Customer Reviews

Wayfaring: Essays Pleasant and Unpleasant

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Alan Jacobs is in my estimation one of the foremost Christian men of letters around today. I discovered his writing in First Things, and immediately bought and read The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis (Plus) and Original Sin: A Cultural History. Both are tremendously interesting books as well.

The essays in this collection are primarily from "Books and Culture" and "First Things," both outstanding publications.

I ordered this book as soon as it came out and read through it in a few sittings. Jacobs and the editors and Eerdmans did a tremendous job selecting the essays. Together they form a sort of mind map of the author, and one easily grasps how interconnected the themes addressed really are. Environmental stewardship, the importance of story, the craft of writing, the beauty of language--these topics and many others are woven throughout the collection.

Perhaps what really made the collection for me was Jacob's dry wit. The calmly devastating prose of "Do-It-Yourself Tradition," "Blessed are the Green of Heart," "A Relgion for Atheists," and "On the Recent Publication of Kahlil Gibran's Collected Works" is worth the price of admission.

But Jacobs is a multifaceted writer, and the essays like "The Youngest Brother's Tale" and "The End of Friendship" are beautiful and insightful reflections, in their different ways, on what it is to be human.

So buy the book already.

Wayfaring: Essays Pleasant and Unpleasant offers a new collection of writings for wayfaring, offering a Christian perspective on letting writing reveal fresh insights into spiritual reflection and the modern world. From blogging to Harry Potter and more, this includes book reviews, a poem, and a foundation in Christian exploration.