Review: William Carey: A Biography
William Carey: A Biography by Joseph Belcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Very good. Belcher wrote this biography twenty years after Carey’s death. There is much to appreciate in the life of William Carey. Considering his accomplishments amidst the difficulties and in the amount of time he had, leaves us in awe, but lessons are there to be learned.
Carey did not see himself as particularly gifted, though he was quite gifted. Without formal education, he acquired a proficiency in difficult foreign languages that was hardly rivaled. In an ironic twist, he wrote many of the works that would be used as texts for the formal education of others.
He considered himself a plodder and he plodded through translating the whole Bible into 6 different languages and portions of the Bible into 26 different languages. He was a disciplined and hard worker. To read his account of a typical day makes one tired.
I was personally affected at different points in this account and I will ponder those things in my own heart. I recommend this biography to all.
Review: Miracle On The River Kwai
Miracle On The River Kwai by Ernest Gordon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Overall disappointing and interesting. I realize that requires some explanation. There are three ways to look at this book categorically–biography, history, and Christian conversion. Let me deal with each of those in turn.
As a biography and human interest story, Gordon’s account is gripping. He survived the unthinkable and lived to tell the world about the experience. From that perspective, his was a remarkable life and this is a good book.
As a historical account, this book is valuable. Gordon gives an eye-witness account as one who lived through what he is describing. He was no casual observer. The second World War was a dark time in the twentieth century and Gordon has given us a glimpse into the grim reality. From that perspective, this is a rare and honest account of that life in the valley of the Kwai and it is a good book.
As an account of Christian conversion, this book is sorely lacking. Perhaps my expectations were too high coming in, but I had heard this book touted as something of a Christian classic. However, the conversion here seemed more like a philosophical enlightenment than a new birth in Christ. What spread through the camp was more like moralistic deism than biblical Christianity. It was remarkable that the group found solidarity and lived above their circumstances, but they were not a New Testament church.
I gave two stars because the book was good on two out of three areas. From a historical and human interest standpoint, it is an interesting read. I wouldn’t dissuade from reading it, but I would give this warning first.
Review: The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog
The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog by James W. Sire
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A great introduction to worldviews. Sire defines worldview as: “. . . a set of presuppositions (or assumptions)which we hold (consciously or subconsciously) about the basic makeup of our world.” It involves what we think about life, death, the afterlife, morality, ethics, absolute truth, etc. In a Christian worldview, we adopt the presuppositions of the Bible. There are other worldviews and Sire does a good job summarizing them. It’s a good book and I recommend it.
Review: Disciplines of a Godly Man [With Complete Study Guide]
![Disciplines of a Godly Man [With Complete Study Guide]](http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172760573m/213441.jpg)
Disciplines of a Godly Man [With Complete Study Guide] by R. Kent Hughes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Challenging and convicting throughout. Kent Hughes has written an extremely practical book about living the Christian life as a man. I like the challenge he issues to men and the encouragement to holy sweat. We can sit around whining about our “issues” and our “struggles” or we can roll up our sleeves and get to work. Paul would have us to quit ourselves like men and be strong, to put away childish things, and to gird up our loins like men. In other words, get to work.
I realize a book like this can be dangerous. Some will use it to ply works righteousness and legalism. Unfortunately, they do the same with the Scripture. Hughes does bring it all together at the end under grace. It would have been better to have grace sprinkled a little more throughout and not saved so much for the end. Nevertheless, it is of grace and we need grace-driven effort, as D. A. Carson put it.
I highly recommend this book to Christian men and particularly those who have a good grasp of justification by faith and the operation of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.
Review: Wordsmithy: Hot Tips for the Writing Life
Wordsmithy: Hot Tips for the Writing Life by Douglas Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Of making many books there is no end, so says Solomon. I would add a corollary: Of making many books about making many books there is no end. In this case, that is a good thing. I have read enough of Doug Wilson that I wasn’t surprised at how good this book is. Readable doesn’t do it justice even if it is eminently. Wordsmithy is informative, insightful, and entertaining.
I must confess that I audibly chortled a number of times. I maybe even threatened a guffaw. I thought about including some quotes, but that I found them so humorous would unveil a nerdom that I am not sure I am comfortable with in the wild.
I have read a number of books on writing and each had its own bit to pitch in. If you are familiar with how-to’s, you will recognize some common advice, but some of it is given much more depth. The chapter on reading provides some worldview and wherefores to the essential prescriptive: Read a lot.
I highly recommend it writers and wannabe’s all the more. This is a book that will help you. It will help you today and even more so years from now if you have ears to hear.
