Sunday, July 02, 2006

Problems With Promiscuity

Don't worry, it's not what it sounds like. The problems are mine, but I'm referring to my reading habits and patterns. I have a hard time staying faithful to one book and reading it all the way through. The dreaded question came Saturday at the beach when Dave Wilson asked me what kind of progress I was making on the reading list I posted at the beginning of the summer. Ahh...dreaded accountability. Here's the score. I 'm a little over halfway through Wild at Heart which has more or less stalled out. Though I was intrigued at the beginning, it's gotten to the point that I've figured out the big idea and gotten board with the continuos development of it. Freakonomics while fascinating (even beyond it's blogan sounding title) was on the best seller list, which means it could not be renewed from the public library. Having returned it, I just couldn't work up the urge to check it out again. Now hear me, the problem is not in the book...it is quite engaging. The fault resides solely in my perpetual tendency towards biblioinfidelity.

Now I have remained loyal, thus far, to my plan with the dictionaries, having read a few select articles from both of them. However, this is hardly bibliomonogomy since it is a compilation of authors on a variety of topics. Neither volume requires a significant attention span. NTPG is about the only one I've stuck with to this point, but even that is a bit embarassing. I'm somewhere around page 150 (roughly a third of the way through the book). Sad to say, that means I've just completed the introduction, which isn't as bad as it sounds. 150 pages of introduction you ask? Remember, it's the introductory volume of a major project projected somewhere around six volumes I believe. Furthermore, much of what he is doing is clearing the field of anticipated objections of pagan critics in order to establish the methodology he will be employing the remainder of the series. Anyway, 150 pages isn't bad, though I refuse to disclose when I actually started it and in my defense, you have to remember its single spaced text is probably about a 7 point font and I'm a slow reader to begin with. Anyway more on NTPG to follow in subsequent posts - it has been excellent food for thought.

At this point you may think that my problem is with committment rather than promiscuity. However, I've neglected to point out that in the face of all of these unfinished and abandoned tomes I've aslo accquired a few new volumes. I'm a little over a third of the way through Jesus Creed (though I haven't read from that volume in a few weeks), I just began The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society a few days ago and have plans to begin The Right Doctrine From the Wrong Text, if Logan ever gets through with it. I have also flirted with a few additional texts in recent days including: Confessions of a Reformissionary, Reading the OT (by Barton - as recommended by Baylor), The Birth of Christianity, and The World is Flat. I'll spare you from detailing the trysts I've enjoyed, working my way throught the new release and religion sections at Barnes and Nobles on many a lunch break. I apologize if my imagery is too blogan for your taste. Perhaps I should seek counseling, but the bottom line is I'm a biblioinfidel.

11 comments:

T. Baylor said...

Barton is awesome . . . but in order for you to benefit fully, you really need to make it the whole way through.

dwilson said...

I had no idea I gave you a guilty conscience on Sat. I don't think you are the only one with this issue though. We all fall short of our dreams of reading every book that looks interesting or intriguing.
As long as there is someone out there finishing these books we can gain from their perseverance by asking, “So what did they have to say about…” It all works out in the end.

Anonymous said...

Hello brother,

Do not necessarily feel guilty when you fail to finish a book. Often books lose steam after developing their primary thesis (e.g. your Wild at Heart experience). Remember, books are made for man, and not man for books (If I may paraphrase a saying of Jesus).

James Gordon said...

I am wondering about Confessions of a Reformissionary. How much of it have you read through? I was considering adding this book to my summer reading list (after recently watching the Mark Driscoll videos from the upcoming Desiring God National Conference). I seem to echo many of his sentiments, and I was wondering if you would reccommend the book.
Thanks,
James

robertlhall said...

I think a lot of us have lustful hearts when it comes to books. We desire what we do not have; having received, we are not faithful. O wretched man that I am!!

Nate Mihelis said...

Jgordon13:

I have not read it yet, I was thinking about accquiring it (our library doesn't have it). However, I would still reccomend it 1) based on reading his blog (which I have been reading for the past 6-8 months) and 2) some of the reviews I've already heard about it. If you havn't read the post on iMonk's website I linked to (See Why Mark Driscoll Bothers you (or Doesn't). It was excellent and increased my interest in the book.

LMLogan said...

sorry off topic - how's dawn doing?? getting close now!! isn't this your month!??!! :)

Nate Mihelis said...

Yes, it is soon. She's doing well. The doc says he won't let her go past Aug 6th, so it's less than a month now!

Anonymous said...

Nate,
Though I am unable to comment on any of your recent literary trysts I must compliment you on your creative wording, "biblioinfidelity", I wrote that one down. Although I have to say, you are beginning to sound like a bit of a bibliophile, where did I go right! :-) See ya soon, Love Mom :-)

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