http://www.goodreads.com/review/list_rss/51238 en-US Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:19:05 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 20386321 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:19:05 -0700
author: Stephen R. Lawhead
name: Jared
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/17/08
shelves: fiction
review:
A great second book. Lawhead has written it in a different style than Hood and it brings an interesting perspective on the established characters, fleshing out their personalities and bringing to light some of their motivations. The switch from narrative to first person account does not detract from the story in the least and serves to further draw the reader into this historic setting.
]]> 651993 Tue, 01 May 2007 08:24:18 -0700
author: Steven Pinker
name: Jared
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 05/01/07
shelves: philosophy, science
review:
Starting with some Chomskyian principles/assumptions, Pinker continues to advance and refine the idea that language is part of how the brain is structured to function. That is, language is "hard wired" into our neural networks such that forming and assimilating languages is part of being human.
]]> 640546 Tue, 01 May 2007 08:07:02 -0700 Christ of the Covenants. Holwerda is a bit more covenantally rigorous than Robertson and he presents a better (i.e. more clear and precise) picture of Jesus as the true Israel in his analysis of the old and new covenants. When we speak of the two covenants in scripture, we aren't talking about the old covenant versus the new covenant, rather we are talking about the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. The former is the covenant God had with man before the Fall and the latter is the covenant God has with man now. This book is about seeing how the old covenant and the new covenant are the same covenant.]]>
author: David E. Holwerda
name: Jared
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1994
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 05/01/07
shelves: theology
review:
I actually like this book better than O. Palmer Robertson's Christ of the Covenants. Holwerda is a bit more covenantally rigorous than Robertson and he presents a better (i.e. more clear and precise) picture of Jesus as the true Israel in his analysis of the old and new covenants. When we speak of the two covenants in scripture, we aren't talking about the old covenant versus the new covenant, rather we are talking about the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. The former is the covenant God had with man before the Fall and the latter is the covenant God has with man now. This book is about seeing how the old covenant and the new covenant are the same covenant.
]]> 965594 Tue, 01 May 2007 07:47:26 -0700
author: James N. Powell
name: Jared
average rating: 3.84
book published: 1982
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 05/01/07
shelves: philosophy
review:
Another great entry for this series. If you've ever heard the word/process/concept of "deconstruction" then you've been reading/listening to someone influenced by Derrida. He was a prolific writer so this introductory book focuses on his initial development of deconstruction and explains how deconstruction works. The gist of deconstruction is that no text is univocal and, thus, all texts are open to multiple interpretations. Deconstruction usually happens in the form of identifying and interpreting binary oppositions within the text. A binary opposition is something like male-female, mind-body, presence-absence, subject-object, etc. If you have any interest in doing or learning about textual criticism, this is a good place to start.
]]> 965436 Tue, 01 May 2007 07:23:19 -0700
author: David Cogswell
name: Jared
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1996
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 05/01/07
shelves: philosophy
review:
I love this series of books. They aren't thorough but they are detailed enough and easy enough to read so that you can grasp the main ideas. In this instance, Noam Chomsky's views about langauge, politics and the media are laid out. Chomsky's an interesting fellow and one of the individuals who helped start the field of modern linguistics. I actually found myself more interested in his view of politics and the media than by his contribute to linguistics, however. He's almost like a conspiracy theorist!
]]> 965168 Tue, 01 May 2007 07:15:34 -0700
author: William Irwin
name: Jared
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 05/01/07
shelves: philosophy
review:
Some really good essays in here about the underlying content of the Narnia books. They seem to be divided pretty evenly in addressing issues brought up intentionally by Lewis and issues derrived from those issues. Topics focused mainly on ethics/morality, though there was a good deal of anthropology and theology tossed in for good measure. All in all, a fair analysis of Narnia and its inhabitants. I would give it five stars if there weren't a few stinker essays; one on feminism, one on the salvation of animals and one on morality that just wasn't put together very well.
]]> 598565 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:53:04 -0700
author: Stephen R. Lawhead
name: Jared
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/14/07
shelves: fiction
review:
In this last installment we find Caitriona, the granddaughter of Murdo and the daughter of Duncan, embarking on what will be the final relic collected by this family. The "mystic rose" is another name for the Holy Grail, as those of you who've read the Davinci Code probably already know. Lawhead brings this adventurous trilogy to a fine conclusion and if you've made it through the previous two books, this is a must read.
]]> 598563 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:19:49 -0700
author: Stephen R. Lawhead
name: Jared
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/14/07
shelves: fiction
review:
Again taking on a title of a Catholic relic, the second installation of this trilogy continues the quest to find relics associated with Christ's death. Here we find that Murdo's son has taken up where his father can no longer participate, seeking out the True Cross to which Jesus was nailed. The rood is said to have regenerative powers capable of healing any ailment, disease or otherwise, even bringing one back from the dead. The main character, Duncan, is fleshed out quite well while the other characters seem to take a backseat in this novel; still a great story benefitting from the historical setup of the Iron Lance.
]]> 598557 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 08:53:09 -0700
author: Stephen R. Lawhead
name: Jared
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/14/07
shelves: fiction
review:
The Iron Lance, in case you aren't familiar with Catholic relics, is supposed to be the spear that was used to pierce the side of Jesus while He was on the cross. It's also called the Spear of Destiny and legend has it that the possessor of the spear is virtually invincible (of course, there are variations of its powers). During the Crusades there was an effort put forth by the Roman Church to collect the various relics associated with Christ's death. If you're interested at all in Church history and want a little taste of the reality (and brutality) of the Crusades, this novel will not disappoint. The main focus of the first book in this trilogy is on setting up the historical context of the First Crusade and creating a story within that context around the main character, Murdo Ranulfson.
]]> 599423 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:47:47 -0700
author: Tim LaHaye
name: Jared
average rating: 3.65
book published: 1995
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: fiction
review:
I got about two-thirds of the way through the book and just wasn't getting it. I couldn't identify with the setup of the story or the characters. My distaste probably stems from the fact that (a) it is written from a dispensationalist take on the end of the world and (b) so many people believe it is more than just fiction.
]]> 640389 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:43:11 -0700
author: Alvin Plantinga
name: Jared
average rating: 4.27
book published: 1999
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: philosophy
review:
Hardcore Christian Philosophy. A long, tough read but well worth the effort if you want to hold your own in that wonderful arena called the marketplace of ideas. This book will step up your game in apologetics and there are very few books which enable you to do so more than this one.
]]> 640418 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:42:39 -0700
author: Douglas R. Hofstadter
name: Jared
average rating: 4.18
book published: 1985
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: philosophy
review:
A collection of essays about how the mind works and about the conception of self. Standard issue reading for anyone interested in different views about who/what "I" refers to and/or means.
]]> 640426 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:41:47 -0700
author: John W. Cooper
name: Jared
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2000
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: theology
review:
Probably the most comprehensive study of biblical anthropology that isn't tedious and boring to read. Cooper makes a great case for a holistic (biblical) dualism and will change your understanding of what it means for a soul to be immortal.
]]> 598568 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:36:18 -0700
author: Stephen R. Lawhead
name: Jared
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: fiction
review:
A fantastic take on the Robin Hood legend. Lawhead did some research and discovered that the legend likely originated within Celtic lore and this is the setting in which the book takes place. Pronouncing the character's names can be a daunting task, but their story and development throughout this setup novel are top-notch. This will be another good triology from one of "fantastorical" fiction's finest authors.
]]> 651963 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 07:09:26 -0700
author: Kevin Corcoran
name: Jared
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: philosophy
review:
A collection of essays that address issues about the composition of human beings (soul/mind body problems). These essays cover a gamut of views, some Christian and some non-Christian. Dualism, monism, eliminativism (reductionist and non-reductionist), and holism, it's all here and very readable.
]]> 652023 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:46:04 -0700 is a Christian. He is also the author that first made me question the young Earth model of creation. This book is kind of a precursor to Beyond the Cosmos and sets the stage for delving deeper into the extra-demensionality of the universe and how the being of God fits in such a model as the Creator.]]>
author: Hugh, Ph.D. Ross
name: Jared
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1995
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: science
review:
I get the impression that Ross is an astrophysicist first and a Christian second, but at least he is a Christian. He is also the author that first made me question the young Earth model of creation. This book is kind of a precursor to Beyond the Cosmos and sets the stage for delving deeper into the extra-demensionality of the universe and how the being of God fits in such a model as the Creator.
]]> 651967 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:15:20 -0700
author: Michael Devitt
name: Jared
average rating: 4.25
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: textbook
review:
Linguistics from a naturalist/reductionist viewpoint. The authors readily confess the framework from which they contstruct their view of language. Aside from that, this is a great introduction to the philosophy of language which hits on all the key issues: formation, function, connection with reality, etc. It can get technical (read tedious) at times but not so much as to bog down an interested reader.
]]> 640615 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:06:27 -0700
author: Maurice Balme
name: Jared
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1997
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: textbook
review:
This was one of the textbooks for New Testament Greek at Covenant. If you want to teach yourself Greek, this is the place to start.
]]> 659013 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:04:49 -0700
author: Richard Lederer
name: Jared
average rating: 4.24
book published: 1998
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: general
review:
This was my first encounter with how messed up the English language really is. He pretty much touches on all the essentials: cliches, figures of speech, big words, oxymorons, grammatical structure, etc. A fun and humorous read that I've enjoyed coming back to every so often.
]]> 658985 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 05:52:30 -0700
author: John Bunyan
name: Jared
average rating: 4.23
book published: 1907
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/10/07
shelves: fiction
review:
A classic; what more really needs to be said?
]]> 652079 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:05:37 -0700
author: Rocco J. Gennaro
name: Jared
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1996
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 652020 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:02:25 -0700
author: John R. Perry
name: Jared
average rating: 5.00
book published: 1978
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 652014 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:01:31 -0700
author: Peter van Inwagen
name: Jared
average rating: 3.50
book published: 1998
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 652012 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:01:21 -0700
author: Linda M. Alcoff
name: Jared
average rating: 5.00
book published: 1998
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 652001 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:00:47 -0700
author: William D. Romanowski
name: Jared
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 651989 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:00:25 -0700
author: Steven Pinker
name: Jared
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 651981 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:00:12 -0700
author: Bart Kosko
name: Jared
average rating: 3.62
book published: 1994
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640436 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:31:03 -0700
author: Douglas Wilson
name: Jared
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves: theology
review:
A compilation of essays about open theism by various authors from the reformed community. There are some real gems in here, I only wish that William Davis' article was included in this volume rather than in another volume. This book is more creative in its critique of open theism than many of its stand-alone contemporaries as it sees open theism as a failure of imagination.
]]> 598550 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 10:03:13 -0700
author: Dan Brown
name: Jared
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2003
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves: fiction
review:
Well written as far as modern novels go, but I don't see what the fuss was all about. Despite claims of legitimacy, there isn't really a whole lot of truth here; that's why it's fiction. From a purely historical standpoint the story is plausible, especially given the modern Church's lack of historical knowledge. This is basically the written equivalent of a summer popcorn action movie (and the book was more riveting than the film, this time around). Sadly, Christians don't know any better.
]]> 646453 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:53:19 -0700
author: Dr. Seuss
name: Jared
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1960
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 646445 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:52:35 -0700
author: Lynne Reid Banks
name: Jared
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 600815 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:41:09 -0700
author: Peter Leithart
name: Jared
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2003
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves: theology
review:
A scathing assessment of the modern Church. Leithart contends that ecclesiastic unity and community is a notion which is all but lost amongst today's view of religion as a private endeavor. He argues that the Christian faith (distinguished as "Christendom") is more than a worldview and a proposition-filled system of theology. The Christian faith is, instead, a way of life with its own set of laws, rituals and culture. A short challenging read that should change your understanding of how Christianity should be conceived.
]]> 640368 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:05:21 -0700
author: Phillip E. Johnson
name: Jared
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves: science
review:
Johnson is relentless and prolific when it comes to combating naturalism and Darwinism. This book is good at getting into those little cracks in the worldview of naturalism rather than focusing primarily on a scientific approach. Johnson engages naturalism at the presuppositional level to weaken its claims of objectivity within its methodology.
]]> 640517 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 08:43:22 -0700
author: Hugh Ross
name: Jared
average rating: 3.31
book published: 1999
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 04/09/07
shelves: science
review:
Ross was originally an old earth advocate who has jumped onto the intelligent design (ID) movement. This book gets very technical at points and was written before he signed on with ID so you wont see much of the connection. It's easy to get lost in the science jargon and his particular method of conflating theology and science will be lost on you if you don't care one way or the other.
]]> 640607 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:12:11 -0700
author: Dr. Les Parrott III
name: Jared
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640604 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:11:55 -0700
author: James C. Dobson
name: Jared
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640602 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:11:37 -0700
author: Scott M. Stanley
name: Jared
average rating: 3.86
book published: 1998
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640585 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:08:42 -0700
author: J. W. Wenham
name: Jared
average rating: 4.50
book published: 1973
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640565 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:06:27 -0700
author: Lesslie Newbigin
name: Jared
average rating: 3.94
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640560 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:06:04 -0700
author: Philip Yancey
name: Jared
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640552 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:05:08 -0700
author: Michael Horton
name: Jared
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640524 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:02:10 -0700
author: Paul E. Little
name: Jared
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640522 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:02:03 -0700
author: Paul E. Little
name: Jared
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640514 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:00:53 -0700
author: John M. Frame
name: Jared
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1994
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640510 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 21:00:36 -0700
author: R.C. Sproul
name: Jared
average rating: 4.33
book published: 1998
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640487 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:58:48 -0700
author: Gordon D. Fee
name: Jared
average rating: 4.50
book published: 1994
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640460 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:56:18 -0700
author: Henrietta C. Mears
name: Jared
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640451 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:55:18 -0700
author: Dan McCartney
name: Jared
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640443 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:54:31 -0700
author: John Phillips
name: Jared
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640430 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:51:32 -0700
author: Kay Arthur
name: Jared
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2001
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640415 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:48:15 -0700
author: John Murray
name: Jared
average rating: 3.80
book published: 1991
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640411 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:46:22 -0700
author: Kay Arthur
name: Jared
average rating: 4.60
book published: 2000
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640409 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:45:52 -0700
author: G.K. Chesterton
name: Jared
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2004
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 04/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> 640406 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:45:23 -0700