A life changing book that helps the reader rediscover the child-like wonder we all once had.

“People live a narrow view not engaging things they do not understand . . . Instead of seeing the potential for gaps to be bridged, uncuriosity sees the gaps as protection from the foreign and frightening.” And with those words, Barnabas Piper begins a writing quest into the need for curiosity in the Christian life. Perhaps most of us are not curious enough to have thought about the necessity of a book on curiosity, yet the very fact we haven’t thought about it probably shows the need for The Curious Christian.
To many of us, curiosity is a childlike attribute that results with the endless, and thus irritating, barrage of the question, “Why?” Yet, Barnabas Piper takes readers through a journey that demonstrates just how curiosity should be inscribed into our daily lives. Hoping to compel others to be curious, the author examines curiosity in order to establish the necessity of curiosity (chapters 1-3), establish the definitions of curiosity (chapters 4-5), establish the activities of curiosity (chapters 6-8) and establish the implications of curiosity (chapters 9-11). At 176 pages, the book isn’t long and Piper’s style of communication makes it an easy read.
As the author works his way through the book to draw readers into the topic of curiosity, several aspects stand out as exceptional:
* Generates Curiosity: A reading of the book also incites a deeper curiosity about what is around us and about God. Piper teaches readers not only why it is necessary to be curious, but how to be curious. Examples of questions and opportunities provokes readers to recognize their daily opportunities to utilize their curiosity.
* Generates Action: Piper’s goal in this book is not for people to be passive. In fact, he states clearly in his introduction that he desires to see people become more curious and that in doing so they would rid themselves of ‘passive limits.’ He does just that and he does it very well. More than just teaching about the concept of curiosity, the entire book deals with its impact upon all that a person does and lives. Therefore, readers receive a clear picture of how curiosity can (and should) infiltrate life, particularly the Christian life.
* Generates Self-Confrontation: Finally, readers will be confronted with this book. They will be challenged to examine their own notions and actions of curiosity. First, they will be confronted both with society’s presentation and its inhibition of curiosity. At one point he even challenges our current schooling system’s limits upon curiosity (see chapter 3). This forces readers to think more deeply about our programs and processes. Even more important though, readers are forced to confront their own (lack of) curiosity. Piper’s writing causes his audience to examine the missed opportunities in everyday situations and lament over what could have been learned from them. Of course, hopefully with this self-confrontation will come the action that the author does so well at also inciting.
There exists so much to be curious about that our lack of curiousness is curious in itself. However, the most important issue of the book must not be missed. Barnabas Piper hasn’t set out to cause people to simply ask more questions or be more curious. Instead, his purpose goes deeper than that. Curiosity generates an effect upon our relationships and so Piper causes readers to use curiosity as a way to deepen relationships. More specifically, he causes readers to see curiosity as a part of a deeper relationship with our God, which is the most important aspect of this book.
The book overall is quite exceptional in its content. Readers will be confronted with a couple of areas of concern that are worth noting. First, is the use of questionable quotes from questionable people. Throughout the book the author utilizes quotes from others to support his points, however, the Scriptural orthodoxy of some of those he quotes is concerning. One quote in particular states that ‘ . . . true means accurately reflecting human experience’ which suggests that truth must be filtered through confirmation of our experience in order for it to be considered true. Truth though, must never be defined by our experiences, but our experiences must be defined by truth.
Second is the author’s description of knowledge. Throughout chapter 4 especially, he indicates that the value of knowledge must be determined by the action it produces. He is quite reasonable in this assertion and his explanations and examples are worth reading. However, such a definition of knowledge causes us to question whether or not the author has confused the definitions of wisdom and knowledge? Even more, an examination of this also causes us to examine whether or not it would have been valuable for the author to discuss the differences between both and the role of curiosity in the disciplines of each.
Finally, Piper is quite clear that the overall concept of curiosity and what readers engage in must answer the question “Do I see God’s world better because of this?” As he discusses curiosity he often cites varying examples of engaging with the world (and rightly confronts the notion that because it is in the world does not mean it is necessarily ‘worldly’). However, one must be cautious here because it can be easy to take some of the author’s arguments in order to justify them in an engagement with worldly activities that are not profitable for the kingdom of God. The author himself does not do this, however because of the form of his presentation it is necessary for readers to recognize this danger so they do not take it to this extreme.
Frankly, if this book had not been given to mere for a review, I probably would not have picked up (perhaps because I wasn’t curious enough in this area). Yet after reading it, I would say that Christians should not miss this book. It is quite exceptional in the content that is being presented and I am convinced that Christians will find unexpected treasures of insight and wisdom within this book. Curiosity is more than the character of a child, but instead is an aspect necessary for Christian growth. The book, The Curious Christian acts as a good prompter for being more curious in our own lives so that we may be stimulated to greater growth. Therefore, I would urge readers to pick up a copy and invest time in its contents.

To purchase a copy of The Curious Christian by Barnabas Piper, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at no cost for the purposes of review. However, the review given are my own opinions as a response to reading this book.

I’m biased because I absolutely love this author, but I’ll try my best to be as objective as possible.

First of all, I must admit that the theme of the book wasn’t very appealing to me in the beginning; thus I assume I actually belong to that group this content was intended to.

I found very interesting this idea of how curiosity makes us live exciting lives, but we’re also encouraged to wonder from a place of truth seeking.

My favorite chapter is the one that describes the part curiosity plays in doubt and skepticism. I also loved almost every single quote in the book.

Sometimes, I make connections between God’s truths and movies/books/tvshows, and, yeah, I’ve felt a bit guilty in the past because there is this thing in me that says that I should only quote the Bible if I want to talk about God. However, this book showed me that I can also honor God by recognizing his principles in everything I see/hear.

**I received a copy of this book from B&H Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own**

I loved Barnabas Pipers book about Pastors Kids so when I saw he had written another book I was eager to read it. I excitedly opened it up and read a few pages and found I was having a hard time staying attentive to what he was saying. A whole lot of definition and going around and around about curiosity. I am naturally a very curious person. I love learning new things and read a lot. This book was hard for me to get into. I was disappointed that the book felt a little drony for me. Curiosity is such a basic concept I almost felt like he was over thinking it a bit. For a person who struggles with curiosity I feel the book can be helpful... a book has to grab me within the first few chapters or I'm out.
I received this book from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I definitely enjoyed reading Barnabas Piper's newest book, The Curious Christian. In this book, he explores what it means to be a curious person and argues that Christians should be more curious. The first half of this one was my favorite. It is "To Be Christian is to Be Curious." The second half was also good. It is "Curious About….?" In this second section, one of the many things he addresses is the importance of reading books!!! How could I not love that chapter?!

In his own words,
"I will do my best to show how curiosity is one of the most significant ways we have to be image bearers of God, how it can deepen and expand our relationships with others, how it can lead us to an entirely more significant impact on society, and how it will lead us deeper into beautiful relationship with God for all time. Curiosity leads to discovery of great truth throughout all of life. Without it we tread the same paths to and from work, in and out of relationships, through our churches, across the pages of books and Scripture, all without ever seeing what’s really there."
One of the points he emphasizes throughout is that real curiosity seeks TRUTH.
"We don’t get to define truth or select it. Instead we must recognize and adhere to it. Truth is what is real, what is, but it is more than this—much more. If all we did was look around and determine truth by what we saw, we would end up exactly where are: in a society where truth shifts, morphs, changes, and loses credibility and value each day. Instead we must recognize that truth expresses reality as it ought to be. It is a standard for reality not just a reflection of what currently exists and happens."
He continues,
"Truth reflects some aspect of God’s character and persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in some way—though no truth in this world can display any of them fully. It displays His plan, work, or creation as He intended it to be and will one day make it again. This is the ultimate real and while it is a great adventure we do not choose what it will be. We do not pick the ending or the workings or the plot; the Author does that. Truth is entirely shaped and determined by God. All truth is God’s truth and reflects this Trinitarian reality."

He argues that curiousity "is the key to sorting it all out, to making a way forward, to actually fulfilling the vocational calling we have to reflect God’s image. We are not only created to reflect and echo God, we are tasked with doing so in all of life…In order to represent God to the world, we must know Him, and to do that we must learn. We must search for truth about His nature, His character, and His work. We must explore both His Word and His world. We absolutely must be curious if we are Christians. Without it we cease to grow and we become incapable of fulfilling our purpose in life. If we start by growing in this divine curiosity we will then be prepared to begin exploring this weird, complicated messy world that is full of so much amazing truth and beauty and so many awful lies and horror."

I loved this book. Why? Because it made me think and rethink how I see the world. I'd never really given much thought to if I was curious, or to what degree I was curious. But Piper shows that there are many ways to be curious. And we don't have to all be curious about the same things in the same ways. Our different ways to be curious makes us unique in a way.

One of my favorite quotes:
"Without curiosity we cannot be what God designed us to be. We cannot know Him or His truth as we ought or care for His creation as He wishes. We cannot understand this world or its creator or its faults or its blessings. Curiosity is where that all begins, and curiosity must begin at God Himself—searching, asking, digging, discovering, growing. If we start there, His image will reflect and His voice will resonate from us into a world that needs it deeply."

See that is food for thought!!!!

In addition to discussing curiosity, Piper discusses perspective. And I thought how the two relate to one another was important.
"Perspective comes from seeing things differently, from experiencing things widely. Perspective comes from feeding curiosity and giving it a chance to roam and see and feel. And it comes from seeing and experiencing all these things in a context of biblical truth. Perspective feeds curiosity because it sees life from different sides and from different points of view. Curiosity then feeds perspective because it asks and seeks and explores and finds new points of view and hidden truths. Most people in the world are strangers to us. We don’t know them. We know nothing about them. We view them as stranger than us. Or we don’t view them as anything at all because they are nonentities to us. Only curiosity overcomes this."
And…
"Some will read this and think I am saying we should only read Christian fiction and watch Christian films. Good gravy, no. All that will do is turn you into a sheltered, unrealistic, fearful idealist with no concept of the real world or how to function in it. If you are a discerning person you can learn much of God, of people, of God’s creation through distinctly non-Christian stories and depictions of reality too. If we do not expand our horizons, we are missing out on the people who love those horizons and the artists who create them."
And…
"Do not assume anyone or anything has nothing to offer you. If God made it then it has value, and if it is a person then he or she bears God’s imprint the same as you. It is arrogance to treat anyone or anything as valueless and uninteresting. If, then, all created things have value and hold interest, we should ask questions, and only humble people are free to do this. Asking questions is an admission of ignorance and a tacit statement of need. Pride abhors this stance. Proud people are embarrassed to ask questions and to look vulnerable. Pride kills curiosity quicker than anything. So foster humility by constantly looking at the expanse of God, His creation, and all you don’t yet know about it."
Barnabas Piper on reading:
"Nothing has grown and shaped my curiosity like books. I do not think there is a single medium in the world that so effectively shares information, opens new worlds, and ignites the imagination as books. It would seem you agree since you are, after all, reading or listening to a book. Books are largely what made me want to write. Books have shaped my perspectives on God, friends, sports, civil issues, faith, church, art, and nearly everything else. I read for fun and I read to learn. My greatest risk in reading is that I will collect knowledge but do not act on it, that I will become a card catalog of knowledge instead of being intent on bringing my curiosity to bear in the world."
"A novel shows truth, it presents a deeper layer of truth that, if described, would be boring at best and unrecognizable at worst. But when we find it woven in a story, we know it to be true. Good vs. evil, nobility, honesty, courage, friendship, self-sacrifice—these are truths that fiction reveals in a way nonfiction often struggles to do."

There is great value in this book, and the first section is far and away my favorite. It that, Piper brings in some quotes from great thinkers alongside the challenge of remaining childlike (not childish) in our thinking. In this, I believe there is a genuine challenge to curiosity even for the most stymied among us. My favorite Piper quote in the entire book is in this section: “Godly curiosity keeps us from becoming simplistic legalists who just label everything as either good or bad.” This approach toward a more contemplative life view is alive throughout the text. It invites perspectives unlike your own, a message so critically needed at this moment in history, it alone prompts the reading of this book.

Not wishing to stay too far in the stratosphere, Piper gets practical. This almost seems anticlimactic to me. Where he spends so much time (successfully) creating a vision of what it means to be curious, escaping the shackles of adult doldrums, he seems to pare away the lofty vision and try to make it easier.

There is value in this section too. Some of the best parenting advice I have ever received is in there. Yet, some of the concepts which hooked me so completely, in the beginning, are there as well, admittedly hard. A glimmer of the child in me who hoped to come out no longer so hopeful. We are back to being adults. We even come to a point that I find a little sad toward the end: “Curious people create more, find better solutions to problems, overcome challenges, meet needs that arise, make connections, and prepare better for the future.” Sure, it’s really adult. But I think back to an earlier point in the book where Piper talks about guarding your childlike curiosity against the cycle of adulthood which trains it out of you, and it seems we have leashed the wild thing to put on display in a zoo after all.

But some of this is effective. We must live in the actual world, after all. Piper does come to and from a point which Dallas Willard discussed in, “Spirit of the Disciplines,” that the lines of the secular and the sacred can be blurred to create something which is just life. This was refreshing to find near the end. “By pursuing godly curiosity in all of life, Christians bring bits of heaven to earth.” This is the best that could be said of any of us.

Barnabas Piper has written one of the most interesting books – The Curious Christian: How Enriching Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life. I will be completely honest and say I wasn’t exactly sure what direction he would be able to take a topic like this. However, I will also say that it really challenged me as a Christian about how I view things. It seems that in today’s society curiosity and being childlike when it comes to faith are not necessarily considered positive. I do believe that it is because these traits are greatly misunderstood. Barnabas does an excellent job unpacking these concepts and making them so easy to understand and apply. We should all strive to enrich our lives by returning to what Jesus spoke of – the wonder of childlike faith.

In his last book "Help My Unbelief", Barnabas Piper wrote about doubt and questioning your faith in your Christian walk. We are finite beings who struggle to understand an infinite, powerful God. Not to mention that God chose to reveal himself in a way that sparks questions instead of providing easy instructions and simple answers. This is why God actually welcomes our curiosity. In this book, "The Curious Christian", Piper expands on the content from his previous book and also breaks it down into more practical, everyday applications.

Piper does a great job of demonstrating the significance of curiosity in all areas of a person's life, from relationships, to the workplace, to nature, even music and books. Being curious about our surroundings will help us grow and bring us to a closer relationship with God, therefore making us better image bearers of God. Throughout the book Piper is careful to include scriptural references that tie concepts directly back to Christ and His Word. I especially appreciate the last chapter, "How to Live a Curious Life", that provides tips for being curious and intentional in your life.

The Bible tells us to have faith like a child. Children are naturally curious. Questions are the currency for their imagination. Piper admonishes that as we mature and put away childish things, this certainly does not mean curiosity. He notes that to do so would arrest the development of our souls. Asking and investigating will lead to knowledge and understanding. For example: You are not a Christian, but you are curious about the Bible, this book that Christians claim is the infallible, inerrant, living and breathing Word of God. Your curiosity leads you to seek the truth. You start reading and digging deeper and you are amazed at what you find: God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Word - the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus - how He conquered death, hell and the grave and He ascended into Heaven. Your curiosity has uncovered Christ's love for you and eternal salvation. Your curiosity has radically changed your life.

I recommend this book to all Christians who are curious about discovering more out of life as they develop a closer relationship with God. I received this as a free ARC from B&H Books, B&H Publishing Group, on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.