Why Being Yourself Is a Bad Idea: And Other Countercultural Notions

by Graham Tomlin

Most people just want to be happy and to make a difference in the world.

We’re often told we’ll achieve this by being ourselves.

But when we begin to reflect, that’s not quite as simple as it sounds. All sorts of questions and countercultural notions arise. Maybe trying to ‘be yourself’ is not such a good idea after all?

This book dares us to let go of some of the assumptions we make about life. Drawing on current research, contemporary events and ancient wisdom, it offers an invitation to journey to places we may never have imagined before. It vividly reveals how the revolution that Christianity began can still make remarkable sense of our experience of wonder, love, evil, justice, identity and freedom.

‘Intriguing and provocative, speaking to our deepest concerns and heaviest questions.’
James Mumford , author of Ethics beyond political tribes

‘I kept saying “YES!” as I turned the pages of this book.’
Pete Greig , author of How to Pray

Genres: Christian, Personal Development, Christianity

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2020

About the author

Graham Tomlin (Ph.D., Exeter University) is dean of St. Mellitus College, London. He taught on Martin Luther and the Reformation in the theology faculty of the University of Oxford for eight years. He is the author, among many other publications, of The Power of the Cross: Theology and the Death of Christ in Paul, Luther and Pascal and Luther and His World.

Reviews

[Matthew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful but he leaves some trains of thought unexplored. You definitely have to push through certain parts but well worth it

[Amy Crouch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful little book on stepping into the countercultural vision of Christianity.

[David Lai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that advocates a Christian approach to life, as against an individualist one which is taken to comprise the gospel of self-fulfilment and its corollary consumerism, of things, experiences and relationships. So in that respect, it was refreshing.

However, there were at least two enormous inferential leaps: one, a blithe acceptance of the First Cause argument for a creator of the universe, the other an argument from the human need for love to the conclusion that love is the driving force of the universe, which therefore requires a God who is love.

This theological flavour made a light-looking book a surprisingly slow read, though I enjoyed the feeling of getting into a very different emotional world.

[Josh Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are someone who is curious about the Christian faith or you are someone who is surprised that people still believe in this stuff then you should give this a read...
After years of being a Christian myself and reading loads of books on faith; this is one of the best at clearly outlining, defining, explaining and describing what it really means to follow the God-Man Jesus...
Give it a read...

[Mike Beranek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good strong voice, hammering away at a very vital point about the cult of self today. I don't know how to say but I found it a bit 'shouty' in places. It seems a bit like addressing the proverbial converted.