Book Review for The Trouble wtih Paris

Mark Sayer’s book The Trouble with Paris examines the way Modern Consumerism has been exalted to the “New Religion”.  Sayers shows that corporate America has erected plastic Idols that manipulate consumers to always want more, and more, and even more of that plastic stuff.  But just like that song by the Rolling Stones, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"  the believer is left empty.    “Human beings are used and discarded like Styrofoam boxes that held junk food.”¹ 

When we worship made things instead of our LORD we are left with a hyper-reality.   This hyper-reality is a vacuum that leaves worshipers empty.    “Reality is not considered an impediment to desire.”² Corporate America has a vested interest in keeping us unhappy so they can cure this pain by supplying us with endless happy meals with a toy included inside.  

Sayer also states that our kill joys happen when we compare ourselves with the Joneses.   When Mr. Jones buys a new Corvette, or moves to the better part of town; he leaves us with our broken down car, and our adequate house we feel a sense of shame that we are not making enough.  

The American Debt traders say, “Don’t worry be happy, and buy this new Chevrolet; if you don’t you’ll regret your life forever!”  The market also attempts to terrorize us with too many choices, just look down the aisle for Spaghetti sauce.   What is the best one?  There are way too many to compare, how do we make a decision without that feeling of guilt?  We could stand there for thirty minutes, in order to make a good decision. 

Death is the spotlight that the creed of hyper-reality is fraudulent and a heretical religion.  More money cannot conquer the effects of gravity and the ultimate end from this world.   But we can control our expectations.

The good

Mark Sayers brings an important thesis to the Mass Market Christian.

The bad

The book stumbles in some of its Theological Presuppositions.   I am not sure that Sayers has a firm grasp on the triune god; it seemed that he made Jesus a separate entity from God.   This is a classical heretical misstep. 

The Conclusion

“Christian Lite” book that will sharpen our focus on our relationship to and in Consumer America.

¹Hedges, Chris. "American Psychosis." Adbusters (2010). Print.

² Ibid.  

Review of Christian Books

A Response: "Samson and the Pirate Monks"

Why do we  have such a hard time being the saved?  We have no problems being the Lone Ranger, but when we need help it remains such a difficult thing.  Others force us to see that we can't do it all by lone wolf pride.


As Nate Larkin wrote in the Samson and the Pirate Monks:



the “Path that leads to godliness and freedom” begins with faith in an objective Fact. The ability to recognize and believe that Fact comes as a gift from God. It reaches each of us by personal revelation, like a heavenly visitor arriving at the perfect time, and it inevitably produces surrender.

Larkin, Nate (2007-02-20). Samson And The Pirate Monks (p. 128). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Randy Singer: Fatal Convictions

Randy Singer Unveils Islam in America

When the earth is shaken to her (utmost) convulsion, Surah 99:1-7

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."⁸Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

⁹At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
John 7:53-8:11

Good books are good books. This is a good mystery story in the style of Tom Clancy, Elmore Leonard, Dennis Lehane and G.K. Chesterton. 
Singer utilizes good writing, like G.K. Chesterton did before him in the life and times of priests (Father Brown series) who work to uncover crime and the shadows of Christianity's current condition.

Alexander Madison is part lawyer, part pastor, and part time chivalrous swindler. Alex takes a case where a Muslim Imam is accused of instigating honor killings. "Fatal Convictions is a story of lawyer willing to risk it all and the women who must choose between faith and love."  Amazon.com

Randy Singer also critiques our Protestant condition in worship. He points out that Christian worship seems to be a circus event where God has left the building. He shows that Islam does not take Christianity seriously because we disgrace God in our worship lived out in our lives. He shows that Islam is willing to worship with their hearts and living out their faith for Allah; while few American Christians are willing to sacrifice anything, and put themselves before God. 
Randy Singer's portrayal of Islam is fair and is not a characterization of evil. Americans often see Islam as a group of fanatics who treat their women like dirt. However, Islam is complex. America's flat characterization of Islam is a beast that needs to be slaughtered. We need to learn as much as we can about Islam so that we can intelligently defend our position. Otherwise we appear to be  blabbering dogs barking at shadows passing a wire fence. 

This book deserves a definite cluck, cluck, and cluck! I enjoyed reading every page. 

I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."