Number One in Week One. Congrats to all involved.

Oh, an added note here ... Just put the book to rest, finishing the last two chapters over a long lunch. My two-cent review is that I think it's a far superior book to Y.B.L.N. (which, btw, is clocking in at #4 on the paperback bestseller list) Certainly enough in there to give Joel's critics a renewed interest in their hobby of subtracting from God's kingdom. But also a lot of material - including an entire SECTION - that I don't think you'll see them quoting from at all since it detracts from their critical narrative of Joel. I'll be picking up the chapter-by-chapter segments here as best as I can for the next week, but certainly picking up the pace again after then.

My November pick is set for now as Tony Dungy's Quiet Strength. That book's not doing too badly on the bestseller list, either. But since I've got a week where I'm book-free, I may alter that plan ... as is typical with my book-buying ways. I've certainly got a little time to sneak a peek at a few books on the market to see if there's anything that changes my mind.

And if that's not enough, I'm already itching to do my annual Christmas-time re-read of Brennan Manning's "Ragamuffin Gospel." I'm not sure if I'm just not noticing this or not, but it seems as if there's a lack of books aimed at picking up the Christmas shopping season market. I'm guessing Joel's book is among those that will see a lot of gift-wrapping. As is the latest Max Lucado book. But after that? Maybe I just haven't yet set my radar to notice such things.

I do see a few good new books out there at the turn of the year, several of which seem timed for a little heightened interest in the Presidential campaign season. I keep telling myself that I've got one and only one post to make on this blog regarding that topic. And I'm trying my darndest to hold to that. Decent bet that that'll happen after picking up a reprint version of a Joel Hunter book in January; maybe after Amy Sullivan's book in February, or it could wait until Greg Boyd comes out with his book on the "Revolting Beauty" series they're currently still preaching on up at Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul. My fear is that if I let loose with an entry prior to any of that, then the dam wall has burst and I'll have to devote a full month or so to fully explore a few topics and turn the blog into something that I'm not really looking to turn it into. One post ... that is the goal. So far, so good.