Books by Professors Brakke and Miller recognized as "2011 Outstanding Academic Titles" by Choice

Congratulations to David Brakke and Richard Miller, both of whom have recent books that were recognized as 2011 Outstanding Academic Titles by Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, a prominent source for reviews of academic books, electronic media, and Internet resources of interest to those in higher education.

Brakke, David.  The Gnostics: myth, ritual, and diversity in early Christianity.  Harvard, 2011 (c2010).

"Perhaps the finest aspect of this book is the way that Brakke successfully nuances the conflict models of early Christian history that remain current in most introductory texts. Rather than merely keying students to the varieties of early Christianity, Brakke introduces beginners to a more open narrative that has emerged recently. This model focuses on the agonistic production of orthodox and heterodox identities through processes of textual production, interpretation, ritual, and so forth. Brakke accomplishes this through a style that is lucid without falling into oversimplification."—J. Schott, Choice

Miller, Richard B.  Terror, religion, and liberal thought.  Columbia, 2010.

"Miller offers readers a brilliant exercise in liberal social criticism, which stands firmly at the crossroads of moral theory, political philosophy, and pragmatic cultural criticism. The author seeks to establish an explanatory framework whereby the values that seemingly undergird modern, liberal, democratic societies--respect for persons, commitment to equality, recognition and honoring of human dignity, and toleration of "otherness"--are examined in the wake of 9/11 and in light of religious extremism in general. Miller skillfully explores the moral bases of responsible evaluation of Islamic terrorism by charting a course between the reflexive positions of apologetics and ethnocentrism. Readers who are unaccustomed to rigorous critical interpretation will be challenged by this work, as it is written in the best spirit of probing and nuanced scholarly inquiry. It stands heads above many recent works on religion, violence, and terrorism in its thoughtful application of the tools of social criticism. A must read for those interested in religious ethics, politics, and the construction of civil society. Summing Up: Essential. Academic libraries supporting upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers." —M. A. Toole, High Point University