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Haunted Cosmos: Doing Your Duty in a World That's Not Just Stuff
What about what you can’t see? What about those things that can’t be touched, measured, quantified, put under a microscope, or captured through the aperture of a telescope? What if there are things out there, Things beyond things—unnamed, unthinkable, unknown? What if the world isn’t just stuff?
Now, to be sure, there is lots of stuff. Wild, spinning stuff. Big stuff. Mountains and oceans and solar systems and galaxies of stuff. There’s small stuff—tiny, swarming microbes and flinging, buzzing atoms; quarks and leptons and stuff we haven’t even figured out yet. What a world!
But what if I told you that there’s another world; a world beyond sight and senses, beyond the mere natural—but a world no less real? A world of phantasms and fearful things; a world haunted with the supernatural? Make no mistake, it’s out there—and you will be made to reckon with it before the end.
This world is glorious and cursed. It is fallen, and it is being redeemed. It is a world unfolding at the decree of a great Storyteller, the Arch-Playwright—God’s epic tale of angels and demons, Nephilim and Noahic floods, gardens and cataclysms. This story has dragons, and not just out at the ragged edges of the map. No, real ones—the fire-breathing, people-eating kind. You live in a world at war, with dark shades trying to scheme you into the very pit, and so a world where you will need to keep a ready sword.
This is a book about that world, both the seen and the unseen parts. It’s a book aimed at helping you play your part as what you are: an immortal image-bearer of the divine, fighting and striving and glorying in this great story into which you have been written.
Now, to be sure, there is lots of stuff. Wild, spinning stuff. Big stuff. Mountains and oceans and solar systems and galaxies of stuff. There’s small stuff—tiny, swarming microbes and flinging, buzzing atoms; quarks and leptons and stuff we haven’t even figured out yet. What a world!
But what if I told you that there’s another world; a world beyond sight and senses, beyond the mere natural—but a world no less real? A world of phantasms and fearful things; a world haunted with the supernatural? Make no mistake, it’s out there—and you will be made to reckon with it before the end.
This world is glorious and cursed. It is fallen, and it is being redeemed. It is a world unfolding at the decree of a great Storyteller, the Arch-Playwright—God’s epic tale of angels and demons, Nephilim and Noahic floods, gardens and cataclysms. This story has dragons, and not just out at the ragged edges of the map. No, real ones—the fire-breathing, people-eating kind. You live in a world at war, with dark shades trying to scheme you into the very pit, and so a world where you will need to keep a ready sword.
This is a book about that world, both the seen and the unseen parts. It’s a book aimed at helping you play your part as what you are: an immortal image-bearer of the divine, fighting and striving and glorying in this great story into which you have been written.
200 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2024
112 people are currently reading
616 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
January 15, 2025
Super fun book. Definitely not what I expected. Sparked a ton of inspiration in me as it began the journey by emphasizing how cool the world is. It also heavily relied on medieval thinkers like Lewis who had a fascinating view on the spiritual realm, and undoubtedly that is where my next chunk of reading will take place (the Discarded Image to be clear).
The latter half of the book was refreshingly Scriptural and pastoral. I absolutely love the intent of the book, which is essentially to give an application to the reader that he or she might be disappointed by… but nonetheless needs to be reminded of: fear the Lord and keep his commandments. Without spoiling too much, I finished the book being exhorted into a further love for the simple yet wonderful reality of God becoming man and making himself known to me. This above all things should ground and govern our lives, and that in itself will make all of the interesting, inexplicable things in this world magnify in their glory.
The latter half of the book was refreshingly Scriptural and pastoral. I absolutely love the intent of the book, which is essentially to give an application to the reader that he or she might be disappointed by… but nonetheless needs to be reminded of: fear the Lord and keep his commandments. Without spoiling too much, I finished the book being exhorted into a further love for the simple yet wonderful reality of God becoming man and making himself known to me. This above all things should ground and govern our lives, and that in itself will make all of the interesting, inexplicable things in this world magnify in their glory.
January 1, 2025
Best book I read by living author(s) in 2024.
I love the podcast but this book is even better. It’s comprehensive and builds something that is more than curiosity of the unknown. Maybe it’s just what I’ve been reading prior to this that really made it sink in but Haunted Cosmos really landed on the bullseye for me. The Bible, CS Lewis (The Discarded Image, Ransom Trilogy, Till We Have Faces, etc), George MacDonald (Phantastes), Michael Heiser (The Unseen Realm, Reversing Hermon, Angels, Demons), Michael Ward (Planet Narnia), and so on just made fertile ground for Haunted Cosmos. Man, I just loved it. For context, I do like the podcast but I’m still behind and at the beginning of season 3 as I write this. As far as style goes, I kept thinking it fits in rhythmically well with ND Wilson’s two books, Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl and Death by Living. If you like those, the Haunted Cosmos podcast, or any of the books/authors I mentioned in this review, you’ll love this book. I’m giving it my highest level of recommendation. Now to read the Silmarillion.
I love the podcast but this book is even better. It’s comprehensive and builds something that is more than curiosity of the unknown. Maybe it’s just what I’ve been reading prior to this that really made it sink in but Haunted Cosmos really landed on the bullseye for me. The Bible, CS Lewis (The Discarded Image, Ransom Trilogy, Till We Have Faces, etc), George MacDonald (Phantastes), Michael Heiser (The Unseen Realm, Reversing Hermon, Angels, Demons), Michael Ward (Planet Narnia), and so on just made fertile ground for Haunted Cosmos. Man, I just loved it. For context, I do like the podcast but I’m still behind and at the beginning of season 3 as I write this. As far as style goes, I kept thinking it fits in rhythmically well with ND Wilson’s two books, Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl and Death by Living. If you like those, the Haunted Cosmos podcast, or any of the books/authors I mentioned in this review, you’ll love this book. I’m giving it my highest level of recommendation. Now to read the Silmarillion.
December 25, 2024
An excellent introduction to the Christian perspective of the unseen realm and its implications for how we should live. The conversational tone, though fun, sometimes distracted from the gravity of the subject matter + clarity of ideas but it was easy to read. Know that it’s written from a framework of Reformed theology so it would be good to supplement with other sources as well to form your own scripture-based conclusions. Overall, Suave and Garrett cover a wide range of topics without losing the focus of pointing everything to the bigger, eternal story. Let this encourage you to be an excellent image bearer and possibly guide you to deeper study!
February 4, 2025
What makes the "Haunted Cosmos" podcast successful is its explanatory power about why there remains mysterious elements to our world--the paranormal, aliens, ancient monuments, Bigfoot, etc. This book, as they've stated, is a "prequel" to the podcast. What they mean by this, and what is evident in the book, is that it is a primer on what kind of world we live in.
Imagine a two hundred page introduction to Christian doctrine and cosmology written by a disciplined and concise N.D. Wilson and that is basically what this book is. More readers seem to enjoy and appreciate that than I did.
It didn't' take long for me to realize I'd read this kind of book before. It got tedious and I really just "surveyed" the remainder of the book, as Andy Naselli calls it. There's a lot of good stuff in the volume, but it probably isn't for everyone.
Imagine a two hundred page introduction to Christian doctrine and cosmology written by a disciplined and concise N.D. Wilson and that is basically what this book is. More readers seem to enjoy and appreciate that than I did.
It didn't' take long for me to realize I'd read this kind of book before. It got tedious and I really just "surveyed" the remainder of the book, as Andy Naselli calls it. There's a lot of good stuff in the volume, but it probably isn't for everyone.
April 30, 2025
I got this book for Christmas and got around to reading it. It starts with a Gospel presentation (a world that's not just stuff) and then to celestial beings, our duty in the world, and finally got into some of the podcast stories. I could see people being disappointed if they thought this book would only cover topics from the podcast. That is a small part of this book.
February 16, 2025
ND Wilson's nonfiction and Michael Heiser's unseen realm dress up as TheoBros... And you get this book.
This book was a mixed bag for me. The first third my primary thought was simply "I'd rather be reading Notes From a Tilt a Whirl" and the middle part I began to skim read parts. But the back third really began to narrow in and become more helpful and clear.
They did an excellent job in the production of the book both the formatting and actual physical of the book are first class and beautiful. This was both authors first book and it shows. But I think it is still a good addition to the Christian Worldview genre (is that a genre?). Main takeaways were being able to read the story that we are in and seeking after glory (holy ambition).
Excited for what these men continue to produce.
This book was a mixed bag for me. The first third my primary thought was simply "I'd rather be reading Notes From a Tilt a Whirl" and the middle part I began to skim read parts. But the back third really began to narrow in and become more helpful and clear.
They did an excellent job in the production of the book both the formatting and actual physical of the book are first class and beautiful. This was both authors first book and it shows. But I think it is still a good addition to the Christian Worldview genre (is that a genre?). Main takeaways were being able to read the story that we are in and seeking after glory (holy ambition).
Excited for what these men continue to produce.
February 8, 2025
This book was hard for me to read. I am a big fan of the podcast that these two guys produce; However, I only got about half way through the book before I had to stop. This book was great at the beginning but then it began to repeat it self over and over again and it became a burden to read. Really sad to see that I couldn’t get through it all but it was holding me back from reading other books. Hopefully some of y’all like it more than I did.
January 28, 2025
Wanted to like this a little more than I did since I enjoy the show so much.
Pros:
- loved the theme of marveling at ordinary things in worship to God. It’s definitely easy to walk by a refrigerator without thinking of how impacts your life by just being in your home.
- loved the theme of chasing glory and understanding that what we behold is what we will become.
- loved the high strangeness stories. Enough said.
Cons:
- I’m not sure they could’ve put more commas in their prose if they tried. I think the goal was to write like they would speak it? but it did not work. Just made it difficult to read.
- the middle sections felt disjoint as I was reading them. The ideas didn’t flow super well, and I think some of the connections that were made between ideas might have been a little bit of a leap.
- the gospel and Christian themes that they presented were all good and well but read like drinking from a firehouse as much as was packed into each short chapter.
Overall recommendation: not bad, but just go listen to the podcast lol
Pros:
- loved the theme of marveling at ordinary things in worship to God. It’s definitely easy to walk by a refrigerator without thinking of how impacts your life by just being in your home.
- loved the theme of chasing glory and understanding that what we behold is what we will become.
- loved the high strangeness stories. Enough said.
Cons:
- I’m not sure they could’ve put more commas in their prose if they tried. I think the goal was to write like they would speak it? but it did not work. Just made it difficult to read.
- the middle sections felt disjoint as I was reading them. The ideas didn’t flow super well, and I think some of the connections that were made between ideas might have been a little bit of a leap.
- the gospel and Christian themes that they presented were all good and well but read like drinking from a firehouse as much as was packed into each short chapter.
Overall recommendation: not bad, but just go listen to the podcast lol
January 10, 2025
I was so excited when I found this book under the Christmas tree! (Thanks to my husband ;)) While this book reads as a theological primer of God and creation, I did not find it too hard to understand. I don’t usually read nonfiction, so I inched slowly, but the size of the book made it manageable. Through witty humor and a storytelling manner, Sauvé and Garrett depict the natural world and the spiritual realm.
As a huge fan of the podcast (the book’s namesake) I was pleased that the writing style was much like the conversational tone I am so used to. While it’s not a book filled to the brim with scary or haunting stories (don’t worry we still get a few), it still delves deep into the importance of the overlooked spiritual realm.
It was a captivating read and I hope to see Brian and Ben publish more in the future!
As a huge fan of the podcast (the book’s namesake) I was pleased that the writing style was much like the conversational tone I am so used to. While it’s not a book filled to the brim with scary or haunting stories (don’t worry we still get a few), it still delves deep into the importance of the overlooked spiritual realm.
It was a captivating read and I hope to see Brian and Ben publish more in the future!
February 2, 2025
I don’t usually write reviews, but this book was great so it’s happening.
You do not need to be a haunted cosmos listener to read this book. There’s some references obviously, but this book is filled with some solid meat, and any Christian would do well to read it. I’ve listened to 2 or 3 episodes, but frankly just don’t have enough time for it.
I benefited immensely from the early chapters Brian wrote on us often being dullards, and why we shouldn’t be. Ben’s chapters on the reality of this cosmos we live in, and who is here, were also very good. Last but not least, Brian’s entire last section is 5 chapters of practical “what now” wisdom and instruction, that challenged me in a way I didn’t think it would, and were by far my favorite part of this book.
It’s short, easy to digest, and encouraging wisdom from both of these men. It will likely be an annual read.
You do not need to be a haunted cosmos listener to read this book. There’s some references obviously, but this book is filled with some solid meat, and any Christian would do well to read it. I’ve listened to 2 or 3 episodes, but frankly just don’t have enough time for it.
I benefited immensely from the early chapters Brian wrote on us often being dullards, and why we shouldn’t be. Ben’s chapters on the reality of this cosmos we live in, and who is here, were also very good. Last but not least, Brian’s entire last section is 5 chapters of practical “what now” wisdom and instruction, that challenged me in a way I didn’t think it would, and were by far my favorite part of this book.
It’s short, easy to digest, and encouraging wisdom from both of these men. It will likely be an annual read.
January 3, 2025
Flat out awesome and very edifying. A book I will come back to many times.
March 16, 2025
In this book, Brian Sauve and Ben Garrett seek to revitalize the Christian mind on a truth long forgotten in our materialist age: The world is not just stuff. This simple truth wages war with the gnostic and materialist spirit alike. God has made a world of both body and spirit, men and demons, war and prayer.
I have been a loyal listener to the Haunted Cosmos podcast since its inception. This book adds mature bones and theological meat to the gripping entertainment of the podcast episodes.
The highlights from a 30,000-foot view:
- Section 1: The world is made wonderfully. Do we glory in God for it? "We are dullards, and it matters deeply that we repent of this defect, because to harbor a lazy and apathetic boredom in your heart -- waking past ten thousand God-created marvels a day with a yawn -- is high treason. It's frankly offensive, inexcusable, and just kind of embarrassing." (pg. 16)
- Section 2: We are embodied souls endowed with body and spirit.
- Section 3: "Creature, meet your Creator. Made, meet your Maker." (pg. 57) God made all things (the world, man, and the heavenly hosts alike) and holds all things together.
- Section 4: True, spiritual evil exists and wages war with the saints. The Bible wasn't just being cute when it talked about witches and necromancers.
- Section 5: This was easily my favorite section and the most profitable in the book. The world is not just stuff, so how should we then live?
- Go to church and worship God aright.
- Live for glory. "God smiles over a man who is busy using all of his strength to pursue his God-given duties. There is a deep honor there, because such a man is being what God made him to be, doing what God made him to do. He glorifies God by being a glory -- a created glory, yes. A reflected, contingent glory, yes. But a glory nonetheless." (pg. 174)
- Love God and His imagers.
- Fear God and nothing else. "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt. 10:28)
- "Death is a vapor. Death is an enemy, but not one to fear." (pg. 197)
I greatly appreciate the work that Brian and Ben have sought to offer in this book - to revitalize our minds and call us back to an understanding of this physical and spiritual world we live in and life we live. The answer is much simpler than we might think, but it is still eternally profound: The world is not just stuff, so how should we then live? "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and obey His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Eccl. 12:13)
I have been a loyal listener to the Haunted Cosmos podcast since its inception. This book adds mature bones and theological meat to the gripping entertainment of the podcast episodes.
The highlights from a 30,000-foot view:
- Section 1: The world is made wonderfully. Do we glory in God for it? "We are dullards, and it matters deeply that we repent of this defect, because to harbor a lazy and apathetic boredom in your heart -- waking past ten thousand God-created marvels a day with a yawn -- is high treason. It's frankly offensive, inexcusable, and just kind of embarrassing." (pg. 16)
- Section 2: We are embodied souls endowed with body and spirit.
- Section 3: "Creature, meet your Creator. Made, meet your Maker." (pg. 57) God made all things (the world, man, and the heavenly hosts alike) and holds all things together.
- Section 4: True, spiritual evil exists and wages war with the saints. The Bible wasn't just being cute when it talked about witches and necromancers.
- Section 5: This was easily my favorite section and the most profitable in the book. The world is not just stuff, so how should we then live?
- Go to church and worship God aright.
- Live for glory. "God smiles over a man who is busy using all of his strength to pursue his God-given duties. There is a deep honor there, because such a man is being what God made him to be, doing what God made him to do. He glorifies God by being a glory -- a created glory, yes. A reflected, contingent glory, yes. But a glory nonetheless." (pg. 174)
- Love God and His imagers.
- Fear God and nothing else. "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt. 10:28)
- "Death is a vapor. Death is an enemy, but not one to fear." (pg. 197)
I greatly appreciate the work that Brian and Ben have sought to offer in this book - to revitalize our minds and call us back to an understanding of this physical and spiritual world we live in and life we live. The answer is much simpler than we might think, but it is still eternally profound: The world is not just stuff, so how should we then live? "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and obey His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Eccl. 12:13)
February 8, 2025
“So look alive, Christian — false gods and demigod Nephilim ruled over Babylon. Atlantis was real, and the demons were its princes. Christ broke them with a rod of iron — and he will do the same to any wicked American gods trying to infringe on his domain today. Play for keeps.”
This one misses the mark for me, although that might be due to misplaced expectations. I listen to the Haunted Cosmos podcast. Every episode is narrative driven as the hosts (and authors of this book) explain supernatural phenomena from a Christian, Biblical perspective. It’s a lot of fun and I expected the book to be the same. However, the book has much less Bigfoot and a lot more theology of man and his role in the cosmos. Now, this is all good and True (if a bit derivative), but not what I thought I was getting. All in all, I don’t think this book said anything new or in a new way. I do plan to continue enjoying the podcast.
This one misses the mark for me, although that might be due to misplaced expectations. I listen to the Haunted Cosmos podcast. Every episode is narrative driven as the hosts (and authors of this book) explain supernatural phenomena from a Christian, Biblical perspective. It’s a lot of fun and I expected the book to be the same. However, the book has much less Bigfoot and a lot more theology of man and his role in the cosmos. Now, this is all good and True (if a bit derivative), but not what I thought I was getting. All in all, I don’t think this book said anything new or in a new way. I do plan to continue enjoying the podcast.
January 26, 2025
Haunted Cosmos is a great book covering multiple topics. Frankly, it wasn’t what I expected, but I’m glad for what it was as it was a blessing to me. One of my favorite parts is the beginning, where it urges us to see the beauty and glory in God’s physical creation, which we overlook every day. My one critique of the book is its use of memes and other writing styles make the book not nearly as timeless as I think the authors intended it.
August 16, 2025
I love the middle section where Ben goes full medieval on us normie moderns. See you at NCP 2026 😎🤙
January 9, 2025
Well, it's not often I finish a book in a single day, but work was super slow and it's a captivating read.
I appreciate it!
It's a wonderful glimpse into what is so captivating about the podcast. It examines our place in this world, challenges our blindness to spiritual matters, and urges us to seek God and fear him, while also finding wonder in his world.
It also stays on target and on purpose more than the podcast, which often becomes little more than entertaining stories and fun speculation, yet sometimes forgets the Christian perspective and how we should respond and think about that particular high strangeness.
It's a smooth enough read that I found myself dashing through it quickly, so I think it's one of those books that's worth reading again very soon, but much slower the second time.
The reminders to stop and wonder at God's creation were well needed. I've been neglecting that. Perhaps in the bustle of life, or perhaps in being drawn in a bit too deeply to my hobbies, I've not allowed quiet times to turn my mind to God and his beautiful world, but rather, filled it with other stuff. It's been a while since I've stopped to truly think deeply and slow down.
Even if it's less explicit than other points in the book, I appreciate that call to deeper thinking. The phrase "interested people are interesting people" hasn't stopped echoing in my head, calling to a deeper curiosity and deliberate interest in God's wonderful world that surrounds me.
This first third and last third were most impactful, even if a couple of the middle chapters were not quite as memorable.
Solid book, and I recommend it, even if one doesn't agree with their take on every matter.
I appreciate it!
It's a wonderful glimpse into what is so captivating about the podcast. It examines our place in this world, challenges our blindness to spiritual matters, and urges us to seek God and fear him, while also finding wonder in his world.
It also stays on target and on purpose more than the podcast, which often becomes little more than entertaining stories and fun speculation, yet sometimes forgets the Christian perspective and how we should respond and think about that particular high strangeness.
It's a smooth enough read that I found myself dashing through it quickly, so I think it's one of those books that's worth reading again very soon, but much slower the second time.
The reminders to stop and wonder at God's creation were well needed. I've been neglecting that. Perhaps in the bustle of life, or perhaps in being drawn in a bit too deeply to my hobbies, I've not allowed quiet times to turn my mind to God and his beautiful world, but rather, filled it with other stuff. It's been a while since I've stopped to truly think deeply and slow down.
Even if it's less explicit than other points in the book, I appreciate that call to deeper thinking. The phrase "interested people are interesting people" hasn't stopped echoing in my head, calling to a deeper curiosity and deliberate interest in God's wonderful world that surrounds me.
This first third and last third were most impactful, even if a couple of the middle chapters were not quite as memorable.
Solid book, and I recommend it, even if one doesn't agree with their take on every matter.
March 7, 2025
This book is "wonderful" in the truest sense, it is written to make you wonder at the world God made. To that end, the chapters about "stuff" were more helpful (to me) than the chapters about "not stuff". Much of the "not stuff" here, though mind-boggling and glorious to think about, feels far too speculative for concrete wonder. The "stuff", on the other hand, is so incredible and so tangible that it is remarkable that we aren't bursting with wonder daily at every grasshopper, cup of coffee, and lightning strike. Maybe there are faeries in the rivers, but the rivers themselves are wonderful enough to last a lifetime.
February 5, 2025
I will start out by saying this is a beautifully printed book. The cover artwork is beautiful. The art on the hardcover is beautiful. They did a solid job on designing and printing this book.
That being said, for a book as short as it is, I cannot believe it took me as long as it did to read it, hahahah! Granted, I read it in my spare time and was not able to sit down and read it in huge blocks of time at a time. It did hold my interest from start to finish, so that is good.
However, if I were to consider what I remember after having finished the book, it is not very much. Perhaps if I were to go back and reread the book, I might remember more of it, but I have no desire to reread it at the moment. What stands out to me most is the discussion(s) about how the universe is more than just stuff, how we must be complete dullards to not be impressed with God's creation or considering the miracles of modern technology on a daily basis (because we have gotten so used to creation and technology that we fail to see how amazing the world is in which we live), how Star Wars is a cheap Dune-knockoff and somehow weak as a result (I disagree), they like to quote from C.S. Lewis a lot, it is okay to live for Glory as long as we are living for the Glory of God, that we do not need to be ashamed of seeking Glory as long as we are seeking to honor God, and to fear God and nothing else. So perhaps I remember more than I realize.
I think the authors make a great point about how amazing God's creation is, and how we moderns have taken it so for granted. We look at a tree and fail to consider how amazing a tree is - I agree with that statement. I take trees for granted. They did a great job at showing me how much of a dullard I have become because of how much of God's creation I take for granted and how I am missing out on praising God and worshipping God because of His handiwork and creativity, of how much I am missing out on because I am not daily enjoying what God has created.
Dune and Star Wars. Yeah, I disagree with Ben's assessment about Star Wars somehow being "lesser" than Dune. His comment about "with all due respect to Star Wars fans everywhere" was pretty funny, 'cuz it was obvious he was about to slam us while trying to portray it as being somehow "polite". But, yeah, I strongly disagree. I read his list of points and did not think of Star Wars when I read it, hahahah! I think that is probably one of the saddest comments to make about this book, though - that his denigrating comments about Star Wars stood out to me more than most of the book, hahahah! (Or maybe it's better to say than what else he says in "his" chapters in the book) I will say this - I think if a person reads Dune, they should stop after reading the book because the rest of the books are garbage.
In any case, the rest of that chapter discussing the banality of evil, of how the enemy can only copy what God has done and make lesser imitations was interesting to read and a solid point after he got over trashing the O.G. trilogy.
I said it above, and I will say it again - I think the chapter on "Living for Glory" was the best chapter in the book, and I cannot say I am surprised it was written by Brian Sauvé. He starts out the chapter by saying that if we do not live for glory, we live in vain (170). Not that we are living to make a name for ourselves that will live forever, but we are created in the image and glory of God (I Cor. 11:7). When we think of the glory of a young man, we think of his strength. I liked how Sauvé puts it: Glory is the effulgence of a thing's creational goodness. It is the splendor of a thing at peace with its design. ... Glory is the weighty goodness of a thing being and doing what it was made by God to be and do (173). The way we glorify God is by ourselves being glorious in the way God made us to be glorious. It was an interesting perspective and not something I had ever really considered. I liked his example of contrasting vehicles in terms of "which vehicle is more glorious?" (173). We fail as glory-bearers by failing to live for the right kind of glory and settling for selfish and small glories. I thought that was some good meat, there.
I liked his manual on chasing glory:
1. Don't get choked out by small glories.
2. Don't think that there is safety in intentional mediocrity or inaction. It is not pious to be unfruitful in the name of avoiding the idolatrous pursuit of glory.
3. Do the hard things - the kind of things where there is at least the possibility of failure baked in.
4. Set your sights on generational progress.
5. Hate sin and love righteousness.
I also liked Brian's next chapter on "Love the Lord & His Images". I thought that was the second-best chapter in the book. It is about loving God above all else and abandoning oneself into God that He might have His will and way in our lives. It's what the Bible tells us, what Jesus commands us to do and Paul reiterates in his epistles. It is learning to abide in Christ as He is the Vine and we are the branches grafted into Him - as we abide in Him He flows out of us into the lives of those we encounter. When in doubt, die to self that we might be more and more molded into the image of God and bear His image to the people God brings into our lives. Do you want to fight demons? Do you want to push back the darkness? Do you want to make war with the howling madness of the world set afire by sin and death? Learn to love.
So. In retrospect, I think I said more than I meant to say when I started this review. I think the authors do an excellent job at reminding me of how wonderful and glorious and amazing the world si around me, that I have forgotten how amazing the world truly is. Well, other than when I am left breathless watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Or seeing my children and being amazed that God blessed me with four beautiful beings I and my wife can call "ours" and "our own". I did not know what to expect when starting this book; I think I expected it to be more along the lines of their podcast but maybe delving a little deeper into "specific topics" or "genres" (for lack of a better word) than what actually took place in the book. It was good, but I felt like something was still missing from it. Perhaps if I go back and reread it at a later point in time, I will try to remember to pick out something specific from each chapter and perhaps summarize each chapter to use for future reference, lol. In any case, it was a "short" book that took me a lot longer to read than I thought it would or expected it to take. I expected a bit more meat on the bone than I got, but I still enjoyed what was there. I will say this - I can see myself looking for more of C.S. Lewis's works and reading them because of how often Lewis is quoted in this book. In the end, I am glad I bought the book and read it; I could see myself rereading it again at some later point in time. Just not any time soon.
That being said, for a book as short as it is, I cannot believe it took me as long as it did to read it, hahahah! Granted, I read it in my spare time and was not able to sit down and read it in huge blocks of time at a time. It did hold my interest from start to finish, so that is good.
However, if I were to consider what I remember after having finished the book, it is not very much. Perhaps if I were to go back and reread the book, I might remember more of it, but I have no desire to reread it at the moment. What stands out to me most is the discussion(s) about how the universe is more than just stuff, how we must be complete dullards to not be impressed with God's creation or considering the miracles of modern technology on a daily basis (because we have gotten so used to creation and technology that we fail to see how amazing the world is in which we live), how Star Wars is a cheap Dune-knockoff and somehow weak as a result (I disagree), they like to quote from C.S. Lewis a lot, it is okay to live for Glory as long as we are living for the Glory of God, that we do not need to be ashamed of seeking Glory as long as we are seeking to honor God, and to fear God and nothing else. So perhaps I remember more than I realize.
I think the authors make a great point about how amazing God's creation is, and how we moderns have taken it so for granted. We look at a tree and fail to consider how amazing a tree is - I agree with that statement. I take trees for granted. They did a great job at showing me how much of a dullard I have become because of how much of God's creation I take for granted and how I am missing out on praising God and worshipping God because of His handiwork and creativity, of how much I am missing out on because I am not daily enjoying what God has created.
Dune and Star Wars. Yeah, I disagree with Ben's assessment about Star Wars somehow being "lesser" than Dune. His comment about "with all due respect to Star Wars fans everywhere" was pretty funny, 'cuz it was obvious he was about to slam us while trying to portray it as being somehow "polite". But, yeah, I strongly disagree. I read his list of points and did not think of Star Wars when I read it, hahahah! I think that is probably one of the saddest comments to make about this book, though - that his denigrating comments about Star Wars stood out to me more than most of the book, hahahah! (Or maybe it's better to say than what else he says in "his" chapters in the book) I will say this - I think if a person reads Dune, they should stop after reading the book because the rest of the books are garbage.
In any case, the rest of that chapter discussing the banality of evil, of how the enemy can only copy what God has done and make lesser imitations was interesting to read and a solid point after he got over trashing the O.G. trilogy.
I said it above, and I will say it again - I think the chapter on "Living for Glory" was the best chapter in the book, and I cannot say I am surprised it was written by Brian Sauvé. He starts out the chapter by saying that if we do not live for glory, we live in vain (170). Not that we are living to make a name for ourselves that will live forever, but we are created in the image and glory of God (I Cor. 11:7). When we think of the glory of a young man, we think of his strength. I liked how Sauvé puts it: Glory is the effulgence of a thing's creational goodness. It is the splendor of a thing at peace with its design. ... Glory is the weighty goodness of a thing being and doing what it was made by God to be and do (173). The way we glorify God is by ourselves being glorious in the way God made us to be glorious. It was an interesting perspective and not something I had ever really considered. I liked his example of contrasting vehicles in terms of "which vehicle is more glorious?" (173). We fail as glory-bearers by failing to live for the right kind of glory and settling for selfish and small glories. I thought that was some good meat, there.
I liked his manual on chasing glory:
1. Don't get choked out by small glories.
2. Don't think that there is safety in intentional mediocrity or inaction. It is not pious to be unfruitful in the name of avoiding the idolatrous pursuit of glory.
3. Do the hard things - the kind of things where there is at least the possibility of failure baked in.
4. Set your sights on generational progress.
5. Hate sin and love righteousness.
I also liked Brian's next chapter on "Love the Lord & His Images". I thought that was the second-best chapter in the book. It is about loving God above all else and abandoning oneself into God that He might have His will and way in our lives. It's what the Bible tells us, what Jesus commands us to do and Paul reiterates in his epistles. It is learning to abide in Christ as He is the Vine and we are the branches grafted into Him - as we abide in Him He flows out of us into the lives of those we encounter. When in doubt, die to self that we might be more and more molded into the image of God and bear His image to the people God brings into our lives. Do you want to fight demons? Do you want to push back the darkness? Do you want to make war with the howling madness of the world set afire by sin and death? Learn to love.
So. In retrospect, I think I said more than I meant to say when I started this review. I think the authors do an excellent job at reminding me of how wonderful and glorious and amazing the world si around me, that I have forgotten how amazing the world truly is. Well, other than when I am left breathless watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Or seeing my children and being amazed that God blessed me with four beautiful beings I and my wife can call "ours" and "our own". I did not know what to expect when starting this book; I think I expected it to be more along the lines of their podcast but maybe delving a little deeper into "specific topics" or "genres" (for lack of a better word) than what actually took place in the book. It was good, but I felt like something was still missing from it. Perhaps if I go back and reread it at a later point in time, I will try to remember to pick out something specific from each chapter and perhaps summarize each chapter to use for future reference, lol. In any case, it was a "short" book that took me a lot longer to read than I thought it would or expected it to take. I expected a bit more meat on the bone than I got, but I still enjoyed what was there. I will say this - I can see myself looking for more of C.S. Lewis's works and reading them because of how often Lewis is quoted in this book. In the end, I am glad I bought the book and read it; I could see myself rereading it again at some later point in time. Just not any time soon.
January 13, 2025
Quite possibly the best book I’ve ever read, besides the Bible (duh). The call to see the world in all of its mystery and wonder and grandeur is invigorating. To see the world as God made it, with all sorts of things that don’t make sense and cause us to sit and ponder. To live life enamored by the ant on a leaf and the lights in the sky and the weird things that man cannot explain and laughter of a small child, this is the blessed life God called you to. Yes, there are riches to be had, though not wealth materially necessarily, but glory. It is everywhere, but are you willing to obey and seek it out. This book will hand you a pair of glasses, it is your duty to put them on and to make haste slowly.
July 25, 2025
This book was not quite what I was expecting and is rightly considered a prequel to the podcast. If you are familiar with the haunted cosmos podcast then much of this book will feel repetitive but I would definitely hand this book to someone who has not thought much about the supernatural world that God has created. The authors are not out to prove to you that Bigfoot is real (though they do make that claim!). No, they are way more concerned that you know the truth of the gospel and your place in the grand story that God is telling. The world is not just stuff and we should live in it. Their conclusion says it all: “Do not fear the lovers of death, nor their works, their servants, their schemes. Do not fear what haunts the dark… Because you serve the One they fear.”
June 13, 2025
the world is a lot more gray than i thought. and not gray in the drab, bleak sense of the word. gray in the idea of not black and white, not fitting into small boxes with explanations for everything. gray in the sense that it is bursting with color, and some colors we can’t even see right now. gray in the sense that there are wars between deities we don’t even know about. and we don’t have to, all we have to do is wonder.
and we can wonder cause we know the end of the story, and that brings comfort in the wondering.
and we can wonder cause we know the end of the story, and that brings comfort in the wondering.
March 19, 2025
Not gonna lie, the prose was kinda purple to start out, but I loved it by the end. Good reminder to use our talents for the glory of God (and what truly living for glory means) and to not waste our time here on earth. I’ve been blessed by Ben and Brian and in their ministries and this book was no different.
August 17, 2025
Great read! "...Do you actually know anything about any of these wonders until you properly marvel at them? D. o you have a clue if you don't occasionally stop for a good 15 minutes or so and simply exult in the sheer and absurd magic of it all. " pg. 12
January 9, 2025
A concise and careful charge to live well in Gods world, however strange it may be.
February 8, 2025
This book was amazing. It gave great insight into the world as it should be seen. You will see how everything is there to glorify God and how we miss it in the smallest everyday things. Humans can truly be so dull when it comes to the creations of God. I loved the section about angelic offices and the chapter about seeking glory in biblical ways and using that in turn to glorify God. 10/10 would recommend
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March 11, 2025Theology Pugcast interview here.
January 3, 2025
For me 4 stars is trying to be not to be subjective. I love this stuff and eat it up so I had a 5 star experience. Really fun book and also a book that edifies God.
But I will admit that my favorite parts were the parts that read like a podcast episode of haunted cosmos and not all of the book is that.
I understand they have to make the gospel presentation so they can’t JUST talk about how Bigfoot is a faerie and aliens are demons, but that stuff is my favorite part.
I would really like to read a book by them just going over the overarching themes they see in the unseen world when viewed through the biblical lens but I will settle for this for now.
Also I’m sorry Brian but where you are the pastor Ben is the writer.
But I will admit that my favorite parts were the parts that read like a podcast episode of haunted cosmos and not all of the book is that.
I understand they have to make the gospel presentation so they can’t JUST talk about how Bigfoot is a faerie and aliens are demons, but that stuff is my favorite part.
I would really like to read a book by them just going over the overarching themes they see in the unseen world when viewed through the biblical lens but I will settle for this for now.
Also I’m sorry Brian but where you are the pastor Ben is the writer.
June 6, 2025
Fantastic read. There's more to the world than meets the eye.
April 10, 2025
Been a huge fan of their podcast since I found out about 10 months ago. I’ve always been incredibly intrigued by the supernatural & figured there’s more to all of this then what we can see and sense. I love how they approach these ideas from a biblical position and tie everything back to scripture. This book is a practical way to consider, observe and contribute to the world “that is not just stuff.” The facts are this realm we live in - truth is stranger than fiction.
January 11, 2025
The world is not just stuff!
Let the reader understand.
Let the reader understand.
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