Selfies: Searching for the Image of God in a Digital Age

by Craig Detweiler

Christianity Today Book Award Winner

Selfies are ubiquitous. They can be silly or serious, casual or curated. Within moments, smart phone users can capture their image and post it across multiple social media platforms to a global audience. But do we truly understand the power of image in our image-saturated age? How can we seek God and care for each other in digital spaces?

Craig Detweiler, a nationally known writer and speaker and an avid social media user, examines the selfie phenomenon, placing selfies within the long history of self-portraits in art, literature, and photography. He shows how self-portraits change our perspective of ourselves and each other in family dynamics, education, and discipleship. Challenging us to push past unhealthy obsessions with beauty, wealth, and fame, Detweiler helps us to develop a thoughtful, biblical perspective on selfies and social media and to put ourselves in proper relation to God and each other. He also explains the implications of social media for an emerging generation, making this book a useful conversation starter in homes, churches, and classrooms. Each chapter ends with discussion questions and a photo assignment for creating a selfie in response to the chapter.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Technology

240 pages, Paperback

Published April 3, 2018

About the author

Craig Detweiler is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and cultural commentator who has been featured in The New York Times and on CNN and NPR. He is President of the Wedgwood Circle, a philanthropic collective that invests in good, true, and beautiful entertainment. He serves as Dean of the College of Arts and Media at Grand Canyon University.

Reviews

[Eva-Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have taken perhaps twenty selfies in almost as many years of my life. Only twenty. So in some ways I found it difficult to grasp Craig Detweiler's points regarding how obsessed the average teen can be with taking selfies, editing selfies, using selfies to tell a story, and looking for affirmation through selfies. On the other hand, this book wasn't just about selfies, but dealt with social media in a broader sense as well as narcissism - its origins and its dangers.

I found direct parallels between Selfies and the writings of Francis Schaeffer, particularly in Chapter 3 - "A Renaissance of the Self" (of course, because Schaeffer is well-know for writing about the Renaissance). Like Schaeffer, Detweiler looks at popular culture (both past and present) as a lense through which we can interpret our ideas of God, Christianity, and the world in general.

There were some theological points that I didn't agree with as I read Selfies, the one that sticks out most in my mind being the idea that God is not confined to being masculine, but can also be perceived as being female. I just...I have a lot of issues with that personally. There were also a couple photos of nude statues in the second chapter and some language I didn't appreciate.

However, I still thoroughly enjoyed Selfies. It was a thought-provoking read with a lot of good things to say about how we are created in the image of God, how God sees us, how we see God, and how there should always be mercy and grace extended in our dealings with each other. Excellent book, recommended to mature readers who would like a Christian perspective on how social media - and selfies/images in particular - have a place in our lives and our worldview.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Book provided courtesy of Brazos Press and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always thought my husband and I were probably among the first people to take selfies. We dated in the pre-digital era so we used disposable cameras pre-loaded with film. If we wanted to remember a moment, Paul would reach one arm out with his finger on the button and I would snuggle in so he could capture the moment with both of us together. There was no instant feedback or retakes so we had to wait until the film was developed to discover that he was actually a really great self-photographer.

We didn’t know at the time that they were called “selfies,” of course. That word was officially adopted in 2013 by the Oxford English Dictionary after the invention of the rear-facing camera on smartphones popularized the practice. But the history of self-portraiture actually dates back much further. I was captivated by the way Craig Detweiler explored the depths of what I assumed would be a shallow subject in Selfies: Searching for the Image of God in a Digital Age.

By recognizing that each human is made in the image of God, Detweiler explores the good intentions behind our desire to take our own picture. He sees each selfie shared online as a form of “visual query” meant to ask “Who am I?” As a Christian, he recognizes that we need “a more reliable source for our confidence and courage than each other.” Nonetheless, he dignifies the act of self-portraiture by connecting it to the history of portrait painting and the ever-present human longing to control the narrative of our lives. Detweiler recognizes that we can use selfies as a tool to spur us towards self-reflection or to turn our lives into clickbait, and he lingers over the existential questions that will help us to “approach that selfie, that seemingly silly selfie, with reverence.”

Detweiler considers thoughtfully our enthusiasm for photography. I particularly appreciated his observations, including his thoughts on how modern wedding trends prioritize photography. Instead of emphasizing the sacred ceremony of marriage, many couples spend the majority of their time and money preparing so their wedding will look great in photographs. Detweiler considers that perhaps “we use photographs to do what the church used to do–provide meaning at significant signposts along our journey.”

Some chapters resonated more strongly with me than others, but I consistently appreciated the way he was willing to take selfies seriously. He celebrates that “photography may be the most democratic of art forms,” thereby offering the power to present yourself as you want to be seen to more people than ever before. He reminds Christians that we can do better than just scoffing at this seemingly self-absorbed practice. We can see and love the people in those pictures.

This book is saturated with self-reflection. Detweiler seeks to understand the subject of each selfie and invites readers to do the same. He offers a gracious interpretation of selfies and sets an example for a gracious way to navigate our image-saturated culture.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]


Selfies
Searching for the Image of God in a Digital Age

by Craig Detweiler

Baker Academic & Brazos Press

Brazos Press
Christian ,
Entertainment
Pub Date 20 Mar 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Selfies through Brazos Press and Netgalley:
We live in a generation of selfies, anyone with a smart phone or tablet can post a selfie on social media from just about anywhere in the world, but do we truly understand the power of a selfie? It can capture a happy moment, a silly moment but there are times they can breed controversy.


The Smiling Selfie in Auschwitz was a way for Breanna to connect with her deceased Father, but after it was posted online outrage ensued. Was a smiling Selfie in Auschwitz disrespectful, or distasteful.


There are times that Selfies can be downright dangerous, stopping to take a selfie while crossing a busy street is never a good idea.


Selfies can be good or bad, it's up to us how we use them.


I give Selfies five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

[Conrade Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

The invention of the self-facing camera has also invented another word in our popular language: Selfie. On the surface, it seems like some harmless photograph for keepsake. Since everybody's doing it, it should be ok, right? Not so fast. There are more things happening below the surface consciously and sub-consciously. According to author and professor Craig Detweiler, it is something that reveals our conflicted thoughts about ourselves. Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook Live, and all kinds of social media apps are able to help us capture precious selfie moments. What they fail to capture is the underlying philosophies or meanings attached to such selfie movements. Enter this book that reflects on the meanings, the conflicts, the pluses and minuses of this cultural phenomenon. With selfies, there is no longer private moments but public. There are no longer just self-image but shared images. Anything we put out there is subject to a multitude of interpretations and criticisms. With technology that are increasingly self-learning and automated, every selfie we take could be automatically uploaded the moment our devices establish an Internet connection. With our increasing array of digital devices, multiple copies could be backed up or shared across different platforms and distributed throughout our social and public spheres. Whether it is to bolster our self-image or simply to have our pictures on some famous landmark, Detweiler helps us ask questions to distill this phenomenon into some fundamental self identity and our endless search for meaning, and more importantly for God.


We learn about identity from both via positiva (who we are) as well as via negativa (who we are not). It is a search for our self-image as part of our identity crisis. Contrary to what some readers may think, this book is not accusing selfies as the problem. It is using the selfie phenomenon to highlight something deeper and more profound about ourselves. The author calls selfies "as the start of a solution." What is this solution? That is what this book will explain. As an extension to Detweiler's previous book, iGods, this book looks at the selfie phenomenon from a Christian perspective. Some highlights include:

Understanding the origins of narcissism
Looking back at the influence of the Renaissance in self-portraits
How writers search for identity in their literary creative pieces
How to read a photograph
The psychological perspective
Our present cultural environment
Augmented reality with social media apps

The author masterfully weaves the past with the present, and with biblical principles as guide, show us the redemptive side of things. It is easy to criticize or condemn the use of selfies. The general attitude adopted in this book is to hold our critiques, and to practice more listening, more observing, more understanding, and more discerning. For underlying each selfie act, there is a person that is loved by God. There is someone in search of self. There is a general response to the restlessness happening inside every human person. We are all in search of God, albeit in different places. Selfies is one avenue that more and more people are searching for God, often without themselves knowing about it. Each chapter ends with questions to consider and discuss, which could be used for both personal and group settings. This is then followed by a "selfie challenge" to help us analyze ourselves and our selfies beyond aesthetics.

My Thoughts
First, I agree with Detweiler that the selfie phenomenon is an extension of something deeper. What makes Google such a success? Why is YouTube one of the hottest websites on the Internet? How do people navigate the Internet so proficiently? It's the powerful ability to search. With Google, one almost always gets the information one seeks after. Most of the desired music videos, fun clips, news reports, movie trailers, documentaries or tips about anything, could be found on YouTube. Imagine the Internet without a search engine. We would be lost. From mapping destinations to restaurant reviews, online dating to academic research, the Internet is here to stay. Anything could be searched for at anytime, anywhere, and by anybody. If there is one common denominator in all of these, it is the word "search." What are people searching for? Is there a common thread in their search patterns? Perhaps, it is a restless spirit since the days of Cain. Pop culture does reflect the inner longings of the human heart in many ways. Whether we are searching for love in all the wrong places or searching for information to get at what we want, most of us do not seem to be satisfied with what we get. With the invention and subsequent popularity of the selfie, the restless spirit has not stopped searching. Instead, it is searching for the same thing albeit via a different mechanism. In this book, author Craig Detweiler highlights the restless human heart wanting to find fulfillment of the self, through the digital gadgets and mediums. In the Internet world, we are often what we search. In the selfie world, we are what we want to see ourselves in.

Second, we need to be aware of how public our own selfies could become. This could invite all kinds of feedback and criticisms in ways we could not possibly expect. For example, one of the most outrageous selfies taken is Breanna's selfie taken with Auschwitz concentration camp as the background. In one image, it is perceived as mocking the deaths of over six million Jews massacred during the horrific Holocaust. For whatever reason, there is a sense of desire to have our photographs taken in famous places, and to publicly tell the world that we've been there and done that. Why? Detweiler in his article on CNN about Auschwitz recognizes an inner conflict in people taking selfies. On the one hand, are people taking selfies all selfish and insensitive? On the other hand, is there more than meets the eye? Is there something meaningful to be discovered? Truth is, there are cases in which selfies could be deadly. People have fallen from cliffs and tall buildings just to snap a photo up high. They have also been gored to death by bulls; hurt in car crashes; and many different scenarios that place themselves at risk.

Third, I appreciate Detweiler's gentle approach with regard to the selfie phenomenon, not to condemn but to understand. While he states up front about the nature of selfishness of the selfie phenomenon, he reminds us that this is fairly recent although one could argue that selfishness could be lumped together with at least one of the seven cardinal sins: Pride. One word best describes Detweiler's position: A Mixed reception that demands a wise disposition. That means, instead of merely doing what everyone else is doing, ask why? For every temptation to take a picture of ourselves behind anything famous or infamous, pause and ponder if we have taken too many. Moderation is key. Awareness is vital. If we uncritically throw ourselves into every selfie self-promotion, we may not only stir up self-promotion responses in others, we also elevate our self-importance above God. Understand that selfies are simply an augmentation of our original sinful disposition, which is incurvatus in se "Latin for curved in on ourselves." Hear the warning:

"The greatest danger selfies pose may be not to our bodies but rather to our souls, our psyches, our selves. When we make our private moments public, something volatile may occur, as Princess Breanna discovered. Thanks to social media, our selfies become an occasion for a public referendum. Our friends and followers can now vote on our appearance, adding commentary, even forwarding it on to others. Our private moments veer quickly toward public property, fair game for memes and repurposing in a myriad of ways. While it can be gratifying to feel the affirmation of the crowd, it can also be devastating when our posts fail to generate the kinds of attention we seek."

The need to be gentle in understanding and intentional in indirect resistance is important. Like weeds that are growing together with cherished plants, we do not want to become another additional image of Christians objecting to another modern anomaly. Instead, take a selfie but don't let selfies take charge. Worship God but remember: Thou shalt not have any selfie before the LORD.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Brazos Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Warren Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A T.S. Eliot quote that Detweiler points out is "We had the experience but missed the meaning"

We tell our children to be patient and loving and kind, but we haven't figured out what that means in our online activities.  With devices in hand, we all too easily treat others as a position or a problem rather than a person.

Throughout this book, Detweiler talks about our longing to be known and loved.  He mentions how this has been something since the beginning of time that humans have struggled with.

"Digital discipleship is a new concept, still being sorted out."

"In our attempts to appear happy, to distract ourselves from our deeper, sometimes darker thoughts, we experience the opposite effect.  In trying always appear happy, we rob ourselves of joy."

One point that Detweiler tries to point out over and over is that wanting to appear more than we are is nothing new.  Even the disciples asked Jesus which one of them was the greatest.  In modern times they might have posted selfies with Jesus performing miracles looking to see who could get the most likes or added it to their Snapchat story.

Portraits of ourselves have always communicated status.  Selfies are a more democratic form of that enduring artistic tradition, the self-portrait.  They communicate "I was here" and "My life mattered."

Instead of blowing off selfies as a selfish self-absorbed picture Detweiler describes them as "a contemporary form of literature. They are a series of scenes and vignettes on a timeline, attempting to convey the meaning of a life.  The can be edited and remixed into a commentary on our life and times. " Through selfies, we curate a version of ourselves that we want the world to see.

"Introspection is required to transform photographs of events into autobiography. How can our selfies become a form of autobiography - not just where we've been and what we've done but also what it all means? "

In front of the lens, I am at the same time: the one I think I am, the one I want others to think I am, the one the photographer thinks I am

"All too often we have treated others as strange curiosities rather than as children of God."

"The act of posting pictures falls into the ancient tradition of keeping account of our lives - the blessings, the trials, our failings, and our hope for forgiveness. "

Since we are big on self-promotions selfies has always been a way of trying to sell ourselves.  Not always are we being deceiving, and sometimes we are just looking to make note of the memory. But since pictures have become so cheap to produce sometimes we produce cheap pictures.  

[Readnponder · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw the title of Craig Detweiler's latest book, I was expecting to read a screed about today's technology craze. Instead, it was a thought-provoking investigation into the history of self-portraiture and what our current obsession may reveal about the heart. I confess being late to the party, having acquired my first cellphone 4 months ago. I'm more likely to take a photo of my thumb than a bona fide selfie.

Detweiler begins with the the Greeks and the legend of Narcissus. He moves on to the Renaissance painters and their enthusiasm for self-portraits once the mirror was perfected. He talks about writers and autobiography and memoir-ish novels. Even the Puritans practiced documenting their lives in the form of diaries. The development of photography warrants its own chapter. All of this is thoroughly documented in the footnotes. About 25% of the book is footnotes.

The author considers selfies as a search for God via the imago dei. The preoccupation with self-imaging reveals a yearning for understanding and approval. Not all selfie takers are narcissistic. Some want to communicate with family spread far and wide geographically. Some are journaling in a new medium much as the Puritan diarists.

Instead of criticizing youth for their selfie galleries, Detweiler urges us to look beyond the photos to what the images reveal about the person. What are their hurts? their dreams? how they see themselves? Young people today are forced to grow up in public. Photos may go viral to a teen's great shame. Impression management is a 24/7 exhausting burden.

At the end of each chapter the author has discussion questions AND selfie photo exercises. I would love to read this book again within a small group. There is much to discuss and try out.

[Victoria W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Selfies Craig Detweiler seeks to examine the current obsession with selfies and what makes this trend appealing: psychologically, theologically, and culturally.

Throughout the material I appreciated Detweiler's ability to weave in material from multiple sources and disciplines. While I anticipated the theological and cultural aspects that were drawn in as support, I was pleasantly surprised to see a strong historical foundation utilized from the fine arts and art history as Detweiler formed his argument's background and foundation. Although not his specialty, Detweiler adds a level of interest to art history (far more than I experienced in college) showing strong patterns of development and making good connections for readers to trace the history of the selfie and place it into a historical context over a recent fad.

One thing for readers to consider is that Detweiler's educational background really comes through in his presentation of material. The book felt like a text book and I could see it stepping into that role quite easily (for what would surely be an interesting class). That said, the material is definitely aimed at a higher education level, perhaps high school seniors, for those wondering about homeschooling options.

4 out of 5 stars

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

[Ginae B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Selfies, we hadn't much pondered the selfie. What we know is that we no longer have to pay for image prints, disposable cameras or flash bulbs to take photographs. We shoot with digital and excepting equipment, the costs are entirely less-then they otherwise would have been.

Nowadays, most everyone has a constantly perched hand phone. It emits song files, reading files and snaps quick pics and why not? It's right there!

What prompted the author to write this book were instances of selfies gone bad. Detweiler viewed "inappropriate selfies." Oh man, we wished we hand't gone and looked. Taste less?

For us, we do not believe that selfies are the problem, as there are so many ways to display bad taste and disrespect. Selfies are a vehicle. View with caution.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and great book for group discussions. Lots of detailed information on history of selfies as well images, mirrors, painting, sculptures, photography, narcissism, and what the messages are to us and about us today. Lots of research in this book to help ask questions and navigate the discussion of this topic. Well laid out, and full of excellent content useful for dialogue and discussion, but still concise enough that it helps spark discussions without becoming a heavy academia style textbook.

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book in the library and was very intrigued the subtitle: Searching for the Image of God in the Digital Age. Since selfies and more broadly, social media, is something that we are all affected by, I was curious about what a Christian response would look like.

Drawing on art and art history, literature, psychology, sociology, theology, and scripture, Detweiler aims to uncover the history of the selfie, the pressures that are in it, and how Christians might respond to a selfie. Each chapter focuses on one aspect – the selfie through art, through memoirs, the instagram pressures of the modern age, etc.

Overall, I thought the book was very interesting! I’ve never really thought of the selfie through the perspective of art (especially self-portraits) or literature (i.e. memoirs) and I think Detweiler made some good points about the pressures of social media. As he put it:

“We have made them [the next generation] change their names and scrub their Facebook profiles in anticipation of college applications and professional interviews. We have subjected them to performance reviews at early ages, forcing them to “grow up in public” in ways that we have never endured. The social-psychological pressure to project a healthy, whole, and satisfied self is immense (and sometimes debilitating).”

In light of that, how wonderful it is that we are called to rest in Jesus, who says “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). If used for self-reflection, the selfie isn’t an inherently bad thing. I liked the passage that dealt with Foucault’s argument that Christianity requires a repudiation of ourselves:

“Contrary to Foucault’s critique, Christianity is about more than just renouncing the self; it is about truly seeing who we are called to be. Awareness of our imperfectability is a great starting point. We acknowledge how far we’ve fallen short of God’s divine perfection. We are released from the burden of performance-based spirituality. With salvation and the forgiveness of sin comes a freedom that can propel us forward on a lifelong pursuit of spiritual maturity.”

I’ll also share Detweiler’s key reflections because I think they are good for all Christians to keep in mind as we continue to stay on social media:

1. We are not defined externally (by how many people like or follow us)
2. We are loved and valued by God independent of our performance
3. God’s unconditional love for us doesn’t mean that our choices and actions don’t matter. But they should flow out of a healthy relationship with God and our selves.
4. As we follow Jesus, we are being transformed by the Spirit into God’s likeness
5. This allows our actions to spring from a sustainable well of genuine (rather than coercive) love
6. We are free to be ourselves, to express ourselves on social media with an eye toward the health and well-being of our (online) neighbours
7. We can create and photograph and paint and write to bless others and extend justice rather than seeking to elevate our own reputations
8. The resulting circle of generosity can lead to a reformation of community, grounded in healthy selves encouraging each other to thrive.

While I generally found the book to be thought-provoking, I did also think that Detweiler could be careless with his words sometimes. Take for example, these two lines: “Once our photo is on the internet, almost anyone can monkey with it. Ask former congressman Anthony Weiner, now a registered sex offender, how quickly a political career can unravel.” From the way the sentences are arranged, I thought that Weiner was the victim of a manipulated/monkeyed image. However, a google search showed that Weiner was convicted of sending explicit pictures to a minor – I don’t think that qualifies as being a victim of virality or of something monkeying around with your picture! That’s called being caught for sexual crimes!

Another example: “We need the knowledge of self (and our limitations) to soften the knowledge of God, which can puff us up” – I understand the line as asking us to beware of becoming Pharisees, who had the head-knowledge of God but not the heart-knowledge. But the way the sentence sounds, it makes it seem like knowing more about God is a bad thing; which it isn’t! True study of God should increase a sense of awe about the nature of God, the very opposite of puffing us up.

It’s little things like these that made me pause and wonder exactly what Detweiler was saying (though his principles at the end made me think that it’s probably careless writing). The fact that he doesn’t take the chance to link it to worldview studies is also a missed opportunity, as is the section where he acknowledges that public piety is a dangerous thing because he doesn’t really delve into the topic. Those are a few missed opportunities that could have made the book richer.

All in all, this was an interesting approach to the topic of selfies. I appreciated the various ways Detweiler approached the topic and he did a good job arguing that the act of taking a selfie doesn’t have to be narcissistic, but can be used as a starting point for introspection or aspiration. I think the book is more suited for Christians who are already familiar with the Bible and would like to explore some current topics through a Christian lens.

This review was first posted at Eustea Reads

[Rhiannon Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thought provoking book.

We are in a day and age where the focus is on our selves and the selfie exemplifies this. But in viewing ourselves, do we see God? If not, how is God shown in our culture today? In our own lives?

Definitely worth the read and I would recommend it

[Filip De · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a well informed and researched look at self-imaging. Detweiler takes the reader on a cultural, philosophical, and theological journey through the ages, looking at ‘selfies’ from all possible angles. Balanced and provocative. Highly recommended.

[Adam Metz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Detweiler has emerged as an important voice for the church as it wrestles with the immense technological shifts taking place. Previous work has been devoted to popular culture, video games, and the major technological companies, and his most recent work addresses the rapidly evolving enigma of the selfie. Per his usual style, Detweiler rapidly and loosely navigates teaching and examples so vastly different that I marveled throughout the book. Detweiler smoothly reflects on Kim Kardashian's Instagram posts while summoning the voice of St. John of the Cross and his famed dark night of the soul. He engages modern psychology, ancient art, the desert fathers, mystical spiritualists, and snapchat filters simultaneously. Following the arguments in his book (so well reasoned and insightful) are like doing online research while taking time to chase a rabbit or two that comes along through search suggestion or seeing an interesting Facebook post by a friend.

More important than Detweiler's style, however, is the way he cautiously, yet deftly,navigates polarizing perspectives often employed in discussions of the likes of narcissism, reality television, and social media. The real value in Detweiler's research is that he stands on the shoulders of biblical teaching (referenced throughout), traditional theological giants like the desert fathers and Augustine, modern theologians like Wendell Berry (not sure he'd love the book, but he engages him nonetheless) and his theological hero Hans Urs von Balthasar while at the same time navigates the cultural icons of our day.

Detweiler stands as one of the few Christian thinkers who, with the heart of a pastor and the care of a theologian, dares us to think cautiously and carefully (and deeply) about our everyday lives of cellphones and social media while remaining (sometimes annoyingly so) optimistic. At one time he can rally the hope and promise of the novelty in media and technology while the next bemoan it and acknowledge the need to withdraw and relent. Following the lead of the Master Teacher, Detweiler often can be difficult to pin down, but that is the very thing that makes this book so important - it stimulates conversation and encourages adventure and pursuing new places.

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Selfies Searching for the Image of God in a Digital Age appealed to me because I am interested in how theology changes as technology does. But this book wasn't for me; I read the intro and the first three chapters, but never really saw a way to create a "thoughtful, biblical perspective" on the topic.
The book is mostly art history which might be interesting to some. I might have even enjoyed that if i was looking for art history. But I was looking for spiritual context and the biblical stories and thoughts I saw in each chapter seem to be thrown in and don't fit smoothly;y into the topic.
Maybe the deep biblical perspective comes later, but I have a list of other spiral books I want to read and I feel will benefit me more, so I decided to move along.
I received an ARC from NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

[Herminia Chow · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the book: It’s about selfies but also photography, writing, and so much more. Each chapter starts with an image and ends with some questions as well as an activity or a challenge.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

First impressions: As a media student, I felt like it would be a relevant read. Interestingly enough, the author explored a lot of concepts I had already learned in university. I also enjoyed all the photos, especially the selfies.

“Writing is a form of time travel, snapping back to scenes we may have forgotten (or wish we could forget).”

Writing: The author quotes a lot of texts such as the Bible. I learned quite a bit about God, Jesus, and other religious figures.

The book proceeds in chronological order, beginning with the history of paintings and concluding with present day photography.

One of my favourite chapters is the one about writing and memory. As a writer, I found myself agreeing with the author.

Final thoughts: Had I read Selfies at any other point in my life, I probably wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as I did.

Kudos to Detweiler for not bashing technology or teenagers. He made many insightful points and brought up ideas I hadn’t considered before. Even if you’re like me and you don’t take a lot of selfies, you might still enjoy reading about them.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT book! Had lots of good insights for how we as Christians (and Christian leaders) can navigate and interact with social media and the "selfie culture". Using it as research for an adult sermon series on our identity in Christ and probably a preteen digital discipleship curriculum too. Highly recommend!

[Kevin Soriano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book read like a [more approachable] blow-up of Quentin Schultze's "Habits of the High-Tech Heart" and Justin Bailey's "Welcome to the Blogosphere". And by "blow-up", I do mean it in both ways: it was definitely an immersion, but it also felt longer than necessary that I realized in hindsight why Schultze and Bailey went about with their write-ups the way they did.

[Alex Rea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and thought-provoking.

[Steven Kopp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book helped me be a bit more thoughtful in how I view other people's social media posts, and how I view my own. However, it turned out being a bit of a slog to get through.

[Bethany Moen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me look at selfies from a view I had not thought of. I feel better prepared to help my children as they begin using social media and dive into that culture.