In Blue Like Jazz, it feels like Donald Miller is just telling a story. A story about himself. Miller fumbles around, worries about everything, acts like a mess, hangs out with weirdos, is reclusive, and is confused about his Christianity. After a few chapters, however, you suddenly realize that you are being taught some great spiritual truths. You are learning about God’s grace and love right along with Don. And you discover, in fact, Donald Miller might be the best writer you have come across in a long while.

Two of my favorite quotes:

Andrew would say that dying for something is easy because it is associated with glory. Living for something, Andrew would say, is the hard thing. Living for something extends beyond fashion, glory, or recognition. We live for what we believe, Andrew would say.

Jesus said to feed the poor and to heal the sick. I have never done very much about that. Jesus said to love those who persecute me. I tend to lash out, especially if I feel threatened, you know, if my ego gets threatened. Jesus did not mix His spirituality with politics. I grew up doing that. It got in the way of the central message of Christ. I know that was wrong, and I know that a lot of people will not listen to the words of Christ because people like me, who know Him, carry our own agendas into the conversation rather than just relaying the message Christ wanted to get across. There’s a lot more, you know.

Buy this book.