Hoping for Happiness

Earlier this year, I reviewed another Barnabas Piper book, and I enjoyed it so much that as soon as I learned about this book, I knew that I wanted to read it too. Once again, I enjoyed Piper's writing voice and sense of humor, and I deeply relate to his efforts to be a hopeful realist. This book is......more

Very well done! I really enjoy his writing style and loved the content. No spoilers but at least a taste. Piper uses a phrase that he calls “Evangeliguilt,” in that many Christians fear being happy. They use false dichotomies like “we need to be holy and not happy,” as if the dichotomy is true. Yet......more

I always enjoy seeing Barnabas come out with a new book. I’ve been challenged and encouraged from his previous books. Barnabas’s new book, Hoping For Happiness, challenges the idea that Christians should seek joy. He offers instead a biblical framework for living a grounded, hopeful, and genuinely h......more

Yes. That is the answer to your question, "should I read this book?" Yes. Piper deals with the reality of life, with an very raw, real, and faithful look at Ecclesiastes, how the Christian has a hope of future happiness in God and, yet, a real hope of happiness now. The final chapter is well worth t......more

Pretty sure this is my favorite of Barnabas’s books (and I’ve given them all 5 stars, so...) It’s well-written, thoughtful, and compelling as always, but my favorite thing about his writing is that he doesn’t place himself in a position of authority/expertise and condescend to teach the rest of us.......more