Book Review: Freakonomics

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a fun and interesting read. Like economics, psychology also deals heavily with asking questions about incentives, trends, and why people do what they do--thus, I found the questions asked by Levitt and Dubner quite appealing. The book was well-written, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it  well balanced and unbiased. The authors have a gift for explaining complicated (and possibly boring) material in an easily understandable manner that is both fascinating and entertaining. I will look forward to seeing how their theories and predictions play out in the future.


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Book Review: 7

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think everyone ought to read this book. It challenged everything I have ever thought about living the Christian life in America today, and revealed exactly how attached I am to my stuff. Reading "7" has inspired me to try my own 7-fast and begin to learn to live with less. I am so excited for what I know God will do through it. I'm looking forward to finally learning to store up treasure on heaven instead of on earth.


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Book Review: Competent Christian Counseling

Competent Christian Counseling, Volume One: Foundations and Practice of Compassionate Soul Care by Timothy Clinton


Very comprehensive and well-written. I think every Christian counselor needs to read this book.


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Book Review: Theirs is the Kingdom

Theirs Is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America by Robert D. Lupton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was short, but powerful. It was perfect for someone like me who struggles with replacing people with type A personality programs, processes, and organizations. It confronted head-on my ideas about the Kingdom of God and how I'm really living out my life as a Christian. It was very realistic, but also hopeful. No matter you level of interest in the subject of the title, I would highly recommend this book.


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Book Review: A Heart for the City

A Heart for the City: Effective Ministries to the Urban Community by John Fuder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Phenomenal.


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Book Review: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Philip Yancey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was, by far, one of the best books I have EVER read. "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" unites the two topics that I love the most: God and human anatomy and physiology. Yancey writes in such beautiful language and detail that even if you have never found the human body particularly intriguing, you can't help but be drawn into his story. Yancey compares human body structures to those of the body of Christ, and the metaphor work's beautifully. I would go on, except I fear that by talking about the book, I will fail to portray how good it really is. I cannot recommend this book more highly.


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Book Review: The Visitation

The Visitation by Frank Peretti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was great! Peretti spun this tale with his usual mystery, cunning, and suspense. It's not my favorite novel of his--that will forever belong to his book The Prophet--however, it was still an entertaining and powerful read.


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Book Review: Engaging God's World

Engaging God's World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living by Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book makes many interesting points.  Some of which I agreed with with, some I did not.  I found the authors discussions on shalom invigorating and inspiring.  However, I would differ with him on application of the principle.  Occasionally it seemed elementary, but it was well written.


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Book Review: Beginning and the End

Rereading Genesis's Stories and Revelation's Visions by Michael W. Pahl
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Not my favorite book. Not necessarily bad, but definitely not my favorite. 


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Book Review: It's (Not That) Complicated

It’s (Not That) Complicated: How to Relate to Guys in a Healthy, Sane, and Biblical Way by Anna Sofia Botkin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is like a ray of light in the dark, confusing world of cross-gender relationships. I would encourage any young woman to read this book, especially if you feel confused about communication with the opposite sex and how to have meaningful guy-girl friendships without them spiraling into the quasi-romances so popular today.

Book Review: House Rules

House Rules by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jodi Picoult is an exceptional writer and she takes on some tough issues in this book. It was an excellent story that addressed a lot of the different sides of how autism affects a family. Theo, the brother of Jacob who has autism, brings up some feelings that I my self have had to deal with having a brother with autism. There was, however, a rather sketchy scene, which I skipped over once I got there. Just a warning.

But overall, this book is a page turner, an great story, and gets almost everything right in regards to how autism manifests itself.


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Book Review: Same Kind of Different as Me

Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together by Ron Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book confronts issues of racism, poverty, adultery, faith, and grace with honesty that I found refreshing. "Same Kind of Different as Me" is beautifully written by both its authors and the story was both inspiring and challenging. This book was well worth the read.


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