The University Bookman

Reviewing Books that Build Culture

What the American Revolution Secured: Order, Justice, and Freedom

Throughout the semiquincentennial year celebrating America’s independence, The University Bookman will invite a range of writers and speakers to contribute to a series drawing upon Russell Kirk’s work on the American Revolution and the constitutional order it secured.

And I Will Go to the Altar of God

“Jonathan Sheehan’s [book] provides a rich and expansive history of the phenomenon of human sacrifice, exploring variant forms of sacrifice in a host of religions and secular movements. The biggest question that remains, however, is whether there is a right and fitting form of sacrifice, and maybe that form has been with us all along.”

A Liberal Who Met the Cancel Mob

“Biggar sees this aversion to reason and evidence (at least when they interfere with a politically useful narrative) to contain ‘the springs of tyranny,’ since once those are abandoned, the only means left to resolve disagreements is power. Thus, ‘postcolonialists and other “progressive” zealots assume an aggressive, intimidating, repressive, tyrannical posture.’”

The Midwestern Gothic Stories of Eric Cyr

“It is an unabashedly Midwestern endeavor in every way—a collection of short stories set entirely in the Midwest, written by a Midwestern author, and published by a proudly Midwestern independent publisher that has been producing top-quality books since its inception in 2013. “

Christians in the Brave New World

Christians in the Brave New World

“[The book] gives Christians tools to read the cultural terrain. It makes a strong argument that evangelistic and discipleship tactics must be updated to account for current conditions. And it offers outside-the-box suggestions for strengthening evangelical households and institutions.”

Still Believing and Singing

Still Believing and Singing

“[It is] a book that will resonate with many readers because of how it connects the personal stories about Jeremy Camp’s life to universal themes about faith and adversity.”

Higher Ed and the Crisis of Civic Despair

Higher Ed and the Crisis of Civic Despair

“The collected essays in this volume all argue against civic despair… A variety of important topics are explored… but it is the threat higher education poses to our civic compact that stands out most clearly.”

Citizenship Matters

Citizenship Matters

“McNamara and Shelley… demonstrate that recovering citizenship is essential to preserving America’s constitutional tradition.”

Swimming in the Secular Fishbowl 

Swimming in the Secular Fishbowl 

“Davignon’s persuasive analysis makes a valuable contribution to the study of secularization and religion by moving the conversation away from ethereal ideas and into the daily reality of people’s lives. Secularity is not the musings of professors in an ivory tower… It is more like the water in a fishbowl…”

Why America Needs to Rediscover American Exceptionalism

Why America Needs to Rediscover American Exceptionalism

“…Edwardsson traces the historical development of American exceptionalism and how it has changed throughout our history. Further, Edwardsson argues that the traditional view of American exceptionalism… has been undermined as a result of political ideology from both the political left and right.”

Portrait of an Artist

Portrait of an Artist

“The work of the Welsh artist Gwen John (1876-1939) has recently re-emerged from relative obscurity. This is due to two fine exhibitions in England in 2023… and a new book of her life by Alicia Foster, curator of those exhibitions… Collectively, they offer a welcome appreciation of the delicate and often brilliant paintings of an artist and complex personality who underwent both professional and spiritual trials in her fascinating life…”

The Book Gallery

A collection of conversations with Bookman editor Luke C. Sheahan and writers and authors of imagination and erudition. Click on the icon in the upper right corner of the video to see more episodes in this series or check out our YouTube page.

Joseph Story and the Politics of the Early Republic
John Grove on "Contending for American Nationhood: Joseph Story and the Debate Over a Federal Common Law" by Benjamin Clark. @BloomsburyPub @Liberty_Fund

Listening to the Law, and Now Speaking It
James V. F. Dickey on "Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and Constitution" by Amy Coney Barrett. @slf_liberty @SCOTUSblog

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