Like most edited collections, The Best Christian Writing 2001 is a smorgasbord of goodies--some sweet, others sour, often spicy, and occasionally bland. John Wilson, editor for Christianity Today and editor in chief of Books & Culture , cuts and pastes from a variety of periodicals to show how diverse "the best" Christian writing can be. The selections range from lightly academic to everyman accessible. In "Confessions of a Reluctant Catholic," Alice McDermott offers a brief memoir about her return to faith, because "reluctantly, we submit to what it seems we have always known," while Elizabeth Fox-Genovese looks at how her adult profession of belief is received in academia in "A Conversion Story." There's understated humor in "Seminary Sanity," as Sarah Hinlicky recounts her experience with a mandated psychiatric evaluation before entering the ministry. Fatherhood scores a double with Edward Ericson Jr.'s poignant tribute to his dad, "A Father to the End," and the moving reflections of Scott Sawyer's "Earthly Fathers." Stephen L. Carter, Philip Yancey, Richard John Neuhaus, and Reynolds Price are among those who add their voices to this volume. Thoughtful readers who don't connect with all of the essays will still find enough gourmet fare here to make a satisfying meal. --Cindy Crosby


From Publishers Weekly
Calling any compilation "the best" certainly invites criticism, if not outright skepticism; in this case, the scope of the project alone culling 22 articles from the daunting amount of Christian writing published in the course of a year guarantees widespread disagreement. This collection, though, proves to be as good a starting point as any in the search for a thoughtful sampling of recent Christian writing. Series editor Wilson, who is editor-in-chief of Books and Culture magazine, compiled the anthology from articles appearing in various Christian periodicals during the last calendar year. The conversational tone of the personal narratives, such as Sarah E. Hinlicky's delightfully humorous "Seminary Sanity" and Alice McDermott's "Confessions of a Reluctant Catholic," contrast nicely with analytical essays like Joseph T. Lienhard's piece on Origen and J. Bottum's look at Pius XII's relationship with the Nazis. Readers will recognize famous names such as Stephen Carter, Erik Erikson, Elizabeth Fox-Genovese, Reynolds Price and Philip Yancey among the contributors. A few of the essays particularly Alan Jacobs's "The Only Honest Man" are so theologically dense that casual readers are apt to get lost in the scholarly morass. For the most part, however, the selections in this year's edition of the annual series provide an excellent overview of the range and depth of contemporary Christian thinking. (Oct.) Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Reynolds Price and Alice McDermott are among the writers of these articles mostly from Christian intellectual journals, and another star novelist, Larry Woiwode, introduces the collection. Woiwode sees all the essays as being concerned with learning and speaking the truth. Price, McDermott, and Elizabeth Fox-Genovese strive to explain their personal faith precisely. Benedicta Ward on fourth-century hermit saints and Preston Jones on contemporary Christians' use of history stress integrity in discerning both what happened and how what happened has been understood. J. Bottum on Pius XII and Alan Jacobs on Rousseau show us towering figures, warts and all. With winning candor, Catherine H. Crouch reports on the quest of truth that is quantum mechanics, and Virginia Stem Owens reports on a heated and poignant "community conversation" on the death penalty. Dennis Covington ponders "an inconsequential misrepresentation" he once presented as fact and concludes that it and its ilk--he cites cogent examples--are "of critical importance, because the force of human will lies behind" them. In truth and in all, an absorbing and enlightening collection. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
This remarkable collection includes: "Living with Furious Opposites," Phillip Yancey's penetrating examination of the distance between the faith we champion and the way we really live."Confessions of a Reluctant Catholic," Alice McDermott's ironic reflections on the tensions between her roles as novelist and believer.Stephen L. Carter on the dominant culture's threat to religion as an alternative, prophetic voice in "Religion, Resistance, and the Curious History of America's Public Schools."Elizabeth Fox-Genovese's sensitive, literate look at joining the church and the reaction of her academic colleagues in "A Conversion Story."Richard John Neuhaus on the paradox of the profound yet commonplace nature of death in "Born Toward Dying."


About the Author
John Wilson has worked as a TV and radio reporter and a writer for technical journals and has held several marketing positions. The Disappearance of Lyndsey Barratt is his first novel to be published in the United States. He lives in Wales.

FROM OUR EDITORS

This collection of important writings on Christianity -- the follow-up to the 2000 edition, which received much critical praise -- offers a comprehensive gathering of thought and insight from the best minds on the subject. Offerings include Philip Yancey on "Living with Furious Opposites," Alice McDermott's "Confessions of a Reluctant Catholic," Reynolds Price's "Letter to a Man in the Fife," and Richard John Neuhaus's "Born Toward Dying."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

John Wilson has selected a diverse and engaging collection of the year's best Christian writing. The contributors range from more evangelical authors such as Phil Yancey to unique voices such as Richard John Neuhaus, Stephen L. Carter, Erik Erikson, and Reynolds Price, from Catholic authors such as Elizabeth Fox Genovese to unconventional Christians such as Alice McDermott.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly