Books and Culture - Jeffrey Overstreet

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Books and Culture

A collection of 15 posts

On Books & Writing

The 100th Birthday of Wallace Stegner

In Books and Culture, Richard W. Etulain notes the centennial of one of my favorite writers: Wallace Stegner. The centennial of Wallace Stegner's birth (1909- 2009) is upon us. Two books and a documentary film provide valuable glimpses of his major importance as a writer and environmental activist.

What Was It You Wanted?

¬† Jean Bethke Elshtain, in Books and Culture, contemplates Todd Haynes' film about Bob Dylan -- I'm Not There -- and Andrew Dominick's film about a different, but similarly enigmatic, hero -- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. And she contemplates the resilient ghosts of

Looking Elsewhere

The Browser 2/20: Iron and Wine

John Wilson, editor of Books and Culture, attended an Iron and Wine concert. And in this short testimony about the experience, he captures perfectly exactly what disturbs me about Sam Beam's writing... and what disturbs me about the fact that many young Christians hastily embrace Iron and Wine

Madeleine L'Engle

"A Wrinkle in Faith" - Books and Culture on Madeleine L'Engle

John Wilson's Books and Culture newsletter brought back from the archives a 1998 essay focusing on Madeleine L'Engle to mark her passing last week. Madeleine L'Engle's journey has taken her to a rather peculiar array of roadside stops. How many Christian writers

Specials: Harry Potter; Mother Teresa; Wilson on Atheism Books; Cummings on Satyajit Ray

I'm a week late to this blog entry, but wow... Andy Whitman writes about music better than just about anybody I know. And now he's posted a home-run entry about Harry Potter. * Yesterday I posted news about the new book on Mother Teresa. Here'

On Books & Writing

John Wilson (Books and Culture) on the New Michael Chabon Novel

John Wilson reviews The Yiddish Policemen's Union: The Yiddish Policemen's Union

On Books & Writing

"Mr. Wilson's Bookshelf": John Wilson Picks the Best of 2006

Here's the annual list of recommendations from the editor of Books and Culture, John Wilson. I've seen Mr. Wilson's office, and it is a book-lover's dream... you would be surprised how many books he's managed to fit in that

On Books & Writing

New Poems by Luci Shaw, Reviewed in Books & Culture

Luci Shaw and Margaret Smith: two good friends of mine, two marvelous poets, two folks who were incredibly generous in helping me finish my book about films. Both of them are mentioned in Books and Culture today as D.S. Martin reviews Luci's latest collection of poems: What

On Books & Writing

John Wilson on The Gospel of Judas

John Wilson of Books and Culture has just posted a few thoughts on The Gospel of Judas. The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years

On Books & Writing

Books and Culture: The Top Ten Books of the Year

John Wilson shares the B&C picks... What's the best book YOU read this year?

On Books & Writing

CNN, John Wilson, & Jesus novels

UPDATE: Now, read John Wilson's commentary on Anne Rice at Books and Culture. John Wilson, editor of Books and Culture, was quoted today in a new CNN article covering Anne Rice's new focus on Christian faith, her new novel Christ the Lord, and the latest novel

Recommended reading: Marilynne Robinson

On Books & Writing

Recommended reading: Marilynne Robinson

At Books and Culture, Thomas Gardner reviews the long-awaited novel by Marilynne Robinson ... Gilead. Gardner writes: “Marilynne Robinson’s second novel, Gilead, is a quiet, deeply moving celebration of the wonders and sustaining bewilderments of human consciousness.” The book is a great gift, and worth the wait. As most

Poem of the Week: by Luci Shaw

On Books & Writing

Poem of the Week: by Luci Shaw

Luci Shaw's new poem, published at Books and Culture: “What James Didn't Say About the Tongue”

My first-ever link regarding architecture

On Books & Writing

My first-ever link regarding architecture

🔧2026 Update: The old Books & Culture link expired, but I found an updated link to the article in the Christianity Today archives and revised the post. In the new Books and Culture, Nathan Bierma contemplates Seattle’s spectacular (or spectacularly ugly?) new downtown library.

Bono the Preacher

Bono the Preacher

Books and Culture covers Get Up Off Your Knees, the book of sermons based on U2 songs. (And it has a foreword by Eugene Peterson!)