Beauty Unframed

by Elizabeth Elmers, Joshua F. Drake (Introduction)

Is there a sublime beauty in the commonplace? How do we know it? How do we see it? How do we learn to taste, touch, feel, and see all the joys of creation in a more meaningful way? "Unframed Beauty" is a book about the commonplace. Elizabeth Elmers creatively sets out new ideas for observing the world more thoughtfully in order to find joy in everyday living. It's precisely because we fail to appreciate enough of the miracles around us that we need a book like this to remind us of all the amazing treasures of life right at our fingertips. T. DAVID GORDON ""Beauty Unframed" is that extremely rare book that is hard to put down, though not narrative. There is probably an argument in it, but it does not feel like an argument; it feels like an invitation. It is an invitation--to look longer, smell longer, taste, hear, and feel longer, and more thoughtfully--at things that are well crafted. Whether at God's crafts or our own, this wonderful volume invites us, chapter by chapter, to notice what is worthy of our notice. I found it very hard to put down, and you will too."

148 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2011

Reviews

[Darby Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Christian church needs more thinkers like Elizabeth Elmers and more books like this. It's good too see the beauty/art field moving out of theory and generalities into specifics.Elmers does a good job pointing out the beauty and art in everyday things such as food, clothing, travel, etc.

I always admire people who look at everything in a more aesthetically oriented way. I often forget to notice beauty in ordinary things and tend to compartmentalize it to those things I work in most (music).

The introduction was excellent as well, one of the better short cases for the Christian being concerned with beauty in all things.

[Abigail Leick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book of practical advice on how to better look for and experience the beautiful of everyday life.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fine book with a helpful refocusing on the beauty around us. The chapter on conversation was particularly insightful. Easy to read and refreshing.

[Rebekah Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book changed my view on beauty tremendously. My favorite chapter is probably The Art of Practical Cuisine. In that chapter, Elizabeth delves into the harmony of different tastes contrasting or flowing together, along with their colors doing the same. As well as affecting my view on food and the colors of those foods complimenting each other, my views on colors in other places, smells (her perfume chapter is also spectacular), sounds, and even how well two people can fit together have changed.

I may have read this wrong, but I disagreed with something in her chapter on decorating ("Personal Space," I believe). It said something along the lines of "if something isn't beautiful, it shouldn't be in your home." I disagree with that because in my home, if I'm attached to something emotionally, it's beautiful to me--whether it's ugly physically or not.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone.