Religion Books

I absolutely love this book! I cried the first time I read it and still do! What a gift from God, indeed, a child is and it is refreshing to talk about God's role in our childrens' lives. I have looked at and purchased many books in preparation for my little one, and this one BY FAR impressed me most. I highly recommend this book if you want to talk about God and you sheer joy for your baby!

I'm not religious at all and I am not sure what we will do when it comes to believing in god. I think we will tell her about god and she can decide later what she wants to believe but this book is just adorable!It tells your child how important they are to you and how you would never "trade" them for any other baby. The book describes how your parents will always love you because you are were chosen just for them. I love how they talk about the excitement of the baby, getting a bigger belly during pregnancy and going to the hospital. Then at the end the little bear goes to bed happy because she knows how much her parents love her! I am going to buy "God Gave Us Two" because we are expecting another baby in a couple weeks!!

I bought this book for my granddaughter, because I knew she was at an age where the question was going to come up, "mommy, where did I come from. It answers those questions in a wonderful way, with soothing words and beautiful illustrations. A lovely book, my daughter cried when she read it, because of the touching story and because, she knew that is how I felt about her too!God Gave Us You

God Gave Us You is a beautiful moving story. The best children's book I have come across.

It begins with one simple question from a little cub "Mama, where did I come from?"

Mama Bear then begins to explain in a gentle loving way her progression of pregnancy up until the moment little bear was placed in her arms; each page ending with the beautiful answer of "God Gave Us You".

The use of the phrases such as "my special child", "even the angels celebrated for us", "we wouldn't trade you for the world", all reassure the child of how much she is truly loved.

My daughter is 3 years old and knows the words by heart, as do I. I could read it with my eyes closed, and often do.

I am so thankful to have found this book; a story both child AND parent will truly enjoy.

I HIGHLY recommend this book and the spin-offs. We also enjoy "God Gave Us Two", and "God Gave Us Christmas". LOVE!

Great book overall: story, drawings, idea. Nice to find a picture book on the subject that is for believers and written for kids. Can't wait to get God gave us two!

The central point of "The Great Omission" seems to address the concern that many churches are simply content to having professions of faith in Jesus Christ instead of letting the profession of faith be the first step in the lifelong process of discipleship.

This is certainly a valid point as the churches I have been a member of consistently have an average weekly attendance of around 50% (give or take a few percentage points). Many people are simply content to believe they can get their fire insurance and can live pretty much the life they want instead of submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, many churches seem to be content to cater to this mentality instead of having stricter standards of membership. In other words, a person should know what being a Christian really means (discipleship, time involved, price we have to sometimes pay for being a true Christian, etc.).

The Great Omission contains 20 chapters and around 225 pages and addresses this issue. While each chapter had some good points, my personal favorites were:

Chapter 6 - Spiritual Formation in Christ Is for the Whole Life and the Whole Person.
Chapter 9 - Living in the Vision of God.
Chapter 12 - Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation, and the Restoration of the Soul.
Chapter 18 - Invitation to Solitude and Silence.

One consistent theme I have read in Willard's books is the great need for us to periodically disengage from the world and retreat to a place of silence and medidation with the Lord. The result is that we come back refreshed and ready to engage our world more effectively for Jesus Christ. To that I can say "AMEN"!

While "The Great Omission" is an easier read than Willard's other titles, you will still be challenged and think about what the author is saying.

Read and be encouraged. Recommended.

The Great Omission is a collation and summation of many past works by Willard. In that it brings them together in one concise book, this is quite helpful. In that no new ground is covered, readers of past books by Willard may be a tad disappointed.

It's time for the church to make disciples and not just converts. Willard's book makes a complelling case for the church to begin doing just that. The book is a collection of previous work and it tends to repeat itself but the central message is clear. There is more to the gospel than saying a prayer and walking the aisle.

Imagine the impact on the world if Christians began acting like Christ. Willard believes that the practice of solitude and scripture memorization are key Christian disciplines that will yield more Christ-like Christians. Both are attainable to the average Christian.

This is an important book for church leaders.

Dallas Willard's "The Great Omission" is a well-written and powerful work on a subject that the Western church has chosen to ignore for over a century. Our bend towards easy-believism in the American church has caused us to ignore what our Lord commanded us to do. Rather than seeking to make disciples, we have sought to follow our own path of watered-down half-hearted commitment to the gospel of our Lord. Willard's words resonate with Bonhoeffer's demanding call to biblical discipleship in his classic "The Cost of Discipleship". He challenges us to follow the example of our Lord and to obey His call to each of us. This is a must read for any who are earnestly desiring to seek to lead the church towards proper course of biblical christianity.

This book is a collection of Dallas Willard's articles, lectures, and essays regarding the main idea expressed in his book THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY - that as Christians we should focus on being "disciples" or "apprentices" of Jesus, allowing God's grace to develop Christ's nature in our lives and internally transform us to bear fruits of holiness in response to our salvation. We do this by saying "yes" to God, accepting His Gospel grace and submitting to Him as Lord, intentionally setting aside time for regular solitude, Bible reading, meditation, prayer, etc. and seeking to conform all our thoughts and actions to Christ's nature. As such it is a much more dynamic version of "What Would Jesus Do?", without becoming a legalistic "law" that we follow artificially.

The chapters are short, easy to read, and the repetition on the main idea helps one to understand it and absorb what Willard is saying. If you found THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY a little challenging, this book expresses the main ideas in a little easier format. I also enjoyed the many references to other books and resources that Willard used to develop his ideas, I plan to read some of those also.

I love this story and was planning on getting it for my daughter at some point- when I saw it as a board book I decided to get it right away! The book seems well made and has nice bold, vibrant illustrations. The only negative thing I noticed about it- and I noticed it right away when I received it- is the fact that it has pointy edges. Most board books are rounded at the corners. It's not a huge deal, but for young kids/babies who are clumsy and put everything in their mouths, it seems like a poor design.

Max Lucado has an touched a nerve with his delightful stories. This book reaches the heart of all of us.
We all want to know our worth. This beautifully written and illustrated story reminds us that we are all of infinite worth, in the eyes of our creator.

LOVE this book - perfect gift for an adult or a child - beautiful pictures and wonderful, meaningful story.

I work with children with Autism and have given this book to each of them once they do not need my services anymore. This book is a rare find! Excellent story and great pictures!

This is an excellent message for children that they are special and not to place too much importance on what other people may think. My 2 and 3-year olds are captivated by the story.

I think the information in this whole series of books is wonderful! However, I think the age ranges are a bit off. I don't think a 5-8 year old needs to know the details of sex. I just shared the 2nd book in the series with my 10 year old because she started talking about the word "sex", not knowing what it was. There are some topics in the 3rd book that I didn't feel she was ready for yet, so I will wait a few months. I will certainly give her all that information before she enters middle school. However, I want her to absorb the Godly intention for sex before she has to begin absorbing the ways in which the world has distorted it. That is truly my only suggestion - wait till the kids are a bit older than the book suggests.

I bought this book as a gift for my 9 year old grandson. His mom recommended it to me, and I bought it. I only glanced through it before mailing it to him in England. I cannot comment further on the editorial content. The outside appearance of the book was pleasing. The small size will make it easy to hold in a small hand. My grandson told me just the other day that he had started reading it, and had some questions. I referred him to his parents.

I recently purchased this book to go through with my 10 year old son. I have been so pleased with the dialoge provided in the book! It asks the questions kids really have and helps us parents give answers based on scripture! This book is a wonderful tool for using with your children as you talk frankly about sex and the consequences of going against what the bible teaches. I have already recommended this book to family members with children 8 to 11.

Even though my son is 10 years old now I have decided to go back and purchase the two previous books to this one to go through with him. They certainly couldn't hurt!!!!

There are two books prior to "What's the Big Deal" and we have used these wonderfully illustrated books with all three of our children. We followed the age suggestion and found that the subject matter was presented in a very natural and positive way. The main reason these books are such a blessing is that we need to tell our precious and innocent children the truth so that they are prepared mentally and emotionally when the "lies" inevitably come their way. Don't wait! Your child needs this healthy information.

If you're nervous about telling your child the "facts of life", this book will save you. It goes over all the stuff you might forget and like the book, I highly recommend reading it out loud with your child. Note: it has "parents" parts and "kids" parts broken down like a script/question-answer style; but it's not cheesie.

Truly this is the centerpiece, with the Gospels and Cassian and Origen, etc., for any Catholic monastic library, and yet other translations can be found, in particular Doyle's clear and faithful reading version of The Rule of Saint Benedict. I shall give a few reasons for this determination in a moment.

This review refers of course to the 627 page reference work published by Collegeville's Liturgical Press, with Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat, which still bear some small significance for some of us, upon the occassion of the 1500th anniversary of Saint Benedict's birth. Surprisingly the product detail page here on amazon gives us few details of this irreplaceable and comprehensive and monumental and historic work. Permit me this disclaimer that my poor summary here in no way can replace a careful personal examination of this necessary book, and space prevents neither such a presentation nor a careful theological examination.

Briefly therefore this work opens with a contextual and historical forward by Martin Burne, OSB, of Saint Mary's in Morristown. What follows is a Preface by the head stylist, Rev. Timothy Fry, OSB, of Atchison, who explains the process of translation by committee as well as explaining the lay-out and the production and producers of this monumental Benedictine work, and assorted acknowledgements. As Father Timothy explains, Part I is the Introduction with a history of monasticism in order to set the Rule of Saint Benedict in its historical and cultural context, including an understanding of the references to other authors made by Saint Benedict. Part II presents the amazing core of this work: a side by side publication of the original Latin text of Saint Benedict alongside (on the facing page) the new English translation, including for the first time in English the Anselmo Lentini 1947 versification. Extensive explanatory notes also grace these pages. Part III contains long expository essays in a way not available in the explanatory notes, with cross references. These essays include long examinations and definitions of terms such as Monk, Cenobite, Nun, Abbot, as well as the Liturgical Code of Saint Benedict. They also consider his Disciplinary Measures, and methods of formation and profession. They examine how Saint Benedict interprets Holy Scripture, and compares him to another early Monastic Rule.

Part Four is an excellent Thematic Index, with Patristic, Scriptural and a General Index. The Thematic Index features a useful explanation of Latin terminology, and especially vaulable is the Selected Latin COncordance which precedes it. This very extensive Concordance indicates Saint Benedict's usage of nearly every term in the Rule, using Lentini's versification, most often within a brief context, and is most useful to students not only of the Rule but of Latin. The Indexing is really very complete and varied in methodologies, and quickly lost among them all is the wonderful few pages indicating Benedicitne Houses in North America, including Regina Laudis, etc.

Now a small note about the translation by committee, which I find a bit academic in style and complex in syntax. Perhaps I have simply grown to love the Doyle translation of the The Rule of Saint Benedict, but comparing it to the original Latin as avaiable here, I find it even more faithful. For example let us look at a few lines before I use up my space alloted here upon the broad amazon.

Latin as you may know arranges its sentences in order of importance, with the verb finally bringin up the rear and breaking that suspense. Thusly we ordinarily read the most important or stressed elements first and less emphasized items later, with the big bang of the verb closing the sentence.

Therefore let us look at Chapter 53 On the Reception of Guests, at line 6 (following Lentini) and seven and part of eight:

In ipsa autem salutatione omnis exhibeatur humilitas omnibus venientibus sive discedentibus hospitibus: inclinato capite vel prostrato omni corpore in terra, Christus in eis adoretur qui et suscipitur. Suscepti autem hospites ducantur ad orationem ( . . .)

This Fry committee translation reads: "All humility should be shown in addressing a guest on arrival or departure. By a bow of the head or by a complete prostration on the body, Christ is to be adored because he is indeed welcomed in them. After the guests have been received, they should be invited to pray ( . . .)"

The Doyle reads the same in the reading for April 4, August 4, December 4: "In the salutation of all guests, whether arriving or departing, let all humility be shown. Let the head be bowed or the whole body prostrated on the ground in the adoration of Christ, who indeed is received in their persons. After the guests have been received and taken to prayer ( . . .)"

I prefer therefore the more substantial reading by Doyle, who speaks of the earth mentioned by Benedict, and who stresses receiving Christ in the guests, as the phrase runs: Christ in them is adored, who is also received. Notice "in eis" immediately follows "Christus," stressing the unity and importance, unlike Fry who moves "in them" to the end of the sentence, leaving the adoration of Christ rather distant and vague. Benedict "autem" here stresses the Eucharistic dimension of receiving guests at a monastery as receiving Christ, in adoration, and elsewhere stresses the greater worshipful loving care with which the poor and homeless are received. Therefore, in this case, I find the Doyle not only more readable but also more closely reflective of the meaning of Saint Benedict. Of course, I would prefer by far to have performed long ago my own "invisibly" faithful translation!

Further reflection on this Chapter 53 reveals this further order in regard to the poor and the homeless, which bears comparative study of the translations. At line fifteen by the Lentini versification, Saint Benedict writes: "Pauperum et peregrinorum maxime susceptioni cura sollicite exhibeatur, quia in ipsis magis Christus suscipitur; nam divitum terror ipse sibi exigit honorem."

Fry et al. translate this intriguing order as: "Great care and concern are to be shown in receiving poor people and pilgrims, because in them more particularly Christ is received; our very awe of the rich guarantees them special respect."

Doyle presents this as: "In the reception of the poor and of pilgrims the greatest care and solicitude should be shown, because it is especially in them that Christ is received; for as far as the rich are concerned, the very fear which they inspire wins respect for them."

Yet clearly any first year Latin student can see how both have softballed this important and strong line. A closer parsing may be, for instance: "The poor and the homeless must be received showing the maximum care and sollicitude, because within them, themselves, is Christ most greatly received; as the very terror of the rich squeezes out for them honors."

Notice how clearly Saint Benedict here defines two important theological currents. From the beginnings of our Church, in Jesus's commands to feed the hungry and clothe the naked and release from debts, etc., in the community sharing of the Acts of the Apostles, through CELAM's definition at Medellin of our "preferential option for the poor" we see the need for practicing our Faith in serving the poor, in whom we meet and receive Christ, eucharistically. This is the second constant current, from the beginning, through Benedict, through the ages, through Father Schillebeeckx's The Eucharist, through Father Tissa's The Eucharist and Human Liberation, through Sacramento de La Caridad: Sacramentum Caritatis, we meet and we receive Christ in one another and especially in the poor, in a Eucharistic sacrament and celebration. Saint Benedict repeats this truth of our Faith on numerous occassions and in numerous places as displayed in this tome's thematic index.

Another interesting line of course is found at Chapter 55, verse 18 by Lentini: "Et ut hoc vitium peculiaris radicitus amputetur, dentur ab abbate omnia quae sunt necessaria ( . . .)" which Fry reports as "In order that this vice of private ownership may be completely uprooted, the abbot is to provide all things necessary ( . . .)." This line of course is soon followed by reference to the Acts of the Apostles: "Distribution was made to each according as anyone had need." And Doyle reads it as: "And in order that this vice of private ownership may be cut out by the roots, the Abbot should provide all the necessary articles ( . . .)" which are basically clothing, shoes, a handkerchief and writing instruments. The Latin reads strongly on this point And so that this vice of private ownership can be amputated (or ripped out) by the roots, it falls to the abbot to provide all that is necessary.

Not much variation here, but read the line preceding this one: Quae tamen lecta frequentur ab abbate scrutinanda sunt propter opus peculiare, ne inveniatur; et si cui inventum fuerit quod ab abbate non accepit, gravissima disciplinae subiaceat.

What does this say to our individualist consumer society, and to those books available here which appallingly claim to apply Benedictine principles to business practices? Do they as Benedict commands give last year's goods and belongings to the poor?

We need to study this good book closely today, and put her into practice in our lives, build our communities, and, as Saint Benedict so kindly and gently and correctly writes, pray we all come together unto eternal life.

In regards to the english/latin version: This book was standard reading in my novitiate, but I fell in love with the historical information as well as the commentary that goes with the rule. I would recommend this book to anybody considering any type of religious vocation as well as to those who are interested in the history of christian monasticism.

THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT is the classic text for monastic life. Reading it will be interesting to most modern Protestants, much the way that trivia written on a Pringles potato chip is interesting.

HOWEVER, if the modern Protestant reader makes a couple of simple substitutions (i.e. monastery = church life, abbot = pastor, etc.) the rule takes on a new life and makes an excellent devotional booklet.

This short book is all about life within community, which is often an Achilles heel of Protestant churches. Within the covers of this book are hard hitting comments about holding the tongue, silence, humility, submission, hospitality, living a life of prayer, decision making, etc. With a few minor alterations these comments are as applicable to modern Protestants as to sixth century monastics. Do not get hung up on the particulars, focus on the principles. I don't know of many monks today that sleep in common bunk houses, but they still focus on the communal truths contained in the text.

If you are a Protestant, do not shy away from this book. It has the potential to deepen your understanding of the church.

Father Timothy Fry OSB, a monk of St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison, Kansas, and editor of RB 1980, died at the Abbey on Saturday, January 20. He was 91 years old. Born in Paxico, Kansas, Fr. Timothy professed first monastic vows in 1936 and became a priest in 1941. The monks will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday morning, January 25 2007, at the Abbey.

There seems to be some confusion over which edition these reviews are about. If the product details for the page you are looking at show less than 100 pages, this is a basic copy of the Rule of St. Benedict. If you are looking for the Rule (RB 1980), in Latin and English (with excellent notes from Timothy Fry), it should be a little less then 700 pages.

I enjoyed John MacArthur's Twelve Ordinary Men despite some reaching on his part. The Chapters on Peter, John, and Judas Iscariot were mostly excellent. This is primarily because there is no shortage of information on these men in the Biblical Record. The problem I found was that even with those three and especially with the lesser know Disciples, MacArthur assumes some things that may be true (we cannot know for sure), and then refers back to the assumptions as fact. Despite that issue, there is a ton of good information in this book and it is one that I recommend. Just remember that a lot of the details we won't really know until we meet these men on the other side.

John MacArthur, the veritable "walking bible", serves up an all too brief, but well supported glance at the men who would lead the spread of the Gospel immediately after Pentecost. MacArthur squeezes all details of the mens' lives (which in some cases is not much), and gives the reader the sense that these were real men of ordinary stature. He deftly drives home the point that what Jesus, then and now, is searching for is, AVAILABILITY. An easy, but informative read for anyone who desires to dig into the background of the New Testament.

MacArthur is a popular writer and pastor and he took on a task that is difficult; describe the lives of men we know little about.

Unfortunately the author throws too much of his own politics into ridiculous places throughout the book and he creates personalities out of nothing.

A good discussion starter but not a seminal piece of work.

Pastor MacArthur is one of my favorite authors. He always backs up what he is teaching with scripture. If you want to gain some more insight into the twelve apostles and their relationship with each other as well as Christ Jesus, then get this book.

Twelve Ordinary Men- How the Master shaped his Disciples for greatness and What He wants to do with You by John MacArthur. The book I received was in excellent condition and came in quicker than I expected. The Ladies at church in my UMW are starting this as a monthly bible study on 4/7/08. We are really looking forward to it.

this just wasn't what I thought it would be. I was unable to find the book in a local bookstore and after receiving it i understand why.

And she loved it! She has been wanting to get into the craft for ages and I urchased this book for her and she hasn't put it down yet!

For those looking for true, factual information on witchcraft, this is the book. Put all those other Wicca 101 books down. This is real witchcraft presented by real witches.

For anyone who wants to seriously practice Witchcraft, whether it be in a group or alone, this is a must-have. Janet and Stewart Farrar have given an indispensable resource for rituals, philosophy, and heritage of Wicca. The rituals laid out are descriptive and can be practiced by traditional covens and eclectic groups alike. "Eight Sabbats for Witches" has footnotes giving some very intriguing information. The philosophy is raw and thought-provoking. Subjects such as ethics, sex and the metaphysical aspect of magick is approached wholly and matter-of-factly.
There are those who would feel the Farrars were biased when writing this book, and I find this completely understandable. They were practicing Alexandrian tradition, which to my knowledge is very straight laced and "to the book" in their approach to practice. With understanding of their background, the reader must take the author's opinion with a grain of salt.
Nonetheless, a good bit of their knowledge and experience is written in this book. This book was written before the massive overload of fluff that saturated the new age market, and that's enough reason to give it a serious look. No Wiccan should turn away from this book, because one is sure to get plenty out of it.

This book is very well written but not what I expected. It would be great for those who either belong to a coven or are wanting to join one. I am a solitary so there is more information than I will ever use or need.
EileenDalla

If you are not looking for a deep spiritual experience and are looking for facts and history, then this is the book for you. I use it as a reference guide, and when I am confused about an idea. I will always have a purpose for it, and would recommend this book to anyone new to buddhism.

I really didn't know anything about Buddhism before buying this book. It was very informative and explained everything I wanted to know. If you are like me and you're wondering what it's all about, I recommend this book. Buddhsm is not what you think, and you'll probably be finding yourself impressed. An excellent read.

Buddhism is a rich, organic topic with a huge number of books offering interpretation, explanation and guidance. It is easy for a beginner (like me) to become lost.

For those interested in learning about Buddhism, I found this book very helpful. It covers the main schools of Buddhism and their historic and geographic context with sufficient detail to inform the reader without distraction. It covers the main tenants of Buddhism, such as The Eightfold Path, The Five Precepts, and The Four Heavenly Abodes. I've been steadily reading a number of books on Buddhism over the past two years and I find myself referring back to this book now and again to remind myself of the larger context.

Those seeking a conceptual understanding to serve as a foundation for further study will be satisfied.

Being new to Buddhism, I found this book to be a very easy-to-understand source of information. It touches on many aspects of Buddhism, inviting the reader to turn to other resources, listed in Appendix B, for more in-depth information.

This book covers the main themes of Buddhism without becoming too overwhelming with technical terms.

While some people may not like the 'For Dummies' books, I appreciate the blend of serious information and touches of humor found in them. This was true in Buddhism for Dummies.

Honestly, I was expecting more. These "dummies" books give the authors almost unlimited opportunity to explain something in detail, yet make it interesting and enlightening. What I would have wanted to see was more history on the story of Siddhartha and how he became Buddha. I also thought the book was biased toward the Tibet way of Buddhism and those looking for more about Zen are going to be disappointed. The book almost reads like a college textbook and that is just dry dry dry. Yuck.

This book has helped me understand the Jewish Faith as I never have. As a Christian, I wanted to know more about the Jewish religion. Jesus was Jewish and He kept the Jewish Law and customs. This book is easy to understand and very insightful.

I was raised by an Israeli, with a very strong Jewish background. Most of the book, I remembered from all those years in Hebrew school. However, reading and understanding the information with an adult's comprehension is much different. I found myself reading the different stories from the Hebrew Bible saying "oh yeah!" as I remembered learning the story as a child, but grasping a totally different meaning as an adult!

This book is an excellent source for people with an interest in Judiasm, either as a refresher or as a first-timer. Even my Catholic co-worker wants to borrow it to grasp a better understanding of Judaism (and, therefore, Christianity).

Perhaps the learned Christians should revisit the Judaic wisdom?
This book invites you to do so.
The author retraces and illustrace the multiple faces and facets of a great philosophical attitude toward life, social values and comparative societies.
Heavy subjects. But the author presented the core with clarity and an enchanting style.
Great book.

I thoroughly enjoyed Rabbi Telushkin's book: Jewish Literacy. I started the book off skipping around reading a few sections here and there on issues I was curious about. After a bit I just gave in and started from the beginning.
Rabbi Telushkin's style of writing is very comfortable to read and even the hard subjects go down easy.
Much of what I read in Jewish Literacy I knew already, but have broader understanding of now. What I didn't know before I'm glad I learned.

When I went on my Birthright Israel trip, I was like many young Jewish people and just didn't know all that much about my religion and it's history. So this is one of the two books I took with me. Now some of you may think me crazy, because it's a big book to lug all over the place. But if was the very best thing for me to have with me. It's well written, enjoyable to read, and easy to find any topic. And each topic is arranged into short chapters (often only a page or two), so you can read it on the bus as you go places or even the night before you go. It greatly helped my understanding of the things I saw and did in Israel.

This brief and dense history of John Winthrop's Boston is a must-read for folks interested in colonial life in America. Beginning with the formation of the Massachusetts Bay Company in England, and following them to the new world and the new struggles that accompany their arrival, historical juggernaut Edmund Morgan paints an unfamiliar picture of John Winthrop.

Often depicted as a fundamentalist zealot, Morgan's Winthrop is a more pragmatic puritan - one willing to make compromises in favor of trade, diplomacy, or popular support. Winthrop's struggles with his own people are also highlighted throughout the book, particularly in the roller coaster of on-again, off-again governorship between him and his rivals.

The book also clarifies the objectives and different types of puritanism, which I, as a student of history, found very helpful in understanding the religious landscape of Englands both new and old.

The one downside to the work is the style in which it's written. As an early work of Morgan's, he had not yet found the compelling, conversational voice which he is today known for, resulting in an academic tone that makes reading a bit tedious at times. Regardless, the thorough research and interesting subject matter more than makes up for it.

An interesting look at the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the remarkable character who lead it for most of its first couple decades. It seems easier for many people to view the Puritans as stereotypes rather than real people, but they're more interesting as flesh and blood human beings living in the real world. Considering their importance to American beginnings, it's probably wiser to try to understand them as real people. They were amazing in some respects, misguided in others, but they got New England going, along with Harvard, Yale and a powerful commitment to literacy and education. They also started representative government in the New World, at least in the northern British colonies, and they had a leader of rare abilities in Winthrop. This is a part of American history that's perhaps more relegated to either caricature or the dustbin than any other, and that's to our loss in understanding our roots and their continuing effects on our society.

Short and sweet is the word. Morgan is a first-rate historian who, unlike some of his colleagues, can write in an engaging way that draws in the average reader. This book will not only shed light on Winthrop, but is also the best description of puritanism that I have come across. If you want to understand this influential movement, and one of its most important leaders, here's your book.

This book is a good overview of Puritanism in England and New England in the first half of the 17th century, especially the role of John Winthrop in establishing a Puritan commonwealth in the vicinity of Boston, Mass under the auspices of the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1630. Little time is spent on day-to-day living conditions in the new Mass. Bay colony - and they were harsh.

Much of the book is concerned with the subtle but explosive differences in Puritan thought that Winthrop was forced to deal with: Separatism, Presbyterianism (hierarchical, inclusive) vs. Congregationalism (flat, independent, & exclusive), or such deviating thought as Arminianism and Antinomiansim. In some cases, diffident residents were banned from the colony, such as Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson.

In addition, the author shows the gradual inclusion of adult male church members in the governance of the colony from the original conception of only the few members of the Company exercising absolute control. The author maintains that the basics of church-state separation existed, yet there is no doubt that both sectors were concerned with rooting out and punishing ungodly behavior. The author shows that the survival of the colony owed a lot to Winthrop as he resisted tendencies of some towards separatism and purity - in other words, fanaticism. At times he was voted out of the governor's office, but the colony always returned to him.

A rather understated aspect of the book is any real feel for living in a totally religious community under constant surveillance and the superiority of those who wish to judge who had been saved or not (or worse). Somehow the spread of that mindset into representative government is not especially heartwarming. The myopic idea that a pure, godly community, superior to others, could be established plagues us even today.

Edmund S. Morgan is simply a wonderful historian and writer. As I get older I find I appreciate a writer who can get to the nub of his subject without blathering on for hundreds of unnecessary pages. This excellent short biography concisely tells the story of Winthrop's leading role in the Massachusetts Bay Colony established during the Great Migration of Puritans. Great books challenge us with new insights. Read this book and leave your preconceptions of Puritans behind.