At Your Fingertips

There is a tremendous resource that you should be aware of at http://books.google.com.



This resource allows anyone to search for book titles and other information, including "Limited Previews" of a large number of relevant books. Other sites have attempted this, most notably Amazon.com, but with these sites the preview function often limits your views to about 10 pages or so.

Google's site takes a different approach, posting almost the entire contents of the book online, and then omitting a couple of pages every now and then. Users with a free Google account can create their own "library" of books. The image above is a screenshot of some of the books in my library that I have started to create.

I was very impressed to find that most - if not all - of the commentaries from the NICNT and NIGNT volumes were available with the limited preview. There is also a great collection of Lloyd-Jones' books. For example, try the following link to a chapter on the holiness of God:

Lloyd-Jones: Studies in 1 John

David has recommended Beale's commentary on Revelation as a good resource for study (not that we agree with everything in it, or even some of his basic conclusions) while we are studying through it. So, by clicking on the link below, you will find Beale's commentary on the passage we looked at yesterday!

Revelation 3:6 in the NIGTC

If you look in the frame on the right side of the screen, you will find an option to search for words or phrases inside the book you are viewing!

You will also find the full text of older books online as well, however these are often scanned from volumes of public libraries and the quality is not always the most desirable. However, I found full volumes such as the Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, Josephus, and the Olney Hymns.

You can view my library here. As you will find, right now it is mainly commentaries and also a bunch of Lloyd-Jones and D.A. Carson. Please note that although most of the books on my library are good and solid, they are not necessarily whole-hearted recommendations. From time to time I add books to my library for convenience as I am research topics or studies. However, these books may take a completely different stand than I believe or even find acceptable...so don't think I am encouraging the book just because it is there!

This is no substitute for buying a good book, but if you find your book fund money going to buy gasoline and you just want to get the main points of a good book, or if you are doing research give Google Books a shot!

Happy Googling!!!