Saturday, January 9, 2010

Kingsolver

Poison wood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
This is a great book. I read some lukewarm reviews, but I cannot think of a reasonable criticism for this book. It is a terrific story, creatively done, and the fact that Kingsolver had parents who were missionaries lends the book a quality of authenticity.

McInerny

Father Dowling Mysteries by Ralph McInerney
I discovered these shortly after writing the last list. They are mind candy, to be sure, but they're better than most television by a long shot. The setting is a Catholic community outside of Chicago and the Notre Dame professor/author informs the reader about the dilemmas and issues of Catholics.

Nurture Assumption

Nurture Assumption by Judith Rich Harris
Free Press, New York: 1998
This is a very important book written about child rearing and the nature/nurture controversy. Harris takes on the entire industry of child development and parenting literature. Her book is convincing and well researched.

South Asia

Infidel by Ayan Hirsi Ali
This is a riveting tale of the life of a youngster in war torn Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. She lives in the US, currently, and is in danger from Muslim extremists because she has renounced (and denounced) the Muslim faith.

Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
This is an astounding story of a Norwegian journalist who was invited into the home of an Afghani family following the US takedown of the Taliban in 2001- 2002.

John Dean

Conservatives without Conscience by John Dean
Dean describes the difference between the Goldwater version of conservatism and the modern variety. This is informative and interesting.

Imagine

Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris
After publishing The End of Faith, Harris received so much hate mail, particularly from Christians, that he composed a treatise that speaks directly to Christians. It refutes specific right wing positions with concrete data, i.e., stem cell research, abstinence, and all religious beliefs and practices that result in increased suffering rather than increased well-being. It is clear and concise.

God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens
Hitchens, like Dawkins, is an author who is well acquainted with religious texts of many sources, and is particularly well versed in Bible scholarship. While both he and Dawkins are appreciative of the Bible as literature, Hitchens is adamant that there is no reason to adopt any supernatural beliefs based on these readings.

God Delusion – Richard Dawkins
This is a perfect companion to Christopher Hitchens’ God is Not Great and Sam Harris’ Letter to a Christian Nation.

Monkey Girl

Monkey Girl by Edward Humes
This is a well told tale of the Dover, Pennsylvania school board debacle concerning creation and intelligent design. The author does a terrific job of narrating a complex and nearly unbelievable true story.