A unique, interactive introduction to the New Testament’s first five books.
Hamman combines Bible study with crossword puzzles in this introduction to the Gospels.
“Many people say they do not read the Bible because they do not understand it or they just find it too difficult,” notes the author. In this book—the first of an anticipated seven-volume series—he aims to demystify Christian scripture for the faithful. Focusing on the Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, Hamman provides a summary of each book to give readers historical context and its author’s perspective. The Gospel of Matthew, for instance, was written by a Jewish author for a Jewish audience, and is best understood as “a bridge” between the Old and New Testaments (thus its preoccupation with Jesus’ Hebrew genealogy, which connects him to King David). The Gospel of Mark, on the other hand, is a fast-paced, no-frills account of Jesus’ life that offers readers a concise biography from the perspective of an outsider (Mark was not one of the 12 disciples). After introducing each book, Hamman offers a chapter-by-chapter synopsis and provides readers with a practical outline for future reference and additional study, as well as blank pages for notetaking. An “interactive book,” the volume’s strength lies not in its biblical analysis—which, while sound, is not particularly groundbreaking—but in its inclusion of 40 crossword puzzles centered around specific chapters of each of the Gospels and Acts. Every puzzle is well crafted (the author has created puzzles for his church’s newsletter for years) and serves as an effective mechanism for readers to engage with specific biblical passages. In the work’s final chapter, the author offers his personal religious history, recounting how God healed him of cancer and later saved him from drowning during a kayaking accident. A dedicated member of the Lutheran Church, Hamman writes in an ecumenical and approachable style that should appeal to Christians across the denominational spectrum. Even those outside of the author’s faith may find value in his accessible overviews and well-designed puzzles.
A unique, interactive introduction to the New Testament’s first five books.Pub Date: Oct. 29, 2025
ISBN: 9798385054213
Page Count: 262
Publisher: WestBowPress
Review Posted Online: April 2, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.
The veteran actor, comedian, and banjo player teams up with the acclaimed illustrator to create a unique book of cartoons that communicates their personalities.
Martin, also a prolific author, has always been intrigued by the cartoons strewn throughout the pages of the New Yorker. So when he was presented with the opportunity to work with Bliss, who has been a staff cartoonist at the magazine since 1997, he seized the moment. “The idea of a one-panel image with or without a caption mystified me,” he writes. “I felt like, yeah, sometimes I’m funny, but there are these other weird freaks who are actually funny.” Once the duo agreed to work together, they established their creative process, which consisted of working forward and backward: “Forwards was me conceiving of several cartoon images and captions, and Harry would select his favorites; backwards was Harry sending me sketched or fully drawn cartoons for dialogue or banners.” Sometimes, he writes, “the perfect joke occurs two seconds before deadline.” There are several cartoons depicting this method, including a humorous multipanel piece highlighting their first meeting called “They Meet,” in which Martin thinks to himself, “He’ll never be able to translate my delicate and finely honed droll notions.” In the next panel, Bliss thinks, “I’m sure he won’t understand that the comic art form is way more subtle than his blunt-force humor.” The team collaborated for a year and created 150 cartoons featuring an array of topics, “from dogs and cats to outer space and art museums.” A witty creation of a bovine family sitting down to a gourmet meal and one of Dumbo getting his comeuppance highlight the duo’s comedic talent. What also makes this project successful is the team’s keen understanding of human behavior as viewed through their unconventional comedic minds.
A virtuoso performance and an ode to an undervalued medium created by two talented artists.Pub Date: Nov. 17, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-250-26289-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Celadon Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2020
PERSPECTIVES
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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