We searched high. We searched low. We read the globally merged publishers and the micro-presses. We even wiped salt-and-vinegar potato chips off our fingers as we leafed through stacks of books published in the year 2000. The result is 25 books we think are among the best of the best (listed alphabetically). They range from praying with icons to saving the cities, from pentecostalism to papal sin, from civil rights to economic apartheid. There are even a couple of novels and short stories in the mix. So after you've triple underlined your dog-eared copy of Faith Works by Sojourners editor Jim Wallis (which we humbly think belongs on the list), take a look at the engaging ways our "books of the year" are illuminating the crossroads of faith, politics, and culture. Let us know which of your favorites we missedand start your nominating list for the best books of 2001! Drop us a note at books@sojo.net.
The Battle for God
Karen Armstrong
A broad look at the history of religious fundamentalism from a seasoned observer of all things religious. Armstrong focuses on three types of fundamentalismU.S. Protestant fundamentalism, Jewish fundamentalism in Israel, and Muslim fundamentalism in Egypt and Iranand shows how these particular movements have been a response to what she calls "a dread of modernity": fears, anxieties, and desires provoked by the difficulties of life in the modern world. A fascinating look at one of the most powerful forces in the world. (Knopf)
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
Robert Putnam
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