I believe a key to the quality of "European Reformations" (ER) is the use of the plural in the title which is followed up in text. Lindberg has an ability to convey ideas, concepts, etc. better than most authors especially in this complex subject area of religious and socio-political change. Even if one has no significant familiarity with the often called "Reformation," you will quickly gain valuable insights as well as understanding that might not be as easily seen in the works of other authors. It certainly will prompt one to pursue further study as one realizes the various impacts on the world which are still evident today. It certainly makes quite clear that the reformation of church, politics and culture began well before the 16th century. The interaction of characters, events, and the reformations is more clearly explained than in other works within the same genre. Another factor that makes this book an excellent read and resource is that the author clarifies quite a few things that other books fail to do. An example is the "Peasants War." People often have a concept that those involved were of one class, the poorest of the poor. This is not so and is explained well by Lindberg.

This book is of benefit to read for anyone irrespective of their religious beliefs if only for the social and historical perspectives it provides and clarifies.

I just recommended this book to a friend only to find that he had read it three times already and has been a doctoral student of the author. "ER" is certainly worth purchasing and making part of your personal library.

I much liked this book on the Reformations, readable, informative and well written. The author makes a credible case about the plural in the title. It is well and clearly written and gives a real and lively 'feel' of the human angle and controversies surrounding these latter-day Reformist 'Church Fathers'; People like Luther, Zwingli, Karlstadt and Calvin come from the pages as human and not as dry names with dates attached to them. I also appreciated the broad sociopolitical context in which their lives & times are presented.
Although not a specialist in the field at all, i do think that the author presents clearly the theological arguments as such for a layman reader such as myself. However, I do sometimes get the impression that he oversimplifies, perhaps for the sake of brief clarity. I also wonder whether all that was theologically controversial and interesting during the Reformation only took place in German-speaking areas? On the other hand, perhaps that was indeed were the main action was.
The author does create the impression that many of the theological ideas emerging during the Reformations were actually new (or does nothing to dispel that idea). Although in some senses undoubtedly innovative, one can argue that many of the concepts were not new at all, and often can be traced to ideas that were alive and kept reemerging, throughout the earlier history of Christianity, often also with solid Catholic antecedents. However, people like Luther believed their insights were new and different from what they thought of as suffocating and terrifying Catholic orthodoxy. And to them that made all the difference. In any case, I thoroughly and unexpectedly enjoyed this book and i rate it as highly recommended.

What the heck. This one is just plain READABLE. Many books contain the same--or more--information. A good example is Williston Walker's book on Christian history. But Lindberg conveys the information with a style that makes the reading enjoyable and informative. Given the amount of information that is encompassed and the time scale covered it is great to have a book that makes the subject matter come alive.

This is a must-read. Lindberg's introduction to the Reformation not only weaves an exciting narrative about the men and women (mostly men) who shaped the Reformation, but provides insight to the culture that produced them with real sympathy and conviction.

In addition to the expected chapters on Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, the "radical reformers" et al, Lindbergh explains the Reformations (notice the plural--a key point of Lindberg's) as they unfolded uniquely in various countries and in response to peculiar stimuli. Political, social, and economic ramifications are also explored to some degree. Despite all this weighty content, Lindberg's writing is easy to read, his argument effortless. "The European Reformations" sheds light on both the 16th century and our own. I strongly recommend it.

Carter Lindberg, Professor of Church History at Boston University School of Theology, and specialist on the Reformation, offers here a piece of scholarship that will be the definitive work on reformation initatives in handling the problem of poverty, at least from a Lutheran perspective.

Lindberg's book is divided into two sections: (1) a historical presentation of reformation initiatives for the poor; (2) a collection of a dozen primary sources related to this subject. Firstly, the historical presentation, which covers the first 160 odd pages of the book, shows impressive erudition with an incredible wealth of footnotes (perhaps excessive) numbering almost two hundred per chapter. Lindberg's writing is not terribly engaging and will not likely win new fans for reformation history studies, but for the medieval historian, or the layperson who is already interested in this subject, this is tolerable. Certainly the writing is clear enough, and Lindberg first points out the historiographical context in which he is engaging before chronicling the reformation initiatives for the poor.

His point is that policy concerning the poor was in fact (and contrary to other scholars' views) affected by theological concerns, most notably a change from medieval notions of earning up salvation through almsgiving, towards the idea (re-introduced by Luther) that salvation cannot be obtained that way, and that rather giving is the natural duty of the Christian arising out of the state of forgiveness and salvation by grace through faith. He gives ample evidence to support his claims, drawn to a large part from documents which he includes in the second half of his book. Thus his argument should be taken into account by social historians who might want to downplay the importance of theology and individuals like Luther.

More entertaining than Lindberg's narrative are the primary sources contained in the second half. These are: 1. Canon Law (post-1140), 2. Jacques de Vitry, a sermon illustration, 3. John Hus "On Charity Trusts", 4. Johann Geiler of Kaysersberg "Concerning Begging", 5. Nuremberg Begging Order of 1478, 6. A Forward by Martin Luther, 7. Erasmus "Beggar Talk", 8. Andreas Bodenstein "There Should Be No Beggars Among Christians", 9. Martin Luther "Clergy Should Preach Against Usury", 10. "Concerning the Common Chest of Schwabach", 11. Order of Wittenberg (1522), 12. Poor Order of Ypres (1525).

The book also contains a bibliography, and the footnotes should provide additional reading for the serious scholar.

In summary, a very useful and necessary book for anyone interested in the subject, especially given the controversy surrounding religion-based social work even today, but not light reading or introductory material for those unfamiliar with the field.