This is the first part of my summary of books I read in 2011.
Christian books
I read more Christian nooks this year than ever before, partly due to the fact that I joined a Bible study and chose to buy the books (at least most of them) used to facilitate weekly discussions. Here are some brief comments on each one along with a link to my review on Amazon where appropriate.
Triumph of the Lamb by Dennis E. Johnson
This is an excellent commentary on the last book of the Bible from an idealist perspective. My Amazon review is here.
Confessions by Augustine, translated by F. J. Sneed
I’ve gotten rather lazy about reading the classics and have not been following C.S. Lewis’s advice on reading an old book for every new one. At least the one classic I read this year is one of the all time greats, not just a Christian classic but one of the greatest works of Western literature: the Confessions of Saint Augustine.
This is the second time I’ve read the Confessions (although when I first read it I skipped the last few chapters.) There’s so much that could be said but what struck me the most was how contemporary Augustine’s story sounds. He may have lived in the 4th century but his journey from Christian home, to skeptic to one of the greatest theologians in church history is remarkably readable to a modern audience. What he goes through in life, both in regular everyday terms as well as his questions about the nature of God could be written today.
I highly recommend the translation by F. J. Sneed. It is very readable. Do not get any of the free versions available for the Kindle or iPad as they contain vastly outdated and difficult to read translations.
The Next Story by Tim Challies
Tim Challies is a blogger from Canada who posts daily on subjects of interest to Christians who are part of the Reformed tradition. One of his interests is technology and how Christians should relate to it. His book The Next Story deals with this subject in a very informative way. He discusses technology from many different angles and relates each aspect to Christianity. I especially appreciated his chapter on how technology distracts us. If you use Facebook, Twitter, or use a Kindle or iPhone, this book is perfect for you. (And that basically includes everybody.)
Did Adam and Eve Really Exist? By C. John Collins
I enjoyed this brief book on the subject of the historicity of Adam and Eve. My Amazon review is here.
