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November 12, 2008

Behind the News

• The “Great Divorce” Makes Publishers Unhappy at Religion Scholars’ Meeting
  “Slow” was putting it mildly, and “disastrous” and “dismal” were also adjectives of choice for religion publishers in describing sales to scholars of religion attending the annual conference Nov. 1-3 of the American Academy of Religion. For the first time since the decision was made in 2003, the AAR met in Chicago apart from the Society of Biblical Literature, which is scheduled to hold its annual meeting in Boston Nov. 21-25. more » » » 
• Trend-Spotting at AAR
  What looks like a book, provides revenue to publishers, and allows custom content for religion scholars in the college classroom? The answer is Professor's Choice, a custom publishing program from St. Mary's Press launched at AAR. more » » » 
• S&S's Carolyn Reidy: Worse Publishing Environment May Be on the Way
  Simon & Schuster president and CEO Carolyn Reidy called for CEOs to step up and lead during “the deep economic slump” and warned that possibly worse scenarios may be on the way. Her comments were made at the first of two addresses at the Evangelical Christian Publisher’s Association’s CEO Symposium and Publishing University. more » » » 

• Reidy Urges Publishers and Retailers to See Challenges as "Opportunities"
  In her second and more upbeat address, Simon and Schuster's President and CEO Carolyn Reidy called for CBA publishers and retailers to "expand their universe." more » » » 

Short Takes

• First Huston Smith Prize; ECPA Diamond Awards, Zondervan acquires BibleGateway.com; ESV Study Bible goes back to press
  At this year's American Academy of Religion meeting in Chicago, HarperOne announced the first annual winner of the Huston Smith Publishing Prize-Bradley Malkovsky, an associate professor of Comparative Theology at the University of Notre Dame, for his manuscript God's Other Children: The Many Religions and the Quest for Understanding in Sacred India. more » » » 

Author Interview

• So This Christian Walks into a Bar and . . .
  An interview with Irish philosopher Peter Rollins (The Fidelity of Betrayal, Paraclete) and leader of an ecclesial community called IKON that meets in pubs in his native Northern Ireland.   more » » » 

RELIGION IN REVIEW

• A Story of Rhythm and Grace: What the Church Can Learn from Rock and Roll About Healing the Racial Divide
  Jimi Calhoun. Brazos Press, $15.99 paper (208p) ISBN 978-1-58743-220-0
  
  Some religious people are skeptical about rock music due to its association with what they view as morally unacceptable behavior. It is refreshing that Calhoun, an evangelical Christian minister and former professional musician, can see beyond these dated stereotypes and unapologetically highlight the good that rock has to offer. more » » » 
• Buddha for Beginners
  Stephen T. Asma. Hampton Roads, $15.95 paper (176p) ISBN 978-1-57174-595-8
  
  Revising his 1996 illustrated primer, Asma explores the key tenets of Buddhism in the style of a graphic novel. A sparse text, punctuated by extensive illustrations—some cartoon-like and others more serious and detailed—describes Siddhartha Gautama's enlightenment, what the Buddha taught, and how Buddhism developed as the Buddha's followers encountered various Asian cultures. more » » » 
• You Saw It Here First: An Original RBL Review
  Blind Spot: When Journalists Don't Get Religion
  Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert and Roberta Green Ahmanson. Oxford, $19.95 paper (224p) ISBN 978-0-19-537437-7
  
  This collection of essays by academics and conservative think-tank analysts examines how print journalists miss, or misinterpret, religious events nationally and worldwide because, the authors suggest, journalists lack sufficient knowledge and sensitivity about religion. Contributors examine the Muslim fissures in Iraq and Iran, the 2004 presidential elections, and international initiatives on human rights, among other issues. The ire expressed in the book is directed mostly toward political and foreign correspondents at major newspapers such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. These journalists, claim the essayists, often view religion as either irrational or a disguised quest for power and control. Working within journalistic narratives that prize politics above anthropology, journalists minimize religious vitality and its impact. This thesis is not new, and it overlooks the work of trained religion reporters at midsized and regional papers whose writing has become more sophisticated and nuanced over the past 20 years. With a foreword by former Bush administration speechwriter Michael Gerson and an afterword by former Office of Faith-based Initiatives director John J. DiIulio Jr., the book seems aimed at justifying some the policies of the outgoing administration rather than examining U.S. religion coverage as a whole. (Dec.)

Catholic Bestsellers November 2008

• Hardcover

  1. Rediscovering Catholicism
  Matthew Kelly, Beacon Publishing
  2. Mother Teresa's Secret Fire
  Joseph Langford, Our Sunday Visitor
  3. Mother Angelica's Private and Pithy Lessons from the Scriptures
  Raymond Arroyo, Doubleday
  4. The Dream Manager
  Matthew Kelly, Beacon Publishing/Hyperion
  5. What Your Money Means
  Frank J. Hanna, Crossroad Publishing
  6. The Apostles Illustrated Edition
  Pope Benedict XVI, Our Sunday Visitor
  7. Render Unto Caesar
  Charles Chaput, Doubleday
  8. Celebration of Discipline, 25th Anniversary Edition
  Richard Foster, HarperOne
  9. The Gift of Years
  Joan Chittister, BlueBridge
  10. The Rhythm of Life
  Matthew Kelly, Beacon/Fireside
  
   Paperback
  1. Preparing for Christmas with Richard Rohr
  Richard Rohr, St. Anthony Messenger Press
  2. Catechism of the Catholic Church
  Doubleday/USCCB Publishing
  3. The Screwtape Letters
  C. S. Lewis, HarperOne
  4. Mere Christianity
  C. S. Lewis, HarperOne
  5. United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
  USCCB Publishing
  6. Handbook for Today's Catholic,
  A Redemptorist Pastoral Publication, Liguori Publications
  7. Open the Door
  Joyce Rupp, Ave Maria Press
  8. The Great Divorce
  C. S. Lewis, HarperOne
  9. The Complete C.S. Lewis
  C. S. Lewis, HarperOne
  10. St. Paul A Bible Study Guide for Catholics
  Mitch Pacwa, Our Sunday Visitor
  

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