Why the Bible Began: An alternative history of scripture and its origins by Jacob L. Wright (Cambridge University Press, £25 (£22.50); 978-1-108-49093-1).

“For Jacob Wright, the Bible is not only a testimony of survival, but also an unparalleled achievement in human history.”

Mirror of Obedience: The poems and selected prose of Simone Weil, translated and edited by Silvia Caprioglio Panizza and Philip Wilson (Bloomsbury, £14.99 (£13.49); 978-1-350-25068-0).

“Simone Weil (1909-1943) was one of the foremost French philosophers of the 20th century; a mystic, activist, and writer whose profound work continues to intrigue and inspire today. Mirror of Obedience collects together Weil's poetry and autobiographical writings translated into English for the first time.”

God’s Church for God’s World: Reports, addresses and calls from the Lambeth Conference 2022, edited by Stephen Spencer (SCM Press, £19.99 (Church Times SPECIAL OFFER PRICE £15.99); 978-0-334-06551-7).

“By identifying key theological, cultural, and practical issues for mission partnerships, this book aims to provide best practices for missions to thrive around the world. In an era where partnership and communion seem to be under threat, this book re-imagines mission partnership in a diverse and pluralist world. ”


Selected by Frank Nugent, of the Church House Bookshop, which operates the Church Times Bookshop.