Just in time for Halloween, I had a chance to read "The Vampire Defanged: How the Embodiment of Evil Became a Romantic Hero" by Susannah Clements.

Now, if you know me, you know I hate vampires. I've hated vampires ever since I was old enough to know what vampires were. But anyone who studies and writes about popular culture these days has to grapple with their pervasive presence on the scene, and what that means. (And that's how I became BreakPoint's reluctant in-house "Twilight" expert.) Because from Anne Rice's books to "True Blood" to "The Vampire Diaries," they're everywhere.

That's why I recommend this thoughtful, well-researched book. Clements, a professor at Regent University, examines the historical, cultural, and spiritual significance of vampires, and the shift in their portrayal over the years. As her subtitle makes clear, that shift says something important about how we view good and evil, and what we do with that understanding.

If you have to know something about vampires -- and nowadays, more and more of us do -- I can think of few better authors to consult.

(I also recommend Ken Myers's interview with Clements on Mars Hill Audio Journal.)