The Month in Reviews: January 2026
Introduction
It has been a cold and snowy January here in central Ohio. So I am hibernating in my book fort (at least figuratively!). One result is the twenty-one reviews that appear here. There are some oldies. one title published in 2026, and a number from last year. Finally, I discovered the scholarship of Dale Allison, Jr in a collection of essays on Jesus. I’ve mentioned the discovery of Catholic theologian Gerhard Lohfink. Two of his books appear here in reviews.
I began the year reviewing a marvelous book on economics from a historical Christian perspective. Then I was inspired by by a memoir of a high school dropout who went on to earn five degrees including a doctorate. I read the first book in my Jane Austen challenge. And I enjoyed two very different books on Ohio towns–Ripley and Urbana. There’s more I could say about other books, but I know you want to see the reviews!
The Reviews
Faithful Exchange, David W. Opderbeck. Fortress Press (ISBN: 9781506467016) 2025. Economic life through biblical and historic lenses with attention to current debates on capitalism versus socialism. Review
Sense and Sensibility, Jane Austen. Penguin Classics (ISBN: 9780141439662) 2003 (first published in 1811). Austen’s first novel, contrasting two sisters’ approach to love: common sense judgment versus more emotional sympathy. Review
Prayer Takes Us Home, Gerhard Lohfink, Translated by Linda M. Maloney. Liturgical Press (ISBN: 9780814688069) 2020. What Christians believe about prayer and the various ways Christians pray and experience God in prayer. Review
Nailing It, Nicole Massie Martin (foreword by Carey Nieuwhof). InterVarsity Press (ISBN: 9781514009741) 2025. A challenge to nail “leadership as usual” to the cross, embracing Jesus’ way of suffering service, and the hope of resurrection. Review
The Study: The Inner Life of Renaissance Libraries, Andrew Hui. Princeton University Press (ISBN: 9780691243320) 2024. Traces the Renaissance study through the lives of bibliophiles, artistic portrayals, and the darker side of bibliomania. Review
Marco Polo, If You Can (Blackford Oakes, Number 4), William F. Buckley, Jr. Mysterious Press/Open Road (ISBN: 9781504018524) 2015 (first published in 1981). Blackford Oakes awaits a death sentence in the Lubyanka as a spy, part of a plot to expose a Soviet mole. Review
The Journey of God, J. D. Lyonhart. IVP Academic (ISBN: 9781514009246) 2025. A re-telling of the Christian story in six movements, exploring questions seekers, skeptic, and believers ask. Review
The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club, Number 2) Richard Osman. Penguin Books (ISBN: 9781984881014) 2022. Ibrahim is badly assaulted by a teenage thug and Elizabeth’s ex-husband shows up, suspected of stealing diamonds. Review
The Reformed Pastor (Puritan Paperbacks), Richard Baxter. Banner of Truth Trust (ISBN: 9780851511917) 1974 (first published in 1656). On pastoral care, beginning with care of oneself, and then of the people, emphasizing catechesis through visitation. Review
Interpreting Jesus, Dale C. Allison Jr. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (ISBN: 9780802879196) 2025. Six essays on Jesus addressing eschatology, Moses, miracles, women with Jesus, memory, and methods of attestation. Review
Beyond the River, Ann Hagedorn. Simon & Schuster. (ISBN: 9780684870663) 2004. A history of the Underground Railroad line passing through Ripley, Ohio, featuring the Rankin family and other townspeople. Review
How Did They Read the Prophets?, Michael B. Shepherd. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (ISBN: 9780802885418) 2025. A study of Hebrew and Greek interpretations of the canonical prophets including Christian readings. Review
God Looks Like Jesus, Gregory A. Boyd & M. Scott Boren. Herald Press (ISBN: 9781513815510) 2025. In the life, ministry, teaching, and crucifixion of Jesus, we see the embodiment of what God is like. Review
The Common Rule Youth Edition, Justin Whitmel Early. InterVarsity Press (ISBN: 9781514010433) 2025. Eight spiritual habits or practices for teens and tweens to help them grow in their faith. Review
The Search for a Rational Faith, Daniel K Williams. Oxford University Press (ISBN: 9780197748039) 2026. Anglo-American efforts to make a reasoned defense of Christian faith amid the rise of Enlightenment reason. Review
The Emperor of All Maladies, Siddhartha Mukherjee. Scribner (ISBN: 9781668047033) 2025 (My review is of the 2010 edition). A biography of the disease, our understanding of its nature, and approaches to treating it. Review
Eden’s Clock (American Novels, Number 12), Norman Lock. Bellevue Literary Press (ISBN: 9781954276390) 2025. A widowed clocksmith commissioned to repair a clock in San Francisco experiences misadventures enroute and meets Jack London. Review
From Dropout to Doctorate, Terence Lester, PhD. InterVarsity Press (ISBN: 9781514011485) 2025. A personal memoir underscoring the structural obstacles for Blacks in poverty who aspire to advanced education. Review
Jesus and Community, Gerhard Lohfink (translated by john P. Galvin. Fortress Press (ISBN: 9780800618025) 1984. How Jesus fulfilled Israel’s call, first in the contrast society of the Twelve, and then in early Christian communities. Review
Formed to Lead, Jason Jensen. InterVarsity Press | Formatio (ISBN:9781514009901) 2025. Through reflection on Luke 1-4, proposes a vision of leadership rooted in formation of character and spiritual discernment. Review
Paper Girl, Beth Macy. Penguin Press (ISBN: 9780593656730) 2025. A memoir about growing up in Urbana, Ohio and how the town changed in ways that reflects the struggles of rural America. Review
Best Book of the Month
It took a bit of wrangling, but I was delighted to receive The Search for a Rational Faith by Daniel K. Williams. Williams does nothing less than give a historical account of efforts to offer reasons for believing the Christian faith. Not only that, he does this for the whole of American history, back to the English Puritans. He also suggests the intriguing idea that this has contributed to the relative vitality of Christian belief, particularly in comparison with Europe. Implicitly, it makes the case for the continuing importance of this work. For contemporary apologists, the account helps us to see how we stand on the shoulders of those who go before us.
Quote of the Month
David W. Opderbeck offers a scholarly but accessible overview of the history of Christian thinking about economics. In his conclusion, I thought he captures well the contours of truly Christian approach to economics:
“Freedom for generosity and freedom from the love of money and the lust of the eyes is offered in the waters of baptism and at the table with Jesus in the community of his people. Every -ism, including capitalism and socialism, is here exposed as unworthy of devotion. In every time and place discerning the Kairos and listening to the Spirit of Christ, we are called to act with grace and wisdom, affirming but relativizing private property rights, prioritizing the poor, emphasizing fairness, and actively waiting for the coming of Jesus, when God will be all-in-all” (p. 258).
What I’m Reading
My big reading project right now is Israel’s Scriptures in Early Christian Writings. It is a fairly comprehensive study of how Christians used Israel’s scriptures, collecting essays from top scholars in the field. I’ve got about 400 pages to go! I am also delighting in The First Nations Version of Psalms and Proverbs. The work of translating these texts into idioms of First Nations peoples carries a freshness, helping me see familiar texts in new ways. God, Where Are You by Dominique Young is written for especially for those who experience depression, and wonder where God is. She offers some great journaling prompts!
One of my Christmas gifts was Robert MacFarlane’s Is A River Alive. He writes luminously as he describes an expedition up the Los Cedros River in Ecuador (and two other rivers I’ve not yet gotten to). He makes the case that in worldview and law, we ought to see rivers, forests, and other natural elements as living beings with rights, particularly to their own flourishing. Finally, for fun, I’m enjoying one of those manor house mysteries with Inspector John Appleby, written by Michael Innes.
I wish you health, warmth and good books for these chilly nights (or warm nights if you live in the global south!).
The Month in Reviews is my monthly review summary going back to 2014! It’s a great way to browse what I’ve reviewed. The search box on this blog also works well if you are looking for a review of a particular book. Thanks for stopping by. and feel free to share this with others!