Tags: 225 Book Reviews

12 May 2010, Comments (2)

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, by Andrew Peterson

Author: Brian

225 Book Reviews

Book Reviews in 225 Words

Just the naked and unashamed truth

(Genesis 2.25).

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

The Wingfeather Saga: Book One

by Andrew Peterson

304 pages

Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree.

Those are the words on the cover of the book written by the semi-known singer-songwriter. I’ve been a fan of Andrew Peterson’s music since the first time I heard the mountains sing.

For a reason I’ve since forgotten, we waited to buy the books until book two had been released.  We had the pleasure of reading them back-to-back. Here’s the brief response I left at The Rabbit Room:

January 26th: I just finished this book and though I’ve always loved Andrew Peterson’s songwriting, this book has surpassed my expectations. What an awesome story! I love the character development, the mystery, adventure, and impending death that lurks around every corner. Great!

Peterson chronicles the mystery and peril that surrounds the Igiby family in the land of Skree. He creates a land filled with folklore, song, mystery. His interesting and often scary creatures deserve a place next to the Ents of Fangorn Forest and Mr. Tumnus. Though many fantasy worlds have been created since the advent of Tolkien’s Middle Earth and Lewis’s Narnia, Peterson’s world of Skree and the chronicles of the three Igiby children will join the others on our bookshelf and provide our boys with yet another wonderful world of adventure and excitement for years (and hopefully generations) to come.

5 of 5 stars

7 May 2010, Comments (2)

Radical, by David Platt

Author: Elijah Layfield

225 Book Reviews

Book Reviews in 225 Words

Just the naked and unashamed truth (Genesis 2.25).

Radical:  Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream.

David Platt.

Multnomah Publishers.

217 pages.

“I realize there is never going to come a day when I stand before God and he looks at me and says, ‘I wish you would have kept more for yourself.’ I’m confident that God will take care of me’ (123). This is Radical in its pure essence. Created for God’s glory, we must go forth to the ends of the earth telling the good news of Jesus Christ. Instead, too often, we horde the gifts he’s given us and reject his radical call in Christ.

David Platt calls us to take up the cross of Christ and reject the siren’s call of the American Dream.  It’s a very good introduction to radical (biblical ) Christianity. Written in a compelling way that keeps the readers’ attention, Radical could have been a little bit deeper. It seemed that he defaulted to the surface of some very common texts. At times, I think he pressed too hard to make his point. He made the mission life seem to simply be in going without answering the logistical issues that these raise. Also, his chapter on “Living When Dying Is Gain” sounded alot like John Piper, but I didn’t see any note of him in the citations. All in all, I think this is a great book for those who’ve never considered the call to missions.

3 out 5 stars.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

7 May 2010, Comments (2)

A Word About Reviews

Author: Elijah Layfield

Doing any type of review is generally a subjective thing anyway, but in this post I’m going to try to take the mystery out of the ratings of our 225 Book Reviews.  In essence, there are 5 questions that I’m asking as I reflect on the book that I’m reading.

Does the book accord with what I believe is absolutely true about reality, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God sent to redeem fallen man?

Is the book well-written from a grammatical and literary standpoint? Can’t get away from this one. I mean, it is a book. This should be a give-me for any book.

Is the book written at an engaging level, or is it written too high (academically) or is it written too low (popularly)? This is a subjective thing, I know. But, if I get the sense that the book could have went a bit deeper, or could have stated things a bit simpler, then it affects this rating.

Did the book accomplish the aim of its thesis? Whether or not I agree with what the author is stating, this question addresses whether he was able to do what he set out to do in the book.

Did I enjoy the book? Another subjective category, but a vastly important one in my opinion. No matter how good the writing is, or how important the material is, if the writer doesn’t actively seek to engage the reader, then the book will fall flat.

In summary,

  • A 5 Star book is one of the best books I’ve ever read.  It changed my life.
  • A 4 Star book is a very good book that is worth reading again.
  • A 3 Star book is a good book that may be worth reading, but not more than once.
  • A 2 Star book is an average book that would be a good choice when you can’t find anything else to read.
  • A 1 Star book is one that doesn’t advance anything in the field written. There are other books, and better written, that address the author’s topic in a more important way.
14 Apr 2010, Comments (1)

The Ministry of the Word, by Vincent Cheung

Author: Elijah Layfield

225 Book Reviews

Book Reviews in 225 Words

Just the naked and unashamed truth (Genesis 2.25).

The Ministry of the Word (pdf).

Vincent Cheung.

Self-published on-line.

103 pages.

I wouldn’t have read this on my own if I didn’t have to read it for my Masters in Theological Studies. In fact, I would have stopped reading this book after I started it if I could have. That’s saying alot for me because I never stop reading a book that I start.

Let’s try to highlight the good. Unlike some, or most, self-published books, this little book was well-written from a grammatical standpoint. I’m usually picky when it comes to grammatical errors; but if there were any in this text, they did not distract me.  Unfortunately, what was there was enough to disturb me.

Cheung’s work is severely flawed. I’ll generalize the issues I have (look for a short series later). First, Cheung interacts with the biblical material on a surface level. Although he attempts academic authority over the text, it is apparent that he’s dependent upon others for his exegetical work in the original languages. Second, Cheung holds to a hyper-Calvinistic view that God overrides the mind of his creatures.  Third, he writes with an obnoxious authoritative attitude that he alone knows the Truth. All-in-all, there are much better books on the ministry of the Word. Much.

15 Mar 2010, Comments Off

The Dangerous Duty of Delight, John Piper

Author: Elijah Layfield

225 Book Reviews

Book Reviews in 225 Words

Just the naked and unashamed truth (Genesis 2.25).

The Dangerous Duty of Delight.

John Piper.

Multnomah Publishers.

91 pages.

Somewhere, I heard John Piper say, “You want to buy a Piper book? Only buy one. I say the same thing in every book.” At the core of that quote and at the core of every book that Piper has written over the past 20+ years is the simple fact that he has been gripped by a theology of finding all of his satisfaction in God through Jesus Christ. “God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in him.” His writings have become, to me, like dining at my favorite restaurant. He, a master chef, may use the same ingredients in every entree, yet I never tire of dining on what he has prepared.

This book is, in essence, an abbreviated version of his magnus opus, Desiring God. After laying the foundation in the first five chapters that the chief end of man is glorify God forever by enjoying him forever, he focuses the last four on how this theology relates to worship, marriage, money, and missions. It’s a great introduction, into an even greater introduction (Desiring God), into one of the greatest truths that I have ever encountered. Read it and enjoy!

19 Feb 2010, Comments Off

The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan

Author: Elijah Layfield

225 Book Reviews

Book Reviews in 225 Words

Just the naked and unashamed truth

(Genesis 2.25).

The Eye of the World

Book One: The Wheel of Time

Robert Jordan

Tor Fantasy

657 pages

In 1996, I began a 14 year journey that is as fresh as ever. It began with a tattered paperback copy. It morphed into an deep appreciation which continues today.

I’ve read this book more than five times. This review is as much a reflection of that as it is for the fact that this book opens up a series that is over 13 books long. As such, this review is merely “a beginning.” The Eye of the World is a Tolkien-esque introduction to a world that surpasses most fantasy writers. He rivals Tolkien in story-telling and surpasses him in writing.

This book, nodding to its traditional fantasy roots, is a coming of age story of three village boys who have been destined for greater things that tending sheep, apprenticing as a blacksmith, or skirting from prank to prank. For one of these young men, he is the Dragon Reborn—the prophesied one who is the world’s last chance against the Dark One. Jordan is a master world-builder. He crafts compelling characters and exotic cultures that the reader longs to journey to again and again.

4 out of 5 stars.


8 Feb 2010, Comments (2)

John Adams: Party of One, by James Grant

Author: Elijah Layfield

225 Book Reviews

Book Reviews in 225 Words

Just the naked and unashamed truth

(Genesis 2.25).

John Adams: Party of OneJohn Adams: Party of One

James Grant

Farrar, Straus and GirouxPublishers

450 pages

Biographies are a like opinions. The first sounds good, until the next comes along. I don’t know how faithful this biography is in the study of Adams since I haven’t read any others. So, I’ll try to review the book as a stand alone, apart from the body of Adams study.

From a writing standpoint, John Adams is very readable. Every biography is difficult to write in such a way that it’s not dry. There are definitely some dry portions of this book, but they are rare. The main takeaway is that the reader gets a good sense of who John Adams the man was. Grant does a good job of presenting Adams flaws and all.

From a readability standpoint, this book is in-between a popular level book and an academic book. Grant cites notes copiously. In fact, there are 47 pages of notes. But, the notes are secondary and presented as endnotes.

I wonder at some of Grant’s theological presentations. When it comes to the Puritans, he seems to perpetuating a hostile and negative view of the Puritans as is often found in liberal academia. The text extols universalism and rejects traditional Christian orthodoxy.

3 out of 5 stars.

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