An accessible, if not particularly deep, exploration of Christian living.
A Christian author offers simple, pragmatic advice to the faithful in this nonfiction work.
Presented as a collection of letters written to unnamed “friends and loved ones,” Lang’s book offers practical advice on how to live out the basic teachings of Christianity, distilled down to Jesus’ maxims to love God and one’s neighbor. The author deliberately eschews complex doctrinal questions, asserting that it is “better for you to begin acting like a Christian as soon as you can rather than wait until you are intellectually satisfied with theological answers to your questions.” Writing on the importance of humility, the author highlights the virtue’s connection to kindness and an “unassuming spirit, which is easy for others to befriend.” A letter about envy notes that Christian duties of “unselfish love and unambitious intentions” are not compatible with materialistic cravings. Other topics addressed among the book’s 42 letters include self-control, forgiveness, gratitude, and service. While Lang’s approach to Christianity here is broadly Protestant and evangelical in its emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus and the primacy of Scripture, it is also ecumenical. Thus, while Catholic or Orthodox doctrines or liturgical approaches may not be highlighted, the author is careful not to exclude them from his practical advice. (A chapter on worship, for example, emphasizes that “Worship takes many forms,” and includes participation in sacraments alongside singing, prayer, and preaching.) This is an accessible book whose target audience is those seeking ways to pragmatically apply Christianity to everyday life. Readers looking for in-depth theological discussions will be disappointed, though the author, who holds a doctorate in child and family development, is careful to back up his advice with an ample assortment of Bible verses. The book unfortunately avoids guidance on how Christians should approach contemporary political discourse and important social issues; still, Lang’s empathetic approach is certainly welcome.
An accessible, if not particularly deep, exploration of Christian living.Pub Date: Dec. 10, 2024
ISBN: 9780988504455
Page Count: 184
Publisher: Greco Corporation
Review Posted Online: March 31, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An incisive, urgently relevant analysis of—and call to action on—America’s foundational ideal.
An examination of how the U.S. can revitalize its commitment to freedom.
In this ambitious study, Snyder, author of On Tyranny, The Road to Unfreedom, and other books, explores how American freedom might be reconceived not simply in negative terms—as freedom from coercion, especially by the state—but positive ones: the freedom to develop our human potential within sustaining communal structures. The author blends extensive personal reflections on his own evolving understanding of liberty with definitions of the concept by a range of philosophers, historians, politicians, and social activists. Americans, he explains, often wrongly assume that freedom simply means the removal of some barrier: “An individual is free, we think, when the government is out of the way. Negative freedom is our common sense.” In his careful and impassioned description of the profound implications of this conceptual limitation, Snyder provides a compelling account of the circumstances necessary for the realization of positive freedom, along with a set of detailed recommendations for specific sociopolitical reforms and policy initiatives. “We have to see freedom as positive, as beginning from virtues, as shared among people, and as built into institutions,” he writes. The author argues that it’s absurd to think of government as the enemy of freedom; instead, we ought to reimagine how a strong government might focus on creating the appropriate conditions for human flourishing and genuine liberty. Another essential and overlooked element of freedom is the fostering of a culture of solidarity, in which an awareness of and concern for the disadvantaged becomes a guiding virtue. Particularly striking and persuasive are the sections devoted to eviscerating the false promises of libertarianism, exposing the brutal injustices of the nation’s penitentiaries, and documenting the wide-ranging pathologies that flow from a tax system favoring the ultrawealthy.
An incisive, urgently relevant analysis of—and call to action on—America’s foundational ideal.Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2024
ISBN: 9780593728727
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: June 25, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2024
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