Tozer 10 Box Set - Review

AW Tozer was one of the men who held the fort in 20th century evangelicalism between C.H. Spurgeon and Martyn Lloyd-Jones. His perceptive critique of the superficialities of Fundamentalism and the dangerous compromises with the world that others fell into are still as relevant as ever. Although he wrote a relatively small number of books during his own lifetime, his sermons and collected writings from various periodicals have been released over the years, making up more than 40 books, many of them classics.

Tozer has never really 'gone away', his books have been in print for years from a variety of publishers. Nevertheless, the last couple of years have seen a resurgence in Tozer materials in print, beginning with the publication of Lyle Dorsett's excellent biography A Passion for God (Moody, 2008). This year has already seen the publication of a paperback edition of James Snyder's biography of Tozer, In Pursuit of God, and new volumes of Tozer sermons edited by Snyder.

Tozer's books, like those of Spurgeon, have a timeless quality, which accounts for their continued popularity among discerning Christians. While I am a decided Calvinist for Biblical reasons, and Tozer did not regard himself as a Calvinist, I appreciate Tozer's clarity and perception.

The new Tozer books that are coming out ought not to distract from the Tozer classics. This finally brings me to the collection that I am reviewing - the ten volume Tozer set produced by Authentic Media. This collection contains ten of Tozer's classics, The Pursuit of God, The Root of the Righteous, That Incredible Christian, The Knowledge of the Holy, Man: The Dwelling Place of God, God Tells the Man Who Cares, Whatever Happened to Worship?, The Set of the Sail, This World: Playground or Battleground?, and I Talk Back to the Devil! The ten volumes are all in paperback, with attractive and striking covers (see example) and interlocking spines. They are typeset in a very readable way, and quite user-friendly. The collection is presented in a simple slip-case adorned with thumbnails of the cover images from the volumes.

Tozer is essential reading for pastors and ordinary Christians alike. He wrote for all the Church, and although most of the writings in these books were originally written as editorials, they speak to our day as well as to Tozer's own day. This is a set that the thoughtful evangelical cannot afford to ignore. It will be a treasured part of your library if you get it - trust me!

The Tozer 10 Box Set is published by Authentic Media and retails at £35.00. It is available from your local Christian Bookshop, and unless you don't have one within twenty miles, buy it from there. If you live more than 20 miles from a Christian bookshop, go and find the Authentic Media website. That or if you want Christian bookshops to close.