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An American Caesar, by William Manchester
Written by Larry Taunton
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Non-fiction
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 Published in 1978, this is a biography of Douglas MacArthur, a man of extraordinary gifts and accomplishments, with an ego to match. The son of a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, MacArthur was born in 1880 when the Old West was still a reality. Attending West Point, he would there begin to reveal the genius that would characterize his life and career. Two World Wars, a myriad of successful engagements, seven silver stars, and two Medals of Honor later, he would return to America to be greeted by crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands—and to a disastrous run at the presidency.
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Can We Trust the Gospels?, by Mark D. Roberts
Written by Bill Wortman
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Non-fiction
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 Bart Ehrman has been the wrecking ball du jour of many people’s confidence in the reliability of the New Testament. This small book (subtitled Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is an excellent resource if you are looking for a reasoned and sensible retort to Ehrman. Mark Roberts earned his PhD from Harvard University in New Testament Studies, so do not be fooled by the non-technical nature of the book. He has an impressive scholarly background. He writes with pastoral care, but does not skirt from addressing some points of tension. The book is not a defense of Biblical Inerrancy, but of the general trustworthiness of the Gospels. These are two separate, though obviously related ideas. Given how often this question arises, I highly recommend reading at least one book on the subject. Mark Roberts would be the perfect place to start.
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Christianity for Modern Pagans, by Peter Kreeft
Written by Bill Wortman
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Non-fiction
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 Blaise Pascal is rightly regarded as the father of modern apologetics. A contemporary of René Descartes (mid 17th century), Pascal stood athwart the birth of modern skepticism, holding the lifeline to reason and Truth. In this book, Peter Kreeft has collected the most interesting and important of Pascal’s Pensées (“Thoughts”). They are short, lyrical, and powerful. They condense very sophisticated arguments to concise and memorable sentences. Kreeft’s explanations are invaluable, but he asserts emphatically that his explanations are always inferior to Pensées themselves.
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The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis
Written by Bill Wortman
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Fiction
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 This quick read was the most popular book at our student retreat this Summer. Like all of Lewis’ fiction, The Great Divorce is a colorful and moving story. It is a narrative analysis of what lies behind people’s refusal or acceptance of the Gift of Heaven. For dramatic and theological effect, their choice is imagined as being made in the emerald green meadows that lie at the foot of the heavenly mountains, to which they will be led if only they choose to stay. As you might imagine, the narrative is triumphantly joyous at times, but more frequently heart-wrenchingly sad as various people refuse to stay.
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Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
Written by Larry Taunton
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Fiction
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 My children are reading William Golding's Lord of the Flies for school and, wanting to discuss it with them, I decided to reread it since my own recollections of it were vague, consisting of pigs' heads, barbarous boys, and tribal rituals. My rereading was richly rewarded. Golding's message is a powerful one, stated succinctly on the closing page of the book: " ... Ralph wept for the end of innocence [and for] the darkness of man's heart ..." Golding sees a devil residing in each one of us. That resonates with Scripture. Jeremiah 17:9 reads: "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked."
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