One of the best books on theology and culture to come out of the 20th Century; this quick read blew my mind. The only word I can think of for it is "pOne of the best books on theology and culture to come out of the 20th Century; this quick read blew my mind. The only word I can think of for it is "prophetic."...more
This is one of the best Stephen King books I’ve ever read. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so invested in a story, desperately zipping through tThis is one of the best Stephen King books I’ve ever read. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so invested in a story, desperately zipping through to have all my questions answered. This is about as thrilling as a thriller can get.
By contrast, the ending was slightly underwhelming, not bad but just didn’t quite keep up the same intensity that the beginning jumped into. But it doesn’t keep it from being a classic King novel.
Also, on a philosophical note, The Outsider is a fictional primer on agnosticism. King, who grew up in church and came to reject the Christian faith, now describes himself as agnostic. This book is a nearly flawless representation of the fundamental tenet of agnosticism: the natural realm confronting an unknowable and undefinable supernatural reality. There’s no gospel—there’s no Christ. But there is a man who is faced with unavoidable powers he doesn’t believe in. And he has no idea how to respond....more
What a marvelous story, full of adventure. I think I'd only read an abridged version as a kid. This is a classic for a reason!What a marvelous story, full of adventure. I think I'd only read an abridged version as a kid. This is a classic for a reason!...more
An excellent manifesto on the sustainability of God-honoring farming. The theology was lacking, but if you get past that, the practical applications oAn excellent manifesto on the sustainability of God-honoring farming. The theology was lacking, but if you get past that, the practical applications of farming here are good....more
I don’t typically read a lot of psychology/data analysis literature but this was a pretty good commentary on the power of perseverance in achieving goI don’t typically read a lot of psychology/data analysis literature but this was a pretty good commentary on the power of perseverance in achieving goals. As someone who is pursuing ambitious writing goals, it’s easy to look at NYT bestselling authors and think, “I’ll never have that kind of talent.” But Duckworth makes a compelling case that what we think of as “talent” is really just GRIT: endurance, habits, tenacity, and practice, practice, practice. Definitely some good lessons here....more
Read for seminary. A fully immersive look at Augustine’s life. A little too academically verbose for my tastes, but then, it is a biography of AugustiRead for seminary. A fully immersive look at Augustine’s life. A little too academically verbose for my tastes, but then, it is a biography of Augustine. ...more
A solid, thought-provoking look at the subtle ways our phones affect our daily lives. For me it was a good reminder that whether I eat or drink, or hoA solid, thought-provoking look at the subtle ways our phones affect our daily lives. For me it was a good reminder that whether I eat or drink, or hold a smartphone in my hand, I should do all for the glory of God....more
Now that I'm done reading this classic, I'm beating myself up for waiting 34 years to read it. What an absolute masterclass of writing plot: thrillingNow that I'm done reading this classic, I'm beating myself up for waiting 34 years to read it. What an absolute masterclass of writing plot: thrilling suspense, foreshadowing, climactic buildup--it's all nearly perfect. It's amazing to think that it was written in the 19th Century, and displays all of the characteristics of even modern-day bestsellers. Just goes to show the timelessness of literature!
The Christian themes, too, are subtly and expertly woven in: depravity, the enslavement of sin, the pursuit of purity.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is Mina Harker. She is a nearly flawless execution of a female character. I watched a video recently about creating strong female characters, and the point of the video was this: that making a female character more masculine doesn't necessarily make her a stronger character. Rather, complexity is the key to character development.
That being the case, Mina Harker is an incredibly strong female character. She demonstrates courage, wisdom, perseverance, faith, resolve--all while remaining classically feminine. Remaining spoiler-free, it's safe to say that the book wouldn't have gone the way it did without her resolve and strength of will, but all the while her highest aim is to be a devoted wife to her husband. Funny how a female character can do both!
All that said, this may have just become one of my favorite novels ever....more
A very beautiful story, with a poetic cadence. Lots to think about. From a biblical perspective, there are considerations to take into account: Paul’sA very beautiful story, with a poetic cadence. Lots to think about. From a biblical perspective, there are considerations to take into account: Paul’s narrative highlights personal experience (particularly shared, relational experience) as that which gives life meaning. And as a neurosurgeon, much of his understanding of humanity is shaped by the human brain. It’s pretty clear in the book that he viewed brain activity (and the experiences that come from a functioning brain) as the defining characteristic of what gives humans their humanity. There’s a lot to chew on right there—especially in his brief discussion of God and what he calls “capital T Truth.” For Paul, what drew him back to Christianity from the atheism of his med-student years was, he says, the inability of atheism to account for transcendent human experiences: love, hate, etc. Very, very interesting stuff....more
I'm reading two books for my early church history class in seminary--a light, breezy one and a dense, weighty one. This is the dense, weighty one. A gI'm reading two books for my early church history class in seminary--a light, breezy one and a dense, weighty one. This is the dense, weighty one. A good, solid look at the development of early doctrines, but not for the faint of heart!...more
Man, I don’t have anything bad to say about this book. Light, fast-paced, laugh-out-loud comedy (the protagonist is basically Robert Cath in space) wiMan, I don’t have anything bad to say about this book. Light, fast-paced, laugh-out-loud comedy (the protagonist is basically Robert Cath in space) with moments of piercing emotion… if this is what Andy Weir is like all the time, I’ll be reading more.
Before becoming an author, Weir was a computer programmer and self-described astronomy nerd, so he definitely puts the SCI in Sci-Fi. The math, the calculations, the scientific analysis—most of it went over my head but Weir makes it understandable and exciting. And with all that knowledge, he can write about interstellar travel and alien life forms in a way that sounds more believable than any Sci-Fi entertainment I’ve ever experienced.
He does obviously deal with strong themes of evolution and climate change (putting the FI in Sci-Fi), but even though evolution runs through the whole book, it never feels preachy or overbearing. And even the one character who mentions God is quirky and funny and genuinely nice about it.
Typically I’m not a fan of first-person present-tense narratives. Maybe I just associate it with YA fiction or sleazy adult stories. And I reserve 5-star ratings for my favorite books of all time. But this one gets 4.5 stars. Heck, 4.75. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that has got me so excited to dive back in after being away for a day.
And Ray Porter on the Audible narration is fan-flippin-tastic....more
I’m still processing this one, so I’m not sure how best to review it. On the one hand, I find myself wondering what I’m seeing in other reviews: it’s I’m still processing this one, so I’m not sure how best to review it. On the one hand, I find myself wondering what I’m seeing in other reviews: it’s unclear who the audience is. I don’t think it will convince any non-Calvinists of the doctrines of grace, especially those who have been burned by arrogant Calvinists. It seems more likely to provide them with more ammunition. (“Yes! This is why I’m not a Calvinist, because they’re all so condescending!”) And for the Calvinists, I think Medders deals somewhat in caricatures. We can all think of the Calvinist Internet trolls, but then again, the Internet turns a lot of people into trolls. As I started the book, I thought, “Most—if not all—of the Calvinists I know don’t fit into these stereotypes.”
An example: Medders likens arrogant Calvinists to the praying Pharisee, saying loudly, “God, I thank you that I am not like this [Arminian] man!” But I don’t know, it’s been my experience that Calvinists tend to ride the hyper-tax-collector train. The Calvinists I know actually take pride in how well they can beat their breasts and call themselves sinners.
But, the book still rings true in my life, as just the other day, I had an opportunity to be a humble Calvinist and I chose to be condescending. I responded to someone I care about (who is decidedly not a Calvinist) in a way that certainly communicated my disapproval of Christians who believe we can “pray the rain away.” I could have lovingly chosen to explain why the Bible teaches that we cannot control the weather with our prayers, but I chose instead to dismiss any opinion other than mine. I had to ask for that person’s forgiveness.
So, all that to say, this one gets four stars because it’s true, haha.
Also, I thoroughly enjoyed his chapter on Limited Atonement. Solidly theological and a great explanation of how practical the doctrine should be in our lives....more
On the one hand, I have to give Johnson credit where credit is due: it was a clever mystery that really had me guessing untMixed feelings on this one.
On the one hand, I have to give Johnson credit where credit is due: it was a clever mystery that really had me guessing until the end. (It's also the first of a trilogy so the mystery wasn't resolved.) The writing had its moments of wit and charm but also some stereotypical YA clichés.
On the other hand, here is a perfect example of how saturated our culture is with progressivism. I'm giving the book 3 stars because I don't want to come across merely as being triggered by the never-ending stream of post-postmodern snipes at conservative values; still, the characters in the book (mostly teenagers who I couldn't relate to at all--maybe because I'm a curmudgeonly old man or maybe because they were all exaggeratingly angsty) didn't seem like real people at all. They were just instruments in Johnson's hands to push a narrative that our progressive society desperately wishes was reality: social outcasts tearing down the traditions of conservatism and saving the day.
If the defining characteristic of postmodernism was "you speak your truth and I'll speak mine," then the defining characteristic of post-postmodernism is, "If I speak my truth over and over again, it will become objective reality."
For example: How many times is the politician Edward King referred to in one form or another as a "rich, racist tyrant"? (One character says of him that "he just wants to return us to the bad old days." At that point I sighed and said to myself in my car, "Jeez, Johnson should've just named Edward King "Ronald Prump" instead.") Or, how often are the protagonist's parents seen as backwards, traditional, suffocating old people? One more example: The protagonist, Stevie (who, to the surprise of absolutely no one, made her parents mad by cutting her hair into a pixie cut--random side rant: please, PLEASE, progressives, stop using the cliché of short hair to show how radical your women are), says of Edward King's supporters: "They believe in aliens but they deny climate change." This one was particularly annoying. Do progressives really think that conservatives are just a bunch of tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorists? But as I mentioned, post-postmodernism says that if I repeat my truth over and over again, it will become objective reality. If we all collectively gather and agree that conservatives believe in aliens, then they won't have any choice but to succumb to our reality.
Speaking of reality: One professor (a female who, to the surprise of absolutely no one, has a peach-fuzz short haircut, muscular arms, and thick hairy legs) has a sign in her classroom that reads "I reject your reality." So on the one hand, these radical, liberated 21st Century characters reject your reality; and yet, on the other hand, one lesbian student chastises the protagonist for not using her girlfriend's preferred pronouns of they/them. But, I thought we were all about rejecting others' reality? I guess the sign should've said, "I reject your reality, but you must bow to mine."
But there's the ultimate takeaway: Progressivism will ultimately eat itself. And thankfully, objective truth will win in the end.
Other than that, like I said, not a bad story, in terms of plot development. And my family had a good discussion over it....more
This is an overwhelming book, in good ways and bad. It’s not for the faint of heart—the novel, which is more than 1,000 pages, translates to a 45-hourThis is an overwhelming book, in good ways and bad. It’s not for the faint of heart—the novel, which is more than 1,000 pages, translates to a 45-hour marathon on Audible. The narrator, Steven Weber, was excellent.
Watching the 2-part movie that came out a couple years ago really helped, otherwise I would’ve been bogged down trudging through this story. “Bogged down” is a good way to describe it, I think, because the further I got into the book, the more it felt like I was trying to walk through knee-deep mud.
I don’t mean that as a bad thing; you just have to know what you’re getting into. It’s fantasy-like in the way it delves into the personal histories and life experiences of nearly every character, no matter how minor. But the thing is, I never felt like any part of the story was wasted. Could King have trimmed the fat? Definitely. But almost everything was engaging and intense.
The ending was underwhelming. After all that story, I figured I’d be more invested in the characters, but I really wasn’t.
There were moments of thematic beauty, like when all the boys tell Bev they love her, and Mike comes up last, saying, “I don’t know you well enough to love you, but I love you anyway.” That was a wonderful line. But there are also times when King tries to force some thematic beauty, and it comes across as pontificating.
The sexual content was off the charts, even for King. Maybe it was because the characters were fifth-graders. It was unnecessary at times and at others downright icky.
All in all, I’m still processing this but it’s hovering around 3 stars. It’s nowhere near the level of The Green Mile, but obviously way better than anything King has written since 2016. So refreshing to read a King novel without characters randomly saying “f&@k Trump!” Haha...more
I read this for my Writing & Research intro to seminary course (also skimmed it in college a dozen years ago for a creative writing class), but it nevI read this for my Writing & Research intro to seminary course (also skimmed it in college a dozen years ago for a creative writing class), but it never felt like an assignment. It’s such an enjoyable read.
I would say that this book is a classic for a reason, but I can picture William Zinsser standing above me, cuffing my ears and saying, “‘Classic for a reason’? Can you get any more cliche than that? Cut that nonsense out!”
Really though, this is a masterpiece of writing counsel. From topics like trimming unnecessary words to finding your creative voice, just about everything in here is gold....more
This is an excellent look at the biblical truth that relationships are the best way to overcome sin and temptation. Spiritual isolation is the #1 causThis is an excellent look at the biblical truth that relationships are the best way to overcome sin and temptation. Spiritual isolation is the #1 cause of ongoing sin, and the key to "walking in the light" (as the Apostle John puts it) is by sharing your life with others--in the case of lust, with other faithful men who are fighting the battle with you. This has certainly been my experience: the most success I've had in fighting lust has been when I've been open and honest with my peers.
I wasn't a fan of some of Larkin's theology, especially the way he paraphrased some Scriptures. An example (and I won't get it exactly right because I listened to the book on Audible): Larkin quotes from Galatians 2, when Paul begs God to remove the thorn from him. Larkin writes, "But God responds, 'I like you better this way.'" Actually, God didn't say that to Paul. He said, "My grace is sufficient for you." Maybe not a huge deal, maybe it is. Mostly I'm not a fan when people "quote" God and aren't actually quoting his words in Scripture, or are altering his words. (Ask me what I think about The Message, haha.)
Also, I love the theme of the book, apart from the formality of a "society." I've had several "Samson Society" friendships with Christian dudes over the years, and we didn't need a formal structure to share with each other. Obviously it has worked well for Larkin and co., I'm just more about taking the message of the book and practicing it in daily interactions with brothers, rather than a weekly AA-type meeting.
But those small grievances aside, this one gets 4 stars because it is a really good book. Larkin's personal journey is compelling. ...more
If you're feeling academic, this is a really good conservative exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14, highlighting arguments for the continuation of the gIf you're feeling academic, this is a really good conservative exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14, highlighting arguments for the continuation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in a historic-salvation context. Have a Bible handy as you read this one. I read it on my lunch breaks at work and without a Bible, I got bogged down in the meticulous word studies. But it really is a fascinating read, and my family had a good discussion over it....more
As someone who entered the world of writing through NaNoWriMo (a flurry of churning out as many words as possible), outlining as a formal practice is As someone who entered the world of writing through NaNoWriMo (a flurry of churning out as many words as possible), outlining as a formal practice is foreign to me. But I trust KM Weiland, even when she’s deconstructing every method I’ve used in my own writing, haha. There’s plenty in here to use going forward. I’ve already started implementing her advice on character sketches....more
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