I recently came across at my local bookstore called: The Ultimate Guide To Defend Your Faith by Doug Powell. I had never heard of Doug Powell before picking this up, but after opening it, I found a ton of great content inside.
Whether you are a beginner or a well-seasoned veteran in the realm of apologetics, this little book has something to offer. Even though it is physically small, it definitely surprised me.
What’s Inside: The Core Arguments
A quick glance at the back cover shows that the chapters cover major foundational topics, including:
What is Apologetics?
Does God Exist?
The Cosmological Argument
The Teleological Argument
The Moral Argument
Exploring Which God Exists
Looking inside, the introduction page leads into a robust table of contents. The book clocks in at 14 chapters across 175 pages of main chapter material, with back matter content pushing the total closer to 200 pages. Published in 2019, it even includes excellent introductory pieces like “How Apologetics Changed My Life” by Lee Strobel.
What I Love: Visuals and Layout
Right off the bat, one of the things I love most about this book is the inclusion of full-colour pictures. Not many apologetics books do this, and I was incredibly impressed by the visual presentation. It keeps the material engaging and prevents the text from feeling too overwhelming.
The book references some of the greatest minds in the field, like C.S. Lewis and William Lane Craig. I am still working my way through it, but I am very engaged. I am actually quite surprised that this book isn’t mentioned more often in mainstream apologetics circles, especially since it has been out for a few years.
The Downsides: Small Font and a Bold Title
If I had to note a challenge, it would be the text size. The font point is ridiculously small. I understand the publishers wanted to cram a massive amount of information into a compact physical layout, but I would have gladly accepted a larger book size or an expanded 300-page count if it meant the font size could be bigger. It is a lot of text crammed into a tight space.
If I have one other minor critique, it is the title itself: The Ultimate Guide to Defend Your Faith. That is a very bold claim. Words like “ultimate” should be reserved for the absolute best or most superior resources, and I don’t think a 200-page book quite reaches that status. In my opinion, the book that comes closest to being the “ultimate” apologetics resource is Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh and Sean McDowell—that book is an absolute beast.
Final Verdict and Pricing
It turns out this book is part of a larger series tackling different topics and issues. The format almost reminds me of the Answer Book series from several years ago, which featured similar-sized books with contributions from various authors.
Best of all, these books are quite inexpensive, retailing for around ten dollars American. If you check the Lifeway website, they frequently go on sale for 50% off, bringing them down to about five dollars each. Even at full price, ten dollars is an incredible value for the amount of helpful information you receive.
Despite the ambitious title, Doug Powell’s book is an excellent starter guide no matter where you are in your walk or where you stand in the realm of apologetics. If you get a chance, check it out and see what you think!
