by Donald Miller

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review by Joseph Thouvenel

“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.” –Donald Miller

The literary genre of religious nonfiction has been growing exponentially the past twenty years. Once relegated to a back shelf at bookstores, it now holds prominence as one of the largest-selling forms of nonfiction available. I've been challenged and encouraged by this style of writing since high school. Books such as Richard Foster's A Celebration of Discipline and Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies have helped to transform my spirituality through the years.

I recently read a copy of Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. A friend recommended it to me with the warning that it was much more blunt about spirituality than most books of its kind. I found it a highly engaging book in which the author meanders from topic to topic, sharing his reflections on living a Christ-centered faith in a self-centered world.

In Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller daringly pushes the boundaries of religious nonfiction by writing a work that moves in and out of personal revelation and bold proclamation. Not only is it fun to read and full of numerous laugh-out-loud moments, but it also explores aspects of Christian spirituality often left untouched by the scores of other authors sharing space with it on the shelves. Miller delves into relevant themes such as Christian community, evangelism, friendship, guy-girl relationships, and more. His writing style is sure to appeal to twenty- and thirty-something adults but should also provide helpful insights for the more mature reader. Wonderfully, it seems to be Miller's goal to write a book helpful to his fellow Christians but also accessible to non-Christians as well.

What I appreciate most about Blue Like Jazz is its surprising relevance to contemporary Christian spirituality. By reflecting vulnerably on his experiences in school, at work, with friends, and at church, Miller is sure to strike chords within readers from a variety of backgrounds. Despite the shortcomings of humanity's attempt to cultivate Christian community, Miller urges us not to give up pursuing the ideal. Blue Like Jazz calls its readers to be authentic in their relationships with God, others, and themselves.

I found it quite refreshing the way in which Miller breaks the mold of Christian nonfiction writing. Too often this genre offers myriad books spelling out the ways one can live a more upright Christian life. Or, it offers sentimental memoirs often only readable by more sensitive readers. Thankfully, Miller daringly steps out of this enticing formulaic approach in an effort to integrate and balance his experiences with relevant Christian truths. This makes Blue Like Jazz an unexpectedly entertaining and thought-provoking read.

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