This summer we would like to share some good reads we discovered (or rediscovered) over the past few months. These selections represent a wide array of topics we think will interest you. Some selections will be great for personal reading, others for family time. Most of all, we think they will broaden your understanding of God’s creation and His work in it because they have had that result in our lives. Please leave us your favorite reads in the comment section.
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Joshua Barzon, The Forgotten Preface: Surprising Insights on the Translation Philosophy of the King James Translators (Columbia, SC: Self-Published, 2022), 106 pages.
For over four hundred years, the King James Version has had a remarkable impact on the world and continues to be a treasured English translation for many. Although I value and utilize many different English translations of the Bible, the King James Version was the Bible of my childhood and formative years. When I quote a verse, I almost always do so from the King James Version, and I continue to cherish the immense gift that the King James Version is to my life. The King James Version has been not only the source of great influence in Christian history but also the object of controversy.
Joshua Barzon, the author of The Forgotten Preface: Surprising Insights on the Translation Philosophy of the King James Translators, has written a charitable and significant book to help readers think well about the King James Version and modern English translations. From the preface produced by the King James translators, Barzon has developed ten theses concerning what the translators believed, and his insights can serve to bring unity to believers today who cherish God’s Word. If you love the King James Version and have questions about how to view modern English translations, you will greatly benefit from reading Barzon’s book and learning from the wisdom of the King James Version translators.
—Recommended by Daniel D. Mann
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Wendell Berry, Remembering: A Novel (Berkeley, CA: Counterpoint, 2008), 112 pages.
Remembering was my first foray into Wendell Berry’s fictional works, but it will not be my last. After the recommendation of a good friend, I listened to this book in an audio format while on a road trip this summer. The story considers the nature of belonging and meaning through the life of Andy Catlett from Berry’s fictional town Port William. For most of the novel, middle-aged Catlett is wandering bitterly through the memories of his shattered life while he attends a conference on agriculture in San Francisco. His broken body and broken relationships seem to be physical manifestations of a long series of bad decisions. However, Berry patiently and lovingly leads Catlett through a kaleidoscopic set of personal memories and those of ancestors in Port William to lead him home physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This book is wonderfully beautiful if bittersweet, encouraging us to realize our place within time and space, family and community, and ideals and practical applications. If possible, time it out to finish the book just as you are pulling into your driveway after a long trip away.
—Recommended by Phillip T. Morgan
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Joshua D. Chatraw and Mark D. Allen, The Augustine Way: Retrieving a Vision for the Church’s Apologetic Witness (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2024), 208 pages.
Joshua D. Chatraw and Mark D. Allen, who have written numerous books about apologetics, have recently produced an excellent volume on retrieving the thought of Augustine for today’s apologetic. Chatraw and Allen are rightly discontent with the current state of apologetics in the United States. Unfortunately, the apologetic-industrial complex runs strong. Thankfully these authors have provided another way. In seeking to retrieve Augustine (and some Blaise Pascal), they seek to lay new groundwork for how apologists can defend and articulate the Christian faith in this late modern era. Pulling mainly from Confessions and The City of God, Chatraw and Allen note ways in which Augustine offers modern apologists numerous ways to defend a particular point, as well as some correctives against unwise apologetic methods. While I do not agree with all of their conclusions, I am thankful for their hard work revealing the problem(s) in modern apologetics and providing a sensible and constructive way forward.
—Recommended by Christopher Talbot
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William Golding, The Lord of the Flies (United States of America: Putnam, 1954), 190 pages.
I first read William Golding’s The Lord of the Flies in 2016. I was surprised by how impactful it was for me—so much so I would later appeal to one of its themes for my chapter on conservatism in Christians in Culture. Then several months ago, I noticed the BBC had produced an adaptation of the novel, a four-episode limited series created by Jack Thorne (of the excellent Adolescence fame). It inspired me to reread The Lord of the Flies. In the intervening decade, it has not lost any of its punch. It tells the story of boys who are marooned on an island without adult supervision as things go from bad to worse to worse still. It is not a happy story, but it is deeply affecting, profoundly illustrating many of the problems with “state of nature” political theorists who question the depravity of man. Additionally, the narrative is expertly told as prior episodes prefigure and foreshadow subsequent episodes—in terms of character and motif and plot development. If you want to read a story that effectively illustrates the depravity of man, even down to our childhood, this read is a good one to that end. It is not without reason that it is a modern classic.
—Recommended by Matthew Steven Bracey
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Travis Hearne, How to Read Church History: A Beginner’s Guide to Seeing Christ Through the Ages (Greenville, SC: Courier, 2026), 149 pages.
“How do I read Church history?” Likely, you have never asked that question before. However, it is a question worth asking. Do you just pick up a book about medieval scholasticism and start on page one? I suppose you could, but that would probably be a rough start. Travis Hearne’s fascinating little book acquaints readers with the value of and tools necessary for studying Church history, along with a brief overview of the major eras within the overall narrative. The intended goal is to prepare readers to read Church history well. However, one consistent theme of the book is that a better understanding of Church history gives a deeper sense of God’s faithfulness to His people. I would go so far as to say that Hearne wants us to love Church history but partly as a means of deepening our love for the God of history.
If you read this unique little book, even with a cursory knowledge of Church history, you will be better equipped to read a Church history survey, a biography of a Christian, or a history of a doctrinal controversy. The work is almost like taking an introductory course on Church history with a very capable teacher. Travis is an excellent writer. I was delighted to write an endorsement for the book, and I am glad to recommend it to HSF readers.
—Recommended by Jesse Owens
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Myrta Margaret Higgins, Little Gardens for Boys and Girls (Bedford, MA: Applewood, 2008), 184 pages.
This book is written for children who wish to garden. Originally published in 1910, Little Gardens for Boys and Girls plainly and concisely instructs young gardeners on keeping their crops healthy year-round. Myrta Margaret Higgins aimed for this manual to “make plain subjects that at first mention seem so simple they are seldom explained” and “to arouse interest in plant life that will be lasting and helpful” (vii.) This instruction manual focuses on essential practices like how to select garden tools and how to weed properly. Whether cultivating a single plant or an extensive vegetable garden, Higgins esteems every person’s effort to care for the “world-garden.” What is encouraging about this book is the connection between personal gardening and the rest of the natural world. Every boy and girl who cares for a plant plays their part in preserving the beauty of the earth.
—Recommended by Sarah Lytle
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Paul Johnson, A History of the American People (New York: HarperPerennial, 1999), 1,108 pages.
When I first encountered A History of the American People, I read select portions for a college course. This year, I wanted to read through the book in its entirety, so that I could better understand America’s founding in relation to the broader scope of American history. Johnson’s work begins with colonial exploration and settlement in the 1580s and concludes with the current events of the 1990s (the decade Johnson published this book). The more time I spent reading this book the more I came to appreciate Johnson’s treatment of the American people. He contextualizes how the customs and manners of Americans have shaped and continue to shape the nation’s identity. When he chooses to focus on individual people or events, he does so in order to communicate a specific theme. Johnson’s overarching goal is to use the story of American history to tease out questions of morality. Though I do not always agree with Johnson’s conclusions, this study is a helpful resource for any American interested in their country.
—Recommended by Sarah Lytle
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Michael J. Kruger, Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 368 pages.
A frequent topic that emerges in conversations about apologetics and evangelism is the reliability of the canon of Scripture, especially the New Testament. A common question posed is, “How can you be sure you have the right twenty-seven books?” To help address this vital issue, Michael J. Kruger has produced a valuable work in Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books. In this book, Kruger provides an overview of the various views about the canon and assesses their strengths and weaknesses. Kruger argues that the twenty-seven books of the New Testament were not arbitrarily chosen and deemed authoritative by a church council centuries ago but rather that the books included in the canon are self-authenticating. He does not deny the important role that the Christian community played in recognizing and receiving the books of the New Testament; however, he emphasizes the self-authenticating nature of the books due to their divine origin. I became aware of Kruger’s book because I regularly teach New Testament studies to undergraduate students in a Bible college environment. Whether you teach in a Bible college, serve as a local church pastor, or you are a growing Christian who wants to be more equipped to handle questions about the biblical canon, I heartily commend Kruger’s book.
—Recommended by Daniel D. Mann
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Sam Luce and Hunter Williams, How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith (Greensboro, NC: New Growth, 2025), 208 pages.
Sam Luce and Hunter Williams provide a much-needed book on how to communicate theology to children in a manner that is right and effective. I have often lamented the lack of resources in this area. It is difficult to communicate large theological ideas to young minds without watering them down or oversimplifying the concepts. For this reason, theological instruction for children often entails a kind of translation work—seeking to render these ideas in a way young ones can understand. Luce and Williams have done the hard work and provided an accessible and engaging volume geared toward helping readers communicate a robust theology to children in a way that brings them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I intend to use this book in my own teaching to kids, along with requiring it in my children’s ministry class in the future.
—Recommended by Christopher Talbot
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Dorothy L. Sayers, Whose Body? (1923; repr., Mineola, NY: Dover, 2009), 144 pages.
Whose Body? is the first of Dorothy Sayers’ detective novels. It features the quirky yet lovable Lord Peter Wimsey as its star detective. Whereas Sherlock Holmes is more scientific, empirical, and cold, Wimsey is more balanced, demonstrating logical, emotional, and social intelligence and relying even on intuition. And whereas Holmes reflects Enlightenment values, Wimsey reflects Judeo-Christian values. I am not suggesting that Holmes is not good and fun in his way, only to present him as he is. So, if you are interested in a detective mystery whose star detective broadly reflects the sensibilities of a Christian worldview (and is more accessible than G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown), I recommend Whose Body? specifically and Sayers’ detective novels generally.
—Recommended by Matthew Steven Bracey
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Amity Shlaes, Great Society: A New History (New York: HarperPerennial, 2019), 560 pages.
This book is the fourth one by Amity Shlaes I have read, and it is far-and-away my favorite of her works to date. Shlaes is a solid conservative economic historian, who chairs the board of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation and has worked with the National Review and the Manhattan Institute. Great Society is an excellent and accessible treatment of mid-twentieth-century politics, economic policy, and culture. She does a wonderful job showing how particular ideas and policies emerged during the late 1950s and early 1960s, were brought into being under Lyndon Johnson’s administration, and then protected and bolstered by Richard Nixon’s. Shlaes’ treatment addresses the wide range of social and cultural pressures that influenced and responded to these political ideas and actions. She is particularly adept at showing how the war on poverty was used to fund far-left political action groups and ne’er-do-wells throughout the United States, who in turn shifted economic and cultural policies in the federal government. This book offers great insights for our time about the dangers of power-hungry politicians, the unintended consequences of policies, and the way in which modern American politics is shaped by, and in-turn shapes, American culture.
—Recommended by Phillip T. Morgan
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Eric C. Smith, Between Worlds: John A. Broadus, the Southern Baptist Seminary, and the Prospects of the New South (Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 2026), 284 pages.
Few figures are more significant in the history of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) and the Southern Baptist Convention than John A. Broadus. Surprisingly, no recent biographies of Broadus have been written. He was the second President of SBTS, a powerful preacher, and an influential figure among Baptists in the North and the South around the time of the Civil War. Beyond giving readers a sense of Broadus’s life, Smith’s work also acquaints them with the theological and political milieu of Broadus’s time. Smith addresses Broadus’s views on slavery and the American South in a careful, balanced way. He treats Broadus with care, honoring the many contributions he made to Baptist life, while also attempting to assess his views on race honestly.
Perhaps what I love most about this book, much like anything else I have read from Smith, is his ability to write compelling historical narrative. Certainly, he has read letters to and from Broadus and combed through library archives, but Smith engages the reader in a way that many historians do not. But I also commend Smith for the way in which his personal piety comes across in his work. He clearly loves the Lord and sees history as a means of demonstrating the Lord’s faithfulness and the heroic efforts of men like John A. Broadus.
—Recommended by Jesse Owens
August 17, 2026
I most definitely appreciate the reviews and recommendations. Perhaps by age 90?, I’ll get them all read! Just a comment about Dorothy Sayers and Lord Peter Wimsey: I have read many of her novels and enjoyed them all, including Whose Body? My favorite is The Nine Tailors. Not only is it a great mystery story; it has amazing depth, color, and character development, as well as strong faith-based themes. For those who haven’t read it, you might want to check it out.