Getting to know You

For all those keen to think through their self-identity but who, in the present crisis, do not have the money to backpack round Laos in order to do so, Michael Jensen has given us an alternative that is considerably cheaper and much more useful.

YOU: An Introduction came out just before Christmas and let me tell you why it's well worth a read. For starters, it adheres to that all-important but under-populated category of Christian literature which I classify as Bedtime Reading. Its not one of those books that needs a flask of strong coffee, a dictionary and an occasional hard slap to face in order to maintain concentration. It is chatty, thought-provoking and personable in style. Michael peppers his text with cultural references, especially song lyrics - for someone like me, who has long since given up trying to locate the cultural pulse, this is all very revealing and helpful; as well as quotations from commentators such as Anthony Giddens. 

But underneath the breezy style is an important message. Our varying degrees of confusion about who we are reflects how we have each burnt the bridges of our self-understanding in turning from God. What Michael Jensen has managed to do is provide handles on the biblical witness to who we are in a way that is fresh and engaging. We probe what it means to be physical, relational and spiritual; chapters include bodies, speech, gender, dreams and death.

Chapters end with some of the comments from Michael's original 'blog posts, all of which helps the feel of the book to be more a conversation/thought-process starter than something definitive. This widens the group of people for whom this book would be helpful considerably; I've enjoyed leaving it on the coffee table and seeing what different people have made of it.

In the UK it's available here. The sequel, HIM, is being currently blogged.