 |
| The Reformation Made Easy |
http://reformation500.com/2013/09/28/the-reformation-made-easy/
I would say that it goes a long way to doing that, but there is so much information to digest regarding the Reformation, that this book may make the Reformation ‘easier’ to comprehend, but still not quite ‘easy.’ From Wycliffe to Hus to Luther to Tyndale to Henry the Eighth, there’s a whole lotta history in this movement called the “Reformation” (and some would prefer the term “Reformations” because of the variety of ways it played out in various places in Europe). This book tries to make sense of it all….
Whatever your perspective on the Reformation, or Christianity in general, this book is an excellent short overview of the major events and personalities in this great movement of God, which is still shaping the world today.
Keep in mind that we’re in Reformation Season – just over a month away from the 496th anniversary of the Reformation!
I'm trying to discern what about this review provides the information necessary to know whether I should spend the time to read this book.
ReplyDeleteReviews typically cover a book's thesis, overview some of the key chapters (or, at the very least, the major themes in the book) and draw attention to the extent to which the author succeeds in addressing important or obvious criticisms and objections. For example, the review says that the book makes understanding the Reformation "easy." How? Any examples? How does it compare with other treatments? And so on.
(And wow: I'm amazed that a scholar of the caliber of Lampe is posting at that blog, although I can't seem to find any posts by him.)
First, it's a "brief review" -- so it's nothing you couldn't have found out by simply reading the first paragraph. The reviewer does say it doesn't make it "easy" but "easier". And as for Lampe, when you click on his name, you find a review of his work -- nothing says he's a writer posting at the blog.
DeleteSo you've failed the reading test.
It's not even a brief "review." It's not a proper review at all.
ReplyDeleteI am quite aware of the distinction made in the review between "easy" and "easier." You are being pedantic.
Lampe's name was on the bar along with other contributors. It was misleading. Should I also click on the other names in case they aren't contributors? That's a website fail.
Instead of deflecting blame, take seriously the main problem that the review doesn't provide any sort of meaningful information as to whether the book should be purchased or not.
You are also free to change the channel.
DeleteYou prefer people stop reading the blog rather than try to improve the content of your material? That seems at cross purposes with your intent to spread knowledge about the anniversary of the Reformation.
DeleteIs this usually how you respond to reader concerns?
The other blog needs some work -- it has been pieced together over a few years -- it hasn't been my top priority -- I understand these things without your comments and I'm going to work on it as I'm able.
ReplyDeleteAs for complainers like yourself, I really don't care what you think. I doubt that you are genuinely concerned.
So yes, go away, because if you genuinely want to learn something about the Reformation, you will learn something here, though I admit, there are better sources at the moment. The material is worthwhile, if incomplete. It is a work in progress. There are four years to go till the event, and Lord willing all will be fixed up soon.
As for the Lampe piece, I've intended to provide selections from his work, and so yes, once that's done, someone will be able to find all of it with one click.
Why would I take the time to respond if I wasn't genuinely concerned? Don't you think it's unfair to judge me as a complainer without knowing who I am? I write as someone who has read a number of books on church history; I am interested in books in this field. I don't have a lot of time, so I read reviews to help narrow the field. I would have thought you'd want to know whether your materials are perceived as helpful by the people you are trying to reach.
DeleteI don't advertise the site as a scholarly journal. So far as I can tell, your primary complaint is that I said it was a "brief review", and you don't find that descriptive enough. You are the one with the expectation problem. I posted comments from one individual who read the book, liked it, talked about having had a good experience with the author. Accept that for what it's worth and move on.
DeleteHave you ever read a book review in a scholarly journal? I am in no way asking for that level of interaction. Your comment is unfair. I just want to have enough information to know whether it's worth buying!
DeleteAs for what that review is worth: it's like someone telling me they liked a movie. That kind of statement is only valuable if I know the quality of the person making the statement.
I've read book reviews in scholarly journals -- there are a number of very fine reviews at this site and others that we link to, without the need for "a book's thesis, overview some of the key chapters (or, at the very least, the major themes in the book) and draw attention to the extent to which the author succeeds in addressing important or obvious criticisms and objections".
DeleteWe're busy people here, and we don't profess to be scholars. Most of us have other careers and we do this part time. Yes, we generally have strong opinions and we normally back up our opinions with reason and evidnece.
So far as I can tell, Dr McMahon self-published the work and I do know his work to be worthy, and if I can give him a small recommendation, I don't mind to do it, without all the trappings of a scholarly journal.
Another commenter at the site provided some further information:
ReplyDeleteA Puritan Shop, http://www.puritanshop.com/, Rev. Mcmahon’s publishing venture is a wonderful resource for updated versions of the great Puritans works. As you noted, Rev. McMahon is focused on customer satisfaction, too. Check out his blog, too: http://www.apuritansmind.com/
Why would I take the time to respond if I wasn't genuinely concerned?
ReplyDeleteWhat is your concern, anyway? How much time have you spent here making comments that are largely unhelpful, especially if your interest is actually learning what books to read about the Reformation?
Don't you think it's unfair to judge me as a complainer without knowing who I am?
You haven't told me who you are. I have no idea who you are. I have no idea what your real concern is.
I just want to have enough information to know whether it's worth buying!
You've got the recommendations of three Reformed writers here now. Albeit thin as they are. Other sources of information on this book and writer have been provided. If your genuine concern is to find out whether this book is a worthy one to read, you also have Google. If your genuine concern is to find out whether it's worth buying, you certainly haven't spent your time well here.
I am not asking for a review at the scholarly level. Was that unclear?
ReplyDeleteThere is something between "Two Thumbs Up" and "17 Pages of Pure Erudition". You can disagree with what makes a good review. ((Talking about what makes a good review would be a refreshing change from being told to "go away" because I am a "complainer" for trying to get more information.) But how is that relevant? The current review is so far to the "it was cool man" side that I can't see its value even if my ideals about reviews are too high.
As for self-published: some readers are skeptical of self-published works. A good review would explain why this self-published work should be taken seriously (as opposed to published works on the same topic).
"If your genuine concern is to find out whether it's worth buying, you certainly haven't spent your time well here."
You keep trying to fault me without admitting a single error on your part. Do you treat everyone this way?
One concern is whether reading your posts are worth the time, and on that question your responses have been highly instructive. Of course I can go read reviews on the book elsewhere. That is not the point. The problem is that the way this review is written makes me want to go somewhere else to read reviews, as it does not provide any information that would make me consider throwing down some money for it. I wrongly assumed that you would want to know if your stuff was hitting its mark. What do I get for this? Personal attacks and an attitude of suspicion.
I am not the only one who will view these kinds of "reviews" as poor.
I really don't want to know anything from you.
ReplyDeleteI am not asking for a review at the scholarly level. Was that unclear?
Yes, you said this in your initial comment:
I'm trying to discern what about this review provides the information necessary to know whether I should spend the time to read this book. Reviews typically cover a book's thesis, overview some of the key chapters (or, at the very least, the major themes in the book) and draw attention to the extent to which the author succeeds in addressing important or obvious criticisms and objections.
I never intended to write a review myself. I passed along “a brief review” that was written by someone who read the book and cared enough to say something about it. That is my intention; I’m not here to please you. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, go somewhere else. Was I not clear about that?
You said, “I don't have a lot of time, so I read reviews to help narrow the field.”
Well, you’ve certainly spent a lot of time here, wasting your own time and my time. You show me that you are confused in your purposes.
You said, “As for what that review is worth: it's like someone telling me they liked a movie. That kind of statement is only valuable if I know the quality of the person making the statement.”
Well, I do know the quality of the person making the statement, and I’ve passed it along. If you want to determine the quality of the work that I write, there’s enough of it around here to make a decision one way or another. Here’s a start for you:
http://triablogue.blogspot.com/search?q=aggrandizing+rome
As for you, I don’t know the quality of the person making your statements, except that you seem to be working at cross-purposes.
Why do you hold such a double standard – you want a complete and thorough review from me, and yet you tell me nothing about yourself except that you haven’t got enough information.
That in itself tells me about the quality of you.
I spent time on this because I held out hope it could be improved. You infer from this that I am confused in my purposes, even though my purposes have been clear. I think it is worth time investigating a source of information before deciding it is not worth following. Apparently you want to construe this as a fault. You confuse my evaluation of whether you are worth reading with my desire to determine whether the book itself is worth reading. That is intellectually sloppy.
DeleteI already told you what's relevant about me: I have an interest in church history and have read a number of church history books. So I have told you about me. I do not want a scholarly review, yet you keep acting like I do. I do not need a "complete and thorough" review either. And you fault me for reading comprehension! I want a review that helps decide whether to buy something. The review you gave does not even come close to that.
I did not intend to provide a full review. I provided what I provided. It is what it is. If you don't like it, then go somewhere else. It's just that simple. I do not intend to be lectured by you on how to write a review.
Delete