Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl

When I set down Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl, I was amazed, stunned, and utterly confused on my feelings towards the book.  The storyline is non-existent and the writing not the best.  Everything about the book itself would lend me to believe I wouldn't like it.  Yet, in a strange way, it was a beautiful book giving me a new look on the world, God, and thoughts on many issues.  The author writes in a stream of conscience, about the poetry of life as he sees it throughout daily life.  The poetry of his writing throughout the book was incredible, and the way he intermingled all the storylines into one look at the glory of the Lord's creation was incredible.  Even though I found his theology different throughout the book, he still presented his message extremely well.  So I did like this book a lot, hence the ten+ bookmarks marking my favorite spots throughout, but I am still not sure if I would recommend it.

As my confusion is so widespread, two friends of mine were kind enough to write a paragraph with their thoughts on this book.  Their thoughts are very good and I hope they are helpful in the review of this book.  I do want to note that this book had a very, very minor amount of questionable language, so for the very young may need to be wary.

~ Matthew

"It is hard to stay focussed with so much swirling around me. God is distracting. He never stops talking, and I can never stop listening.  There is a reason we sleep." (N.D. Wilson, Notes From the

Tilt-A-Whirl).  While exploring the vast expanse of theological concepts that have been presented by so many scholars, N.D. Wilson skillfully works his own style and wonder into this work.  Based on Dostoyevski's Notes From Underground, Notes From the Tilt-A-Whirl wanders through the ideas of Descartes, C.S. Lewis, Augustine, Plato, and many others adding an edge to observing creation. Throughout the entire work, Wilson expresses diligent praise to God in scrutinizing man's views on creation, while simplifying even the most convoluted of modern concepts using truth, and a little humor.

"We cannot hope to reach the final chapter by dreaming, by holding our collective breath and staring at unshaded acrylic escape paintings. The only road to that final chapter began in the garden and led into the wilderness. It runs through these chapters.  Live now.  Relish the tensions, the challenges, and laugh at the petty pains." (N.D. Wilson, Notes From the Tilt-A-Whirl).

~ RW

Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl was the second most inspiring and entertaining book that I've ever read in my entire life. This book gives you a fascination for the world and its Creator...

and it makes you feel special to live in such a colorful, random, and breath-taking universe. It paints you a picture of really how random, how odd, and how diverse the universe really is... and makes you hungry for nature and its beauty. 

Sometimes, because many of us have heard about God and the gospel so many times in our life, we become overly familiar with it.. to the point that it becomes boring or ordinary.  N.D. Wilson really changed that for me. He reminded me how awesome and how powerful our God is. The author of this book really captures the concept that God is powerful, rare, surprising, and beautiful. This book also presents the gospel in a fascinating and unexpected way. 

By the end of the book, I had tears in my eyes. It was that amazing. :) 

~ AP

Thank you both for your review, I appreciate it!

Matthew