40 Favorite Hymns of the Christian Faith
A Closer Look at Their Spiritual and Poetic Meaning

When I die, my memorial service could simply be a lengthy hymn sing. I first heard hymns sung in utero. After I was born, my mom and dad (and my six older siblings) held me as they sang, my baby ear pressed against their chests. Hymns have been the hallmark of my life. Leland Ryken guides readers th......more

This was a slow read when I started - I think for the average reader, (being someone not super involved with poetry or music) the academic nature of the content can be a bit jarring. I suspect in hindsight that I expected it to feel more philosophical or devotional rather than analytical. However, p......more

A refreshing addition to the world of hymnology, since this book focuses on the words to some of our best hymns rather than the history behind them (though history does factor into the analysis at times). Although most of these hymns were quite familiar to me, I found myself considering them in new......more

Leland Ryken has done it again! This is a companion book to 40 Favorite Hymns on the Christian Life. He looks at the poetry of hymns associated with six different seasons/events: New Year, Good Friday, Easter, Reformation Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Ryken looks more at the literary details tha......more

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - too often I focus on the music and harmony more than the words and their meaning, so I found it helpful to look at hymns through the lens of poetry.......more