I read this excellent little book on the Internet Monk’s recommendation, never having even heard of Steve Brown before. I’m glad I did, and I’ll be sure to read his other books as well.

At first I thought this book was going to be a bit boring. The full title is, What Was I Thinking: Things I’ve Learned Since I Knew It All. So I figured it would be about how, after he became settled in his perfect Presbyterianism, he came to more earnestly and humbly believe the things he already professed, which is all nice and good. But I wasn’t particularly looking forward to 12 chapters of “I thought Jesus was radical, but now I really believe he’s radical!”

In a sense Brown does this, but what makes this book great is the way he does it—it surprised me, even when I was expecting something of the sort. His grasp of the grace of God toward sinners through Jesus Christ is remarkable, and he really makes you feel it. He especially makes you feel the impact of his insights if, like him, you’ve “got all your theological ducks in a row.” He exposes my own soul time and again as he describes his own journey. The best part is, he gets across to his readers, “If God is merciful to someone like me, then he can sure be merciful to someone like you,” which conveys a strong assurance of the love of God that every Christian needs.

If your Christianity has become religious habit, this is the book to jolt you out of that rut. I felt torn the whole time I read it—I wanted simultaneously to speed ahead and read his next tremendous insights, and to slow down and take a week to read each chapter devotionally. I figure a book doesn’t capture you much more than that! I know Brown expects more Christians to read this than non-Christians, but I can imagine many unbelievers being captured by the grace of God in Christ through this book. It’s one I’ll buy (or at least suggest) for my friends.