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Practice Resurrection: And Other Essays
A student of Wendell Berry and Guy Davenport, Erik Reece is a strong and eloquent voice for a new generation of dedicated activists fighting on behalf of the embattled wilderness and the future of our planet. A master of the personal essay, his work has also deeply explored the role of religion in the American family.
In Reece’s new collection of essays, Practice Resurrection, ideas are the main characters. Written over ten years, and revealing Reece’s continued obsession with religion, family and the natural world, in many ways these essays represent a sequel to his stirring memoir, An American Gospel: On Family, History and the Kingdom of God. In that book, Reece intimately describes his conflicted relationship with Christianity in the context of the death of his father, a Baptist minister from rural Virginia who committed suicide at age thirty-three, and Reece’s own journey since then to find meaning and balance in the material and spiritual worlds.
Approaching variably through the lenses of travel, economics, and environmental stewardship, and with the ideas of great American thinkers (Thoreau, Berry, Davenport, Emerson) echoing in the background, Practice Resurrection provide readers refreshing new ways to value human spirituality and the natural environment.
In Reece’s new collection of essays, Practice Resurrection, ideas are the main characters. Written over ten years, and revealing Reece’s continued obsession with religion, family and the natural world, in many ways these essays represent a sequel to his stirring memoir, An American Gospel: On Family, History and the Kingdom of God. In that book, Reece intimately describes his conflicted relationship with Christianity in the context of the death of his father, a Baptist minister from rural Virginia who committed suicide at age thirty-three, and Reece’s own journey since then to find meaning and balance in the material and spiritual worlds.
Approaching variably through the lenses of travel, economics, and environmental stewardship, and with the ideas of great American thinkers (Thoreau, Berry, Davenport, Emerson) echoing in the background, Practice Resurrection provide readers refreshing new ways to value human spirituality and the natural environment.
- GenresEssaysNonfiction
220 pages, Hardcover
Published March 14, 2017
2 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 28, 2025
worth it just for the essay on guy davenport alone, but the whole thing is a wonderful read
May 26, 2017
Wow! Happening upon this book has been such a delight. For anyone who likes Wendell Berry, this book is a must. Written by a friend and mentee of Berry, this book of essays builds upon Berry's nature-focused outlook on life. Reece has a beautiful writing style with a strong message that the kingdom of God is here among us and we have the responsibility to care for it. His high value of poetry and art speaks to me as an artist and gives me hope that the world might not be lost to judgment and cynicism. This book helped shape my theology and I will definitely pull this one back out often. Highly recommend!
September 26, 2021
Essays that prompt me to reflect on nature, organized religion, and humankind's duty as a steward of Earth. Some, I found more accessible than others. Likely a second reading or discussion with other readers would provide further insights.
March 30, 2017
Goodreads win
This was a very intriguing read. It touched on a su ject not well known to me. The writing was good. I learned and felt like I grew from rreading this. A book I plan to recommend to a few friends.
This was a very intriguing read. It touched on a su ject not well known to me. The writing was good. I learned and felt like I grew from rreading this. A book I plan to recommend to a few friends.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews