September 2004 Bookshelf
A much shorter list of books this month given other time commitments I have had. A wonderful book on stages of development in the Christian life and a great piece of fictional mind-candy.
September 2004 Bookshelf
Bushworld by Maureen Dowd
The books currently out that parody President Bush are similar to those that parodied President Clinton. Change authors, change what it is the authors are making fun of (Clinton’s lady problems or Bush’s ineptitude) and you have what is becoming the norm of American political dialogue. Maureen Dowd’s Bushworld is a collection of her NY Times editorials, all of which compose a very cutting analysis of him as a leader. Dowd is unabashedly personal in her critique, sharing a concern about Bush’s ability and intellect relative to the job at hand. She also feels that his policies are caught up in a personal dimension most Americans downplay, specifically his need to prove to himself that he is not his father. This adds another level of depth to his desire to be re-elected (something his father did not accomplish) and his underlying willingness to go into Iraq (an unfinished job his father did not complete).
God: A Biography by Jack Miles
This book is a study of the concept of God as revealed in the Old Testament from a purely literary vantage point. Miles investigates the idea of God as a purely literary figure, showing how the idea changes and evolves as the Old Testament progresses. I found the book dry and not that enjoyable. I do believe that Christians need to dwell on the reality that the idea of God changes considerably even within Genesis. I am thankful to people like Miles who explore this idea, even though their explorations force me to ask some painful and disquieting questions concerning Holy Scripture.
Colossus: The Price of America’s Empire by Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson has a simple thesis in his book Colossus: that American power is certainly that of an empire, that a liberal American empire (which he is not sure America understands or is capable of managing) would be good for the world, and that America does not understand its own might globally. Ferguson strikes an interesting middle road between the anti-hegemony advocates like James Carroll, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn and others without being wrapped up in the vitriol of defending stupid mistakes on the part of American foreign policy (which he agrees the Iraqi war is one such mistake).
Ferguson’s comment here is worth remembering: “Unlike most of the previous authors who have remarked on this, I have no objection in principle to an American empire. Indeed, a part of my argument is that many parts of the world would benefit from a period of American rule. But what the world needs today is not just any kind of empire. What is required is a liberal empire - that is to say, one that not only underwrites the free international exchange of commodities, labor and capital but also creates and upholds the conditions without which markets cannot function - peace and order, the rule of law, noncorrupt administration, stable fiscal and monetary policies - as well as provides public goods, such as transport infrastructure, hospitals and schools, which would not otherwise exist. One important question this book asks is whether or not the United States is capable of being a successful liberal empire.” (page 2)
Trace by Patricia Cornwell
A great piece of mind-candy I needed this month. My wife and I enjoy Cornwell’s books. Her most recent book Trace is a great throw back to how she first wrote when she started; a gripping crime story without the sensationalism of the past couple of books she has written.
Speaking My Mind by Tony Campolo
Campolo wrote this book shortly after he had a very serious stroke in what I believe is an effort to put his thinking down on paper regarding what he sees as the most contentious issues within Christianity. He is, as one commentator on Amazon.Com has said, a “mind still at work.” I loved his grace when dealing with the hyper-fundamentalists who so strongly disagree with him. He says at one point that he views them as fellow brothers and sisters, even if they do not. I find much to agree with Campolo on, and even more to emulate relative to his attitude towards those who strongly disagree with him.
Critical Journey - Stages to a Life of Faith by Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich
This beautiful gem of a book is an absolute must for Christians. The book is written by a former seminary professor (Robert Guelich) who has since passed away, and Janet Hagberg, a Christian therapist. They studied the lives of quite a number of Christians in an effort to describe the common stages Christians go through as their walk with God develops. The result is a six step process that has certain struggles and common characteristics indicative of each stage. I am at a point in my life that this book identifies as stage four, where God seems distant and searching is the only constant in your life. This is also the moment in time when you hit a wall, an obstacle to further maturation that only God can take you around, you can not move around it yourself. I was deeply touched by this book and can not recommend it enough.
previous post: Archbishop Desmond Tutu on the Iraqi War
next post: News Flash: Iraqi War Will Be Hard Work
Leave a Reply
About MysteriousFaith
“If anyone can show me, and prove to me, that I am wrong in thought or deed, I will gladly change. I seek the truth, which never yet hurt anybody. It is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance which does harm.”
Themes
Now Reading
Search
Favorites
Personal Writing
Theology
Categories
Meta Data