Religion Books

Marcus Borg has written the clearest exposition of the Christian faith that has come to my attention! On the first page of the Preface, Borg states: "The sacrifice that Christianity asks of us is not ultimately a sacrifice of the intellect."

Borg describes the critical importance of "metaphor" and "myth" in understanding the Bible. He quotes Thomas Mann in describing myths not as fanciful untruths, but as "stories about the way things never were, but always are. They are really true, even though not literally true."

He deals with "supernatural theism" versus panentheism and carefully deals with our tendency to create God in our image as over against that of God as a spirit who pervades all of life. When his students come to him (at the Univ. of Oregon) and say they can't believe in God, he asks them to describe the God they can't believe in. His response is "I don't believe in that God either."

The author makes and important and fascinating distinction between the human "pre-Easter Jesus" and the "post-Easter Jesus", pointing out that Jesus' death was "the consequence of what he was doing and not his purpose".

Borg discusses the meaning of "thin places", as he call them and a number of topics that are traditionally accepted as tenets of the Christian faith, to which he gives new interpretation, such as the terms, "born again", "faith", the nature of the "Kingdom of God", "Sin and Salvation" (a new insight!) and finally what it means to "practice" the Christian faith.

This, as Borg says, is a book for "lovers of the faith and those seeking a faith to love". And best of all it does not require a sacrifice of the intellect!

Ernest G. Barr

Marcus Borg has come forth as a leading advocate of faithless postmodernism that appears similar to Unitarianism in rejecting the divine inspiration of scripture, and the miracles of Christ, his resurrection, atoning sacrifice, and deity. For Mr. Borg, God is a deistic impersonal entity who started the universe, then went on a long trip never to return. God does not personally intervene or answer prayer, and so prayers of petition are simply a show of caring by the one who is praying. One will look in vain to find in "The Heart of Christianity," any discussion of current vital moral issues such as the humanity of children still in the womb, homosexuality and gay marriage, and other issues related to sexuality. The book in my view comes across as an effort to introduce or support the reader in unbelief and atheism, and as such I recommend it to anyone wanting to understand the emergence of a post-Christian culture in North America.

I found THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY ...an excellent, stimulating read. Borg clearly addresses questions that will help those who have been struggling with their religious commitment. I found his discussion of the types of faith and belief particularly helpful and believe his discussion of emerging Christianity to be just what is needed for the 21st century. Tom Hood

I was introduced to Marcus Borg books by the Pastor of my church. His ideas have changed my life. A good read for any open-minded, intellectual, and spriritual person.

One of the best over all views of the emerging paradigm within the Christian Church. Good stuff about the progressive and conservative points of view, and what the mainline churches need to learn from each of them. The seeds to the future are here for everyone to see. A must read for the serious Christian.

Several features of this translation make it unique. First, the text is broken into useful paragraphs rather than a complete run-on as is the case in the original Arabic. Second, numbering has been assigned to make references much simpler to find. In other words, it reads much like the standard English Bible. Abdel Haleem is an expert in Arabic and Islamic studies. It is obvious that he has taken great care with a heartfelt effort to make this translation as true to the original as possible while still being understandable by an average English reader. Further, he has published a book titled Understanding the Qur'an: Themes and Style, which tackles significant areas of the Qur'an versus Biblical episodes and attempts to explain the beauty of the rhyming Arabic in the original Qur'an. Together, these two books with a biography of Muhammad will give any non-Muslim a very good knowledge of Islam.

This translation shows literary polish and is very pleasant to read. It uses brackets in the text to clarify who is being addressed by "you" and imperative verbs. This is important since standard English does not distinguish between singular and plural in the second person.

There are a judicious number of footnotes to explain certain interpretive issues, but they do not try to present a particular sectarian understanding of the text. They aim to present uncontroversial interpretations to help non-Muslims such as myself understand what any native Arabic-speaking Muslim would already know about the background of certain words and statements.

I have run across a pair of cases in which the repeated literary polishing (referred to in the introduction) evidently got ahead of the note editing. On p. 38, Sura 3:46 begins, "He will speak to people in his infancy..." and there is a footnote reference after "infancy." The note says, "Cf. 19: 29-30. The word _mahd_ means a place smoothed out for a small child to sleep in. It is not a piece of furniture like a cradle." Very good, but the translation as it stands has no word for either a smoothed place or a cradle. Looking in the Arabic (with the aid of a bilingual edition), I see that it has a clause that can be literally translated something like, "He will speak to people from the sleeping place," where 'sleeping place' is my rendering of _mahd_ intended to avoid the translation "cradle" to which Mr. Haleem objects. The point is that the English word "infancy" implies nothing about a sleeping place; it refers to the earliest stage of life. Thus the note here (and in the cross-referenced passage) is confusing. It only makes sense if a more literal translation is given. In Haleem's translation, it should simply be omitted.

Other than this, though, I find the translation quite good. I recommend it to all English speakers who wish to acquaint themselves with the contents of the Qur'an without having to suffer through the archaisms of some earlier translations. However, if you want a version that is more formally similar to the Arabic, you will probably need to get one of these older translations and endure the "thees" and "thous". Even better, learn Arabic, as I am trying to do, and see how the originally _really_ goes.

I have not read this all the way through, but what I have read is a clear, crisp and easily digestible translation. The type and font size is perfect in my opinion. This would make a good introductory book for reading the Quran or Koran in English.

This translation is among the best translations of the Qur'an i have read... The verses of the noble Qur'an are translated in a very clear and easy to understand vocabularies that anyone with an adequate background in english can benefit from it.. Most of the translation of the Qur'an are very hard to get the concept due the the translators' usage of obscure and archaic english but this translation is quite clear and manifest for anyone wanting to get the most out of it... I strongly recommend this translation..

If you are looking to learn about Islam and the book that guides it, I recommend this translation. Written in straight-forward contemporary English, this translation is easy to read, more like a book than a religious text. The introduction is very good and I strongly urge you to read it before starting in on the Qur'an itself. It starts with a historical background; compilation, structure, and style of the Qur'an; interpretation of the Qur'an; and a short history of English translations. Only within this framework can the reader truly understand and appreciate the meaning of this complex work.

This book is wonderful. When I find myself worrying about something, I read this book, and the Bible passages Dillow refers to, and find great comfort. I have purchased several copies for friends, and they are also finding it very helpful.

When the book did not arrive three days after it was scheduled, I sent an email. A book was shipped immediately. I don't know if the book was lost in transit but the service was excellent.

A small group of ladies are meeting one day a week on their lunch hour to study this book. We have spent two weeks on one chapter. We find it inspires conversation and sharing. One lady said she couldn't use her highlighter because she would have to highlight every word. The questions and meditations in the back cause much thought and reflection.

The bible study group I co-lead is very pleased with the book so far. We are just getting started, and we immediately appreciated the easy-reading style of the chapters. Our group consists primarily of mothers of YOUNG (under age 7) children, and anxiety is a big part of our day and our spirituality at this point in our lives (who has TIME for anything other than filling sippy cups and changing diapers??). This book addresses pertinent issues for us, and we utilize the helpful leader guide/discussion questions available at the back of the book (helps make being the leader less stressful/time consuming).

This is a wonderful book with many great reminders about why we don't need to worry or have anxiety. Great bible references that share the message if we trust God and have faith that we don't need to worry.

Very insightful, a quick read with lots of "real life" scenarios. I think all can benefit from reading this book in some way.

I learned about "The Five Love Languages" from a former coworker who found it incredibly helpful in his marriage. Not being married myself, I purchased this version for singles.

I have recommed this book (or the original) to just about everyone I know and a many I don't!

The concepts are so simple but yet profound. Understanding the primary love languages of my friends, family and even coworkers has been very helpful and has strengthened our relationships.

The only negative feedback I would give is in regards to the Physical Touch chapter... it isn't until then that you truly realize this is a Christian book! I deeply respect Mr. Chapman but think he should know that people have pre-marital sex and it is not a sin! Aside from that, this (or the original) is a MUST READ!!!

I enjoyed the book. It was light, easy to read, apply, and understand. I plan to use it for all relationships in the future

Tiffiney R. Bradley
Author of Shine and Inspirations

I thought this book was very helpful. While some of the information seems like common sense, there are some valuable lessons to be learned. It really helps you understand other people and the way they both express and need love. It has allowed me to see certain things people do as expressions of love, rather than hum-drum everyday deeds or comments. I have a new perspective on how to express love to my friends and family in a way that they will see it as love. You may only find certain chapters or stories applicable, but either way, this book is worth skimming and it is an enjoyable easy read!

Okay first of all, I read this entire book in about 3 hours. This was part of a study we were doing at a bible study group; and I have to say I'm cynical about this book even from a Christian's perspective.

First, take a look at the cover. See those ridiculously happy nicely dressed perfect looking people? Well if you're not one of them, this book isn't for you. It's full of superficial and contrived mini-stories. To me
they just don't seem to fit in with real life situations that people have with all the hurting and complicated lives we go through. The stories remind me of those how-to educational films from the 40's

The basic message of the book is this: learn what makes people in your life feel loved, follow the golden rule, etc. etc. It's pretty much intuition. I don't think however that it will lead to some miraculous change in how you deal with people nor will it do anything to help you establish new relationships.

I purchased this book as the basis for a short small group study. It has actually been one of the best Bible studies in which I have participated. For anyone who has ever questioned his/her own value or worth, this study provides many direct Biblical references confirming the truths that each of us is completely loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing, totally accepted, and absolutely complete in Christ!

I am overall pleased with the book. Though I was not expecting all the highlighting inside. Inadequate description.
But the book is amazing.

This book was mandatory reading for one of my classes in college about 15 years ago and it revolutionized my concept of self-worth and value. I have given hundreds of copies to friends and families over the ensuing decade and a half and have seen it change their hearts and lives as well. I doubt any self help workshops or seminars could begin to impart the knowledge and freedom that this book does.

I came to a place in my life where I needed to find my significance in God, versus in man...As not knowing how to find my worth in God I found this book very helpful in my quest. Any words of wisdom based on scripture that helps one grow as a Christian is well worth the journey!

I don't know how I managed to pick up this book, because I was searching for truth, not personal significance. But what a happy discovery! It was here I first learned principles both foundational and pertinent to my quest - for instance, that the focus of the Christian life is Christ, not rules and regulations, and that trying to make up for bad deeds with good ones does nothing more than send us into a useless "guilt-and-penance spiral."

Piper's book was shallow, repetitive, and not useful. He also has a painfully bad writing style that was tiring to wade through. He advocates disturbing things like wives always being submissive to their husbands. He warns wives not to be "cocky" in their behavior to their husbands. Repellent, ugly stuff.

Such a great book. My only complain is that it can get a little repetitive. The last few chapters are EXCELLENT! I hope that you can at least read the last few chapters, if not the whole book. Worth the money. Very moving and very biblical. A way at looking at things your might now expect, but you will wonder why the thought had never crossed your mind before, haha.

Enjoy!

If your looking to understand your relationship with God you have to read this book.

~Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist~ is the book that started it all. Christian minister John Piper offers a profoundly controversial teaching of 'Christian Hedonism' popular in some evangelical circles, particularly amongst Reformed Protestants. The teaching of Christian Hedonism was first advanced in this book.

What might you ask is a 'Christian Hedonist'? 'Christian Hedonism' at its core sounds contradictory. Piper has stated that such a provocative appellation is "appropriate for a philosophy that has a life changing effect on its adherents." Piper notes: "Christian Hedonism is a liberating and devastating doctrine. It teaches that the value of God shines more brightly in the soul that finds deepest satisfaction in him. Therefore it is liberating because it endorses our inborn desire for joy. And it is devastating because it reveals that no one desires God with the passion he demands. Paradoxically, many people experience both of these truths. That certainly is my own experience (p. 13)."

Piper underscored the message of his works with a theme that the Puritan minister Jonathan Edwards was adamant about: "God is most satisfied in us, when we are most satisfied in Him." Piper elucidates, "This is the essence of what it means to love God -- to be satisfied in him. In him! Loving God may include obeying all his commands; it may include believing all his Word; it may include thanking him for all his gifts; but the essence of loving God is enjoying all he is" (p. 24).

For the philosophically minded, it is worthy of notation that this book was born out of a subliminal opposition to philosopher Immanuel Kant's deontology. Kant suggested: "An action is moral only if one has no desire to perform it, but performs it out of a sense of duty and derives no benefit from it of any sort." Piper is adamant that Scriptures contradict this assertion. Actions can indeed be moral when a Christian pursues them for spiritual gain. It's a heartfelt expression of faith to covet spiritual treasures in Heaven, and seek them as a humble servant. And through faith, walking in the footsteps of God, men can and should strive for spiritual treasures, and Crowns of Righteousness in light of the promises of God. How can we accrue eternal rewards? By obeying God, being ambassadors for Christ, striving to labor for His kingdom, taking pleasure in that work, and being diligent in our appointed station in life as servants of God. In doing so, we are laying hold of 'Future Grace,' which is a subject of another Piper book that later capstoned his 'Desiring God' trilogy.

This review has Dr. Piper's "Desiring God" book in mind, but I am spreading this post around for those who, like me, feel uneasy with Dr. Piper's main point. I am restricting my review to that because--from what I can tell--it has become central to his whole outlook on God and life. It appears to have metastasized into almost all his writings. He spoke at a plenary session of our denomination and if I remember correctly he said something like, "this is my theology." Here it is:

"What is the chief end of man? To glorify God BY enjoying Him forever." And, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

Dr. Piper teaches that this is the supreme testimony of Scripture regarding glorifying God. He would have us adopt it as the highest priority in our lives. He is saying, in effect, God being glorified in us ultimately rests on whether or not this is happening.

I read this years ago and the more I have thought about it in the light of the life of Christ the more uneasy I have become. But it has taken me years to find words for my uneasiness. Here is my best attempt so far.

My question has been, What does Jesus Himself have to say about glorifying God? Or, more specifically, did He say anything about HOW He personally glorified God? If Dr. Piper's theme is, in truth, at the heart of glorifying God on earth, then we can be sure Jesus certainly would have spoken to it. I cannot believe that He would have left the question open on a matter of such transcendent importance.

What did Jesus say about how He brought glory to God on earth? One reference emerged in my study. He said, in His High Priestly prayer: "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do." John 17:4, niv. (If I missed a passage please point it out in the comments. I welcome correction.)

Do you read anything in those statements to the effect that the Son of God glorified God primarily through enjoying Him or through being satisfied in God? I have no doubt that Jesus certainly did. But I don't see here or in any aspect of His life and teaching that He made that foundational.

As I see it, my Master brought glory to God by completing His Father's assignment, and so with me as His disciple. I do not doubt that He will give me joy and satisfaction in Him throughout the journey. He has already--far more than I can possibly contain--but if that were the main point in glorifying God, I am convinced that Jesus would have told us explicitly that that is the main point.

Why only a one star review? Because how we glorify God is immeasurable in terms of its significance and impact. We are talking about ultimate reasons that affect everything we do all day long. Like having the right motive in something--if we get that wrong, everything is wrong. Dr. Piper, in my estimation, has substituted in a secondary good for the primary one Jesus revealed in His prayer. And whereas in other matters in life that may not do much damage, with ultimate concerns it ends up being a colossal distraction.

In stark contrast to "Christian Hedonism," consider what Thomas Kelly wrote in his "Testament of Devotion:" "When you are obeying to the uttermost you even forget about yourself."

For too many years I was of the mindset that self-care was selfish. I never understood that in order to continue giving I could not continue to ignore the call of my own spirit to stop, rest and reflect. I'm a thinker by divine wiring - but I had somehow come to believe that action was the only gift that mattered. The first time through this book I was stunned and relieved to acknowledge that this "need" in me to break away at points in the day to simply BE with God was not selfish at all, but the healing needed for my tired and sick spirit. I no longer push myself past my limits in order to reach a place of rest (that is always elusive - because there is always "one more thing" that can be done), but I stop and rest, reflect, refresh and relate with God along the way. I now have more of me in which to give to others. I recommend a second and third reading. I'm nearly done for a second time and have learned this time through that my feelings and emotions are part of Gods design too - to speak to me. While it may be true what some say, that feelings can't be trusted... God can be trusted. And emotions can't be ignored - after all God may be using them to teach me something - or build character. I plan on reading again in another 6 months to see what else God plans to reveal. From now on I want to live my life ever more maturely - emotionally and spiritually... to always respond appropriately to everything that comes my way.

It has been frustrating to pour hours of ministry into people that never change. Now I know why. There's more needed than just an understanding of scripture. The author explains in detail the steps to emotional health and spiritual maturity. Very helpful.

This is a follow up to his Emotionally Healthy Church targeting more the individual Christian more than church leaders. I don't agree with some of his theological positions, but the overall concept of emotional health and contemplation are great. This needs to be tempered and discerned with the readers' personality, gifts, and way of learning. The best part are his applications of Sabbath. Worth the read. I also love the way he encouraged the reader to apply the principles as they see fit and are comfortable with. A highly recommend this book to any church leader, any Christian, parent, teacher, anyone!

This book was an emotionally life-changing read for me. Scazzero does a great job of deconstructing the church's unhealthy understanding of the role emotions play in our spiritual lives and reconstructing a biblical understanding of how vital emotional health is to loving God and others.

In this book Peter Scazzero lays out a variety of thoughts and ideas that at it's best will completely have you reevaluate your emotional health by inviting Christ into the mix. I believe the strength of Peter's work draws from not just his experience but also that of many others (the saints of the past) who have given Christianity a go over the years.

From inherited family sin to humility, Peter draws upon the power of scripture and Christ to release new revelation and strength to the reader. I am not sure what else a person could want to gain from a book.

For me, this is one of those books that the first reading just will not do. Having completed it fairly quickly I will retreat to my prayer closet seek the Lord on some obvious things and attack it again. What a valuable resource for leadership in and out of the church. For so many years I have struggled to figure out why so many committed followers of Christ struggle with the basic concepts of "freedom". This book gave me some much-needed understanding of what it means to be "whole" in Christ.

My recommendation is that you read this with your spouse or at least a really close friend. Better yet, read it on the way to a family reunion. (Seriously, that's what we did!) All the while ask the Lord what He would have you gain from such a wonderful written and well-articulated journey into Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.

My husband and I have really enjoyed this book. It is packed with a lot of solid information and it has moved us to a deeper place in the Lord. The author lays out Biblical truth simply enough for anyone to understand yet the meaning feeds the soul.The Candidate: A Novel

I am using the book for a class so we are working through it at a gradual pace, but I love how Ryrie expresses things very clearly in each and every part of the chapter.

Dr. Ryrie is clear and concise in his explanation of theology and doctrine. I have used this book many times in conjunction with my classes at Philadelphia Biblical University and have always found it to be understandable and to the point. Dr. Ryrie has an amazing grasp of Scripture and brings it to bear in his Basic Theology. No library is complete without it.

Ryrie's 'Basic Theology' is one of balance, clarity, practicality, and assessability. This is the most important work currently which a new believer or Christian layperson should use to study the teachings of the Christian Faith. Ryrie is generous in his dealings with different perspectives, yet remains true to his own convictions in the process.

What is so worthwhile in this volume is not only the practicality of the work, but the usefulness of it on so many levels. It can be used for personal study of scripture, a reference guide, even a tool to formulate an outline for bible classes or a small bible study. Its worth can be seen on so many levels. This work is an excellent popular guide to basic systematic truth and should be used repeatedly in the Christian Church.

Dr. Ryrie's "Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth" is indeed one of best "basic" theology handbooks available. It is systematic, but it remains faithful to the Bible--this just goes to show that "systematic" and "biblical" are not necessarily at odds with each other as in some systems. Ryrie's work is "basic" in that it devotes over 600 pages to the main areas of theology. This makes it not only a good place for all believers to start off, but also as a handy, quick-reference guide for those in ministry as well. Of course, Dr. Ryrie sticks to a single, normative method of interpretation that serves us well as we look deeper into God's Word.

One criticism: Although I agree with Dr. Ryrie on most issues, it is significant to note that Dr. Ryrie refers to himself, along with some other prominent teachers, as a "moderate" or "4-point" Calvinist. In fact, he is at best a one pointer based on his acceptance of Unconditional Election. However, if you study the Calvinist T.U.L.I.P. as described by mainstream 5-pointers since the Synod of Dort, you will find that all the "points" stand or fall as a unit--that is how they were developed. Ignorance of this fact has lead many biblical evangelicals to misunderstand what each of the 5 points mean. For example, Unconditional Election does not simply mean that salvation is unmerited, and Perseverance of the Saints is not to be equated with the biblical doctrine of Eternal Security. Actually, the author would do all of us a much better service by simply referring to himself as a Biblicist.

Even though his views on unconditional election are not exactly the same as the extreme or 5-point Calvinists, Ryrie nonetheless holds what he terms "unresolved tensions" with Scripture in that area. Even so, Ryrie's "moderate" position eventually brings one back to nagging doubts about true free will, reprobation, and God being the author of sin. Up until a few years ago I also held to that same classical DTS position, but have since discovered a more scripturally harmonious view similar to the mediate/inductive one advocated by C. Gordon Olson in his books, Beyond Calvinism and Arminianism: An Inductive, Mediate Theology of Salvation and Getting the Gospel Right: A Balanced View of Calvinism and Arminianism.

In spite of our differences on election and use of theological labels, Dr. Ryrie's work remains very true to the Word. It would be hard to go wrong with his book!

This little (350-page) book is a great textbook introduction to missions. It includes 5 sections: encountering missions in the (1) scriptures, (2) history, (3) as a candidate, (4) as a sent one or sender, and (5) in the contemporary world. It includes definitions, grapples with the various mission issues today, and includes some great case studies on things missionaries have to grapple with (e.g. issues an agency faces when its workers have been kidnapped). Anyone considering becoming a candidate for long-term missions should grab a copy of this.

Recently I used "Introducing World Missions" for the textbook in the world missions course I taught at William Jewell College. My students seemed as pleased with this book as I was. Technical words are clearly defined and the many sidebars and case studies attractively augment the more academic concerns of the book. While the authors are clearly within the evangelical wing of Christianity, they present a balanced account of world missions from the biblical, historical, and practical viewpoints. While I granted this book only four stars in rating it, I don't know of a five star world missions textbook for college students. I recommend the book to anyone looking for a good text for a world missions class--in a college or in a church setting--or for anyone who is interested in reading a good summary of contemporary missiology packaged in an attractive, easy to grasp manner.

This is an excellent text/source for World Missions. I teach World Missions at a Bible School, and this is the second year we've used this text. The CD Rom is also very resourceful. Highly recommended!!!

This book is what i had hoped to find. My son has a vivid imagination and talks incessantly. But, when it came time for him to write he would write the simplist of sentances, ie. "I like blue." I was unsure of where to start. With this book I have four years of direction and an understanding of what he should be accomplishing. I have been using this book for 2 weeks now. I can already see a difference. I would never have thought it would help so quickly. I am glad that this book was released just in time for me. I look forward to years of using this book.

my daughter HATES to write. we've been using this program for a week, and already the sentences chosen to copy are so intriguing for her she actually requested we check out the book it's taken from. this is the child that doesn't have patience for chapter books. she's already read through 24 pages of it within the first two days of starting it. but i digress...

this copy work and narrative work is exactly what my daughter needs. mrs. bauer is precisely right when she teaches the parent that writing from thoughts is a two step process and the children need to be taught how to do those steps separately (copy work & narration - parent writes the narration). my child continuously gave me zippy little narratives because she didn't want to copy down big long sentences after she was done thinking it through. with the time to grow her writing ability even five words at a time while simultaneously strengthening her summary and narration skills, she is now on the path for inevitable success.

the best part is these writing exercises take no more than 5-10 minutes per day, four days per week. ahhh, gone are the cries in protest when i announce it's time to do writing! thank you susan bauer yet again!

CAVEAT:
Take this preliminary review with a particular grain of salt, for I am an English teacher who unabashedly embraces "The Well-Trained Mind" philosophy behind the Wise-Bauer/Buffington writing team. While this review is a bit premature, I am hopeful that my children will reap benefits similar to those acquired through their related Peace Hill Press grammar and history series.

THEORY:
SWB explains that her motivation for this book was her experience as an ivy league college professor of literature and history. Simply put, her well-educated students could not write well. She argues against the theory that one should "Give the children high-interest assignments and have them write, write, write, and revise, revise, revise." This is not how I was taught to write, but it WAS how I was taught to teach, and I, too, endured the blank and panicked students' stares produced by that philosophy.

SWB compares writing to a foreign language. The conventions must be absorbed before the non-native speaker is fluent. Says Wise-Bauer, "Imagine that you have had a year or so of conversational French...After the first year, your teacher asks you to explain the problem of evil in French...(it would be impossible) to express complicated ideas in a medium that is unfamiliar... The conventions...need to become second nature -- invisible -- so that you can concentrate on the ideas rather than the medium." Speech is natural and necessary. Writing is not. Many can, and do, get by without learning to write well.

PRACTICALS:
In Writing With Ease, the elementary years are less about creative output, and more about intake and foundations. The small book is packed with week-by-week exercises (36 for each year) aimed at building one layer at a time. She covers roughly four years in a succinct 216 pages: Years One and Two: Narration, Copywork and Dictation; Years Three and Four: Putting the Steps Together. The copywork samples come primarily from fables, fairy tales, and childhood classics such as "Little House" and "Charlotte's Web". No dull prose allowed.

SWB then thoroughly describes the writing process taught through the middle and high school years, giving this homeschooling mom courage. Says Bauer, "The goal is to turn the young writer into a thoughtful student who can make use of written language, rather than struggle with it." She adds, "Good writing requires training. It demands one-on-one attention." To that I respond with a heart-felt "Amen, sister!"

I've given it four stars after I've previewed the contents, but I hope to add the fifth after the year is over.

NOTE: Some teacher prepraration is required. SWB models the lessons, and then you will cull material from the student's texts and literature books. It's actually very simple to implement and takes very little time. I like to take passages from literature relating to other subjects they are already studying. My kids, second and fourth grade, respectively, love it because we are done in 5-10 minutes. SWB also gives short grammar cues for you to subtly tie in to the lesson.

MY TWO CENTS:
I am ridiculously grateful to have my hands held when it comes to teaching writing to my own kids! I used to teach grammar and composition on the middle and high school level. I left public school dismayed by the students' response to writing in general (never mind the heinous grammatical butchery -- the slaughter wrought through "texting" still haunts me to this day). They hated and feared writing. I never expected prose worthy of Faulkner, but the ability to write simply, clearly, and meaningfully was beyond most -- even the "honor roll" students were woefully inept and overwhelmed by the simplest assignments. I had 145 students x 100 assignments (there were always many who would never in a years' time complete a single writing assignment) X 36 weeks divided by the few hours I had after the 100 daily "administrative" tasks (I actually had to spend the first precious minutes of each day doing a "clothing check" for violations -- Argh!). There was little time to address the fundamentals so obviously lacking, and even less time for meaningingful (and mostly ignored) editorial, instructive feedback. I'm thankful for the experience, for I might never have known the joys of homeschooling.