Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the answers to some of the questions our readers have been asking. If you have a question that does not appear, please direct it to questions@christianbooksummaries.com.

What is a book summary?

A summary is a 5,000-word encapsulation of the book's core content—designed to give the reader the key points and the gist of the book. A summary is not an extended book review; rather it is a thorough presentation of the book's main points, absent any comment on whether we like the book or not.

Why do you only summarize books from Christian publishers?

Noting that other segments of society were benefiting from book summaries we recognized that the Christian community would likewise benefit from a similar service. We typically summarize important new releases from a variety of evangelical publishing companies, as well as select “Christian classics” from the ages.

How are books selected?

Our editorial team selects books on the basis of several criteria, including:

• Is the author a significant “thinker” with whom the church should be more engaged?

• Does the book offer insight that we believe would benefit the church?

• Is the book fresh, addressing an issue in a unique way?
  Is the book thought provoking?

• Will the book prod and move the reader to act?

• Does the book place emphasis on an issue that the Christian community is overlooking?

• Is the Christian community devouring the book? (“Should the book be devoured?” is a question that we do not aim to answer. We think that it will be helpful for thinking Christians to be empowered to enter into the dialogue by knowing what the author’s main focus and points are, if the book is one that is being devoured).

Is Christian Book Summaries linked in any way to any book publishing organization?

Christian Book Summaries is registered in the State of Ohio as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation. We are not linked to any other organization. We are independent.

How can these summaries be offered free of charge?

As stated above, Christian Book Summaries is a not-for-profit corporation. Our ministry has been established to offer high quality book summaries to “thinking Christians” whose personal, professional and spiritual direction will be enriched as a result of reading them.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to Christian Book Summaries, please contact our publisher at publisher@christianbooksummaries.com.

What will Christian Book Summaries do with my e-mail address?

If you choose to provide us with your e-mail address through our Summary Notification Service we will notify you each time that new summaries are posted to our web site. You will then know when to visit the site to download the summaries if you are interested in those particular ones. Christian Book Summaries does not sell or rent e-mail addresses to any third party (see our Privacy Policy.)

May I print these summaries, reproduce them, and pass them along to friends?

Yes, we would like you to enjoy them and share them. You are welcome to forward particular summaries electronically, forward our URL, and invite friends and colleagues to sign up for our Summary Notification Service. We only ask that you do not amend our summaries in any way, and that you make them available free of charge to people and groups you think will find them useful. For more details, visit our Copyright and Distribution Policy page.