Books

Sociologist Claude Fischer is unhappy with historians' failure to provide a grand narrative of American history.

Katherine Clay Bassard's book on the use of scripture by African-American women writers begins with Balaam's ass and the Song of Songs. One is compelled to keep reading.

I lament biblical illiteracy as much as anyone, but I think surveys sometimes load the dice against scripture when illustrating the public's unfamiliarity with the Bible. A recent example was noted by the American Bible Society as it released The Freedom Bible in connection with the 9/ll anniversary.

If ever the phrase "unintended consequences" applied to a situation, it does to the epic story of the 18th Amend­ment and its undoing by the 21st.

Walk through the book section at your local Walmart and chances are you'll find popular titles written by individuals within the Pentecostal and charismatic movement, such as Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen. Flip on your television and you might encounter one of the most recognized ministers with a Pentecostal background, T. D. Jakes, dispensing advice alongside Dr. Phil. 

Richard Rohr has written his most sage, most important book yet. Its message is straightforward and bracing: the spiritual life is not static.

William Cavanaugh has written a pair of stunningly important books, in which he makes a clear and persuasive argument for overturning a founding myth of the modern Western state.

Todd Gitlin and Liel Leibovitz have written a thoughtful critical volume on the roots and costs of chosenness as it pertains to historical and contemporary Israel and the United States.

Kristine A. Culp has produced a sophisticated, original and timely work of constructive theology. It also happens to be a great story—even a page-turner.

Peter Lovenheim and Tom Montgomery Fate are both suburban dads on spiritual quests. In different ways, each of their books hits close to home.

Stanley Hauerwas's new book offers an exuberant retrospective on a life and career in which conversation, argument, reflection and proclamation have shaped and disciplined a remarkable body of work.