Book reviews in 2022

101 Great Big Questions about God and Science by Lizzie Henderson and Steph Bryant

Excellent book for children with questions about the universe and what it means to be human, and interesting for adults too

7 Ways to Pray by Amy Boucher Pye

Taps into the wealth of Christian spiritual practice over the whole course of church history - recommended

A Church of the People by John Dyer

Important reading for Baptists - John's recipe is end-to-end theological training for all at whatever level is appropriate for each, and the patterns he identifies from Brazil are visible almost everywhere at some level

A Mind of Their Own by Katharine Hill

An excellent book about building children's emotional wellbeing for parents, family workers, teachers and preachers, thoroughly based on current research and advice by experts in the field

Be Still: A simple guide to quiet times by Brian Heasley

A really helpful guide on establishing (or re-establishing) times with God: practical and accessible, yet never patronising

Cosmic Chemistry - Do God and science mix? By John C. Lennox

Presents a comprehensive guide to the historic debates around the co-existence of scientific investigation and the existence of God - and will hopefully regenerate your faith

Dying to Get There by Mike Williams

'Mike’s great contribution is to call us back to our birthright... Christians really ought to believe in resurrection and should be able to face decline and terminal illness with contentment and in hope'

Forty Women by Ros Clarke

Lessons learned from and empathy for lesser known women in the Bible, whose stories can resonate with the lives of women today

God calls everyone by Derek Walmsley

Commendably aims to encourage every believer to work out where they fit in God’s plan, but could be undermined by the way it is presented

God made the dinosaurs by Michael and Caroline Carroll

In socialising dinosaurs for a Christian audience, the Carrolls are making an important contribution and also raising deep questions

Held in Your Bottle by Jeannie Kendall

An honest, vulnerable, and practical book that affirms the positive role of our tears in the Bible in life, and in faith

Making Faith Magnetic by Daniel Strange

Highlights five hidden themes our culture can’t stop talking about - and how to connect them to Christ

Mindfulness as Mission Gift by Karen Openshaw and Chris Edmondson

A short, accessible and well-researched booklet, especially for anyone interested in the possibility of using the gift of mindfulness in a fresh expression of church

Religion and Senses of Place

Examines senses of place in which people perform religious acts - on a practical level it's an invitation to any religious community to look again at the environment in which it works

Religion and Touch - Equinox

Exploring acts of touch in religions of all descriptions (including Christianity)

Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard

The church in the West desperately needs the wisdom in this book, an anniversary edition of Willard's writing on spiritual formation, despite some of its cultural irritations

Singleness and Marriage by Lina Toth

A book to iron out misunderstandings, reduce fears, remove guilt - and warmly to be commended

Spiritual Detox by Howard Satterthwaite

A book of encouragement for us all as we ‘discover the joy of liberating confession’, not as a one-off but a daily dose

Tales From An Under Gardener by Richard Littledale

'There is much wisdom, poignancy and joy in these 52 devotions'

The Ecumenical Chaplaincy of St Albans Cathedral by Pam McElroy

Labour of love documenting many reflections and stories from those involved in the life of the ecumenical chaplaincy of St Albans Cathedral over 40 years

The Gospel – what is it? by Alistair Hornal

'Every home group would be richly blessed by running a series based on material like this in the coming year'

The Vanishing - The Twilight of Christianity in the Middle East by Janine di Giovanni

Powerful study of Christian communities in Iraq, Gaza, Syria, and Egypt which goes far beyond mere statistics

There is Hope: Preaching at Funerals by Paul Beasley-Murray

Paul's desire to consciously ground mourners’ attention in God’s word is a striking contrast with so much funeral preaching

Where the Light Fell by Philip Yancey

An honest and detailed autobiographical account of Yancey’s journey of faith, which reveals the impact made by his father’s early death and the consequences of a difficult upbringing