New religion books in June include a dismissal of “self-help” in A Better Encouragement, an exploration of how the Old Order Amish use technology, and a title on friendship by Clarence Shuler and bestselling author of the Five Love Languages series Gary Chapman.
Nonfiction
June 7
A Better Encouragement by Lindsey Carlson (Crossway, ISBN 978-1433577710, $14.99) dismisses the “culturally catechized multibillion dollar self-help industry” to provide Bible-based teachings about God’s promises, according to the publisher.
How to Save the World by Alice Matagora (NavPress, $16.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-6415-8465-4). Matagora offers guidance based on research and scripture for Christians who seek to evangelize to others in their neighborhood or workplace.
The Road Away from God by Jonathan Martin (Baker, 978-1540902160, $18.99). Martin, the host of The Table Collective podcast, reexamines the gospel story of Luke, including two disillusioned disciples, to help readers who are feeling lost when it comes to their faith.
Virtually Amish: Preserving Community at the Internet’s Margins by Lindsay Ems (MIT, $35 paper, ISBN 978-0-2625-4363-7) makes a case for how a technology-driven society and economy can learn from Old Order Amish about how to adapt and work within the digital world without sacrificing one’s values.
June 14
Evangelical Anxiety by Charles Marsh (HarperOne, $27.99, ISBN 978-0-06-286273-0) examines Marsh's inner conflicts that arose due to struggles with mental illness and faith in what PW called a “spirited memoir” in its review.
Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church by Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach Kiley (IVP Praxis, $17 paper, ISBN 978-1-5140-0302-2). Leadership coach Nancy Beach and her artist daughter Samantha offer a generation-spanning perspective on how local churches can thrive.
June 21
Joyful Sorrow: Breaking Through the Darkness of Mental Illness by Julie Busler (Iron Stream, ISBN, 978-1563095580, $14.99 paper) addresses stigmas around mental illness within Christian communities while providing tips for finding help and hope, according to the publisher.
Life-Changing Cross-Cultural Friendships by Clarence Shuler and Gary Chapman (Zondervan. $18.99, 978-0310365013) encourages Christians to initiate cross-cultural friendships and “tear down walls of racism and fear,” according to the publisher.
The Kabbalah of Light: Ancient Practices to Ignite the Imagination and Illuminate the Soul by Catherine Shainberg (Inner Traditions, $24.99 paper, ISBN 978-1-6441-1474-2). Shainberg draws from ancient Jewish mystic tradition to try and help readers find their inner light.
Sonorous Desert: What Deep Listening Taught Early Christian Monks—And What It Can Teach Us by Kim Haines-Eitzen (Princeton Univ., $19.95, ISBN 978-0-6912-3289-8). Haines-Eitzen explores how deserts resonate with natural sound, offering lessons in contemplation.
June 28
A Daring Faith in a Cowardly World: Live a Life Without Waste, Regret, or Anything Unfinished by Ken Harrison (Thomas Nelson, $18.99, 978-0785290773), a former police officer and businessman, shares his life story alongside “deep truths from God’s Word,” according to the publisher.
Stumbling Toward Eternity: Losing and Finding Ourselves in the Cross of Jesus by Josh White (Multnomah, $16, ISBN 978-0-5931-9393-8). Pastor and songwriter White considers the message of the cross as an open door to a life of meaning and joy.
Fiction
June 7
Unfailing Love by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan (Bethany, $16.99 paper, ISBN 978-0-7642-3515-3). In this conclusion to the Hallmark Channel’s When Hope Calls series, sisters Lillian Walsh and Grace Bennett face a crisis when three of the children they're caring for run away from their home.
The Postmodern Pilgrim’s Progress by Kyle Mann and Joel Berry (Salem, $17.99, ISBN 978-1-6845-1275-1). Mann and Berry, editors of the Christian satire magazine the Babylon Bee, update the classic Christian allegory with a saga of an agnostic man’s quest for faith.
