What have you been reading in May?

I have been following Kevin DeYoung’s blog lately and noticed that he has started a book log in which he mentions a book that he has read and then makes a one or two line comment about it.  With my busy schedule, I thought, “What a great idea!” I really don’t really have time to write out full reviews like I have in past months but this would give me an opportunity to share with you a bit of what I have been exposed to and maybe encourage you to look more at certain books or avoid others.

Anyway, here’s what I have been reading in May.

United in Hate: The Left's Romance with Tyranny and Terror by Jamie Glazov. Points out a real issue (the strange tendency of the political left to side with human rights abusers like communist regimes and Islamists) but does so with such a condescending tone and his disdain so palpable that it took the edge off of the author’s arguments for me. Questionable research methodology as well (i.e. tends to quote quotes instead of going to the primary sources for his information).

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God edited by Justin Taylor & John Piper. A collection of articles on suffering in the Scriptures ranging from incomprehensibly dense to overly simplistic. Piper’s articles are worth reading but not worth the price of the book.  Not much new ground covered here. Disappointing all in all.

Echoes of a Native Land: Two Centuries of a Russian Village by Serge Schmemann. If you are a Russophile like me, you’ll love this book. If not, pass on it. Tells the story of the author’s family and home village up until they fled Russia after the Revolution.

Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo. As you can tell from my blogs from the last couple of days, I like this book. I like it a lot.  Addresses the fact that fifty years of giving aid to African countries has NOT improved the lives of Africans but made things worse.  But the author does more than just point out the problem. The second half of the book is dedicated to providing workable solutions.  This is a book that cannot be ignored by anyone serious about really improving the lives of those in need.

So what have you been reading?