A Fire Upon the Deep, by Vernor Vinge

If you have a taste for epic sci-fi with imaginative world-building, intricate plotting, and varied characters and settings, Vernor Vinge's A Fire Upon the Deep may strike your fancy.  Since it won the 1993 Hugo Award for Best Novel, sci-fi lovers have lauded it.  Reading it now, 27 years after its publication, I can attest that it has stood well the test of time.

This is the first novel in Vinge's "Zones of Thought" series.  This part of his storytelling is the hardest for me to wrap my mind around.  In his world, there are transcendent beings in different zones of the Milky Way.  As you travel from one zone to another, their reach is limited, laws of physics change, and a ship's capabilities may be compromised.  The Zones are surely much clearer in Vinge's mind than in my reading.

On the other hand, the core of the story is much simpler: two kids crash on an alien planet whose technology is similar to medieval times on Earth, and whose dominant species is a race of dog-like beings with hive minds.  Light years away, a transcendent being has begun destroying entire planets.  A couple of humans believe the secret to stopping it is on the ship the kids were on, so they begin a months-long journey to find them.

The key to the story is that the choices and acts of insignificant people (of many species) have a far-reaching, consequential impact on the very structure of the galaxy and the fate of billions of its inhabitants.  A small boy's relationship with the dog-like beings he now lives among, the human researcher's relationship with a man who first lived thousands of years ago, a research station's inadvertent release of a powerful entity, the tribal conflicts of a bunch of pre-modern packs of sentient dogs, it all works together to shape the destiny of the galaxy.

A Fire Upon the Deep may not satisfy some readers.  It's a mash-up of sci-fi and fantasy, with the extensive history of space-faring species on one hand, and the packs of dogs living in medieval castles and using bows and arrows on the other.  I wouldn't call it hard science fiction, but it sure is fun, entertaining story telling.

9 Common Lies Christians Believe, by Shane Pruitt

As a pastor, church planter, evangelist, and denominational leader, Shane Pruit has seen and heard from Christians in all walks of life and stages of maturity.  Along the way, he's learned that some things Christians say and believe are flat wrong.  In his book 9 Common Lies Christians Believe, with wit and grace he disabuses his readers of notions that they may have been holding on to.

Each chapter introduces one of the nine ideas, discusses the impact these ideas have on the way we live and believe, and offers a right way of thinking about each flawed idea.  For example, how many times have you heard, when someone passes away, "God gained another angel."  A nice sentiment (I guess), but Pruitt points out that angels and humans are different by nature, and that "it's actually better for you to be human than to be an angel."  When someone dies, a better note of comfort is that "God does not gain another angel.  Rather, God calls another worshipper to come home."

In another encouraging chapter, Pruitt challenges the notion that some people never change.  He writes, "No one is too far gone.  There is no human still alive who is outside the possible reach of God's forgiving and transforming grace."  I need this reminder all the time.  It's easy for me to dismiss people without remembering that everyone is in need of a savior and the the power of the gospel can transform even the most hardened sinner (or annoying neighbor).

As Pruitt runs through his list of nine lies, there are probably some that you never have believed.  I would bet there are some that you have, unconsciously if not consciously.  And I'm certain that people sitting in the pews around you each week embrace some of these.  With love and a pastor's heart, Pruitt points us in the right direction, reminding us to be sure that what we believe is in line with scripture.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

There's No Wrong Way to Pray, by Rebecca Ninke and Kate E. H. Watson, illustrated by Liam Darcy

Pastor Rebecca Ninke and 10-year-old author Kate E. H. Watson have teamed up to convey a crucial message to children: There's No Wrong Way to Pray.  Every child--and most adults--needs to hear this message, reminding us that prayer is simply talking to God.  The little girl featured in the story talks about praying in every circumstance.  She prays for herself, her pets, and her family, but she also prays for people in need, strangers affected by tragedies she learns about in the news, and for kids at school.  She even realizes that praying for her team to win may not be the best approach, since the kids on the other team are likely praying the same thing, so she decides to pray that no one gets hurt.

The theology is thin here, as you might expect for a book aimed at very young children.  In every case, she is praying to God; the name of Jesus is never mentioned.  But the overall message of the book is clear: we serve a God who loves us, who wants a relationship with us, and who cares about the things we care about.  Further, our eyes should not only be turned toward ourselves, but also to others.  I think we all need a reminder to talk to God, "wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, whoever I'm with."



Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

The Swamp, by Eric Bolling

Former Fox News host Eric Bolling has some advice for President Trump.  In The Swamp: Washington's Murky Pool of Corruption and Cronyism and How Trump Can Drain It, Bolling runs through a sordid history of Washington politics and offers modest recommendations for the Trump administration.

The bulk of Bolling's book is a historical tour of the continual fount of corruption that is Washington, D.C.  This is not a new phenomenon; it dates back to the country's founding.  As Lord Acton said, "Power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely."  Throughout American history, the power of government has been on an upward trend, and levels of corruption have kept pace.  Bolling writes, "Washington is a city of no-bid contracts and general cronyism despite the constant pretense of scrupulous ethics rules and press watchfulness."

Moving into the modern era, Bolling will disabuse you of any notion that the supposed corruption of the Trump administration is anything new.  He reminds us of the scandal-ridden Bill Clinton administration (which was not necessarily out of the norm) and points out that "Many Clinton supporters went into the 2016 election so dead set against Trump being president that they were willing to overlook decades of wrongdoing by the Clintons."  By electing Trump, an outsider who had never been elected to public office, Americans chose another option besides "watching control of the Swamp lurch back and forth between two parties that were opposites on things that don't matter and all too similar on things that do."

The temptations for anyone in elected office in Washington are great.  "Once you're in Washington, no matter how many emails you get from constituents, the voices of the public will never be quite as loud as the voices of the lobbyists and fellow politicians sitting right there in the room with you day in and day out--including the ones pleading for more spending and more special favors at endless committee hearings."

Bolling's solution: tune it out!  Ignore the bureaucracy's demands!  He writes, "The haters are going to hate--and scream--whether you make a 1 percent cut in a single program's budget or a 90 percent cut in every program's budget, so you might as well aim for the latter while you're at it."  Sounds good to me.  Time will tell whether Trump will continue to shake things up.  "We have a strange, unexpected chance to break with business as usual" in Washington.  Trump really needs to figure out how to reduce spending while he reduces regulations.  Deficits are way up under him.  Will he live up to the promises that got him elected?  We'll see.

Raising Men, Not Boys, by Mike Fabarez

The danger of reading a book like Raising Men, Not Boys: Shepherding Your Sons to Be Men of God after your sons are pretty much grown is that you might end up thinking, "Ugh, there is so much that I could have and should have done differently."  The good news for me, whose sons are 17 and 19, is that my boys are godly young men, so I must have done something right.  The good news for dads of younger boys is that pastor Mike Fabarez has provided a guide for getting there.

Raising Men, Not Boys gives clear direction without condemnation, lifestyle guidelines without onerous strictness.  You can't talk about raising kids without some nod toward rules, but Fabarez makes it clear that he is not a legalist, especially not in a theological sense.  "Good behavior as a means to gaining or keeping a relationship with God is offensive to God, but good behavior done to please God by those who are in relationship with him is prized by God." 

Besides cultivating a heart that leans toward obedience, Fabarez provides strong, practical tips for parenting boys.  Promote physical activity, instill a solid work ethic, promote wise financial choices, learn balance in entertainment choices.  All told, Fabarez isn't particularly innovative in his guidance and recommendations.  But he provides wisdom and very practical, applicable suggestions that you can immediately implement, all under a broad attitude of living in godliness.  One of his themes is that we must model behaviors we expect our sons to emulate.  Being a dad isn't easy.  Fabarez gives help and hope for shaping godly men.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Restless Faith, by Richard Mouw

It has become popular, especially since the 2016 presidential election, for evangelicals to publicly eschew the label evangelical.  Richard Mouw, who has taught at Fuller Seminary since 1985, and served as president of the seminary from 1993 to 2013, acknowledges that those who distance themselves from the evangelical label have reason for concern.  But, as he writes in Restless Faith: Holding Evangelical Beliefs in a World of Contested Labels, he's not willing to give up the label: "For myself, I can't think of a label that suits me better than 'evangelical.'"

Mouw wants the evangelical tradition, a tradition he loves and that he nurtured him, to be preserved, and calls on "intellectual leaders who have been talking about simply resigning from the evangelical movement" to lend their aid to its preservation.  In Restless Faith, Mouw addresses some of the criticisms while affirming the strengths of the movement.

Mouw himself was active in the evangelical social movement in earlier decades, and rejects much of what the religious right, as it arose in the 1980s, stands for.  He makes it clear that one needn't embrace the religious right if one is to be an evangelical.  At the same time, Mouw's theological statements herein should disabuse anyone's suspicions that he is a universalistic theological liberal.  He absolutely affirms, for example, the need for individual faith in Christ for salvation, but goes on to say that "individual salvation is not enough."

Mouw's work is encouraging and challenging.  He has, in his academic life and public service, exemplified an evangelicalism that holds firm to faith while living with, speaking with, and cooperating with culture and society at large.  The bottom line, as I read him, is that evangelicals should not permit people and cultural forces outside of evangelicalism to define what is meant by the term.  The burden, then, is for evangelicals to model and preserve its meaning.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Money Problems, Marriage Solutions, by Chuck Bentley

I know Chuck Bentley must be a great guy because he's a graduate of Baylor University--sic 'em!  Beyond that, he is CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, where he has helped millions of people with his financial wisdom.  In Money Problems, Marriage Solutions: 7 Keys to Aligning Your Finances and Uniting Your Hearts, he offers couples assistance in keeping their marriages and finances strong.

While Crown offers resources for budgeting and planning, and Bentley does direct readers to those resources, the 7 keys here go much deeper than that.  His practical advice in support of marriage applies to any couple, no matter their financial status.  Bentley's guidance is doable and relatable.  Strengthen your marriage, strengthen your family's finances.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

The Ultimate Droodles Compendium, by Roger Price

You may or may not know what a Droodle is, or who Roger Price is, but I can almost guarantee you've seen Droodles, the creation of Roger Price.  In The Ultimate Droodles Compendium, "the absurdly complete collection of al the classic zany creations of Roger Price," Fritz Holznagel has collected Price's Droodles, Price's commentaries, and some additional background and historical material. 

So, first of all, what is a Droodle?  "Droodles are small sill drawings in a square box that 'you don't understand until you ask, and the it's too late to wish you hadn't.'"  They were most popular in the 1950s, in the funny papers but also in commercial ads.  But they lasted long enough in popular culture that I remember seeing them in my childhood a couple decades later. 

Frank Zappa made a lasting contribution to the popularity of Droodles by naming an album after a Droodle and featuring it on the cover: "Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch."  This exemplifies the clever simplicity of Price's Droodles. 

This book brings Droodles back to public attention, and provides context for  Price's career.  Granted, I don't know that a huge Droodles fan base was clamoring for this book, but it makes the point that Price was a key figure in American comedy in the middle of the century, not just for his funny drawings, but for his other contributions as well. 




Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, by Scott Adams

I've been a fan of Dilbert since my college days, and I'm pleased that the strip is still going strong.  I didn't know much about Dilbert creator Scott Adams so I decided to check out How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life.  Part testimonial, part biography, part self-help, Adams gives his readers and fans plenty to think about in a no-nonsense, experiential style familiar to Dilbert readers.  Here are some nuggets I liked:

"One should have a system, not a goal."  Adams says goals are for losers.  If someone has a goal, time spent trying to achieve that goal is "a state of nearly continuous failure that they hope will be temporary."  Once you achieve a goal, "you realize you just lost the thing that gave you purpose and direction."  One the other hand, people using a system "succeed every time they apply their systems, in the sense that they did what they intended to do."  This, to me, is revelatory.

Adams's diet plan holds a lot of appeal for me, too: "I eat as much as I want, of anything I want, whenever I want."  That's a plan I can follow!  The key for him, though, is the catch.  "Once you want to eat the right kinds of food for enjoyment, and you don't crave the wrong kinds of food, everything else comes somewhat easily."  So begins a lengthy discussion about training yourself to crave the right things.  As Adams puts it, "I set out to hack my brain like a computer and rewire the cravings circuitry."  This fits the systems over goals mindset, and makes a lot of sense, but getting there is not easy.

Similarly, Adams's exercise advice is simple: "Be active every day."  Make things you enjoy become a habit.  Don't try to force yourself to do something you don't like or aren't suited for.  That involves willpower and "any system that depends on willpower will fail."  (Same goes for diet.)

Adams has plenty of other thoughts, which may or may not be called advice.  He just talks about what has--and what hasn't--worked for him in business and life.  One of his apparently controversial practices is his spoken affirmations, "the practice of repeating to yourself what you want to achieve while imagining the outcome you want."  He said some people have criticized his affirmations as sounding like magic or something.  It does sound a little goofy, but I could see it working.

Adams approaches this book with a lot of humility, in that he recognizes that what works for him may not work for you and me.  Yet his record speaks for itself; clearly he has met success in his life and work, in large part due to the factors, behaviors, and decisions he describes here.  He leaves the reader with a parting note that perhaps something he said with stick with us and help us make a difference in our own life and work.  Sounds reasonable to me!

What If It's True?, by Charles Martin

Charles Martin, a novelist who has written over a dozen novels, turns his pen (or laptop) to nonfiction in What If It's True? A Storyteller's Journey with Jesus.  The greatest strength of the book is Martin's application of his story-telling skills to the stories of scripture.  Of course, there's no replacement for the original, but even the most ardent lover of the Bible has to admit that sometimes the scriptural accounts lack drama, setting, and the fullness of a good story.  That's where Martin, while honoring the original, fills in the gaps.  Imagine that you love a beautiful black and white line drawing, and then you see it in a richly colored and exquisitely detailed stained-glass window.  Or a story you've read for years faithfully portrayed on the big screen.  That's the effect of the narrative portions of Martin's book.

On a more modest, but still effective, level, Martin challenges the reader with the titular question.  About Jesus, many people "either consciously or unconsciously . . . have reduced Him to a mysterious, walk-about prophet with cool sandals and a posse. . . . This limitation is really dangerous."  But what if what the Bible says about Jesus is true?  What if he really forgives sin?  "What if the blood of Jesus does more than guarantee our salvation?"  What if Jesus is alive today? 

If all of this is true, it should radically change our approach to life.  Unfortunately, many (most?) Christians don't live like they really believe.  Martin brings the stories of scripture to life, and challenges Christians to live like they believe them.  Martin does tend to ramble a bit, but if you follow the threads of his narrative, you can't help but come away convicted.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Screens and Teens, by Kathy Koch

Kathy Koch's book Screens and Teens: Connecting with Our Kids in a Wireless World sounds like a book about dealing with kids and technology.  It is that, but the more important part of the title is the subtitle, "connecting with our kids."  Koch, founder of Celebrate Kids, addresses electronic devices, social media, and related topics, but the overarching message is timeless: spend time with your kids.

Dr. Koch certainly has plenty to say about kids and electronic devices.  Plenty of problems can arise when kids use electronics addictively, abusively, or inappropriately.  Kids need to understand the limits of knowledge gathered through social media or internet sites.  They need to find their value in Jesus, not in the approval of online strangers or peer groups. 

Ultimately, whatever electronics kids have in their lives, parents can and should pay close attention to their use and model responsible usage.  More importantly, as Koch writes, parents must work to keep doors of communication open with their children.  Kids have access to so much information and so many connections that parents must pay attention and provide guidance and direction for their kids.  Dr. Koch's book will give you ideas to help you do so.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Not On My Watch, by Elizabeth Johnston

Elizabeth Johnston, a.k.a. "The Activist Mommy," isn't going to sit idly by while her country goes down the path of leftist indoctrination, homosexual activism, transgender normalization, and expansion of abortion.  This conservative, home-schooling mother of ten has made a name for herself on social media by rallying support for the Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, for burning Teen Vogue after they published obscene material, and for her criticism of Target's bathroom policy.

In her new book Not On My Watch: How to Win the Fight for Family, Faith, and Freedom, she tells stories of her activism and challenges all of us not to ignore the erosion of our values.  She doesn't have a lot of patience for passive, inactive Christians.  "The Left has been advancing and claiming more territory while we have attended church and been content to wait for Jesus to come back."  And she's not content with political activism alone, either.  She points out that many of the Supreme Court decisions conservatives rail against, like Roe v. Wade, were decided by Republican-appointed justices.

One big obstacle that conservatives need to overcome in order to become more effective in their activism is a passive, milquetoast version of Jesus' example that abhors confrontation.  When it comes to protecting children, whether unborn or subject to indoctrination and corruption by the culture, aggression and anger are acceptable responses.  "Love protects the innocent, even if we look angry in the process."

If you are a political conservative, a Christian conservative, or a parent concerned about the growth of liberal culture in the U.S., you'l be challenged by Johnston's perspective.  She won't be silent.  Will I?  Will you?


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Ripley's Believe It or Not, by Tony Isabella, Ben Meares, et al.

If your childhood family vacations were like mine, they occasionally included a stop at a Ripley's Believe Or Not museum.  They have dozens of attractions all over the world.  This Ripley's Believe It or Not! graphic novel brings Ripley's back to its roots.  The Ripley's phenomenon began as a newspaper feature drawn by Robert Ripley.  His stories of the weird and hard-to-explain expanded into the museums and other media. 

This graphic novel is a compilation of the first two issues of recent Ripley's comic books.  They are composed of weird stories and other topics that are familiar to Ripley's world.  Stories include the real-life story behind Beauty and the Beast, a description of the Winchester Mansion (and its haunting), and other historical, medical, and scientific oddities.  It's all a reminder that Ripley didn't just make up a bunch of junk; he took obscure stories from history or oddities in nature and presented them in a dramatic fashion.  These enjoyable comics preserve that tradition. 


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Unlocked, by John Scalzi

In Lock In, John Scalzi sets a murder mystery in a near-future world where many people suffer from Haden's, a disease that paralyzes the victim, giving them "lock in," a state of full mental awareness but with no ability to move.  Through the course of the story, the reader can infer much about the disease and its implications, but for a fuller picture, Scalzi has written a prequel of sorts, Unlocked: An Oral History of Haden's Syndrome.

In terms of story telling, Unlocked doesn't deliver in the same way that Lock-In does; the subtitle tells you that much.  Nevertheless, Scalzi convincingly relates the history of the disease through the voices of doctors, journalists, and others affected by the disease.  Had I not read Lock In, I am certain I would not have enjoyed Unlocked as much, but Unlocked is essential for fans of Lock In.

Resistance Is Futile, by Ann Coulter

President Trump doesn't have many cheerleaders as vocal as Ann Coulter.  (However, she can be pretty critical when she sees him wavering from his goals. . . .)  In Resistance Is Futile: How the Trump-Hating Left Lost Its Collective Mind, she describes the many ways the media and Trump's opponents (but I repeat myself) have lied and perpetuated misconceptions about Trump, working hard to distort his record, reputation, and image.

One by one, Coulter exposes the lies that are told about Trump.  For example, everyone knows that Trump is an admitted rapist.  It's on tape!  That Access Hollywood tape nearly brought down his candidacy.  On the tape, Trump speaks crudely about women, to be sure, but he does not go into any specifics about any assault; it's all hypothetical, a braggadocious celebrity talking about what he could get away with.  It's more a commentary on the culture of fame than anything.  But with the partial quotes, inaccurate paraphrases, and predetermined agenda, the story became bigger and more salacious than it should have.

The examples go on and on.  The anti-Trump press has an agenda and will distort any story to fit that agenda.  The lengths to which they have gone to pin some vague "Russian collusion" on the Trump campaign, while absolutely ignoring the Hilary campaigns Russian entanglements, unethical and illegal acts, and back-door cooperation with U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies boggles the mind.  Will our inept representatives in Washington ever get the story straight and bring some of these offenders to justice?  Probably not.  But Coulter won't shut up until they do.  Good for her.  Bring it.

Friend of Sinners, by Rich Wilkerson, Jr.

In Friend of Sinners: Why Jesus Cares More about Relationship Than Perfection, pastor Rich Wilkerson, Jr., makes a point that all Christians need to be reminded of: Jesus was, in fact, a friend of sinners!  In one sense, it's an obvious point, if you think about Jesus' ministry as recorded in the New Testament.  But in another sense, the way most of us Christians live our lives and the way we minister to others doesn't reflect friendship with sinners.

Our approach to the Christian life tends to be opposite of what it should be.  "We tend to think [God] puts top priority on performance, purity, and perfection, and we assume relationship is the eventual reward for those things. . . . Actually, it works the other way around.  The closer we get to Jesus, the more like him we become.  Relationship comes first; changes come later." 

For Christians, we sometimes apply this thinking to unbelievers.  Unconsciously or not, we tend to say to unbelievers, "Get yourself cleaned up and come to Jesus."  Jesus would say the opposite.  "He was the friend of sinners, so he served sinners; now he asks us to do the same."

Wilkerson became a bit of a media darling when he officiated Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's wedding.  That led to his starring in a reality show on the Oxygen network.  I don't know enough about Wilkerson and his ministry to draw many conclusions.  But the message of Friend of Sinners is on target and needs to be heard by many in the church.


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Brainwashed, by Ben Shapiro

As a conservative college student at UCLA, Ben Shapiro kept a record of the insanity of college while writing a column in the campus paper.  Based on his college experiences and research, Shapiro published his first book, Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth, at the age of 20.  To give you an idea of the content of the book, the publisher gave this disclaimer at the beginning: "To paint the full picture [of the decline of higher education] has required author Ben Shapiro to quote some fairly crude material and deal with offensive subject matter. . . . We do not publish this material to appeal to prurient interests but to more fully advise and inform students, parents, and those concerned about the university system and what they can expect from it."  In other words, prepare yourself to be shocked and dismayed at college life and curriculum content.

To that end, Shapiro does not disappoint.  Starting with the rejection of moral absolutes, the foundation of moral reasoning at many universities, Shapiro covers a variety of topics that demonstrated the left-wing perspective of many professors.  Anti-faith? Check.  Global warming?  Check.  Sexual permissiveness, even perversion?  Check.  Anti-capitalism?  Check.  Anti-American?  Check.  As survey after survey will demonstrate, fewer and fewer conservative voices are behind the podia in university lecture halls, and conservative ideas are often not tolerated.

Shapiro may over-generalize at times.  Many sentences begin with something like, "Professors believe. . . ." when obviously not every professor would believe exactly that.  But Shapiro provides enough anecdotal and statistical evidence to show the trend and inclination among universities.  For those of us who have been out of college for a while, what Shapiro reports is pretty disturbing.  I am thankful that there are private, Christian universities that provide an alternative to the secular schools, but even professors at Christian schools feel the pressure from the profession when they are excluded from publications and academic conferences due to their views.  It's a sorry state of affairs.  Shapiro published Brainwashed in 2004, but the message is no less relevant today.