buddhist teaching. Nice, not quite as profound to me as some made it sound.

The Future by Naomi Alderman

Mon, 13 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Alderman's imaginative future in which tech titans selfishly plan for the worst... and get what's coming to them. It's not subtle, and I saw the twist coming about 1/3 of the way in, but it's a fun read.

Neurotribes by Steve Silberman

Sat, 11 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Both meticulously researched and highly readable, Silberman's history of neurodiversity is caring and empathetic in all the right ways. What a wonderful book.

The Light Within Darkness by David Jeffrey

Sat, 04 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A very nice finale to this series. Maybe the comparison I'd make at this point is that Jeffrey is to the sci-fi genre what Tom Clancy was to the military thriller - too explainy, too many unlikely happenings, but still wildly inventive and entertaining. I really enjoyed this series.

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar

Fri, 03 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A stunning little novella. Spare and keen.

Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I wasn't sure what to expect from Robinson writing on Genesis, but I enjoy her writing enough it was definitely something I was going to read. Structured as a narrative commentary, Robinson doesn't employ chapter breaks or other touchpoints within the text itself. It's fascinating to read a commentary by a Christian writer who takes the text seriously but not necessarily literally. If there is a broad "point" to her book, it is to feature the uniqueness of Genesis among the Ancient Near Eastern texts, and to highlight the theme of unmerited grace that runs through it. From God's forgiveness of Cain to Joseph's forgiveness of his brothers, Robinson tells us that Genesis is set apart from the other ANE texts this way. I appreciated her book, but didn't enjoy it as much as reading her essays. I need to pick them up for a re-read.

Sun Wolf by David Jeffrey

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Again, a book full of fun ideas that needs a better writer to make it amazing.

Through a Forest of Stars by David Jeffrey

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I wanted to *love* this book. Jeffrey's ideas and balance of science and tech with a good story is right in my wheelhouse. He's just not a strong enough writer to take it from being good to being _amazing_. To much telling, not enough showing. Too much omniscient narrator waxing eloquent. Still a good book, and I immediately took up the sequel.

The Exvangelicals by Sarah McCammon

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

McCammon has written the book that tells the Exvangelical story as clearly and simply as anyone will. Her story is largely my own story; the differences are incidental, the similarities huge. If there's anyone looking for an understanding of why the exvangelical movement has been a thing over the past decade. this is the book to put in their hands. I appreciate both McCammon's directness and her gentle humility. Good stuff.

This American Ex-Wife by Lyz Lenz

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Lyz writes beautifully. I am happy that she gets this chance to tell her story, and happy that she is finding happiness.

The Grand Contraption by David Park

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

An engaging history of science from our earliest history to the present. Not too stuffy or too detailed; manages to hit the high points and explain them well without bogging down.

Exordia by Seth Dickinson

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A bonkers book that can't quite decide if it wants to be Michael Crichton or H.P. Lovecraft. 100 pages too long, and an odd combination of physics, philosophy, and horror that kept me reading but never really engaged me the way I had hoped it might.

Ringmaster by Abraham Riesman

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Painstakingly researched and grippingly told, this story of Vince McMahon's life running the WWF kept me reading, and I care nothing for professional wrestling.

In Universes by Emet North

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Not fully sold on this one. I think I see what the author is trying to do, but there is too much disconnect in the middle chapters for it to hold together and make sense to me.

The Murder of Professor Schlick by David Edmonds

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A remarkably engaging and readable introduction to the Vienna Circle and the dynamics in Vienna leading up to the Second World War.

Finding Zero by Amir D. Aczel

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Less a treatise on ancient mathematics, more an adventure story of the author's quest to find an ancient Cambodian stele with the oldest known inscription of the digit zero on it. Still, the guy knows how to tell a story.

The Lost World of the Prophets by John H. Walton

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Walton continues his "Lost World" series with a focus on the Old Testament Prophets. The book is structured as a series of propositions, in each of which Walton advocates for a way we should think about Biblical prophecy. Readable even for laypeople, Walton is clearly trying to steer his audience away from a fundamentalist literalist reading, from a reading that directly ties all OT prophecies to much later fulfillments, and instead to understand prophecy as bringing a message from God that may have various interpretations and applications over time. Well worth a read.

Hell Is a World Without You by Jason Kirk

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Oh man. A coming of age story full of spiritual awakening, but an awakening that is more like deconstruction. Kirk captures the authentic inner and outer voices of youth growing up in conservative Evangelical circles, grappling with love, loss, and church teachings that just don't make sense. It may not be for everyone, but it hits me right between the eyes, and makes me wish my awakening and deconstruction had come at 18 and not 38.

The Downloaded by Robert J. Sawyer

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I've enjoyed a lot of Sawyer's stuff, but this one left me cold. More a novella than a full-length novel, The Downloaded is entirely narrated in first-person interviews. There are a couple interesting technical ideas but they aren't explored in enough detail to really be compelling. All in all, a disappointing book.

The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Journalist Alberta brilliantly evaluates and dismantles the corruption of American Evangelicalism. Having lived through it myself, I think he gets it right. May his tribe increase.

The Case Against Reality by Donald D. Hoffman

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A very thought-provoking book and a great way to end my 2023 reading. Hoffman proposes that humans have evolved not to perceive the "objective" universe, but rather a view of the universe that is useful for "fitness". So what, begs the question, is 'objective' reality? Hoffman doesn't have an answer for that question, but suggests that reality may be more defined by the interaction between conscious beings than by some objective _stuff_. This goes down the same lines I've heard Ilia Delio suggest, that quantum reality is about the relationships between observers. Fascinating stuff.

The Collector by Daniel Silva

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Look, the Gabriel Allon series is fun, and Silva is a talented author. But he's running into the same problem that all long-running series authors run into: you keep needing to up the stakes, and you end up with less and less reality. Inevitably, if your hero is in intelligence, you're gonna save the world from nuclear destruction. Allon does. With typical aplomb. When you're on book #23 of a series, I guess you're not aiming for a lot of surprises.

Time's Mouth by Edan Lepucki

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A story sort of about weird powers and the cult that forms around them, but sort of more about family, the burden it leaves us, and how we deal with it.

The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A easy read modern-ish spy thriller. Not as thrilling as some, but light and entertaining enough.

My Old Home by Orville Schell

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A beautiful, sweeping epic of life in China through the 20th century.

Making It So by Patrick Stewart

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Sir Patrick's memoir is just as delightful as you would hope. From stories about his humble beginnings in Yorkshire to tales about making ST:TNG, Stewart's tone is engaging. I don't typically do audiobooks but I would go listen to this one simply to hear the book in his own voice. A truly lovely book.

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Cyberpunk hard boiled noir detective story. Entertaining stuff.

The New Being by Paul Tillich

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A short collection of short sermons, a few of which are truly brilliant. "What is truth?" is one I need to revisit sometime very soon.

Girl One by Sara Flannery Murphy

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A little bit sci-fi, a little bit adventure thriller. An entertaining easy read.

The Talmud by Barry Scott Wimpfheimer

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I've enjoyed a lot of the Biographies of Ancient Books series but this one left me flat.

The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A beautiful first-person narrative that considers Jesus' life from a different-than-usual perspective.

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Ridiculous, cheesy fun.

Blackouts by Justin Torres

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Framed as an oral history of an old, dying gay man telling his story to a younger gay man. Mesmerizing.

The Phenomenon of Man by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A whole lot to unpack here as Teilhard sees the vision of an evolutionary universe powered by love.

Transitions by William Bridges

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

As with all self help books, you've gotta eat the meat and spit out the bones. Some good stuff here particularly about what he terms the "Neutral Zone" between the old thing and the new thing.

The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Fantastic world building and beautiful writing. Deserving of the awards it won.

Quantum Reality by Nick Herbert

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A little bit dated at this point, but a very digestible introduction to quantum theory.

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I get what LeGuin was going for, but this one just didn't land for me. Plenty of idea, not enough story.

On the Origin of Time by Thomas Hertog

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Hertog studied quantum physics under Stephen Hawking and here overviews Hawking's progression of thought in quantum physics, ending in a remarkable position regaining the importance of the human perspective within these theories. You don't expect to get to the last chapter of a book like this and have it start quoting Hannah Arendt, and yet this one did. Thoughtful, not overly simplified but simplified enough for nerdy laymen like me to be able to wade through it... quite a book.

Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Entertaining detective novel. Nothing deep, but a nice palate cleanser.

The Odyssey by Homer

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey pulled me in in a way that other translations have failed to grab me. Obviously an epic story, but her translation choices made it come alive in reading.

Average Jones by Samuel Adams

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Short detective stories in the vein of Sherlock Holmes, but set in early 20th-century America. They're fine, but mostly serve to remind you just _how good_ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories were by comparison.

Translation State by Ann Leckie

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A brilliant examination of gender and personhood wrapped up in an adventure story. Really enjoyed this one.

The Ultimate Quest by Jordan Haynie Ware

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A short handbook intro to the Episcopal Church. The subtitle "A Geek's Guide to The Episcopal Church" tells you where it's going, and it goes HARD. Some of the geek references were helpful; some of them seemed pretty over-the-top, but you can't deny the author's commitment to the bit. Still, it's a book I might hand to my college aged kid if they had any interested in attending.

The Book of Job - a Biography by Mark Larrimore

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I've been a fan of other books in this Lives of Great Religious Books series, but this one didn't really do it for me. Less about how Job came about and more about how it has been interpreted through time. Which isn't _bad_... just wasn't what I was looking for.

Until the End of Time by Brian Greene

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The bits where Greene is explaining physics are wonderful. The bits where he tries to theorize about how the effects of physics manifest in things like meaning and belief are pretty weak.

Being Heumann by Judith Heumann

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A brisk, moving memoir of a leader in the American movement for disabled rights. I had no idea that the Americans with Disabilities Act wasn't passed until I was in high school.

How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A short memoir of sorts, fascinating stuff, beautifully written.

Birth of a Dancing Star by Ilia Delio

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

As a review on Goodreads said, it's a little more a recount than a memoir with an overarching theme and narrative. But it's a great companion piece to Delio's theological books; it provides a vivid perspective of the woman behind the ideas and words.

Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Rohr unpacks the Twelve Steps in the framework of the Gospel. Beautiful, simple, and helpful.

Christ in Evolution by Ilia Delio

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Delio says that Christianity's cosmology needs to keep up with science, and explores through the writing of Teilhard de Chardin, Thomas Merton, Raimon Panikkar, and others just what that might look like. Mind bending in all the best ways.

Secular Faith by Mark A. Smith

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Smith argues from history that American religious beliefs largely eventually adopt broader secular trends. He uses topics like feminism and abortion as examples. The book was published in 2015 - would be very interesting to get his take now after the strong religious backlash and rise of Christian nationalist fascism since 2016.

Trauma-Informed Evangelism by Charles Kiser

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A good overview of spiritual and religious trauma and how Christians wanting to minister to the traumatized should approach the idea. The last couple chapters of practical application were particularly helpful.

Babel by R. F. Kuang

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A fantasy novel that serves as a strong critique of colonialism, a meditation on technology, and remains a moving story of adventure and friendship. The best novel I've read in quite a while.

Oscar Wars by Michael Schulman

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A well-researched an engaging tale of the Academy Awards throughout their almost 100-year history. Politics, personalities, cultural influences... interesting to read about. Schulman makes this book an easy read while painting a vibrant picture of a messy industry.

Digging Up Armageddon by Eric H. Cline

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

For an incredibly niche subject, this is a wonderfully interesting and accessible book. A history of the original archaelogial digs at Megiddo that happened in the 1920s and 30s. Chapters alternate between describing the people and their challenges and then the actual archaeological work. Good stuff.

The Book of Genesis by Ronald Hendel

Tue, 30 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A delightful short excursion through the "biography" of Genesis examining the perspectives and interpretations of the church fathers, reformers, and philosophers up to the modern day. Very readable, and a nice introduction that takes a broader view than just the JEDP theories of textual criticism.

The Morning Star by Karl Ove Knausgaard

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Ah, Karl Ove Knausgaard. I find his writing at once engrossing and dense. A bizarre multi-viewpoint novel that blurs the line between the living and the dead, with long excurses on the Christian perspective on death... fascinating and baffling in equal measure. Not sorry I read it. Not at all.

Out of the Wreckage by George Monbiot

Fri, 26 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

An optimistic view of how the political system could be changed through the encouragement and organization of communities. Nice to read something hopeful for a change!

Mystics and Zen Masters by Thomas Merton

Sat, 20 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Merton provides a sympathetic overview to both Western (Christian) and Eastern (Buddhist) mysticism. He sees them as far more compatible than I expect most Christian writers would. Interesting stuff.

The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

Sun, 14 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Nayler really has two or three stories going here which are minimally intertwined. Unfortunately, this means he doesn't fully flesh out any of them enough to make it a really great story. This book feels like it is in the vein of classic Michael Crichton novels - Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, Congo... but Crichton never let the details of science get in the way of writing a rollicking story. I feel like Naylor makes the opposite choice, and so instead we get a story with fewer scientific gaps, but also something less fun than a Crichton novel. I would've loved to read a story that only took the octopus story line and evolved it quite a bit further. Oh well.

Ordinary Monsters by J. M. Miro

Fri, 12 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Gothic supernatural horror... overly long. A few interesting ideas but needed to be 300 pages instead of 550.

All My Knotted-Up Life by Beth Moore

Tue, 09 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I mean, the memoir of a 60-something Baptist woman isn't one of those books that a mid-40s exvangelical would be naturally drawn to, right? Beth Moore writes in her own unique voice, and it's definitely memoir more than biography - spending lots of time in certain eras of her childhood, and barely skimming much of her adult life. That all being said, to add the knowledge of her personal story to her public persona is a great blessing. Back before Twitter imploded, Auntie Beth was my favorite follow. Her clear love for Jesus and the Bible combined with her willingness to speak the truth even when it ran counter to her denomination and culture were such a dear example to all of us listening in. Getting this glimpse of her backstory only causes me to love her more.

God on the Rocks by Phil Madeira

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A sort of collection of short memoir-based essays... Madeira recounts life growing up as a Baptist pastor's kid, the pain of what we would today call religous deconstruction, and the joy of life. Nothing revolutionary, but not a bad read.

Hunting Time by Jeffery Deaver

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Feels like a middle-weight Deaver book. I get that mysteries are supposed to have a twist at the end, but this one seems far too big and unbelievable given the beginning of the book. In addition, the early part of the story seems pretty bland, isn't very twisty. Not bad, but not amazing.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Maybe more like 4.5 stars than 4. I didn't just *adore* the book, but I appreciated the characters and the conflict. A memorable, warm story in its own way.

Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Becky Chambers invents a universe I would want to live in, and populates it with sympathetic, kind characters. In a genre that frequently gets dark and dystopian, she writes hopeful fiction. I need more of that.

The Technology Trap by Carl Benedikt Frey

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

An interesting overview of the impact of revolutionary technology on society at large. In general, the recurring theme, says the author, is that people whose jobs are eliminated are worse off in the short run, but in the longer run everyone is better off. Interesting to read his thoughts on the upcoming "AI revolution" as he wrote in the 2019 timeframe, prior to COVID, ChatCPT, and the like. Some of his predictions about the immediate ascent of AI have already flopped; others are certainly not moving as fast as he anticipated. Time will tell.

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Really should be 4.5 stars. Even more enjoyable than the first book in the series.

A Hidden Wholeness by Parker J. Palmer

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Palmer sharing his wisdom and practical principles for operating a 'circle of trust' - a principle where a small group of people care for each other primarily through quiet, acceptance, non-judgment, and loving, non-leading questions. An idea that speaks profoundly to me. Palmer makes me want to find and attend a Quaker meeting.

Not All Who Wander (Spiritually) Are Lost by Traci Rhoades

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Flimsy, not particularly well written, and... naive, maybe? Basically 150 pages of "yes, people go to different kinds of churches and sometimes move between them". Not sure that qualifies as "wandering". I'm not sure who this book was aimed for but it wasn't for me.

Art and Faith by Makoto Fujimura

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A world-class artist and thoughtful believer articulating the deep connection between artistry and faith. Beautiful.

The Bayern Agenda by Dan Moren

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Highly entertaining mixture of war adventure and sci-fi. Now I'm gonna have to read the rest of them.

Joel on Software by Avram Joel Spolsky

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I don't think I was reading Joel Spolsky's blog at the time these pieces were originally published, but it was close. The programming and computer technology he's talking about here is of course 20 years old and thus very dated, but his commentary on management and people dynamics is still spot-on and his writing is still entertaining.

Mindsight by Daniel J. Siegel

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Siegel is basically advocating a practice of mindfulness and emotional integration. The first half of the book is very solid, though it would've benefitted from getting rid of the foofy name. "Mindsight" makes it sound like a ridiculous pop self-help book. The second half of the book, primarily made up of case stories, is less interesting and beneficial.

Fundamentals of Software Architecture by Neal Ford

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A little bit of work reading. A great summary of common software architecture patterns, their strengths and weaknesses.

Unmasking Autism by Devon Price

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A fantastic primer on Autism writen by an Autistic man. Very helpful as a neurotypical person to better understand and support Autistics around me.

My Bright Abyss by Christian Wiman

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Some really stirring stuff here. I often struggle with poetry but Wiman hits a sweet spot of poetry along with elegant prose.

The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

On re-read: still one of the most inventive sci-fi books I've read. Liu explores what interaction with an alien race of immense technology might be like, working at the quantum level as well as the interstellar. The first half of the book struggles to get going, but once the reveal happens and the book includes the alien civilization, the story comes alive.

The Peaceable Kingdom by Stanley Hauerwas

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Maybe it's just a bit dated, but Hauerwas seems most focused here on non-violence among all the Christian ethic, and his heavy reliance on Yoder feels painful given what we now know about Yoder's personal conduct.

Sanctifying Interpretation by Chris E W Green

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

One of the most helpful theological books I've read in a long time. Green looks first at the Christian vocation for the sake of others, then at how Christians are called to holiness, and only then finally to how the Scripture may be interpreted in a way that works holiness within us for the sake of others. Really rich stuff, so much to chew on.

The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

On one hand, it feels like if I'm not rating a McCarthy book highly, it's a shortcoming on my part, not his. And yet it doens't feel like top-tier McCarthy. Still distinctly his voice, but not quite in the tier of his classics.

Heretic by Jeanna Kadlec

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

If there was ever a time for a 3.5 star rating, this is it. The writing is uneven in spots - the first chapter, and near the end. It gets tight and compelling when she starts describing her first queer relationship, and at the end when she talks about finding community and interacting with Jesus. In some ways I'm very close to this story. Heck, my city and my employer are name-checked (rather unnecessarily) in the book. And in other ways I'm not so close. (My departure from the evangelical church wasn't paired with any self-discovery about my sexuality.) What I resonate with here was the heartbreak of leaving the church, and what I jealously desire is the sense of community she has found in other places. (Will I ever find it?) For the certain sort of reader who needs to know that leaving church is OK, this book is a godsend. For others it may be less than compelling.

Reparations by Duke L. Kwon

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Meticulously researched and footnoted, two evangelical authors making an impassioned plea to their evangelical compatriots to acknowledge the history of white supremacy in the US and move toward repentance and reparations. The fact that it fell on deaf ears is not the fault of the authors.

Don't Cry for Me by Daniel Black

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A novel written as a series of letters from a black father to his son. There's a huge amount of trauma being worked out in this book, both by the characters in the story and by the author who is writing this, per the Author Note in the front, as his own imaginative work of healing in his relationship with his father who is dying of Alzheimers. There's a lot to think about with this one: generational and racial trauma, fathers and sons, hardened masculinity... even as a straight white man it'll have me thinking about my own father and how his and his father's upbringing impacted his parenting. Phew.

Agent Josephine by Damien Lewis

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

This book tried to be too long with too little source material. The author (a British journalist) was working from 3 short books written by primary characters in the story, and with so little material he leaves us with nothing about Baker's life before or after the war, and gives us large swaths of WWII history that have little to do with Baker. I get the sense from the book that Josephine Baker was a remarkable woman, and I'd like to read a better biography of her.

On The Soul and the Resurrection by Saint Gregory (of Nyssa)

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A lucid, short treatise from a 4th-century father. Very readable translation, too!

Dead Lions by Mick Herron

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Second book in the series, similar to the first. A little bit oblique, written with a little more style than your usual pop spy novel.

The Evolution of Knowledge by Jürgen Renn

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A thick book, Dr. Renn spends most of the time overviewing how human knowledge has accumulated over time. He spends frustratingly little time theorizing how those insights might lead us to think about the future. The "future" part is only about 15 pages at the end. I'm glad I read it just to stretch my brain, but I didn't come away from it with any deep thoughts about the future.

Out of the Embers by Bradley Jersak

Sat, 14 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Jersak describes the experience of spiritual deconstruction and the path through it to something better in gracious, loving terms. Rich in grace and wisdom, filled with the assurance of God's love, Jersak encourages those going through deconstruction to consider the words of (among others) Doystoevski and Simone Weil. The strongest bits of the book, though, are the first and third sections where he speaks pastorally to the challenged. Wonderful stuff.

Still Just a Geek by Wil Wheaton

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Wil Wheaton is one of those guys I just admire. He's been so open about his challenges with his parents, his mental health, his career... and equally so open about his love for his family and his care for others who struggle. His updated, annotated memoir is a combination of his old blog posts, narrative pulling it together, and copious, almost _Infinite Jest_-ian footnotes. It's a delight. Making me equally happy is Wil's assurance that Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Levar Burton, Michael Dorn, Brent Spiner, and so many more from the ST:TNG cast are, in reality, as good if not better people than the roles they played on TV.

Every Good Boy Does Fine by Jeremy Denk

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I love reading books by pianists. Mostly they remind me that while I'm a decent classical pianist, there's a long step between me and a real, serious concert pianist. Denk feels in some ways a little young to be writing a memoir like this. It's really about his learning the piano and a little bit about him learning about life and about himself. It's heavier on the piano teaching and technique than on the personal stuff, though the insights from his various teachers were interesting. I _do_ want to spend some time with the annotated appendix of referenced piano works to get familiar with some that are new to me.

The Last Agent by Robert Dugoni

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

An entertaining spy novel, a genre which I hadn't read in a while. Should've started with the first one but this one stood alone well enough. I'll go back to the first one now, though, and fill in the gap.

Slow Horses by Mick Herron

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Slow Horses.

Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right.

Changing Our Mind: Definitive 3rd Edition of the Landmark Call for Inclusion of LGBTQ Christians with Response to Critics by David P. Gushee

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Changing Our Mind: Definitive 3rd Edition of the Landmark Call for Inclusion of LGBTQ Christians with Response to Critics.

A Thicker Jesus by Glen H. Stassen

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Thicker Jesus.

Destined for Joy: The Gospel of Universal Salvation by Alvin F. Kimel

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Destined for Joy: The Gospel of Universal Salvation.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Prayer for the Crown-Shy.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Small Things Like These.

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Sea of Tranquility.

The Coffin Dancer by Jeffery Deaver

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Coffin Dancer.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Simply lovely and delightful. It’s somehow as if Wendell Berry started writing sci-fi short stories. I will be coming back to this one for sure.

The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila: A Biography by Carlos Eire

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila: A Biography.

The Blue Diamond by Leonard Goldberg

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Blue Diamond.

History and Eschatology: Jesus and the Promise of Natural Theology by N.T. Wright

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for History and Eschatology: Jesus and the Promise of Natural Theology.

Faith Victorious by Lennart Pinomaa

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Perhaps it’s a fair summary of Luther’s teaching, but the author fawns over Luther to the point it feels disgusting.

The Late Medieval English Church: Vitality and Vulnerability Before the Break with Rome by G.W. Bernard

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Late Medieval English Church: Vitality and Vulnerability Before the Break with Rome.

Love over Fear: Facing Monsters, Befriending Enemies, and Healing Our Polarized World by Dan White Jr.

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Love over Fear: Facing Monsters, Befriending Enemies, and Healing Our Polarized World.

The Dark Interval: Towards a Theology of Story by John Dominic Crossan

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Dark Interval: Towards a Theology of Story.

The Phoenix Project: A Novel about It, Devops, and Helping Your Business Win by Gene Kim

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

One step above the typical corporate training video; sort of a casual primer on lean thinking and DevOps. Michael Crichton would’ve made it a lot more interesting.

Once a Thief by Christopher Reich

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Once a Thief.

The Invention of Religion: Faith and Covenant in the Book of Exodus by Jan Assmann

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Invention of Religion: Faith and Covenant in the Book of Exodus.

This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us by Cole Arthur Riley

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us.

Having the Mind of Christ: Eight Axioms to Cultivate a Robust Faith by Matt Tebbe

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Having the Mind of Christ: Eight Axioms to Cultivate a Robust Faith.

Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb by Bradley Jersak

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Incarnation & Inclusion, Abba & Lamb.

Searching for the Oldest Stars: Ancient Relics from the Early Universe by Anna Frebel

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Searching for the Oldest Stars: Ancient Relics from the Early Universe.

Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks by Chris Herring

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks.

Let the Light In: Healing from Distorted Images of God by Colin McCartney

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A very readable, accessible summary of the deconstructed evangelicalism in the stream of Greg Boyd, Brian Zahnd, and Brad Jersak. This is the one to give a friend who is struggling with the inherent inconsistencies of popular evangelical teaching to provide a good introduction before diving into the deep end.

Salty: Lessons on Eating, Drinking, and Living from Revolutionary Women by Alissa Wilkinson

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Salty: Lessons on Eating, Drinking, and Living from Revolutionary Women.

How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible Others by T.M. Luhrmann

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible Others.

The Beatitudes through the Ages by Rebekah Eklund

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Beatitudes through the Ages.

White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism by Kevin M. Kruse

Mon, 30 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism.

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Sun, 29 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Deadly Education.

Everything Sad Is Untrue: (a true story) by Daniel Nayeri

Fri, 20 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Everything Sad Is Untrue: (a true story).

The Emergent Christ: Exploring the Meaning of Catholic in an Evolutionary Universe by Ilia Delio

Sat, 07 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Emergent Christ: Exploring the Meaning of Catholic in an Evolutionary Universe.

When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for When We Cease to Understand the World.

The Last Commandment by Scott Shepherd

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Last Commandment.

Do I Make Myself Clear? Why Writing Well Matters by Harold Evans

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Do I Make Myself Clear? Why Writing Well Matters.

Protestants Abroad: How Missionaries Tried to Change the World But Changed America by David A. Hollinger

Sat, 16 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Protestants Abroad: How Missionaries Tried to Change the World But Changed America.

Bible Nation: The United States of Hobby Lobby by Candida R. Moss

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Bible Nation: The United States of Hobby Lobby.

The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity.

A Different Kind of Animal: How Culture Transformed Our Species by Robert Boyd

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Different Kind of Animal: How Culture Transformed Our Species.

Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World by Tara Isabella Burton

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World.

Attached to God: A Practical Guide to Deeper Spiritual Experience by Krispin Mayfield

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Attached to God: A Practical Guide to Deeper Spiritual Experience.

The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Biography by John J. Collins

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Biography.

The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act by Isaac Butler

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act.

Belabored: A Vindication of the Rights of Pregnant Women by Lyz Lenz

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Belabored: A Vindication of the Rights of Pregnant Women.

The Joshua Generation: Israeli Occupation and the Bible by Rachel Havrelock

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

An interesting and yet odd little book.

Basic structure:
- Ch. 1 & 2: Overview of the Book of Joshua
- Ch. 3 & 4: How David Ben-Gurion led modern Israel to read Joshua in a way that cast Jewish settlers as the re-embodiment of Joshua and the Israelites, driving out the Canaanites.
- Conclusion: Excursus on the struggle between the Israelis and Palestinians for Palestinian access to fresh water, with two sentences at the end dreaming about a future where they give up the strife.

I enjoyed the book, especially chapters 3&4. I am fascinated by the idea that modern Israelis have used novel interpretations of the Bible to support their political cause in ways that seem very familiar to American evangelicals.

The conclusion seemed like a complete non sequitur, a tacked-on ending apparently important to the author but almost completely unrelated to the bulk of the book. I’m very surprised the editor allowed her to keep it.

Still worth a read for the main body of the book.

Fearful Symmetry: The Search for Beauty in Modern Physics by A. Zee

Sat, 05 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A little dated, but very readable.

Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith by Daniel Silliman

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Reading Evangelicals: How Christian Fiction Shaped a Culture and a Faith.

The Joy of Being Wrong: Original Sin Through Easter Eyes by James Alison

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Joy of Being Wrong: Original Sin Through Easter Eyes.

The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany by Susannah Heschel

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany.

The New Abolition: W. E. B. Du Bois and the Black Social Gospel by Gary J. Dorrien

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The New Abolition: W. E. B. Du Bois and the Black Social Gospel.

Happiness and Contemplation by Josef Pieper

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Happiness and Contemplation.

Lent by Jo Walton

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Lent.

Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church by Bridget Eileen Rivera

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church.

How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America.

Unthinkable by Brad Parks

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Unthinkable.

Music Is History by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Music Is History.

Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by Suketu Mehta

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found.

The Christian Church in the Cold War by Owen Chadwick

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Christian Church in the Cold War.

Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Red Storm Rising.

Firefly by Henry Porter

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Firefly.

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Memory Called Empire.

The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love by Ilia Delio

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love.

Margaret the First by Danielle Dutton

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Margaret the First.

African Hermeneutics by Elizabeth Mburu

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A basic evangelical hermeneutics book. I was expecting more “African” thought than was here. A little disappointed in the first chapter when the author says that Christianity has only been in Africa for 100 years. Such a limited view of Christianity!

The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Order of Time.

Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison Warren

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep.

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride.

Jesus of the East: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded by Phuc Luu

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Jesus of the East: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded.

Time Siege by Wesley Chu

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Time Siege.

Live Through This: Surviving the Intersections of Sexuality, God, and Race by Clay Cane

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Live Through This: Surviving the Intersections of Sexuality, God, and Race.

Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance by Noam Chomsky

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance.

All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for All About Love: New Visions.

Time Salvager by Wesley Chu

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Time Salvager.

The Right to Sex: Feminism in the Twenty-First Century by Amia Srinivasan

Sat, 09 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Right to Sex: Feminism in the Twenty-First Century.

Awaiting God: A New Translation of Attente de Dieu and Lettre a Un Religieux by Simone Weil

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Awaiting God: A New Translation of Attente de Dieu and Lettre a Un Religieux.

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus: How the Sacrifice of Jesus Saves the World from Sin by J.D. Myers

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Nothing but the Blood of Jesus: How the Sacrifice of Jesus Saves the World from Sin.

The Quiet Boy by Ben H. Winters

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Quiet Boy.

Theology of The Womb by Christy Angelle Bauman

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Theology of The Womb.

The Painter by Peter Heller

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Painter.

My Life with the Saints by James Martin

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for My Life with the Saints.

Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion by Sara Miles

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion.

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Sparrow.

The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Miller

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self.

Disability and the Way of Jesus: Holistic Healing in the Gospels and the Church by Bethany McKinney Fox

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Disability and the Way of Jesus: Holistic Healing in the Gospels and the Church.

A More Christlike Word: Reading Scripture the Emmaus Way by Bradley Jersak

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A More Christlike Word: Reading Scripture the Emmaus Way.

The Violence of Love by Oscar A. Romero

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Violence of Love.

Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality by Rachel Joy Welcher

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

As someone who grew up in 1990’s evangelical purity culture, this book is such a breath of fresh air. It’s a call to reconsider so many unhealthy messages and dynamics purity culture created, and to live a life of wisdom and discernment in community.

While the author remains more conservative than I do on several of these topics, I would happily put this book over and over in the hands of its target audience: members of the evangelical culture I grew up in.

How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace by Melissa Florer-Bixler

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace.

The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory by Brian Greene

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory.

Where Mortals Dwell: A Christian View of Place for Today by Craig G. Bartholomew

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Parts 1 (scriptural overview) and 2 (western Christian tradition) almost unbearably dry. Part 3 (application for today) almost makes up for the first two parts.

The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Scorpion's Tail.

The Just City by Jo Walton

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Just City.

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Ruin and Rising.

The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction by Justin Whitmel Earley

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Siege and Storm.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Shadow and Bone.

Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church by Diane Langberg

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church.

The Heap by Sean Adams

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Heap.

The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Windsor Knot.

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Promised Land.

Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Rogue Protocol.

The New Copernicans: Understanding the Millennial Contribution to the Church by David John Seel Jr.

Sun, 30 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The New Copernicans: Understanding the Millennial Contribution to the Church.

Blindsight by Peter Watts

Fri, 28 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Blindsight.

Native Americans and the Christian Right: The Gendered Politics of Unlikely Alliances by Andrea Lee Smith

Thu, 27 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Native Americans and the Christian Right: The Gendered Politics of Unlikely Alliances.

Space Station Down by Ben Bova

Sun, 09 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Space Station Down.

Latina Evangélicas: A Theological Survey from the Margins by Loida I. Martell-Otero

Sat, 08 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Latina Evangélicas: A Theological Survey from the Margins.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Tue, 04 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for All Systems Red.

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

Mon, 03 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Artificial Condition.

Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible by John H. Walton

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament: Introducing the Conceptual World of the Hebrew Bible.

The Parade by Dave Eggers

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Parade.

The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth.

Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church by Barbara A. Holmes

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church.

Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Confessions of a Public Speaker.

Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God by Kaitlin B. Curtice

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God.

The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation by Michel Hendricks

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation.

My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Mending of Our Bodies and Hearts by Resmaa Menakem

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Mending of Our Bodies and Hearts.

The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Hunt for Red October.

The Visioneers: How a Group of Elite Scientists Pursued Space Colonies, Nanotechnologies, and a Limitless Future by W. Patrick McCray

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Only 8 years old and yet it feels quite dated. Technology moves fast.

No Home Like Place: A Christian Theology of Place by Leonard Hjalmarson

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for No Home Like Place: A Christian Theology of Place.

Queer Theology: Beyond Apologetics by Linn Marie Tonstad

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Queer Theology: Beyond Apologetics.

Womanist Midrash by Wilda C. Gafney

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Womanist Midrash.

Dawn by Octavia E. Butler

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Dawn.

A History of Narrative Film by David A. Cook

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A History of Narrative Film.

Aircraft Safety: Accident Investigations, Analyses, & Applications by Shari Stamford Krause

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Aircraft Safety: Accident Investigations, Analyses, & Applications.

Every Scene By Heart: A Camino de Santiago Memoir by Peri Zahnd

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Every Scene By Heart: A Camino de Santiago Memoir.

Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision by Randy Woodley

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision.

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Transcendent Kingdom.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Stargirl.

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for How to Be an Antiracist.

Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Dark Sacred Night.

A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Children's Bible.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Piranesi.

I Bring the Voices of My People: A Womanist Vision for Racial Reconciliation by Chanequa Walker-Barnes

Sat, 26 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for I Bring the Voices of My People: A Womanist Vision for Racial Reconciliation.

The Book of Common Prayer: A Biography by Alan Jacobs

Sat, 19 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Book of Common Prayer: A Biography.

Collision on Tenerife: The How and Why of the World's Worst Aviation Disaster by Jon Ziomek

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Collision on Tenerife: The How and Why of the World's Worst Aviation Disaster.

Normal Accidents: Living with High-Risk Technologies by Charles Perrow

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Normal Accidents: Living with High-Risk Technologies.

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Sing, Unburied, Sing.

A Divided Spy by Charles Cumming

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Divided Spy.

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.

Mount Athos: Renewal in Paradise by Graham Speake

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Mount Athos: Renewal in Paradise.

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction.

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ by Peter Scazzero

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ.

Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery by Mark Charles

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery.

The Nonviolent Atonement by J. Denny Weaver

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Nonviolent Atonement.

The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett

Sat, 17 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Colour of Magic.

A Colder War by Charles Cumming

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Colder War.

A Foreign Country by Charles Cumming

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Foreign Country.

Real Life by Brandon Taylor

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Real Life.

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon by Rebecca West

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Black Lamb and Grey Falcon.

Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States by Andrew L. Whitehead

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States.

Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration by Pope Benedict XVI

Sat, 12 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration.

The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians by N.T. Wright

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians.

The Mystery of Christ... and Why We Don't Get It by Robert Farrar Capon

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Mystery of Christ... and Why We Don't Get It.

The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Lock Artist.

A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian D. McLaren

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Generous Orthodoxy.

Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith.

Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination by Walter Wink

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination.

The Monks of Mount Athos: A Western Monks Extraordinary Spiritual Journey on Eastern Holy Ground by M. Basil Pennington

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Monks of Mount Athos: A Western Monks Extraordinary Spiritual Journey on Eastern Holy Ground.

The Crucifixion of the Warrior God: Interpreting the Old Testament's Violent Portraits of God in Light of the Cross, Volume 1 & 2 by Gregory A. Boyd

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Crucifixion of the Warrior God: Interpreting the Old Testament's Violent Portraits of God in Light of the Cross, Volume 1 & 2.

Into the Silent Land: The Practice of Contemplation by Martin Laird

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Into the Silent Land: The Practice of Contemplation.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Gideon the Ninth.

The Power by Naomi Alderman

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Power.

The Spirituality of the Cross by Gene Edward Veith Jr.

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Spirituality of the Cross.

Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974 by Kevin M. Kruse

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974.

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Glass Hotel.

Reinventing Liberal Christianity by Theo Hobson

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Reinventing Liberal Christianity.

Karl Barth: An Introductory Biography for Evangelicals by Mark Galli

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Karl Barth: An Introductory Biography for Evangelicals.

Approaching the End: Eschatological Reflections on Church, Politics, and Life by Stanley Hauerwas

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Approaching the End: Eschatological Reflections on Church, Politics, and Life.

Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré

Mon, 18 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Agent Running in the Field.

Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World.

Being Human: Bodies, Minds, Persons by Rowan Williams

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Being Human: Bodies, Minds, Persons.

Hi Five by Joe Ide

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hi Five.

With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman by Howard Thurman

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for With Head and Heart: The Autobiography of Howard Thurman.

The Night Agent by Matthew Quirk

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Night Agent.

Without Precedent: Chief Justice John Marshall and His Times by Joel Richard Paul

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Without Precedent: Chief Justice John Marshall and His Times.

Rosewater by Tade Thompson

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Rosewater.

Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson

Sat, 21 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making.

The Community of God: A Theology of the Church From a Reluctant Pastor by Douglas S. Bursch

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Community of God: A Theology of the Church From a Reluctant Pastor.

The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir by Samantha Power

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Excellent, readable memoir from a fascinating and remarkable woman.

Invasive by Chuck Wendig

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Invasive.

Fall or, Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson

Sat, 14 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Fall or, Dodge in Hell.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for This Is How You Lose the Time War.

A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir by Thomas C. Oden

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Ninth House.

Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and Listening by Christopher Small

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and Listening.

Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets by Svetlana Alexievich

Sat, 22 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets.

Lilith by George MacDonald

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Lilith.

That All Shall Be Saved: Heaven, Hell, and Universal Salvation by David Bentley Hart

Sat, 08 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for That All Shall Be Saved: Heaven, Hell, and Universal Salvation.

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Children of Time.

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Sat, 25 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Recursion.

A Secular Age by Charles Taylor

Fri, 24 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Secular Age.

Hannah's Child: A Theologian's Memoir by Stanley Hauerwas

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hannah's Child: A Theologian's Memoir.

Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour

Sat, 28 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood.

Supernova Era by Liu Cixin

Sat, 28 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Supernova Era.

Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Jesus and the Disinherited.

The Interpretation of the New Testament, 1861-1986 by Stephen Neill

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Interpretation of the New Testament, 1861-1986.

The Warehouse by Rob Hart

Sat, 14 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Warehouse.

The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity by Mark A. Noll

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity.

Change Agent by Daniel Suarez

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Change Agent.

The Death of the Messiah and the Birth of the New Covenant: A (Not So) New Model of the Atonement by Michael J. Gorman

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Death of the Messiah and the Birth of the New Covenant: A (Not So) New Model of the Atonement.

Watchmen by Alan Moore

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Watchmen.

The Fifth Column by Andrew Gross

Sat, 16 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Fifth Column.

Letters to a Young Catholic by George Weigel

Sat, 16 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Letters to a Young Catholic.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Scythe.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Sat, 09 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Pachinko.

American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

Sat, 02 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for American Spy.

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Overstory.

The Kremlin Strike by Dale Brown

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Kremlin Strike.

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Noughts & Crosses.

Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor by Jana Riess

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor.

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Man's Search for Meaning.

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place.

In the Shelter: Finding a Home in the World by Pádraig Ó Tuama

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for In the Shelter: Finding a Home in the World.

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Michael Crichton meets Stephen King... best page turner I’ve read in a long while.

Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 2001-2016 by Steve Coll

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America's Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 2001-2016.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Sat, 28 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Short History of Nearly Everything.

A High View of Scripture?: The Authority of the Bible and the Formation of the New Testament Canon by Craig D. Allert

Sat, 21 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A High View of Scripture?: The Authority of the Bible and the Formation of the New Testament Canon.

Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America by Chris Arnade

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America.

What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics by Rachael Denhollander

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics.

Stokely: A Life by Peniel E. Joseph

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Stokely: A Life.

The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity by Kallistos Ware

Sat, 07 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity.

Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson

Sat, 31 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Alif the Unseen.

The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race by Willie James Jennings

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race.

The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson

Sat, 24 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Bird King.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Normal People.

Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire by Scot McKnight

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire.

Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Laurus.

Last Day by Domenica Ruta

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Last Day.

God Land: A Story of Faith, Loss, and Renewal in Middle America by Lyz Lenz

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

God Land is an insightful and challenging critique of Christianity in Middle America. Lyz Lenz clearly still loves her Midwestern home, but laments that the predominant Christian voices are conflating Republicanism, gun culture, and male-only leadership with the message of Jesus.

God Land doesn't try to paint an overly cheery "we just shouldn't let politics divide us" picture. Lenz's own story illustrates how divisive these issues can be on a personal level. She doesn't pull punches as she recounts the end of her marriage, leaving one church, having a church plant die, and her struggles to find supportive community.

God Land's clear affection for Middle America and portraits of small-town Americans combined with Lenz' beautiful prose and painfully honest diagnosis make it a must-read in 2019 America.

The Inner Kingdom by Kallistos Ware

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Inner Kingdom.

On The Neurobiology of Sin by Lazar Puhalo

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Not exactly sure what Puhalo is working to accomplish with this little book. The bulk of it is spent describing the genetic causes of transgender, homosexual, and asexual conditions. Not quite a scientific treatise, nor quite a theological one. He needs a third section to the book to explain the “so what?” from a theological perspective.

Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Palace Walk.

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt: The History of a Civilisation from 3000 BC to Cleopatra by Toby Wilkinson

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt: The History of a Civilisation from 3000 BC to Cleopatra.

My Ántonia by Willa Cather

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for My Ántonia.

The Rule of Law by John Lescroart

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Rule of Law.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Sat, 13 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Americanah.

Anointed with Oil: How Christianity and Crude Made Modern America by Darren Dochuk

Thu, 11 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Anointed with Oil: How Christianity and Crude Made Modern America.

How to Forget: A Daughter's Memoir by Kate Mulgrew

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for How to Forget: A Daughter's Memoir.

God in the Rainforest: A Tale of Martyrdom and Redemption in Amazonian Ecuador by Kathryn T. Long

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for God in the Rainforest: A Tale of Martyrdom and Redemption in Amazonian Ecuador.

The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Song of the Lark.

Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostle's Vision for Men and Women in Christ by Cynthia Long Westfall

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostle's Vision for Men and Women in Christ.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch.

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore

Tue, 28 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women.

A Song for Nagasaki: The Story of Takashi Nagai: Scientist, Convert, and Survivor of the Atomic Bomb by Paul Glynn

Sun, 26 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Song for Nagasaki: The Story of Takashi Nagai: Scientist, Convert, and Survivor of the Atomic Bomb.

Dette livet eller det neste by Demian Vitanza

Sat, 25 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Dette livet eller det neste.

Talent by Juliet Lapidos

Sat, 18 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Talent.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Sat, 18 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by E. Randolph Richards

Mon, 13 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible.

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

Fri, 10 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for O Pioneers!.

Mission Critical by Mark Greaney

Tue, 07 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Mission Critical.

Golden State by Ben H. Winters

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Golden State.

Flee, Be Silent, Pray: An Anxious Evangelical Finds Peace with God through Contemplative Prayer by Ed Cyzewski

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Flee, Be Silent, Pray: An Anxious Evangelical Finds Peace with God through Contemplative Prayer.

All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for All You Can Ever Know.

Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock by Gregory Alan Thornbury

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock.

Zoo Nebraska: The Dismantling of an American Dream by Carson Vaughan

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Zoo Nebraska: The Dismantling of an American Dream.

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Prayer for Owen Meany.

Paul: A Biography by N.T. Wright

Sat, 23 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Paul: A Biography.

Benefit of the Doubt: Breaking the Idol of Certainty by Gregory A. Boyd

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Benefit of the Doubt: Breaking the Idol of Certainty.

Reconstructing the Gospel: Finding Freedom from Slaveholder Religion by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Reconstructing the Gospel: Finding Freedom from Slaveholder Religion.

The Text of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Biblia Hebraica by Ernst Würthwein

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Text of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Biblia Hebraica.

Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Rogue Lawyer.

My Traitor's Heart: A South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe, and His Conscience by Rian Malan

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for My Traitor's Heart: A South African Exile Returns to Face His Country, His Tribe, and His Conscience.

Radical Technologies: The Design of Everyday Life by Adam Greenfield

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Radical Technologies: The Design of Everyday Life.

We Need Each Other: Responding to God's Call to Live Together by Jean Vanier

Sat, 02 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for We Need Each Other: Responding to God's Call to Live Together.

The Feral Detective by Jonathan Lethem

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Feral Detective.

Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years.

Becoming the Gospel: Paul, Participation, and Mission by Michael J. Gorman

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Becoming the Gospel: Paul, Participation, and Mission.

The Killer Collective by Barry Eisler

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Killer Collective.

The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby

Sat, 26 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

An excellent overview of the history of the American church’s compromise with racism. Should be mandatory reading in evangelical churches across the country.

Virgil Wander by Leif Enger

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Virgil Wander.

Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World by Nicholas Ostler

Sat, 12 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World.

Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

Sat, 05 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Fruit of the Drunken Tree.

All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment by Hannah Anderson

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Uprooted.

Breach by W.L. Goodwater

Tue, 25 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Breach.

The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Cross and the Lynching Tree.

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Calculating Stars.

Street Freaks by Terry Brooks

Sat, 08 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Street Freaks.

Denmark Vesey by David M. Robertson

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Denmark Vesey.

One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America by Kevin M. Kruse

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America.

The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium by Walter Wink

Fri, 23 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium.

Who Wrote the Bible? by Richard Elliott Friedman

Sun, 18 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Who Wrote the Bible?.

The History of Jazz by Ted Gioia

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The History of Jazz.

The Oracle Year by Charles Soule

Sat, 03 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Oracle Year.

The Golden State by Lydia Kiesling

Sat, 27 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Golden State.

Salvation by Allegiance Alone: Rethinking Faith, Works, and the Gospel of Jesus the King by Matthew W. Bates

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Salvation by Allegiance Alone: Rethinking Faith, Works, and the Gospel of Jesus the King.

Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses by Bruce Feiler

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses.

Paul Simon: The Life by Robert Hilburn

Sat, 13 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Paul Simon: The Life.

Nomad by James Swallow

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Nomad.

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Washington Black.

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall

Fri, 05 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World.

The Party Faithful: How and Why Democrats Are Closing the God Gap by Amy Sullivan

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Party Faithful: How and Why Democrats Are Closing the God Gap.

The Feed by Nick Clark Windo

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Feed.

The Hellfire Club by Jake Tapper

Sat, 29 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Hellfire Club.

Ball Lightning by Liu Cixin

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Ball Lightning.

Ohio by Stephen Markley

Sun, 09 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Ohio.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Ancillary Justice.

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Crimson Petal and the White.

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Fire Next Time.

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Salt: A World History.

Adjustment Day by Chuck Palahniuk

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Adjustment Day.

Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Ninefox Gambit.

A More Christlike God: A More Beautiful Gospel by Bradley Jersak

Fri, 13 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A More Christlike God: A More Beautiful Gospel.

Eisenhower vs. Warren: The Battle for Civil Rights and Liberties by James F. Simon

Tue, 03 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Eisenhower vs. Warren: The Battle for Civil Rights and Liberties.

Bed and Board: Plain Talk about Marriage by Robert Farrar Capon

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Bed and Board: Plain Talk about Marriage.

The Patient Ferment of the Early Church: The Improbable Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire by Alan Kreider

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Patient Ferment of the Early Church: The Improbable Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Warning Light by David Ricciardi

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Warning Light.

How Right You Are, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for How Right You Are, Jeeves.

On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books by Karen Swallow Prior

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books.

Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution by Kenneth R. Miller

Sun, 03 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution.

The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton by Michael Mott

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton.

Head On by John Scalzi

Tue, 22 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Head On.

The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe

Sun, 20 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Right Stuff.

The Deceivers by Alex Berenson

Wed, 16 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Deceivers.

The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of the Classical World by Catherine Nixey

Tue, 08 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of the Classical World.

The Night Trade by Barry Eisler

Sun, 06 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Night Trade.

Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith by Richard J. Foster

Fri, 04 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith.

Educated by Tara Westover

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Educated.

What Are We Doing Here? by Marilynne Robinson

Fri, 20 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for What Are We Doing Here?.

City of Endless Night by Douglas Preston

Sun, 08 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for City of Endless Night.

The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve by Stephen Greenblatt

Sat, 07 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Rise and Fall of Adam and Eve.

Kangaroo Too by Curtis C. Chen

Fri, 06 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Kangaroo Too.

Disruptive Witness by Alan Noble

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Disruptive Witness.

Immeasurable: Reflections on the Soul of Ministry in the Age of Church, Inc. by Skye Jethani

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Immeasurable: Reflections on the Soul of Ministry in the Age of Church, Inc..

Traitor: A Thriller by Jonathan de Shalit

Sat, 31 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Traitor: A Thriller.

Waypoint Kangaroo by Curtis C. Chen

Sat, 24 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Waypoint Kangaroo.

Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable

Sun, 18 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention.

Crimes of the Father by Thomas Keneally

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Crimes of the Father.

We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights by Adam Winkler

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights.

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

Sat, 10 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for An Unkindness of Ghosts.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for 1Q84.

House of Spies by Daniel Silva

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for House of Spies.

The People Are Going to Rise Like the Waters Upon Your Shore: A Story of American Rage by Jared Yates Sexton

Sat, 17 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The People Are Going to Rise Like the Waters Upon Your Shore: A Story of American Rage.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Gentleman in Moscow.

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 L. McGuire

Sun, 04 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for 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.

Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa by Haruki Murakami

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa.

Death Before the Fall: Biblical Literalism and the Problem of Animal Suffering by Ronald E. Osborn

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Death Before the Fall: Biblical Literalism and the Problem of Animal Suffering.

The Take by Christopher Reich

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Take.

To Sin Against Hope: Life and Politics on the Borderland by Alfredo Gutierrez

Sat, 13 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for To Sin Against Hope: Life and Politics on the Borderland.

Breeder by K.B. Hoyle

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Breeder.

Slow Church: Cultivating Community in the Patient Way of Jesus by C. Christopher Smith

Sun, 07 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Slow Church: Cultivating Community in the Patient Way of Jesus.

Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works by James K.A. Smith

Sun, 07 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works.

The Bomb Maker by Thomas Perry

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Bomb Maker.

The Punch Escrow by Tal M. Klein

Sat, 30 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Punch Escrow.

The Quantum Spy by David Ignatius

Tue, 26 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Quantum Spy.

How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds by Alan Jacobs

Mon, 25 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for How to Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds.

The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency by Chris Whipple

Sat, 23 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency.

Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News by Brian Zahnd

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Zahnd’s response to the Puritan and Calvinist view of a wrathful God. He paints with broad strokes, but his overall argument is compelling. If you’ve listened to his sermons over the past couple years this content will sound very familiar.

The Force by Don Winslow

Sun, 17 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Force.

Nevertheless by Alec Baldwin

Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Nevertheless.

The Dark Net by Benjamin Percy

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Dark Net.

Spiritual Radical: Abraham Joshua Heschel in America, 1940-1972 by Edward K. Kaplan

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Spiritual Radical: Abraham Joshua Heschel in America, 1940-1972.

Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

Sat, 09 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Over Sea, Under Stone.

A History of Modern Palestine: One Land, Two Peoples by Ilan Pappé

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

An even-handed 20th century history of Palestine. Very readable and engaging.

The Berlin Project by Gregory Benford

Thu, 23 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Fascinating alt-history of the Manhattan Project and WWII written by a nuclear scientist with first-hand knowledge of many of the characters in the book. The line between fact and fiction feels blurry for quite a while before things clearly move to the “alt”.

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Sun, 12 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Boneshaker.

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

Sat, 11 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for City of Stairs.

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson

Thu, 19 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O..

Point of Contact by Mike Maden

Sun, 15 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Point of Contact.

Price of Duty by Dale Brown

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Price of Duty.

The Switch by Joseph Finder

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Switch.

Abraham Joshua Heschel: Prophetic Witness by Edward K. Kaplan

Sat, 30 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Abraham Joshua Heschel: Prophetic Witness.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Parable of the Sower.

Khrushchev: The Man and His Era by William Taubman

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Khrushchev: The Man and His Era.

The Art of Curating Worship: Reshaping the Role of Worship Leader by Mark Pierson

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Made me think more about the intent of worship and planning for it than any book I’ve read in a while. Good stuff.

A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story by Diana Butler Bass

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story.

Getting Religion: Faith, Culture & Politics from the Age of Eisenhower to the Era of Obama by Kenneth L. Woodward

Fri, 25 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Getting Religion: Faith, Culture & Politics from the Age of Eisenhower to the Era of Obama.

A Colony in a Nation by Chris Hayes

Sun, 20 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A fair description of the problems of an uneven system of policing and justice in America. No real clear proposed solutions, but sometimes just clearly describing the problem is a sufficient start.

The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II by Svetlana Alexievich

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Brutal, heartbreaking oral history of Soviet women who fought in WW2. Hard to fathom but painfully detailed. War is hell.

Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony by Richard Bauckham

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony.

Movies Are Prayers: How Films Voice Our Deepest Longings by Josh Larsen

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Movies Are Prayers: How Films Voice Our Deepest Longings.

The Doors of the Sea: Where Was God in the Tsunami? by David Bentley Hart

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Doors of the Sea: Where Was God in the Tsunami?.

The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough

Fri, 21 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris.

Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic by Sam Quinones

Sat, 15 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Thu, 13 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet.

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

Sat, 08 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Dry reading but the facts themselves are brutal.

Walkaway by Cory Doctorow

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Walkaway.

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.

The Givenness of Things: Essays by Marilynne Robinson

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Givenness of Things: Essays.

People to Be Loved: Why Homosexuality Is Not Just an Issue by Preston Sprinkle

Sun, 18 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for People to Be Loved: Why Homosexuality Is Not Just an Issue.

The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can't Get Their Act Together by Jared C. Wilson

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can't Get Their Act Together.

Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman Ohler

Fri, 26 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich.

The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova

Sun, 21 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Shadow Land.

Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren

Sun, 30 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life.

Boeing Versus Airbus: The Inside Story of the Greatest International Competition in Business by John Newhouse

Sat, 29 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Boeing Versus Airbus: The Inside Story of the Greatest International Competition in Business.

Dorothy Day; The World Will Be Saved By Beauty: An Intimate Portrait of Dorothy Day by Kate Hennessy

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Disappointing. Maybe if you're already familiar with Dorothy Day this is a good insight into her home life and family. But if (like me) you knew nothing about Day coming in, there's precious little explanation of what she did or how she became such a revered figure.

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Born to Run.

The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan

Sat, 15 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Silk Roads: A New History of the World.

The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science by Julie Des Jardins

Sun, 09 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science.

Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines That Shape the Church for Mission by David E. Fitch

Sun, 02 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines That Shape the Church for Mission.

A Natural History of the Piano: The Instrument, the Music, the Musicians--from Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between by Stuart Isacoff

Sat, 25 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Natural History of the Piano: The Instrument, the Music, the Musicians--from Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

Thu, 23 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Before the Fall.

The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus's Crucifixion by N.T. Wright

Sun, 19 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus's Crucifixion.

Dune by Frank Herbert

Sun, 12 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Dune.

Last Year by Robert Charles Wilson

Thu, 09 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Interesting premise, solid execution. Entertaining story.

The Believer by Joakim Zander

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Well, *that* was timely enough to be a little scary.

City of Dreams: The 400-Year Epic History of Immigrant New York by Tyler Anbinder

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for City of Dreams: The 400-Year Epic History of Immigrant New York.

The Big Screen: The Story of the Movies by David Thomson

Sat, 25 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Big Screen: The Story of the Movies.

Now: The Physics of Time by Richard A. Muller

Sun, 12 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Now: The Physics of Time.

A Wretched and Precarious Situation: In Search of the Last Arctic Frontier by David Welky

Sat, 11 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Wretched and Precarious Situation: In Search of the Last Arctic Frontier.

Instrumental: A Memoir of Madness, Medication, and Music by James Rhodes

Sat, 11 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Man, that was intense.

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion.

The Whistler by John Grisham

Sat, 04 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Whistler.

Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House about the Future of Faith in America by Michael Wear

Sat, 28 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House about the Future of Faith in America.

Bounty by Michael Byrnes

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Bounty.

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

Thu, 19 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Zinn is clearly not trying to be evenhanded, but this volume is a great counterbalance to any standard American history. Engagingly written, still timely.

Introduction to the Old Testament by J. Alberto Soggin

Sun, 15 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Introduction to the Old Testament.

How to Survive a Shipwreck: Help Is on the Way and Love Is Already Here by Jonathan Martin

Thu, 12 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for How to Survive a Shipwreck: Help Is on the Way and Love Is Already Here.

Broken Trust by W.E.B. Griffin

Sat, 07 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Griffin continues to drag out his series. An entertaining story, but really just a light afternoon read.

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America.

The Black Widow by Daniel Silva

Thu, 29 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Black Widow.

Earth Awakens by Orson Scott Card

Mon, 26 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Earth Awakens.

Earth Afire by Orson Scott Card

Fri, 23 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Earth Afire.

Earth Unaware by Orson Scott Card

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Earth Unaware.

Redemption Road by John Hart

Sun, 18 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Redemption Road.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Part multiverse sci-fi, part thriller. Neither part quite fleshed out enough to be satisfying. Not bad, but not great either.

This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer

Tue, 13 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A fitting conclusion to the series. Archer is a master storyteller.

The Big Sheep by Robert Kroese

Fri, 25 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Quick and entertaining, but takes a long time in the setup and packs all the interesting stuff into the last 20% of the book.

Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Charles Marsh

Thu, 24 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

The Story of Christianity by David Bentley Hart

Sat, 12 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Story of Christianity.

On a Farther Shore: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson, Author of Silent Spring by William Souder

Sat, 12 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for On a Farther Shore: The Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson, Author of Silent Spring.

Death's End by Liu Cixin

Thu, 10 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Death's End.

Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II by George Weigel

Wed, 26 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II.

True Believer: Stalin’s Last American Spy by Kati Marton

Sun, 02 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for True Believer: Stalin’s Last American Spy.

Reviving Old Scratch: Demons and the Devil for Doubters and the Disenchanted by Richard Beck

Sat, 01 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Wonderful insights from Beck on what spiritual warfare looks like, and on how we can live to resist the devil by acts of love toward our neighbor. The last chapter was worth the price all by itself.

Stiletto by Daniel O'Malley

Wed, 28 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Stiletto.

Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters

Tue, 13 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Excellent story, in a combination of alt history and thriller. The end happens a little bit quickly but for such a well-thought-out universe I am forgive that.

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

Sun, 11 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Jayber Crow.

The Race by Nina Allan

Sun, 04 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Race.

Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Archer

Sat, 03 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Cometh the Hour.

The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment by Edward Fudge

Wed, 31 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A bit dated, but thorough, workmanlike and persuasive.

Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

If you can accept the central premise of the book, it's an entertaining story.

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

Thu, 18 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.

Shadow War by Sean McFate

Mon, 08 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Shadow War.

The Christian Tradition 1: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition 100-600 by Jaroslav Pelikan

Sat, 06 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Christian Tradition 1: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition 100-600.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.

Sun, 24 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Canticle for Leibowitz.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Thu, 21 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Wee Free Men.

How to Survive the Apocalypse: Zombies, Cylons, Faith, and Politics at the End of the World by Robert J. Joustra

Sun, 17 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for How to Survive the Apocalypse: Zombies, Cylons, Faith, and Politics at the End of the World.

The Warmth of Other Suns: the Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

Sat, 09 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Warmth of Other Suns: the Epic Story of America's Great Migration.

Infomocracy by Malka Ann Older

Sun, 03 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Infomocracy.

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hyperion.

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies.

Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton

Wed, 22 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Humans of New York: Stories.

Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Whose Body?.

You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith

Sun, 12 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit.

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman

Fri, 10 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P..

Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Fri, 10 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hamilton: The Revolution.

The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding by Robert Hughes

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding.

Shaker by Scott Frank

Sun, 29 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Shaker.

Porcelain: A Memoir by Moby

Thu, 26 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Vignette after vignette of a searching life. So empty. Really sad.

The Ottoman Endgame: War, Revolution, and the Making of the Modern Middle East, 1908 - 1923 by Sean McMeekin

Wed, 18 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Ottoman Endgame: War, Revolution, and the Making of the Modern Middle East, 1908 - 1923.

Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes

Tue, 10 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Look Who's Back.

Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation by Michael J. Gorman

Sat, 07 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation.

An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor

Fri, 06 May 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith.

Orphan X by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz

Sat, 30 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Orphan X.

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for No Country for Old Men.

Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini

Sun, 24 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology.

The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann

Sat, 23 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Prophetic Imagination.

Scalia Dissents: Writings of the Supreme Court's Wittiest, Most Outspoken Justice by Antonin Scalia

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Extra star for Scalia's wit and verve; almost took that star back for the authors fawning introduction and conclusion.

Version Control by Dexter Palmer

Sun, 17 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Version Control.

Beauty Will Save the World: Rediscovering the Allure and Mystery of Christianity by Brian Zahnd

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Beauty Will Save the World: Rediscovering the Allure and Mystery of Christianity.

The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It by Peter Enns

Sat, 09 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It.

The Rising by Ian Tregillis

Mon, 04 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Rising.

Quantum Night by Robert J. Sawyer

Sat, 26 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Quantum Night.

Partners in Christ: A Conservative Case for Egalitarianism by John G. Stackhouse Jr.

Sun, 20 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Partners in Christ: A Conservative Case for Egalitarianism.

The Christian Tradition 2: The Spirit of Eastern Christendom 600-1700 by Jaroslav Pelikan

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Christian Tradition 2: The Spirit of Eastern Christendom 600-1700.

Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet by Katie Hafner

Sat, 19 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet.

The Bone Labyrinth by James Rollins

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Bone Labyrinth.

Man Enough: How Jesus Redefines Manhood by Nate Pyle

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Man Enough: How Jesus Redefines Manhood.

The Mechanical by Ian Tregillis

Sun, 06 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Mechanical.

Water To Wine: Some of My Story by Brian Zahnd

Thu, 25 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Water To Wine: Some of My Story.

The Perfect Theory: A Century of Geniuses and the Battle over General Relativity by Pedro G. Ferreira

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Perfect Theory: A Century of Geniuses and the Battle over General Relativity.

Deadly Assets by W.E.B. Griffin

Sat, 20 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Deadly Assets.

Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety by Eric Schlosser

Wed, 17 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety.

The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord

Sun, 14 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Best of All Possible Worlds.

The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder

Wed, 10 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Soul of a New Machine.

Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda R. Hirshman

Mon, 08 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Quite interesting when it provides a historical record of the first two female Supreme Court justices. But the author is not content to simply record history; she insists on moralizing all the way through. This gets quite tiresome, especially in the last quarter of the book.

Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties by Elijah Wald

Sat, 06 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties.

Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Wed, 03 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People.

Saved from Sacrifice: A Theology of the Cross by S. Mark Heim

Tue, 02 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Saved from Sacrifice: A Theology of the Cross.

Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America by Patrick J. Carr

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hollowing Out the Middle: The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for All the Light We Cannot See.

The Type B Manager: Leading Successfully in a Type A World by Victor Lipman

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Type B Manager: Leading Successfully in a Type A World.

How to Watch a Movie by David Thomson

Tue, 05 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A rather pretentious discussion of the art of moviemaking and what we should look for as we watch movies. Not too hard to get through but feels very snobby.

Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution by Steven Levy

Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution.

Saturn Run by John Sandford

Thu, 31 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Saturn Run.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Tue, 29 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Alexander Hamilton.

Werewolf Cop by Andrew Klavan

Tue, 22 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Werewolf Cop.

The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics by Barton Swaim

Sun, 20 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Speechwriter: A Brief Education in Politics.

Dark Corners by Ruth Rendell

Sun, 20 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Dark Corners.

Pacific: The Ocean of the Future by Simon Winchester

Thu, 17 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Pacific: The Ocean of the Future.

The Court and the World: American Law and the New Global Realities by Stephen G. Breyer

Sun, 06 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Court and the World: American Law and the New Global Realities.

Tenacity by J.S. Law

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Tenacity.

The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams by Philip Zaleski

Sun, 29 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams.

Zero World by Jason M. Hough

Sun, 22 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Zero World.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Neverwhere.

Without Remorse by Tom Clancy

Sun, 01 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Without Remorse.

My Struggle: Book 1 by Karl Ove Knausgård

Sat, 24 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for My Struggle: Book 1.

The Governor's Wife by Michael Harvey

Fri, 23 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Governor's Wife.

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Wed, 21 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Library at Mount Char.

The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Water Knife.

Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America by Wil Haygood

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America.

Invasion of Privacy by Christopher Reich

Sat, 26 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Invasion of Privacy.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Name of the Wind.

The Martian by Andy Weir

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Equal parts space thriller and science procedural, The Martian is an entertaining read.

The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin

Sun, 13 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A follow up to The Three Body Problem that exceeds it in every way. Immense in scope and brilliantly plotted. Wonderful stuff.

Leaders Ought to Know: 11 Ground Rules for Common Sense Leadership by Phillip Van Hooser

Sun, 13 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Leaders Ought to Know: 11 Ground Rules for Common Sense Leadership.

Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War by P.W. Singer

Tue, 08 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A modern take on the genre that Tom Clancy did best with Red Storm Rising. The authors here get the technology right but the various character threads are underdeveloped, as is the broader political picture.

An entertaining 400 pages, but it makes me nostalgic for the sort of thing Clancy and Larry Bond would do with the same scenario and 1000 pages.

Iron Wolf by Dale Brown

Thu, 03 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Iron Wolf.

Tin Men by Christopher Golden

Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Tin Men.

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson

Sat, 29 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir.

Spiritual Friendship: Finding Love in the Church as a Celibate Gay Christian by Wesley Hill

Sat, 22 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Spiritual Friendship: Finding Love in the Church as a Celibate Gay Christian.

Malestrom: Manhood Swept into the Currents of a Changing World by Carolyn Custis James

Wed, 19 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Malestrom: Manhood Swept into the Currents of a Changing World.

Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett

Mon, 17 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Edge of Eternity.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Sat, 15 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Between the World and Me.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

Wed, 12 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Goblin Emperor.

Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA by Tim Weiner

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA.

Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

Fri, 24 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Seveneves.

The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr

Sun, 05 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective.

Mightier Than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer

Sat, 27 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Mightier Than the Sword.

Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr

Tue, 23 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life.

No Fortunate Son by Brad Taylor

Sun, 14 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for No Fortunate Son.

Winter of the World by Ken Follett

Fri, 12 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Winter of the World.

The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly

Tue, 26 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Can't give the book 5 stars - reserved for truly great books - but neither can I penalize Reilly. He knows what he doing in this genre and brings us another semi-plausible page-turner.

As usual, it feels like a fast bloody action movie transcribed down into a book, which gets tiring as a steady diet, but is fun from time to time.

Easy, quick, fluffy reading.

City of Savages by Lee Kelly

Mon, 25 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for City of Savages.

Einstein's Dice and Schrödinger's Cat: How Two Great Minds Battled Quantum Randomness to Create a Unified Theory of Physics by Paul Halpern

Sat, 23 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Einstein's Dice and Schrödinger's Cat: How Two Great Minds Battled Quantum Randomness to Create a Unified Theory of Physics.

Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation by James K.A. Smith

Wed, 20 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation.

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann

Sat, 09 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus.

Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith by Glenn Packiam

Sat, 09 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith.

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis

Sun, 03 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine.

Words Without Music: A Memoir by Philip Glass

Sat, 25 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Words Without Music: A Memoir.

The Lion's World: A journey into the heart of Narnia by Rowan Williams

Sun, 19 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Lion's World: A journey into the heart of Narnia.

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett

Fri, 17 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Fall of Giants.

Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer by Richard Rohr

Thu, 09 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Gonna be chewing on this one for a while. I can understand both why people love Rohr so much and also why he gives people the heebie jeebies.

Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer

Wed, 01 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation.

Satin Island by Tom McCarthy

Sun, 29 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Satin Island.

Empire by John Connolly

Sat, 28 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Empire.

Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence by Karen Armstrong

Wed, 25 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence.

Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges

Sun, 15 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Alan Turing: The Enigma.

Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace by Miroslav Volf

Sat, 21 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Fri, 20 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Station Eleven.

The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution by Francis Fukuyama

Sat, 07 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution.

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Kristin Lavransdatter.

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

Wed, 31 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Rook.

Jayce by Josh Barkey

Mon, 29 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Underdeveloped idea with little semblance of a plot. Weird omniscient narration that drops in from time to time. First and third acts are almost nonexistent and are completely unbelievable. This book needed a good editor and about twice as much content.

Directive 51 by John Barnes

Sat, 27 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Directive 51.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Sun, 21 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for To Kill a Mockingbird.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Fri, 19 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Kite Runner.

Recovering Classic Evangelicalism: Applying the Wisdom and Vision of Carl F. H. Henry by Gregory Alan Thornbury

Mon, 01 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Recovering Classic Evangelicalism: Applying the Wisdom and Vision of Carl F. H. Henry.

Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer

Sat, 29 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Archer is getting formulaic with this series now that he's through volume 4, but the plots are so entertaining that it's hard to complain too much.

Neil Armstrong: A Life of Flight by Jay Barbree

Thu, 27 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Neil Armstrong: A Life of Flight.

Lock In by John Scalzi

Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Fascinating concept, great execution.

The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber

Sat, 22 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Book of Strange New Things.

The God Who Risks: A Theology of Divine Providence by John Sanders

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The God Who Risks: A Theology of Divine Providence.

Confessions by Augustine of Hippo

Mon, 27 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Confessions.

Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton

Tue, 21 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Contemplative Prayer.

Goodhouse by Peyton Marshall

Sun, 19 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Goodhouse.

The Parables of Judgement by Robert Farrar Capon

Mon, 13 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Parables of Judgement.

The Director by David Ignatius

Sun, 05 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Director.

The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Sat, 27 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

The first half of this little volume seems very dated, but the second half strongly makes up for it. An encouraging read on ministry to others.

Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide by Brett McCracken

Mon, 22 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide.

Reimagining Church: Pursuing the Dream of Organic Christianity by Frank Viola

Sat, 20 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Reimagining Church: Pursuing the Dream of Organic Christianity.

The Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation by Jon M. Sweeney

Sun, 14 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation.

Unclean: Meditations on Purity, Hospitality, and Mortality by Richard Beck

Tue, 09 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Unclean: Meditations on Purity, Hospitality, and Mortality.

Top Secret by W.E.B. Griffin

Sun, 07 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Top Secret.

The Storm by Frederick Buechner

Sat, 30 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Storm.

The Adjacent by Christopher Priest

Sat, 23 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Adjacent.

The Pastor: A Memoir by Eugene H. Peterson

Thu, 21 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Pastor: A Memoir.

Merton: A Biography by Monica Furlong

Thu, 07 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Merton: A Biography.

From Bible Belt to Sunbelt: Plain-Folk Religion, Grassroots Politics, and the Rise of Evangelical Conservatism by Darren Dochuk

Tue, 05 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for From Bible Belt to Sunbelt: Plain-Folk Religion, Grassroots Politics, and the Rise of Evangelical Conservatism.

Surprised by Scripture: Engaging Contemporary Issues by N.T. Wright

Sat, 26 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Surprised by Scripture: Engaging Contemporary Issues.

Prayer by Philip Kerr

Sun, 20 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Prayer.

Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life In the Minor Leagues of Baseball by John Feinstein

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Some entertaining stories and enlightening details about life in the minor leagues. However, the book is too long, gets repetitive in stories, phraseology, and tone, and suffers from sloppy editing.

Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight by David A. Mindell

Sun, 13 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Digital Apollo: Human and Machine in Spaceflight.

The Anglican Way: A Guidebook by Thomas McKenzie

Sun, 13 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Anglican Way: A Guidebook.

The Authenticity of Faith : The Varieties and Illusions of Religious Experience by Richard Beck

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Authenticity of Faith : The Varieties and Illusions of Religious Experience.

Soccernomics by Simon Kuper

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Soccernomics.

Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty

Thu, 03 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMT

I'm no economist, but to my ears Piketty makes a reasonable, readable, and engaging case for a new sort of tax to help close the growing disparity between the world's richest and poorest peoples.

Piketty recognizes that this sort of global tax is a utopia, but fails to acknowledge the sad truth that as long as the richest have a disproportionately loud voice in political decisions, nothing will ever change.

A Farewell to Mars: An Evangelical Pastor's Journey Toward the Biblical Gospel of Peace by Brian Zahnd

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Take one part NT Wright's work on the Kingdom of God, one part Richard Beck's thoughts on scapegoats, add in a few questionable interpretations of some of Jesus' parables, avoid questions about how the personal view interacts with the political view/necessity of violence, and you have this book. Well intentioned but ultimately lacking.

One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World by Tullian Tchividjian

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World.

Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø

Sun, 15 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Cockroaches.

History of the Catholic Church by James Hitchcock

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for History of the Catholic Church.

Pitch Perfect: How to Say It Right the First Time, Every Time by Bill McGowan

Sat, 31 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Pitch Perfect: How to Say It Right the First Time, Every Time.

Conquest by John Connolly

Wed, 28 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Conquest.

The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris

Tue, 20 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Cloister Walk.

The Flight of the Silvers by Daniel Price

Fri, 09 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Flight of the Silvers.

The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer

Fri, 02 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America.

The Parables of Grace by Robert Farrar Capon

Thu, 24 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Parables of Grace.

Life Itself by Roger Ebert

Sat, 19 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Life Itself.

Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible's View of Women by Sarah Bessey

Mon, 31 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

I went into it without any expectations and found it beautiful, speaking even to me as a thirty-something man. There is so much more here than the title would lead you to believe.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Thu, 27 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Read this one out loud to the family. Such a delight.

The Quest by Nelson DeMille

Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Quest.

Inerrancy and the Gospels: A God-Centered Approach to the Challenges of Harmonization by Vern Sheridan Poythress

Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Solid, valuable book, worthwhile resource. Not particularly groundbreaking but thorough and well worked out.

The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives by Dallas Willard

Fri, 21 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives.

Beatles vs. Stones by John McMillian

Fri, 21 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A short, easy read chronicling the relationship between the 1960's two biggest bands.

The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe by David I. Kertzer

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe.

The Woman Who Stopped Traffic by Daniel Pembrey

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Woman Who Stopped Traffic.

It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens by Danah Boyd

Sat, 08 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for It's Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens.

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Fantastic, engaging read about a truly fascinating man.

The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. Walton

Fri, 21 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate.

The Case for the Psalms: Why They Are Essential by N.T. Wright

Tue, 18 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Case for the Psalms: Why They Are Essential.

Seven Years by Peter Stamm

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Seven Years.

Harvest by Jim Crace

Thu, 13 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Harvest.

Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick

Sun, 09 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Great basic idea, but stylistically painful, with long scripted parent/child conversations that are laughably unrealistic.

I want to adopt some of the ideas here, but the book as a whole was a bit tiresome.

The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction by Eugene H. Peterson

Sat, 08 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction.

The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Atrocity Archives.

Jim Henson: The Biography by Brian Jay Jones

Sat, 25 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Jim Henson: The Biography.

Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism by Molly Worthen

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism.

Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

Sat, 11 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove.

The Prince of Risk by Christopher Reich

Thu, 09 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Prince of Risk.

Thomas Becket: Warrior, Priest, Rebel by John Guy

Mon, 06 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Thomas Becket: Warrior, Priest, Rebel.

The Presidents Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Presidents Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity.

Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power by Andy Crouch

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Sat, 07 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Insurgent.

Evangelii gaudium: Esortazione apostolica sulla conclusione dell'Anno della fede by Pope Francis

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Evangelii gaudium: Esortazione apostolica sulla conclusione dell'Anno della fede.

The Circle by Dave Eggers

Sun, 01 Dec 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Maybe a little more on the nose than it needed to be, still, an engaging story. If Michael Crichton were still living and chose to turn his writing skills toward the topic of social media, this is the type of story we'd get. An entertaining read.

Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky

Sat, 30 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Roadside Picnic.

In Search of Deep Faith: A Pilgrimage Into the Beauty, Goodness and Heart of Christianity by Jim Belcher

Sun, 24 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for In Search of Deep Faith: A Pilgrimage Into the Beauty, Goodness and Heart of Christianity.

The Path of Celtic Prayer: An Ancient Way to Everyday Joy by Calvin Miller

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Path of Celtic Prayer: An Ancient Way to Everyday Joy.

The English Girl by Daniel Silva

Tue, 19 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Silva's writing remains high quality, but his plots have begun to suffer, as any series will when stretched on through a dozen books. Not bad, but not great.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Sun, 10 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Gilead.

A Long Faithfulness: The Case for Christian Perseverance by Scot McKnight

Sat, 09 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Long Faithfulness: The Case for Christian Perseverance.

How to Be Evangelical Without Being Conservative by Roger E. Olson

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for How to Be Evangelical Without Being Conservative.

A Better Atonement: Beyond the Depraved Doctrine of Original Sin by Tony Jones

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Interesting overview of atonement views without being particularly persuasive towards Jones' own position.

The Last Witness by W.E.B. Griffin

Tue, 29 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Last Witness.

The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection by Robert Farrar Capon

Sat, 26 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection.

Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community.

Eye for an Eye by Ben Coes

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Eye for an Eye.

Against Calvinism: Rescuing God's Reputation from Radical Reformed Theology by Roger E. Olson

Sat, 12 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Against Calvinism: Rescuing God's Reputation from Radical Reformed Theology.

Crux by Ramez Naam

Sun, 06 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Crux.

Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom by Peter J. Leithart

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Solid start to the series, but very little happens here. Interesting world and characters set up, but this is really just Act 1 of a single story, not a fully-formed story on its own.

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Dance with Dragons.

The Kill List by Frederick Forsyth

Sat, 21 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Kill List.

Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner Saint by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Sat, 21 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner Saint.

Hidden Order by Brad Thor

Sun, 15 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hidden Order.

Health, Money, and Love - And Why We Don't Enjoy Them by Robert Farrar Capon

Tue, 10 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Health, Money, and Love - And Why We Don't Enjoy Them.

Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Best Kept Secret.

Shattered Trident by Larry Bond

Tue, 27 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Shattered Trident.

The Bible Made Impossible: Why Biblicism Is Not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture by Christian Smith

Sat, 17 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Bible Made Impossible: Why Biblicism Is Not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture.

A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin

Sat, 17 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Feast for Crows.

Gospel Wakefulness by Jared C. Wilson

Fri, 02 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Gospel Wakefulness.

The God Of The Mundane by Matthew B. Redmond

Fri, 02 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The God Of The Mundane.

The Racketeer by John Grisham

Thu, 18 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Racketeer.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Sun, 14 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

The Journey of Ministry: Insights from a Life of Practice by Eddie Gibbs

Fri, 12 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Journey of Ministry: Insights from a Life of Practice.

Prototype: What Happens When You Discover You're More Like Jesus Than You Think? by Jonathan Martin

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Prototype: What Happens When You Discover You're More Like Jesus Than You Think?.

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin

Sun, 07 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Storm of Swords.

Mortal Sins: Sex, Crime, and the Era of Catholic Scandal by Michael D'Antonio

Tue, 02 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Mortal Sins: Sex, Crime, and the Era of Catholic Scandal.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz

Mon, 27 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Sun, 26 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Code Name Verity.

Hell, A Final Word: The Surprising Things I Found in the Bible by Edward Fudge

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hell, A Final Word: The Surprising Things I Found in the Bible.

Nexus by Ramez Naam

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Nexus.

The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail—But Some Don't by Nate Silver

Sat, 04 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail—But Some Don't.

The Panther by Nelson DeMille

Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Plot is thinner than thin. Hundreds of pages and nothing happens except we get a tour of Yemen and page after page of insufferable narrative. It's as if Mr DeMille had a quota of smart-ass internal dialog per page that he had to fill. If you cut out half of it, the book would shorten by 20% and still be just as boring.

I'm ashamed I wasted as much time on this one as I did. Avoid.

The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization by Peter M. Senge

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization.

Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the Praying Imagination by Eugene H. Peterson

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the Praying Imagination.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

Leonardo and the Last Supper by Ross King

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Leonardo and the Last Supper.

Silence by Shūsaku Endō

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Silence.

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Long Earth.

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Incarnate.

Tiger's Claw by Dale Brown

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Tiger's Claw.

The Labyrinth of Osiris by Paul Sussman

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Labyrinth of Osiris.

Encrypted by Carolyn McCray

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Encrypted.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore.

Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion by Janet Reitman

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion.

Runner's World Big Book of Marathon and Half-Marathon Training: Winning Strategies, Inpiring Stories, and the Ultimate Training Tools by Jennifer Van Allen

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Runner's World Big Book of Marathon and Half-Marathon Training: Winning Strategies, Inpiring Stories, and the Ultimate Training Tools.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity.

Trojan Horse by Mark E. Russinovich

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Trojan Horse.

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking.

Zero Day by David Baldacci

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Zero Day.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Fault in Our Stars.

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Dog Stars.

New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for New Seeds of Contemplation.

XO by Jeffery Deaver

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for XO.

Pure Eyes: A Man's Guide to Sexual Integrity by Craig Gross

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Pure Eyes: A Man's Guide to Sexual Integrity.

Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Suarez is the modern heir to Michael Crichton, doing for computers what Crichton did for biology and genetics. While this book was based around a fascinating concept, there was no real surprise as to where it was going from nearly the first chapter. Compared to Suarez' earlier books, this one was fine but not nearly as engaging or tense.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Cloud Atlas.

In the Shadow of the Sword: The Birth of Islam and the Rise of the Global Arab Empire by Tom Holland

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for In the Shadow of the Sword: The Birth of Islam and the Rise of the Global Arab Empire.

The Fiddler's Gun by A.S. Peterson

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Fiddler's Gun.

The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle by Steven Pressfield

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle.

Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me: A Memoir. . . of Sorts by Ian Morgan Cron

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me: A Memoir. . . of Sorts.

The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Seven Storey Mountain.

Exit Plan by Larry Bond

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Exit Plan.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Steve Jobs.

Redshirts by John Scalzi

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Redshirts.

The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought by Marilynne Robinson

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Brilliant stuff from Marilynne Robinson. While less engaging when she uses the middle of the book to heap praise on John Calvin, the final essay, 'The Tyranny of Petty Coercion', is worth 5 stars all by itself.

The Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Fallen Angel.

Passion for Peace: The Social Essays by Thomas Merton

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Passion for Peace: The Social Essays.

When I Was a Child I Read Books by Marilynne Robinson

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for When I Was a Child I Read Books.

Joker One: A Marine Platoon's Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood by Donovan Campbell

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Absolutely brutal account of a Marine officer's tour of duty in Ramadi, Iraq.

The Janus Affair by Pip Ballantine

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Janus Affair.

The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Sins of the Father.

Kill Shot by Vince Flynn

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Kill Shot.

The Technologists by Matthew Pearl

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Technologists.

Gideon's Corpse by Douglas Preston

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Gideon's Corpse.

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Robopocalypse.

Genesis for Normal People: A Guide to the Most Controversial, Misunderstood, and Abused Book of the Bible by Peter Enns

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Genesis for Normal People: A Guide to the Most Controversial, Misunderstood, and Abused Book of the Bible.

Ancestor by Scott Sigler

Thu, 31 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A fast-paced horror thriller. No surprises to be had here - this is straight-up predictable creature horror, and not as horrific as it could've been.

Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan

Tue, 29 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit.

Replica by Lexi Revellian

Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Replica.

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

Sat, 26 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Orphan Master's Son.

The Road Trip that Changed the World: The Unlikely Theory that will Change How You View Culture, the Church, and, Most Importantly, Yourself by Mark Sayers

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Australian pastor and author Mark Sayers put out a request for reviews of his new book, The Road Trip that Changed the World a few weeks ago, and I’m happy today to take him up on it. I had previously read his book Vertical Self and enjoyed it quite a bit, so I was looking forward to his newest offering.

The Road Trip that Changed the World draws its title and chief topic from the classic American novel On The Road by Jack Kerouac. Sayers examines how Kerouac’s novel incited a generation to leave the ideals of home, family, and place and instead to chase the dream of the road, the hope of whatever lays just beyond the horizon.

He spends a good chapter discussing our search for the transcendent, and notes how when we fail to notice and embrace the transcendence in the material here and now, we end up constantly looking for the next “woosh” – a fleeting moment of awe that makes us feel alive but quickly leaves us searching for the next hit.

The first two-thirds of the book is devoted to this examination of the shift in American culture brought on by Kerouac; the last third brings things around to the gospel. Sayers discusses Abraham as “the first counter-cultural rebel”, and traces a path through the Old and New Testaments, ultimately concluding that we need to reject the endless search for the “woosh” over the horizon, instead finding joy and meaning and transcendence in the here and now, as we experience true community and relationship with God.

I’ll say this – Sayers has the spirit of the times nailed. If anything, I didn’t respond to it more because it already seemed so familiar. His diagnosis of cynicism, distance, and the search for transcendence in “woosh” moments is right on. His prescription of embracing community and finding transcendence in experiencing God is a call appropriate for the time. If my cynical generation is willing to hear it, The Road Trip that Changed the World is a great call back to what really matters.

Note: I was provided a free copy of the book in return for reading and posting a fair review.

Gathering String by Mimi Johnson

Sat, 05 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Now this is a great yarn. Gathering String follows the intertwined lives of three journalists and an ambitious politician on a stage that grows from small town to national. Johnson has an ear for dialogue and an eye for authentic detail. She writes characters that you feel like you know, and puts them in a story that will keep you turning pages until you reach the end. I only wish it would've lasted longer. A great read.

Towards Yesterday by Paul Antony Jones

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Towards Yesterday.

The Inquisitor by Mark Allen Smith

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Inquisitor.

The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Explicit Gospel.

Locked On by Tom Clancy

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

As a long-time Clancy fan, I have a real affection for some of the characters that continue to inhabit his stories. John Clark and Ding Chavez play primary roles in Locked On, and it's hard to do anything but root for them. However, Clancy's writing has gone significantly downhill, and this book is just the latest example of that slide.

Clancy lovers have come to expect long, thick novels, and picking this one up off the shelf leads you to believe that it is another of similar size to classics like Red Storm Rising or Clear and Present Danger. However, opening the 900-page book you find that the publisher has reverted to tricks a lazy student uses with a college paper - wide margins, large line spacing, big fonts. There is probably only 60% of the content that used to be in a 900-page Clancy novel.

The book is also sloppily edited. For example, at one point it is noted that Chavez and Clark have been partners "for over 20 years". Further on, though, Chavez says that Clark "is more than twice my age - what, 63, 64?" It doesn't take a math whiz to figure out those numbers are screwed up.

Back in the glory days of this genre, Clancy was cranking out great stuff, WEB Griffin was top-notch, and Larry Bond was putting out some good stuff in the genre when he wasn't co-writing with Clancy. Today, though, I haven't found a younger author to fill that void; everybody seems to be focused on writing 300-page quickies rather than Clancy-length epics. Sad.

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God.

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Clash of Kings.

The Mirage by Matt Ruff

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Mirage.

Coup d'Etat by Ben Coes

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Coup d'Etat.

Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity by Lauren F. Winner

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Forever War.

Covert Warriors by W.E.B. Griffin

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Covert Warriors.

The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin Jr.

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Book of the Dun Cow.

Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters by N.T. Wright

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters.

Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Paths of Glory.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything.

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Starship Troopers.

Junia Is Not Alone by Scot McKnight

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Junia Is Not Alone.

Evolution of Adam: What the Bible Does and Doesn't Say about Human Origins by Peter Enns

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Evolution of Adam: What the Bible Does and Doesn't Say about Human Origins.

The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited by Scot McKnight

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited.

The Immortalists by Kyle Mills

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Immortalists.

An Ethic for Christians and Other Aliens in a Strange Land by William Stringfellow

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for An Ethic for Christians and Other Aliens in a Strange Land.

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

An entertaining con game story, but not as compelling as the first book in the series ("The Lies of Locke Lamora"). A lot of plot layers to keep track of, and while the pirate angles are entertaining, it doesn't quite live up to the original. Still, a fun read.

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Only Time Will Tell.

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Practice of the Presence of God.

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character by Richard P. Feynman

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A History of the World in 6 Glasses.

The Sacrament of the Present Moment by Jean-Pierre de Caussade

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Sacrament of the Present Moment.

Reamde by Neal Stephenson

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

If you're willing to invest in a book this long, Stephenson at least keeps it engaging. Some other reviewer described it as a "data dump", and boy was he right. The combination of data dump, backstories, and the weaving of a bunch of story lines together is an impressive feat. The best I can liken it to is if Tom Clancy were writing novels about international terrorists and MMORPGs instead of Cold War non-nuclear battle scenarios, you'd get something like /Reamde/.

An entertaining read, but it requires a commitment.

On the Beach by Nevil Shute

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Ah, 1960s nuclear apocalypse, a genre nearly unto itself. Shute provides the reader a better than average rendition, choosing to focus on he reactions of individuals as they each try to come to grips with the fact that death, in the form of nuclear fallout, is heading their way. Sobering not so much from the anti-nuclear perspective, but moreso from asking 'how would I react?'.

Worth the read.

Abyss by David Hagberg

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I should've known just from the cover and flyleaf that this particular bit if genre fiction was going to be a train wreck. And yet, like a train wreck, once I started I couldn't look away.

Ridiculous plot premise, unbelievable protagonist (former CIA director turned bodyguard?!?), uninspired prose and underdeveloped characters fill the 400+ pages of this tome. The author seems contractually obligated to describe each female character in terms of breast size, but mishandles the interpersonal scenes so badly that you wonder if he's actually ever had an interpersonal relationship.

The cover of the book proclaims it to be "A Kirk McGarvey Novel", leading me to believe that there are more books out there starring this ridiculous character. My advice: avoid them. Avoid this one, too.

Pictures at an Exhibition by Sara Houghteling

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Pictures at an Exhibition.

Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Cold Vengeance.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Lies of Locke Lamora.

The Affair by Lee Child

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Affair.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Bossypants.

Rule 34 by Charles Stross

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Rule 34.

Gospel-Powered Parenting, How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting by William P. Farley

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A solid but not groundbreaking book; good in the reminder that we need to be more focused on inculcating the gospel than good morals into our children. Fairly thin in practical examples of to-dos, but a useful compendium.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Ready Player One.

The 4% Universe: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Race to Discover the Rest of Reality by Richard Panek

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Eminently readable and accessible account of the past 30 years of cosmological study. Fascinating stuff.

The God I Don't Understand: Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith by Christopher J.H. Wright

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The God I Don't Understand: Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith.

Against All Enemies by Tom Clancy

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Against All Enemies.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.

The Quantum Story: A History in 40 Moments by Jim Baggott

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A solid history of a fascinating subject. The middle third of the book gets bogged down with too much detailed explanation, but the last third picks up the pace quite nicely.

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Snow Crash.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for American Gods.

Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Auralia's Colors.

The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Inner Circle.

Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today by N.T. Wright

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today.

All the Lives He Led by Frederik Pohl

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for All the Lives He Led.

The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Quantum Thief.

A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul E. Miller

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World.

Edge by Jeffery Deaver

Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Edge.

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Amber Spyglass.

The Devil's Light by Richard North Patterson

Sun, 08 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Not bad, but not great either. Patterson should really stay away from spy thrillers. He doesn't hold up well in comparison to the masters of the genre.

Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Gideon's Sword.

The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders & Deceivers by Kevin D. Mitnick

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Interesting stories, but all in all it feels somewhat forced. Meh.

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society by Eugene H. Peterson

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society.

Sacred Unions, Sacred Passions: Engaging the Mystery of Friendship Between Men and Women by Dan J. Brennan

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In just a short book, Dan Brennan makes a strong case for throwing out almost everything you've learned from the evangelical church about cross-gender friendships outside of marriage. While at times it felt like he was trying to stretch his material enough to make it book-length, his argument resonates with me. It's worth considering how much more our own lives (and the church!) would flourish if these friendships were encouraged rather than dismissed.

Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Having watched the short-lived ABC television series "based on" this book, I was curious to see how Sawyer (an author I really like) actually envisioned the topic. Thankfully, all of the soap opera and cop drama aspects of the TV series disappeared and instead what we got was a short story exploring (just a bit) the science aspects, and mostly asking this question: how would people respond if they got a brief glimpse of their future?

Flashforward is a easy entertaining read. Not as good as some of Sawyer's other stuff (the Hominids trilogy is my particular favorite), but still worth a read.

Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Surface Detail.

American Assassin by Vince Flynn

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for American Assassin.

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Subtle Knife.

The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Orson Scott Card knows how to tell a story. He weaves a plausible (but unique) universe, interesting characters, and intriguing plot. Can't wait for the second book.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Golden Compass.

Mirage Men: An Adventure into Paranoia, Espionage, Psychological Warfare, and UFOs by Mark Pilkington

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Mirage Men: An Adventure into Paranoia, Espionage, Psychological Warfare, and UFOs.

The Outlaws by W.E.B. Griffin

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Outlaws.

Letters from America by Alexis de Tocqueville

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A short volume that provides some interesting insights into early 1800's American culture. However, it often gets repetitive, and you have to be willing to put up with the constant personal notes, requests for replies, etc. (These are letters, after all...)

Interesting as a snapshot of a certain place and time, but increasingly tedious toward the end.

Being Geek: The Software Developer's Career Handbook by Michael Lopp

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Being Geek: The Software Developer's Career Handbook.

Dead or Alive by Tom Clancy

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Clancy is back with a Jack Ryan novel years after his previous one. Ryan actually plays only a minor part in this book, with the primary narrative focus being on John Clark, Ding Chavez, and Jack Ryan, Jr. The threat abroad is still nukes and wacko Muslims, and the threat at home is still politicians who don't understand the value of a strong CIA and strong military. So yeah, it's basically the same note Clancy has been playing for years now.

The book runs to 950 pages, but the margins and line spacing are larger than his older novels, so it's not quite the same length as, say, The Sum of All Fears. Multiple characters are introduced and woven together in classic Clancy style, and the book would probably work better as a stand-alone novel than as a follow-up to a classic series.

As a sidenote, the proofreading was apparently sloppy; I caught four typos in my quick read of the book.

Not a bad read; better than most of what is out in this genre today, but not up to the level you'd expect from classic Clancy.

Between Noon & Three: Romance, Law & the Outrage of Grace by Robert Farrar Capon

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A fantastic challenging read that will transform the way I think about Grace. Capon mixes storytelling with theologising quite effectively, driving his points home with insight and humor.

I'm not sure I'm on board with his conclusions on eschatology in the last bit of the book, but the first two-thirds are quite enough to warrant five stars for this fantastic volume.

The Passage by Justin Cronin

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Passage.

The Unincorporated War by Dani Kollin

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This follow-up to "The Unincorporated Man" was interesting but not as great as the first book. "Man" got to set up the universe and explore the (rather fascinating) idea of personal incorporation and how it would affect society. Now in "War", the people and ideas get lost to an extent as the story becomes a saga of system-wide war. Still an engaging story... but not as high on my list as the first book.

The Lion by Nelson DeMille

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Lion.

The Dreaming Void by Peter F. Hamilton

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Dreaming Void.

The World in 2050: Four Forces Shaping Civilization's Northern Future by Laurence C. Smith

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Even-handed and insightful. A quick read, quite worth your time.

Rules of Betrayal by Christopher Reich

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Rules of Betrayal.

Executive Intent by Dale Brown

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ah, Dale Brown. Another cookie cutter plot, with ineffective politicians who despise the military techno-gear until it's too late. If the technology and the political scenarios weren't so interesting, I'd have given up on you by now. As it is... Three stars.

Impact by Douglas Preston

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Disappointing and lame. Very thin plotting combined with insufficient action makes for a lame story. Preston can do better, and he should have in this case.

The Vigilantes by W.E.B. Griffin

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Vigilantes.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Lots of characters to keep track of, but ultimately satisfying. Good end to the trilogy.

Don't Let Me Go: What My Daughter Taught Me about the Journey Every Parent Must Make by David W. Pierce

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Don't Let Me Go: What My Daughter Taught Me about the Journey Every Parent Must Make.

The Wolf at the Door by Jack Higgins

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Wolf at the Door.

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Juliet, Naked.

Pursuit of Honor by Vince Flynn

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Pursuit of Honor.

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Girl Who Played with Fire.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Mockingjay.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work by Eugene H. Peterson

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work.

In The Name Of Honor by Richard North Patterson

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for In The Name Of Honor.

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Swan Thieves.

The Cobra by Frederick Forsyth

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Lots of detail, solid plotting, nice twist ending... Good stuff from Forsyth.

Capitol Betrayal: A Novel by William Bernhardt

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Capitol Betrayal: A Novel.

Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original by Robin D.G. Kelley

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Never Let Me Go.

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ.

Freedom™ by Daniel Suarez

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

An excellent follow-up to Suarez' debut novel /Daemon/. How will the various world powers react to the massive online 'darknet' that is organizing and coordinating millions of users? Great stuff.

Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Son of Hamas.

The Bradbury Report by Steven Polansky

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Trying to be futuristic and dystopian, this book only succeeds in being dry, dull, and uninteresting. Meh.

61 Hours by Lee Child

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for 61 Hours.

Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Nine Dragons.

Daemon by Daniel Suarez

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A well-detailed techno-thriller; something akin to what we'd get if Tom Clancy had written about 21st century cyber technology instead of 1980's military hardware. Fascinatingly complex, but plausible enough to be gripping. Looking forward to the sequel.

After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters by N.T. Wright

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I'm still chewing on whether or not to give this book five stars. This book is a fairly logical progression from Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope. Once Wright has discussed what it means to be Christian and then has outlined the Christian's hope for eternity, this volume deals with the idea of the Christian ethic or virtue.

Wright works with many passages both from the Gospels and from Paul's epistles to explain the concept of Christian virtue - the idea that by practicing virtuous character in the here and now, we are anticipating preparing ourselves for the way things will be in the eternal kingdom.

Once again good stuff from Wright. If I were to rank the books in this trilogy, I'd have to go with Surprised by Hope as number one, but After You Believe would be a solid #2.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Lost Symbol.

Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality by Michael Spencer

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Mere Churchianity: Finding Your Way Back to Jesus-Shaped Spirituality.

Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture by Adam S. McHugh

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture.

The Unincorporated Man by Dani Kollin

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ah, a sci-fi novel in the footsteps of Heinlein. Sweeping scope, major cultural themes, overly preachy but still a compelling read. Excellent stuff.

The title character, Justin, is a man from the 20th century who, after being cryonically frozen, is brought back to life in the 23rd century, in a culture where each person is incorporated at birth, and can buy and sell their shares on the open market. Justin struggles to understand and adapt to this culture, given his status as The Unincorporated Man.

Good, good stuff.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Such a fun read. The oral history format allows the story to be told in little episodes that come together into the full picture. I have never read anything quite like it. Brilliant, a fun read, very good story.

Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Sun, 30 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If Hirsi Ali's previous book, Infidel, was a smashing Movie on DVD, Nomad would be the DVD extra features and director's commentary. Hirsi Ali reinforces her point that strict adherence to Islam will cause subjugatioin and oppression of women. Fair point, but makes for a dull book. Read Infidel instead.

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Sat, 29 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Infidel.

Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Foundation.

The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Windup Girl.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Incarceron.

The Honor of Spies by W.E.B. Griffin

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Honor of Spies.

Gateway by Frederik Pohl

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Gateway.

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A beautiful story, beautifully told. Highly recommended.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Wrinkle in Time.

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Fellowship of the Ring.

The Mercury 13: The True Story of Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight by Martha Ackmann

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Mercury 13: The True Story of Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight.

The Apostle by Brad Thor

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Apostle.

Able One by Ben Bova

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I've been a big fan of Bova's scifi, so I went ahead and picked this one up when I saw it on the library shelf. This is Bova's foray into the military thriller genre, and, after reading it, my conclusion is that he should leave that genre to Larry Bond, Dale Brown, et al, and stick to writing sci-fi.

The plot was thin, the characters flat, the story just interesting enough to keep reading without actually being fascinating enough to be engaging. Not particularly recommended.

A Romance on Three Legs: Glenn Gould's Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Piano by Katie Hafner

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A short, fascinating read about the obsessive pianist's quest for the perfect piano, and the piano technician who maintained it for him.

First Family by David Baldacci

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for First Family.

The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

At one point I like Meltzer... but this one: ugh.

Just when you think the DaVinci knock-offs have gone as far as they can go in the spectrum of ridiculousness, then comes Book of Lies, which tries to tie together mysteries surrounding Cain (from the Bible), a mysterious secretive group of Aryans, and... wait for it... the creator of the Superman comic.

Do yourself a favor and avoid.

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters by Timothy J. Keller

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters.

The Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life - The Ancient Practices Series by Joan D. Chittister

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life - The Ancient Practices Series.

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Shadow of the Wind.

Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters by Joshua Harris

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Bel Canto.

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Angel's Game.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Wednesday Wars.

Generosity: An Enhancement by Richard Powers

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Generosity: An Enhancement.

Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Nothing particularly breathtaking here, not the best book in the Pendergast series from Preston & Child, but still entertaining fun.

Jazz by Gary Giddins

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Jazz.

Hidden Empire by Orson Scott Card

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hidden Empire is an entertaining enough read, but ultimately doesn't provide enough thought or plot to make it a really compelling story. It wrestles with one big question that's worth asking: for a world leader impacting things on a global scale, do desirable ends actually justify some pretty rotten means? Is it acceptable to manipulate, lie, cheat, and kill some of your own if a greater global good is accomplished as a result?

However, that question only really occupies one small chunk of the story, and the rest of it fell flat for me.

Conclusion: less than compelling, far from OSC's best work, but if you're an OSC fan it's worth a quick read.

The Traffickers by W.E.B. Griffin

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Yeah, so I'm a sucker for WEB Griffin, and especially his Investigators series. Now, just because I give this 4 stars and Pride & Prejudice only 3 doesn't mean that I think this is objectively a better piece of literature - far from it. Nothing profound or brilliant. However, I found this quite entertaining - a fun read.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Everybody's gonna kill me for only giving it three stars, but honestly it didn't do a lot for me. It's a nice story, well told, etc, etc... but not something that just blew me away. Guess 30 year old men aren't really the target audience, anyway.

Makers by Cory Doctorow

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Makers.

A Plague of Secrets by John Lescroart

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nothing profound here, just a solid legal thriller from one of my favorites. The Hardy/Glitzky pairing, while unlikely, is a fun one; always enjoyable.

Intervention by Robin Cook

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Usually Robin Cook is a safe bet for a solid mystery. Which leaves me bewildered as to what happened in this book. It's as if he took two parts Dan Brown, one part anti-homeopathic medicine, and a large dose of horrible dialogue, and threw them all in a blender.

Characters don't make sense, inexplicable plot twists, unsatisfying resolutions... ick ick ick.

NOT recommended.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Catching Fire.

The Sacredness of Questioning Everything by David Dark

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Sacredness of Questioning Everything.

Love Is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community by Andrew Marin

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is an important book. Andrew Marin makes his point about needing to put our first priority on showing love as much by what he specifically does not say as by what he does say. Marin has put actions to his words over the past several years, and his example stands as a challenge to the rest of us. Good, good stuff.

Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional by Jim Belcher

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Not as revolutionary or insightful as I had hoped, but still good. Belcher identifies seven areas of contention between the emerging and traditional churches, summarizes each group's position on each topic, and then identifies his "third way" for each of them.

Most of his "third ways" seemed less like brilliant insights and more like "let's pick someplace in between the two positions that makes sense to me".

Deep Church is a good summary of emerging vs. traditional if you're unfamiliar with the topic, is very even-handed, etc. But at least to this guy, who has watched most of the emerging vs. traditional battle play out in books and on the blogs over the past several years, there wasn't a lot new here.

Brothers by Ben Bova

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Brothers.

The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Resurrection of the Son of God.

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Hunger Games.

Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher's Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A brutal polemic about America’s compulsory education system written by a former NYC schoolteacher. He comes pretty close to coming off like a psycho crank instead of a serious writer – I’d need to do some verification of his sources before I really came to an opinion on his conclusions. Still, brutal.

The Partner by John Grisham

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Partner.

Rogue Forces by Dale Brown

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Andrew really hit his stride with North! Or Be Eaten. This volume takes the Wingfeather series far beyond just being a kids story and provides some very memorable characters and scenes that will be with me for a long time to come.

The Second Opinion by Michael Palmer

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Basic medical thriller. Only sorta thrilling, if you ask me.

Success Through Failure: The Paradox of Design by Henry Petroski

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Another look at how we learn things in engineering by learning from our failures. Not as interesting as his other book that I read this year.

Failure Is Not an Option: Mission Control From Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond by Gene Kranz

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A memoir by the storied NASA flight controller.

Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Supreme Courtship.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Game of Thrones.

Cold Choices by Larry Bond

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bond was the unseen hand behind a lot of Tom Clancy’s best stuff, and he proves it here.

Contagious by Scott Sigler

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Over-the-top, campy fun.

When Sinners Say "I Do": Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage by Dave Harvey

Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for When Sinners Say "I Do": Discovering the Power of the Gospel for Marriage.

What I Saw at the Revolution: A Political Life in the Reagan Era by Peggy Noonan

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A twenty-year old memoir of Noonan’s time as a speechwriter in the Reagan White House. Mostly I just love Noonan’s writing. So much fun to read.

TSAR by Ted Bell

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for TSAR.

To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design by Henry Petroski

Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Interesting philosophical look at engineering via failure analyses.

Replay by Ken Grimwood

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Full review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2009/05/04/book-review-replay-by-ken-grimwood/).

The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Cardinal of the Kremlin.

Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament by Peter Enns

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Inspiration and Incarnation: Evangelicals and the Problem of the Old Testament.

Empyre by Josh Conviser

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Empyre.

Echelon by Josh Conviser

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Good futuristic look at human integration with the internet, and at the possibilities for controlling/influencing the world through data manipulation. Good story.

A Darker Place by Jack Higgins

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for A Darker Place.

Clutter-Free Christianity: What God Really Desires for You by Robert Jeffress

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Clutter-Free Christianity: What God Really Desires for You.

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Timothy J. Keller

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith.

Halting State by Charles Stross

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Halting State.

Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English by John McWhorter

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English.

The Last Patriot by Brad Thor

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for The Last Patriot.

Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling by Andy Crouch

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling.

The Echo Within: Finding Your True Calling by Robert Benson

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Full review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2009/03/03/book-review-the-echo-within-by-robert-benson/).

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us by Seth Godin

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This one is fun, especially if you don't know the twist at the end. Not my favorite OSC, but well worth reading.

The Weapon by David Poyer

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2009/02/18/book-i-read-the-weapon-by-david-poyer/).

The Jazz Ear: Conversations Over Music by Ben Ratliff

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Full review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2009/02/11/book-review-the-jazz-ear-conversations-over-music-by-ben-ratliff/).

Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Full review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2009/02/11/book-review-ender-in-exile-by-orson-scott-card/).

The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British by Sarah Lyall

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Full review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2009/02/04/book-review-the-anglo-files-a-field-guide-to-the-british-by-sarah-lyall/).

The Philosopher's Apprentice by James K. Morrow

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Full review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2009/01/25/book-review-the-philosophers-apprentice-by-james-morrow/).

Jesus and the Victory of God by N.T. Wright

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Full review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2009/01/27/book-review-jesus-and-the-victory-of-god-by-n-t-wright/).

Andy Catlett: Early Travels by Wendell Berry

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A charming short novel about a nine-year-old boy taking a trip to visit his grandparents. Set in the early 1940’s, Berry paints a very picturesque image of a simpler time.

The King of Sting: The Amazing True Story of a Modern American Outlaw by Craig Glazer

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Full review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2009/01/11/book-review-the-king-of-sting-by-craig-glazer-and-sal-manna/).

Artificial Happiness: The Dark Side of the New Happy Class by Ronald W. Dworkin

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Artificial Happiness: The Dark Side of the New Happy Class.

Ring by Stephen Baxter

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Full review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2009/01/10/book-review-ring-by-stephen-baxter/).

Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing by Ted Conover

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A journalist is refused access to Sing Sing and the Correctional Officer’s school to write a story… so he applies to become a Correctional Officer, and works as a guard at New York’s Sing Sing maximum-security prison for a year. Fascinating book.

The Spanish Game by Charles Cumming

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A spy novel set in Spain; the intrigue centers around the Basque separatist group ETA. Just interesting enough to keep me involved – not interesting enough to get me to read it very quickly.

Fidelity: Five Stories by Wendell Berry

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Berry is a charming, simple writer. A joy to read.

The Faith of Barack Obama by Stephen Mansfield

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Extended review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2008/11/30/book-review-the-faith-of-barack-obama-by-stephen-mansfield/).

Man of Sin by Kim Riddlebarger

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A companion book to his The Case for Amillenialism, which I read earlier this year, in this book Riddlebarger examines the different perspectives on the Antichrist and argues for a traditional Reformed Presbyterian view. Nothing earthshattering, but good stuff.

Fools' Experiments by Edward M. Lerner

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A Crichton-esque novel centering on the evolution of artificially intelligent computer software. The beginning is a bit muddled, but by the middle of the book he’s hit his stride and the second half is quite entertaining.

Capitol Conspiracy: A Novel of Suspense by William Bernhardt

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This guy is cranking out stories at a pace that seems to mean each one is a little bit poorer than the one before. Oklahoma lawyer Ben Kincaid, having made his way up from little-guy lawyer to US senator, now finds himself at the heart of a Homeland Security plot to assassinate the First Lady, force through a Constitutional amendment to allow the suspension of the Bill of Rights, and, well, you get the idea. Entertaining, but vapid.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A dystopian story of a future in which women have no rights. A bit dated, perhaps, but an interesting story none the less.

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A long story weaving together WWII cryptography and modern-day gold. Interesting stuff.

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I was glad to finally read the book version of a movie that I enjoyed. Ishiguro captures the focused dedication of an English butler in entertaining fashion. I am impressed by how closely the movie stayed to the novel; and the role of Stevens will always be played, in my head, by Sir Anthony Hopkins.

A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind by Michael Axworthy

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Axworthy was a long-time member of the British foreign service and writes a fairly accessible history of Iran. Fascinating stuff.

The Fourth Hand by John Irving

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Irving says that the inspiration for this one came from his wife hearing a news story about a man who got a hand transplant and wondering “what would happen if the donor’s family wanted visitation rights?”. A charming little story in its own way, though Irving is far too sex-obsessed for my tastes.

How Would Jesus Vote?: A Christian Perspective on the Issues by D. James Kennedy

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Full review [here](https://chrishubbs.com/2008/10/30/book-review-how-would-jesus-vote-by-d-james-kennedy/).

Pirate Sun by Karl Schroeder

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The latest installment in the Virga series, which continues to fascinate me.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An anti-government-surveillance/pro-liberty (depending on which side of the ledger you’re on, I guess) piece of propaganda, gussied up as an entertaining short novel aimed at the teenage set. Complete with terrorist attacks, jackbooted Homeland Security agents, and waterboarding! Over the top, but still kinda fun. Also: the first book I’ve read as an e-book, on my iPod Touch.

For Young Men Only: A Guy's Guide to the Alien Gender by Jeff Feldhahn

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Full blog review posted [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2008/10/06/book-review-for-young-men-only/).

Watership Down by Richard Adams

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This is a hard novel to describe, not because it’s nondescript, but because short descriptions would leave out so much. It’s a story about rabbits. Let’s try this on for size: if Tolkien were to have written a story the length of one of the LotR books, and set it in modern day, and narrowed the scope from “save the world” to “find a new place to live” and written it about rabbits instead of hobbits, you might get something like Watership Down. I enjoyed it.

Churched: One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess by Matthew Paul Turner

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

My official blog review of this one won’t come for a few weeks yet, but this is a funny little memoir from a guy who grew up in an independent fundamental Baptist church. While I didn’t grow up in a church like that, I grew up close enough to that culture to have the book resonate with me. A quick, enjoyable read.

The Double Agents by W.E.B. Griffin

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I have long been a fan of Griffin’s various wartime series; they are some seriously good writing and characters. This one was a weaker effort; it felt less like a story in its own right and more like a bunch of narrative and character development that needed to happen to connect the previous book to the presumably-upcoming book. Ah well, still enjoyable.

First Daughter by Eric Van Lustbader

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Time for a cheap thriller to liven things up, and this one didn’t disappoint. A moderately interesting bad guy, a more-interesting protagonist. The story, focusing on the kidnapping of the president-elect’s daughter, is just almost implausible, but not quite. All in all, a decent story.

Spider Star by Mike Brotherton

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A futuristic sci-fi about space travel and encountering other species. It took a long time to set up (too long, really), but the last 50 pages or so were a good payoff. Not awesome, not bad.

The First Commandment by Brad Thor

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve enjoyed this series; this one similarly does not disappoint. A fun read.

Fidelity by Thomas Perry

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A rather basic sort of thriller in which a husband is killed and his wife is piecing together information about the secrets he was keeping… the ones that ultimately led to his killing. Nothing too exciting, but moderately entertaining.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

You know what? I just didn’t get this one. At all. The first half of the story had me set up for something… and the second half fell flat. Meh.

Wild Goose Chase: Reclaim the Adventure of Pursuing God by Mark Batterson

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Extended review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2008/08/28/book-review-wild-goose-chase/).

City at the End of Time by Greg Bear

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A sprawling fantasy epic about time- and reality-travelers nearing the end of the universe. Different, but enjoyable.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’d heard rumbles about this one, but had never picked it up until now. What a beautiful story, uniquely told. A great book.

The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible by Scot McKnight

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Extended review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2008/09/22/scot-mcknights-the-blue-parakeet-a-review/).

The Appeal by John Grisham

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With his return to the legal genre and the two-word title, I had hopes that Grisham’s story would be a return to his stories of old, stories where the heroes battle difficult struggles but still prevail. No such luck. Grisham has continued to decide to be preachy rather than tell a good story. Disappointing.

Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Faulks was chosen to write a new James Bond novel, and he does a passable job. I haven’t read any of Ian Fleming’s original 007 novels, so it’s hard to compare, but it was an enjoyable read.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Somehow I’d never read this one before. What a great book. A simple story, but as great authors do, Fitzgerald creates an atmosphere that lets you feel like a part of that world and that time. Excellent book.

Nothing to Lose by Lee Child

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I am a big fan of Child’s Jack Reacher series. Reacher is a wandering former military policeman who owns nothing more than the clothes on his back and the stuff in his pockets. There seems to always be another crime to solve or injustice to set right. Fun reading.

The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Yes, that Steve Martin. But what a nice little story. Narrated in first person by a man with enough neuroses to, well, fill a book, it turns out to be a sweet little story with a nice ending. Light, pleasant reading.

Death and Honor by W.E.B. Griffin

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Griffin remains a wonderful writer and he’s completely in his element with another book in his Honor Bound series, set in Argentina during WWII. An enjoyable read.

A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Archer gives a modern retelling of Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, and it’s fantastic. I love his characters, and I love the fact that it’s so black and white. In a day where most novels have characters that seem good and you want to trust, who end up being traitors and villains, this novel gives you noble characters that you can trust. I loved it. My favorite novel of the year so far.

1787 by Sean Michael Bailey

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Another airborne thriller with more holes in it than my fifteen-year-old shorts. Oh, and the villians: once again wacko “Christian fundamentalists”. Yawn.

Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve been a fan of Reich’s since his very first book, and this one does not disappoint in pacing or twistiness. The one disappointment is Reich’s compulsion to make a wacko evangelical Christian the villain of the book. Still, I enjoyed the story.

James Van Allen: The First Eight Billion Miles by Abigail Foerstner

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A really interesting biography of an Iowa native who played a big role in America’s early space exploration and discovered the earth’s radiation belts. A very good read.

The Redbreast by Jo Nesbø

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This Norwegian author weaves a darn good detective story that ties in neo-Nazis with the Norwegian presence on both sides of the WWII battlefield. I really enjoyed this book – will be looking for others by Nesbo.

Phytosphere by Scott Mackay

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A short sci-fi novel that reads like a script to a cheesy SciFi channel made-for-TV movie. The basics: aliens want to emigrate to Earth, but can’t come to an agreement with the UN on where they will be allowed to live. So, they generate a “phytosphere” (i.e. a green, growing shroud) around the earth to kill off everything. Much more time spent on the drama of crisis on earth than in the actual sci-fi stuff. Kinda lame, but still moderately entertaining.

A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times by Kim Riddlebarger

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A spirited defense of amillennialism, with arguments for why the other common positions are incorrect. Quite readable, seemingly fair. Leaves me with much to ponder.

Golden Fox by Wilbur Smith

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’d never read anything by Mr. Smith before; just picked this one up from the library on a whim. It was actually a lot of fun and reminiscent of Ludlum’s classic Bourne stuff. Set back in the Cold War, a well-written and plotted story of politics, romance, intrigue, and blackmail. Entertaining.

Endgame, 1945: The Missing Final Chapter of World War II by David A.T. Stafford

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An interesting read about WWII in the period when the war was basically but not totally over, the mop-up in Germany, the liberation of the death camps, and the like. A period not usually covered in detail.

Cauldron by Jack McDevitt

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A fun futurist space novel a la Arthur C. Clarke. A few hundred years in the future, a new space engine technology is discovered that allows travel to the far reaches of the universe. No big plot twists or over-arching story arc here, just an exploration of the setting. Pretty good read.

Bastard Tongues: A Trailblazing Linguist Finds Clues to Our Common Humanity in the World's Lowliest Languages by Derek Bickerton

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

These books on linguistics interest me for some reason. Rather dry reading in parts, it’s still an interesting story of this scholar’s investigation into the development of various Creole and Pidgin languages.

Majestic Descending by Mitchell Graham

Tue, 27 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

OK, I really liked this book. As an adventure/mystery-type story, it managed to keep a nice even pace, keeping me interested without being over the top. Nice little twist at the end.

Dead Heat by Joel C. Rosenberg

Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

OK, so I like stories where the authors actually go for the disaster scenario and then play out the results. Rosenberg’s first couple books in this series were pretty good; by this time, though, he’s getting far too preachy and dispensational. Ugh.

Stone Cold by David Baldacci

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dale Brown should be taking lessons from this guy. A fun, engaging adventure novel.

The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography by Sidney Poitier

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I picked this one up because I was curious what he would put in a “spiritual autobiograpy”. It ends up being a strong dose of moralism (“the measure of a man is how he provides for his family”) mixed with a lot of naturalistic theism (“there is a god that we see in nature”). Poitier may be “a good man”, but, sadly, seems quite muddled spiritually.

Shadow Command by Dale Brown

Sun, 18 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As much as the geek in me loves Dale Brown’s technology, the Patrick McLanahan story is getting very very old. Same story every time – McLanahan has his gadgets and goes off to save the world. The President and other Defense Department folks oppose him as a loose cannon. Blah blah blah.

Vurt by Jeff Noon

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An early entry in the alt-history genre, and it’s an amazing story. What if the Germans and Japanese had won WWII?

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An early entry in the alt-history genre, and it’s an amazing story. What if the Germans and Japanese had won WWII?

Korea Strait by David Poyer

Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The blurb on the flyleaf drew me in – ever since Clancy’s Red Storm Rising I’ve been hooked on ideas of what upcoming non-nuclear wars might look like. Unfortunately the nearest this book got to Tom Clancy is when it ripped off The Hunt for Red October at the end of the story. Pretty bad.

Gas City by Loren D. Estleman

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Supposedly this guy has written a lot of books, but this was my first encounter with him. I slogged through, but didn’t enjoy it all that much.

Betrayal by John Lescroart

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve enjoyed Lescroart’s books starring Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitzky for a while now, but this one was a bit of a disappointment. It’s a did-he-or-didn’t-he plot built around a soldier with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and his friend-turned-rival. A decent read, but not a very fulfilling ending.

The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Written in 1953, this book won the first-ever Hugo Award for sci-fi. I was impressed with how non-dated the story felt. While not having a very futurist slant toward technology, the remainder of the futurist part of the setting and plot was solid. Fun to get back to the early sci-fi.

Nearer, My God: An Autobiography of Faith by William F. Buckley Jr.

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I think this one may have been a re-read for me – parts of it seemed vaguely familiar. Still, worth the read. The emphasis in this volume is far more on the faith than the autobiography; most of the chapters address how he, as a thinker and intellectual, addresses and comes to grips with his (Roman Catholic) beliefs. Well written, insightful, good stuff.

Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription: Notes and Asides from National Review by William F. Buckley Jr.

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I’m going on a bit of a Buckley kick here this past week (after trying again and failing to get into Neal Stephenson’s _Quicksilver_ and this is one of only two non-fiction books of Buckley’s that the library carries. Guaranteed to stretch your vocabulary and make you chuckle at the wit. A fun read.

The 6 Sacred Stones by Matthew Reilly

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Reilly’s genre is something I’ll call “non-stop action thriller”. His books read like a Jason Statham movie on speed. He uses more italics and exclamation points than even the Hardy Boys did. But his books are entertaining escapist reads, and this one didn’t disappoint. It did mislead a bit, though: they only dealt with the first three stones in this story, and leave you cliffhanging at the end of the book. Now I’ve gotta wait for him to publish the next one…

All Shall Be Well; And All Shall Be Well; And All Manner of Things Shall Be Well by Tod Wodicka

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Not sure what prompted me to pick this one up. It’s an odd little story about a guy who is a medieval times reenactor, except that he’s so uncomfortable with modern life that he prefers to stay in character all the time. Of course, this wreaks havoc with his family. Overall a messed-up, depressing story. Very odd.

Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager by Michael Lopp

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This book was recommended highly by Geof, and the author (who goes by his nom de cyber, Rands) is brilliant at Rands in Repose, so I finally bought it from Amazon and gave it a whirl. While Rands’ high-tech world of internet startups and quick-turn user applications is a long mile from my process-driven avionics development world, he still has good insights on management and nerds. A good read.

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I decided to re-read the Chronicles of Narnia – it’s been years. I had forgotten much of this story, but it was a joy to find so much of it so familiar as I read.

Cutthroat by Steve Brewer

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Nothing fancy here – just a straightforward crime adventure thriller. A good read, though – a likable hero, reasonable plot, good characters. I’d read this guy again.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

See my extended review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2008/03/18/on-the-edge-of-the-dark-sea-of-darkness/).

The Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sometimes you just need a good escapist thriller. This one stars a woman who is a gifted interrogator and is on the hunt for a scary cult leader. Fun stuff.

Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by N.T. Wright

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brilliant stuff. The first post of a review series is [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2008/03/06/wrestling-with-tom-an-american-evangelicals-coming-to-grips-with-n-t-wrights-surprised-by-hope/).

Blasphemy by Douglas Preston

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I do so enjoy Preston’s stuff. In this story, the crew running a new superconducting supercollider appear to be getting a message from God when they run the collider. But it is really God? Maybe not… Good stuff.

Navigator by Stephen Baxter

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The continuation of Baxter’s alternate history series. Good stuff.

Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography by David Michaelis

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A very good but ultimately very sad biography of Charles M. Schulz, whose life seemed to bear out the aphorism that great art comes from troubled psyches. I didn’t realize how much _Peanuts_ represented Schulz’s life… interesting. Sad that a man who had so much to contribute spent his whole life feeling like no one loved him.

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy J. Keller

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I was pretty excited to get my hands on this one. I have very much enjoyed Keller’s teaching, especially as it relates to urban ministry and reaching postmoderns with the gospel. Maybe I was expecting too much from this book, but it left me unimpressed. I wanted something new, insightful; Keller rehashed the stuff we’ve all read already, quoting extensively from C. S. Lewis, Alvin Plantinga, and a few others. This might be a good book to give to your thinking friend who is wrestling with the ideas of Christianity, but for me, it was only OK.

The Gum Thief by Douglas Coupland

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This is the first Coupland novel I’ve had the patience with/interest in to make it all the way through. A moderately interesting postmodern tale of shiftless people wrestling with meaningless lives.

The Driver: My Dangerous Pursuit of Speed and Truth in the Outlaw Racing World by Alexander Roy

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This guy drove/raced in a bunch of fairly illegal road rallies, and eventually set a record by driving from New York to San Francisco in 31 hours, 4 minutes. Yowza.

Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK by Gerald Posner

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This book is probably 15 years old now, but new to me as it was on clearance for $2 at the used bookstore. I’m not up on all the Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories, but it seems to me like Posner did a pretty good job of documenting a case for Oswald as the single, independent assassin.

Strip Search by William Bernhardt

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How does this guy crank out so many books so fast? This other series focuses on a police psychologist and her sidekick, an autistic young man who is a mathematical savant. A quick, easy, fun read.

The Electric Church by Jeff Somers

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A dystopian near-future sci-fi-ish novel (almost cyberpunk, but not quite enough cyber) about a “church” that converts you by taking your brain and plugging it into a cyborg. Darn good story.

Capitol Threat: A Novel of Suspense by William Bernhardt

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I enjoy the Ben Kincaid series, though I’m a bit concerned that Bernhardt is following a similar path with Kincaid that Tom Clancy did with Jack Ryan – a series of job promotions that ultimately dead-ends because you can’t go any higher. Still, a fun read.

Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See by Robert Kurson

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A fascinating real-life story about a man who lost his sight in a chemical explosion at the age of three, lived as a blind man for 40 years, and then was given the opportunity to regain his sight. More amazing the more I think about it. Worth reading.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster.

The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature by Steven Pinker

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A rather lengthy, and somewhat thick look at the English language and language in general. He uses the study of words, particularly verbs, to give some insight on how the brain works and how we process things at a sub-language level. Interesting read.

The Ghost by Robert Harris

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A small story of political intrigue framed around the experience of a ghost writer. Less detailed and complex (and therefore, less interesting) than I thought it might be.

The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Tangentially in the DaVinci Code genre, this one focuses on a long-lost ancient manuscript, but at least this time religion isn’t involved. Scholars and mobsters cross continents and unravel codes in search of the lost play of William Shakespeare. I dug it for a while, but by the end it was losing me. Just OK, really, not great.

The Execution of Sherlock Holmes: And Other New Adventures of the Great Detective by Donald Serrell Thomas

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Newly-written Sherlock Holmes stories are nearly their own genre these days. I’ve read a bunch of them, but few come as close to replicating Arthur Conan Doyle’s voice of John Watson, M. D., as does Mr. Thomas. Enjoyable little stories.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Ryan recommended this one to me, and it was well worth the read. A unique storytelling style and voice provide a story about an exceptional boy dealing with the personal aftermath of 9/11.

A More Perfect Constitution: 23 Proposals to Revitalize Our Constitution and Make America a Fairer Country by Larry J. Sabato

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A fascinating book. I’m not sure I agree with all his assumptions about what’s “fair”, but on the whole there are some good suggestions in there. I should really think about interacting with it in a longer blog post.

Travels in the Scriptorium by Paul Auster

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A short, baffling, almost recursive story. I’m not sure what else to say about it. It wasn’t bad; it was, though, rather curious.

Malice by Robert K. Tanenbaum

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The name sounds familiar, but I can’t remember reading one of this guy’s novels before. It was really quite good – a legal sort of thriller, complex in plot and flawless in execution. I’ll have to see what else he’s written.

The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This Agent Pendergast series by Preston/Child is another one I really enjoy. This one was far more into the spiritist/Buddhism angle than previous books have been, but it still wound into the story OK. It was enjoyable to have Constance Greene (Agent Pendergast’s “ward”) play a larger role in this story, too.

Red Sea by Emily Benedek

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A darn good novel for a first-time novelist, spinning a yarn about a newspaper reporter who works in league with an Israeli intelligence agent and an FBI agent to stop a terrorist plot.

Manhattan Project: The Birth of the Atomic Bomb in the Words of Its Creators, Eyewitnesses and Historians. by Cynthia C. Kelly

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A compilation of bits and pieces from a multitude of writers surrounding the US development of the first atomic bomb. What could have been rather dry history stays lively and interesting as you get differing voices and viewpoints.

Engleby by Sebastian Faulks

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A rather interesting first-person narrative by a character who is a liar and cheat, and may or may not have had something to do with the disappearance of a girl.

Darkness Falls by Kyle Mills

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve enjoyed most of Mills’ novels, so I picked this one (his latest) up. I was mildly disappointed. The basic idea is that an environmental terrorist gets his hands on an oil-eating bacteria and contaminates all the worlds oil wells, causing a massive world oil shortage. The problem is that Mills can’t decide whether he wants to write his usual thriller or an environmental missive. The result is a hodge-podge that isn’t all that thrilling, is only mildly preachy, and fails to really explore how the world might change if oil was suddenly scarce.

Spook Country by William Gibson

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Gibson is one of those authors I know I’m supposed to like, but I struggle with really getting into his books. This one was OK – I was tempted to put it down half-way through, but I hate quitting books in the middle. Still, it took me a week to read it because I didn’t have any trouble putting it down to do other things.

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

OK, so I didn’t really plan to read two McCarthy novels in a row, but I ditched the Salman Rushdie book about a hundred pages in. So instead I catch up on McCarthy. Superlatives fail me. Not a complex plot, but beautifully written and picturesque in a way you rarely find. I can understand why they rate McCarthy as one of the top American authors. Good stuff.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

No, I didn’t read this one because Oprah recommended it. But I’d heard talk of McCarthy and realized I’d never read anything of his, so I grabbed this one. Wowza. Dark, harrowing, but not entirely despairing. A chilling picture of the post-apocalyptic experience.

No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A history of the American experience in 1940-1944, through the lens of the Roosevelt White House. DKG knows how to tell a story by pulling in the lives of the people surrounding the “name” players. (Another good example of this is her more recent book on Lincoln.) Interesting stuff. I don’t read enough history.

Simple Genius by David Baldacci

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Baldacci’s investigative thrillers have always been of medium quality to me – readable, enjoyable, but not great. This one continues the trend. Too much agonizing over psychologists, too unlikely a plot. Meh.

White Night by Jim Butcher

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I decided to give the Dresden series another try, and I enjoyed this one. I should probably try to back up and read from the beginning – might help with the confusion level.

Circumference of Darkness by Jack Henderson

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This post-9/11 novel revolves around a brilliant computer hacker and an equally brilliant government computer expert who join forces to hold off the *next* attack. A bit uneven, yeah, but quite a novel for a first-time author. A fun read.

Requiem for an Assassin by Barry Eisler

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I love the John Rain series. Love love love. In the Japanese-American hit man John Rain, Eisler has created a rich, multifaceted character that keeps you engaged. Another great book in the series.

Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present by Cory Doctorow

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A collection of short sci-fi stories. This is the first time in recent memory that I’ve read sci-fi that really seemed to be tuned in to the present – Doctorow has managed to grab on to the realities of the internet age and project them just a bit into the future. Good stuff.

Volk's Game by Brent Ghelfi

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The review on the front said “Brent Ghelfi writes like Dostoevsky’s hooligan great-grandson on speed.” How can you resist a line like that? The hero of this international thriller is a rather bad Russian guy. It’s hip and hooligan for sure. It was OK, I enjoyed some of the characters, but it had a little too much off-color material for my taste.

Conqueror by Stephen Baxter

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The second in the series, this “alternate history” deals with the ages leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Interesting to think about that period. I have enjoyed the series thus far.

Category 7 by Bill H. Evans

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A cheap sort-of thriller about the possibilities of people being able to create and control the weather. Confusing, actually. I couldn’t keep track of the characters well at all. 🙁

Dr. Seuss & Mr. Geisel: A Biography by Judith Morgan

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A biography of that writer we all know and love, Dr. Seuss. A fascinating picture of a man who wasn’t really interested in fame and hated the spotlight, but loved wit, wordplay, and cartooning.

The Echo Maker by Richard Powers

Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I’m not quite sure about this one. I read through to the end, but my big motivation was just finishing the book, not because I was quite so interested in the story. An exploration of a brother-sister relationship and who we think we are. Meh.

Making Room for Life: Trading Chaotic Lifestyles for Connected Relationships by Randy Frazee

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Pastor Richard bought this one for all of the elders and we’re gonna go through it together. I found it reasonable, but not exactly revolutionary. Frazee’s conclusion: live a community-based, integrated life, and restrict your work to half the day (he suggests 6 AM – 6 PM), saving the remaining hours for family time and sleep. A bit pie-in-the-sky, the more I think about it.

The Echelon Vendetta by David Stone

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The flyleaf reviews made glowing comparisons to Ludlum and LeCarre. I’ve got a grain of salt here for ya. It wasn’t bad, but certainly not up to those lofty standards.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Finished the series. Wow. Just wow. A nearly perfect ending.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Chosen Soldier: The Making of a Special Forces Warrior by Dick Couch

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The author, himself a former Navy SEAL, takes us on a journey through the five phases of an Army Special Forces (aka Green Berets) training course. I find this sort of stuff fascinating, and Couch’s ear for dialogue makes it all the more enjoyable.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This one is darker than the previous books, but the story really starts to develop here. It feels less like a standalone story and more like a piece of a longer saga. Good stuff.

Strike Force by Dale Brown

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I enjoy Brown’s novels for being a bit forward-looking, and yeah, for the sweet technology. However, his plots are getting tired; every book for the last several has been the general with all the cool toys saving the world whilst facing opposition from a political and military establishment that distrusts him. It worked the first few times, but now, it’s getting a bit threadbare.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

With this installment in the HP series, Rowling seems to have realized that she has the opportunity to hook readers who are older than 12. Ergo, 800+ pages, a slightly more complicated, less formulaic novel. This is my favorite so far. Three more to go.

The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I was taking a chance on this one; I have gotten sick of the _Davinci_-esque novels, but I have enjoyed Meltzer in the past. I wasn’t disappointed here; the whole thing with the Freemasons seems to have been hacked in just so the publisher could try to sell it as being in the _Davinci_ genre; in reality, it’s just a solid thriller/whodunit. An entertaining read.

Magic Street by Orson Scott Card

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A fascinating book of fantasy, set in Los Angeles and loosely based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Card consistently turns out some of my favorite prose.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This volume seems to be where Rowling decides to make the novels a little more involved. This one is more detailed and more complicated than the first two volumes, which to me makes it even more enjoyable. I’ll keep reading.

Bad Luck and Trouble by Lee Child

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve enjoyed the Jack Reacher series, and this one didn’t disappoint. Reacher is a retired Army investigator whose entire belongings are the toothbrush in his pocket and the clothes on his back. He wanders through life and runs into his share of trouble. This one was a pretty good story.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I don’t know that I’m a die-hard Harry fan yet, but I’m interested enough to keep reading. Another entertaining book.

Exile by Richard North Patterson

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve been a fan of RNP’s novels for a while – generally lengthy (which I like) and detailed/twisted enough to be enjoyable. This story, though, was less a twisted novel and more an excursus into the politics of the Middle East wrapped in a slim fictional wrapper. Still an interesting read, though – he did a lot of research, and the characters and situations, while fictional in detail, are undoubtedly representative of real people.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I have resisted the HP craze until now, but with all the furor both for and against the books, I figured it was time to read them for myself. You know what? It was a fun book. Fairly imaginative, good characters, fun to read. I’ll go ahead and read the next one.

Kepler's Witch: An Astronomer's Discovery of Cosmic Order Amid Religious War, Political Intrigue, and the Heresy Trial of His Mother by James A. Connor

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This biography of Johannes Kepler chronicles how his faith interacted with his scientific discoveries, and the persecution he went through as a Lutheran in a land dominated by Catholics. A well-written book, respectful of Kepler’s faith, and drawn from new, first-time translations of several of Kepler’s letters. Interesting stuff.

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve been working on this one for a while. Goodwin does a heck of a job at weaving an engaging narrative. She shows how Lincoln brilliantly pulled his political rivals onto his team, and then managed to keep them together and effective throughout the Civil War. I knew before that I was impressed with Lincoln; after this book I am even more so. Good, good book.

The Execution Channel by Ken MacLeod

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The flyleaf of this book called it a “blogothriller”, and while I’m not exactly sure that’s a real genre yet, Macleod shows a good grasp for how online news sources and blogs might strategically be used in the future. A moderately entertaining book.

The Children of Húrin by J.R.R. Tolkien

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This was my first foray into Tolkien’s backhistory of LOTR; I haven’t tried the Simarillion or any of its kin in many years, and I never got through them in the first place. However, this volume of Tolkien is magnificent, accessible, and heartbreaking. A true epic.

The Righteous Men by Sam Bourne

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I think we can all admit by now that _The Davinci Code_ spawned a whole new genre of ancient-religious-mysticism thrillers. This is another one. I swore off Steve Berry a few books above for yet another novel bashing Christianity. This one was much better written than any of Berry’s novels, and the plot centered on Jewish mysticism rather than Christian. So far, so good, I’m thinking. But guess who the bad guys end up being? That’s right, radical, “right-wing” Christians. *sigh* Still, pretty well written. Entertaining.

The Gladiator by Harry Turtledove

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

An OK story – I just have a hard time getting into the “Crosstime” genre. The basic idea is that the Communists win the Cold War, and this is set some 150 years in the future. When you get down to it, there’s not that much story, which is probably what annoys me.

Rollback by Robert J. Sawyer

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I became a fan of Sawyer’s a few years ago, but this one cements him as one of my current favorites in the sci-fi genre. In Rollback, a husband and his famous scientist wife are offered the chance for gene therapy to “roll back” their aging process – to take them from age 85 to age 25. His rollback works – hers doesn’t. Sawyer does a good job of exploring the dilemmas and frustrations a man in that position would face. Fun reading.

My Life with the Great Pianists by Franz Mohr

Sat, 09 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A short, quick, read by the man who was the primary concert piano technician for Steinway for many years. He worked closely with Horowitz, Rubinstein, and Van Cliburn. Some nice stories and anecdotes.

Deep Storm by Lincoln Child

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve enjoyed Child’s stuff in the past – this one was just OK. Crichton’s Sphere is a better undersea thriller, and the sci-fi aspect of this one was almost nil. Meh.

Manifold: Time by Stephen Baxter

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I really enjoyed Baxter’s _Manifold_ trilogy. A perspective on time that you won’t soon forget.

The Hunters by W.E.B. Griffin

Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

W.E.B. is probably my favorite author of this genre, especially now that Clancy isn’t writing any more. Good military adventure fiction.

The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry

Thu, 24 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I should’ve known better than to pick this one up. Fresh off his last novel which was part of the whole set of DaVinci Code knock-offs, this one set out to deny the other testament of the Bible. In this one, Sts. Jerome and Augustine conspired to mistranslate the Old Testament to give the Jews claim to Palestine rather than the real place they were from: Arabia. Give me a break. I won’t be picking up another Steve Berry book.

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I can never decide whether I’m bored with Hemingway or whether I really like him. This time, his spare prose won me over. Now I need to re-listen to Andy Osenga’s _Marilyn_.

In War Times by Kathleen Ann Goonan

Mon, 21 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Now _this_ was a heck of a book. Wrapping multiple time continuums up with jazz music in the setting of World War II… thoughtful, insightful. Excellent. In my top 2 for the year this far.

The Collectors by David Baldacci

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Fairly basic, but fun sort of whodunit/thriller. Too many twists too late in the game for my taste, but still enjoyable.

Emperor by Stephen Baxter

Sat, 12 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve been a big fan of Baxter’s sci-fi writing in the past (the Manifold: series is worth a re-read here sometime soon) so I picked this one up on the strength of his name alone. Supposedly this is an “alternate history” novel. I’ll have to admit that I guess I’m not familiar enough with the early Roman domination of Britain to know which parts were alternate. It does have an ending that really sets up the next book, though… not a bad read.

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Till We Have Faces.

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Jurassic Park.

Sun of Suns by Karl Schroeder

Thu, 03 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new sci-fi series with a neat premise: in the far future, these “worlds” are housed in space inside giant (several thousand kilometer diameter) balloons, and the whole world has an atmosphere, but gravity is only provided as the cities generate their own by rotating. There’s a lot more to it – I’m not gonna summarize the whole book, but if you’re in to this genre (\*dan, this means you), you should read this book.

Odyssey by Jack McDevitt

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A sci-fi adventure that reminds the reader that while there are mysteries “out there”, there is also no changing human nature. Acceptably interesting but not just blow-me-away awesome.

Our Iceberg Is Melting by John Kotter

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In general, I am skeptical of short leadership/motivational books like this one, but this one was pretty good.

The Thief of Time by John Boyne

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

An interesting story narrated by a man who stopped aging at 50 and is now 256 years old. Mixing historical and fictional characters, it’s a compelling read.

Magic City by James W. Hall

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The flyleaf claims that this novel is to Miami what LA Confidential is to Los Angeles. I don’t know that I’d go _that_ far, but it was a decent little novel that tries to tie in the Cuban experience in Miami. A quick read.

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Somehow along the way I’ve missed most of Hemingway’s stuff. Ultimately a sad, somewhat depressing story, but he draws beautiful word pictures.

The Children of Men by P.D. James

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I hear that the movie is only very loosely based on the book, but I’ll still be interested to see it (I haven’t seen it yet). This book wins points from me based on the criteria I mentioned in my previous review: the author predicates a novel idea, and then explores the “what-if’s”. In this case, “what would happen if the entire human race lost the ability to reproduce?” It’s a compelling question, and the author handles it pretty well. I enjoyed this book.

The Quest by Nelson DeMille

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I kept feeling like I’d read the book before… but I don’t remember reading it. A decent premise, but I’m growing more and more tired of books that have the hero averting the really bad thing. I’m more interested in the author exploring the results after the really bad thing has happened.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Fun to read a novel dealing with medieval times that isn’t a DaVinci Code knock-off. This one, instead, dealt with Dracula. Nothing groundbreaking, but a good escapist novel.

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Cannery Row.

Variable Star by Robert A. Heinlein

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A sci-fi novel originally mapped out by Heinlein, then completed by Robinson after Heinlein’s death. The lead character, after finding out the girl he loves is the heir to the galaxy’s largest fortune, takes off on an “intergalactic bender”… hey, it’s a good story. Probably my favorite of the year thus far.

The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This one explores morality and life choices in an intriguing way. Reminded me of _On Beauty_ from earlier this year – this one might have been better… tough call.

The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I’ve been working on this one for a while. You gotta read it slow just to take in all that Chesterton is saying. A brilliant response to the humanists and Rationalists of his day, and a nice end focusing on the person of Christ.

Sagramanda by Alan Dean Foster

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

“A Novel of near-future India.” A somewhat basic action thiller, it manages to be reasonably futuristic without abandoning a firm sense of reality. A good read.

Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield

Fri, 09 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A short but touching account of the author’s love for and loss of his wife, and the music that provided the soundtrack.

The Traitor by Stephen Coonts

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Coonts has managed to succeed where Tom Clancy failed: continuing a series even after the main character has been promoted too far to be useful. How? Introduce a new character (in this case, Tommy Carmellini), and keep Jake Grafton around as a minor player. It works.

Hell's Best Kept Secret by Ray Comfort

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new booklog entry for Hell's Best Kept Secret.

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A more extended review [here](https://www.chrishubbs.com/2007/01/29/pick-chriss-reading-list-velvet-elvis/).

This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel J. Levitin

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A fascinating look at how our brains hear, remember, and respond to music.

A Star is Found by Janet Hirshenson

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A quick conversational read about the business of casting movies. These two women have cast some of my favorite movies (_The Princess Bride_, for instance), so the stories of casting are a fun inside look at what might have been, or what almost wasn’t.

Empire by Orson Scott Card

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

OSC envisions a near future where a powerful political mastermind kicks off a Red State – Blue State civil war. The crisp prose we’ve come to expect from Card, the story nearly believable.

Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I've enjoyed the Dirk Pitt novels through the years, but I think the series is getting tired.

The Archivist by Martha Cooley

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

None

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A short but unique novel - narrated by a teenaged autistic boy. Good stuff. Oh, and the protagonist's first two names are Christopher John. :-)

Next by Michael Crichton

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Typical Crichton - take a scientific idea, run with it. Less plot and intensity than his classic novels; one of his weaker efforts.

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

An excellent novel exploring race, religion, and class relations within two families in New England. Ms. Smith has a gift for description and dialog. I really enjoyed this book.