WWW.PUBLISHERSWEEKLY.COM 81Review_NONFICTION
than the number of copies of canonical
books. But his argument that the Essenes
found that text inspiring ignores the fact
that the Dead Sea Scrolls that have been
recovered do not represent a complete
record of the Essenes’ texts. Despite this,
this is a handy entry point for readers
unfamiliar with the Essenes or those
interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls. (Sept.)
Nihilism
Nolen Gertz. MIT, $15.95 trade paper (224p)
ISBN 978-0-262-53717-9
Gertz (Nihilism and Technology) explores
the concept and ramifications of nihilism
in this quirky and instructive work. In a
playful tone, Gertz writes that nihilism is
much more than a philosophy of mean-
inglessness, and makes the case that such
things as optimism, idealism, sympathy,
and certain forms of spirituality are much
more nihilistic than one might at first
think. “Nihilism is about evading reality
rather than confronting it,” he writes, and
it exposes the difference between “being
indifferent because that is how one responds
to the world and becoming indifferent
because we want to be liberated from our
feelings and attachments.” In this way,
Gertz compares nihilistic detachment to
that found in stoicism and Buddhism. By
considering the connection of the rise of
postmodernism to nihilism, Gertz points
out that nihilism is far more present,
powerful, and pervasive than its pessimistic
reputation suggests: “Postmodernism is
the recognition that the narratives, the
ideas, and the values we use to give life
meaning are empty shells—or, to be more
precise, the recognition that these narra-
tives, ideas, and values have always been
empty shells.” For Gertz, understanding
the “normal nihilism” of modern times
and coming to grips with reality in the face
of meaninglessness can help readers
transform self-destruction into an
opportunity for meaningful creation.
Gertz’s pithy, persuasive work usefully
explains how nihilism can provide moti-
vation for self-inquiry and creativity. (Sept.)
One Soul at a Time:
The Story of Billy Graham
Grant Wacker. Eerdmans, $24.99 (256p)
ISBN 978-0-8028-7472-6
Historian Wacker (America’s Pastor)
provides an overview of the public life and
career of Christian evangelical leader Billy
Graham (1918–2018) in this comprehen-
sive biography. Beginning with Graham’s
rocky start to pastoring at Bob Jones Bible
College in 1936, Wacker explains how
this experience and Graham’s transfer to
Florida Bible Institute confirmed his desire
to preach. With only a brief introduction
to Graham’s theology, Wacker’s analysis
focuses mainly on Graham’s preaching
crusade and rise to fame in the 1940s,
including revivals that lasted for weeks
and his role as an advisor to American
presidents. Graham had an outsize public
influence on issues such as segregation,
poverty, and American wars abroad—on
which he frequently clashed with politi-
cians. Wacker draws from the work of
fellow historians to round out his portrait,
such as what initially sparked Graham’s
interest in social reform (an experience
giving to evangelical humanitarian
organization World Vision) and how he
successfully harnessed television (and
later the internet) to promote his Bible
crusades. Wacker also often includes quotes
from press conferences and interviews (“I
think Vietnam has taught us... that we are
not all-powerful and that America is not
the Kingdom of God”) to give the flavor
of Graham’s voice. This detailed, enjoyable
biography will please readers interested in
Graham’s political life and influence on
American culture. (Sept.)★ Ways of Heaven: An
Introduction to Chinese Thought
Roel Sterckx. Basic, $35 (512p) ISBN 978-1-
5416-1844-2
Sterckx (The Animal and the Daemon in
Early China), professor of Chinese history
at Cambridge University, masterfully
guides readers through the foundations of
classical Chinese philosophical and spiri-
tual thought in this splendid work. He
focuses primarily on Confucian, Daoist,
and legalist thought as the three main
philosophical strands with origins in
ancient China that are still identifiable in
modern times. Sterckx begins with a his-
torical summary and introduction to the
concept of Dao, before dividing the rest
of the work into thematic chapters—
including government, ritual behavior,
the relation of individuals to one another
and their ancestors, the natural world, and
economic behavior. Sterckx is at his bestexplicating the philosophy of Confucius,
clearly showing how the philosopher
“argued that human relationships thrive
better when human conduct is regimented
and shielded by a phalanx of rituals, cere-
monies, courtesies and conventions.”
Sterckx grounds the book in the buildup
to China’s Warring States period, which
reinforces his idea that Chinese philoso-
phies arose from political and social
events—which strikes a contrast to Greek
philosophies of a similar era that strove for
an ideal of thought outside of the bounds
of everyday human interaction. The firm
historical grounding and Sterckx’s clear,
concise writing make this an excellent
volume. (Sept.)FICTION
Keeping Lucy T. Greenwood. St. Martin’s,
ISBN 978-1-250-16422-3, Aug.
Slip of a Fish Amy Arnold. And Other Stories,
ISBN 978-1-911508-52-6, July
NONFICTION
1927: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of the Jazz
Age’s Greatest Year Thomas S. Hischak.
Rowman & Littlefield, ISBN 978-1-5381-1277-9,
June
Chase Darkness with Me: How One True-
Crime Writer Started Solving Murders Billy
Jensen. Sourcebooks, ISBN 978-1-4926-8585-2, Aug.
The Coen Brothers’ America M. Keith Booker.
Rowman & Littlefield, ISBN 978-1-5381-2086-6,
June
Jazz from Detroit Mark Stryker. Univ. of Michigan,
ISBN 978-0-472-07426-6, July
Lost in a Good Game: Why We Play Video
Games and What They Can Do for Us
Pete Etchells. Icon, ISBN 978-1-78578-481-1, July
A Taste of Barcelona: The History of
Catalan Cooking and Eating H. Rosi Song and
Anna Riera. Rowman & Littlefield, ISBN 978-1-
5381-0783-6, Aug.
Ten Years a Nomad: A Traveler’s Journey
Home Matthew Kepnes. St. Martin’s, ISBN 978-
1250-1905-12, July
Why Cities Lose: The Deep Roots of the
Urban-Rural Political Divide Jonathan Rodden.
Basic, ISBN 978-1-5416-4427-4, June
★ Without a Prayer: The Death of Lucas
Leonard and How One Church Became a
Cult Susan Ashline. Pegasus, ISBN 978-1-64313-
072-9, Aug.http://www.publishersweekly.comONLINE
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