Since 2008, Jana Riess has been an editor in the publishing
industry, primarily working in the areas of religion, history,
popular culture, ethics, and biblical studies. From 1999 to 2008,
she was the Religion Book Review Editor for Publishers Weekly, and
continues to write freelance reviews for PW as well as other
publications.
She holds degrees in religion from Wellesley College and Princeton
Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in American religious history
from Columbia University. She speaks often to media about issues
pertaining to religion in America, and has been interviewed by the
Associated Press, Time, Newsweek, People, the Boston Globe, USA
Today, the Los Angeles Times, and Newsday, among other print
publications, as well as “Voice of America,” the “Today” show,
MSNBC, and NPR’s “All Things Considered,” “Tell Me More,” and “Talk
of the Nation.”
She is the author or co-author of many books, including The Prayer
Wheel; Flunking Sainthood; What Would Buffy Do?; Mormonism for
Dummies; and The Writer’s Market Guide to Getting Published, andThe
Next Mormons: The Rising Generation of Latter-day Saints. Her
book The Twible: All the Chapters of the Bible in 140 Characters or
Less . . . . Now with 68% More Humor! won first place in the
non-fiction category in the Writer’s Digest Annual Self-Published
Book Awards.
She is a senior columnist for Religion News Service.
It's clear from the start of this sparkling and very funny memoir
that Riess means well. But as she readily admits, she's a spiritual
failure. She intended to devote an entire year ("a year-long
experiment") to mastering 12 different spiritual challenges,
including praying at fixed times during the day, exhibiting
gratitude, observing the Sabbath, practicing hospitality according
to the rules set by St. Benedict, abstaining from eating meat, and
amply demonstrating her generosity. But nothing turned out as
planned. Rather than being moved by Therese of Lisieux's The Story
of a Soul, she instead dismisses the saint as a "drama queen." And
Reiss is unregenerately practical. The best month to fast, she
reasons, is February, at the height of winter; conveniently, it's
also the shortest month of the year. Furthermore, at best, she's a
"lukewarm vegetarian." Although her spiritual quest falls far
short, she can still proffer spiritual lessons. Anyone who has
failed to live up to expectations, which means most everyone, will
love this book.Booklist, September 15, 2011
STARRED REVIEW - Publishers Weekly - Punchy humor and
unpretentious inquisitiveness combine in this absorbing memoir in
which former PW editor Riess (What Would Buffy Do?) commits to both
adopting and studying a new religious practice each month for a
year, while simultaneously reflecting on her spiritual progress.
Choosing such diverse disciplines as fasting “like a Muslim during
Ramadan,” exploring lectio divina, observing an Orthodox Jewish
Sabbath, practicing Benedictine hospitality, and engaging in the
Liturgy of the Hours, the author shares frustrations and insights
in a manner likely to amuse and comfort readers, especially those
who have attempted such exercises and also found them challenging.
For example, Riess’s description of her internal dialogue during
Centering Prayer, concludes, “ ‘Shut the hell up!’ yells
Spiritual Mind,” while her experience of practicing mindfulness,
with annoying help from the never sainted Brother Lawrence, leads
to a sympathetic observation that he’s “an underappreciated
housewife.” Supporting quotes from saints and writers (St. John
Chrysostom, Dorothy Day, Thornton Wilder) pepper the text. The
author’s declared “failures” make her a sympathetic witness, while
such “successes” as her description of how “[g]ratitude practically
tackles me,” prove genuinely moving. A witty, inspiring
read.(Nov.)
Flunking Sainthood has to be the most entertaining introduction to
spiritual disciplines ever written. If your taste in spiritual
discipline runs to hair shirts and beds of nails, you probably
won't care for this book. As an honest, funny, irreverent
introduction to time-honored Christian practices, however, it can't
be beat. - Lavonne Neff
When I first encountered the title Flunking Sainthood: A year
of breaking the sabbath, forgetting to pray, and still loving my
neighbor, I thought, “That sounds like me in my stumbling efforts.”
I sensed I would find a kindred spirit in author Jana Riess, and I
read this memoir hungrily.
I enjoyed this book very much and could identify with the author’s
longing to cultivate good habits and to deepen prayer life. I
laughed aloud, and nodded my head in solidarity. I, too, have
craved closeness with God, and tried many practices suggested by
spiritual leaders. The chapter on praying the liturgy of the hours
(or divine office) really struck home. I have been trying,
unsuccessfully, to read morning psalms and then the compline prayer
service at bedtime each day. Rather than feeling frustrated when I
forget to do this, I enjoy the prayer time when it happens. After
all, the quiet time is a gift to myself, and not an obligation in
any way.
The chapter on Benedictine hospitality sent me straight to the
library so that I could reread the Rule of Saint Benedict. How
I long to be able to live the instruction that “all guests who
present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself
will say: ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me.'” As Jana Riess
experienced, it is not easy in our fast-paced culture to slow down
and enjoy our unexpected encounters with people.
While I read Flunking Sainthood in two eager sittings, I
appreciated that the book could be picked up once a month, taking
one chapter at a time and trying a spiritual discipline
alongside Jana Riess. For this reason Flunking Sainthood
would make an ideal read for the start of the new year, when many
of us try to adopt positive habits. Perhaps you long to
try lectio divina, centering prayer, or a deeper sabbath
observance. With Flunking Sainthood, you can enjoy the
companionship of Jana Riess as you experiment and
journey.
The honesty and sincerity in the writing of Jana
Riess provide encouragement, inspiration, and laughter. I am
excited to see that Paraclete Press has published a useful
companion volume, Flunking Sainthood Every Day: A daily
devotional for the rest of us. —Lisa, Light to Read By
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