Black Friday

Ignoring the fact that I'm having an internal conversation about the role of consumerism, Jesus, and the world we live in, and how and why the intersect, and what that means to me, I went out this morning on Black Friday.

Let's just say that I've got several new books to read, including the newest Rob Bell book.


And that makes me very, very happy.

A Good Read

If I remember my stats correctly, and if the study I used was reliable, something like only 40% of college graduates ever read a book after they graduate. And only 16% of college graduates ever read a non-fiction book after they graduate. And, on top of that, college graduates are the segment of our adult population that reads the most.

Clearly, I don't fit into that exactly. I'm not the bookworm my wife is (I don't usually finish books in a day), but I do read quite often. Fiction (mainly of the Star Wars variety) and non-fiction (mainly of sales and religious variety) are both frequently found in my hands. But I can understand why some people stop. Life gets busy, television fills the entertainment (and information) need. Not to mention we're forced to read some really bad fiction and really dry non-fiction (how I still loathe my Western Civilization reading assignments) while we're in college.

But 16% is a really, really low number. I mean, 40% I can live with. But 16%? That's less than how often Casey Blake gets a hit with RISP and 2 outs in his career. That's way too low.

And maybe it's because most people simply don't know how to find good non-fiction. Or how to tell if they're reading good non-fiction.

I mean, most of us know how to find good fiction. We pick it up, and the characters, world, magic, or romance draws us in. We're able to see things in our head, and anticipate and hope for outcomes.

But we don't get that in non-fiction. We get opinion, belief, and hopefully advice and insight. If it was predictable, we wouldn't want to read it. Most of the non-fiction I like I didn't know was my type, it came on a recommendation.

Now, I know what bad non-fiction looks like. And feels like, more importantly. It feels and reads like the aforementioned books from the Western Civ classes. It makes me dread turning the page, constantly count to a break/end of chapter, and keeps me from hoping there's more of the same to follow.

But, I really couldn't describe to you what good non-fiction looks like. Or feels like, more importantly.

But, last night I started reading a new non-fiction book. My good buddy David and I did a book swap last weekend. I loaned him Christ the Lord by Anne Rice, which was so far down my reading list at the time, it wasn't getting read until at least October. In return, he loaned me Simply Christian, which he had just finished and thought would be a great fit for my mindset.

So, again, I pick up some non-fiction on recommendation.

But, I do think I've found what makes good non-fiction good.

And, you'll have to excuse me, because I'm only one chapter (plus the introduction) into it, but I'm ready to say I like the book.

And I think it's because of this litmus test for (certain types of) non-fiction:

The author is able to say something that you've wanted to be able to say, but haven't had the words or wisdom to be able to say.

It's why Rob Bell works so well for me.

And let me give you an example from this book:

---

"Haven't Christians been part of the problem rather than part of the solution?

Yes and no.

Yes: from very early on there have always been people who have done terrible things in the name of Jesus. There have also been Christians who have done terrible things knowing them to be terrible things, without claiming that Jesus was supporting them. There's no point hiding from this truth, however uncomfortable it may be.

But also no: because again and again, when we look at the wicked things Christians have done (whether or not they were claiming God was on their side), we can see in retrospect at least that they were muddled and mistaken about what Christianity actually is. It's no part of Christian belief to say that the followers of Jesus always got everything right. Jesus himself taught his followers a prayer which includes a clause asking God for forgiveness. He must have thought we would go on needing it"

---

Like I said, something I've always wanted to be able to express, but haven't been able to find the words, spirit, or wisdom to say so myself. And thus it passes my new litmus test.

Seriously, last night, I wouldn't have been surprised if there was literally a light bulb over my head explaining this new idea I had on why I like certain non-fiction.

And, like I said, I'm only one chapter in. But this book is off to a promising start. And, I'm thinking it will end up not only on my "perpetually recommend to anyone willing to listen to a book recommendation" list, but also on my "not enough to have read it, must also own it" list.

And so while it might not help me in recognizing from a distance what is good non-fiction, maybe it will help you all do a better job in recommending good non-fiction to me.

Sex God

It's very rare for me to get a book, and tear through it. I was brought up fully immersed in the video game/movie/television generation. It's not that I don't enjoy reading a book, it's just that it's not the easiest thing to keep my attention for extended stretches.

Well, in less than a day, I tore through Sex God.

And I have two major things to say about it:

1) When I have money in the budget to buy a book, I'm buying it.

2) If you haven't read it, go read it.

Seriously. Read it. It will impact your life in some way. It will challenge your life in some way. I've already mapped out more than half a dozen ways I can see myself using it.

• Advice book for a friend getting married
• Advice book for friend(s) in a rocky marriage
• Make a strong marriage stronger
• Encouragement for the down days in a career path
• Book to read together when it's time to talk to kids about sex
• Encouragement for a single friend
• Understanding and conquering sexual demons in a way even Every Man's Battle couldn't and didn't

Seriously. Rob Bell mixes funny anecdotes with deep thoughts, scriptural basis and nuances, as well as historical and common sense knowledge. It doesn't matter where you are on a faith journey or if you have even formally started one.

Go read this book.

Who's with me?

Rob Bell for President.

No, seriously.

I'd vote for this guy against just about anyone. Even Aaron Aldridge. And maybe even the guy Aaron beats out. (Honk if you get that joke)

I picked up Sex God from the library today (my next Star Wars LotF novel isn't available for me yet), and I'm already almost halfway through it. I'm forcing myself to put it down between chapters so I can absorb what's written in it, and not just fly through it like fast food fiction.

I'm convinced, more than ever, that Rob Bell is a centrist. He's level headed. He gets things. He gets common sense things. He gets practical things. He gets philosophical things. He gets intellectual things. He gets spiritual things. And he presents them all in a manner that not only can I understand. But in a manner that I want to hear more.

Seriously ... Rob Bell for President. Who's with me?