Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
The Road Trip that Changed the World: The Unlikely Theory that will Change How You View Culture, the Church, and, Most Importantly, Yourself
by
Mark Sayers
What if the problem is us? Sixty years ago a goatee beard would have gotten you beat up in a lot of places. Chin fuzz was the symbol of the Beats or Beatniks, a mid-century, marginal group who pioneered a new kind of lifestyle. Their approach to life was hedonistic, experiential, fluid, and individualistic. Their contradictory approach to spirituality combined a search for...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
April 20th 2012
by Moody Publishers
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
144)
Original insight into today's culture and what makes us "tick." Fascinating exploration of the role Kerouac and his book may have played in convincing so many that life is about "finding yourself" and taking some kind of journey. Because I live in this post-Kerouac world, Sayers' description of prior worldviews was particularly helpful, the long-forgotten sense of home and family and blooming where you are planted. I wish he had more fully developed the contrast between the two.
Kerouac's own jou...more
Kerouac's own jou...more
Australian pastor and author Mark Sayers put out a request for reviews of his new book, The Road Trip that Changed the World a few weeks ago, and I’m happy today to take him up on it. I had previously read his book Vertical Self and enjoyed it quite a bit, so I was looking forward to his newest offering.
The Road Trip that Changed the World draws its title and chief topic from the classic American novel On The Road by Jack Kerouac. Sayers examines how Kerouac’s novel incited a generation to leave...more
The Road Trip that Changed the World draws its title and chief topic from the classic American novel On The Road by Jack Kerouac. Sayers examines how Kerouac’s novel incited a generation to leave...more
A potent, cogent critique of contemporary Christianity using two "road trips" as the framework. Jack Kerouac's book "On the Road", which the author argues had a profound impact on culture including religious culture. In contrast, the author considers the Old Testament story of Abraham to be paradigmatic for articulating what the Christian journey should be. Essentially, Sayers believes that modern Christianity is superficial, directionless, and powerless. He calls modern Christians back to an Ab...more
Interesting contrast - Jack Kerouac's road vs. the Christian journey. I really believe the first part of this book is over my head, to be honest, but I could relate to the last half. ;-) I wonder if "On the Road" was really all that important and defining. Perhaps. Our lives have definitely changed in hundreds of ways since Kerouac's pleasure-seeking days, but unfortunately, we still live in a hedonistic world; we often prioritize impulsively, and we need an Anchor to give us objectives, passion...more
Karl Barth used to teach his young students to read the Bible and the newspaper at the same time, so that they could interpret culture through the grand story of Scripture.
Mark Sayers is a champion at this.
The Road Trip That Changed The World is a diagnostic narrative on the lightweight spiritualitywe inheritedfrom Jack Kerouac, who, in his novel, On The Road, reacted against the conformity of the 1940’sby abandoning home, family, and place in search of the unfettered freedom of the road. But ev...more
Mark Sayers is a champion at this.
The Road Trip That Changed The World is a diagnostic narrative on the lightweight spiritualitywe inheritedfrom Jack Kerouac, who, in his novel, On The Road, reacted against the conformity of the 1940’sby abandoning home, family, and place in search of the unfettered freedom of the road. But ev...more
I read Kerouac's book first & found this reflection on it very helpful - for a perspective on Kerouac & the themes of contemporary culture that influence my life & ministry. I expected Sayers to be a bit more unconventionally radical but I found him radical in the sense of calling us back to the life found in Jesus - engaging in covenant relationships & accepting a role as God's ambassadors to a sick world. Very insightful & pulls no punches.
What a fascinating look at our culture and what has brought it to this point. It's a critique on the modern church & how it's ended up going along with the culture. Many historical points he makes are slightly earth shattering to me!
A very different book. Takes some authors that you probably have not read, and takes their views on Christianity while then pointing out struggles and changes that need to be made in the way we practice our faith.
Having grown up in a church though the late 20th /early 21st Century, reading Mark's book felt like an icy winters breeze on a wet face.
I believe his insights are profoundly accurate, and as someone involved in church leadership of our GenY / millenialls I have found it very helpful in shaping the way that I minister to people.
In particular, the book helped me think about the pop culture mantras of 'YOLO' and 'carpe diem' in a new light. I wrote some reflections on those - http://reflector06.b...more
I believe his insights are profoundly accurate, and as someone involved in church leadership of our GenY / millenialls I have found it very helpful in shaping the way that I minister to people.
In particular, the book helped me think about the pop culture mantras of 'YOLO' and 'carpe diem' in a new light. I wrote some reflections on those - http://reflector06.b...more
Mar 26, 2013
Mike Portland
added it
Best thing Ive read so far this year, so insightful!
First of all, this book would have been a bit easier if I had read 'On the Road' first. However, not having read that I still was able to gather what it had been about and get lots out of this book. Good insight into our current culture. The last 60 pages were the best.
One of the better books Ive ever read. I think Sayers has a unique and helpful look at our Western culture and how we need to live out our faith if we desire to make in impact in a world that is forgetting that Christianity has something to say to the here and now.
Jun 17, 2013
R Bugni
is currently reading it
Jun 16, 2013
Kevo Rivera
marked it as to-read
Jun 13, 2013
Katherine Spackman
added it
Jun 05, 2013
Brandi
is currently reading it
May 29, 2013
Jason
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2013
Joanne
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2013
Laura Brady
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2013
Kate
marked it as to-read
May 03, 2013
Tracy Monts
marked it as to-read
Apr 28, 2013
Brandon Plantz
is currently reading it
Apr 25, 2013
Pearl Rutherford
marked it as to-read
Apr 13, 2013
Kimberly Bundy
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Feb 15, 2013 03:22pm