Open Windows

by Philip Yancey

Essays discuss the experiences of concentration camp prisoners, relief work in Somalia, and the nature of pain, and offer profiles of prominent Christians

Genres: Christian

216 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1982

About the author

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Philip Yancey earned graduate degrees in Communications and English from Wheaton College Graduate School and the University of Chicago. He joined the staff of Campus Life Magazine in 1971, and worked there as Editor and then Publisher. He looks on those years with gratitude, because teenagers are demanding readers, and writing for them taught him a lasting principle: The reader is in control!

In 1978 Philip Yancey became a full-time writer, initially working as a journalist for such varied publications as Reader’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, National Wildlife, Christian Century and The Reformed Journal. For several years he contributed a monthly column to Christianity Today magazine, where he also served as Editor at Large.

In 2021 Philip released two new books: A Companion in Crisis and his long-awaited memoir, Where the Light Fell. Other favorites included in his more than twenty-five titles are: Where Is God When It Hurts, The Student Bible, and Disappointment with God. Philip's books have won thirteen Gold Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, have sold more than seventeen million copies, and have been published in over 50 languages. Christian bookstore managers selected The Jesus I Never Knew as the 1996 Book of the Year, and in 1998 What’s So Amazing About Grace? won the same award. His other recent books are Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God’s Image; Vanishing Grace: Bringing Good News to a Deeply Divided World; The Question that Never Goes Away; What Good Is God?; Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?; Soul Survivor; and Reaching for the Invisible God. In 2009 a daily reader was published, compiled from excerpts of his work: Grace Notes.

The Yanceys lived in downtown Chicago for many years before moving to a very different environment in Colorado. Together they enjoy mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, and all the other delights of the Rocky Mountains.

Visit Philip online:
https://www.philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey

Catch his monthly blog:
https://bit.ly/PhilipYanceyBlog

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit over my head. This was one of his first books. Full of essays. So intellectual! Hope they add a cover!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a series of essays by Philip Yancey. Some of it was apparently originally written as article for magazines.

It's a fascinating mixed bunch of thoughts from this inspiring author who always seems to see beyond straightforward evangelical jargon and trite understanding of Christianity, to ask deeper questions and probe people's underlying beliefs. The book is in three main sections, entitled The Arts, The Message, and Our Bent World. The first section includes interviews with Francis Schaeffer, the second takes an honest look at the problems facing the Christian writer and the dangers of the American Christian TV scene.

Then the final section explores issues that would daunt many a modern evangelical. Lessons learned from concentration camps; a new way of looking at the eternal problem of pain; finally a couple of chapters discussing the lifestyle and beliefs of a man who wasn't even a Christian: Mahatma Ghandi. Yancey suggests that people like Ghandi should offer a challange to our materialistic success-orientated Western culture.

All in all, an interesting book. Not one to read at one sitting as it covers many topics, and not as powerful as some of Yancey's later books, but I'm still glad to have it in my collection. Recommended to any Christians wanting to think outside the box.