Customer Reviews

The Gospel According to Tony Soprano: An Unauthorized Look Into the Soul of TV's Top Mob Boss and His Family

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I remember the original book in this particular sub-genre of American literature, "The Gospel According to Peanuts." Since Robert L. Short published that little volume in 1965 we have seen many similar efforts using such hot popular culture properties as "The Simpsons" and "Harry Potter." Of course, if you start from the premise that any and all narratives either conform to or violate scripture by definition. The corollary is that the more scripture you know, the more you can find relevant in any popular culture text you look at, whether it be a comic strip or a television show. However, even from that premise you have to admit that "The Gospel According to Tony Soprano" represents the extreme in this little genre since the Soprano crime family is about as godless as you can get on television.

Chris Seay is interested in exploring the many reasons why the hit HBO series "The Sopranos" connects so deeply with viewers (despite the title the volume looks at all of the characters on the series and not just Tony). The obvious answer, from my perspective, is because it is a well-written, well-acted television series and most of what is on the tube stinks. However, as a pastor Seay sees the hit series as exposing the mysteries of faith, family, life, and God. Consequently, Seay uses "The Sopranos" as a source of contemporary parables. However, what is surprising is that most of the analysis is done without explicit reference to scripture. When Seay does cite particular verses they are general declarations, such as "Love covers over a multitude of sins" and "He who loves [his son] is careful to discipline him." This is not a chapter and verse explication of the series from a Christian perspective heavy with annotations and scriptural citations; the endnotes are more likely to cite publications by "The New York Times" as the book of Proverbs.

Obviously the big issues here are the questions of what is right and wrong, and the moral conflict of the characters on "The Sopranos" is a large part of what makes it work. Morality is a large part of religion, but the terms are by no means equivalent. Consequently, I would challenge the idea that God permeates the show. Carmela Soprano's faith is a large part of her character, but from that perspective no other character in the show comes close. But saying that religion is not a big part of the characters on "The Sopranos" does not take away from Seay's ability to use the series for religious purposes. Still, in chapter after chapter it really seems to me as if the religious arguments Seay makes at the end of each chapter could have been made on non-religious terms as well. Ironically, readers who do not see themselves as being Christians may well enjoy this book more than those who do not, because the final revelation here is that "The Gospel According to Tony Soprano" really is more popular culture than religion.

On those grounds this is an interesting little book for fans of the series. I enjoyed the chapter on "Carmela Soprano: The Queen of the Castle" more than "Tony Soprano: A Neo-Solomon from New Jersey," but that is probably due in part to the fact I find her to be the more complex character. Livia Soprano is dealt with in a chapter entitled "Isolation: Ducks, Delusions, and Depression," but obviously an entire book could be devoted to this particular mother-son relationship; Dr. Melfi has been going at it for four seasons and look how far she has gotten with it in her sessions with Tony. I also thought the chapter "Psychology: Tomato Sauce for your Ass" had several interesting insights. Consequently, I would be happy to recommend this volume to fans of "The Sopranos" who would be interested in thinking about the series on a deeper level of meaning.

Those who are truly addicted to the "The Sopranos" know that it is so much more than a well done gangster show. As the author points out, the show strikes a deep chord in its viewers. This book is one of the first of what I suspect will be a number of serious analyses of this pop culture marvel. The author, Chris Seay, examines the show through the prism of Biblical history, spirituality, philosophy and the dark underside of American values. Don't let these heavy topics scare you: it is written in a plain spoken, witty and accessible style. It is in fact a very quick read.
Seay, himself a Sopranos addict (and clergyman), covers the show from many angles: major characters are analyzed in depth, as are the age old themes of sex, power, betrayal and humankind's search for meaning in our earthly lives that permeate the show. You also can't help but read it and ask yourself - how different am I really from the vile, charismatic, funny and all too human people that I welcome into my living room each week? A must for the true fan.

This book was intriguing for the mind of a simpleton of myself. I like the Sopranos and have nothing to offer religion but the comparisions in this book to the characters of the Sopranos and religious matriarchs of the bible kept me reading on. The Gospel... was a book for me that gave insight of religion of today and the entertainment world. Finding the good in the bad was what came out of reading it. Anyone who feels that the Sopranos is not a show worthy of their eyes because of violence and language they need to read this book and look beyond all that.

Seay does an amazing job finding beauty and truth in the midst of filth and lies. The book looks deep into the show and sees things many could not. Very insightful. An enjoyable and inspiring spiritual guide to a show that i can't get enough of. Thank you, Chris.

Chris Seay is one of the most dynamic writers and thinkers in the world of post-modern Christianity, and his work in incorporating the spiritual lessons to be found in secular culture into his teaching has broken important new ground. With The Gospel According to Tony Soprano, his first book, Seay takes a hard look at a show full of violence, lust, rage, jealousy, and greed (and love, faith, loyalty, and sacrifice) to point out the lessons that Christians and non-Christians alike can learn from the award-winning series. By dividing the book into chapters with limited subjects, the book is immensely browseable, or it can be read straight through for a pile of insight delivered at once. Seay's style is appealing and simple, his faith is open enough to admit multiple possibilities, and his critical readings of The Sopranos ring true. This is a book for fans of the series, for Christians seeking a rational reason to appreciate the series, and for anyone interested in the life lessons that we can learn from popular culture. Highly recommended.

The Gospel According to Tony Soprano is a guide for thoughtful reflection of this TV mafia drama. I enjoyed each chapter and am buying a copy for all the friends that watch the show with me each sunday. You will laugh, think, and even consider these characters in light of their moral dillemas and spiritual condition. Enjoy!

This show is much more than a mere mob tale. Chris Seay pulls back the curtains and exposes the reasons we have all become addicted to this mob family. The insights on issues of faith, gender, sex, and violence are tremendous. It has changed the way I view this show and for that matter all television and film ... I highly reccomend it!

I thought it had an interesting angle to the mob family. But the writing was terrible. Very high school. I was disappointed that the issues were glossed over.

just like the Show the Book takes on many aspects of daily life.it combines some interesting elements here&you can be the judge at how things balance out at the end.

Slow, big type, double spaced, repeats the same thing over and over for 1-3 pages, and many things taken from other sources. The comparisons of Soprano characters to bible figures are a big stretch. I agree with the Houston TX reviewer - it's terrible, very high school writing.