Deus Misereatur

A Genesis to Revelation Scripture Memory Guide by Ed Strauss My rating: 5 of 5 stars Simple book with a strong purpose. Ed Strauss, accomplished author, has given followers of Jesus a basic book on Bible memorization. This 224-page inexpensive softback is not printed for durability, but usability at two different levels: memorization and devotion. The first few short chapters introduce the why, way and what of Scripture memorization. Not only is remembering holy writ directed in the Bible, but individual verses must be held in their context, and so it is important to have a daily Scripture reading habit. Further, the author maps out the benefits of memorization and then lays out 9 simple tips for retaining verses. I found this exhortation very meaningful, “Seek to feel the text, remind yourself that it will change you, and think deeply about its power and meaning. This will engage your emotions” (18). Then Strauss lays out 144 verses to learn by heart, put together under speci...

The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson My rating: 5 of 5 stars With thousands of reviews on this book infesting the cyber-market (it has been out since 2006), I'll simply address what I found enjoyable and informative about the book. Steven Johnson, author of eleven books, host of a PBS series, and podcaster, takes an all-too-easily-forgotten moment in epidemiological history and narrates it with intrigue and allure. The author has masterfully crafted an historical event into a highly readable novella. It's summer 1854; the place is the Soho district of London; and the main actors are Doctor John Snow and the Reverend Henry Whitehead, with the principle role played by none other than the virtuoso, Vibrio Cholerea (cholera). The tale unfolds in a city crammed with 2 million people whose sanitary and drinking-water infrastructure makes one's skin crawl, and a sickly infan...