Mark's #50 - 11/22/63: A Novel by Stephen King

In my generation, the pivotal date (so far) in history is 9/11/01, but for the previous generation that date was 11/22/63.  Similarly, perhaps the most asked question of both those dates has been, "where were you when you found out about..."  But what if the past could be changed?  If so, should it be changed?  How do we know if those changes will be for the better or the worse?  Those are the questions of every author who has delved into the tricky realm of time travel.  With these in mind, Stephen King brings his masterful storytelling ability in this great 849 tome.

How do I summarize an 849 page book, with all of it's intricacies, plot twists, mystery, and surprises in a short review? I don't.   What I will say is that this is a great peace of fiction, my favorite this year.  It has been a very long time since I've read any of Kings work.  What I realized in this reading is that King is not just an author who can crank out a massive amount of suspense/horror thrillers. King is also a brilliant storyteller who uses all sorts of literary devices Ron could go on and on about.

It's hard to describe, but reading this book felt fuller and more immersive than most novels I've read... Like the difference between watching a black and white tv and watching the latest Pixar 3D film.  There is a lot going on in the book on many levels, yet, it wasn't confusing or hard to follow at all.

I don't want to give away the plot because I want you to read the book... but I will give one hint:

The past is obdurate.

*Note: Obviously King doesn't write this book from the perspective of a Christian worldview. Readers should be cautioned about some occasional scenes of sexual impropriety.  While not explicit, the first time this happens, there's more details than necessary, and there are several other quick references to the act throughout the remainder of the book.

Mark's #49 - Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels by Tullian Tchividjian

Our sin cannot go too far where God's grace can't go farther still.  The gospel is not merely a ticket to get into heaven, the gospel is the very breath of life for all of God's people every day.  We don't check the gospel box and then move on to the deeper things of God.  Rather, we move deeper into our understanding and experience of the gospel and God's grace with each step of Christian maturity.

This is a book about the gospel of grace as found in the message and story of the Old Testament book of Jonah.  Like many pastors, Tullian preached a sermon series and turned it into a book, and a good one at that.

The version of the story most of us think about when we think about Jonah is the one that has been repackaged and watered-down for the consumption of children.  As such, we miss the amazing evidences of God's grace throughout the story and by application in our own lives as well.

As I preach a series through the Minor Prophets, my focus has been to show where Christ is present throughout each book.  At first glance, this can be difficult. However, Jesus claimed that all of the Old Testament testified about Him (Jn. 5:39).  Augustine's words are indeed true when he said, "The New Testament is contained in the Old Testament, and the Old Testament is explained in the New Testament."  In this book, Tchividjian does on a micro level (scene by scene) what I'm trying to do on a macro level (book by book) - show Christ and His gospel as found in the Old Testament.

If you read Jonah, one of the things that strike you is that the story does not follow an expected path.  The prophet of God is the rebel.  Pagan sailors repent and make sacrifices and vows to the LORD.  A fish is appointed to swallow the prophet to preserve his life for three days.  The prophet goes where's he's told, preaches an awful sermon, and a very large, proud, and wicked city repents.  This makes the self-centered prophet angry and wishing for death. God continues to give grace throughout. Then, just as we're about to see what is to come of the prophet, the book ends and leaves us hanging. Why is that?  Because I believe God is not only pursuing the pagan nations, and his wayward prophet, but He's pursuing us, the readers,  by his suprising grace.

If you want to dig deeper into the surprising grace of God, the book of Jonah and this book would be a great place to spend some time.

Mark's #48 - Where Men Win Glory:The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer

In 2002, when Pat Tillman left a lucrative career in the NFL at the peak of his athletic prime to enlist in the Army, many  journalists, sports fans, politicians, and ordinary people took notice.  Since Pat refused to do any media interviews regarding his decision, the public was left to merely speculate as to the motivation of such radical actions.  In my own mind, I figured Pat Tillman was merely an uber-patriot, all-American boy  who saw it as his duty to serve his country.

In this book, author Jon Krakauer uses his well developed journalist skills to uncover the depth and mystery of the background, history, philosophy of Pat Tillman.   Using journal entries from Pat's diary, and interviews with Pat's wife and friends, Krakauer shows that Tillman was not a shallow-minded jock, but rather a complicated man with deep emotions, thoughts, and beliefs.

As most people know, in 2004 Pat Tillman died from 'friendly fire' while serving in Afghanistan.  In the days, weeks, and months following his death, Army officers and officials attempted to cover-up the incident and spin the story to showcase Pat as an example of an American war hero.   In regards to both personal details of Tillman as well as the details of his death and subsequent cover-up, Krakauer showed his strength as a journalist.

However, on several occasions, it appears that Krakauer deliberately went off-script to make known his own personal political position.  Repeatedly, Krakauer attacked the Bush administration - even going into details surrounding the 2000 vote recount in Florida. On several occasions, Krakauer points out Tillman's disdain for any attempt by the government to use his service or even his death as a propaganda point, yet it seems that Krakauer often does just this for his own political agenda.  It was at these points, where this book losses its objectivity and begins to sound more like an editorial than an unbiased work of an investigative journalist.

Mark's #47 - The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson

Earlier this year, I read Erik Larson's book In The Garden of Beasts. It was with that book that I experienced Larson's ability to bring the details of history alive.  In The Devil in the White City, Larson does the same thing through his meticulous research and engaging prose.

This book feels like two books sort of smashed together as one.  Sure there are significant overlaps in time and geography, but for the most part I was alternately mildly amused and creeped out.  I was amused by the details, planning, politics, architecture, and accomplishments of the World's Fair of 1893 in Chicago.  These descriptions of the lives, struggles, technological advancements, inventions, and lasting legacies born out of such a grand event was. To mention a few; the Ferris Wheel, Shredded Wheat, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the first widespread use of AC electrical current.

I was creeped out by the other portions of the book which follow the life of America's first true serial killer H.H. Holmes (born Herman Webster Mudgett).  Here was a fairly intelligent, persuasive, handsome man who posed as a doctor and an entrepreneur.  His gentle and persuasive manner lured dozens, perhaps hundreds of mostly young single women.  As he took advantage of the booming business opportunities the Fair provided, Holmes ran both a hotel and a pharmacy in a large building near the Fair grounds.  Using his medical knowledge, along with various gasses and acids, Holmes took great pleasure in murdering people.

However, I did not take great pleasure in reading about his murders, or the seemingly endless details of the fair grounds and its buildings.

Mark's #46 - Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." - Apple's "Think Different" commercial, 1997

As I write this review on my iMac, reading my notes (and the book) on my iPad, and receiving texts from friends and family on my iPhone (all of which I love to use), it is obvious that Steve Jobs has in many ways affected my own life.   Therefore, this book is not only a biography of our generation's Edison, but in some ways it reads as a personal biography of my own life, as Apple's various products and design philosophies of art intersecting technology have shaped my own thinking in many ways.

To be clear, Steve Jobs is not a god, or an angel, or someone to be worshipped.   Isaacson's honest portrayal of Jobs shows that, like all humans, he was deeply flawed, misguided, self-righteous, prideful, and totally depraved  - though Steve's flaws often seem to be magnified.  And yet, Job's life and accomplishments also show a measure of God's common grace still manifested in the imago Dei.  As such, I will put the remainder of  this review in the following categories: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (but in reverse order)

THE UGLY

Steve Jobs was often brutal, vindictive, and ugly in dealing with people.  He was demanding and arrogant with almost everybody... whether it was the local waitress or his wife.   Though a genius, he spent much of the early 70's at hippie communes dropping acid, or traveling to India to study under a guru.  Paradoxically, Steve embraced Zen Buddhism which emphasizes detachment from the world, while at the same time seeking to make products and profits that do the exact opposite.

THE BAD

I guess this goes along with the ugly, but there are plenty of bad aspects of Job's life and personality as well.   The book details many people who have been wounded and betrayed by Jobs sharp tongue, deceit, and meanness.   It seems Jobs never developed a filter for his emotions or his mouth.  At times he would cry, scream, or stare coldly and unblinkingly at people as ways to manipulate them.   Jobs had what many labeled a "reality distortion field" around him.  He had the ability to distort reality and even get others to buy in to that distorted reality.  Jobs saw himself as enlightened - on a higher plane than almost every other person.  As such, he deemed it his right and responsibility to stand in a place of judgment of almost all others - this was his worldview.  Unfortunately for jobs, this is not reality. Only God is God, and God will always humble the proud.

THE GOOD 

In spite of the ugly and the bad, there is much good that has come out of Steve Job's life.  Certainly the products he worked so diligently to produce, but there's much more behind the products that I was able to personally benefit from.  Jobs wanted to do only a very few things well.  Apple could have produced a ton of consumer products, but then Apple would just be a reiteration of Sony or Google.  Instead, Jobs wanted to do one or two things 'insanely great' - and he did.   His hard personality and reality distortion field, would at times work well toward this end.  Jobs was able to get people to achieve personal levels of success that they did not believe was possible .

So often we are tempted to do a bunch of different things in our lives, without ever really doing any of them great.  If we were to evaluate our lives with the same level of scrutiny Jobs evaluated his potential products and focussing in like a laser on the one or two key things, I believe we would be better for it as individuals and as a society.

Mark's #45 - Reckless Abandon: A Modern-Day Gospel Pioneer's Exploits Among The Most Difficult To Reach People

Since John recently read and reviewed this book here, I won't go into too much detail. I've always enjoyed missionary biographies.  These books challenge and encourage my own walk with Christ, remind me of the global call of the great commission (Mt. 28:19-20), and make me examine my life to see whether or not I believe what God says I should believe about life, death, eternity, and the worth of Jesus.  Most of these books detail the exploits of missionaries from long ago,  but in this book David Sitton tells his story of God's faithfulness in our time in areas like Papua New Guinea and Mexico. As such, the challenge to missions seems even more real and tangible.

I appreciate David's life and desire to show that Jesus is worth any sacrifice.  I also appreciate David's desire to help raise up and train young men and women to forsake everything to follow Jesus to the ends of the earth.

Read the book and be challenged and encouraged!

If you have never considered the possibility that God loves you and may have a wonderful plan for your death, perhaps you should (pg. 201).

You can check out the ministry David started here: http://toeverytribe.com/