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| Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality | 
 enlarge | Author: Donald Miller
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $4.42
You Save: $10.57 (71%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (454 reviews)
Sales Rank: 433
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.7
ISBN: 0785263705
Dewey Decimal Number: 277.3082092
UPC: 020049024874
EAN: 9780785263708
ASIN: 0785263705
Publication Date: July 17, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
"I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. . . . I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened." In Donald Miller's early years, he was vaguely familiar with a distant God. But when he came to know Jesus Christ, he pursued the Christian life with great zeal. Within a few years he had a successful ministry that ultimately left him feeling empty, burned out, and, once again, far away from God. In this intimate, soul-searching account, Miller describes his remarkable journey back to a culturally relevant, infinitely loving God.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 449 more reviews...
 Blue Like Jazz October 6, 2008
In my opinion this book presents a ground-breaking philosophy to the Christian community as well as anyone who enjoys thought provoking literature. A must read. "Searching For God Knows What" by the same author is just as good, if not better!
 This is the worst book that I have read this year! October 4, 2008
I know that a lot of people love Donald Miller and I know that I am in the minority, but I just didn't "get" this book. It was a bunch of unorganized ramblings.
Read it. September 28, 2008
The book was very good - it is very simplistic which is a relief from the self-righteous philosphical types. It uses stories to explain very difficult issues such as why Christ had to humble himself and come to earth to save the world. It is an easy read that will impact your soul.
A refreshing look into beliefs, spirituality, and the pursuit of knowledge September 22, 2008
I'm not completely done reading this book but WOW, it's such an incredible journey. It was difficult at first to read because the author is a bit sporadic but I've finally got his "style" down and actually, it adds some flair to the book. There are times that I'm laughing and then the next sentence I'm crying. For anyone trying to gain perspective on what a real relationship with God is like, what real people are like, and just the feeling that you're not alone, this is the perfect book!
Reads like a child's book report September 19, 2008
I started this book last night and have made my way through about a quarter of it, so I admit this isn't a full review of the complete work (I will complete this review when I finish the work). That being said, so far, I am not impressed. I kept hearing that this book was an absolute gem, that it would change the way I think, that it was the new "On the Road", and that it would awaken in me a new Christian spirituality. Well, maybe not those exact words, but that's the general idea. Within the first three chapters, this book reveals itself for what it is: a vehicle to promote liberation theology and a liberal theology in general.
Miller has some valid points, for example, that Christians are called to help the needy and that we spend most of our time thinking about ourselves rather than others, but he seems to think that promoting social justice and welfare programs was the whole point of Christ's incarnation and sacrifice, not to heal our relationship with God and to think of Him first, our neighbors second, and ourselves last. His theology is sloppy, inconsistent, and shows a lack of understanding concerning 2000 years of Christian teaching. In interviews, he makes the statement that he is a writer, not a pastor, but one needs to realize that when one writes a nonfiction work on a topic, that the author takes on the role of a teacher in many ways for the topic he has chosen. It's fine that Mr. Miller admits he is not a theologian or an expert, but that doesn't stop him from making claims and giving criticisms of a theological nature. As I mentioned, I have not finished the book yet, so I don't know if his teachings become more solid or not.
In addition, it was obvious that part of Mr. Miller's goal in writing this book was to sway people to join a political party. He is highly critical, and in some instances absolutely slams, the Republican Party for not "giving a crap" about the message and mission of Jesus, and (as a member of the GOP myself) I can openly and easily admit that some of it is deserved; the Compassionate Conservatism we heard about a few years ago seems to have been swept up by the vacuum cleaner. However, Miller never shows equal criticism for the Democratic Party (there is no need to go into detail here, as this is a book review and not a political debate). For a man that spends a good portion of his book decrying institutions, he seems to pull his punches with the ones he likes.
Finally, many say this book is "conversational" in its delivery. I disagree. It reads more like a child's book report. Short, choppy, awkward sentences abound, stuff like: "I went to a play on a date once. Plays are good. Dates are good too. Dates where you go to a play are sometimes good too. You should pretend you like plays and make happy noises if you go on a date to a play." I am paraphrasing here, but that is the general idea. I kept expecting Miller to say his favorite food is pizza and he has two cats, a dog, and a sister.
I will finish this book, if for no other reason than to give it a chance, but I am not hopeful of much improvement or some great insight. If someone has told you how great this book is, be suspicious.
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