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Glittering Vices: A New Look At The Seven Deadly Sins And Their Remedies (2009)

by Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung(Favorite Author)

3.93 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1587432323 (ISBN13: 9781587432323)

languge

English

genre

Humor

publisher

Brazos Press

review 1: It's been a couple days since I actually finished reading this book, and I'm just now getting around to writing my review of it. This is one of the few books I've read where I actually got to meet and talk with the author. Rebecca DeYoung is a very engaging woman and is clearly passionate about rediscovering the theology about the seven vices this book is dedicated to.She's part of a tradition that hasn't historically placed very much emphasis on spiritual and character development. That's not to say it's all bad, but these areas haven't received much attention, so her writing takes on the issues of greed, sloth, gluttony, etc with a definitive "rediscovery" sense about them. As someone who is part of a tradition where spiritual and character formation is vital, I found th... moree newness aspect a bit refreshing. It was like I was happy to read about her happiness in discovering this world.What keeps me from giving this a full five stars though is I believe she could have, and maybe should have, gone farther in these discoveries. At the end of the book I was left with wanting more, which is a good thing. Yet it was in a way that left me hanging a bit. Otherwise it's a very good and worthwhile book to read.
review 2: [Review from 2009] I've presently got about 100 sticky notes in this book, so let me see if I can collect my thoughts! Rebecca DeYoung wrote this book for her students at Calvin College, and it definitely belongs in the genre of thoughtful general reading suitable for teens, adults, and communities.Like the prior reviewer (J. Woestman) says, DeYoung draws heavily from Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas' ideas about a middle path of virtue being situated between two 'disordered' extremes, or distortions of that middle way. For example, courage is the best position between cowardice and rashness, as a well-ordered enjoyment of food is between avoidance or finicky eating, and desperate overeating (both being aspects of gluttony).DeYoung quotes from movies such as 'Groundhog Day' and 'Amadeus,' as well as literature and poetry. I especially appreciated her use of Madeleine L'Engle's poems of love in the final chapter.If I could recommend anything to improve a reading of this book, it would be to pair it with a thoughtful follow-up book that situates this understanding of the sins and virtues in a way of spiritual formation. I believe this is especially necessary for Protestant communities, as we so often rush towards individual virtue-improvement without developing long-haul relationships that could lead us to communities of virtue borne out of love.Perhaps it's because I read this alone, but I want to emphasize that reading it with a group of friends or family - and following it with readings on spiritual formation - would be even more beneficial! If anyone has recommendations of good follow-up books, please let us all know in a comment or review! less

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