50x52::Man's Search For Meaning

Originally published in 1959, Man's Search For Meaning, has been an influential text as it combines an autobiographical recount of Viktor E. Frankl's time in Nazi concentration camps, a philosophical reflection upon the importance of meaning in life, and a psychological argument for Frankl's theory called Logotherapy, which desires patients to actualize meaning through action.  By drawing on his personal story, Frankl demonstrates his belief that meaning is discovered by the sharing of story. 

   
And how does a human being go about finding meaning?  As Charlotte Buhler has stated: "All we can do is study the lives of people who seem to have found their answers to the questions of what ultimately human life is about as against those who have not."   

    
Drawing on his extreme experiences in the concentration camp, Frankl is able to provide a unique perspective to humanity's quest for influence and meaning in life.

   
Frankl's own experience underscores the power of losing everything because he was stripped of his clothes in a shower within Auschwitz, given a number in place of his name, separated from his wife, and sewn into his jacket was his life's manuscript that was ultimately burned in the incinerators. Literally, Frankl lost his family, his job, his identity, his life's work and yet managed to discover a richer and deeper meaning within his existence.  Frankl witnessed firsthand his claim that "the sudden loss of hope and courage can have a deadly effect" and so tried to discover hope amidst the holocaust.

   
In contrast to Freudian psychology that unpacks past events, Logotherapy is forward-looking "striving to find a meaning in one's life [which] is the primary motivational force in a man" (Frankl, 99).  This approach allows a patient to find value even in everyday, mundane activities because suddenly these seemingly non-events hold the power to direct, or possibly misdirect, from their primary force of actualizing a life's purpose.    

   
Frankl's seminal work, however, rests heavily upon his horrendous experience within the concentration camp.  Drawing upon those experiences, that such few survived, makes it challenging to critique his work because not only is it such a unique experience, but also he possess a unique determination.  His implication that suffering is one of the main providers of meaning may not be shared by other Holocaust survivors. 

   
In the end, however, Man's Search For Meaning provides a strong case that meaning is located not through abundance, pleasure, achievement or even self-discovery, but through the engagement--service--with the world: "the true meaning of life is to be discovered in the world rather than within man or his own psyche...the more one forgets himself--by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love--the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself" (Frankl, 111).  

50x52: Screwtape Letters

Returning to a book that I read while in High School, I better appreciate the theological discussions CS Lewis addresses.  Stylistically, this book shows the brilliance of CS Lewis as he introduces practical theology in a very creative manner.  Even the preface shows his wit.

As Screwtape, a demon tries to train up his nephew on how to undercut a man's faith development.

Particularly interesting was Lewis jabs at Historical Criticism and how an emphasis upon Social Justice moves it from a response to the gospel to a false gospel. Written fifty years ago it's amazing how relevant his critiques are and how much our society has only rapidly escalated many of the same issues. 

50x52::Diamonds Are Forever

Having read too many textbooks for school, need a mental release. Unfortunately of the Bond books this one was the least interesting so far. The bad guys were not well developed, and the ending felt rushed.  Need to watch the movie again cause I don't recall most of the book being in the movie 

50x52: The True Measure of a Man

Richard Simmon’s book was written after the American economic recession, and confronts the issues men have faced as a result of the downturn.  His premise is that financial instability forced many men to reconsider what priorities they have pursued, because it has crumbled the façade of success:  “under an exterior life of confidence, there exists in almost all men a hidden life of fear, pain and loneliness.”[1]  This pain and isolation is the result of men not being able to build community but to constantly feel unfulfilled in their present situations.

The paramount question, Simmons argues that every man struggles with is, “What will people think of me?”[2]  This question constantly produces fear, inadequacy and shame within a man’s life; he is afraid that his iniquities will be discovered.  Therefore, most men are consumed with comparison that leads to dissatisfaction with the present:

One of the reasons we struggle to find meaning and joy in our lives is because no matter where we are in life, no matter how well things might be going for us right now, we always seem to be able to contemplate a better life in the future, better than what we are experiencing right now.[3]

This dissatisfaction results in a loss of meaning and purpose to life.  As a result option, Simmons’ challenges the masculine perspective that performance, accomplishments, and titles set their identities. 

Having deconstructed the male perspective, Simmons seeks to offer an alternative identity source.  Rather than being based upon performance, the true measure of a man resides in Jesus Christ.  The emphasis is upon character traits like humility, courage, self-restraint, and relationships.  While Simmons manages to expose the emptiness resulting from a performance based identity, his attempt to rebuild a Christ-centered identity lacks a theologically and biblically robust argument.

---

[1] 9.

[2] 11.

[3] 106.

50x52::Credibilty

This is a good book on leadership and how essential credibility is to gaining and retaining leadership. Most interesting in this book was the study that revealed the four top leadership traits.  That a leader would be 1) honest, 2) forward-looking, 3) inspiring and 4) competent.  The book dives into many facets of leadership theory and how it functions in the business world.  

50x52: The Leadership Jump

This is the first of myDMin book reviews because this was the most enjoyable of the books.

I hadn't read Jimmy Long in a decade, but quickly remembered why I appreciated his books early in my ministry. Long describes well the huge gap in leadership styles between existing and emerging leaders. He is intentionally vague in pin pointing an age associated with these leadership styles, but implies that most emerging leaders are your stereotyped GenXer and millenials.  

However is point is spot on and for young leaders working in established institutions, you will be able to resonate in the stories and antecdotes.  I've included a highlight from the book that struck a particular chord. 

50x52: The Pastor as Person

So begins academic required reading. This book was an "easy read" compared to the Leadership Textbook and "Qualitative Research" books on my shelf. However, beyond it's narrative form of five pastors struggling to understand themselves physically, mentally, emotionally and socially, this book typifies my complaints against current seminaries.
My assumption is that this text in 1985 was a revolutionary concept that pastors should "know themselves" through a therapeutic lens and may have helped bring humanity into the academic classroom. Today, however, I feel pastors are taught this therapeutic approach to the detriment of Biblical and robust theology, resulting in the idolization of Nouwen's "Wounded Healer."
The call of Christ is not "to thine on self be true" or "loving yourself" or, to use Harbaugh's langauge, "I am my history/situations/choices" but in denying oneself, loosing oneself and dying to oneself so Christ might live (Galatians 2:20).

50x52: The Fear Project

Picked this book based on its ad in Runner's World. About a surfer's journey to discover the motivations and ways to avoid fear. It was part adventure book, part memoir, part psychology and part physiology study. It was an okay read but was in this weird place of trying to stay relevant while using technical language in all realms. It felt rather rushed, and the recency of the events suggest that their full impact on his life hadn't really marinated.  But do feel a "Fear" sermon series growing out of it somewhere and somehow.

   

 Now begins 12 books for my doctoral studies...

50x52: Since Nobody's Perfect...How Good is Good Enough

This short little book (and that is true in this case) is a quick argument for why the belief that good people go to heaven is not fair. Andy Stanley presents some interesting ideas along the way showing that the core of the Gospel is that heaven is not performance based but purely a gift from God. His critique of other religions however misses the opportunity to critique Americanized Christianity which is also merit based eschatology. In the end the only sensible argument for Stanley is a heaven based not on action but grace.

50x52: The Way of the Stars

This was a great find. It is a memoir of a man's journey across the El Camino De Santiago, a 500 mile pilgrimage in Spain. Written by a spiritual but not religiously aligned, the journalist captures the spiritual disciplines attained through pilgrimages without diverting into dense theology. Thankfully there are not overly mystical stories, nor religiously trite phrases, but a meaningful reflection on his own journey.
Much like the pilgrimage, this story is told as though the 30 day walk is an every man experience.

50x52: My Orange DuffleBag

The interesting part of this reading journey is the random book that will land in my lap. At the library the cover and shortness of this book looked appealing. Tucked inside was an interesting personal story of a man from homelessness at age 15 to playing football at Georgia Tech and becoming a missionary. I wish the book developed more Sam Bracken's memoir, but changed into a six step "better life now" process.
Certainly we're some catchy buzz phrases and ideas to glean from it.

50X52: Mere Christianity

After years of stutter starts and stops, I finally read Mere Christianity.  I found this book very interesting...at times a little dense philosophically.  But overall, I see why it is a classic read.  The opening section was by far the most interesting as it step-by-step argued why moral atheism is a untenable belief system:  the belief in universal Right/Wrong requires a belief in some supernatural power.  The other three sections were less interesting, and by the final one I found myself more out sheer grit trying to complete this book.  

Being written in Post-Nazi England as the Enlightenment continued to erode orthodox Christianity, it is a good comparison and consideration for the American Church who has been a facing a slower, but similar, erosion.

50x52: The Starfish and The Spider

This is technically a reread, having read this back in 2009, it was a refreshing review. Especially in light of the rapid technological advancements of twitter. The basic premise of the book is decentralization is the unstoppable force in (post)modernity: It spreads out ownership, and allows for participation.
The starfish leadership principles are core to F3Nation.com, Napster, eMule, eBay, Craigslist, etc. but I would argue that this is nothing new as we see it at play in the Bible as Jesus is the ultimate catalyst (read the book to understand that connection), the essential need for core ideologies--Biblical principles--and the mission of Jesus to be the decentralization of the Judaic/Temple stronghold. The reformation then becomes another starfish movement that revolutionizes the catholic church. And finally the original American experiment of democracy is a governmental example. Unfortunately our original sin (Adam's attempt to centralize power by eating the apple) causes the natural tendency of humans to centralize and institutionalize everything...even Christ's body--the church.

Definitely a great leadership book for those inside and outside the church.

50x52: Baptsm- Three Views

From a cycling to a theology book, my head is hurting from the big words, but this is a great and challenging read for pastors. Three views are laid out by three experts in their fields: David Wright, Bruce Ware, Sinclair Ferguson, and Anthony Lane. The book takes on a debate format of argument, response and final rebuttal.
The three views "Believer Baptism" (credobaptism), "Infant Baptism" (paedobaptism) and "Dual Practice" (middle-lane). Like any Goldilocks extremes, finding the middle position "just right" is the temptation, but for those of us from an evangelical and infant baptism background the debate here is very strong and may leave you considering the Biblical warrants for our practice.

50x52: The Secret Race

This was a great read, especially in light of Lance's admission (I refuse to call a self serving acknowledgement of doping a confession). I wonder how I would have felt reading this book before the Oprah interview, but now it carries such an authoritative weight that you cannot help believe Hamilton's perspective. Similarly, I kept finding myself reading Hamilton as a sympathetic character who was swept into this race, and Lance as this brute. But then you have to wonder a) what young riders was Hamilton responsible for sweeping into the same pattern of behavior and 2) what the culture was like prior to Lance. Lance seems more like the paramount example of what happens when all these factors converge.

One interesting thing is how cycling is one of the most competitive team sports that requires tight teamwork, but also requires a huge sense of individual ego. You ride ultimately for yourself but it requires a huge team to get you to that end.

Random note...all week I have felt guilty as though I have been doping and part of this secret racing society (empathy: sign of a good read)

50x52: To The Last Breath

If you follow along, you will start to notice that my type of books become very repetitive.  I have read so many books on Everest expeditions they probably could stretch to the top of Everest one after another.
This book was by a Pyshics professor who decided to climb all of the tallest mountains and surf every ocean.  But underlying the adventure story was a story of a man moving from isolation and self-interest to begin to grasp the bigger picture of life in relationships and community.

50x52: Counterfeit Gods

Starting off the year right with a little Tim Keller action.  Great read by Keller and he unpacks some scripture in inspiring ways.  Especially the Leah story from Genesis to reveal how even our desires for love, security and control are idols that stand in the way of Christ.

50x52: 2013 Goal

Embarking on a new set of goals for 2013, one of which is to read 50 books in a year (once again).  The most critical step in goal setting is sharing with someone what your goals are because they can keep you on task.  So--there it is.

Blogs to follow regarding the reads.