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Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: An Anecdotal History of InterVarsity Press, 1947-2007
"Some publishers tell you what to believe. Other publishers tell you what you already believe. But InterVarsity Press helps you believe," says J. I. Packer. As an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, InterVarsity Press serves those in the university, the church and the world by publishing resources that equip and encourage people to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord in all of life. The history of twentieth-century evangelicalism cannot be understood apart from the authors and books that shaped it. Leading figures like apologist Francis Schaeffer, theologian J.I. Packer and pastor-scholar John Stott helped a generation of church leaders to think more biblically. Landmark books such as Ron Sider'sRich Christians in an Age of Hunger and James W. Sire's The Universe Next Door challenged Christians to engage the world around them. For many who took their Christianity seriously, the authoritative voice of evangelical Christianity came through one influential book publisher--InterVarsity Press. Andy Le Peau and Linda Doll provide an anecdotal history of InterVarsity Press, from its origins as the literature division of a campus ministry to its place as a prominent evangelical publishing house. Chronicled here are the stories, people and events that made IVP what it is today. Recording good times and bad, celebrations and challenges alike, they place IVP in its historical context and demonstrate its contribution to modern evangelical Christianity. Distinctive as a leading publisher of thoughtful Christian books, IVP stands as a model of holistic, integrative Christianity for the whole person--heart, soul, mind and strength.
232 pages, Paperback
First published November 21, 2006
2 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Andrew T. Le Peau
20 books46 followersAndrew T. Le Peau is a writer and editor living in the Chicgoland area. He was Associate Publisher, Editorial, for InterVarsity Press where he worked between 1975 and 2016. He blogs about the world of publishing at AndyUnedited.com.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 13, 2019
Books have played a major role in the life of the Christian Church throughout its history; indeed, Christians are known (along with Jews and Muslims) as the "people of the book." Books help believers to learn more about the Bible, know the reasons behind their convictions, deepen their knowledge of theology and history, gain understanding of other cultures, and discover ways to apply biblical wisdom to their everyday lives. One of the leading publishers that do this so well is InterVarsity Press.
This book, written by two of InterVarsity Press' longtime employees, is a wonderful account of IVP's origins and history up until 2007. Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll chronicle IVP's mission to bring thoughtful and salient books to the university community and beyond (witnessed in the end of the book by the creation of imprints with unique audiences, such as Formatio, dedicated to spiritual formation and classical Christian disciplines).
The book is filled with interesting anecdotes and inside stories. One story I found particularly humourous was when IVP first moved into a former car dealership in Downers Grove. The dealership had large windows that the IVP employees wanted to cover up lest people gawk inside and see all the products in storage so they put up brown paper. However, the press also had the title of its periodical, "HIS Magazine," featured on the building and some of the more anxious residents of Downers Grove feared a salacious magazine had moved into the neighbourhood (p. 57). There are also stories of how particular books came to be published by IVP and how the press handled pressure from the wider Christian community, most notably in the retracting of the book "Brave New People" by D. Gareth Jones and more recently, the curious case of Judith L. Brown.
Along the way, the authors share insights into the publishing business in general and the Christian publishing world in particular; in the latter, IVP was a pioneer in many respects, such as using multiple views to present differing Christian responses on particular issues in a single book, a strategic style that would be emulated by other Christian publishers later on like Zondervan. I also learned about international and translation rights, what the phrase "over the transom" meant, and how publishers would design and develop physical displays to highlight their titles in bookstores. The authors admit when they made a mistake, such as letting go of Ron Sider's "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger," but strike a gracious tone throughout the book.
Sometimes the book gets bogged down in running off the names of employees and staff transitions which are not of great interest to the typical reader but is nonetheless part of IVP history. Since the book's publication, much has changed. Le Peau and Doll note the rise of the Internet and Amazon's prominent position in the marketplace but Amazon has only continued to ascend in popularity, sadly leading to the demise of many smaller bookstores (the authors mention how Family Christian Stores' dominance against smaller Christian bookstores negatively affected IVP's sales because Family Christian did not focus as much on selling thoughtful Christian books but in 2017 the company and all of its stores shut down). Ebooks are briefly mentioned but not at length and in 2019, I imagine they are a much more significant component of IVP's publishing enterprise. IVP has also decided to cease republication of one of Bill Hybels' books; the former megachurch pastor who has been charged with troubling allegations, published the popular book "Too Busy Not To Pray" with IVP back in 1988.
I have read about thirty books published by InterVarsity Press, with my favourite being "A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir," by the late Thomas C. Oden, who also served as general editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary series on Scripture (ACCS) published by IVP. What impressed me the most with this book was the realization that so much of the best of "mainstream evangelicalism" shares an affinity with IVP's ethos. First, in its early days, the US branch of IVP helped introduce North American readers to intelligent British evangelicals such as John Stott and J.I. Packer (the proportion of British authors has declined over the decades) and they also published works by Francis Schaeffer, a key figure in the "evangelical renaissance" during the 1960s and 1970s. IVP has a long tradition of giving a voice to non-white Christians and women; indeed, both IVP and its parent, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, have been committed to affirming God's call for men and women to serve equally in ministry and work (this is highlighted by IVP publishing "Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without Hierarchy, an egalitarian response to the influential tome "Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood"). As indicated by the ACCS series and Formatio, IVP seeks to encourage evangelicals to make use of the collective wisdom of the Church's past. Lastly, but perhaps most interestingly, is how the authors contrast themselves to Crossway, stating "While Crossway's books would often take a viewpoint of Christianity standing against culture rather than engaging culture as was the case with IVP, there was still some overlap, not only of authors but of perspective" (p. 104). Though I am grateful for authors frequently published by Crossway such as Schaeffer and Packer, I believe the IVP has postured itself in a more winsome way towards culture and for that I am deeply thankful.
This book, written by two of InterVarsity Press' longtime employees, is a wonderful account of IVP's origins and history up until 2007. Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll chronicle IVP's mission to bring thoughtful and salient books to the university community and beyond (witnessed in the end of the book by the creation of imprints with unique audiences, such as Formatio, dedicated to spiritual formation and classical Christian disciplines).
The book is filled with interesting anecdotes and inside stories. One story I found particularly humourous was when IVP first moved into a former car dealership in Downers Grove. The dealership had large windows that the IVP employees wanted to cover up lest people gawk inside and see all the products in storage so they put up brown paper. However, the press also had the title of its periodical, "HIS Magazine," featured on the building and some of the more anxious residents of Downers Grove feared a salacious magazine had moved into the neighbourhood (p. 57). There are also stories of how particular books came to be published by IVP and how the press handled pressure from the wider Christian community, most notably in the retracting of the book "Brave New People" by D. Gareth Jones and more recently, the curious case of Judith L. Brown.
Along the way, the authors share insights into the publishing business in general and the Christian publishing world in particular; in the latter, IVP was a pioneer in many respects, such as using multiple views to present differing Christian responses on particular issues in a single book, a strategic style that would be emulated by other Christian publishers later on like Zondervan. I also learned about international and translation rights, what the phrase "over the transom" meant, and how publishers would design and develop physical displays to highlight their titles in bookstores. The authors admit when they made a mistake, such as letting go of Ron Sider's "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger," but strike a gracious tone throughout the book.
Sometimes the book gets bogged down in running off the names of employees and staff transitions which are not of great interest to the typical reader but is nonetheless part of IVP history. Since the book's publication, much has changed. Le Peau and Doll note the rise of the Internet and Amazon's prominent position in the marketplace but Amazon has only continued to ascend in popularity, sadly leading to the demise of many smaller bookstores (the authors mention how Family Christian Stores' dominance against smaller Christian bookstores negatively affected IVP's sales because Family Christian did not focus as much on selling thoughtful Christian books but in 2017 the company and all of its stores shut down). Ebooks are briefly mentioned but not at length and in 2019, I imagine they are a much more significant component of IVP's publishing enterprise. IVP has also decided to cease republication of one of Bill Hybels' books; the former megachurch pastor who has been charged with troubling allegations, published the popular book "Too Busy Not To Pray" with IVP back in 1988.
I have read about thirty books published by InterVarsity Press, with my favourite being "A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir," by the late Thomas C. Oden, who also served as general editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary series on Scripture (ACCS) published by IVP. What impressed me the most with this book was the realization that so much of the best of "mainstream evangelicalism" shares an affinity with IVP's ethos. First, in its early days, the US branch of IVP helped introduce North American readers to intelligent British evangelicals such as John Stott and J.I. Packer (the proportion of British authors has declined over the decades) and they also published works by Francis Schaeffer, a key figure in the "evangelical renaissance" during the 1960s and 1970s. IVP has a long tradition of giving a voice to non-white Christians and women; indeed, both IVP and its parent, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, have been committed to affirming God's call for men and women to serve equally in ministry and work (this is highlighted by IVP publishing "Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without Hierarchy, an egalitarian response to the influential tome "Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood"). As indicated by the ACCS series and Formatio, IVP seeks to encourage evangelicals to make use of the collective wisdom of the Church's past. Lastly, but perhaps most interestingly, is how the authors contrast themselves to Crossway, stating "While Crossway's books would often take a viewpoint of Christianity standing against culture rather than engaging culture as was the case with IVP, there was still some overlap, not only of authors but of perspective" (p. 104). Though I am grateful for authors frequently published by Crossway such as Schaeffer and Packer, I believe the IVP has postured itself in a more winsome way towards culture and for that I am deeply thankful.
November 7, 2022
Summary: A narrative history of this evangelical publishing house, a division of a campus ministry, upon the publishing house’s seventy-fifth anniversary.
I was a high school junior, eager to grow in and share my faith due to the influence of the local version of the Jesus Movement upon my life. One of our leaders, a former InterVarsity student leader, invited a group of us to his home and showed us a table full of books and invited us to buy (very cheaply) anything that interested us. I chose Know Why You Believe by Paul Little and read it from cover to cover as it spoke to the questions both I and the people I shared Christ with were asking. That was my first exposure to the quality publications of InterVarsity Press, over fifty years ago. In later years, my son started asking the same questions and I took him out for Saturday breakfasts to discuss the book–and lots of other things.
It was an utter delight to read this history of InterVarsity Press. I should mention at the outset that I’m hardly an impartial reviewer. I work for the campus ministry of which InterVarsity Press is a part. I’ve had the privilege to know many of the people in this book, both living and with the Lord, and count some as friends. I’ve lived through a number of the organizational events mentioned in the book. I’ve even been a guest at a couple of the sites that the Press called home. And of course, I’ve read most of the books mentioned here, using many of them in ministry with students as well as being spiritually formed by many of them.
The very beginnings of InterVarsity Press are rooted in collegiate ministry as well as InterVarsity’s connection with InterVarsity Fellowship in the UK. Thoughtful literature was considered an indispensable part of work with students, particularly in the early years where students saw a staff worker maybe once a semester. The UK connection was also important, because the earliest books came from IVF’s publishing and the history notes the continued influence of UK authors from John Stott to J.I. Packer to N.T. Wright on InterVarsity’s publications. These were voices that were evangelical, thoughtful, and articulate–addressing the concerns of students–and as it turned out, a wider audience.
One of the key early moments was the first Bible Study guide published in the US on the Gospel of Mark, written by Jane Hollingsworth. It set an early precedent of women being represented and affirmed, not only in InterVarsity’s field ministry but in its publications. The book tells the story behind many of the publications that established InterVarsity Press as a publisher: the transcription of Paul Little’s lectures on evangelism into How To Give Away Your Faith, the work of editor James Sire with Francis Schaeffer, the connection with John White, a psychologist who wrote The Fight and a lengthy list of other books for IVP, the discovery of Calvin Miller’s The Singer and Eugene Peterson’s A Long Obedience in the Same Direction in the “slush” pile, launching the publishing careers of both authors, and the brief stopover in the UK that led to publication of J. I. Packer’s Knowing God.
The account describes the organizational development of the Press, including the move to its own facilities in Downers Grove–first a house, and later a former auto dealership, and finally the move of the offices to join their warehouse in Westmont, Illinois. We are also introduced to the succession of leaders and editors who gave organizational and editorial leadership: directors Joe Bayley, Jim Nyquist, Linda Doll, Ken DeRuiter, Bob Fryling, Jeff Crosby, and Terumi Nichols, the current president of InterVarsity Press, and editors like Jim Sire, Andy LePeau, Jim Hoover and Dan Reid with academic books, and current editors including Al Hsu, Cindy Bunch, and Jon Boyd. One of the great partnerships at IVP was that of Jim Nyquist and Jim Sire (“the two Jims”). It waa during this time that InterVarsity Press really came into its own and became the resource to thoughtful evangelicals that it continues to be to this day.
The book doesn’t gloss over controversies, perhaps the most significant of which was an early “cancelling” effort by Franky Schaeffer of a book titled Brave New People, which advocated a strongly pro-life stance throughout, but in dealing with the most extreme cases of birth fetal abnormalities (like fetuses without a brain) allowed that these were the only cases where an abortion may even be contemplated. The book was labeled pro-abortion for mooting even this rare possible exception and attacked in various articles, leading to the loss of some InterVarsity donors, picketing at the press, and the withdrawal of the book, causing consternation among other authors, wondering if this could happen if the public didn’t like something in their books. The history explores the particular vulnerability exploited in this instance–the connection between the Press and the donor-supported campus ministry of which it is a part that is not the case with many publishers.
The expanded edition includes coverage of the last twenty-five years of the Press’s work, including a major expansion of its academic publishing, and various new lines like Formatio dealing with spiritual formation and Praxis dealing with issues of practical theology. The history also highlights the huge growth as a publisher of numerous authors who are people of color, of women authors, and the recent launch of a new line of IVP Kids books.
The book has something of the feel of a “family history” and one senses the uproarious fun, the high professional and ethical standards, and sense of mission that have characterized this publishing organization. It gives one a sense of the risks and judgments publishers must assess, and the changes in the marketplace that publishers must nimbly negotiate. For those of us whose lives have been touched by InterVarsity Press books, it is a delight to learn the stories behind the books that have spoken into our lives.
And since I’ve already noted how this is a departure from my usual reviews, I will depart one more time to express to my friends at InterVarsity Press how grateful I am to God for you for the commitment to Christian thought, to publishing authors of color and women, to addressing hard issues and not shrinking from taking positions that not all will embrace. I’ve found J. I. Packer’s assessment, quoted in this book, to be amply true:
“Some publishers tell you what to believe. Other publishers tell you what you already believe. But InterVarsity Press helps you believe.”
Thank you, InterVarsity Press, for helping me know why I believe, and for fifty years of helping me believe more deeply.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.
I was a high school junior, eager to grow in and share my faith due to the influence of the local version of the Jesus Movement upon my life. One of our leaders, a former InterVarsity student leader, invited a group of us to his home and showed us a table full of books and invited us to buy (very cheaply) anything that interested us. I chose Know Why You Believe by Paul Little and read it from cover to cover as it spoke to the questions both I and the people I shared Christ with were asking. That was my first exposure to the quality publications of InterVarsity Press, over fifty years ago. In later years, my son started asking the same questions and I took him out for Saturday breakfasts to discuss the book–and lots of other things.
It was an utter delight to read this history of InterVarsity Press. I should mention at the outset that I’m hardly an impartial reviewer. I work for the campus ministry of which InterVarsity Press is a part. I’ve had the privilege to know many of the people in this book, both living and with the Lord, and count some as friends. I’ve lived through a number of the organizational events mentioned in the book. I’ve even been a guest at a couple of the sites that the Press called home. And of course, I’ve read most of the books mentioned here, using many of them in ministry with students as well as being spiritually formed by many of them.
The very beginnings of InterVarsity Press are rooted in collegiate ministry as well as InterVarsity’s connection with InterVarsity Fellowship in the UK. Thoughtful literature was considered an indispensable part of work with students, particularly in the early years where students saw a staff worker maybe once a semester. The UK connection was also important, because the earliest books came from IVF’s publishing and the history notes the continued influence of UK authors from John Stott to J.I. Packer to N.T. Wright on InterVarsity’s publications. These were voices that were evangelical, thoughtful, and articulate–addressing the concerns of students–and as it turned out, a wider audience.
One of the key early moments was the first Bible Study guide published in the US on the Gospel of Mark, written by Jane Hollingsworth. It set an early precedent of women being represented and affirmed, not only in InterVarsity’s field ministry but in its publications. The book tells the story behind many of the publications that established InterVarsity Press as a publisher: the transcription of Paul Little’s lectures on evangelism into How To Give Away Your Faith, the work of editor James Sire with Francis Schaeffer, the connection with John White, a psychologist who wrote The Fight and a lengthy list of other books for IVP, the discovery of Calvin Miller’s The Singer and Eugene Peterson’s A Long Obedience in the Same Direction in the “slush” pile, launching the publishing careers of both authors, and the brief stopover in the UK that led to publication of J. I. Packer’s Knowing God.
The account describes the organizational development of the Press, including the move to its own facilities in Downers Grove–first a house, and later a former auto dealership, and finally the move of the offices to join their warehouse in Westmont, Illinois. We are also introduced to the succession of leaders and editors who gave organizational and editorial leadership: directors Joe Bayley, Jim Nyquist, Linda Doll, Ken DeRuiter, Bob Fryling, Jeff Crosby, and Terumi Nichols, the current president of InterVarsity Press, and editors like Jim Sire, Andy LePeau, Jim Hoover and Dan Reid with academic books, and current editors including Al Hsu, Cindy Bunch, and Jon Boyd. One of the great partnerships at IVP was that of Jim Nyquist and Jim Sire (“the two Jims”). It waa during this time that InterVarsity Press really came into its own and became the resource to thoughtful evangelicals that it continues to be to this day.
The book doesn’t gloss over controversies, perhaps the most significant of which was an early “cancelling” effort by Franky Schaeffer of a book titled Brave New People, which advocated a strongly pro-life stance throughout, but in dealing with the most extreme cases of birth fetal abnormalities (like fetuses without a brain) allowed that these were the only cases where an abortion may even be contemplated. The book was labeled pro-abortion for mooting even this rare possible exception and attacked in various articles, leading to the loss of some InterVarsity donors, picketing at the press, and the withdrawal of the book, causing consternation among other authors, wondering if this could happen if the public didn’t like something in their books. The history explores the particular vulnerability exploited in this instance–the connection between the Press and the donor-supported campus ministry of which it is a part that is not the case with many publishers.
The expanded edition includes coverage of the last twenty-five years of the Press’s work, including a major expansion of its academic publishing, and various new lines like Formatio dealing with spiritual formation and Praxis dealing with issues of practical theology. The history also highlights the huge growth as a publisher of numerous authors who are people of color, of women authors, and the recent launch of a new line of IVP Kids books.
The book has something of the feel of a “family history” and one senses the uproarious fun, the high professional and ethical standards, and sense of mission that have characterized this publishing organization. It gives one a sense of the risks and judgments publishers must assess, and the changes in the marketplace that publishers must nimbly negotiate. For those of us whose lives have been touched by InterVarsity Press books, it is a delight to learn the stories behind the books that have spoken into our lives.
And since I’ve already noted how this is a departure from my usual reviews, I will depart one more time to express to my friends at InterVarsity Press how grateful I am to God for you for the commitment to Christian thought, to publishing authors of color and women, to addressing hard issues and not shrinking from taking positions that not all will embrace. I’ve found J. I. Packer’s assessment, quoted in this book, to be amply true:
“Some publishers tell you what to believe. Other publishers tell you what you already believe. But InterVarsity Press helps you believe.”
Thank you, InterVarsity Press, for helping me know why I believe, and for fifty years of helping me believe more deeply.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.
October 3, 2021
Thoroughly readable and very enjoyable history of my employers American cousin. Genuinely interesting and particularly helpful for me in my present role!
November 26, 2024
Call me crazy, but reading Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: A Narrative History of InterVarsity Press, 1947-2002 made me want to work at IVPress someday. From its humble start in the mid-twentieth century to its current work as a significant Christian publisher, this history of IVP fascinated me.
Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. gave a comprehensive exploration of IVPress: who held what position, what authors were acquired, how sales were made, how departments functioned, when buildings were purchased, etc. These historical facts were expertly integrated with personal anecdotes, office camaraderie tales, and behind-the scenes looks to create an engaging and informative narrative. I thought it notable that the book discussed poor decisions and publishing missteps. I sometimes struggled to keep all the names straight, but it did get easier as I progressed through the book.
I deeply appreciated the descriptions of IVP’s ethos. The authors explained that IVP’s stance has always been to engage with culture rather than to avoid it or stand against it. For example, in a time when some church communities warned against higher education, IVP embraced academia. This mindset influenced publication decisions, but other factors such as being an ecumenical entity, affirming the gifts of women, and holding to egalitarianism also helped create IVP’s unique place in the Christian publishing market. Some would call IVP “progressive” or “liberal”, but the organization holds a high regard for the Scriptures and the Gospel that rivals any “conservative” publisher.
I thoroughly enjoyed Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. by Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll. Readers who have enjoyed many of IVP’s books or are interested in the publishing world will likely be the ideal audience for this book. Five stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. gave a comprehensive exploration of IVPress: who held what position, what authors were acquired, how sales were made, how departments functioned, when buildings were purchased, etc. These historical facts were expertly integrated with personal anecdotes, office camaraderie tales, and behind-the scenes looks to create an engaging and informative narrative. I thought it notable that the book discussed poor decisions and publishing missteps. I sometimes struggled to keep all the names straight, but it did get easier as I progressed through the book.
I deeply appreciated the descriptions of IVP’s ethos. The authors explained that IVP’s stance has always been to engage with culture rather than to avoid it or stand against it. For example, in a time when some church communities warned against higher education, IVP embraced academia. This mindset influenced publication decisions, but other factors such as being an ecumenical entity, affirming the gifts of women, and holding to egalitarianism also helped create IVP’s unique place in the Christian publishing market. Some would call IVP “progressive” or “liberal”, but the organization holds a high regard for the Scriptures and the Gospel that rivals any “conservative” publisher.
I thoroughly enjoyed Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. by Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll. Readers who have enjoyed many of IVP’s books or are interested in the publishing world will likely be the ideal audience for this book. Five stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
October 3, 2022
How does God’s hand guide books? Written by Andrew T. Le Peau and Linda Doll, and edited by Albert Y. Hsu, Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. presents a narrative history of InterVarsity Press, from 1947-2022.
Published in honor of IVP’s seventy-fifth anniversary, this expanded edition of IVP’s history is fast-paced and compelling. Beginning in the 40s and following through the 2020s, you will meet the people and events that shaped this influential publisher. Here are my three takeaways after reading this fascinating book.
Three Takeaways
First, it’s the people that makes a publisher. While it’s easy to see Christian publishing as a business, there are people behind-the-scenes who care to reach the world for Christ. These people aren’t perfect, but they have passion.
Second, book publishing is a different world. From working with authors to understanding sales, there is so much to learn about the making of books. This book offers short sections highlighting different terms and knowledge of the industry, such as what it means to get a manuscript “over the transom,” and gives a brief introduction to the CBA – the Christian Booksellers Association.
Third, it is up to God to give his blessing over books. The sovereignty of God can be seen in the pages of IVP’s history. From bringing unknown authors such as Eugene Peterson to the forefront, and seeing survival with changes in technology – God is the author of it all.
Books Shape Our Soul
I was happy to learn about such an interesting world from the people who live, work, and play in it. I am motivated to read more, believing in the ability of books to shape our soul. I am encouraged to pray for the Christian publishers I promote. And I am challenged to create good works in my own life for the cause of Christ.
I received a media copy of Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. and this is my honest review.
Published in honor of IVP’s seventy-fifth anniversary, this expanded edition of IVP’s history is fast-paced and compelling. Beginning in the 40s and following through the 2020s, you will meet the people and events that shaped this influential publisher. Here are my three takeaways after reading this fascinating book.
Three Takeaways
First, it’s the people that makes a publisher. While it’s easy to see Christian publishing as a business, there are people behind-the-scenes who care to reach the world for Christ. These people aren’t perfect, but they have passion.
Second, book publishing is a different world. From working with authors to understanding sales, there is so much to learn about the making of books. This book offers short sections highlighting different terms and knowledge of the industry, such as what it means to get a manuscript “over the transom,” and gives a brief introduction to the CBA – the Christian Booksellers Association.
Third, it is up to God to give his blessing over books. The sovereignty of God can be seen in the pages of IVP’s history. From bringing unknown authors such as Eugene Peterson to the forefront, and seeing survival with changes in technology – God is the author of it all.
Books Shape Our Soul
I was happy to learn about such an interesting world from the people who live, work, and play in it. I am motivated to read more, believing in the ability of books to shape our soul. I am encouraged to pray for the Christian publishers I promote. And I am challenged to create good works in my own life for the cause of Christ.
I received a media copy of Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. and this is my honest review.
May 19, 2011
An excellent "inside baseball" account of InterVarsity Press. People with a deep connection to or interest in InterVarsity and/or Christian publishing would enjoy this "behind the scenes" look, especially with stories of how authors like J. I. Packer, John Stott, and Hybels, Bill came to be published by IVP.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews