Once again, it is time for my list of the top books I read or reviewed this past year. It’s always hard to limit my choices, and 2011 was no exception. There were many great books that I was blessed to read, but in the end the following titles rise to the top. They are the very best books I read and/or reviewed in 2011.

Bob’s 10 Best:

Best “Theology” book — Waiting for the Land: The Story Line of the Pentateuch by Arie C. Leder (P & R Publishing). My love affair with the Pentateuch was rekindled with this evocative book. Yes, it’s strange using the term “evocative” of a theology book, but that description fits. Leder unpacked the Pentateuch in such a sweeping manner that he drew you in to its powerful and majestic themes of redemption and the promised hope. He also made the connections between the church’s experience now and Israel’s experience then. I thoroughly enjoyed this relatively short book. I’ll be going back to it again and again as I continue studying the Pentateuch. Read my review for more on this book.

Best “Missions & Church Life” book — Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism edited by Collin Hansen and Andrew Naselli (Zondervan). This book was one that I was eagerly awaiting for much of 2011. When I got my copy, I devoured it. It certainly lived up to my expectations. The book is a fascinating conversation about the state of Evangelicalism, and where and how both Fundamentalism and Post-Conservatism fit in. The conversation was charitable and thought-provoking, and the book will encourage more intentional thought on questions such as, “Just how together can we be for the Gospel?” And also, “What really is at stake with post-conservatism?” Of particular note to many of my readers, is the fact that a fundamentalist leader was asked to contribute to this book. Kevin Bauder did a masterful job at introducing the idea of fundamentalism to wider evangelical readers. He also laid forth his vision of a renewed and purged fundamentalism and what the future could hold if the movement reforms. For more on this book, see this book excerpt. My review is forthcoming.

Best “Childrens & Family” book — Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick & Jessica Thompson (Crossway). I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It lived up to the high endorsements from Tullian Tchividjian and others. The authors remind us that there are no perfect parents or fool-proof parenting methods. We all need grace, and we need to introduce our kids to Jesus, first and foremost. Most intriguingly, they explore what it means to parent in a distinctively Christian way. For more on this book, check out two book excerpts (here and here). My review is forthcoming.

Honorable Mention — The Quest for Comfort: The Story of The Heidelberg Catechism by William Boekestein (Reformation Heritage). I am not aware of many kids books that tell the story behind the Heidelberg Catechism; so the story itself will be new to most children. The tale is engaging and the artwork has an older feel to it and will also draw young minds in. I thought the idea of telling the story behind the men who brought us one of the most enduring Reformation era documents, in a kids story format, was ingenious. The book lived up to my expectations and has me hoping to get Boekestein’s other books in this genre. Read my review for more on this book.

Best “Fiction” book — The Constantine Codex by Paul L. Maier (Tyndale House). I hadn’t read Maier’s earlier books in the “Skeleton in God’s Closet” series, but that didn’t pose any problem in appreciating this story fully. I had heard that Maier’s archaeological fiction was riveting. This book did not disappoint. For theology geeks like me, who have studied textual criticism and the Biblical languages, the book has an added appeal in that the main character is an expert on ancient manuscripts and early Christianity. The storyline is almost over the top, with the discovery of manuscript discoveries that Dan Wallace can only dream about, but the tale manages to stay believable. This was a book I couldn’t put down. Read my review for more on this book.

Honorable Mention — Taken (The Quest for Truth Series, book 1) by Brock Eastman (P & R Publishing). With this being Eastman’s first book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I ended up being very impressed by this story which is part science-fiction, part fantasy. Rather than being an overt allegory or an obviously Christianized fiction work, this tale tells a story well and draws the reader in to a tale that ultimately has intersections with the Truth. The book is geared more for young adults, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. I’m eager for the next installment of this series, and hope to sample some of the other books that Eastman has published recently, too. Read my review for more on this book.

Best “General Christian Interest” book — Upside: Surprising Good News About the State of Our World by Bradley Wright (Bethany House). I was intrigued by the premise of this book from the start. And Wright sure did deliver. The book exposes a secret: our world is dramatically improving on many fronts. Health, life-expectancy, income levels, literacy, and even crime and the environment have all seen incredible improvements over the last 30 years and more. Wright calls the church to task for not celebrating and recognizing this fact. We need to stop enjoying how bad everything is and worrying about how much worse it will get. Instead, we should actually thank God for some of the amazing things He has done lately. Read my review for more on this book.

Best “Christian Living” book — Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality by Wesley Hill (Zondervan). This book by Wesley Hill truly altered my thinking on an important subject. I still remain absolutely convinced that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is wrong. But I now am much more sympathetic to people struggling with same-sex attractions than I was before. In our culture, such people are encouraged to go all out and live it up as a homosexual. Wesley Hill a committed Christian and Bible College grad, has struggled his entire life with same-sex attractions. He has remained celibate and is committed to following Christ wholeheartedly. But his story is one that the Church needs to hear. Can we learn to have the same compassion toward those who struggle with same-sex attraction as we do with those who struggle with extramarital heterosexual attractions? And will we stand against the sin rather than those caught up in it? Read my review for more on this book.

Best “Church History & Biography” book — A Visual History of the King James Bible by Donald L. Brake (Baker Books). This was perhaps my favorite book of the year. I’ve always been intrigued by the history of the English Bible, and with the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible, I’ve been reading lots of books commemorating the KJB. This book tops them all. It is a visual feast, chuck full of fascinating pictures of manuscripts, old Bibles and more. My video review tries to do the book justice.

Best “Commentary & Reference” book — The Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook edited by J. Scott Duvall & J. Daniel Hays (Baker Books). This may be the best single volume resource on the entire Bible available. It certainly is the most visually stunning: beautiful, full-color photographs of Bible places, manuscripts, and artifacts, detailed charts and maps abound. Each book of the Bible is summarized and the handbook is filled with fascinating and helpful articles by leading evangelical scholars. With this book, I tried my hand at another video review.

All the Rest:

In 2011, I reviewed 42 books or DVDs — bringing the total of my book and media reviews to 115 from more than 30 different publishers. You can see all my reviews listed here. For my previous “Bob’s Best” lists, see below.

• Bob’s Best of 2009
• Bob’s Best of 2010

Additionally, if you are an avid reader, you may want to follow my reviews or friend me on Goodreads or LibraryThing.