I love Andrew Peterson. I’ve rocked my babies to sleep to his music. I’ve read his Wingfeather saga aloud to them now that they’re older. I’ve listened to him speak about his creative process. This book, Adorning the Dark, is a beautiful treatise on creativity and the act of making beauty out of brokenness.

Part memoir, part how-to, Peterson draws from his life, his process, and his faith to weave together all the principles that shape his writing life. His writing illuminates his deep faith, and yet he doesn’t hold back from acknowledging his failures and stumbles along the way.

As a homeschooling mom, I encourage my boys to pursue truth, beauty and goodness, and it is these things that Peterson seeks as well in both his exploration of art and the Bible.

I highly recommend this to any aspiring creator—writer, songwriter, artist of any kind—who seeks to imitate, through the act of creating, our Creator God.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Initially I wasn't sure about this book. The closest I get to being a "creative" (a term the book explicitly rejects) is in making home, as the book describes the author's wife doing, or digital creations for a paid job. Reading an excerpted chapter 7 elsewhere drew me in, however. I discovered that like Madeleine L'Engel's "Walking on Water" (which is heavily referenced in this book), this is a book about the creative life for everyone, not just for musicians, songwriters, and authors. Yes, sometimes it contains pointed comments on those vocations, but often it applies broadly to all of us. I found the book to be a quick and compelling read.

I came to appreciate Andrew Peterson through reading his Wingfeather Saga, a quartet of fantasy novels featuring a spirited trio of siblings who discover their family’s true identity while reclaiming their homeland from a race of evil, colonizing lizard-men. My kids adore the novels for their action, humor, and pathos. I’ve been reading the quartet aloud to them for the better part of a year and have come to expect a mini battle each night when I close the book at bedtime. Peterson has truly mastered the art of the cliffhanger, and I appreciate what he’s achieved with these novels. Much like the Narnia books, they are rich with Christian themes without being explicitly Christian or spiritually heavy-handed.

Adorning the Dark is a work of non-fiction, in which Peterson shares aspects of his biography, along with his reflections on the writing process. Peterson identifies as a Christian artist, so much of the book is addressed to Christians with artistic aspirations, particularly musical ones.

There’s much to like here. Peterson is a warm, winsome, and honest writer. There’s an interesting chapter called “Serving the Work,” in which Peterson grapples with the question, Is there a difference between a Christian artist and an artist who happens to be a Christian, and what does that difference look like? (As a Christian who wouldn’t touch most Christian fiction with a 10-foot pole, I have often wondered about this.)

The chapter called “Selectivity” is the most beautiful. Here he compares the act of creating to the process of making maple syrup from watery tree sap, something he’s actually done: “Whether you’re writing a sermon, a poem, or a mystery novel, you have to do the work of boiling it down. But, it’s important to remember that you don’t start with the syrup. You start with the sap, and then you get selective” (112).

I also liked the following passage immensely: “When my daughter was about five she was already writing songs. I decided early on that I would rather my children listen to a great song by someone who wasn’t a Christian than a bad song by someone who was” (133). This might seem a no-brainer to my secular friends, but it can be a point of contention for some committed Christians.

I have one quibble. Peterson clearly works at cultivating humility, which is something that warms many readers to him, and understandably so. In Adorning the Dark he strives to close the chasm between professional artists and the rest of us, between song-writers and consumers, between writers and readers. He does this by exposing his own insecurities as an artist, and by arguing that all of us are artists, even if not professionally. I find this argument (also made by Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird) to be a little patronizing.

I’m okay with the reality that there are some special people out there called Artists, and I would rather the artists I admire to be shrouded in a little bit of mystery. (For example, does anyone else feel slightly discomfited by the author who gets chummy with readers on social media, responding to readers’ compliments with exclamations like, “That is super kind of you to say!”?) True, everyone has a story to tell, but only a select few can tell it in an interesting way, and that’s fine. I’m not sure it’s a good idea for all of us to go around thinking we’re artists. I prefer Stephen King’s crusty, old argument in On Writing: “I don’t believe writers can be made, either by circumstances or by self-will…The equipment comes with the original package” (18). And I say this as someone who falls decidedly on the non-artist side of the fence. Acknowledging the obvious reality that some people are uniquely gifted doesn’t detract from anyone’s humanity, or deny that we are all, in some way, creative.

Even so, fans of Andrew Peterson will find much to reflect upon and enjoy here. I’m glad I read it.

Andrew Peterson's writing in 'Adorning the Dark' is approachable, helpful, honest and kind. While this book isn't for everyone, it serves its intended reader well. If you're an artist, this is a title you'll want to add to your shelf.

In Andrew Peterson’s book, Adorning The Dark, he says that every piece of art should be done with truth, honesty, and beauty—and he did just that when writing his book. Every page is seeped with open honesty and truth, and sprinkled into its midst is the beauty of not only well-wrought sentences, but also the beauty of an open heart. Peterson’s book isn’t just about writing music and art. It’s also about the burning passion he has for his Creator, and his wish for everyone else in the world to share that passion as well.

There’s a moment in his book where Peterson says, “What, Jesus, can I do?” and a voice seems to answer him, saying, “Write about it.” That moment is the part of the book that sticks with me the most. He was speaking of how he feels inadequate, not worthy enough to write songs (or books) for God. And God is reminding him, that he doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, God wants him to write about his imperfections. To speak of his shortcomings. And I feel that that is what God wants all of us to do when it comes to art. To show how unworthy we are, so that God can call us worthy.

The message of this book will really hit you hard, and remind you that we are all flawed creatures, that God has called beautiful. And it was a really great reminder for me as a writer that it doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be flawless. Because that’s just not real. Tell the story for God, and He’ll take care of the rest.

I think it’s kinda an obvious thing to say, that I really like this book, but I’ll say it anyway. *takes in deep breath* I REALLY like this book!!

There. I said it.

If you're a fan of Andrew Peterson, this is a must read. I enjoyed hearing about his creative process and how he's grown over the years.

This book is the perfect inspiration for Christian artists, writers, musicians and other creative types. Though I had never heard of him, the author is famous as a songwriter and musician. His writing is so compelling and beautiful that I’m eager to check out his music next.

Every creative person has unique struggles, and I know this well as a Christian author and artist myself. We struggle with wondering if our work matters, if anyone even cares, if we are doing too much or not enough. We worry that we have waited too long to get started, then we procrastinate because the work seems too difficult. Andrew Peterson not only affirms all of these conflicting feelings, but tells us how to overcome them with his down-to-earth wisdom.

Some of the passages in this book are so beautiful that they are transcendent. I lingered on some of the images he painted with words, just like I do in front of a masterful painting at an art museum. I’m savoring this book one chapter at a time, not speed-reading at my normal pace. It’s a treasure which I will keep digging into year after year. Sure to make my Best Christian Books of 2019 list of over 100 reads.

I received a preview copy of Adorning the Dark from B&H Publishers and Netgalley.

My Thoughts: GET THIS BOOK

Honestly, I had pre-ordered a copy before I had an invitation to review this book and I want to buy copies for all my friends. This is a beautiful book on life and beauty and community and the creative process.

I’m not a songwriter or an author. I’m a visual artist who loves beauty and art and adorning the dark. And this book is entirely relatable to me.

I have been moved by the discussions of place-making. I wept over the beauty of a life that wants to declare the dominion of God to every place within its reach and I spent a whole week re-reading just one paragraph.

I’m reading this book slowly and I have no qualms about reviewing a book I haven’t quite finished, because the portion I have read has been filled with seeds of beauty planted in the soil of my heart. This is not a book to be rushed, nor is it a book to be shuffled off to a specific group of artists. This book is beautiful and I think it has worth for every reader and especially for those who have chosen a Creative vocation.

I bought the book first, but I also got a free copy for review. All my opinions are my own.

I was giddy to read this book. The title alone piqued my interest. Adorning the dark is what we do in the deepest part of winter, illuminating the dark with Christmas lights. In the same way, we can illuminate the darkness spiritually. I recently read an interview in Christianity Today, where Andrew said, “As Christians we can either be afraid of the darkness or scatter stars across it.” This expresses perfectly what this book is about.

I have recently been delving into writing and knew that Andrew Peterson would have something unique and interesting to say about creativity, writing, and art in general. I wasn’t wrong. I love that he doesn’t chase success, but chases the giver of all good things (even if one of his early songs says, “All I ever seem to chase is me.”)

Key takeaways:

1. Everyone of us is creative.
2. The beginner must stop reading about how to be creative and get to work.
3. “Think about the creative act as a kind of worship.”
4. “The Christian’s calling, in part, is to proclaim God’s dominion in every corner of the world—in every corner of our hearts, too.”
5. Community is important. Friends will encourage you when you want to throw in the towel.

Andrew and his friends prayed this beautiful prayer as they began work on a new record, “Jesus, you’re the source of beauty: help us make something beautiful; Jesus, you’re the Word that was with God in the beginning, the Word that made all creation: give us words and be with us in this beginning of this creation; Jesus, you’re the light of the world: light our way into this mystery; Jesus, you love perfectly and with perfect humility: let this imperfect music bear your perfect love to every ear that hears it.” This would be a beautiful way to begin work on any new project.

My favorite quote from the book was this, “When you cast all mystery out the window because you want to make a point, you’re in essence declaring yourself the master and not the servant. Be humble. The creative act is profoundly spiritual, and therefore profoundly mysterious. It’s like in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, when Indy says, “The penitent man shall pass,” and realizes at the last moment that if he doesn’t duck he’s going to lose his head, only in this case you won’t lose your head, you’ll lose the song. Bow to the Lord of music, ask him to help you make the song what it’s supposed to be—not what you want it to be. Drink from that well, then maybe you’ll have some water to give to the thirsty.”

This book was so encouraging. In spite of being a beginner, I’m excited to keep creating. Even seasoned artists doubt themselves. So I’m in good company. You are in good company.

I received an ARC copy from net galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
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What a treat to get an inside look at Andrew Peterson as a person. It shed some light on where his remarkable lyrics come from in his songs. As a writer myself, this book offered a good reminder that creating art means fighting against insecurity, setting aside perfection and doing the work. It's work. Finally, I appreciated where Peterson landed the book, finding a community who appreciates art for its own sake. We might not get famous or go viral but we can cheer each other on along the way home.

“...the creative act [is} a kind of worship, ..a way to be human. Since we were made to glorify God, worship happens when someone is doing exactly what he or she was made to do.”
This quote from Adorning the Dark is a great example of what is included in this book. It is one part memoir of Peterson’s life as it led to his work as a performer, composer and writer. It is a second part philosophical book about worship, music, writing and composing. It is a third part how-to for song-writers and authors.
I recommend this book to anyone who knows and loves Peterson’s music or novels. It is also a great book for anyone who is a Christian aspiring author or composer. I read it as a degreed and lifelong singer and loved the insights he had. It makes me want to attend some of the conferences that his group, The Rabbit Room, sponsors. I received a complementary copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot put into words how inspired I am by this book. Andrew Peterson’s writing is more wonderful than I can say. It has encouraged, inspired, and challenged me as an artist and creator. He walks you through the process of the rise and fall and rise of his music as well as the details of his personal life. I am thankful for his humility to share what actually happened in his life and how he has proceeded on through trial. The allure here is that he overcame through building a community of people who resonated with and encouraged each other in their craft.

For me, the story was encouraging because I could see myself in it. The rebuilding of a house. Overcoming self to be creative. Pushing through toward the thing we yearn for. He shared such depth ad insight that went along with his life. The book is full of inspiring beauty. I feel like it gave me six months of homework. Honestly, I can’t wait.

I do not read many books twice, but I will definitely read this again.

Adorning The Dark is both a memoir and Peterson's reflections on the calling of a Christian artist. The book is not only for those artistically inclined; it will challenge anyone who believes in Jesus to use any avenue given to him or her to share the beauty of the Gospel with the world. We are called, he says, and we bring the most glory to God when we are living out our calling. The book is full of stories, both funny and sometimes moving. It can be very helpful to songwriters because he shares a lot of advice based on the lessons he's learned over the course of twenty five years as a professional musician, songwriter and novelist.

I appreciate Peterson’s honesty and his uncompromised devotion to the Gospel. We need people like him dedicating their talent to proclaiming God’s dominion. As he says: “The Christian’s calling, in part, is to proclaim God’s dominion in every corner of the world— in every corner of our hearts, too. It isn’t that we’re fighting a battle in which we must win ground from the forces of the evil; the ground is already won. Satan is just an outlaw. And we have the pleasure of declaring God’s kingdom with love, service, and peace in our homes and communities.”

I’m very thankful that Netgalley and B&H books granted my request to read this book. I’m already recommending it to friends

Andrew Peterson's book Adorning the Dark is not at all the kind of book that I normally read. I found it very enjoyable though; Peterson is a talented and transparent writer. I first heard of Andrew Peterson through his wonderful song "Is He Worthy?" and have listened to more of his music since then. I read the book simply because I recognized his name and wanted to hear more of his story. This book is part loose memoir and part semi-organized philosophizing on Christian artistry and creativity. I missed a number of the references and connections in this book, and I would probably find it more practically helpful if I were a songwriter or author. That being said, it's still a fun book to read and I have no regrets that I picked it up.

Peterson makes his case that all of us are called to create, that Christian creativity requires large doses of humility, service, and dependence upon God, and that we all create better as part of an encouraging community.

If you're interested in Peterson's music, if you enjoy creating content, or if you just want to read an enjoyable, thought-provoking book, give this one a shot. I received a digital copy of this book for free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review.

"Adorning the Dark" is an inside look at Peterson's journey as a writer, and an open look at pursuing calling. Peterson's work is an honest and attention-grabbing. If you have ever felt insufficient or unequal to the tasks God calls you to I believe this book will really resonate with you.

I recommend checking this out.

"Let this song be a light in someone's darkness. Let this song bring you glory, Father. Use it to lead someone home." (90)

Peterson has penned a book that not only encapsulates his journey as a creator and created, it also encourages one to pursue the creative life as "image-bearers, called to speak light into the darkness." Peterson writes with vivid detail, beautiful prose, and raw honesty, as he recounts the pitfalls and hills that he came upon in his journey as an artist. He doesn't mince words when discussing the struggle to glorify God with work that is heavy, and fraught with encounters that might leave one wanting to throw in the towel and give up.

Peterson accurately and humbly portrays the struggle with not feeling as though your work is valid or of any worth. He states, "I exist as his redeemed creation, and that is pleasantly enough for him. The rest of the world though, is chugging along just fine whether I speak up or not. . . . At war with my desire to be invisible is a yearning to be seen and known and valued." (14-15) These sentiments are ones that I believe we all feel at one point or another, but Peterson also doesn't leave it there. He goes on to say that we have to work our way out of that mindset, and deny the "self, self, self" view and adapt the "Christ, Christ, Christ" perspective that Paul emulates. "Paul, who for a paragraph seems almost pathetic in his self-frustration, turns his eyes to Christ and then reminds himself and the rest of us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (47)

Insightful gems like these are found all throughout the first half of the book that serves as his memoir of his creative life thus far, while the second half of the book pivots to encouragement to artists who already find themselves in the dregs of creating something worthy, valid, and glorifying to God. He describes six principles for the writing life: serving the work, serving the audience, selectivity, discernment, discipline, and community. While these may seem only important for writers or artists, these principles are truly for all of those with a Christian worldview; for we are all creators, and we can use these principles to imitate how the Creator interacts with his creation.

This book resonated with me on a personal level for many reasons, and I highly recommend this read for those who are fans of Andrew Peterson's work; for those who are experiencing the difficulties of creating; and for those who need encouragement or insight into how to glorify God and further his Kingdom while also living here on earth, working with God has so graciously provided us. This is a book that I will re-read again and again.

Thank you to Netgalley and B&H publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #adorningthedark #netgalley

Seeking God in our lives is a daily practice of intentionality. Seeing God clearly comes about with an awareness that His presence is always with us. If we take our time and pay attention to the way others have done it, we would learn a great deal. The great song composer Bach is acutely aware of the presence of God as he writes the initials "S.D.G" (To God be the Glory) at the bottom of his manuscripts written for church. Eric Liddell runs for God and feels His pleasure. Instead of getting stuck with mere admiration for these spiritual giants, author Andrew Peterson boldly writes essays, music, and various thoughts to express his devotion to God. The title of this book is exactly about that. While initially, he may seem to be in the dark about what to write and how to go about adoring God, faith is essentially about taking the first steps to be creative. Don't let the ways of the world hem us into its mold. Instead, grow our relationship with the divine through a recognition of our identity in Him; our calling from Him; and our living for Him. Peterson shares details about how he writes music. Overcoming the writer's block is essentially about a battle of fear and a leap of faith. Writing a song is essentially telling a story. Putting songs together into an album strings together stories according to a certain theme or focus. Peterson recalls his first college album which he calls "Bible album." Incredibly, this album became a tour and more importantly providing him with a platform to connect community, family, and his devotion to God.


Peterson shares about his creative moments through simple things. His Yamaha scooter became a way for him to venture into back roads and least populated areas of town; and to arrive at places where he could feel "wonderfully alone." Those were also times for him to seek God amid in the dark unexplored territories, both physically and metaphorically. In these moments, he seeks God through creation of words and song. Just write something. Don't wait for the perfect everything. Then he reminds us that art is not simply for "self-expression or self-indulgence." It is about being everything for our Creator. It is also an opportunity to die to self and to live for God. He shares about his longing for a sense of belonging after reading Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and CS Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. The place we are in is more meaningful within the context of a community. After completing a wall one spring, he wrote a sonnet of praise that comes from that experience. From imagination to discovery; reading Madeline L'Engle's Walking on Water to standing in front of an audience; Peterson weaves together an array of artistic expressions with thoughts on faith and spirituality. Thankfully, the author does not simply tells us to write anything down. He shows us the next thing to do: Selectivity. Not everything we write about how we feel or think will appeal to the masses. There is no point in trying to share something that would not interest the audience. Like plants, we need discernment to know when to prune them or when to let them grow wild. Like writing a sermon, we begin not with the syrup but with the sap. We need to boil it own and to hone down to the most salient points.

My Thoughts
First rule of thumb in creativity: Humility. While there is a lot to learn about creativity and art from the author's musings, I applaud his humility to point us to other resources he deemed more beneficial. In doing so, he reminds us that creativity requires a heart of humility and openness to learn. In truth, many of our so-called creations are inspiration by other works of art. Whether it is a beautiful portrait or a melodious song, art often fits the "1% inspiration and 99% perspiration" maxim. Once an idea becomes a seed, the rest is the work of cultivating the idea into works of art. Learning from others could very well be that seed of inspiration. His reading list alone is a whole project by itself and could spawn many more creative projects.

Second, art is more perspiration than perfection. One of my professors always say: "Good writing is re-writing." This more or less sums up the work of art. Whether it is music or essay, a book or a poem, if one is stuck on waiting for the most perfect word or tune, we might never create anything. Peterson teaches us well right from the start to remind us the importance of putting something down. Like a spark that gets the fire going, we all need to have something to create art. We need to beware of the temptation toward perfectionism which often delays or deny our creative opportunities. Perfectionism is often a self-deceiving target. So why wait for that to happen?

Third, whatever art we create, we need a sense of direction. We need an art compass. Just like the Scriptures declare: "The heavens declare the glory of God." God created the heavens and the heavens declare the glory of God. Likewise, God created the earth and we are called to declare the praises of God in all the world. Peterson shows us the way to do so via art and creativity. Peterson concludes with the picture of what it means to be home. Home is where love is. Love is where God is. Art illuminates this search for home and for God.

In summary, adorning the dark is about waiting for that inspirational moment in the midst of our ordinary encounters with things, people, and events around us. Once that happens, we adorn that spark with enthusiasm and diligence. As we do that, may we adore the God of light more each day through our creative works.

Andrew Peterson is a singer, songwriter, author, filmmaker, and founder of "The Rabbit Room," a non-profit ministry dedicated to fostering spiritual formation and Christ-centered community through story, art, and music. The Rabbit Room is a "creative community" as well as a repository for art, music, spiritual resources, podcasts, book and music store, etc. Peterson has also written hundreds of songs and played at multiple concerts. This book is like his "love song" about his appreciation for God's love for him.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of B & H Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

An interesting, honest exploration of the journey and processes of one of the most revered song/story writers of our time.

I really hope that Andrew continues to write books. His music has been in our home since the first day he put out a CD and now all of his books are too. It is also cool when you have actually met and connected with the author a handful of times in our lives. He is as real as it gets. To have a personal conversation with him around why he wrote the songs that he did and then to read his stuff later, you can hear it in his voice and from his heart. You will not be discouraged at all for investing your time in reading this book. I loved it.

Adorning the Dark is an Andrew Peterson memoir, and is certain to be a hit with fans of Andrew's music and books, especially if they want to know more of his story and the events that led him to where he is and helped him become the artist they know and love. But this is also a book about creativity, a handbook for singer/songwriters, authors, poets, and musicians. The author uses his life as the basis for helping his readers understand the joys, challenges, and hard work of creating and sustaining a vocation in the performing arts.

Andrew is a devout Christian, and he performs music of faith, usually for Christian audiences and often in churches or at religious events. Those readers with a particular interest in the Contemporary Christian Music scene of the last two or three decades will find much here to excite and entertain them, as the author narrates the highs and lows of a musical life lived in the interest of glorifying God in the name of Jesus Christ. Included in the narrative are stories and mentions of a lot of well-known (in Christian circles) musicians and writers and how they influenced and interacted with Andrew throughout his career.

Fans of Christian musician Rich Mullins will be delighted to discover that Andrew Peterson might just be the world's most fervent devotee of the deceased artist's work. Mullins' influence and artistic output is mentioned in almost every chapter. When Andrew claims to have been deeply affected by Mullins' body of work, he isn't fooling around, and reminds us every chance he gets. (Side note: I had a friend twenty years ago who was almost as rabid in his adoration of Rich Mullins as Andrew Peterson is. My friend never listened to any other singer and talked endlessly about his musical idol. I wish my friend and this author could meet.) As a reader and music fan for whom Mr. Mullins appeal was decidedly less pronounced, I came closing to being disappointed with the continual references to him and his work.

Andrew tells his own story well. He is a gifted writer, a good storyteller, and a talented musician. Personally, I was especially pleased to note that he and I had similar misgivings concerning the rise in popularity of worship music in the Christian radio world in the early 2000s, as it displaced so many talented singer/songwriters from the airwaves and charts. If you are a creative type who is interested in some practical advice from someone who has spent decades honing his craft, there is a lot of good content in this book related to creating music and to writing. I was reminded of books like The Writing Life, by Annie Dillard, A Poetry Handbook, by Mary Oliver, and Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott. Andrew Peterson has added another title to the long list of creativity handbooks that are worth a look.