Christopher Smith – Reading for the Common Good – Reviewed

[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”333″ identifier=”B01D8W6IHK” locale=”US” src=”https://englewoodreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/51z8RKZefRL.jpg” tag=”douloschristo-20″ width=”222″]I have been on the road for the last couple of weeks with my [easyazon_link identifier=”0830841148″ locale=”US” tag=”douloschristo-20″]Slow Church[/easyazon_link] co-author John Pattison, talking with churches throughout the southeastern U.S. about that book and my new book, Reading for the Common Good.  It’s been good to get the new book into people’s hands and to begin conversations about it.

Reading for the Common Good: How Books Help Our Churches and Neighborhoods Flourish
C. Christopher Smith

Paperback: IVP Books, 2016
Buy now: [ [easyazon_link identifier=”083084449X” locale=”US” tag=”douloschristo-20″]Amazon[/easyazon_link] ]  [ [easyazon_link identifier=”B01D8W6IHK” locale=”US” tag=”douloschristo-20″]Kindle[/easyazon_link] ] 

 

I am deeply grateful for these great reviews of the book that have been posted within the last couple of weeks. Here are some clips (with links to the full reviews)…

Joe Johnson:

“Working for the flourishing of churches, neighborhoods, and the world cannot be done without the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, and I think it’s a reasonable proposal to argue that reading is an important means by which the Spirit works. Reading for the Common Good makes a very interesting case for the communal importance of reading and conversation, and it paints a portrait of what local church life can be like that is well worth pursuing. I recommend it.”
[ Read the full review ]

 

Cara Meredith:

“But what happens when, in our fast-paced 21st century lives, we forget to enter into life with other people? How might reading be the common thread that brings us back together? … We were created to learn and to read, just as we were created to flourish with the people who are right in front of us, namely in our churches and in our neighborhoods.”     
[ Read the full review ]
 

Traci Rhoades:

“One thing I also appreciated about this book is the detail that Smith uses to describe the success his church has had in reading books together. The ideas presented in this book aren’t just theories. They work!”   
[ Read the full review ]

 

Marlene Mazer:

“If your hope is to see positive growth and development in your community, this book is an excellent tool to teach the Church how to literally open her doors to ALL community members by offering opportunities for reading and discussion on a wide array of topics which impact the specific community. … I highly recommend this book if you are interested in being an agent for change through the Holy Spirit.”   
[ Read the full review ]