The Adventures of a Slum Fighter, C. F. Palmer, Tupper and Love, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, $4.00.
Mightier than the force of arms or the barriers of isolation is the conquering march of an idea whose time has come. This thought, if not the exact words, appeared in an Ingathering magazine of about thirty-five years ago. They were recalled again and again as the book The Adventures of a Slum Fighter was avidly read.
Every promoter with a great burden or vision should read this masterpiece. We encounter in its pages a financially successful businessman who was not disobedient to a vision that gripped his mind. First, his thoughts were of Atlanta, then the nation, then the world.
The vision motivated him over every type of obstacle—indifference on the one hand, and worse, entrenched greed on the other. Never lifting his eyes from the goal, he persevered until he reached the ear, and the audience, and then the ardent cooperation of the President of the United States, as well as leaders all over the world. Now he is recognized as a world authority on slum clearance.
We have a world message, and to succeed as individual workers we must have a vision that takes in the rim of the world, in other words, a global vision, and a dynamic purpose. A reading of this interesting document will fire the imagination and nerve one with new determination to persevere.
It is not a religious book as such; it is, nevertheless, Christianity and the humanities in action, and magnificently illustrates the invincibility of an idea whose time has come. This is not a statistical document, rather it is the voice of a successful man who writes as he speaks—with the verve and the fire of a crusader.
R. E. Crawford
Mama's Way, Thyra Ferre Bjorn, Rinehart & Company, Inc., Toronto, 1959, 214 pages, $3.50.
This is the third book written by Thyra Ferre Bjorn, and its title gives no clue to its contents which consist of stories of the author's prayer experiences.
Many books have been written on prayer, but Mama's Way is surely one of the most practical, inspiring, and encouraging. It is also unique in that its author claims that she does no research nor does she use any notes before starting to write. She had not planned to write this book but was urged to do so by those who heard her relate her thrilling answers to prayer. It was thought that the knowledge of these experiences would bring blessing and inspiration to others, especially those who are too busy or too tired to read deeper religious books. "Prayer," says Thyra Bjorn, "is as necessary as breathing and is our contact with our Father, God." It is also her prescription for faith and happiness.
Mama's Way describes how the author learned the power of positive prayer and passed the knowledge on to her family, friends, and strangers, who were in need of help. We feel sure that this interesting and inspiring book would be of help to those who are called upon to minister to others spiritually, and will appeal in a special way to Bible instructors and Shepherdesses.
J. Ina White
The Teaching of Calvin for Today, Harold J. Whitney, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1959, 205 pages, $2.95.
The author, Dr. Harold Whitney, is a scholarly Presbyterian minister of one of the largest churches in Queensland, Australia. He has a keen evangelistic mind and temperament. More recently he enriched his knowledge by a six-month trip overseas. Visiting the haunts and battlegrounds of the great Reformation in Europe, and from there visiting America and its theological institutions, he diligently applied himself to a better understanding of John Calvin, John Knox, Luther, and other Reformation leaders. The subtitle of this book is "The Substance of Calvin's Institutes in Handy, Understandable Form." Also included is a unique "profile" of John Calvin whose life and work had become the author's study for years.
Today the ministry and the laity are challenged with an up-to-date understanding of the theological implications of Calvin's Institutes. Of the great Reformers, Calvin in his theological works became one of the influential interpreters of the Reformation. But who has not struggled along with his Institutes, and who has not lacked time or opportunity to study these theological definitions for himself?
After a thorough reading of Dr. Whitney's book we heartily recommend its organization and its ready references to the Institutes. The author's skill in briefly pointing up the theological problems at stake makes this work valuable for teachers and students and all ministerial workers. We should mention that the writer's honest suggestions where Calvin needs more modern interpretation is stimulating. This is no frothy brevity, for the book lends itself to a profitable study. We recommend it to college and university students and our ministry at large. Librarians, please notice.
Louise C. Kleuser
