How Music Works - David Byrne

Many people know David Byrne as the founding member of Talking Heads. This book reveals another side of him, intelligent and and well crafted history of music and technology. It will appeal to the musician in that he goes into detail of how he made some of his recordings, finances and technical parts. It will also appeal to the non-musician in revealing what music is all about. Very enjoyable and well researched, it is a fresh volume in so many other books about "rock stars" lifestyle and tell all books. Not what you would expect from someone who had some of the 80's biggest hits, and who's music is still popular now.
Of particular interest to me was his growing up and how he experimented with musical sounds and recording. It may be the first time some readers have heard the names and stories he mentions in this book.
All in all a very enjoyable read for the musician or non-musician. Anyone who wants to know how music works.
I have received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Make Yourself at Home - Kay Swatkowski

Discovering the heart of the church. This book is about the church. Actually, about what the church should be. The author. along with her husband, Raymond have more than 50 years of ministry experience, and this book is full of stories of churches they have encountered all over the world.
A book like this could only be written by people with this much ministry experience with people in different cultures.I enjoyed this book in may ways, and was glad to hear of so many Christians that take the scripture seriously to bear each other's burdens and care for each other. There is also a lot of scripture references, which is also a good thing. It is a very readable book and also has a bringing it home section at the end of every chapter, questions that can be used in individual or group study.
With quotes by C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer and Henri Nouwen to round out the narrative, all in all a very enjoyable book, If you want to know what the church could be and should be doing, then read this book.
Published by Discovery House from Our daily bread ministries.

Words from the hill - Stu Garrard

An invitation to the unexpected. The Words on the Hill meaning the sermon on the mount, more specifically, the beatitudes. The author is Stu Garrard, best known for being the guitarist in the popular group Delirious? This book is based on the Beatitudes, and is autobiographical to the point of telling stories that have happened to him, people he has met and their stories, and life along the way. He has seen God's grace and forgiveness all around the world. He does his best to remain relevant by mentioning U2 and Amy Grant along the way also. Most enlightening to me was the author's desire to fit into the American culture after moving here from England, and trying to fit in.
The Beatitudes project is the name of the project and the album by some of the most popular Christian music performers, including Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. In fact he recounts the story of writing a song with Amy Grant in the book. The website is thebeatitudeproject.com and there you will find links to the organizations mentioned in the book, so the reader could contact them and get involved. I like that there is a call to action on the reader's part to get involved.
Am interesting take on the beatitudes, with chapters titled Poor in spirit, Mourn, Pure in heart, and peacemakers. Each chapter from the Words on the Hill.
This book is published by Navpress.
I have received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The Heist - Chris Durso

The Heist is a book by Chris Durso, who is the founding pastor at Misfit NYC, a ministry for millennials in New York. Chapter titles such as The Comeback, home is always an option and The Extra weight, letting go is necessary the author makes the point that Jesus commited the perfect heist. This might be a term we don't associate with the life of Jesus, but it seems to be a valid point. He starts out chapter one with a quote from Kevin Spacey's character in The Usual Suspects, which is something that you don't usually see in a "Christian" book, but it seems to fit the context. This book's audience is targeted at a younger age than myself, it still seems to fit. The point of the book is Jesus, through His life, death and resurrection robs the enemy of his ability to shame us and robs death of it's sting. 
Through the parable of the prodigal son, the theme runs through out this books.
Published by Waterbrookmultnomah. www.waterbrookmultnomah.com.
I have received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review.

Nothing to Prove - Jennie Allen

Why we can stop trying so hard. The author is founder of If:Gathering, that you may have heard of or even attended. On page 63, the author states, "We cannot do it ourselves. We have to be saved." and on this point I agree. But, there are many other points that I disagree with the author. It all sounds so good on the surface, the IF: Gathering website states, "In response to great division and theological disputes in the first three centuries of the church, a council formed to bring unity and agreement over the most essential doctrines of Christianity. One of the creeds that has stood the test of time is the Nicene Creed. This creed became a guiding statement of faith for the Church. We now find ourselves divided over many, many things - and yet about the most important things we whole-heartedly agree."
It seems the over-riding factor in these types of books written for the modern Christian woman is that it is full of emotionalism, and very few are deeply theological.

Also from the website, "In 2007 Jennie Allen sensed God telling her to disciple a generation."
More can be read here about Jennie Allen:http://www.truthkeepers.com/?p=763

I can not recommend this book based on what I have read.