12 Top Christian Book Reviewers

Yesterday in Feast On a Good Book, I asked the question,

“How do you know whether a book is worth buying and reading?”

My answer:

“A recommendation by someone you trust sure does help.”

I then linked you to my RPM Ministries Book Review site, plus provided direct links to nearly two dozen of my favorite book reviews.

What About Other Christian Book Reviewers? 

There are many excellent Christian book reviewers on the Net. So, today I’m linking you to folks whose reviews I always benefit from—even when I don’t always agree with 100% of their review.

All of these folks do much more on their blogs than review books.

By the way, “Christian book reviewers” means a Christian who reviews books from a Christian worldview. This is different from focusing on reviews of Christian books from any perspective. Ponder that one…

My Dozen Favorite Christian Book Reviewers

In alphabetical order, my 12 top Christian book reviewers…

• Thabiti Anyabwile: Articulate, courageous, informed and informing…

• Aaron Armstrong: Theologically-astute, fair, focused, challenging, stretching…

• Tim Challies: Discerning, prolific, quality and quantity, a “Berean” mindset…

• Nathaniel Claiborne: Fearless, pointed, thorough, engaging…

• Brian Croft: Pastoral…clear recommendations, a shepherd’s heart, encouraging, to the point…

• Kevin DeYoung: Robust, blending pastoral ministry and theology, well-spoken, insightful…

• Brad Hambrick: Detailed, generous, practical, focused on life change…

• David Murray: Enjoyable, comprehensive, seeing with new eyes, thinking outside the box, articulate…

• Andy Naselli: Robust, theological, cutting-edge…

• Paul Tautges: Pastoral, practical, gracious, speaking the truth in love…

• Justin Taylor: Well-spoken, focused, deep, clear, doesn’t waste words…

• Trevin Wax: Enlightening, edifiying, instructive, profound… 

Bonus Feature: My Three Favorite Christian Book Review Sites

In addition to individual book reviewers, I recommend the following three Christian book review sites (listed alphabetically).

• The Biblical Counseling Coalition’s Book Review Site: Over a dozen book reviewers provide book reviews, author interviews, and book video trailers. Visit the BCC’s Book Review Site for reviews of books related to biblical counseling, pastoral ministry, marriage, parenting, and Christian living.

• The Discerning Reader Book Review Site: Originally launched by Tim Challies and now directed by Mark Tubbs, Discerning Reader is a leader in Christian book reviews. Find out for yourself here. 

• The Gospel Coalition Book Review Site: TGCR provides robust reviews on a wide variety of topics. Read TGCR reviews here for an Evangelical Christian perspective on books in the news.

Join the Conversation

Which of these reviewers do you read and enjoy? What additional Christian book reviewers would you add to this list? Why?

RPM Ministries: Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth

Feast on a Good Book

How do you know whether a book is worth buying and reading? 

A recommendation by someone you trust sure does help.

Because it’s somewhat tucked away on my site, you may not be aware that I do a lot of book reviewing. Visit my RPM Ministries Book Review Site for links to over 350 reviews. 

To encourage you to visit often, in today’s post I point you to a number of sources for my book reviews, plus a sampling of some of my favorite reviews.

Book Review Sites Where I Post Reviews 

1. The Biblical Counseling Coalition’s Book Review Site

Along with a dozen other reviewers, I provide book reviews, author interviews, and book video trailers. Visit the BCC’s Book Review Site for reviews of books related to biblical counseling, pastoral ministry, marriage, parenting, and Christian living.

2. The Gospel Coalition Book Review Site 

I provide biblical counseling and pastoral ministry reviews for The Gospel Coalition’s Book Review site. You can read my TGC reviews here. 

3. The Discerning Reader Book Review Site 

I provide reviews of a wide array of books at the Discerning Reader site. You can read all of my DR reviews here. 

4. Amazon Reviews

I’ve reviewed over 350 books at Amazon.com. Read my Amazon reviews here. 

Sample Some of My Favorite Book Reviews at My RPM Ministries Book Review Site

For direct access to this sampling of some of my favorite reviews posted right here at RPM Ministries, click on the title to any of the books below.

The Biblical Counseling Movement by David Powlison. 

The Biblical Counseling Movement After Adams by Heath Lambert. 

Counsel from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick. 

Counsel One Another, Comfort Those Who Grieve, and Counsel Your Flock: The Paul Tautges Trilogy. 

CrossTalk by Mike Emlet. 

Faithful Feelings by Matthew Elliott. 

Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick. 

Glory Road by Anthony Carter. 

The Heart of Addiction by Mark Shaw. 

Helpful Truths in Past Places by Mark Deckard. 

A History of Pastoral Care in America by E. Brooks Holifield. 

If God Is Good by Randy Alcorn. 

The Mystery of the Holy Spirit by R. C. Sproul. 

Out of a Far Country by Christopher Yuan. 

Putting Your Past In Its Place by Steve Viars. 

Psychology in the Spirit by John Coe and Todd Hall, Review Part One, Review Part Two, and Review Part Three. 

The Radical Disciple by John Stott. 

Resolving Everyday Conflict by Ken Sande. 

Seeing With New Eyes by David Powlison. 

A Sweet and Bitter Providence by John Piper. 

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. 

When Life Is Hard by James MacDonald. 

Join the Conversation

Which of these books has most impacted you? Or, which of these books do you most what to read?

RPM Ministries: Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth

Blog Tour Morsels, Part One: Equipping Counselors for Your Church

I’m very grateful for the many bloggers who have reviewed Equipping Counselors for Your Church.  

I’ve collated links to a dozen of the reviews and interviews. They’ll be running throughout this first week of 2012 with brief “snippets” from each review and a link back to the full review.

Today you can enjoy review “morsels” from David Murray, Brad Hambrick, and Thabiti Anyabwile.

David Murray, Top Five Books of 2011 

“Bob Kellemen shifted my thinking with this visionary yet practical book. I probably don’t reach up to Bob’s optimism about this task (who could!), but he certainly made me hope and work towards a much greater role for every-member counseling ministry in the local church.”

David Murray, Part One 

“Bob Kellemen is one of the reasons I love America. In fact, to me he is a classic American – enthusiastic, energetic, positive, cheerful, encouraging, stimulating, pioneering, and every other good “-ing” you can think of…. I deeply appreciate Bob’s brief, clear, and no-nonsense style of writing. He doesn’t waste words in pointless theorizing, but is always aiming at the practical and the helpful. It’s not often you find such fine balance and fervent passion combined in one person!”

David Murray, Part Two 

“Bob does not just dream big, he details small. He gets into the detailed practical steps that have to be taken. We’re not left with, “Great idea but how do we do it?” The book is full of bullet points, step-by-step guides, tabulated information, checklists, appendices and real-life case studies. And that practicality is maybe what gives the book so much credibility and persuasiveness. Bob not only draws from almost 30 years of counseling experiences in congregational settings, but has gathered together a ton of “best-practice” ideas from other pastors and churches as well.”

David Murray, Part Three 

“Bob’s exposition of this verse (Romans 15:14) was perhaps my favorite section in his book, and powerfully persuaded me of the biblical grounds and realistic possibility of what he was advocating. This verse is a huge encouragement and challenge to the church of Christ.”

David Murray, Part Four 

“As Bob says, ‘Everyone is a counselor. The question is really whether it’s good or bad counsel.’”

“Yes, it’s a change from thinking ‘I need to call the pastor…’ to ‘I need to call Joe or Mary, etc,’ but it’s a blessed change.”

Brad Hambrick 

Equipping Counselors for Your Church meets a real need in Biblical Counseling – helping churches cultivate a counseling ministry that is tailored to the needs of their particular congregation and community. Over the last several decades Biblical Counseling has produced a large number of excellent resources, but it has not always been clear what a church was supposed to do with those resources. If you want to begin to explore that possibility with your church, I cannot think of a better book to guide you in that process.”

Thabiti Anyabwile 

“Counseling might be the area of pastoral ministry that most quickly produces feelings of inadequacy for pastors. The pitfalls are man. Needs are varied and often complex. The tendency toward self-reliance gets amplified when people come to you in need of answers. Yet, the resources can be few or too difficult to digest in short order. Even pastors who love counseling find themselves emotionally and spiritually drained and in need of help. Bob Kellemen has come along with a very welcome and promising resource, Equipping Counselors for Your Church.”

The Rest of the Story

Tomorrow you can read some “samplers” from Jonathan Holmes, Paul Tautges, and Andy Naselli.

Join the Conversation

What resources do you recommend for equipping one-another ministers in the local church?

Note: If you are a blogger and would like to review Equipping Counselors for Your Church, email rpm dot ministries @ gmail dot com

RPM Ministries: Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth

How to Write Fair and Balanced, Helpful and Engaging Book Reviews

I’ve been reviewing books for over a decade now. In addition to published reviews in journals and magazines, I review online for the Gospel Coalition Reviews, Discerning Reader, RPM Ministries, Everyday Christian, Amazon, CBD, Lunch, and a few more I’ve likely forgotten.

Here are a few quick thoughts on writing fair and balanced, helpful and engaging book reviews.

1. If you totally hate it, don’t review it.

I know that’s not everyone’s policy, but it is mine. You know what your Mom told you, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all…” If I think a book is all bad, I’m not going to write a review. I just don’t have the stomach to be that critical.

2. Think of the author—she or he is a person, too.

As someone who has authored five books, I know what it feels like to “birth” a book. It is one’s creation. So, when you do point out weaknesses, do so graciously, fairly. Quote the author in context. Don’t question the author’s motives (who made book reviewers God?).

3. Contact the author before and after the review.

I’ve started doing this, especially for major reviews (in terms of the significance of the book, the length of the review, where it will be posted, etc.). When I first start reading and reviewing a book, I’ll send my thoughts, impressions, and questions to the author. I’ll ask if I’m “getting it right,” and if they have any response or clarification. After the review is published, I’ll send it to the author and encourage them to engage in an ongoing conversation about the book.

4. Follow the SSWE principle.

I’ve created something of a standard book review format: SSWE. By the way, this doesn’t mean you use this like a straight-jacket. And it doesn’t mean you have these “four sections” of your review. Rather, weave these following four aspects into every review in a conversational style.

S: Summarize the Book:

Help the reader know what in the world the book is about. If the book is in a “technical” field, translate the jargon to the everyday language of the common person.

S: Strengths of the Book:

Every book (I review) has some strengths. Give snippet illustrations of those strengths and highlight how they relate to life and ministry.

W: Weaknesses of the Book:

No book is perfect. But again, when sharing weaknesses, do so fairly, graciously, kindly, and gently.

E: Engage the Book:

This is perhaps the missing ingredient in many/most book reviews. Everyone does summaries, strengths, and weaknesses. But this is not a book report for your middle school teacher. This is a book review for real people who want to know if the book is worth reading. Interact with the book. Write as if you are having a conversation with the author—stretch the author, probe, ponder. Ask questions. Wonder out loud.

Join the Conversation

What do you think makes for an excellent book review?

My Top Ten Books of 2009

Listed below are the ten books I most benefited from reading during 2009. They were not necessarily published in 09. I’m not giving a blanket endorsement of everything in the books.

Here, in descending order, are my top ten picks for 09.

# 10. Going Rogue, Sarah Palin (HarperCollins)

Well-written, fast-paced, but a huge missing element… See my full review here.

# 9. Seeing with New Eyes, David Powlison (P&R)

A solid biblical theology of biblical counseling. See my full review here.

# 8. The Counsel of Heaven on Earth, Ian Jones (Broadman & Holman)

An excellent biblical foundation for biblical counseling. See my full review here.

# 7. Glory Road, by Anthony J. Carter (Crossway Books)

Tells the remarkable stories of ten African Americans who have journeyed to the Reformed faith. See my full review here.

# 6. Competent to Counsel?, David Powlison (CCEF)

This is not the book by Jay Adams, but rather David Powlison’s fascinating book (to be released in 2010) on the history of modern biblical counseling. See my full review here.

# 5. Foundations for Soul Care, Eric Johnson (IVP Academic)

A monumental text for Christian psychology. See my full review here.

# 4. Big Truths for Young Hearts, Bruce Ware (Crossway Books)

Excellent primer on how to teach theology to kids. See my full review here.

# 3. Raised with Christ, Adrian Warnock (Crossway Books)

To be released in January 2010, profound application of the resurrection to our daily lives. See my full review here in January, 2010.

# 2. Who’s Afraid of the Holy Spirit?, Dan Wallace (Biblical Studies Press)

An Evangelical, non-charismatic application of the Holy Spirit to our lives. See my full review here.

# 1. Counsel from the Cross, Elyse Fitzpatrick, Dennis Johnson (Crossway Books)

The best book of 2009 for those who want to apply biblical counseling and Christian living principles to their lives and ministries. See my full review here.   

Counsel from the Cross