Books

Eighth Annual Ralphies are up!

My friend and colleague Ed Cook is the author of Ralph the Sacred River and the Eighth Annual Ralphies are up! Go and see what his picks for books, music, and movies are this year. As usual, I do not feel that I have much to offer in terms of top reading, listening, and viewing, but I will give it a go anyway.

In terms of music, one year I said that I had stumbled across The Shins and was told that was “old” and that I was way too behind. Oh well. (Still like them, BTW.) I followed the world to Esperanza Spalding and do not regret joining that bandwagon for a minute! If you like jazz, give her a try. (Close runner up: Renaud Garcia-Fons.)

As are as books are concerned, I read a lot this year, but most of it seemed to be strategic plans, thesis proposal forms, and applications. My pick is an oldie but a goodie, made better by the fact that I read it with my 7-year old son. The Hobbit is a classic and I am eager to see the new movie adaptation. But the fact that a novel with no images kept a 6, then 7 year old occupied and captivated speaks volumes in today’s context of iPads and iPods. In non-fiction I will strongly recommend Wrong: Why experts* keep failing us–and how to know when not to trust them *Scientists, finance wizards, doctors, relationship gurus, celebrity CEOs, … consultants, health officials and more by David Freedman. First, there hasn’t been a title like that since 1792. Second, it is a great study in “critical thinking” (and the lack thereof) and perfect for classes, even if it is not terribly penetrating. (I doubt that you will learn anything new, but it is nice to have someone else do the homework for you.)

Finally, I was unable to see many movie in the theatre but Netflix, iTunes, and Comcast have been my friend. I can whole heartedly name Cowboys & Aliens as my top pick. There were some fun animated and “hero” movies this year, but the combination of my two favorite genres (leaving out only spies, and Daniel Craig covers that with his presence) made C&A an easy favorite. Great fun and a nice twist on classic movies, with enough nods to antecedents to keep geeks thoroughly engaged. (Super 8 was a nice runner up for me and is Ed’s pick, but JJ Abrams would you please cut it out with the lens flare already!)

So, those are mine, or at least are a few that come to mind. What are yours? Go let Ed know at Ralph the Sacred River.

HarperCollins eBook Promotion

Nov 7th, 2011

by Christian Brady.

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Most of my readers have already seen this announcement, but it is worth sharing widely. I have purchased several of these myself. They are available in almost all eBook formats: iBookstore, Kindle, Google, Nook, and Kobo.

To celebrate the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature’s annual conference in HarperOne’s hometown of San Francisco—we’ve put together a special eBook promotion. So, load up on your reading for the plane! Even if you can’t attend the conference, you can still get this “stack” of great e-books at a great price! Hurry! This offer expires on November 13, 2011.

10 great books! $3.99 each!

Here’s your chance to rediscover your favorite authors in an eBook format:

THE HISTORICAL JESUS by John Dominic Crossan
THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY by John Dominic Crossan
GOD’S PROBLEM by Bart Ehrman
THE MEANING OF JESUS by Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright
DISCOVERING GOD by Rodney Stark
THE LOST HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY by Philip Jenkins
THE MISUNDERSTOOD JEW by Amy-Jill Levine
THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS OF JESUS by Marv Meyer
MORMON AMERICA by Richard Ostling
WHY RELIGION MATTERS by Huston Smith

Hurry! This offer is good in the United States only from November 4-13, 2011.

You’ll find more information and links to purchase here.

And, of course, we’re looking forward to seeing you at HarperOne’s SBL booth (536 & 537)—where you’ll find our new and classic print books at special prices throughout the conference.

Sincerely,

Laina Adler
Senior Director of Marketing
HarperOne

New Book: Great is Thy Faithfulness?

Nov 2nd, 2011

by Christian Brady.

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Months ago I wrote that the proofs were in and now it is all ready, just in time for SBL. The book is Great Is Thy Faithfulness? Reading Lamentations as Sacred Scripture and was edited by Robin Parry and Heath Thomas. For anyone wanting to do work in Lamentations and its interpretation this is going to be a must first read (well, after you read Lamentations itself, that is). Yours truly contributed the bits about the Targum of Lamentations and my translation is included as well.

Be sure to pick it up at SBL!

New Book: Disability and Isaiah’s Suffering Servant by Jeremy Schipper

Jul 16th, 2011

by Christian Brady.

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I am very pleased to announce a new book by friend and colleague Jeremy Schipper. Disability and Isaiah’s Suffering Servant is coming being published by OUP and is even reasonably priced! (Just $27.95.) I am sure I will be picking up a copy at SBL.

Description

Although disability imagery is ubiquitous in the Hebrew Bible, characters with disabilities are not. The presence of the former does not guarantee the presence of the later. While interpreters explain away disabilities in specific characters, they celebrate the rhetorical contributions that disability imagery makes to the literary artistry of biblical prose and poetry, often as a trope to describe the suffering or struggles of a presumably nondisabled person or community. This situation contributes to the appearance (or illusion) of a Hebrew Bible that uses disability as a rich literary trope while disavowing the presence of figures or characters with disabilities.

Isaiah 53 provides a wonderful example of this dynamic at work. The “Suffering Servant” figure in Isaiah 53 has captured the imagination of readers since very early in the history of biblical interpretation. Most interpreters understand the servant as an otherwise able bodied person who suffers. By contrast, Jeremy Schipper’s study shows that Isaiah 53 describes the servant with language and imagery typically associated with disability in the Hebrew Bible and other ancient Near Eastern literature. Informed by recent work in disability studies from across the humanities, it traces both the disappearance of the servant’s disability from the interpretative history of Isaiah 53 and the scholarly creation of the able bodied suffering servant.

Features

Launch of the brand new Biblical Refigurations series which offers fresh perspectives on the textual, cultural, and interpretative contexts of individual biblical characters

Highlights the relevance of disability studies to the study of the biblical text

Engages research in disability studies from across the humanities to illuminate a very familiar passage in biblical studies

Reviews the history of scholarship on Isaiah 53 and presents a close reading that challenges frequent assumptions associated with the suffering servant

Written in a clear and accesible style well suited to introducing and explaining cross disciplinary findings relevant to the study of the biblical text

Free ebook: The Gospel of Ruth: Loving God Enough to Break the Rules

Mar 31st, 2011

by Christian Brady.

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An old roommate (that is, we were roommates long ago, not that he is old now, well, we are older) sent me this link. I don’t know anything about Carolyn James and it appears to be very much a Christian devotional work, but if Zondervan is making it available for free who am I to not download it? The link is at the bottom of the blurb.

This isnt the Ruth, the Naomi, or the Boaz we thought we knew. Carolyn James has unearthed startling new insights from this well-worn story … insights that have life-changing implications for you. Naomi is no longer regarded as a bitter, complaining woman, but as a courageous overcomer. A Female Job. Ruth typically admired for her devotion to Naomi and her deference to Boaz turns out to be a gutsy risk-taker and a powerful agent for change among Gods people. She lives outside the box, and her love for Yahweh and Naomi compels her to break the rules of social and religious convention at nearly every turn. Boaz, the Kinsman Redeemer, is repeatedly caught off-guard by Ruths initiatives. His partnership with her models the kind of male/female relationships that the gospel intends for all who follow Jesus. Carolyn James drills down deeper into the story where she uncovers in the Old Testament the same passionate, counter-cultural, rule-breaking gospel that Jesus modeled and taught his followers to pursue. Within this age-old story is a map to radical levels of love and sacrifice, combined with the message that God is counting on his daughters to build his kingdom.The Gospel of Ruth vests every womans life with kingdom purposes and frees us to embrace wholeheartedly Gods calling, regardless of our circumstances or season of life. This story of two women who have lost everything contains a profound message: God created women not to live in the shadowy margins of men or of the past, but to emerge as courageous activists for his kingdom.