SPCK Publishing

The popular image of the Vikings is of tall red-headed men, raping and pillaging their way around the coast of Europe, stopping only to ransack monasteries and burn longships. But the violent Vikings of the 8th century became the pious Christians of the 11th century, who gave gold crosses to Christian churches and in whose areas of rule pagan idols were destroyed and churches were built.

So how did this radical transformation happen, and why?

What difference did it make to the Vikings, and to those around them, and what is their legacy today?

This book takes a 'global' look at this key period in Viking history, exploring all the major areas of Viking settlement. Written to be an accessible and engaging overview for the general reader.

For keen minds looking for a philosophical look at whether faith in God is a practical way to find meaning in life. Idea for proving meat to debates of belief, Rational Faith gives you a chance to take an honest and serious look at what modern and classical thought have to say about what faith is, and mean, and whether it's truly possible.

If God exists, why doesn't he eliminate suffering and evil?

Does evolution disprove Christianity?

Can religion be explained by cognitive science?

People have grappled for ages with these kinds of questions. And many in today's academic world find Christian belief untenable.

But renowned philosopher Stephen Davis argues that belief in God is indeed a rational and intellectually sound endeavour.

Drawing on a lifetime of rigorous reflection and critical thinking, he explores perennial and contemporary challenges to Christian faith. Davis appraises objections fairly and openly, offering thoughtful approaches to common intellectual problems. Real questions warrant reasonable responses. Examine for yourself the rationality of the Christian faith.

2017 marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Jane Austen, whose six completed novels have never been out of print.

Best known for her novels, 'Sense and Sensibility', 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Mansfield Park', and 'Emma', first published anonymously, Jane commented, critiqued and illuminated the life of the English upper classes. But did Jane's writings highlight anything about her own spirituality?

In this celebratory book, Paula Hollingsworth explores Jane Austen's gentle but strong faith and the effect it had both on her life and her writing. Drawing on Jane's life story, her letters, her friendships, her books and the characters portrayed, Paula shows the depth of Jane Austen's spirituality.

Throughout history, scientists have made discoveries and tested hypotheses that have revolutionised the way that we see the world. Our industry has been shaped by the discovery of electricity and the invention of machines; our understanding of the world has deepened as we have had gravity and the magnetic forces that govern the earth explained to us.

Century after century, big questions about our earth, nature around us, and the way our bodies work have been posed and gradually, or sometimes dramatically, answered.

Yet, there are still further questions to be asked.

What is science?

What is it for?

Why do we have the need to continually be exploring the answers to more questions

Authors Tom McLeish and David Hutchings examine the story of science, and look at the part that Christian faith has played in that history. As they tell the stories of discovery after discovery, they reveal a powerful underlying reason for doing science in the first place. They argue that Christianity has been involved with and sometimes directly responsible for some of the biggest leaps forward in scientific history.

A society with no grasp of its history is like a person without a memory. This is particularly true of the history of ideas.

This book is an ideal introduction to the thinkers who have shaped Christian history and the culture of much of the world.

Writing in a lively, accessible style, Jonathan Hill takes us on an enlightening journey from the first to the twenty first centuries. He shows us the key Christian thinkers through the ages - ranging from Irenaeus, Origen, Augustine and Aquinas through to Luther, Wesley, Kierkegaard and Barth - placing them in their historical context and assessing their contribution to the development of Christianity.

Since the dawn of time, man has sought to improve his health and that of his neighbour. The human race, around the world, has been on a long and complex journey, seeking to find out how our bodies work, and what heals them.

Embarking on a four-thousand-year odyssey, science historian Allan Chapman brings to life the origin and development of medicine and surgery. Writing with pace and rigorous accuracy, he investigates how we have battled against injury and disease, and provides a gripping and highly readable account of the various victories and discoveries along the way. Drawing on sources from across Europe and beyond, Chapman discusses the huge contributions to medicine made by the Greeks, the Romans, the early medieval Arabs, and above all by Western Christendom, looking at how experiment, discovery, and improving technology impact upon one another to produce progress.

This is a fascinating, insightful read, enlivened with many colourful characters and memorable stories of inspired experimenters, theatrical surgeons, student pranks, body-snatchers, 'mad-doctors', quacks, and charitable benefactors.

1536 - focusing on a pivotal year in the life of the King - reveals a fuller portrait of this complex monarch, detailing the finer shades of humanity that have so long been overlooked. We discover that in 1536 Henry met many failures - physical, personal, and political - and emerged from them a revolutionary new king who proceeded to transform a nation and reform a religion. 

A compelling story, the effects of which are still with us today, 1536 shows what a profound difference can be made merely by changing the heart of a king.

Author and broadcaster Sheridan Voysey draws on both personal experience and Christian faith to explore the greater meaning to be found in the world around us. Reflecting on the themes of Joy, Wonder, Meaning, Belonging, Compassion, Callings, Seasons, Change, and Hope, this uplifting, thoughtful, and affirming gift book will inspire readers of all ages and life stages. 

Beautifully designed throughout, this book will help you create a pause in your day, whether in the quiet early hours, as the night falls, or somewhere in between—a moment to stop and reflect on the things that matter.

For some time now, I have been writing a simple blessing each day.

I share it with those who are connected to me on social media. My friends, family and those who journey with me through these avenues have often commented that they would like to see them in a little book that you could carry with you on holiday, or leave by your bedside. I pray they will be used by God to bless you, to bless others and to somehow, in a small way, build confidence in Almighty God. You can dip into them or use them on a daily basis. Whatever works for you.

Whether you are already a follower of Jesus, or you are just exploring Who He is and what He does, I pray these little blessings will help you.

Paul has provoked people as much in recent times as he did when he was alive. Some regard him as a pestilent and dangerous fellow. Others think of him as the greatest teacher of Christianity after Jesus himself.

In this book, leading theologian Tom Wright focuses on key areas of Paul's teaching, helping us to understand what he was doing and saying. He sweeps away the confusion of much modern theology to uncover the real man and his message.

What St Paul Really Said is a book for all who want to weigh the evidence before making up their minds on the vital questions surrounding Paul. Equally it is for those who want to know what his message might mean for us today.

"In this accessible and engaging introduction, [John Lennox] guides us through the great debates about science and faith, and offers incisive assessments of the issues." Alister McGrath, Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford

Is the rigorous pursuit of scientific knowledge really compatible with a sincere faith in God?

Building on the arguments put forward in God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?, Prof John Lennox examines afresh the plausibility of a Christian theistic worldview in the light of some of the latest developments in scientific understanding. Prof Lennox focuses on the areas of evolutionary theory, the origins of life and the universe, and the concepts of mind and consciousness to provide a detailed and compelling introduction to the science and religion debate. He also offers his own reasoning as to why he continues to be convinced by a Christian approach to explaining these phenomena.

Robust in its reasoning, but respectful in tone, this book is vital reading for anyone exploring the relationship between science and God.

500 years ago Luther set into motion a movement that would ultimately change the face of our world forever; the Reformation.

In Luther and His World you will discover the man behind the movement who led the rebellion against the established church.

The world of the early reformers is filled with danger, but also with purpose and passion. Martin Luther led battles, argued over doctrine and questioned how the church should go forward.

In Luther and His World Graham Tomlin examines the build up towards the greatest rebellions in church history. How did it all unfold? Where did it begin? Why did it happen? After exploring all these questions, Graham offers his conclusions over how Luther's writings and teaching have revolutionized our world.

Everyone interested in church history seeking a solid, accessible and engaging introduction to the Reformation and Martin Luther should read this book. It encapsulates the world in which the rebellion began and explains the outcomes of the revolutions with clarity and accuracy.

"An accessible account of Luther, his life, thoughts, writings and all that surrounded him. Tomlin's writing is readable and informative... For most people, this packed-full, not so little, littlebook will be just enough for them to feel that they now 'get' Martin Luther." - Church of England Newspaper

An Oxford student of C.S. Lewis's said he found his new tutor interesting, and was told by J.R.R. Tolkien, 'Interesting? Yes, he's certainly that. You'll never get to the bottom of him.'

You can learn a great deal about people by their friends and nowhere is this more true than in the case of C.S. Lewis, the remarkable academic, author, populariser of faith - and creator of Narnia. He lost his mother early in life, and became estranged from his father, much to his regret. Throughout his life, key relationships mattered deeply to him, from his early days in the north of Ireland and his schooldays in England, as still a teenager in the trenches of World War One, and then later in Oxford. The friendships he cultivated throughout his life proved to be vital, influencing his thoughts, his beliefs and his writings.

What did Arthur Greeves, a life-long friend from his adolescence, bring to him? How did J.R.R. Tolkien, and the other members of the now famous Inklings, shape him? Why, in his early twenties, did he move in with a single mother twice his age, Janie Moore, and live with her for so many years until her death? And why did he choose to marry so late? What of the relationship with his alcoholic and gifted brother, who eventually joined his unusual household? In this sparkling new biography, which draws on material not previously published, Colin Duriez brings C.S. Lewis and his friendships to life.

The living world is beautiful, intricate, and highly ordered. Organisms flourish across virtually every location on earth, and biological scientists are constantly discovering more about them.

These findings spark awe in those who study the natural world, and also raise questions about the meaning of what we see: What’s so special about life? Why are we here? Where is it all heading?

Based on the thoughts of six scientists of faith, the work of the theologian Alister McGrath, and the biblical scholar Hilary Marlow, Dr Ruth M. Bancewicz examines their research to assess the claim that the discoveries of science are consistent with the existence of a God. 

Wonders of the Living World for adults (16+) will inspire curiosity and amazement, and prove a fascinating guide to your thinking about the meaning of life.

FEATURING THE WORK OF:

Prof. Stephen Freeland, Astrobiologist; Dr Rhoda Hawkins, Theoretical Physicist; Prof. Jeff Hardin, Cell and Developmental Biologist; Prof. Simon Conway Morris, Palaeobiologist; Prof. Jeff Schloss, Evolutionary Biologist; Dr Margaret Miller, Marine Biologist.

If you loved the TV series 'Call the Midwife', this real life account of a young woman's journey from convent to casualty is just for you. Kicking the Habit is the story of Eleanor Stewart's transition from carefree young woman of the Beatles generation through to a reclusive life in a French convent and on to serving as an inner city midwife.

Beginning among the parties and nightclubs of the swinging sixties, Eleanor's story is one of drama, excitement, exhilaration and tragedy as she first gives up everything for the life of a nun, and then sacrifices the peace and tranquillity of the religious life for the business of bringing new life into the world she's denied, but must now re-enter.

Written with honesty and affection, this is an intimate portrait of convent and hospital life that will appeal to readers of biography, social history and the details often missing from fiction set in the rapidly changing social and spiritual world of the 1960s.

If we are to believe many modern commentators, science has squeezed God into a corner, killed and then buried him with its all-embracing explanations. Atheism, we are told, is the only intellectually tenable position, and any attempt to reintroduce God is likely to impede the progress of science.

In this stimulating and thought-provoking book, John Lennox invites us to consider such claims very carefully.

This book evaluates the evidence of modern science in relation to the debate between the atheistic and theistic interpretations of the universe, and provides a fresh basis for discussion. The chapters include:

• War of the worldviews
• The scope and limits of science
• Reduction, reduction, reduction...
• Designer universe
• Designer biosphere
• The nature and scope of evolution
• The origin of life
• The genetic code and its origin
• Matters of information
• The monkey machine
• and, The origin of information.

Now updated and expanded, God's Undertaker is an invaluable contribution to the debate about science's relationship to religion.

This book will take the story of astronomy on from where Allan Chapman left it in Stargazers, and bring it almost up to date, with the developments and discoveries of the last three centuries.

He covers the big names - Halley, Hooke, Herschel, Hubble and Hoyle; and includes the women who pushed astronomy forward, from Caroline Herschel to the Victorian women astronomers.

He includes the big discoveries and the huge ideas, from the Milky War, to the Big Bang, the mighty atom, and the question of life on other planets. And he brings in the contributions made in the US, culminating in their race with the USSR to get a man on the moon, before turning to the explosion of interest in astronomy that was pioneered by Sir Patrick Moore and The Sky at Night.

While Gethin's mother spent most of the Second World War cracking German codes at Bletchley Park, his father was a conscientious objector.

As he grew up, and his mother maintained her Government-imposed silence on what she had been doing, Gethin's father was voluble on his pacifism, and Gethin dreaded the question 'What did your father do in the War?' The answer 'Nothing' seemed shameful.

Now, with his mother's story out in print, he sets off to find out why his father took the stance he did, the roots of the tradition of conscientious objection in the Welsh valleys, and how the family felt about the decision and the shame it brought.

At least 1.1 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder, with people aged 14-25 most at risk.

Books about eating disorders are often quite academic and aimed at the sufferer themselves. Very little is available for parents of sufferers. Jane Smith, director of Anorexia Bulimia Care charity has written this book, in collaboration with Care for the Family to provide practical advice for parents of eating disorder sufferers.

Jane draws on her own experience of helping her young daughter through an eating disorder as well as case studies of the many families ABC has helped over the years . Includes answers to the most frequently asked questions ABC receives from parents.

Supported by Care for the Family and includes a foreword by Rob Parsons.

The Oxford Inklings tells the story of the friendships, mutual influence, and common purpose of the Inklings - the literary circle which congregated around C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Meeting in pubs or Lewis's college rooms, they included an influential array of literary figures. They were, claimed poet and novelist John Wain, bent on 'the task of redirecting the whole current of contemporary art and life'.

Tolkien and Lewis expert Colin Duriez unpacks the Inklings' origins, relationships, and the nature of their collaboration. He shows how they influenced, encouraged, and moulded each other. Duriez also covers the less celebrated Inklings, neglected, he claims, for too long.

What did they owe - and offer - to the more acknowledged names? What brought them together? And what, eventually, drove them apart from their initial focus upon each other's writings?

Keir Hardie was a founder and the first parliamentary leader of the Labour Party. At the turn of the 19th century he was Labour's most famous face. But despite being voted Labour's 'Greatest Hero' at the 2008 Party Conference, in recent years his extraordinary story seems all but forgotten.

Born illegitimate just outside Glasgow in 1856, his life didn't start gently. Before the age of 10, he was the sole wage earner in his working class, atheist family. He never went to school but was self-taught, avidly reading books lent him by a kind young clergyman. This led to two major conversions in his life: first to Christianity, and then to socialism.

While earlier biographies have neglected the former, pointing out his experience of hardship as the source of his passion for social justice, the role of Christianity in Hardie's life was profound. It shaped his involvement in many of the greatest social changes of the time.

Andrew White is something of a legend: a man of great charm and energy, whose personal suffering has not deflected him from his important ministry of reconciliation.

Andrew grew up in London, the son of strongly religious parents: by the age of five he could repeat the five points of Calvinism. As a child and young man he was frequently ill, but his considerable intelligence meant that his studies did not suffer. He set his heart on becoming an anaesthetist, an ambition he achieved, only to be redirected by God to Anglican ministry.
Since ordination he has had a considerable role in the work of reconciliation, both between Christian and Jew and between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslim. Often in danger, and always in pain, he has nevertheless been able to mediate between opposing extremes. A man of God, he is trusted by those who trust very few.

What is an eating disorder? What are the symptoms? What causes them? And is full recovery possible?

Eating disorders are a growing issue - at least 2% of females are now struggling with an eating disorder and studies amongst some groups such as teenage girls reveal much higher rates.

This accessible and practical book helps readers to come to a full understanding of eating disorders and the various stages involved in recovery. It is essential reading for sufferers, their family and friends and also the interested reader.

Writing from her experience of working with sufferers and drawing extensively on case histories, Dr Middleton explains what eating disorders are and why we develop them. Crucially, she offers guidance for setting out on the road to recovery.

This fascinating book brings together wisdom from around the world and through the ages.

Sources include the Bible, new science and new cosmology, native spirituality, folk stories, natural history, poetry and commentary on life situations by wise people (e.g. Desmond Tutu and Kahlil Gibran).

Themes include:

- Original wisdom (the wisdom that makes possible the universe we know)

- Natural wisdom (the wisdom in the created world)

- Native wisdom (the wisdom expressed in all human traditions from the earliest stages of our human journey)

- Life wisdom (practical wisdom we gather and pass on)

- Desert wisdom (wisdom we gather in the dark times)

- Guiding wisdom (the wisdom that gives us direction)

- Unfolding wisdom (the wisdom unfolding around us that reveals that we don't have all the answers).

The Way of Wisdom will appeal to all those searching for a deeper meaning and sense of connectedness in their lives.

An accessible, down-to-earth introduction to the central aspects of Christian history, this Pocket Guide includes the stories of its key events and characters, bringing a wide range of chronological, geographical and doctrinal history vividly to life.

From the early church to the twenty-first century, this concise and fascinating book is a lively survey of the world's most widespread religion.

Covering topics as diverse as the Apostles and Constantine, the Celtic Church and the division between East and West, the Reformation and the Enlightenment to the modern age, this is an indispensable resource for understanding a truly global phenomenon: Christianity.

How has Christ been seen for the last two millennia? From the Christ of the Gospels to the Isa of Islam, this book explores the way Jesus Christ has been viewed, described, promoted, opposed and written about.

What did the word 'Christ' mean in the first century, and how did it resonate with the politics and religion of the time? And beyond that, how was Jesus seen in the New Testament, and then onto the time of the Desert Fathers? What of the heretical Christs - and who decided, and why? And from the 2nd century onwards, people started to draw and to paint images of Christ - how did this change and develop? The book then traces the history of Christ through the militant leader of the Crusaders, via the multi-faceted Christ of the Middle Ages, and the opposing views of Him thrown up by the Reformation and the wars that followed. Finally, the authors consider the Christ of the technological age and the age of total war, before looking also at the Christ of Liberation Theology, Marxism, the Developing world, the Dalits, other faiths, and the Post-modern Christ of the 21st century.

John Muir is regarded as the 'father of America's national parks' and is a towering figure in the history of that country's involvement with ecology.

Born into a harsh home in Dunbar, Scotland he would often escape to revel in the birds and wildlife of the area. When his father suddenly uprooted the family and moved to the United States, the oppression he associated with his childhood continued - and so did his involvement with the natural world.

Despite the difficulty of his formative years Muir grew up to be a man of great joy - first an inventor and then an explorer, he found his haven in the mountains of Sierra Nevada. He was a fascinating character: on the one hand a recluse, who sought solitude, and on the other a passionate activist, determined to save the places he loved.

A strong believer in both God and the essential goodness of humanity, he was the founder and first president of the Sierra Club. This wonderful memoir pays tribute to a giant of ecology and is essential reading for lovers of natural history.

"The last few years have witnessed an unprecedented stream of blockbuster-style claims about the man from Nazareth. Believers and sceptics alike have hardly had time to process one controversial theory before the next one hits the market." Recent claims about the life of Jesus have raised many questions about the historicity of the man from Nazareth.

In this accessible book, John Dickson addresses such issues as: When and where was Jesus born? Did he marry? What should we make of the "miracles" he is reported to have performed? How should we treat the claim that he rose from the dead? And can we be sure that he even existed?

In eleven chapters - covering the historical reliability of the New Testament, Jesus' birth and family, his historical context, his teachings, miracles, death, resurrection and subsequent appearances. Dickson clears away the mists of speculation, revealing the founder of Christianity in sharp focus.

This is a must-read for anyone wanting a lucid response to the controversial conspiracy theories of the post-modern age.

Rowan Williams goes back to the fourth century desert fathers and mothers for inspiration and insight. In exploring their stories and spirituality, the Archbishop discovers that their spirituality resonates strongly with aspects of the modern spiritual search.

A bestselling title which draws inspiration from the desert fathers and mothers, now in paperback First published in hardback in November 2003, and having since sold over 11,000 copies in the UK alone, this highly acclaimed book from Rowan Williams (the first published since his enthronement as the Archbishop of Canterbury) is now available in an accessible paperback edition. In this inspirational and fascinating book, the Archbishop looks at the stories of the desert fathers and mothers - a group of Christian monks and nuns living in the Egyptian desert in the 3rd to 5th centuries - concentrating on the wisdom, insights and spirituality found in their writings.

In reflecting on the legacy of these extraordinary people and looking at how they lived their lives intimately with God, Rowan Williams contemplates how their spirituality resonates with and can inspire today's spiritual search to reach a unity with God and our fellow neighbours. Williams looks at various topics where the spiritual search of the desert fathers and mothers touches our own, including:

• living in relationship with others;
• discovering the truth about ourselves;
• reassessing our priorities; silence and the importance of language;
• living in a fearless community;
• living within our limitations;
• life and death; and staying and leaving;

"This is a beautifully written autobiography of a remarkable life. Farifteh Robb brilliantly tells her journey of faith and love across two cultures. I found it captivating and could not put it down." John Clark, Chairman of the Friends of the Diocese of Iran

Have you ever wondered what it is like to survive a revolution? To be a religious convert, adopting a different nationality and starting afresh in a new discipline? To fall deeply in love, despite the obstacles to a burgeoning relationship?

All of these things, and more, happened to Farifteh Robb. This is the fascinating and moving story of a woman's journey between two cultures - her Persian Muslim heritage and her Christian life in Scotland. It describes the challenges she faced in an Iran torn apart by political turmoil, and in her new life in the UK.

Written with passion, candid reflection, and a gentle wit, this is the story of a life lived in faith in a multicultural world.

Wisdom stories with a spiritual message have a special place on many people's bookshelves, providing Christian insight into the various issues that we face day by day.

This new collection of stories from master story teller, Margaret Silf, will provide a rich source of illumination to those who turn to it, whether that is for personal use and enjoyment, or for church or school use. Accessible and popular, these stories speak straight to the heart.

In 'Slaying the Dragons', professor and member of the Faculty of History at Wadham College, Oxford, Allan Chapman examines the claims of the 'New Atheists that: religion really belongs to an earlier phase of human development, and that nowadays science has taken its place as the yardstick of authority. But are science and religion friends or foes? There are a great many scientists of the highest intellectual distinction - ranging from cosmology to medical research, who make no bones about their faith and cannot understand what the 'New Atheists' are getting so worked up about.

Chapman explores whether anything has changed in the nature of scientific discovery to allow for the modern atheistic interpretations of science that did not exist in the past. He also examines whether or not modern discoveries in biology, brain science, cosmology and physics seriously undermine religious belief.

In this study, Allan Chapman examines popular misunderstandings about key events in the history of science-faith relations. He covers the major episodes such as Galileo's trial, the Wilberforce-Huxley debate and the Scopes trial of 1925, but also looks further back through the medieval period to the Classical age, revealing how these events have acquired mythical and misleading status.

Asking if religious modern scientists just the fools that new atheists paint them to be, or are the latter just so blind in their dogmatic brain-washing that they cannot see the bigger world beyond their test-tubes, 'Slaying the Dragons' exposes the atheists' worn-out tale which itself goes back centuries, and which they are trying to spice up with big helpings of rhetoric and ridicule.

"How am I supposed to keep going when all I want to do is hide? How does separation work. What are the ins-and-outs and complexities of divorce? Am I going to get through this?"

Ruth Clements divorce turned her world upside down, and now she guides the reader, with compassion and practical advice, on how to survive the maelstrom. Showing that there is always hope, and giving tips on how to deal with the practicalities of separation and divorce, Clements has written a guide that is warm, entertaining and practical.

This book will show you that there is a way through and will be your companion on the journey.

The Reformation marked a period of profound upheaval - one of the greatest turning points in the history of Christianity - and sent shock waves through the western world.

In this book, Andrew Atherstone traces the dramatic and compelling story from the Renaissance to the sixteenth-century wars of religion, following the action from its beginnings in Germany, through Switzerland, France, Italy, England, Scotland, and the Netherlands.

Focusing on the key personalities and events, he explains the often complex ideas that were at stake - and the political as well as religious issues involved.

This is a lucid, authoritative account of a movement that changed the face of Europe forever. The great figures, such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, are brought vividly to life in an accessible, lively and engaging overview of this critical period.

"It's naughty but nice." "I know I shouldn't really, but it will be fun and won't do any harm."

The idea of 'sin' today evokes smirks rather than shudders. We find it hard to see why our ancestors got so agitated about it: haven't we got beyond such prudery?

By examining each of The Seven Deadly Sins in turn, Graham Tomlin restores sin to its proper place as something to be deeply feared. He shows how contemporary culture reverses traditional wisdom and finds each sin seductive in different ways. Tomlin demonstrates that these practices are destructive habits that ruin lives, relationships and societies. Finally, he shows how the Christian faith offers resources to help defeat these habits and replace them with more constructive ones.

Writing for all those interested in personal spirituality and philosophy, the author offers an accessible guide to wise living.

Food is always a hot topic - Food waste, food banks, food miles, local versus imported. As we all need food, we can't ignore it. 
 

But as some families struggle without enough food to live on, others are challenged to consider how much they throw away, or how to make the food they have go further.
 
Which is why Claud Fullwood set herself the challenge of living on World War Two rations for Lent. It opened her eyes not only to issues of hunger and waste, but also to the many ways in which we have the power to fix our groaning food system, make our families stronger and our communities whole again.
 
The Rations Challenge takes the wisdom of World War Two and looks at how it can help us revolutionise how we live now. By learning the lessons our parents and grandparents lived by in the '30s and '40s, we can build a future that works for everyone.

Stress is a growing problem in modern life, with three out of five visits to the doctor attributed to stress-related problems. But what is it? Who does it affect? And what can be done about it?

This lucid and helpful book guides us through the symptoms and causes of stress, emphasizing that being stressed is not a sign of 'being weak' but an unavoidable challenge of twenty-first century life - in fact, often the most motivated and successful people experience the highest levels of stress.

Debunking the myth that you have to clear your calendar to feel less stressed, Dr Kate Middleton provides tried-and-tested techniques for handling this challenge effectively. Because handling stress well will help you feel better and achieve more, even if it won't make you super(wo)man.

Traidcraft was a true pioneer of the Fair Trade movement and has played a major role in changing the landscape of ethical shopping. This book charts the history of Traidcraft from its birth in 1979 up until its 40th anniversary in 2019. The story is told through the eyes of one of its longest serving members, Joe Osman, who joined Traidcraft in its early days. The book features stories and anecdotes covering his extensive experience of travelling and putting fair trade into practice.

Traidcraft was always an initiative rooted in the Christian faith and those origins are explored, as are the challenges of putting faith into action through a different way of doing business. Including contributions from many ex-members of staff, including its founder, as well as external collaborators and producers, this is a fascinating history of a truly revolutionary company.

Atheism is on the march in the western world, and its enemy is God. Religion, the "New Atheists" claim, "is dangerous", it "kills" or "poisons everything". And if religion is the problem with the world, their answer is simple: get rid of it.

But are things really so straightforward? Tackling the likes of Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett head on, John Lennox highlights the fallacies in the their approach, arguing that their irrational and unscientific methodology leaves them guilty of the same obstinate foolishness of which they accuse dogmatic religious folks.

Erudite and wide-ranging, Gunning for God packs some debilitating punches. It also puts forward new ideas about the nature of God and Christianity that will give the 'New Atheists' best friends and worst enemies alike some stimulating food for thought.

George Whitefield proclaimed the Christian message to more people in history than anyone else, before or since, who spoke with an unaided voice.

A preacher of revival almost form his childhood, when he prophesied his own destiny, he had a profound impact on the social, religious and political life of both Britain and America. He crossed the Atlantic thirteen times, and merged as a celebrity figure, whose message captivated both rich and poor alike. Whitefield heralded a new kind of revival that was both spiritually powerful and entertaining at the same time.

He was also a man of contradictions. He loved the Anglican liturgy but would happily break canon law. He was a devoted Puritan yet he was also able to befriend those with more liberal morals, Above all, Whitefield was a driven man, and his overwhelming passion was to preach New Birth in Christ - the theme he was to speak on over a thousand times. He valued education, opposed slavery, cared for orphan children and changed the course of both British and American history.

Islam is not the only religion that has sought to take political power, or believed that it should be possible to create a theocracy.

In the 17th century, Christians in the British Isles and North America attempted to follow the examples of 16th century European radicals of contrasting types, while attempting to learn from their mistakes - first in Scotland, and then Cromwell tried to impose just such a rule in the rest of the country.

At the same time, millenarian groups planned a religious, political and social revolution to usher in the return of Christ; while others argued for something akin to communism. And even after the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, there were sects, such as the Quakers, whose faith had a radical impact on their politics. Nor is Christian political radicalism dead today - it has influenced politicians ever since, and can be seen in recent political developments in the USA in the twenty-first century.

This book is a fascinating study of the ideas and actions of these political radicals and the kind of societies and life experiences that produced them.

Long before the successful The Lord of the Rings films, J.R.R. Tolkien's creations, imagination, and characters had captured the attention of millions of readers. But who was the man who dreamt up the intricate languages and perfectly crafted world of Middle-earth.

Tolkien had a difficult life, for many years: orphaned and poor, his guardian forbad him to communicate with the woman he had fallen in love with, and he went through the horrors of the First World War.

An intensely private and brilliant scholar, he spent over fifty years working on the languages, history, peoples and geography of Middle-earth, with a consistent mythology and body of legends inspired by a formidable knowledge of early northern European history and culture. J.R.R. Tolkien became a legend by creating an imaginary world that has enthralled and delighted generations.

This delightful and accessible biography brings him to life. Colin Duriez has appeared as a commentator on DVDs of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, and BBC television's The Worlds of Fantasy. He is also the author of The Inklings Handbook (with the late David Porter), J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis: The Story of Their Friendship, and Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, and has contributed to definitive reference works, The Tolkien Encyclopedia and a number of other tomes relating to Tolkien.

'The question of what it is to be a human person is the biggest intellectual question of our day.'

Keith Ward has taught philosophy and theology in British universities for the past 40 years, and he is now weighing in on a major intellectual battle: whether human persons are purely materialistic - nothing but matter - or whether there is another, deeply valuable part of us, which transcends our bodies in nature and moral worth: the soul.

For centuries philosophers have debated the question, but the battle has taken the limelight through the works of the New Atheists.

In this book Professor Ward guides the reader through a panoply of thinkers and traditions, arguing that there is more to humanity than bodies. In fact, he argues, there is more to the entire universe than the naked eye perceives. (And contrary to the New Atheist assertions, there are good philosophical arguments to back this up!)

What is post-traumatic stress disorder? What does it feel like? And how can it be overcome?

Trauma is a term that many of us find alienating and clinical. But in fact trauma is something most people encounter at some point in life, and post-traumatic stress - far from being a mental disorder - is a normal reaction to abnormal events: even breaking a bone or witnessing a car crash.

Drawing on 20 years of research and clinical practice, Roger Baker explains the many symptoms of post-traumatic stress and lays out a self help programme - emotional processing therapy - which can defuse the distressing memories of trauma and reduce the occurrence of flashbacks, nightmares and tensions.

Dr Baker also advises strategies to prevent post-traumatic stress in the first place.

Full of real-life case studies, this is essential reading for trauma sufferers, their family and friends, and specialists alike.

"This isn't just a relationship self help guide - although every young man should pick it up and read it […] This book outlines how couples who decide to commit to sticking together are more likely to do so than those who simply slide into an ever more constrained relationship.”

Frank Young, Head of Family Policy, Centre for Social Justice

You're in a relationship. Maybe you’ve been together for a while or you are just starting out. Maybe you’re living together or just thinking about it. It seems great. But you want to be sure.

With the decline of marriage, the relationship game has changed. Yet we’re still not very sure about how to play it. Moving in together early on has become the new social norm, but it’s not risk-free. The nature of cohabitation itself can encourage ambiguity and drift in a promising relationship and make it hard to end an unpromising one.

Accepting that cohabitation is here to stay, Harry Benson offers a roadmap to navigate the ups-and-downs of modern relationships. Drawing on the latest research on relationships and commitment, he introduces the Two-Year Rule and other Rules for Romance that will help couples make the right choices, find the reliable love they seek, and, ultimately, to "commit or quit".

The stories of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends have delighted generations of children and adults, but what do we know of the man who created them?

A devoted pastor and family man, the Reverend W Awdry first started telling the stories in order to amuse his own children, with no idea that the characters would lead to a global phenomenon that now, seventy years after their first appearance, shows no signs of waning.

In this fascinating and warm biography, prolific author Brian Sibley brings to life one of the most eminent children's writers of the twentieth century, tracing his story from his Edwardian childhood through his time at University and into World War 2. A convinced pacifist, Awdry was thrown out of one curacy and denied another, because of his beliefs. Never afraid to fight for what he thought was right, he argued with his publishers and his illustrators, demanding the best for his favourite creations - the trains and their friends.

Now in its third volume, Reverend Malcolm Duncan’s hugely popular #Niteblessings invites you again to encounter God at the close of each day.

Each of these blessings offers an opportunity to lay down the burdens of the day and meaningfully engage with the Holy Spirit. Simply written, yet profound, moving and insightful, this book will renew and strengthen you for your daily walk with God.

Sue Atkinson, author of the highly acclaimed "Climbing out of Depression and Building Self-Esteem", turns her attention to the subject of sexual and emotional abuse. Writing from her own experience, she gets alongside survivors to offer hope and guidance.

The book is divided into 5 sections: The start of it all; Deciding to heal; Understanding the chains; Working through the pain; and, Starting to heal.

The book is written in practical style with concrete advice and excellent pointers. The text is broken up into short sections to make it easy to digest.

Now you can journey through the Bible from your living room chair!

Journey through the Bible is a unique resource that approaches the Bible story by story. In these pages you will discover around 250 of our favourite Bible stories presented with background information in word and picture. 

This storehouse of authentic material includes these features:

• OVER 400 COLOURFUL PAGES OF PHOTOGRAPHS, DRAWINGS, MAPS, AND CHARTS
• MORE THAN 100 DRAWINGS FROM OBJECTS OR MONUMENTS OF BIBLE TIMES
• OVER 200 PHOTOGRAPHS OF BIBLE LANDS TODAY
• PHOTOGRAPHS OF MORE THAN 50 ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES
• SCORES OF RECONSTRUCTIONS AND DIAGRAMS
• DOZENS OF COLOURFUL MAPS.

This easy-to-read, visual exploration of the Bible allows you to follow the narrative from Genesis to Revelation. The stories of Scripture will come alive as you travel through Bible lands and times. You will discover how ancient people really lived – the foods they ate, the homes they lived in, the clothes they wore, the work they performed.

Every library – home, church, and school – will want this complete reference work on its shelves. It will enrich children’s and youth session preparation, Bible storytelling, family devotions, and Bible study. Journey through the Bible is unparalleled as a user-friendly resource.

What does Christmas mean to you?

'Angels from the realms of glory'?
'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire'?
'Rocking around the Christmas tree'?

In this joyful and surprising collection, award-winning broadcasters and musicians Carrie and David Grant open the songbook of Christmas - from ancient carols to modern chart-toppers.

With behind-the-scenes stories, personal memories, and reflections on the hope at the heart of the season, this beautiful gift book will help you hear these songs in a whole new way - and remind you why they matter more than ever.

Contents
1 Songs from long ago
Including: Ding Dong! Merrily on High, O Come all Ye Faithful and The Holly and the Ivy
2 Best-loved carols
Including: Away in a Manger, In the Bleak Mid Winter and Silent Night
3 Holiday songs
Including: Let it Snow! White Christmas and Winter Wonderland
4 Time to party!
Including: Merry Xmas Everybody, Rocking Around the Christmas Tree and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
6 Friends and family
Including: All I Want for Christmas is You, Feliz Navidad and Last Christmas
7 Songs for the world
Including: Do They Know it's Christmas? , Happy Xmas (War is Over) and When a Child is Born

"Insightful, honest and very down-to-earth. I so wish there had been a book like this when I was a single dad." Steve Legg, editor, Sorted magazine

This is a book that comes alongside the reader as a travel guide and walks through the journey via a step-by-step approach. 

Walking the Single Parent Journey offers the reader a chance for self-discovery, of coming to terms with the pains and effects of the past in order to boldly face the challenges that lie ahead. The book discusses the everyday struggles and issues that single parents face, whilst offering advice and tips on managing and dealing with them successfully. The author encourages the reader to create systems and put strategies in place to help make life easier, drawing on her own experiences.

The story of the World War 2 de-coders of Bletchley Park continues to fascinate.

How did Mair Thomas, a musician brought up in the Welsh valleys, find herself in the rarefied atmosphere of Hut Six, surrounded by hundreds of others, all desperately trying to break the German Enigma Code?

Sworn to secrecy and working in cramped and uncomfortable conditions, Mair discovered her degree in German and Music was just what was needed. Drawn from the public schools and Oxbridge her background was very different to that of most of her colleagues and she didn't immediately fit in. This captivating memoir unpacks her daily life and explores the relationships she built.

My Secret Life in Hut Six provides a fascinating insight into one woman's battle against Nazi Germany vividly capturing an era of danger, strain and day to day difficulties that were brightened occasionally by visits from the top brass, such as Winston Churchill.