Fascinating, sad, respectful, and yet a little too heavy (for my taste) on the brief anecdote. Really makes you wish you could have seen Negro League Fascinating, sad, respectful, and yet a little too heavy (for my taste) on the brief anecdote. Really makes you wish you could have seen Negro League all stars play the Major League names that are generally more familiar from that era. The story also makes apparent the necessity of belief in the image of God. Without it we find ways to see some people as less equal than others....more
I admit to finding most Christian historical fiction cloying. Not this. It avoided almost all cheesiness. It helped me relive a moment of Jewish and CI admit to finding most Christian historical fiction cloying. Not this. It avoided almost all cheesiness. It helped me relive a moment of Jewish and Christian history combined. It presented memorable characters and something of a classic dilemma. I was deeply moved to see what Christ's love would do in the life of a young Jewish zealot. I want one day to hear the true story from those to whom it happened: surely there are some analogs to the main characters of this book among the earliest followers of Christ....more
He did his homework, and his writing style is totally fine; but the story didn't live up to the dramatic promise. The arc of it all was obvious once tHe did his homework, and his writing style is totally fine; but the story didn't live up to the dramatic promise. The arc of it all was obvious once the conflict was set up. And I'll confess I had trouble following all the many Italian and other European details. I simply didn't enjoy this book....more
Genuinely helpful assessments; listened hard to hard-to-read writers; summarizes quirky thinkers; persuades me that there are philosophical roots to TGenuinely helpful assessments; listened hard to hard-to-read writers; summarizes quirky thinkers; persuades me that there are philosophical roots to Trumpism and other postliberal movements—even if the vast majority of participants in those movements have never heard of the thinkers in this book. Samuel Francis seemed to be one of the truest harbingers of Trumpism.
The final chapter on Christianity contained genuine insights. Indeed, I am a citizen of a better country, a heavenly one. That loyalty supersedes all, but it doesn't undermine all. I can be sincerely grateful for my earthly polities (national, local) and can work for the peace and welfare of whatever Babylon I live in.
I found it difficult to push my mind through the pathways of these postliberal thinkers, even though I've long loved Stanley Fish's criticisms of classical liberalism and Steven D. Smith's critiques of secularism. I felt as I read that I am heir to the work of much smarter people than myself who have worked hard to form Christian views of political philosophy. It's only when our patrimony is being given away that we start to realize what it was worth. Liberalism has its problems and has slain its thousands, but postliberalism looks liable to slay its tens of thousands. Rose implies that a bumpy ride is coming—yea, is already here....more
I am persuaded. I found it especially helpful to read Trueman’s insight into the alternative authorities that smuggle themselves in when one has “no cI am persuaded. I found it especially helpful to read Trueman’s insight into the alternative authorities that smuggle themselves in when one has “no creed but the Bible.” I don’t think confessionalism can fully inoculate any church or denomination; neither does Trueman. But it can greatly help, and it has historically done so. I also cannot say that adopting a confession is obligatory. But, as with church membership, confessions seem to be a good and necessary consequence of other things the Bible teaches. ...more
Truly excellent. I've rarely read a multi-author book that was so satisfying. It was obvious why many authors were needed: all spoke to their specialtTruly excellent. I've rarely read a multi-author book that was so satisfying. It was obvious why many authors were needed: all spoke to their specialties within the editing profession. All wrote well; a few shined (the essay by Chris Jackson was especially witty and enjoyable); literally all provided genuine wisdom and useful knowledge for this editor.
One big thing that came out repeatedly: people don't train to be editors; there is no college major focused on editing. Editors commonly stumble into editing because they can't help themselves. Most are also writers of some kind; all are readers. I find that to be pretty accurate....more
Brief; helpful; careful; not the silver bullet we're all hoping for—a bullet that, I think, does not exist.Brief; helpful; careful; not the silver bullet we're all hoping for—a bullet that, I think, does not exist....more
Because I think this volume undercuts the central, brilliant idea I just had to know how the story ended.
Now I kinda wish I'd resisted the temptation.
Because I think this volume undercuts the central, brilliant idea of the main trilogy, namely the validity of the Seldon Plan. Also, it's somewhat boring, it's way too talkative and a little too episodic, and (I'm sorry) but it contains light descriptions of the sexual fantasies of middle-aged men.
But the Foundation series is still a brilliant achievement. It's a measure of its greatness that I didn't resist the temptation of reading the whole thing....more
There was a GREAT DEAL OF TALKING in this book. But I liked the series enough to want to know what happens. I didn't waste my time! The origin story oThere was a GREAT DEAL OF TALKING in this book. But I liked the series enough to want to know what happens. I didn't waste my time! The origin story of a previous major character was worth waiting the whole book for!...more
Basic. Short. Good. Not quite as scintillating as I hoped. I'd give this to a high schooler or underclassman in college with no hesitation.Basic. Short. Good. Not quite as scintillating as I hoped. I'd give this to a high schooler or underclassman in college with no hesitation....more
I can’t bring myself to rate this book, because I liked it and, well, didn’t. And in that tension lay its value for me.
On the one hand, I’ve met the aI can’t bring myself to rate this book, because I liked it and, well, didn’t. And in that tension lay its value for me.
On the one hand, I’ve met the author and liked him very much. We connected over urban ministry that he still does and that I used to do. On that same hand, his writing style is really special and yet not affected; it’s genuine. The personal stories and explorations in this book were instructive for me, as someone who is almost always confident and doesn’t really understand what the author’s trials are like.
And that’s the other hand: because I don’t really understand his mental trials, and because he doesn’t pretend to have surmounted them all, I found it somewhat draining—what a selfish thing to say about a book by a respected acquaintance—to follow the tortuous pathways of his quiet, suffering mind.
I just named those pathways as a sort of negative for the book. But they also constitute the prime value of the book for me: John gave me (some) understanding of his trials, and those of others in his position, by transcribing the thoughts he has faced over and over in what he calls the Realm of Ceaseless Cognition: "figure out, know for sure, defend myself, and make things right."
I got to hear John talk to himself rather than listen to himself. And I wonder if and when I will have to do the same—or help others do it. John’s self talk wasn’t self help, either; he pointed me to Christ and, like me, rests in Him. For that I am grateful.
John wrote,
"I love Jesus and am still very much mentally ill. My love for Jesus has not fixed that. And Jesus’ love for me has not fixed it either. I love Jesus very, very much. And I’ve still been made to see and feel horrors."
This is not the cross I bear. It is his. I pray for my brother John that he will indeed be relieved of his suffering while still on this earth. I know, however, like he does, that his redeemer lives....more
Loading...
