Gaiman really is a fantastic writer. The story felt a little too neat and tidy—but that’s the fairy tale genre, and I felt he expanded the genre in a Gaiman really is a fantastic writer. The story felt a little too neat and tidy—but that’s the fairy tale genre, and I felt he expanded the genre in a pleasing and artful way. And his good writing kept me going. Good humor, good world creation, good pace.
So sue me, and maybe I’m in a tiny minority: I’m not keen on sex scenes in a book that feels YA (see Matthew 5:27–30). And though the two such scenes in this book were short, they were explicit—and necessary to the plot—in ways that make me unwilling to hand the book to my kids, even when they get into their teen years....more
A good book, truly. Not enough Bible; I really did need to hear how God addresses me when it comes to the topics in the book. But a lot of what he saiA good book, truly. Not enough Bible; I really did need to hear how God addresses me when it comes to the topics in the book. But a lot of what he said hit home. I do think busyness and social media affirmation are powerful drugs and lords at the same time. I’ve seen other WEIRD (Western, Educated, Individualist, Rich, and Democratic) people of my generation struggle with the idols Zahl names—and I’ve struggled with quite a few. He knows his audience....more
A straightforwardly written and fascinating window into a world I only barely knew existed.
A necessarily frustrating repeat slam into the wall of one A straightforwardly written and fascinating window into a world I only barely knew existed.
A necessarily frustrating repeat slam into the wall of one man’s twisted but still in some ways admirable version of integrity: omertà.
A reminder that sin can have decades of consequences.
An odd confluence of figures: the stepson of the mob-friendly lackey of a union leader who (the stepson) grows up to become a Bush administration Justice Department lawyer and then a Harvard professor, who then turns to (again) love and respect his uneducated stepfather and write a book in an effort to discover the truth about the defining moments of his life and, as much as the truth makes it possible, change the public’s picture of that stepfather.
Brief summary: I’ve been skeptical of people who make a doctrine out of preservation, because 1) all the peopleReview to come in Bible Study Magazine.
Brief summary: I’ve been skeptical of people who make a doctrine out of preservation, because 1) all the people who do this in my experience have somehow also managed to wiggle their way into believing that God has preserved his word in a particular 17th century English translation; and 2) I don’t nobody believe anyone has sufficient warrant to believe that he/she knows exactly which jots and tittles among all the New Testament manuscript variants out there constitute the preserved word of God—these 144,000, no more, no less. That is, it has felt dangerous to me to posit a “doctrine” of preservation—because if it’s a doctrine, then that leans toward suggesting that preservation would be perfect. And it clearly isn’t. Even picking “the TR” doesn’t give you perfect preservation. Somebody has to decide which TR to pick. The Bible doesn’t tell us. (Even the top TR defender I know acknowledges the truth of what I’m saying.)
But Brash moved the needle for me. I'm willing to say there is a "doctrine" of systematic theology called "the preservation of Scripture." I wasn't willing yesterday. I am today, after reading this book. To see specifics, you'll have to wait for my longer review in BSM.
This is an excellent, irenic, careful, and highly recommendable—oh yes, and expertly *short*!—book....more
My favorite chapter was ch. 2, summarized in this quote:
“The wellness movement has its share of critics, though pastors and theoloTheology by bon mot.
My favorite chapter was ch. 2, summarized in this quote:
“The wellness movement has its share of critics, though pastors and theologians are conspicuous by their absence from this particular choir. They shouldn’t be, for wellness has become part of the warp and woof of the American social imaginary. What’s the “good news” of the wellness movement? That you can make yourself well—save yourself—by following this or that program. To the extent that it has become an ideal picture that orients people’s hopes and lives and encourages self-help salvation, wellness has become an American idol, a false gospel.”
This chapter alone is worth the price of the book....more
Read this because I read the author's Good Prose, co-authored with his long-time editor—and I wanted to see what kind of work the two have produced toRead this because I read the author's Good Prose, co-authored with his long-time editor—and I wanted to see what kind of work the two have produced together. (I'm not sure Todd did edit this book, but I presume so?) The story kept me interested and entertained, and the New York Times reviewer was right to say that the fairly standard rags-to-riches American tale gave way to something more interesting: a bit of an exploration—or maybe just an extended observation—of a successful man who both suffers from and harnesses what is usually called a mental illness. Paul English, co-founder of Kayak.com, has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and has fits of manic energy that results in brilliant and productive work. Interesting. I'll file this under "useful anecdotes" rather than "insightful explanations."
I'm not sure this book needed to be written, but I'll probably try another Kidder book at some point—and I'm not complaining about the easy add to my Goodreads totals... 52 is in sight after a slow start this year! =)...more
Inspiring, sympathetic, rigorous, well written, and EXTREMELY British (it helped that the audiobook reader had just the right RP accent). A fair numbeInspiring, sympathetic, rigorous, well written, and EXTREMELY British (it helped that the audiobook reader had just the right RP accent). A fair number of the minor details were lost on me, ignorant as I am of 18th century British political practices. But my mind stayed engaged with the narrative and the humble character of its subject.
Wilberforce's great efforts—to reform British national morals and abolish the slave trade—come across as sincere fruits of his evangelical beliefs and his kindly, vivacious, witty soul.
One may choose the utopian route and demand justice now, and one may be in the right. But more often (?), great evils either take violence to root out—a violence which, as in the French Revolution, bring greater evils—or they take political patience and assiduousness. We heirs of British culture, who shed much of the blood extracted by our slavers' whips, might wish we had a Wilberforce who could have helped rid us of this moral scourge sooner than the 1860s....more
Andrew Le Peau is surely qualified to write a book on writing better: he has been an editor at IVP for forty years. But I hope I’m qualified to say thAndrew Le Peau is surely qualified to write a book on writing better: he has been an editor at IVP for forty years. But I hope I’m qualified to say that (most of) the book, though fine, didn’t scratch where I personally itch. His advice for the first two thirds of the book is fairly standard, his examples as well. If you’ve never read such a book, Le Peau will serve you well. If you need to hear, “Reading widely and learning from experienced, educated authorities can be invaluable,” Le Peau will tell you. If you need to hear the “advantage\[s] of presenting the strongest case against your viewpoint,” Le Peau will tell you. If you need to take time to define your audience, he will tell you to do it. If you need to be told to rewrite, same. If you need to be told that the “rules” of grammar don’t come from heaven but are instead human tools, check. If you need to be told that a good title is essential to your book’s success, ditto. (I’m being a little hard on him: the titling section was useful: he did a good job breaking down common contemporary titling practice.)
I nearly gave up on this book during those first two sections, because—what am I supposed to say?—I kind of already knew what he was going to say. I’m a writer and an editor, jobs I’ve been doing for my entire adult life. I guess I should be relieved that I received no revelations.
## Why I’m glad I didn’t give up But I’m glad I didn’t give up on *Writing Better*, because the third section, spiritual meta-reflections on the writing life, were full of genuine wisdom for me. Le Peau actually really nailed me: I had a little success with my “first” book, and dealing with the paralysis that comes from praise has been a noticeable internal challenge. My book, to my total and grateful shock, got endorsements from major heroes of mine. It was like LeBron James praising the basketball skills of the second-string point guard at Claremont Elementary. I have many times felt like quitting while I’m ahead. Why stick my neck out again when I have that nice bed of laurels over there to rest on? With my royalty checks, I can take my whole family out to Five Guys Burgers and Fries every six months. Now, where’s a horse and a sunset?
Le Peau had the right advice for me, and though I “already knew” this, too, I still needed to hear it and found it truly edifying. He told me that if I love my neighbor and love the truth and am humble before the God who gave me whatever writing gifts and opportunities I have, then I will write again.
Le Peau also offered some simple, helpful advice for how to handle criticism. This was aproPeau (cue Jim Gaffigan’s high-pitched self-mockery voice: *Why did he type that?*):
“Social media is generally not a good place to try to resolve criticism. Again, people are going to say what they are going to say. You had your say. Let them have theirs. If you have a personal relationship with someone who has said something especially problematic, handle it personally if possible, away from the often-distorting glare of the internet.” (224)
Bam. Do that. I’m going to.
Le Peau also told me something I’ve never heard and never even thought of: make sure I have a literary executor named in my will. Just one, so my kids don’t have to make a difficult mutual decision over the book manuscript that facilitated so many family nights at Five Guys. I owe him for that wisdom.
He also gave a publisher’s view of the current state of book publishing, and a Christian view of how to build a platform without sinning against a Lord who told us not to take the seats of honor at feasts. Good stuff.
He also offered advice for how to remain tethered helpfully to authority, lest you discover that your fame or platform has pulled you away from sound doctrine. I hope I never need his wisdom, but I’m glad I have it.
Oh, and I liked this quote a lot: “Both fiction and nonfiction can speak truth—and both can lie” (3).
## In sum And so can book reviews. So I hope I’m telling you the truth: this is a good book that needs to find the readers for which it is meant. I was (⅓) and wasn’t (⅔) it.
Sometimes I’m a clinical reader, or I pretend to be one. Really, though, I’m an emotional reader. I have ups and downs with books. The first portions of the book were, yeah, kind of flat for me. I was at two stars—just for me personally (I still recommend the whole book for newbies). But the last portion of the book was full of wisdom and a truly Christian spirit. That section pulled me up to three stars total, and not dwarf stars but like medium-sized ones.
New and aspiring Christian writers: pick this book up. Work by God’s grace to get to the point where its counsel feels old hat, because it offers wise, practical, Christian advice on how to *Write Better*....more
I've very much enjoyed a fair number of Meador's essays, and I encourage him to keep writing books. I simply didn't find this one to be as helpful as I've very much enjoyed a fair number of Meador's essays, and I encourage him to keep writing books. I simply didn't find this one to be as helpful as his essays. I felt I got a lot of genuflection toward good ideas (I share his unease with available political options, for example, and his general Kuyperian framework) without a lot of mature wrestling with specifics. This feels to me like a freshman offering, like the beginning of a writing career that (I hope and pray) will grow in strength.
Fundamentally, I didn't learn anything. Nothing was new to me. I heard a rehash of ideas I've been reading elsewhere for years. And that's not the way I feel when I read his essays, which are insightful, topical, and current.
And forgive me, because I believe that there are surely regenerated people who attend Roman Catholic congregations—but quoting numerous Catholics favorably without some caveats for all the lectors out there does bother me. Either Rome preaches a false gospel or it doesn't. And if it does, that's serious. The common good will not be found through false gospels. It was Meador who said, "doctrine defines the good life."
Listen to the audio book, because this woman is an international treasure (not national; because Canada). (That was hip internet speak that even I am Listen to the audio book, because this woman is an international treasure (not national; because Canada). (That was hip internet speak that even I am not sure I understood.)
But seriously, Gretchen Mculloch, is a riot and a hoot and a personality—and a serious linguist with insights into emojis, of all things. I loved hearing the history of minor punctuation practices on the erstwhile Internet.
I heard Gretchen on the awesome Lexicon Valley podcast. I never thought I’d hear the equal to John McWhorter as a popularizer of linguistics, but she’s it.
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