New and noteworthy books

When books arrive at the house, it’s always a treat. For me at least. Sometimes, it appears to be less of one to the rest of my family. Most often, books arrive from very kind publicists at publishing houses. Sometimes (though not as often) they’re a new purchase arriving in the mail. Rarer still, they’re books I’ve purchased at a bricks-and-mortar store.

The past few weeks have been good to me on all fronts, as several new titles I’m particularly pumped about have shown up in my mailbox (and occasionally my desk). Here’s a look at some of the ones I’m most excited about:

The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon Vol 1., edited by Christian George. I love learning how preachers develop—especially ones like Charles Spurgeon, who is as close to a hero as I have. This volume contains notes and commentary on several of his earliest messages, never before published. It’s a big book, so it’s going to take some time, but it’s totally worth it.

Batman Vol 1: I Am Gotham by Tom King and David Finch. I really enjoyed the pre-Rebirth Batman series, and I’ve been really impressed with the quality of what I’ve read of the Rebirth-ed titles so far. I’m hoping to be wowed by this one, too.

Green Arrow Vol 1: The Death and Life of Oliver Queen by Ben Pearcey and Otto Schmidt. I’ve never been a big Green Arrow fan, but this refreshed look at the character looks like a lot of fun.

This Is Our Time: Everyday Myths in Light of the Gospel by Trevin Wax. Trevin is one of the most thoughtful writers I know, and this book has been a long time coming. I can’t wait to dig into it soon!

Adam and the Genome by Dennis R. Venema and Scot McKnight. This is one I purchased recently, and I have high hopes for it—not that it will necessarily lay out an argument that would sway me away from what I believe, but because I want to be a good listener.

Alive in Him by Gloria Furman. Gloria is a terrific writer, and this book—a walk through the major themes of Ephesians—looks very promising.

Gospel Fluency by Jeff Vanderstelt. There’s a difference between saying you believe something and living in light of those beliefs. I love the promise of this book, that it will be a resource in helping us see how we walk our talk, as it were.