About the book: This book is composed as a series of letters. The letters are meant for a young Mormon who is familiar with Mormon life but green in his or her faith. The author, philosophy professor Adam S. Miller, imagined himself writing these letters to his own children. In doing so, he struggled to say his own piece about what it means to be—as a Mormon—free, ambitious, repentant, faithful, informed, prayerful, selfless, hungry, chaste, and sealed.
The letters do little to benchmark a Mormon orthodoxy. That work belongs to those called to it. Here, Miller's work is personal. He means only to address the real beauty and real costs of trying to live a Mormon life and hopes to show something of what it means to live in a way that refuses to abandon either life or Mormonism.
This second edition of Letters to a Young Mormon includes all the content of the original, well-loved book, with added chapters on the Sabbath and stewardship, as well as a new preface by the author, which provides additional framing and context for his writing.
"This book frustrated me. Not that I didn't like it, because I enjoyed it immensely. No, it frustrated me because I only wish I had had such a book to read when I was a 1960s teenager with racing mind and hormones. And perhaps more poignantly, I wish it had been available when my children were passing through those difficult and impressionable years. Both tender and gentle, and at the same time provocative and intellectually stimulating, its disarming honesty is only surpassed by the significance of its messages. I recommend it wholeheartedly, for young and old."
—Robert L. Millet, former Dean of Religious Education, Brigham Young University
"Employing a witty, upbeat sense of life, the author teaches without being preachy and encourages deep reflection of serious messages in the gospel of Christ."
—Deseret News, review of first edition
"Reading it, I felt less tired and more awakened to the climbs and depths of my life and faith. . . . I whole-hardheartedly love this very small and not so simple book; I’ve passed it on to so many others and now I recommend it on to you. A thought-provoking, beautifully written collection of ideas, insight and inspiration by Adam S. Miller."
—Segullah, review of first edition
"Faithful, smart, witty, well-written, and accessible—the perfect book for any thoughtful LDS young person."
—James E. Faulconer, former Richard L. Evans Professor of Religious Understanding, Brigham Young University
"Miller writes with a directness and depth that will challenge youth and adult readers to delve a bit more deeply into their own thoughts and beliefs."
—Association for Mormon Letters, review of first edition
My review: I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book when I first started to read it. You never quite know what you're going to get with non-fiction. I was pleasantly surprised with the readability of it.
I thought the author did a good job of writing each of these letters. They come across as a letter from someone who cares deeply about another person and just wants to help them be able to be the best person they can be. I loved the way the advice was timely and perfectly suited to the way our world is currently.
I loved how the author included snippets of their own life experiences to add to the letters. That makes them all the better.
This is a book that all young adults should read. It will help them learn to be the people they should be, develop their own faith and hopefully not hate rules and their parents as much!
I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Purchase links: Amazon - Deseret Book
About the author: Adam S. Miller is a professor of philosophy at Collin College in McKinney, Texas. He earned a BA in comparative literature from Brigham Young University and and MA and PhD in philosophy from Villanova University. He and his wife, Gwen Miller, have three children. He is the author of seven books, including Speculative Grace, Future Mormon, and The Gospel According to David Foster Wallace. He also directs the Mormon Theology Seminar.
This post contains an affiliate link, which simply means that if you click my link and make a purchase, I may receive a small amount of money.Labels: Adam S Miller, LDS non-fiction, Young Adult
