Few encyclicals have been awaited as eagerly as Laudato si’. Pope Francis’s letter is long and complex, as well as fascinating and significant. For that reason, readers will benefit greatly from these essays. Thirteen recognized and respected scholars explore not only the encyclical itself, but situate the document within contexts of liturgy, Catholic social teaching, liberation theology, science, ethics, sociology, peacebuilding, and mysticism. Taken together the essays in this volume provide a wealth of data and information that help us appreciate Laudato si’—its wisdom, its challenge, and its importance for the life of the planet.

This is an excellent volume of carefully selected essays that illuminates the breadth and depth of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato si’.  Dan DiLeo has skillfully woven together a comprehensive portrait of the encyclical that provides substantive insight on its theological, cosmological, and ethical vision for a renewed human community and planetary ethics.  The reflective questions and suggested readings at the end of each chapter make this book a very helpful tool for educational forums and discussion groups. I highly recommend it.

“Eschewing the traditional compulsion to cover the entirety of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in a single term, John Kaltner has crafted an introductory textbook that works from the principle that “less is more.”  By limiting his attention to six key themes—creation, covenant, liberation, being human, “the other,” and social justice—and tracing them through the canon and beyond, Kaltner deftly exposes first-time readers to both the central ideas and major interpretive questions surrounding the biblical text.  Breezy and readable, the book should prove useful to instructors who are looking for ways to make the academic study of the Hebrew Bible more accessible to introductory students.”

“Reading the Old Testament Anew: Biblical Perspectives on Today’s Issues shows that John Kaltner is not only a skilled biblical scholar but also an accomplished teacher. While the contents of the book consist of the findings of reliable and current biblical scholarship, its uniqueness lies in its carefully structured pedagogical format. Kaltner does not simply suggest a method of learning the material; he demonstrates it as he leads the reader step-by-step through each chapter. This begins with personal experience of reading the text; then an overview of general information about it; followed by in-depth study; ending with contemporary implications of its meaning. Reading the Old Testament Anew: Biblical Perspectives on Today’s Issues will serve as a valuable resource as well as a fine text for undergraduates.”

“While introductory textbooks on the Old Testament are a dime a dozen, John Kaltner has succeeded in creating something fresh and new. Most textbooks provide broad summaries of biblical texts and the various scholarly theories developed to interpret them. But Kaltner, by contrast, provides a detailed close reading of selected texts, showing how and why scholarly approaches have grown organically out of the critical issues encountered in a detailed engagement with biblical narratives. Kaltner does not just tell the reader what scholars say about these ancient texts. He instead shows the reader why the scholars say what they do and why this is important for how we interpret these texts in our contemporary context. This book will go a long way towards getting students of the Bible to critically engage with the Old Testament literature rather than just learn information about it. I highly recommend it.”