Customer Reviews

Penguins, Pain and the Whole Shebang: By God As Told to John Shore

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(2)
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2 star:		(1)
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This is definitely one of the best books I've read in my life. I have been struggling with depression and problems with my boyfriend. This book made me laugh out loud about 10 times when I was reading it. My boyfriend dumped me the night I read it, and because of this book I was okay with it. It changed my perspective on a lot of things. It's hysterically funny, but the theology is really good at the same time. It will make your sides cramp up from laughing, and make you really think. I recommend this book to every single person on the planet, no exceptions at all. "Penguins" is absolutely amazing.

First let me say that I'm a fundamentalist Model Agnostic.

After reading this book, I found myself walking around talking like the Big Guy. John's co-author is truly inspired. The back flap contains a picture of John but "no picture available" of the co-author. I'm not sure if that's to avoid the problems the Danish are dealing with regarding the "cartoons."

Seriously you don't need to be a "believer" to get a lot from this book. The writing style is unbelievably brilliant. The voice is great. The pace is perfect. This is really skillful stuff. I still don't agree with the substance of a lot of the book but that's fine.

I will say that if most people could sit around and have a brew with the co-author of this book, it would do more for "spreading the Gospel" than all of the stuff coming from those churches and TV preachers.

Reading Penguins and pain took me back to my days as a raging skeptic/agnostic. Many of the thorny theological questions it tackles-in its unique and humorously penetrating way-are the very questions I wrestled with back then (`then' being the 60s). In those days, I rejected all traditional presentations of Christianity-I sure would have welcomed the way these issues are handled in Penguins. What a fun way to approach thinking about God! A great gift for any skeptic or doubter. Great also for Christians who will enjoy a fresh presentation of the faith. I loved this book!

John Shore has taken a fascinating premise and created a book that is filled with humor, insight and compassion. I recommend the book to all who enjoy viewing the world from a new perspective.

I used to be a christian religious fanatic...Then, about 7 years ago, I had a tragedy in my life that turned me off to the whole 'God' thing. I wondered how a loving God could allow something so hurtful to happen to myself and those effected around me.

When I read this book, it inspired me to give God another chance... John's convincing argument that God has to allow evil if he is to allow free will in this world showed me that God isn't necessarily evil and cruel just because of my experience. He, instead, is loving and patient and humane.

Thanks, John, for your inspiring story.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR PEOPLE WHO THINK

So much of this book sounds like the never ending internal dialogue about God I have had with myself for the past three years, except John Shore's writing is laugh out loud funny.

I can see how traditional/fundamental/conservative Christians will have difficulty accepting the format (i.e., the author speaking for God), but I think the message is compellingly human. It is the sort of dialogue that needs to exist for doubters to truly get the message. I speak as one such person whose questioning beliefs need to be addressed in a manner that doesn't completely smother me. This book addresses the basic questions about the existence of God, but does so with wit and intelligence, two elements often missing from debate.

This book did indeed look good -- so good that I bought it, along with "I'm OK - You're Not" by the same author.

I've now finished most of it... up to the last chapter -- which I don't think I'm going to bother reading.

It's an excellent literary idea -- write from the view of God "using" the human author to write it... engaging and creative concept.

Now, I'm ALL about irreverent humor, however, I got the uncomfortable feeling that the author was trying too hard to be hip, or shocking, or to somehow sneak past the defenses of "seekers" or even atheists, as if they wouldn't notice, to land a punch.

Sure, there were plenty of times I guffawed.

At times, I rolled my eyes.

At other times, I groaned.

And, there were times I cringed.

Such as having "God" make an Austin Powers joke about how He mimicked Austin Powers for a while, and the angels tried to sing praise songs using the word "shagalicious".

Such as God saying, "you can do any Me-damned thing you want."

Such as God saying (in talking about the crucifixion):

"It was a Friday. I really didn't have all that much to do but hang around anyway.
For three days.
I was just killing time.
Oh, don't I just slay you?
Cuz I sure do me."

{Never mind that He didn't "hang around" for three days - He was only on the cross on Friday.)

There ARE times when it's both humorous and insightful -- but those particular passages strike me as somewhat degrading.

What REALLY got me cringing was the response to this question:

"Even if I do believe in Christ, do I really have to go to church every Sunday? Yuck."

Here's part of the "answer" from "God":

"No - of course you don't have to go to church. No one has to do much of anything. But the reason so many people keep choosing to go to church is as simple a it gets: They know that they can't have a relationship with me if they don't ever come over to my house. It's just that simple. Church is my home, you know; that really is where I hang out. You get hints and intimations of me in your everyday life, for sure - but at church you get a huge honkin' helping of me. Maximum exposure. Major bang for your buck.

I go where people pray, see? And a lot of people do a lot of praying at church.

I'm in the wood at church. I'm in the carpet. I'm in the pews. I'm in the air there. Care Bear.

Got to go where the action is, right?... <snip>

You know what church does? It turns people from pessimists to optimists. Because at church, everyone you see -- from the greeter at the door to the person up front leading the whole thing -- is your partner. Your friend. <snip>

People go to church because they, like everyone else in the world, are naturally drawn to go wherever they can find the most love."


Hmmm...

"His house" (I thought we were His Temple in the New Covenant)? IN the carpet? Pessimists to optimists (I've seen the opposite happen all too often)? "Person leading the whole thing" (isn't that supposed to be the Holy Spirit)? Where we "find the most love" (I found a whole lotta fear)? I guess this author's' not yet come to the place where he realizes that the system of institutional Christianity is not the organic Church-Family that Jesus established. It was never about religion, but about relationship - with Him and with each other.

~BRB~

Ok - something odd just happened to me. God just got me. Only I didn't know it was God 'til just a second ago. As I said in the beginning of this post, I hadn't read the last chapter, or the end notes by the author.

But, as I wrote that last statement, I suddenly got an URGE to read the last chapter, just to "be fair" y'know. So, I just read the rest.

Oh, dear God... the entire last chapter is about how the Christian life is about God eradicating fear out of us... oh, wow. As I read it, the truth of it filled me. (There are a couple of minor disagreements -- like, I do not believe that God designed us to feel fear, but that it's our reality in the absence of His love.)

And then -- I read the author's afterword -- and it was like sitting here, listening to him bare his heart. He shared how God got his attention, when he, a confirmed God-ridiculer, was at work... and God started filling him with Himself, and the guy ran off to a broom closet, saw himaself as he is, hit his knees, and just KNEW Jesus was true. And that was that.

And, now, I must repent... now I see the rest of the book through new eyes, his eyes. It's like his Jesus-following self is talking to his former Jesus-ridiculing self, in a way that a Jesus-riduling person could relate...

And, except for the traditional view of "going to church" rather than BEING the Church, I like it, because of how it's summed up. And because of the effect it's obviously had on some of the folks who've reviewed it (even folks who aren't believers). It seems to have gotten them thinking... and so, bravo John Shore, for following Him in this way. And, of course, I'm hoping that God gives you a busted-out-of-the-building-and-the-manmade-system view of Church, but that's really His business, no?

OK, this is the oddest book review I've ever written ... but perhaps one of the most impacting ones for me, personally.

Make of it what you will...

Shalom, Dena

"The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the unquestioned answers."


P.S. Three other excellent books that engage the heart are:

The Shack (Special Hardcover Edition)

He Loves Me! Learning to Live In the Father's Affection

So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore

I'm a <a href="http://evaneco.com">Christian blogger,</a> and got a copy of "Penguins, Pain and the Whole Shebang - Why I Do the Things I Do" by God (As told to John Shore) in the mail to review. Since I also live in San Diego, I tracked down the author and had lunch with him.

Found John to be a very engaging guy that shares my love for God's people and pre-believers, both those within our churches and without. John's little book isn't rocket science - it's a wonderfully concise, plainly spoken, unorthodox (but theologically-sound) conversation with God on a few key life issues (why is there evil if God is good, etc) that every believer should have on their bookshelf ready to share.

Recommend you buy three. Pass a copy to that guy sitting in the next cubicle or over and the other to the lady up in Seat 16C. Give a fouth to your kids to help them answer these questions from their school chums, or maybe answer their own questions.

Go, my friends - do it now.

And besides; who doesn't just love penguins?

[Note: This review <a href="http://www.evaneco.com/2006/03/in-mail-penguins-pain-and-whole.html">was originally posted here.</a> ]

what a phenonmenal book!
the first time i read penguins i read it straight through without stopping...it is the kind of book that grabs you and makes you think but moves along so naturally and seamlessly, interspersed with wit and humor.
i honestly cant say enough good things about this book, or the author, only that im giving it to everyone i know for christmas...
thank you john shore!

This little book is BIG in outlook! It treats some difficult and perplexing theological
questions in ways that are revealing, humorous, and highly accessible. It richly
resonates with many of my own experiences as a follower of the Way, as one who sees
faith as a wondrous journey of discovery.