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Alan Noble

Goodreads Author

Website

https://www.oalannoble.com/home

Twitter

thealannoble

Genre

Christian, Philosophy, Art

Influences

charles taylor, jacques ellul, cormac mccarthy ...more

Member Since

October 2009

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Dr. O. Alan Noble is Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University and author of numerous articles and a couple books.

In his youth, Alan lived in Lancaster, CA, where he was very homeschooled by his mother. At 16, he finished high school and began attending Antelope Valley College, pursuing a certificate in music which he earned but never filled out the paperwork for, so it probably doesn't count. He did, however, meet his wife, Brittany, at AVC, which definitely counts. Alan continued his undergraduate work at the Cal State Bakersfield satellite campus at AVC, earning his degree in English. Then he earned his Master's in English at CSUB-AV, writing his thesis on Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian under the supervision of Dr. Dr. O. Alan Noble is Associate Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University and author of numerous articles and a couple books.

In his youth, Alan lived in Lancaster, CA, where he was very homeschooled by his mother. At 16, he finished high school and began attending Antelope Valley College, pursuing a certificate in music which he earned but never filled out the paperwork for, so it probably doesn't count. He did, however, meet his wife, Brittany, at AVC, which definitely counts. Alan continued his undergraduate work at the Cal State Bakersfield satellite campus at AVC, earning his degree in English. Then he earned his Master's in English at CSUB-AV, writing his thesis on Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian under the supervision of Dr. Steven Frye.

Other things Alan did while in Southern California: tutored high school felons at a probation camp; substituted at various high schools; helped produce, write, rap, engineer, and record two hip-hop albums; taught composition and literature at Antelope Valley College; went bald; got married.

In 2007, Richard Clark contacted Alan about joining a new venture he was starting called Christ and Pop Culture. That November, Alan began writing and then editing for the site. Brittany and Alan moved to Waco, TX to pursue graduate degrees at Baylor University in 2008. While at Baylor, Alan studied under Ralph Wood, David Lyle Jeffrey, Luke Ferretter, and Richard Russell. His dissertation was written under the supervision of Dr. Ferretter and was titled Manifestations of transcendence in twentieth-century American fiction : F. Scott Fitzgerald, Carson McCullers, J.D. Salinger, and Cormac McCarthy. Charles Taylor's work on secularism and the self formed the theoretical basis for the dissertation and much of Alan's later writing. While in Waco, Brittany and Alan had two children, Eleanor and Quentin, and they attended Redeemer Presbyterian Church. At nights, Alan continued to write and edit for Christ and Pop Culture, now with the title Managing Editor.

In the fall of 2014, the Nobles moved to Shawnee, OK, where Alan accepted a position as Assistant Professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University. After Richard Clark left Christ and Pop Culture for Christianity Today, Alan became editor-in-chief at the site. At this time, Alan began writing for The Atlantic, Christianity Today, and First Things, particularly on issues related to pluralism and secularism. The Nobles' third child, Frances, was born in 2015. As the 2016 election ramped up, Alan launched the group Public Faith with Michael Wear to offer an alternative evangelical political voice. He also joined The AND Campaign as an advisor.

Alan has written articles for Christian publications such as Modern Reformation, InTouch Magazine, and Christianity Today and for secular publications like VOX, Buzzfeed, and The Atlantic. He has been interviewed, quoted, or cited in a number of major publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, MTV News, MSNBC, The Guardian, Buzzfeed, Politico, Village Voice, Yahoo! News, ThinkProgress, The Blaze, WORLD Magazine, and Slate. And he has spoken at colleges, churches, and youth groups on a range of topics related to the church and culture.

The Nobles attend City Pres in Oklahoma City. ...more

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Alan Noble’s books

Average rating: 4.28 · 6,509 ratings · 1,535 reviews · 4 distinct works • Similar authors

	On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living 4.29 avg rating — 3,192 ratings — published 2023 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World 4.31 avg rating — 1,907 ratings — published 2021 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in a Distracted Age 4.22 avg rating — 1,402 ratings — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times 4.50 avg rating — 10 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Alan is Currently Reading

Alan Noble is currently reading

The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature

by C.S. Lewis

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Mar 08, 2026 07:35PM

Alan Noble is currently reading

Democracy in America: A New Abridgment for Students

by Alexis de Tocqueville

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Jan 26, 2026 03:37PM

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Here Goes Nothing (Big Nate)

by Lincoln Peirce

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Feb 04, 2023 06:31PM

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Alan’s Recent Updates

Alan Noble made a comment on eden’s review of To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times " Thanks for the honest review! "
Apr 14, 2026 06:28PM · see review
Alan Noble liked eden's review of To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times: "3.5, rounded up. In this book, Noble repeatedly calls up the words of T S Eliot in The Waste Land: “You know only / a heap of broken images.” And he says this is what modern Western culture bequeaths to us today — a heap of broken images — and demand" Read more of this review »
Apr 14, 2026 06:28PM · see review
Alan Noble and 2 other people liked Kati Pike's review of To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times: "To Live Well is Alan Noble’s newest book, a “call back to virtue,” entreating us to remember and embody the seven main virtues he outlines. Covering philosophy and religious backgrounds, Noble covers temperance, prudence, fortitude, justice, faith, h" Read more of this review »
Apr 11, 2026 06:16AM · see review
Alan Noble made a comment on Kristina Pauls (ARC Reviewer)’s review of To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times " It was worth the wait "
Apr 08, 2026 06:04AM · see review
Alan Noble made a comment on Dee Reads’s review of To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times " Thank you! "
Apr 07, 2026 03:36PM · see review
Alan Noble and 1 other person liked Dee Reads's review of To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Apr 07, 2026 03:36PM · see review
Alan Noble and 11 other people liked Kristina Pauls (ARC Reviewer)'s review of To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times: "PUBLISH DATE: April 28, 2026 To Live Well (Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times)by Alan Noble This book feels very much geared toward a college-aged audience. It focuses on how to live a meaningful life in a world full of competing message" Read more of this review »
Mar 28, 2026 07:05AM · see review
Alan Noble is currently reading The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature by C.S. Lewis	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 08, 2026 07:35PM · 9 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Discarded Image by C.S. Lewis. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Discarded Image by C.S. Lewis <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Alan Noble rated a book it was amazing The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1) by J.R.R. Tolkien	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 07, 2026 07:20PM · 17 likes · like
Alan Noble made a comment on his review of To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times " Was it good? It was written. That's what I can promise. ...more "
Jan 31, 2026 03:14PM · see review

More of Alan's books…

Quotes by Alan Noble (?)

“Don’t do the next thing just so that you can keep doing the next thing. Do the next thing because it honors God and testifies of His goodness and the goodness of your life to your neighbor.”
― Alan Noble, On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living

9 likes

“This is precisely why we must see that each choice to do the next thing is an act of worship, and therefore fundamentally good. Feeding your pets is an act of worship. Brushing your teeth is. Doing the dishes. Getting dressed. Going to work. Insofar as each of these actions assumes that this life in this fallen world is good and worth living despite suffering, they are acts of faith in God. Choose to do the next thing before and unto God, take a step toward the block. That is all you must ever do and all you can do. It is your spiritual act of worship.”
― Alan Noble, On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living

6 likes

“If you take away one truth, the one thing in this book I know with certainty, let it be this: your life is a good gift from a loving God, even when subjectively it doesn’t feel good or like a gift, and even when you doubt that God is loving. Please get out of bed anyway.”
― Alan Noble, On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living

5 likes

See all Alan Noble's quotes »

Alan’s Quotes

“Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.”
― J. D. Salinger

tags: salinger, stories

6587 likes

“Grand. There's a word I really hate. It's a phony. I could puke every time I hear it.”
― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

tags: holden, writing

688 likes

“Droll thing life is -- that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose. The most you can hope from it is some knowledge of yourself -- that comes too late -- a crop of inextinguishable regrets.”
― Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

tags: identity, life, regret

461 likes

“No, it is impossible; it is impossible to convey the life-sensation of any given epoch of one’s existence--that which makes its truth, its meaning--its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible. We live, as we dream--alone.”
― Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

tags: dream, loneliness, subjective-experience

514 likes

“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.”
― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye