Never Alone<\/a>\u201d and put it on the sidebar. Print it out and read at your leisure.
\nHere\u2019s the assumption for what follows in my book purchasing: I\u2019ve got a good library; I\u2019ve got the basics \u2014 reference books, tools, grammars, commentaries, the basics in theology and church history. Concentrate there first was my policy. Then branch out; that\u2019s what I\u2019m doing.
\nSecond, since biblical studies is presently in a stale period \u2014 and I\u2019ve said this before \u2014 I find myself gravitating toward theology. And, if you wander through the most provocative and stimulating book tables at SBL you\u2019ll observe that there is a massive shift toward theology books. My own view is that the Dead Sea Scrolls stimulated new waves of thought in Bible \u2014 and we are mopping up those waves now. But, those waves gave new ideas for theology, and theology is where it is at today. I don\u2019t find one more critique of the new perspective remotely interesting.
\nThird, most importantly I buy what strikes me as interesting, stimulating, and suggestive. I don\u2019t stick to one subject; I buy what is interesting to me and what I want to read. (Sometimes I buy what I think you readers would like to converse about.)
\nFourth, I buy what I have to read for my writing and research projects: atonement, James, etc..
\nFifth, I buy what I need for teaching.
\nSixth, as to which books to choose: I go for mainline academic publishers (Eerdmans, WJKP, Baylor, Abingdon, Fortress, Brazos\/Baker Academic) for academic books, and I keep my eyes on the more evangelical church-oriented publishers (IVP, Zondervan). I always read books on spirituality \u2014 so Paraclete is a favorite for me.
\nSeventh, I don\u2019t use a highlighter. I use a fountain pen; I underline with a straight line without a ruler; I mark my books; I underline what I think I\u2019ll need to refer to later; I sometimes outline in the margins. I always have a piece of paper in the book to jot down thoughts that come to my mind.
\nEighth, frankly, I can afford to buy more books than I used to buy. I know this is even painful to some who\u2019d like to have more funds for books; I remember the days well. Owning is convenience \u2014 some books can be checked out of the library. Owning is also possession \u2014 so I can mark the books.
\nNinth, I do check www.abebooks.com for used books. My preference is for a \u201cfine\u201d or \u201cnew\u201d book; I don\u2019t like books marked by others. I prefer clothbound to paper.
\nTenth, I love John Goldingay: I knew John in my Nottingham days and I think I\u2019ve read most everything he\u2019s published. Those 2 OT theology books are too fat and too long, but I need to consult him often. And I like what I see in him.
\nEleventh, I\u2019ve registered this before: I don\u2019t read much fiction; I read essayists all the time. (This is all in \u201cNever Alone.\u201d)
\nHand this last paragraph to your spouse and say it\u2019s from me: Buy what you can afford and no more.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Yesterday\u2019s post on book buying at SBL generated a bundle of questions, and I thought I\u2019d just drop some quick answers right here. So, here goes\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[476],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books"],"yoast_head":"\n
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