(titled thusly so I don’t have to pay Jerry royalties for “Whaddaya Think?”)
I’m going to present a quote from a book review. The reviewer is also an author. I am omitting all names (including the reviewer) and the topic of the book, as many (all?) can be polarizing, and I want an honest reaction to the content, not the personalities. No fair googling the quotes before you respond. (The omitted items are in italics.)
I was preparing for the worst when I read in the blurbs that this book “avoids the clamor for extremes” (name withheld), is “the first to be truly gracious” and is great “for any who are tired of straw man arguments and polarizations” (name withheld), and rises above “the usual shallow, facile critiques of [one of the primary topics of this book]” (name withheld).
Is it just me, or is it deeply troubling that the reviewer sees as contemptible (”I was preparing for the worst”) the ideas of avoiding clamor, employing clear logic, and (worst of all) the horrendous sin of being gracious?
Or maybe it’s something else. The very next sentence in the review says:
I can’t help but assume that [my book on the same topic] is one of the “extreme”, “straw man”, “facile” critiques they’re thinking of.
Isn’t this like James-Cameron-level narcissism? I keep hearing Carly Simon singing, “You’re so vain / I bet you think this blurb is about you”.
In the words of Linda Richman, “Discuss.”
![Image of The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Jl6fhDLxL._SL75_.jpg "The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith")
13 Comments(+Add)
Is it Kevin DeYoung commenting on a new book By Jim Belcher about the Third way? Is one of the comments by Brian McLaren, and another by Tony Jones? (J I Packer also seems to comment a lot) maybe even Mark Driscoll
Brendt – Don’tcha just hate it when someone tries to be “truly gracious”?? Any comments on a blog that are truly gracious should be moderated!!
#1 – Seriously? You’re putting Mark Driscoll in the same category as Brian McLaren and Tony Jones?
PB, this is not a riddle.
While I realize that this blog does not have a great track record for comments that are in the same area code as the OP, could we try to get past the first comment before going off the ranch next time?
Brendt,
I’d love the royalties, but I think they belong to Joe M or Chris P.
Otherwise, if they don’t want them, send them over; I can use the extra google-juice.
jerry
Jerry, I suspected that you might not have been the originator of that title, but I already have a track record of creative borrowing from you, so I thought I’d be consistent.
Brendt,
Not knowing the parties involved, I’d say your assessment is spot on. The referenced review seems to have as much “Christian charity” as Girl Scout Cookies are made of Girl Scouts.
Somebody’s been watching Addams Family Values.
well, it is narcissism…AND it’s probably a case of “…if the shoe fits…”
It’s kind of like a preacher standing up and prefacing his sermon with, “You’re probably not going to like what I’m going to say. But you probably were offended by what I already said. And you probably won’t invite me back. But here goes.”
#10 – Nice catch. Allow me to provide the amplified version:
“I am so close to God, and I am so righteous and committed to Christ, and I am so bold and unashamed of the truth, that I will not be asked back because you people are religious refuse and God disdains you completely!”
(You can purchase my tapes at the back table.)
Brendt,
given just those blurbs it is hard to fathom why somone would expect the worst. that said, the review was not made in a vacuum.
obvioulsy the reviewer has an opinion on the author from the begining, and has written on the subkect himself – so anything contrary is gonna be suspect.
that said, it does kinda sound like initial guilt before reading – like those who trash n. t. wright w/o understanding him – etc…
Rick!
“religious refuse”…
is that like “piece of crap”?