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 Companion in Crisis by Philip Yancey

Yancey enables the reader to access John Donne’s thoughts in more contemporary English, and this, coupled with his own perceptions, helps us to ponder on what it means to both live and die well

A Great Place to Grow Old by Tina English

Ministers, leaders, and concerned church members will be indebted to Tina English for this comprehensive and practical guide to ministry among older people

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

A-Z of Wellbeing by Ruth Rice

Attempts to describe wellbeing through short, readable chunks and easily accessible language - an ideal tool for anyone

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

Celtic Prayer; Caught Up in Love, edited by David Cole

Much to learn and think about in this volume which explores a variety of ways of praying and reflecting from the Celtic Christian tradition

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

Courting Chaos by Kevin Durrant

Helpful book on navigating the ecological crisis which weaves together the teaching of Jeremiah with the linked ministries of Jonah and Jesus, each of whom came through the chaotic waters of death to deliver a message of hope

Creative ways to tell a Bible story by Martyn Payne

A confident call to have confidence in the story - Martyn inspires us to recover our birthright of joyous, effective, living by reclaiming our ability to tell and listen in better ways

Do I stay Christian? By Brian McLaren

McClaren focuses on the how of living well after presenting both the case for and against the Christian faith in this thought-provoking book

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'

Entertaining Angels by Cavan Wood

Recommended reading which provides a framework to better understand and support families living with autism

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

Grief Notes: Walking through loss by Tony Horsfall

Raw and honest account following the death of the author's wife of 47 years from cancer

Growing Older by Paul Beasley-Murray

A mix of autobiography and biography, which contains very welcome insights from the career of his wife, Caroline, Paul Beasley Murray sets high standards for everyone he meets - in the tradition of ‘our best for the highest’

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

How to hear God: a simple guide for normal people by Pete Greig

Highly recommended for anyone who is seeking God specifically, or simply wants to grow in their relationship with Jesus

If These Stones Could Talk by Peter Stanford

Though the buildings of dissenters and nonconformists are largely absent, this is nevertheless a good and compact history of the Christian faith in these Isles, showing how buildings for worship are not simply functional but sacred space

Invisible Divides by Natalie Williams and Paul Brown

Explores how we ensure church is a place for everyone, including people of different social classes - but it's not a comprehensive examination of class in churches across Britain

Journey into Light by Roderick Strange

Using the liturgical calendar as a roadmap for the journey and peppered with personal recollections and reflections, Strange invites us on a thoughtful, spiritual and open tour of the Catholic faith

Making Disciples for the Workplace by Mark Greene

'This booklet is so packed with ideas, stories, Biblical insights, and theological reflection that makes it difficult, despite its brevity, to do it justice in a short review'

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

Repackaging Christianity by Andrew Atherstone

Offers a positive history of Alpha, which nevertheless does not shy away from addressing criticisms. Recommended if you want to understand more about this key part of Christian history in the last 30 years

Singleness and Marriage by Lina Toth

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

Social and Cognitive Perspectives on the Sermon on the Mount

An intriguing and stimulating study which re-interprets the text with more attention to social and cultural perspectives here and now

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'

Talking to Children About Race by Loretta Andrews and Ruth Hill

If we want to change the way we think and bring children up respecting those who are different, this book is essential reading

The Air We Breathe by Glen Scrivener

A crisp summary of how far our society is from its imagined roots, and how Christianity has so shaped our thought

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 Gift of Kindness by Debbie Duncan and Cathy Le Feuvre

This collage of Bible teaching, research findings and heart-warming stories makes for an encouraging and thought-provoking read

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 Gospel of John – a theological commentary, by David F Ford

'No one who is seriously interested in John’s Gospel can fail to benefit from this book, which is both theologically stimulating and spiritually enriching'

The Hebrides Revival and Awakening 1949-1953

Short history documenting a remarkable movement of the Spirit of God sparked by the prayers of two elderly sisters

The Jesus Puzzle by Brenda Watson

Shares the question of knowledge of the historical Jesus, in order to refute sceptics who consider that we can know very little about Him - a useful item for students and ministers

The Monastic Heart by Sister Joan Chittister

A stimulating and stretching read which aims to invite readers to create a monastery within themselves: it would make a good Lent or Advent book

The Return of Jesus Christ by Ian Hutchings

'Should be read by all who are in danger of growing lethargic in their anticipation of Christ’s return'

The Unexpected: a 40-day devotional for living with unexpected times by Iona Rossely

An engaging devotional book, which has much to commend, particularly if used alongside journalling

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

Utter Wisdom by Daniel Whetham, Rachel Thake, Jonathan Norgate and Steph Williams

An ESL conversational English teaching resource based around 60 world proverbs, to encourage conversational English, stimulate deep thinking, and connect with Jesus

Where the Light Fell by Philip Yancey

Yancey's memoir - how on earth did a boy with such a troubled church background become such a gifted writer of God's word?

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

Whistlestop Tales - around the Bible with 10 extraordinary children by Krish and Miriam Kandiah

Creative retelling of 10 Bible stories, showing how God uses unusual people surprisingly often

Whistlestop Tales by Krish and Miriam Kandiah

An entertaining, creative retelling of 10 Bible stories that nevertheless does justice to the biblical material

Why Can’t I See God? by Joanne Gilchrist

Answers hard questions for children about faith, which catches the eye and gets back to the Bible

Written for Faith - St John's Gospel: A true witness? by Ian Morris

Accessible exploration of John's gospel which challenges some long-held views. You may not agree with everything - but it will make you think

Young, Woke and Christian: Words from a Missing Generation

A much-needed contribution by young people, which counters myths about their motivations and relationship with Jesus

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