Book Review: Blue Like Jazz

I must confess, I finished this book weeks ago but haven’t been able to form coherent thoughts regarding my opinion of the book and whether or not I would recommend it to other people.

Blue Like Jazz is a mostly autobiographical telling of Donald Miller’s journey to God. Donald centers the story on the time in his life when taking classes at Reed College, an extremely liberal college in Portland, Oregon. His tone, though reflective, frequently takes a stream of consciousness feel where we the reader are not only reading dialogue between characters but also the inner narrative of Donald’s head. This diary-style of writing includes a sudden shift with bunny and astronaut cartoons drawn in the middle of his book.

On one hand, Donald writes beautiful statements such as:

I think the most important thing that happens within Christian spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus. p. 237

Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. author’s note

Many of these students [at Reed] hated the very idea of God, and yet they cared about people more than I did. p. 42

I love to give to charity, but I don’t want to be charity. This is why I have so much trouble with grace. p. 84

His tales emphasize the importance of pushing beyond a “cultural Christianity” where students define themselves as “Christian” merely because their parents have forced them to step foot in church once a week. At Reed, Donald was challenged to think critically about his faith and have a reason for what he believed beyond, “that’s what I’ve been told.”

And yet, on the other hand, Donald has moments of:

I don’t think, however, there are many people who can stay happy for long periods of time. Joy is a temporal thing. Its brief capacity, as reference, gives it its pleasure. p. 61

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality. tagline

For me, the beginning of sharing my faith with people began by throwing out Christian spirituality, a nonpolitical mysterious system that can be experienced but not explained. Christianity, unlike Christian spirituality, was not a term that excited me.

I have an intangible fear that the mere placement of this book on the Christian shelf at bookstores causes readers to take every rambling thought recorded as fact. I understand that Donald has a bad taste in his mouth in regards to “Christians.” However, he never supports his points with Scripture. His ideas mimic biblical teachings without referencing them. Perhaps this is to broaden his audience base. But I am afraid that his concept of spirituality is one that deflates the power of the Word of God.

While trying to assemble some book review thoughts, I watched several interviews of Donald Miller. He repeats the theme that “3 points and a poem” doesn’t work for him. He wishes preachers would find a new way to communicate. In his own writings, he doesn’t want to bash his readers with the conclusion but rather he wants to write several dramatic situations that causes each reader to reach his or her own conclusion.

One interviewer noted that Donald’s books are written in the style of jazz music. That is, there are multiple riffs with bursts of clarity scattered throughout. There is no firm structure like in 4/4 time. But in Donald’s own words, he feels as though most Christian writers are trying to sell their faith to their readers. He does not want to be one of those writers. He wants to discuss a sensitive topic and upset as few people as possible along the way.

Donald Miller’s book Blue Like Jazz has received national attention and accolades. It can be used as a good tool to help book clubs and small groups contemplate their faith from a new perspective. I would not strongly recommend the book to a younger audience simply because I am one of those Christian writers that Donald seems to dislike. I may not consciously be “selling” my faith. However, I do feel strongly that our students need to have a firm foundation in Scripture. Therefore, my writing style may ramble as much as Donald’s, but ultimately, I believe in using Scripture to come to conclusions.

But by all means, as Donald prefers, come to your own conclusion and let’s have an open discussion about whether or not you would recommend the book.