More Book Recommendations
This is another in my irregular series on notable books that you should be aware of. There is always an endless supply of new books which become available every year. I try to keep up on some of the more worthwhile and important books. Thus this list.
In regard to reading, we are provided with this bit of wisdom in Ecclesiastes: “Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.” And Groucho Marx also offered some words of wisdom here: “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
But it is also a truism that leaders are readers. If we want to be effective in our work and ministry, we need to be widely read. Thus I offer another batch of books that you might well profit from.
I include them here because I am just too busy to write proper, full-length reviews of each of them. Indeed, the piles of review copies I have threaten to overtake my living room. But these titles are certainly worth giving at least a brief mention.
These fifteen books cover a whole range of topics, and are not presented in any particular order, although they are roughly arranged by subject. Except for three titles, they were all published this year. So if you like the smell of fresh ink, these titles are for you! Happy reading!
Peyser, Andrea, Celebutards. Citadel Press, 2009.
Celebutard is a term used to describe “lazy and egotistical thinkers, stars equipped with abundant money, fame, idle hours and yes-men, who feel secure enough in their own influence and intelligence to create insane foreign or domestic policy in their spare time”. Peyser features dozens of these pests. All the usual suspects are there: Sean Penn, Madonna, Susan Sarandon, Michael Moore, Barbra Streisand, Jimmy Carter, Oprah Winfrey, Martin Sheen, Jesse Jackson, Hillary Clinton and many more. Of interest, Peyser is no redneck hillbilly; she is “live-and-let-live on a variety of social issues, including abortion and gay rights”. But she can spot a celubutard a mile away, and provides a valuable service here in naming and shaming.
Leaf, Jonathan, The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Sixties. Regnery, 2009.
The sixties have taken on almost a religious, mythological status. The period has been glorified, sanctified, and deified, transformed into some holy era in recent history. Leaf does a great job of demolishing many of the myths, distortions and half-truths that have grown up concerning this memorable decade. While there was a lot of optimism and idealism going around back then, there was also a lot of violence, narcissism, destruction and nihilism. It was not all sweetness and light. And as a former member of the sixties counter-culture, I can certainly vouch for the critique offered in this helpful volume.
Tankard Reist, Melinda, ed., Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls. Spinifex, 2009.
The sexualisation of young girls continues apace, and is getting worse each year. Many companies are getting rich by targeting young girls, tempting them to get “the look” of pop stars and other celebs. But when these celebs fashion themselves after hookers and deviants, they are sending a really bad message to impressionable girls. In this volume 15 experts pen essays dealing with this dangerous and escalating problem, and offer strategies to turn things around.
Davidson, Richard, Flame of Yahweh. Hendrickson, 2007.
In the West we have managed to misuse and abuse sex to the nth degree. We are awash with all things sexual. While Christians may have a good idea about what the New Testament has to say about human sexuality, they may well be ignorant about the host of material on the topic found in the Old Testament. Thus this exhaustive and immensely helpful volume really tells us everything we might want to know about how the OT deals with the topic. Numerous issues are discussed, including marriage and family, infertility, prostitution, polygamy, adultery, rape, abortion, the elevation of women in the OT, and much more. This is a first rate treatment of the subject, and is well worth adding to your library.
Klusendorf, Scott, The Case for Life. Crossway, 2009.
Many good books have appeared over the years making the pro-life case. This is one of the newest, and is very helpful indeed. Klusendorf provides plenty of material here for how we can effectively, intelligently and persuasively make the pro-life case. It deals with all the hard questions and nagging controversies. A very good volume to have on hand.
Mohler, Albert, The Disappearance of God. Multnomah, 2009.
Albert Mohler is quickly becoming one of our best Christian commentators and social observers. He is always worth reading, as his insights and breadth of interest are top rate. Here he looks at how the God of the Bible is quickly disappearing from view in our secular, postmodern culture. We have become biblically and theologically illiterate. And it doesn’t help when sections of the church – such as the emerging church movement – in fact contribute to the problem. We need to once again proclaim truth with a capital T, and rediscover the God with whom we have to do.
Budziszewski, J., The Line Through the Heart. ISI Books, 2009.
Budziszewski is probably the leading defender of natural law theory (and practice) today. He has penned at least half a dozen solid volumes on the topic, and this one offers more of the same. He makes an incisive and brilliant case for the law being written on our hearts and the personal and social implications thereof. Not just theory, it looks at hard cases such as abortion, homosexuality, and capital punishment. A top notch work on ethical theory and the nature of personhood by a leading Christian thinker.
Murray, Iain, Heroes. The Banner of Truth Trust, 2009.
We are desperately in need of heroes today, and church history provides plenty of them. Here we find the stories of a number of great Christians in the Reformed tradition. Well known believers such as Whitefield, Spurgeon, Newton and Edwards are discussed along with some lesser known heroes. These helpful portraits make for inspiring and encouraging reading.
Wishart, Ian, Air Con. HATM, 2009.
Panic about global warming has become one of the big beat-ups of our time. In this helpful volume best-selling New Zealand writer and commentator Ian Wishart carefully and painstakingly looks at the topic, examining the evidence and weighing up the pros and cons. He not only finds the science to be unconvincing, but believes that following the proposed remedies will well-nigh bankrupt the West and in fact compound problems. An eye-opening treatment of a controversial issue.
Gilder, George, The Israel Test. Richard Vigilante Books, 2009.
George Gilder has always been an original and trail-blazing thinker. He has written best-sellers on the free market, technology, and other topics. Here he provides a brilliant defence of the beleaguered state of Israel. It is a key player in the battle for both freedom and the free market. Although a tiny and besieged state, surrounded by enemies, Israel has managed to be among the leaders in technology, science, wealth creation and freedom. Yet such overwhelming success in so many areas has simply resulted in envy, hatred and hostility from so many other nations. A spirited and ground-breaking defence of a much-maligned nation and people.
Spencer, Robert, The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran. Regnery, 2009.
Given what a huge influence the Koran has the world over, it is a book little known by Westerners. For that matter, few Muslims in fact know it very well either. But given the very real threat of Islamist jihad, we cannot be ignorant about what is in this book. Spencer does a great job of informing us about its contents, its message, and its dangers. Indeed, it is the Koran which the jihadists turn to for both inspiration and instruction, so we cannot afford to be uninformed about it. Another valuable and timely volume by Spencer.
Bawer, Bruce, Surrender. Doubleday, 2009.
Surrender is exactly what the West is doing in the face of radical Islam, especially Europe and the UK. In this well-argued and well-researched volume Bawer shows how we are undermining our own efforts as we attempt to appease the Islamists. We are surrendering our freedoms, our values and our beliefs as we cave in to the demands of those pushing for a global caliphate and universal sharia law. An important wake-up call.
Janson, Vickie, Ideological Jihad. Castle Publishing, 2009.
This Melbourne writer has long been involved in reaching Muslims. Here she examines how Islam is pushing its agenda ideologically, and in particular, she examines the writings and influence of Muslim apologist, Waleed Aly. She shows how in spite of the smooth-sounding propaganda, Islam and Christianity are on two different roads, and can never meet. She dissects the various myths being perpetrated by Muslim apologists, and makes the case for the uniqueness of Christ. A helpful response to the misinformation and half-truths being peddled in our mainstream media by Muslim activists.
Sayers, Mark, The Trouble With Paris. Thomas Nelson, 2008.
Our consumerist, materialistic and hyper-sexualised world could not be further removed from the world of biblical Christianity. But too often even those in the church are simply cozying up to, and mimicking, the world, instead of offering a clear and distinct alternative. In this perceptive volume Sayers, a Melbourne pastor, shows us a better way, as he offers helpful insights and understanding of contemporary culture and our youth sub-culture, and how we can best reach it. A good look at what’s wrong both with a broken and needy world and a shallow and superficial church.
Cioccolanti, Steve, From Buddha to Jesus. Sweet Life International, 2007.
Another Melbourne pastor, Cioccolanti came from a background of Buddhism in Thailand. He now is a Christian evangelist with a heart for reaching Buddhists. In this helpful, easy to follow volume, he explains the differences between the two faiths, and offers helpful advice on how to best reach out to our Buddhist friends. A useful and practical resource to help us in our witness to those from the East. buddhabook.org/bookblog/
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That’s a coincidence. I ordered the Budziszewski only yesterday. I’ve read most of his books. He’s very good on ethics.
With regard to Cioccolanti, also interesting is Paul Williams’ “The Unexpected Way”. The author is a noted expert on Buddhism who converted from that religion to Christianity.
John Snowden
Bill, did you buy these or do you tend to borrow from libraries?
Thanks,
Murray Bentham
Thanks Murray
I hardly ever borrow books from libraries. I prefer to have my own copies. I like underlining and highlighting books, so I need to purchase them (although I am sometimes sent review copies). Plus most libraries would not carry most of these books anyway.
But as my wife will testify, part of the reason we are always so poor is because I am forever buying more books! But as I like to point out, they are my tools of the trade. Sounds like a good excuse to me at any rate.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Haha – I’m glad to say I think your reasoning is perfectly adequate! I agree that borrowing books isn’t quite the same, even if it is just the convenience of being able to refer back to a book (if one can find it).
Murray Bentham
Thanks Murray
Now if we could only convince my wife of such wisdom!
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Bill, I think you need a special additional fund earmarked for “buying books (and related items!)”.
Of course, it would need to be ‘additional’ – it doesn’t help if the money you’ve been given for food is transferred to books – you can’t eat books!
Jenny Stokes
Thanks Jenny
Yes but man does not live by bread alone…!
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
With the up and coming ‘March For Sharia’ taking place in London, I think its time I was reading Robert Spencer’s ‘The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran’.
Thanks for the recommendation.
Iain Duncan, UK
Thanks Iain
Yes, and you had better get it soon, while it is still permissible to do so.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Greetings Bill. You provoke us to think our way through the majestic truths in our dear Lord. Albert Mohler is principal of the world’s largest seminary. Another of his works, ‘He is Not Silent’ shows the power of the Word of God alone for our preaching, replacing the pernicious anaemia of ear-tickling talks. My medical adviser has high-lighted almost the entire book. A group comprising a CPA, 2 medical men, and an educationalist present a weekly bible study. Series on the Trinity, life of Christ, Attributes of our Lord, great bible prayers, the psalms, demand hours of preparation. They may be heard on our web site.
Mohler shows why our national church needs Bible exposition desperately. Thank you for initiating the need.
Harrold Steward
Thanks Bill. I appreciate hearing of books you think highly of.
The Trouble With Paris is also available as a DVD, which is really good for bible studies and youth groups. I heard Sayers speak at a YFC event the other week, and he remains, in my mind, one of the most astute cultural commentators going around.
Simon Kennedy, Victoria
Hi Bill! Not many of us know about your book ‘Modern Conservative Thought’ 1990. How about telling us how you came up with the idea, explaining something about it, how much it is, and how it can be bought?
Stan Fishley
Thanks Stan
Yes, well I had been reading a lot of books in that area at the time, and was not aware of any volume up to then listing and describing such books. So I decided to do my own. So it is really an annotated bibliography of 714 books, in areas such as economics, religion, politics, law, education, the media, Marxism, war and peace, sexuality, the environment, and so on.
As to obtaining it, I am not sure if the publisher (the Institute of Public Affairs in Melbourne) still has any copies left. I have a small amount left, for those who are especially keen to get it. I guess I can pass it on for free, if a donation is sent to cover postage!
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Awesome reader!
Can I add a few books I’ve read recently:
Movements That Change the World (Melbourne author Steve Addison) identifies the features of great world-changing Christian movements.
Lost History of Christianity (Philip Jenkins) opened my eyes to the spread of the church over the middle east and as far as China and how it finally died. Very sobering; God doesn’t guarantee the survival of all institutional Christianity.
Then there’s my own book, Revelation Reclaimed: the Use and Misuse of the Apocalypse (Paternoster 2009)
Jon Newton
Thanks Jon
Yes I am aware of the first two books, and have reviewed the Addison volume here: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2009/07/28/a-review-of-movements-that-changed-the-world-by-steve-addison/
As to third, there is a good way for both me and my readers to become more aware of it: why not send me a review copy!
Blessings,
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Hello Bill,
first of all, I am really blessed anytime I read your stuff, I have a blog myself (in Italian) and I get inspired by you a lot.
I wanted to ask you if you have any other good Recommendations on books like “the case for life” and apologetics.
Thanks a lot
Antonio Morra
Thanks Tony
Glad this site is of some use. I have lengthy bibliographies on both these topics which I will send your way. Keep up the good work.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Interesting list of books. The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran is particularly interesting. I knew when I first read the Koran that there was an incredible amount of violence in it, but reading Muslim replies to the fatwa I thought Islam was a peaceful religion until I read Spencer’s response to the September 11 terrorist attacks.
About Leaf’s Politically Incorrect Guide to the Sixties, I know from Robert Inchausti’s excellent Subversive Orthodoxy: Outlaws, Revolutionaries and Other Christians in Disguise that the 1960s was not so radical as commonly assumed. In fact the most radical period in American history was the late 1980s with its violent thrash and political rap, plus the L.A. riots. However, I cannot recommend Leaf’s book because many important figures and topics are not in the book at all.
Among these are
– William Burroughs (who was I imagine a terrible seller in the Sixties but founded today’s nihilist anti-Christian culture and the “punk revolution” of the late 1970s)
– 1960s black music (free jazz was the real underground during most of the decade and James Brown and Issac Hayes the prelude to rap)
– the FM radio boom (allowed underground rock bands to be exposed)
– America’s intervention in Indonesia (brought Suharto to power and affected the spread of Communism)
Julien Peter Benney