“The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture” by Shane Hipps is a really interesting book. What really got my attention was the subtitle: “How media shapes faith, the gospel, and culture.” I will say that Shane explained this flawlessly. There’s stuff I really liked that challenged me, and other stuff that I wasn’t as moved by. I really liked how Shane broke down the fact that media is an extension of who we are. That the medium doesn’t just convey the message, it morphs it. He said, “The medium is the message.”

This is a great book for Pastors and people in media ministry to read for sure. The section on video venues is sure to cause a stir. I think his observations are definitely worth considering. I didn’t find the book to be an easy read, but books of a more technical nature usually aren’t.

I think Shane was a bit gracious to the Emerging movement of which he seems to be a card carrying member. Yet he even had some constructive things to say to that group and how the “Consumer mentality” that so many Emerging church leaders loathe, has even crept into their camp.

I’d give the book 3 1/2 stars and I’d recommend it if you are interested in how the mediums we use to communicate the Gospel, actually can communicate a different message than we want it to.