Blue Like Jazz
Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
- Christian Living
- Publisher: Harper Horizon (HarperCollins Focus)
- Published: 2003
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Publisher's Description
The runaway New York Times bestseller that became a cornerstone of Christian nonfiction, Blue Like Jazz is a fresh and original perspective on life, love, and redemption. "I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve…Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way. I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened." Donald Miller was raised in a strict Texas denomination where he was only vaguely familiar with a distant God. When he grew older, he ran all the way to the least-religious university in the US: Rice College in Portland, Oregon. Still, God pursued him. When he came to know Jesus, he pursued the Christian life with great zeal. However, 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, non-judgmental, and soul-searching account, Miller describes his remarkable journey with and back to the infinitely loving God, helping you… discover how the Christian faith is still relevant in a postmodern culture; learn how to have a genuine encounter with a God who is real; and enjoy a renewed sense of passion for your life. Blue Like Jazz is a gentle, honest resource for those curious about the Christian faith, or new to it, and offers a fresh and original perspective on life, love, and redemption.
Endorsements (7)
“It’s hard to find people who write about God from a position of commitment but still sound as if they’re being human and honest, not running every word through the filter of religious subculture. Donald Miller is such a person. Plus, he writes with wit, flair, and self-awareness to boot.”
“I can think of no better book than Blue Like Jazz to introduce Christian spirituality (a way of life) to people for whom Christianity (a system of beliefs) seems like a bad math problem or a traffic jam. Donald Miller writes like a good improv solo—smooth, sweet, surprising, uplifting, and full of soul and fury and joy. When I finished the last page, I felt warmed, full of hope, and confident that this great book will echo with beauty in many, many lives just as it is doing in mine.”
“Donald Miller has achieved what every Christian writer toils and types for: spiritual relevancy. He has completely revealed himself in his latest effort. Laced with off-guard humor, biting insights, and to-the-point summaries, Blue Like Jazz is a thought-provoking journey toward a God who’s not only real but reachable.”
“We need more people like Donald Miller, who are willing not only to interpret Scripture but the culture as well.”
“Honest, passionate, raw . . . real. Like jazz music, Donald Miller’s book is a song birthed out of freedom. As with good music, Blue Like Jazz is more than true—it’s meaningful. It’s about Jesus, His story, and the freedom He longs to bring to you.”
“Donald Miller looks at faith the way a great jazz musician looks at a simple melody. He sees it as a thing to be explored, a passageway to a treasure trove of even richer melodies, rhythms, and harmonics. Thank you, Don, for daring to dig and explore. And thank you for sharing your wonderful discoveries.”
“Thank God for Jazz! With an improvisational mix of wry humor, soul-baring candor, and provoking commentary, Donald Miller composes a piece of literary and intellectual brilliance. Just like the music, you don’t so much read Blue Like Jazz as you feel it—feel it and find yourself changed by its haunting melodic voice.”
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