Whistling in the Dark: An ABC Theologized

by Frederick Buechner

Book Overview

Awry and thought-provoking jaunt through the spiritual terrain of our everyday language -- a lexion of uncommon insight to jar the mind and nourish the soul. I think of faith as a kind of whistling in the dark, because in much the same way, writes Buechner, it helps to give us courage and to hold the shadows at bay.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060611405
• ISBN13: 9780060611408
• Release Date: May 1993
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Nobody but Buechner can write like this

Yet again Buechner displays his amazing wisdom though an ingenious little book that is easy to read (even one a day if you like) and yet hard to put down. If you've read and enjoyed "Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's Dictionary", then this "Whistling in the Dark: ABC Theologized" is a must-have. If you haven't read either - get them! You'll never see a more even-handed, honest, and insightful take on religion and life as we know it.

More solid Buechner

The third and final installment in Buechner's lexicon-style expositions, Whistling in the Dark looks at words that might not be considered "religious" but that deal with the topic nonetheless. Hitting topics such as abortion, this book hits a bit more into politics than the previous two. Be forewarned that some of the entries are somewhat darker and even a little depressing. Although not as good as "Wishful Thinking", it is on par with "Peculiar Treasures" and superior to most "religious" books available today. This is another one to read and ponder again and again.

Classic Buechner

A great starting place if you want to explore Buechner's non-fiction. He has a way of making the deep attainable and the mundane deep. His way with words is remarkable and moving. In this and other writings, Buechner shares with us his own fallibility in a way that is both touching and disarming and in doing so helps us to deal with our own foibles in a remarkable new way. He never condescends or assumes the spiritual state of the reader. Start with this wonderful volume, go on to read some of his fiction like 'Godric' or 'On The Road WIth The Archangel', move on to the Bebb Quadrology (?) and then come back to his autobiogrphical books.... heck, then get everything else you've missed.Buechner is quoted in John Irving's 'A Prayer For Owen Meany' as saying 'Not the least of my problems is that I can hardly even imagine what kind of an experience a genuine, self-authenticating religious experience would be. Without somehow destroying me in the process, how could God reveal himself in a way that would leave no room for doubt? If there were no room for doubt, there would be no room for me." Indeed. This Frederick Buechner is a man who gets us as close to that religious experience as possible without being destroyed.

Humorous, Thought-Provoking, Touching, Never Dull!!!

Buechner is one of the great theological minds of our time, but his writing is accessible without being condescending. In this classic lexicon, he captures the dichotomy of faith and doubt in God. If you enjoy C.S. Lewis' work but have a sometimes irreverent sense of humor, you are sure to want your own copy of Whistling in the Dark!