STEP: Resource Review: "Blue Like Jazz"

Resource reviews

Blue Like Jazz
Donald Miller
Amazon.com: $9.74 new, $2.74 used
256 pages

I'm not sure how, but somehow I missed the whole Blue Like Jazz phase. I remember when Donald Miller's bestselling book came out a number of years ago. I had friends left and right that were reading and consequently praising his compilation of stories and conclusions. Remembering how popular the book had been and how many people had recommended the it to me, I picked it up to read this spring. While my love for this book maybe does not go as deep as others, I did enjoy it thoroughly and most surely appreciated several of the points Miller made.

I suspect much of this book's popularity is due to the incredibly easy format. Each page practically flips itself with more stories and relatable insights filling each chapter. Just as the quote from Christianity Today on the back cover of the book suggests, Miller's writing style can be easily compared to Annie Lamott's works. Casual anecdotes suddenly develop into deep reflections delivered in small doses that are not overwhelming. This relaxed style is again easy to read and in fact makes the points more emphatically because it is not dense or jumbled.

There are several worthy points in the book, but most of all I found the book a very powerful reminder of the importance of people in our lives. Miller speaks of his own faith by sharing the discussions he has had with a number of friends in his life. Each person, with a different and usually amusing nickname, somehow reveals various truths to him. His conclusions alone are worthy of recognition, but the mere style constantly reminded me as I read it that we, the people of God, are individual mirrors of God's love and light. As such we should enter in discussion with our brothers and sisters and support their development in Christ, a reminder we can surely all use.

At the end of the day, the book is a solid expression of one man's reflective faith. While I found myself at odds with a bit of his theology, the book's focus does not lie there. His humorous stories and insightful comments are well worth the time.

Reviewed by: Merillat Pittman, Texas Christian University
Posted: June 24, 2009

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		Resource reviews Blue Like Jazz Donald Miller Amazon.com: $9.74 new, $2.74 used 256 pages I'm not sure how, but somehow I missed the whole Blue Like Jazz phase. I remember when Donald Miller's bestselling book came out a number of years ago. I had friends left and right that were reading and consequently praising his compilation of stories and conclusions. Remembering how popular the book had been and how many people had recommended the it to me, I picked it up to read this spring. While my love for this book maybe does not go as deep as others, I did enjoy it thoroughly and most surely appreciated several of the points Miller made. I suspect much of this book's popularity is due to the incredibly easy format. Each page practically flips itself with more stories and relatable insights filling each chapter. Just as the quote from Christianity Today on the back cover of the book suggests, Miller's writing style can be easily compared to Annie Lamott's works. Casual anecdotes suddenly develop into deep reflections delivered in small doses that are not overwhelming. This relaxed style is again easy to read and in fact makes the points more emphatically because it is not dense or jumbled. There are several worthy points in the book, but most of all I found the book a very powerful reminder of the importance of people in our lives. Miller speaks of his own faith by sharing the discussions he has had with a number of friends in his life. Each person, with a different and usually amusing nickname, somehow reveals various truths to him. His conclusions alone are worthy of recognition, but the mere style constantly reminded me as I read it that we, the people of God, are individual mirrors of God's love and light. As such we should enter in discussion with our brothers and sisters and support their development in Christ, a reminder we can surely all use. At the end of the day, the book is a solid expression of one man's reflective faith. While I found myself at odds with a bit of his theology, the book's focus does not lie there. His humorous stories and insightful comments are well worth the time. Reviewed by: Merillat Pittman, Texas Christian University Posted: June 24, 2009 Was this review or resource helpful to you? We want to know what you think. Send your comments on this review or on this material to blyons@helmdisciples.org. Your comments will be posted on this page.