The Speed of Soul: Four Rhythms for a Quiet Life in a World of Noise

Pastor Brown (The Ache for Meaning) draws from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians for this straightforward guide to “creat[ing] the conditions where our souls can flourish.” Expounding on Paul’s instructions to “love one another... aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, to work with your hands”—the author explains why loving fellow believers creates a strong church community; how cutting out unnecessary distractions makes room for “peace and tranquility”; why narrowing one’s focus lets one cultivate the “gifts that God puts within our care and attention”; and how working with one’s hands—taken here to mean doing personally meaningful work—helps make “something good and beautiful out of the world that God created.” Such advice, the author argues, “cuts through circumstances, traversing time and space” in addressing core human needs neglected in today’s hectic, online world. Brown builds a robust case supported by scripture and secular sources, even if he’s less insightful on how readers might actually go about creating the conditions for their flourishing. Still, believers seeking to recenter themselves in a stressful world will find inspiration here. (Oct.)