The text of Edwards, Concerning the marks of the Spirit of God is much easier to read than his other works (although Sproul modernizes the text--this probably a good thing for many of Edwards' sentences would go on for pages). I would recommend this book for the challenge it offers Bible Believers (who else could be involved in a revival?) as they pray for revival. May God raise up another Edwards to combat the secularist, charismatic, postmodern onslought facing our churches!

*STAR*The Spoken Word Revolution: Slam, Hip-Hop, and the Poetry of a New Generation. Ed. by Mark Eleveld and Marc Smith. Apr. 2003. 256p.index. Sourcebooks...(1-4022-0037-4). 811.

Poetry began as an oral tradition and has circled back to its "live" roots in a movement known as the spoken-word revolution. Thanks to the innovators profiled in this delineating anthology, poetry is now performed, often competitively and quite dramatically, in front of large and enthusiastic audiences in bars and coffeehouses all over the world. Editor Eleveld, a high-school teacher in Joliet, Illinois, cofounder of EM Press, and an eloquent champion of spoken-word poetry, has joined forces with Smith, the acclaimed Chicago-based poet and creator of the poetry slam, to trace the evolution of spoken-word poetry from the Beats to rap, hip-hop, and performance art. The result is a dynamic and clarifying volume chock-full of fresh and informative commentary by the likes of Billy Collins, Marvin Bell, and Jerry Quickley and an exciting array of knock-out poems by Patricia Smith, Tara Betts, Jeff McDaniel, Roger Bonair-Agard, Bob Holman, Regie Gibson, DJ Renegade, Jean Howard, Luis Rodriguez, Saul Williams, Sherman Alexie, and many more. Eleveld and his contributors not only celebrate the verve, artistry, and significance of performance poetry but also anchor it firmly within the splendid, age-old, and life-sustaining universe of poetry, where it so rightfully belongs. And speaking of spoken, an accompanying CD presents poets performing
their work.-D.S.

YA: Accessible and lively poetry, hip page design, poets' bios, and anecdotal commentary make this a natural for teens. Donna Seaman.