Tower: Faith, Vertigo, and Amateur Construction

By Bill Henderson

Book Overview

Bill Henderson had an epiphany one day after buying a plot of land high atop a hill in Maine overlooking the sea: why not build a tower "for no reason"? For this lapsed Presbyterian, it all made sense. With his spiritual life in neutral, his marriage struggling, his daughter growing up, a tower was no less appropriate than, say, hiring a shrink or buying a fast car. Ignoring the fact that he knew little about construction, and armed only with a hammer, a handsaw, a tri-square, a tape measure, and a rope, he set about erecting a modest tower upon his not-so-modest hill. Tower is Henderson's down-to-earth study of a sky-high subject that celebrates the dreamer in all of us.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1888889381
• ISBN13: 9781888889383
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Pushcart Press
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.5" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Henderson's means for resolving dilemmas he faced in life

Interesting, insightful read of how an intelligent man resolved crisis he faced in life in a positive, 'constructive' manner. The details of building his tower on a VERY low budget are given along with other towers that have been built worldwide including the Watts Towers (LA) which were also built without apparent reason.Actually there is a reason for building the tower. Henderson faced certain dilemmas in his life and the solitude and focus he used to build the tower also helped him resolve these problems. Wouldn't it be great if all people could muster the strength to work out their life dilemmas in such a positive manner?This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I just wonder if Henderson continued to elaborate on his tower in subsequent seasons?

Tower: Faith, Vertigo and Amateur Construction

In this book, Bill Henderson gives the reader insights into his personal quest to build as strong,lasting and well-crafted a tower as the relationship he aspires to build within his family and with his God. Both forms of construction entail the exercise of care and personal responsibility and also call on faith to overcome the vertigo of all human beings as they stand poised over the abyss:in this posture, they can, through their action or inaction,either rise to great heights or fall to the lowest depths.

Tower: Faith, Vertigo, and Amateur Construction

Tower--Faith, Vertigo amd Amateur Constuction is a lovely small book, as entertaining as it is profound. Threaded through Henderson's meditation on his search for God, love and self is a parallel acount of his construction of a small tower on a breathtaking hill, in Sedgwick, Maine. As the tower takes shape, Henderson grapples with the most fundamental concerns of life-vanquishes his vertigo and rediscovers the grace of every day life. Sharing his journey, we do too. His book is a true gift.

One man's search

Bill Henderson's Tower is a beautifully evocative account of his search for himself, man's meaning and his relationship with his god. All through building a tower on the crest of windy hill on an island off the coast of maine. In very accessible prose, his personal journey is poignently told thorugh the progress of his modest two story tower. There is a great tradition of towers-one that I was ignorant of- and Henderson talks of these earlier builders and their "edifices." Some are shown in the book. Terrific book for every middle aged man or woman or reader of sensitive prose.

Very Interesting Read

I found this book to be a fascinating read. The author has an inspiring attitude towards life, spirituality, fatherhood, and the pursuit of a challenge. I saw that this author was to be featured on a radio show so bought his book beforehand. I was very impressed by his eloquence both in print and in speech on the radio show.