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David Colbert, Editor, Eyewitness to the American West: 500 Years of Firsthand History, (New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1998)

The first volume in the series, Eyewitness to America Colbert serves up an interesting selection of first-hand historical writings including “Washington Parleys with the French,” describing George Washington’s early military experiences (prior to the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars), “On the Run,” covering the early moving picture industry’s move from New York to California, and “The Appearance and Disappearance of Sister Aimee,” recalling the early evangelist’s (and founder of the Four Square denomination) dalliance and disappearance with her radio producer. Fun and informative.

Harry Sinclair Drago, Outlaws on Horseback: The History of the Organized Bands of Bank and Train Robbers Who Terrorized the Prairie Towns of Missouri, Kansas, Indain Territory, and Oklahoma for Half a Century (Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1964)

I list this book with its whole title as it is quite a read. A classic (I presume) and well documented history of western outlaws and vigilantes, Outlaws on Horseback is an entertaining and easily readable treatment of the American West’s greatest bad guys and gals. A friend of mine in Nevada sent it to me for Christmas and I devoured the 306 pages of text and footnotes faster than I did the Christmas ham and turkey. Awesome gift, Steve! And an eminent introduction to one-third of the characters you want to know about if you’re interested in cowboy and indian lore.

Paula Fredriksen, Jesus of Nazareth: King of the Jews (New York, NY: Random House, 2000)

Liberal Christian scholar Paula Fredriksen’s treatment of why Jesus was killed. With nods to Dom Crossan and Marcus Borg, Fredriksen’s discussion of the historical Jesus, and the Roman / Jewish environment he ministered in, was heady enough to deserve a second ponderous read. Still, for the person who has read everything on the subject, here’s a take that lays the blame squarely on the Roman shoulder.

Elizabeth Gibson, It Happened in Nevada (Gilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press, 2001)

A healthy dose of Nevada lore and humor, suggested to me by my Silver City friend, Joe. Not bad for a quick read. An interesting couple of mentions about early Indian wars.

G. B. Caird, The Apostolic Age (London: E. T. Herron and Company, 1975, first published in 1955)

Perhaps the classic discussion of the developing church, this book has been in my library since the seventies, when I attended both Baptist and Presbyterian theological seminaries. Surprisingly good case for the conservative view of a homogeneous church giving birth to heterogeneous church movements, upon the death of the apostles.

Richard Hack, Hughes: the Private Diaries, Memos and Letters (Beverly Hills, CA: New Millenium Press, 2001)

Ok, so it’s not my usual read, but there it was on my father’s table. Not a bad spin about America’s first Billionaire. Ruthless regarding Hughes’ love life with a most fascinating focus on the hoopla surrounding the Billionaire’s billions and death.

Ivan Richmond, Silence and Noise: Growing Up Zen in America (New York, NY: Atria Books, 2003)

Not particularly well written, but an interesting look at growing up as a “second generation” Buddhist in a sixties-inspired Buddhist community in San Francisco. Telling stories of celebrating Christian / American holidays and trying to fit into the public schools.

Gregory Riley, One Jesus, Many Christs: How Jesus Inspired Not One True Christianity, But Many (San Francisco, CA: Harper and Row, 1997).

I really liked this book, though it’s been languishing on my reading shelf for a number of years. Associate Professor of New Testament at the liberal Claremont School of Theology in California, Riley writes a compelling “duh, why didn’t I think of that?” treatment of Jesus as the classical hero, in the long tradition of Greek and Hebrew faith stories. While the discussion of the inherent pluralism of primative Christianity offers little to the practiced New Testament reader, the “our hero” archetype is an appealing alternative to Progressive Christians who are tired of more traditional formulations.

Edmond Rostand, Brian Hooker, Translator Cyrano De Bergerac (New York, NY: Bantam Press, Reissue edition 1950).

A ghost writer for the religious right, with clients like Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell, this is Mel White’s moving account of his “coming out of the closet,” with the support of his wife and gay Christians from the Metropolitan Christian Church.

Lama Surya Das, Awakening to the Sacred: Creating a Spiritual Life From Scratch (New York, NY: Broadway Books, 1999).

I met Lama Surya Das at a local book signing, when I was leaving the Presbyterian Church. An engaging Jewish man, with a good grasp of the world’s religious traditions, Lama Surya Das–where’s the last name with guys like this?–spells it out in an easy to read and informative style.

Jeffrey Masson and Susan McCarthy, When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals (New York, NY: Delta, 1996)

A former psychoanalyst’s treatment of the question of how senstient are the animals we care for and eat. Disturbing with respect to the latter. A New York Times best seller, this was a straight-through read.

Robert Aitken and David Steindl-Rast, The Ground We Share: Everyday Practice, Buddhist and Christian (Boston, MA: Shambhala Publications, 1994).

Two spiritual men, from different religious traditions, take a cabin together and talk. Aitken’s comments were enough for me to purchase another one of his books.

Coleman Barks, The Soul of Rumi: A New Collection of Ecstatic Poems (San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins, 2001).

How can anyone get enough of Rumi? And of Coleman Barks’ translations of this Sufi Master’s writings? This one sits by Nancy and my bedside. More often than not, it is scripture to us.

Andre Dubus, Broken Vessels: Essays by Andre Dubus (Boston, MA: David Godine, Publisher, 1991).

Nancy remembered this writer from an annual collection of spiritual writings. A moving collection of essays by a man who has been through it all. A straight-through read that I enjoyed when down with a virus for a couple of days.

Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith (San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins, 2003).

Our Faithspring groups in Oregon and Nevada used this as a discussion piece this year. A good treatment of the emerging trend of “Progressive Christianity.” In Borg’s usual straight-up style, the good stuff comes at the end.

Al Franken, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right (New York, NY: Dutton Books, 2003).

Okay, I wouldn’t have bought the book–I’m lying, I bought it for my youngest son after I finished reading it–but it was entertaining and like Roger Moore’s “Fahreneit 911,” it gives you something to think about.

Jaroslav Pelikan, On Searching the Scriptures–Your Own or Someone Else’s (New York, NY: Quality Paperback Book Club, 1992).

The introduction to a collection of the world’s spiritual writings, Pelikan applies the same critical questions of faith that are taught in Protestant seminaries to other traditions and scriptures. Gentle, but eye-opening.

Gary Kieft, Beyond the Wild Bunch: The Fast-Growing Sport of Cowboy Action Shooting (Scottsdale, AZ: Dillon Precision Products, 1999).

Okay. So I have an entertaining side. Good pictures of older white guys pretending to be cowboys. I’m working on it. Encourage me.

Joseph Rosa, Age of the GunFighter: Men and Weapons of the Frontier 1840-1900 (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1993).