2019 One-Word Reviews
January:
- Metaphysics: Constructing a World View (Contours of Christian Philosophy) / William Hasker / Helpful
- Fear: Trump in the White House / Bob Woodward / Insane
- Final Fantasy VII: On the Way to a Smile
/ Kazushige Nojima / Good
- Miracles
/ C. S. Lewis / Thought-Provoking
- The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ
/ Brant Pitre / Must Read
- William Booth: Soup, Soap, and Salvation (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)
/ Janet Benge & Geoff Benge / Inspiring
- Misery: A Novel
/ Stephen King / Brutal
February:
- Homiletics
/ Karl Barth / Thought-Provoking
- Undeniable: How Biology Confirms Our Intuition That Life Is Designed
/ Douglas Axe / Enlightening
- The Cure: What if God isn’t who you think He is and neither are you?
/ John Lynch, Bruce McNicol & Bill Thrall / Powerful
March:
- Grace to Lead: Practicing Leadership in the Wesleyan Tradition, Revised Edition
/ Kenneth Carder & Laceye Warner / Practical
- Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story
/ K.M. Weiland / Practical
- Designing the Sermon: Order and Movement in Preaching
/ James Earl Massey / Excellent
- Cross-Cultural Connections: Stepping Out and Fitting In Around the World
/ Duane Elmer / So-So
- The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World
/ Alan J. Roxburgh & Fred Romanuk / Practical & Innovative
April:
- Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design
/ Stephen Meyer / Fascinating
- The Modern Scholar: The Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas
/ Peter Kreeft / Educational
- Aquinas for Armchair Theologians
/ Timothy M. Renick / Educational
- The Homiletical Plot, Expanded Edition: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form
/ Eugene Lowry / Eye-Opening
- Choosing to Preach: A Comprehensive Introduction to Sermon Options and Structures
/ Kenton C. Anderson / Practical-and-Inspiring
May:
- C. S. Lewis — A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet
/ Alister McGrath / Fascinating
- Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions
/ Rachel Held Evans / Grief-Inducing
- Darwin Devolves: The New Science About DNA That Challenges Evolution
/ Michael Behe / Excellent
- Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard
/ Chip & Dan Heath / Powerful
- Aquinas (A Beginner’s Guide)
/ Edward Feser / Deep
- Never Go Back: 10 Things You’ll Never Do Again
/ Dr. Henry Cloud / Highly-Practical
- Birth of a Reformation: The Life and Labors of Daniel Sidney Warner
/ A.L. Byers / Lacking
- A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir
/ Thomas C. Oden / Inspiring
June:
- Modern Revivalism: From Charles Grandison Finney to Billy Graham / William G. McLoughlin / Eye-Opening
- A Practical Guide to Culture / John Stonestreet & Brett Kunkle / Indispensable
- Preparing for Change Reaction: How to Introduce Change in Your Church / Bob Whitesel / Practical
July:
- The Odyssey / Homer, Trans. by Emily Wilson / Fanastic!
- The Pillars of the Earth: A Novel (Kingsbridge) / Ken Follett / Epic
August:
- The Dragons of Babel / Michael Swanwick / A Hodge-Podge
- Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire / Scot McKnight / Powerful
- The Morals of the Story: Good News About a Good God / David Baggett & Marybeth Baggett / Meandering
- The Epic of Eden / Sandra Richter / Excellent
- Ultralearning / Scott Young / Inspiring-and-Practical
- Beginning Biblical Hebrew / John Cook & Robert Holmstedt / So-So
- Koine Greek Grammar / Frederick Long / Comprehensive
- Exporting the Rapture / Donald Akenson / Fascinating
- Is God a Moral Monster? / Paul Copan / A-Needed-Apologetic
September:
- The Drawing of the Three / Stephen King / Strange
- The Iron Dragon’s Daughter / Michael Swanwick / Weird
- How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity / Thomas Oden / Repetitive
- On Moral Fiction / John Gardner / Deep-and-Thought-Provoking
- Belief in God in an Age of Science / John Polkinghorne / …Meh…
October:
- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines / Thomas C Foster / Eclectic
- Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable Enemies / David Bentley Hart / Thought-Provoking
- The Wesleyan Quadrilateral: An Introduction / Don Thorsen / Informative
December:
- The Miracle Equation: The Two Decisions That Move Your Biggest Goals from Possible, to Probable, to Inevitable / Hal Elrod / Inspiring
- The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) / Hal Elrod / Inspiring
- Aftermath: Star Wars / Chuck Wendig / Exciting
- Copy Logic! The New Science of Producing Breakthrough Copy (Without Criticism) / Mike Palmer & Michael Masterson / Practical