The Month in Reviews: October 2026
Introduction
Reviewers sometimes read books at different times than others. For example, this month’s reviews include three books on Advent, which in 2026 begins November 29. The reviews give people enough time to buy the books before Advent begins. Then I reviewed a couple great books on theology by James D.G. Dunn on Paul and J. Warren Smith on early Christian theology, an illuminating study of how the doctrines we affirm today were clarified in the first centuries. I read two books by John Searle and Jonathan Haidt whose subject is our minds. In addition, I read fascinating accounts of the development of the antibiotics that have saved so many lives and the Great Black Swamp of northwest Ohio that took many lives until settlers figured out how to drain it, creating a new problem.
Turning to fiction, I read Elizabeth Strout’s latest, well-deserving of its Booker short-listing, and an early Leif Enger novel. Of course, I sprinkled in some mysteries by Agatha Christie, Stuart Kaminsky, and Richard Osman. Then to top it off, I reviewed a delightful alphabet book for children. So, without further ado…
The Reviews
The Rediscovery of the Mind. John R. Searle. MIT Press (ISBN: 9780262691543) 1992. Argues for consciousness opposing dualism, materialism, and cognitive science, proposing biological naturalism. Review
Accidental Pagans, Ryan Lokkesmoe. Tyndale | Elevate (ISBN: 9798400509674) 2026. Christians often embrace a fear-driven faith more like pagan beliefs rather than living in freedom and joyful faith. Review
The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, 4), Richard Osman. Penguin Books (ISBN: 9780593299449) 2024. The Thursday Murder Club investigates the murder of Stephen’s friend Kuldesh while Stephen’s dementia worsens. Review
Practicing Radical Advent, Laurie Brink, OP, Dianne Bergant, CSA. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (ISBN: 9780802885265) 2026. In seasons of imminent change, a guide to holy waiting infused with God’s presence and promise. Review
A Fatal Glass of Beer (Toby Peters, 20) Stuart M. Kaminsky. MysteriousPress.com/Open Road (ISBN: 9781453247525) 2012, first published 1997. Toby Peters is hired by W.C. Fields to find the imposter emptying Fields’ bank accounts across the country. Review
The Righteous Mind. Jonathan Haidt. Pantheon Books (ISBN: 9780307377906) 2012. Why different political and religious groups have such different beliefs about what is right and wrong. Review
Early Christian Theology, J. Warren Smith. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (ISBN: 9780802874771) 2026. A guide to the development of early Christian theology emphasizing diverse attempts to understand scripture. Review
Sad Cypress (Hercule Poirot, 21) Agatha Christie. William Morrow Paperbacks (ISBN: 9780063376151) 2025, first published 1940. Elinor Carlisle is on trial for poisoning Mary Gerrard and will go to her death unless Poirot can show that someone else did it. Review
The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State, Jill Lepore. Liveright (ISBN: 9781324098423) 2026. The rise of machine rule and the corporations that make them, its impacts, and possible demise. Review
Freely Sober, Ericka Andersen. InterVarsity Press (ISBN: 9781514013366) 2026. Writing for Christian women from experience with alcohol dependency and recovery, offers help in honest thinking about alcohol. Review
Candles in the Darkness, Lynneth Miller Renberg and Adam R Renberg. IVP Academic (ISBN: 9781514014226) 2026. Daily readings for Advent and Christmastide featuring excerpts from authors from the second to thirteenth centuries. Review
The Things We Never Say, Elizabeth Strout. Random House (ISBN: 9798217154746) 2026. Outwardly, Artie Dam is a beloved teacher; yet his life is fraught with the secrets kept by him and others. Review
The Great Black Swamp, Patrick Wensick. Belt Publishing (ISBN: 9781540270108) 2025. The swamp lands of northwest Ohio, their drainage and agricultural development, and toxic algae blooms. Review
Human Flourishing in a World of Trauma and Stress, Heidi Ann Russell. Liturgical Press (ISBN: 9798400801358) 2026. Theology and neuropsychology on the healing of traumatic stress in Christian community. Review
The Age of Cures, Barry Werth. Simon & Schuster (ISBN: 9781668067833) 2026. The birth of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry through a critical government decision resulting in a raft of miracle drugs. Review
All Creation Waits—Deluxe Edition, Gayle Boss, illustrated by Sharon Spitz. Paraclete Press (ISBN: 9798893480764) 2026. Twenty-five Advent reflections on how woodland animals adapt to winter’s coming, how they wait with us for life anew. Review
The Theology of Paul the Apostle, James D. G. Dunn. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (ISBN: 9780802844231) 2006. Using Romans as a foundation and referencing Paul’s other writings, elaborates the theology of Paul. Review
George Passant (Strangers and Brothers, 2) C. P. Snow Open Road Integrated Media (ISBN: 9781504096966) 2024, first published 1940. A charismatic young solicitor gathers a group of mentees. Business schemes with two others lead to fraud charges. Review
All the Lives You Can Change, Dominic Roser, David Zhang and J. D. Bauman, foreword by Laura Buchak. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (ISBN: 9780802885135) 2026. Using the tools of effective altruism, focuses on how we may love neighbors near and far more effectively. Review
So Brave, Young, and Handsome, Leif Enger. Grove Press (ISBN: 9780802144171) 2009. A struggling writer goes with a new friend on a journey to apologize to the wife the friend abandoned. Review
ABC Munchkins, Doris Brocke, Illustrators: Shawn Brocke and Caroline Brocke. Brocke House Enterprises (ISBN: 9780991835522) 2024. An alphabet book with alliteration and fun characters delightfully illustrated eating veggies and fruit from A to Z. Review
Best Book of the Month
I have long been a fan of Elizabeth Strout. But her latest, The Things We Never Say, is perhaps her most profound. Her economical prose explores the things about us we never say to another and the secrets we keep. Yet we want to know and be known. All this is explored through the life of Artie Dam, an aging school teacher who represents the best of the profession. So, it does not surprise me that this is short-listed for the Booker Prize.
Quote of the Month
Freely Sober by Ericka Anderson is a book written for women who may be alcohol dependent. A key idea in the book is to become “sober curious.” Here is how she explains it:
“Being ‘sober curious’ was the catalyst for shifting my perspective in a life-changing direction. Being sober curious means asking questions about drinking–yours, theirs, and everyone’s. It means educating yourself about alcohol and asking insightful questions about how drinking affects you and those around you without judgment” (p. 22).
What I’m Reading
Finally, we come to what’s in the stack of books I’m reading now. So, I loved Courtney Ellis’s Looking Up, which draws spiritual insights from birding. Weathering Change follows this same pattern, in likening the ways a variety of creatures adjust to changing seasons and environments and what we can learn for when we face change. Many Christians have written about seeking justice in one’s own country. However, Robert Joustra noticed that few tackle this when it comes to international relations. Therefore, he tackles this in Christ and Covenant in Global Politics.
Then, I’m on to number ten in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. Pratchett brings his satiric wit to Hollywood (Holy Wood in Discworld) in Moving Pictures. Finally, I’m just starting Miss Wolcott’s Ghost, the latest in Louise Penny’s Gamache series. Despite the fact that she is boycotting the U.S until at least 2028, I will keep reading the Canadian who helped get me through the pandemic.
While we’ve enjoyed a glorious October with brilliant fall colors in these parts, the turning of the calendar to November means shorter days, more rainy and cool weather. For me, it’s the perfect time to read and I’ve accumulated a winter stash. But I’d still love to hear what you are reading!
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. So, thanks for stopping by and feel free to share this with others!