Customer Reviews

In the Aftermath: Provocations and Laments

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David Bentley Hart is quickly becoming something of a theological celebrity, based in no small part on his massive erudition, incredible breadth of learning, beautiful (though often excessive) writing style, and--lets be honest--a sharp sense of humor and a penchant to hold no punches back when criticizing (ridiculing?) his opponents.

This book represents an amazing collection of essays, spanning from Hart's philosophically challenging "Christ and Nothing," which represents both an abridged version of his (to this point) magnum opus in The Beauty of the Infinite and an elaboration of themes which will hopefully spawn another book someday, to lighter fair such as the wonderful "Laughter of the Philosophers," or the scathing critique of Daniel Dennet in "Daniel Dennet Hunts the Snark." I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Hart (or, especially, wanting to get interested) as these essays are much, much easier to read than incredibly difficult though incredibly rewarding Beauty of the Infinite. The only caveat is that most (if not in fact all) of these essays can be found online--for free. In fact many of the essays (e.g. Christ and Nothing and the one on Daniel Dennet) can be found on the First Things website. Aside from this, this book is a wonderful read and it is certainly refreshing to read someone with Harts lucid and often poetic writing style who nonetheless has such a deep knowledge of theology, philosophy, and literature.

This collection of essays by David Bentley Hart is incredible. In it are some of the most epic, stirring, and intelligent essays, I would venture to say, of the past several hundred years on American or modern culture, religion, or simply books, people, and events. I know of no man more learned and more capable of exercising his learning than Hart, and that he can make a review into something of intense drama or joy and a profound learning experience is still beyond me. Prepare to have your world shaken, your mind humbled, and your life enriched.

I love reading David Bentley Hart. His language is always a challenge. His sentences take a person on a thoughtful journey. He believes in something wonderful and good, and that belief oozes onto the page.

David Hart is one of the finest essayists in the Christian tradition today, producing learned, witty, relevant and passionate articles on the contemporary intellectual and religious scene. This collection is of some of his best, including the influential 'Christ and Nothing' and some of his preparatory articles on which 'The Doors of the Sea' were based.

Hart's style is very distinctive, combining conservative opinions on modern society with the aesthetic and mystical vision of Eastern Christianity, his prose alternating between biting satire and flights of beautiful but near incomprehensible theological meditation. Adorning almost every page is another word that will not be found in the vocabulary of even the most erudite reader, lending the text a kind of elegant impenetrability (I tend just to guess what he is meaning to say rather than consulting a dictionary, and have never felt cheated). Those who enjoy the essays of C.S. Lewis would find and enjoy a similar voice in Hart.

A year or two ago I would have given this book five stars, but subtle changes in my emotional and intellectual 'weather' have made Hart's thought seem a bit less expansive and encouraging than it did. I think that the issue is that he takes too long and goes too far in his critique before returning to a positive vision, so that in the end he induces something of the nihilism that is his most implacable foe.

Excellent essays. it is a shame that Hart is not (yet) widely known. Some of his stuff is perhaps too intellectual for some to digest. His prose is powerful and his message is truly Orthodox Christian.

As with all of Hart's books, here one finds the beauty and grandiose nature of theology proper. It's folks like Hart that reminds me of why I am so fascinated with this discipline. In a time where most ministers have either succumbed to self-help techniques or the heresy of gnosticism, Hart reminds us of the richness of Christian tradition, and why this tradition will persevere. Read his work if you want to learn how to think well about things that require of us serious thinking.

David Bentley Hart has an amazing way with words. He is also exceptionally intelligent and doesn't pull punches. I rarely write reviews, but Hart's work provides incredibly stimulating food for thought on a variety of topics, and his take no prisoners approach is often times refreshing in a world where the irreligious have become increasingly triumphalist and condescending toward those of a religious persuasion.

This is a must read, as are all of Hart's works.