Behind the Books

Meet the Press: Nick Liao

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:45:00 -0600

Although it's a cliché and can even be exploited for "spin" about faceless corporations, you know it's true, at root: a big part of any healthy organization is its people. So I figure you might be interested to learn about some of the real individuals here at InterVarsity Press. A good place to start is with Nick Liao.

Roger Ebert, Writer

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:34:48 -0600

If you think of Roger Ebert (who passed away yesterday) as a movie critic or a TV personality first, let me recommend to you his beautiful 2011 memoir, Life Itself.

[Video] Andy Crouch on Institutionalism

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:23:41 -0600

We had a real treat last week: an in-person visit from Andy Crouch, the energetic and insightful executive editor of Christianity Today magazine. He's following up his 2008 IVP title, Culture Making, with a new book coming out this fall entitled Playing God. He was at the Press to lay some of his thinking on us, and it was great. Would you like to listen in?

[Giveaway] Seven Kinds of Reading

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:24:58 -0600

The incomparable Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) practiced four distinct kinds of reading:

Study
Perusal
Mere reading
Curious reading

Perhaps someday we'll talk more about Doctor Johnson's four-layered approach, but in the meantime let me point you to Robert DeMaria Jr.'s excellent Samuel Johnson and the Life of Reading (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997), which I heartily recommend.

But I've got an alternate scheme that allows me (like Johnson) to have a baker's half-dozen books in active readership at any given time.

[Question] Junot Díaz on Creating a Reading Public

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:10:12 -0600

There are some periodicals that are so good that I fall way behind — because they're so good I don't want to skim or skip or unsubscribe. Currently I'm about three years behind with National Geographic, even longer with McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, and I don't even want to think about Books & Culture.

Mama Loves All Her Babies the Same

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:18:15 -0600

One of the struggles I have when blogging about books here is my fear of appearing to favor some IVP titles over others. I have quite the opposite problem from that of another colleague in book publishing: the incomparable Bridget Jones.

Let's Not Say "Out of Print"

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:35:24 -0600

Speaking of old books that are still in print, what about old books that aren't? Isn't that sad? In a word: yes. But there's good news.

[Giveaway] Top Ten Still Going Strong

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:11:10 -0600

On one of my posts last month, Terry Tiessen commented to ask what are IVP's oldest still-in-print titles — and it's high time I answered that question. Drumroll, please….

Hitler's TV Show for Kids

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:12:18 -0600

OK, so here's one of the quirkiest things I've ever read in an InterVarsity Press book: philosophical speculation about a children's television show hosted by Adolf Hitler.

How Does It Feel to Be on Your Own?

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 09:43:27 -0600

Convergence alert!

Thread #1: My colleague Andy Le Peau's blogging last week about a confessional post by Jennie Nash about self-publishing.
Thread #2: Martin Scorsese's film documentary about Bob Dylan, No Direction Home.

Better Theology for [Your Job Here]

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:39:53 -0600

I love books that urge you to read more books — and I say that honestly as a reader, not just because I work for a publisher. One of our new titles, Toddy Holeman's Theology for Better Counseling, makes a particularly good case for reading more.

What Are You Reading? 2012

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:31:14 -0600

There are three problems with typical year-end book lists:

1. They're limited to new books. (You may already know how I feel about that.)
2. They're show-off-y. ("Look at all the books I read this year!")
3. They get buried among everyone else's year-end lists.

I've tried to avoid at least the first two pitfalls (and maybe, by being late, also the third). Even so, please take what follows with a grain of salt. I certainly do.

[Extra] "Mission IVPossible" at Urbana

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 12:51:00 -0600

For regular readers of Behind the Books, I ask your patience: this post is a bit of a tangent. I interrupt our regular conversation (just this once) to publish details of a contest we're running during InterVarsity's Urbana 12 student missions conference this week. Even if you're not one of the 18,000 attendees in St. Louis, you're certainly welcome to follow along!

In Good Humor

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:21:53 -0600

I heard a surprising comment about this blog the other day from one reader whom I know particularly well: my mom. (Hi, Mom!) She said, "One thing I can tell from reading your blog is that you're having fun at your job." Yes! It's true. I'm thankful for the opportunity to experience joy in my work, and that reminds me of a string of quotations I've seen lately in IVP books for serious professionals.

Good Solitary Reading

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:48:08 -0600

'Tis the season for making introverts uncomfortable, what with so many people and parties and busyness. (I should know. I am one.) If you're craving some "alone time," you're not alone. Here's a nice passage about what a difference some peace and quiet can make for our reading habits.