The Heart of a Boy, by Kate T. Parker

In this age of condemning "toxic masculinity" and gender wars, Kate T. Parker's celebration of boyhood, The Heart of a Boy: Celebrating the Strength and Spirit of Boyhood is a breath of fresh air.  She writes that after publishing her earlier book, Strong is the New Pretty, she wanted to "show the richness and diversity of boyhood."  For this book, she travelled the country, attempting "to capture boyhood in all its forms."

Parker's subjects range from preschool to late teens, and she captures them in action, in contemplation, smiling and brooding, hamming it up and candid.  She clearly sought to photograph a wide spectrum of ages and races.  She includes a number of boys with disabilities or who are recovering from illnesses or surgeries.  The result is that any boy will be able to see himself and his friends in these pictures.  Is your boy joyful, vulnerable, dedicated, playful, creative, resilient, expressive, independent, curious, and kind?  He would fit right in with these boys.


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

A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Townes

My son was reading Amor Townes's A Gentleman in Moscow with a reading group at his dorm, so I decided to check it out.  It's an enjoyable read the gives a window into Russian history in the first half of the twentieth century but ultimately is flat and somewhat forgettable.

Count Alexander Rostov, who lives in a suite at Moscow's Metropol Hotel, considers himself lucky when the Bolsheviks place him under permanent house arrest at the hotel rather than subject him to violent ends.  However, rather than returning him to his suite, they relocate him to a small room in the belfry, where he is destined to dwell for decades.  The book follows him through those decades as people come and go, he works as the head waiter at the hotel's restaurant, he becomes a famous movie star's lover, and befriends a young girl whose daughter he later raises as his own.

The count is very likable, and his attitude is admirable.  He doesn't despair over his condition or the loss of his status and freedom.  He truly makes the best of it.  Townes presents the count as the best of the nobility, making him a Disney-like character whose integrity, grace, and honor, not to mention his manners and tastes, are without fault.  His noble character is contrasted with the violent, oppressive socialist regime whose grip on Russia grows throughout the decades.

While Townes doesn't spend a lot of time on politics, the count's perspective from this famous hotel in the heart of Moscow reveals a lot about the politics of the day.  As a remedy for the fascination with socialism on the American left today, he demonstrates the absurdity and abuses spawned by socialism.  While the new rulers abhor aristocracy and drive aristocrats like the count out of their societal roles, they quickly embrace their own version of privilege and take on many of the trappings of the culture they supposedly oppose.  The declines of the hotel and the bureaucratic absurdity of hotel management mirror the decline of culture in Russia.

Why was I disappointed in the book?  Over the course of these decades, not much happens to the count.  Given the incompetence of his captors and the count's own wiliness, I couldn't help but wonder why he passively embraced his fate.  He wasn't under armed guard or even, apparently, closely monitored.  How hard would it have been to walk?  He finally puts a plot together but only after several decades of existing in the hotel.

This is a book that is pleasant to read, but it takes a long time to get anywhere.  I would have liked to have seen a bit more reflection on the societal changes and a more critical examination of the culture that made the count who he is.  Townes is clearly an admirer of aristocratic culture and presents the count as the finest example of it, but doesn't allow any consideration of the darker side of aristocracy and the abuses and disparities that it perpetuated.  Communism gets a more critical treatment, but Townes treats it more like benign incompetence rather than the deadly, oppressive regime that it became.

A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, by Eugene Peterson

One of the best descriptions of Christian discipleship may be from Friedrich Nietzsche, of all people: "The essential thing 'in heaven and earth' is . . . that there should be long obedience in the same direction."  From this, Eugene Peterson takes the title of his classic book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society.  

 Peterson is best known for his biblical paraphrase The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language.  But he was also a Presbyterian pastor for nearly 30 years, and published over 30 books, of which  A Long Obedience was his first.  Sadly, Peterson passed away late last year.

In A Long Obedience, Peterson focuses on the "Songs of Ascent," Psalms 120-134.  Peterson writes that these Psalms were songs Jewish pilgrims sang on their way to Jerusalem for the annual feasts, and that "there are no better 'songs for the road' for those who travel the way of faith in Christ, a way that has so many continuities with the way of Israel."

As Peterson unpacks and personalizes the Psalms, there were several points at which I had to stop and reread and linger.  I love this on worship: "Worship does not satisfy our hunger for God--it whets our appetite.  Our need for God is not taken care of by engaging in worship--it deepens."  Would that my heart and mind viewed worship like this. 

Peterson continues on the long obedience pointing out the characteristics or elements of discipleship: service, help, security, joy, work, happiness, perseverance, hope, humility, obedience, community, and blessing.  In doing so, Peterson accomplishes two key things, at least for me.  First, he points me to God.  Just as the ancient Jews set their hearts toward Jerusalem, so should I set my heart toward God.  Second, he points me to the scripture.  Like any good preacher or Bible teacher, he draws me to to the Bible, inspiring me to dig deeper and spend more time in the Word.

Peterson was a treasure whose teaching gift is missed.  His legacy remains in The Message and his many books.  His long obedience in the same direction sets an example for us all.

How Safe are We?, by Janet Napolitano

Janet Napolitano served honorably as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security from 2009 to 2013.  In How Safe Are We? Homeland Security Since 9/11, she draws on her experience to cast a vision for the future of security in the U.S.  For all of her experience and the details about her time at DHS, her proposals don't have a lot to add, and her tone of anti-Trump administration criticism detracted from her message.

I do appreciate one of her over-arching messages: the mission and scope of DHS's work is much more expansive and effective than most Americans realize.  She writes "we are made safer through the unseen, uncelebrated work" of all the combined agencies and programs under DHS.  By her reckoning, "the country has effectively ensured that a reprise of a 9/11-style attack cannot happen."  Skeptics will surely object to her certainty on this point and many others, but her descriptions of plots foiled and crises averted make a strong case.

Aside from the undeniable assertion that DHS does great work in keeping the country safer, she can't resist getting some blatant partisan jabs in as she looks to the future of DHS.  These come across as part typical Democrat Trump hatred, and part arrogance that she is great and others are not so much.  Her two big points by which she claims superiority over the "embarrassing" Trump administration are climate change and border policies.

She writes that "many Americans, including elected officials, have infuriatingly turned a blind eye to preparing for the biggest and most irreversible risk of all, climate change."  She leaves no room for disagreement here, no chance that climate scientists and researchers in related fields might have opinions contrary to hers.  She continues: "It's truly horrifying to know that the number of policy makers in this country who deny climate change is not insignificant."  She has no room in her world view to consider that those policy makers may have legitimate reasons for denying climate change, or at least her interpretation of the implications of climate change.

Even worse is her stance on the border.  She, like many Democrats, pulls of the rhetorical trick of condemning Trump's position on the border while essentially agreeing with most of what the president actually says.  She creates a straw man position, stating that Trump "simplistically suggests we simply seal the border with a wall."  Then she goes on to talk about technological and personnel improvements that we can make at the border, points that Trump himself, as well as just about any Democrat or Republican politician, has made.  She writes, "most of the news and nearly all of the mythology is generated by the 2 percent of the human and cargo traffic that is illegal."  Well, duh.  She herself talks about the 350 million people and $44 billion worth of freight that cross legally from Mexico.  Given her 2 percent figure, I, for one, would think that 7 million people and nearly a billion dollars worth of freight would exceed the realm of "mythology" and move closer to the category of "crisis."

Don't get me wrong.  I'm sure Napolitano did a commendable job at DHS.  And I don't necessarily fault someone for tooting her own horn in a memoir of public service like this.  But her criticisms of the Trump administration and her successors at DHS fall flat in light of her partisanship.



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

26 Marathons, by Meb Keflezighi

If you follow road running at all, you know Meb Keflezighi.  He's one of the United States's most accomplished marathon runners, having won Boston, New York, and winning a silver medal at the Olympics.  In 26 Marathons: What I've Learned About Faith, Identity, Running, and Life from Each Marathon I've Run, Meb writes about the 26 marathons he ran over his 15 year career as a marathoner. 

For someone who most of us would view as a superhuman, Meb reveals his humanity.  As a recreational runner who has run a few marathons, I could relate to many of Meb's struggles.  Of course, there are differences: he runs a marathon twice as fast as I do, and trains well more than twice as much.  But a big theme of the book is fighting through struggles and overcoming adversity, in racing and in life.  He writes that he runs to win, but points out that "isn't about finishing first, but about getting the best out of yourself." 

As the saying goes, life is a marathon, and Meb's example proves what that saying implies.  For him, life and training and racing is about patience and perseverance.  "Grow your capabilities over time, not suddenly two months before a big race."  He writes that "The people who have long, successful careers in any endeavor are those who consistently work hard but don't push themselves so much that they break down." 

And when you meet your goals, celebrate them.  "Celebrate every personal best, even it's only by one second."  Meb certainly had plenty of personal bests to celebrate.  But he was also realistic.  For each race, he would set a series of goals, for example, first place, top 3, top 10, or simply to finish.  Sometimes during a race, you have to adjust your goals, but can still celebrate.

Meb tells some great stories, and shows why he has become so beloved by marathon fans around the world.  As you read, you'll cheer for him at every race, grieve with him as he fights injury, and celebrate with him as he bounces back.  His is a great American success story.


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

We Chose You, by Tony & Lauren Dungy

I know who Tony Dungy is--NFL coach, outspoken Christian--but I didn't know he is the father of 10 children, most of whom are adopted.  In We Chose You, which Dungy co-wrote with his wife, Lauren, a mom and dad explain to their son that they chose him, that God makes all kinds of families.

Calvin came home from school worried about his project for the next day, in which he was going to have to tell the class about his family.  Calvin's mom and dad explained to him that they had prayed and prayed for him, and that God chose him for them, and chose them for him.  Dad reassured him that "Once we became your parents, we all became a family.  You can't un-choose family."

It's a simple message, but one that many adoptees struggle with.  Mom makes it clear to Calvin that even though he didn't "grow in her tummy," they are just as much a family.  I'd be interested to see how the Dungys would address Calvin's questions if he had siblings who were biological children.  I have not doubt that they would assure Calvin that of course they love him just as much as their biological children.  Since the Dungys have both biological and adopted children, perhaps the next book will cover that territory.

This is a cute book with a great message for any child whose life is touched by adoption.


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

Inherit the Stars, by James P. Hogan

James P. Hogan's 1977 novel Inherit the Stars has one of the great set-ups in sci-fi.  Human explorers on the moon uncover an unusual find: a human in a space suit.  Clearly he's been dead a while, but no group of humans will own up to a missing crew member.  Soon researchers get the most shocking news of all: the corpse is 50,000 years old!  This discovery and subsequent related discoveries spark an investigation into the very origins of human life.

Upon reflection, one interesting thing about Inherit the Stars is that despite its being science-heavy, with lots of conversations between scientists comparing theories, it's very readable.  Also, with much of the text being made up these conversation among scientists, there's not a lot that actually happens, yet it's a fun and entertaining read.  And although it was first published more than 40 years ago, Hogan's anticipation of technological developments (and the fact that tech is not central to the story) has kept the story fresh.

Inherit the Stars, Hogan's first novel, established him as a reliably entertaining writer of hard science fiction.  This is definitely a novel that is worth revisiting.

The Big Lie, by Dinesh D'Souza

Dinesh D'Souza has built a reputation as an author, filmmaker, and public speaker for defending conservative American principles against the onslaught of leftism that continues to spread in the U.S.  by exposing the lies and agendas of Obama, the Clintons, and other leftists, he has provided ammunition for people to oppose them.  In The Big Lie: Exposing the Roots of the American Left, he digs into he current expressions of liberal, progressive politics in the U.S. and shows their inextricable link to Naziism.

Does that sound outrageous?  Over the top?  Read the book.  Look at the history D'Souza lays out and judge for yourself.  The left is fond of calling Trump a fascist and comparing him to Hitler.  But what is fascism?  What did Hitler and the Nazi party stand for?  You'll see they have much more in common with modern Democrats than with Trump and the Republicans.  That's part of the Big Lie: using references to mean the opposite of what they actually mean.  A perfect example: Antifa.  They say they are fighting fascism while behaving exactly like fascists of the past and supporting literally fascist policies.

There are some important and troubling historical ties to support D'Souza's claims.  As the Nazi's were taking over Germany, they wondered about a method by which they could segregate a whole class of people within their own nation.  They looked to the example of the policies established by Democratic politicians in the U.S.  The second-class treatment of blacks in the U.S. and the displacement of Native Americans both provided great inspiration to the Nazis.  The concentration camps (the work camps, not the death camps) were like Southern plantations.  D'Souza attributes these policies to the Democrats who established them, and draws a line to modern-day Democrats.

It's amazing to hear how enamored American Democrats and liberals were with Hitler and Mussolini in the years leading up to World War 2.  Thank God that war exposed and defeated the evils of Nazism and fascism.  But the love of their political and social principles lives on in the Democratic party.  Thank God D'Souza is doing the good work of exposing the history behind the current political environment, and thank God Trump is working to defeat it.

The Gospel at Work, by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert

For Christians, especially lay Christians, I'm not sure we can talk enough about how our daily, secular lives should reflect the gospel.  In The Gospel at Work: How Working for King Jesus Gives Meaning and Purpose to Our Jobs, a pastor and a businessman team up to guide Christians who have one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom (that is, all Christians).  Sebastian Traeger is a businessman and entrepreneur, and Greg Gilbert is a seminary graduate and pastor.  Together they help the reader realize that no matter what you do with your life and career, Christians have one boss: Jesus.Edit

Most of us navigate between the two extremes of idolatry and idleness.  You may make an idol of your work.  If your identity is tied up exclusively in your job, or the time commitments of your job prevent you from doing anything else in your life, or if  you find yourself valuing job status or rewards over relationships, you are probably on the "idol" end of the spectrum.  On the other hand, your problem may be idleness.  This includes literal idleness, which needs no explanation, but on a spiritual level, Traeger and Gilbert mean "when we fail to see God's purpose in our work. . . . when we neglect our responsibility to serve as if we are serving the Lord." 

That is really the key: no matter what you're doing, whether full-time ministry or a secular job in the marketplace, work as if your boss is Jesus himself.  Accepting that fact will shape the way you work and live.  I was convicted by their points on a number of levels.  Representing both the business world and the professional ministry world, the authors are careful to emphasize that full-time ministry is not a superior calling to business or secular labor.  In fact, they point out that given a normal work week, less than half of our waking hours are spend in a job.  God is just as concerned with how we spend the other 65% of our days, with family, church, service, and leisure.  As a seminary graduate who struggles with the fact that I am working in the secular world, this reminder is a great encouragement and challenge to me.

Traeger and Gilbert offer a refreshing perspective on work and calling.  Jesus is our boss, whether or not we are in full-time ministry.  We shouldn't get hung up on what we are "called" to do, but pursue what we desire, are gifted in, and have opportunity to do.  Above all, no matter how we spend our days and make our living, we must simply  "Follow Jesus and bring him glory."  Amen, brothers.


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

The Right Hand, by Derek Haas

Derek Haas has made a name for himself in movies and TV with his screenplays and shows like "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago PD."  Turns out he can write a decent action novel, too.  In The Right Hand, he delves into territory familiar to fans of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne.  Haas's hero, Austin Clay, works on his own, checking in with his handler, but outside of much structure and accountability.  He's on a mission to rescue another agent, and find Marika, a young lady who has information about their Russian foes.  Of course, things go off the rails when the other agent gives up all he knows, and Clay decides that Marika is worth saving rather than using her as a pawn.

Haas keeps the action going at break-neck speed.  He gives some glimpses into Clay's background and childhood, but the focus is on the chase.  Like any action hero worth his salt, Clay is adept with weapons, evasive driving (car or motorcycle), spycraft, and killing.  Especially killing.  He leaves quite a wake of bodies.  But it's not his fault!  The bad guys just keep coming after him, and his survival instinct kicks in.  I like this about him, too: even though he could get the girl, he turns her down, keeping her best interests in mind.  A real gentleman.

The Right Hand doesn't try to make any big geopolitical points, although the plot has plenty of international intrigue.  Haas focuses on the action, the characters, and the body count.  This is, in my mind, what a fun spy thriller should focus on.  Haas may not measure up to the great writers of spy fiction, but he certainly can tell an entertaining (and cinematic) tale.

The Ultimate Cartoon Book of Book Cartoons, ed. Bob Eckstein

If you are an avid reader or book lover, you will relate to the cartoons that Bob Eckstein has collected in The Ultimate Cartoon Book of Book Cartoons by the World's Greatest Cartoonists.  Eckstein features several dozen cartoonists whose cartoons have appeared in various publications.  The New Yorker magazine is where most of these originated.  If you have an idea of the style of the cartoons they publish, then you have an idea of this book.

Several themes show up throughout the book.  The quirky interactions of author appearances and book signings.  The loss of the traditional bookstores, either to online retailers or to "bookstores" that sell all manner of things besides books.  The struggles of the lives of authors and editors.  The lifestyle of someone who simply likes to read.

As Eckstein writes in the introduction, "Long live books, bookstores, and cartoons!"  Book lovers understand.





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

Funny, You Don't Look Autistic, by Michael McCreary

Canadian comedian Michael McCreary found an unusual niche in the world of stand-up comedy: the autistic comedian.  (You can see his performance schedule at https://www.aspiecomic.com/.)  In Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum, McCreary talks about his life on the spectrum and on the stage.

More than a memoir or biography, more than a book of humor, more than a primer on autism, Funny, You Don't Look Autistic contains all those elements.  McCreary writes about his diagnosis at age five, and the experiences that led to the gradual realization that he was destined for a career in comedy.  While he does write about his own diagnosis, as well as about his brother's, he makes it clear that he's not writing a "comprehensive and detailed examination of autism and its myriad workings in the brain."  He said that if that's what you want, put this book down "and pick up something that wasn't written by a comedian."

That said, his accounts and descriptions of his struggles shed light on autism.  He writes, "Having autism is like having too many tabs open on a computer.  Or more accurately, it's like trying to surf the web without an ad blocker.  Every time you click on something, another window pops up."  One of his big struggles, like many with autism, is social interactions and awkwardness.  He describes rehearsing conversations he anticipates having; many of his interactions are scripted, in a sense.  He says "awkwardness might be the defining emotion of being on the spectrum. . . . People told me I would grow out of my awkwardness once I reached high school . . . I'm still waiting."  (McCreary is in his early 20s.)

As he embarked on his stand-up career, many of his gigs were for groups of autistic people or advocacy or parent groups.  He was told repeatedly how inspirational he was.  "At eighteen, I didn't want to be inspirational; I just wanted to be funny."  But he came to see and appreciate the value he brought to his engagements when he heard comments like, "You gave me hope for my kid."  He came to understand that "An advocate can be a carefree prankster, and comic can be a deep-thinking philosopher.  Your job does not define you."

Despite his protestations, McCreary is inspirational and informative.  What a great advocate for people with autism, demonstrating that one need not hide one's disability, nor should one hide behind it.  He has used his gifts and embraced his struggles to make a niche for himself in his chosen career and in life.  I enjoy reading McCreary's story and am, yes, inspired by him.  (But, to be sure, he made me laugh a lot, too.)


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

Bird Box, by Josh Malerman

Bird Box on Netflix got a lot of hype and seemed to be very popular, so when I saw the audio book by Josh Malerman at the library I decided to check it out.  It's not the worst book I've ever read, but I didn't like it very much.

Here's the premise, crudely stated: some kind of entity or creatures or something has invaded the world.  Anyone who sees them/it immediately becomes violently self-destructive.  People are killing themselves.  The whole world descends into suicidal madness.  A few people realize that they are safe as long as they don't see the thing.  So they live in houses with all the windows boarded up.  If they need to venture outside for food or other supplies, they must wear a blindfold.

The story focuses on Malorie, who survives for a while with a small group of people.  She and her two kids attempt to float down the river to meet up with a community with whom they had brief contact by phone.  The story shifts between the weeks immediately following the initial outbreak or invasion and their flight by boat.

I like speculative stories and read lots of sci-fi, but this book is full of so much absurdity that I grew weary of it.  The reader is kept in the dark just like the characters.  But please, give me a little context or explanation.  You look at it and want to kill yourself?  Whatever.  Malerman writes some decent scenes, and has a good sense of suspense and the slow reveal.  But the whole package just didn't work for me.  For a suspense novel it turned out to be rather dull and uninteresting with a disappointing ending.

By the way, after I listened to the audiobook, I watched the movie.  I'd say the movie is marginally better than the book, but still not very good.

Radically Normal, by Josh Kelley

I really liked Josh Kelley's book Radically Normal: You Don't Have to Live Crazy to Follow Jesus.  Before I talk about the content of the book, I want to mention one reason I especially like it.  I've read many books by popular pastor/authors.  Publishers like these guys.  They grow a big church, gain some notoriety for their congregation size or growth, and have a ready audience of several thousand.  Publishers figure that even if the book isn't that great, they can count on sales of at least a few thousand from the pastor's congregation.  As Kelley says, he grew a congregation of 100 to 75 under his leadership, and eventually shut the place down.  Not only is there a high level of humility in this, it is also evidence that a publisher took a chance on him due to the quality of the work rather than the security of a ready reader base.

Aside from the question of the size of Kelley's congregation, Radically Normal is an enjoyable and challenging take on the Christian life.  Kelley describes radically normal Christianity as "the biblical art of fully engaging this life while focusing on the next."  The Christian life is about maintaining a balance between complacency and obsessiveness.  On one hand, "the distractions of this life are constantly pulling us away from God."  On the other hand, some Christians get hung up on dos and don'ts (mostly don'ts).

With good-natured aplomb, Kelley covers a spectrum of life choices and emphases, like work, finances, celebration, and church life, navigating between the two extremes.  He calls on Christians not to be dismissive of the blessings of this life.  He writes, "the more I've learned to properly enjoy earthly things, the more I long for heaven."  Further, speaking of creation care specifically, but applying this attitude more generally, he writes, "Rather than treat this world like a hotel room that someone else will clean up, we should treat it like a lakeside cabin that our boss let us borrow for the weekend."

Christians live between the already and the not yet, the temporal and the eternal, the kingdom of this world and the eternal kingdom.  We walk the line between complacency and obsessiveness, keeping our eyes on the promise of heaven while seeing the glory of heaven in the everyday.  Kelley is a worthy guide on this path.


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

Outrunning the Demons, by Phil Hewitt

Runners know the power of running for healing, therapy, happiness, and a whole slew of health benefits, mental and physical.  Few runners know the power of running like author Phil Hewitt.  After suffering a brutal beating and stabbing by a mugger who wanted his camera, he found solace and recovery from the trauma through running.

In Outrunning the Demons: Lives Transformed Through Running, Hewitt tells his own story, but he also gathers stories from dozens of runners around the world for whom running has been essential to their own lives.  Through his profiles of the runners, interspersed with the interviewees' own words, Hewitt writes about runners overcoming PTSD from war and from other traumatic experiences, running to overcome addiction, running to bounce back from loss and tragedy, running to deal with disabilities, and running to feel whole again.

Many runners can relate to sentiments like these:

• "Always he could come back, determined to quit.  And every time he did, he would put on his running shoes."
• "When [her] world fell apart, she turned to running."
• "Running helped me find the mental strength to carry on."
• "Running is pure and beautifully simple.  You carry with you only what you need, then put one foot in front of the other until you get where you need to be."
• "It was running she turned to in her moment of need, and it has been running that has maintained her ever since."
• "Running gave me the confidence that I so desperately lacked."

I would guess most people start running to get in shape, stay in shape, keep the weight off, or maybe as a competitive outlet.  Runners are also aware of the psychological effects, as Hewitt points out, of "feel-good endorphins, natural cannabis-like brain chemicals . . . that can enhance your sense of well being" and dopamine, which "can provide a natural high."  For many runners, running is a social outlet.  But no matter why people get into or stick with running, these stories remind us of the deeper, more profound potential that running holds for healing.  As Hewitt writes, "Running sets our spirits soaring.  No wonder we feel better when we run."


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

The Bible of Unspeakable Truths, by Greg Gutfeld

I really enjoy Greg Gutfeld on Fox News Channel's "The Five."  He's hilarious, irreverent, and is a conservative who's not afraid to ruffle feathers by straying from conservative talking points.  In his book The Bible of Unspeakable Truths, he offers some of his characteristic political commentary, but mostly it's full of his characteristic non-political social commentary and general goofiness.

The goofiness, unfortunately, sets the tone of the book.  Maybe, since these pieces were originally short, stand-alone magazine pieces or magazine marginalia, that goofiness was more palatable in small doses.  But in concentrated form in the book, it gets old.  Examples: "Back when I was a teenager/transgendered tennis pro in the 1980s. . . ."  "So there I was, lounging in my shorty robe made of sliced meats . . ."  "I spend my time doing what all good journalists do: trying to find my pants."

Amid this sprinkling of silly non sequiturs, Gutfeld has a solid take on the topics he covers, even if he communicates his take in a snarky, dismissive style.  Of course, that's what he's known for.  Oh, and I haven't mentioned that this is definitely not a book for kids.  He jokes a lot about drinking, sex, cannibalism, and other off-color topics  Gutfeld's fans will enjoy the book.  Readers looking for a bit more substance will be disappointed.  Nevertheless, all readers will get a good laugh.

Constitutional Rights and Constitutional Design, by Paul Yowell

Paul Yowell, an American legal scholar who teaches at Oriel College, Oxford, has some proposals for altering the judicial process in the US and other nations with a similar model of constitutional courts. In Constitutional Rights and Constitutional Design, he proposes that American-style court systems would benefit from moving toward a Kelsenian model.

Named for Austrian jurist Hans Kelsen, the Kelsenian model dominates many European courts. In contrast to the American system of appellate courts, the Kelsenian model allows for more political and legislative authority, aside from its legal authority.

Yowell argues for a broader scope of the American court’s bases for its rulings.  Whereas every Supreme Court justice is a graduate of one of two elite US law schools, he argues that the court would benefit from a legislative council which can inform the court on non-legal technical matters. The fact that courts have relied increasingly on extralegal source materials, including popular publications and the free, collaboratively written Wikipedia, as well as more academic and social science resources, points to the need for expert consultants from a variety of fields.

By their nature, legislatures tend to consist of men women from a variety of professions. Many, of course, are lawyers, but many are businessmen, doctors, civic leaders, investment professionals, even bartenders.  Their varied backgrounds combined make for a body that has greater expertise than the courts in shaping legislation. Many court decisions hinge on technical legal interpretation, but more and more rulings rely on the aforementioned non-legal sources.

The American appellate court structure has, in a sense, elevated the courts above the legislature.  The American process is designed to mete out justice and to protect the rights of minorities, but as Yowell points out, court rulings have at times done the opposite, requiring corrective action by the legislature.  Ultimately, "judicial review of legislation can work injustice to individuals no less than abuse of power by legislatures."

Yowell's analysis is challenging and thorough, engaging case law and specific examples of rulings, as well as legal scholars and ethicists to bolster his case.  American jurists take note: Yowell's ideas are worth considering.

Love Does, by Bob Goff

In Bob Goff's book Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World, he tells story after story about his adventures in loving people, loving life, and following God.  It's part memoir, part inspirational, and part just-a-good-time.  He has lived his life with abandon, whimsy, and faith, and seeks to pass some of that along to his readers.

Goff is one of those guys who doesn't use the words "No" or "I can't" very often.  If he did, he wouldn't have travelled to Africa to free children from prison, or taken his kids to eat ice cream with heads of state.  He tells funny stories and inevitably brings it around to a solid life lesson.  As a Christian, he has found unique and effective ways to serve God around the world.  It's fun to read his stories and be challenged by Goff's willingness to take chances in following God.

My delight was tempered, however, by the fact that as he tries to model whimsical living and obedience, he doesn't seem to grasp how unrealistic his modeling is for most people.  Your little girl wants to have high tea?  Take her on a trip to London!  Your kids write to world leaders and get invitations to come for a visit?  Travel across Europe!  Taking trips with your friends on your motorcycle and sidecar, or inviting your dying friend's family to vacation at your family's lodge in Canada, or sailing with your son in his new boat to park it on the dock in your backyard, I mean, who wouldn't want to do these things?  Apparently his wallet is thicker than mine (and I suspect most of his readers).

Nevertheless, Goff seems like a great guy and he tells good stories.  Should I have more whimsy in my life?  Should I be ready to follow God into crazy adventures?  Yes and yes.  Too bad the realities of life and finances so often prevent me from doing things I dream about.

The Baggage Handler, by David Rawlings

Three weary travelers, each having flown to the same city for important life events, get their luggage switched at the airport.  That's the start of David Rawlings's The Baggage Handler, a novel with a message.  Once the travelers realize they have the wrong bags, their trip--and maybe major life opportunities--seem to be dashed.  The young man trying out for a track scholarship doesn't have his spikes.  The business man trying to justify his branch's continued operation doesn't have his presentation.  The mom who is jealous of her sister's perfect life doesn't have the clothes she needs for the big wedding weekend.

As each calls the airline to arrange to recover their luggage, they are directed to an unmarked warehouse in a seemingly deserted area of town.  There they each meet a baggage handler whom they had seen at the airport.  Soon he reveals the real reason for their being there.  He's the baggage handler, here to help them deal with the baggage in their lives.  No, not their luggage, although he helps with that, too, but their baggage, the things that prevent them from being who they were made to be.

The Baggage Handler reads as you might expect from a story that's really not about telling a story, but about teaching a lesson.  It's a valuable lesson that we probably all need to hear.  Perhaps you have baggage holding you back, whether it's comparing yourself to others, trying to live up to your parents' expectations, harboring unforgiveness, or being overly critical of yourself.  Maybe you have some baggage you need to hand over to the baggage handler.


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