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All Things Reconsidered: How Rethinking What We Know Helps Us Know What We Believe
If we ask just one question, does everything fall apart?
In All Things Reconsidered, popular podcaster Knox McCoy uses a unique blend of humor, pop culture references, and personal stories to show how a willingness to reconsider ideas can actually help us grow ourselves, our lives, and our beliefs.
In this laugh-out-loud defense of reconsideration, Knox dives into topics like:
Are participation trophies truly the worst?
Is it really worth it to be a ride-or-die sports fan?
Do we believe in God because of the promise of heaven—or the threat of hell?
Does prayer work? Is anyone even there?
This book is the catalyst we need to courageously ask the questions that will lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves—and God. It’s time to start reconsidering.
In All Things Reconsidered, popular podcaster Knox McCoy uses a unique blend of humor, pop culture references, and personal stories to show how a willingness to reconsider ideas can actually help us grow ourselves, our lives, and our beliefs.
In this laugh-out-loud defense of reconsideration, Knox dives into topics like:
Are participation trophies truly the worst?
Is it really worth it to be a ride-or-die sports fan?
Do we believe in God because of the promise of heaven—or the threat of hell?
Does prayer work? Is anyone even there?
This book is the catalyst we need to courageously ask the questions that will lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves—and God. It’s time to start reconsidering.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
164 people are currently reading
3193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
June 15, 2020
Hilarious book of essays from my friend Knox McCoy. (FYI, there are a few chapters in here about faith and the Bible, but the majority of it is life and pop culture and with many laugh out loud moments.) Read this one just when I needed to!
March 5, 2022
I love all things related to the Popcast Media Group (PMG), their content is second to none, and the thoughts are provoking in a way that is important but does not matter. Knox McCoy is one of the hosts of the podcast and his book is a long form diatribe of what I pay cash money to listen to.
In All Things Reconsidered, Knox challenges some media themes that never made sense - why are Uncle Joey & Jesse so ready to give up their bachelorhood to help a friend raise his 3 daughters? How did Big Bird get his name? and we visit some personal reconsiderations in Knox's personal life. Is a house a home, and what does it mean to use the God card in religion.
I listened to this on audio and it ended way to quickly. I love the mixed media that Knox uses here- love his Hamilton obsession that bleeds through the pages, the lists, the topics reconsidered and most importantly- why I shouldn't name my future offspring Richard. I laughed along the entire way and really enjoyed this journey.
In All Things Reconsidered, Knox challenges some media themes that never made sense - why are Uncle Joey & Jesse so ready to give up their bachelorhood to help a friend raise his 3 daughters? How did Big Bird get his name? and we visit some personal reconsiderations in Knox's personal life. Is a house a home, and what does it mean to use the God card in religion.
I listened to this on audio and it ended way to quickly. I love the mixed media that Knox uses here- love his Hamilton obsession that bleeds through the pages, the lists, the topics reconsidered and most importantly- why I shouldn't name my future offspring Richard. I laughed along the entire way and really enjoyed this journey.
January 26, 2020
I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of this book provided to me by the publisher.
While I was reading this book, I laughed aloud so many times that eventually my husband stopped asking me, "What's so funny?" and instead kept his head down and pretended not to be embarrassed by my unadulterated glee. After I finished reading this book, he and I had long, enthusiastic conversations about topics like marriage, hell, and the stances of our faith communities. Sharing this is perhaps the best and only way to describe what a gem of a book All Things Reconsidered truly is.
Knox's musings are as witty and hilarious as they are thought-provoking and deeply impactful. He found a way to make me laugh through usually anxiety-inducing topics, and, in doing so, he made them much more approachable and digestible. He also helped me reconsider my pronunciation of the word "beignet." From the quirky and small to the more existential, he brings his readers on a journey of challenging their preconceived notions, reveling in nuggets of hilarity, and engaging in an unintimidating form of self-discovery (has there ever before been such a thing?).
If you love pop culture, the musical Hamilton, self-deprecating humor, engaging anecdotes, and reading a book that leaves you feeling like you've just had the best coffee date ever with a close friend, put this one at the top of your list. Better yet, preorder a copy—this book and author are doing something unique that deserves to be celebrated.
July 23, 2020
This book is a collection of comic anecdotes from Knox McCoy, a popular podcast speaker. Many of the chapters involve beliefs or assumptions that he has reconsidered, but this is a collection of funny stories and life reflections, not a study on how to form beliefs or on the state of reconsideration in today's society. This is very lighthearted and simple book, and it encourages people to rethink participation awards, birthdays, and conventions for naming children, in addition to challenging aspects of Christian culture and belief. McCoy organized this book into three parts, and only the third focuses on serious topics, while the others are related to pop culture and daily life.
Humor and Hamilton References
It is hard to review humor books, since people have different tastes. Overall, I found this book funny, and I laughed out loud many times, but some of the chapters didn't amuse me at all, or seemed unnecessary and unkind to the people he was throwing under the bus for his punchline. Maybe McCoy's old college roommate agreed that he could tell the story about the time that McCoy and others talked him into walking through the Taco Bell drive thru naked, but that's a lot to share about someone just to conclude with the message that you should be careful how you use your influence. The takeaway message was not unique enough to justify telling a story like this, and even though other people may find it absolutely hilarious, it just seemed rude and unnecessary to me.
In addition to this, some elements of this book seem self-indulgent. I couldn't even get through the entirety of McCoy's diatribe about why Lebron James is a better basketball player than Michael Jordan, and chapters like this often struck me as the author's opportunities to soapbox, not attempts to connect with an audience. Also, he footnoted every single one of his references to Hamilton lyrics, and I'm not sure who he thought he was doing this for. It was funny for the first few chapters, but the footnotes disrupted my reading experience, especially when he was pointing out references that were really just regular phrases that happened to appear in his favorite musical. This joke got very, very old over the course of an entire book, and I say this as someone who absolutely loves Hamilton.
Failures of Reconsideration
Also, since this book is entitled All Things Reconsidered: How Rethinking What We Know Helps Us Know What We Believe, I expected much stronger persuasive claims. In one chapter, McCoy criticizes the ubiquity of sex scenes, since they so rarely support a story in a meaningful way, but aside from a Harvey Weinstein joke at the beginning of the chapter, he doesn't engage with the destructive aspects of Hollywood's emphasis on sex. He's faster to say "I'm not a prude!" than to engage with how profoundly damaging sexual objectification is, and he does not share a strong, conclusive message. If this were simply a book of random thoughts about pop culture, I might not have noticed this so much, but since his premise is about rethinking old beliefs to come to new conclusions, it bothered me that he would write about this and other topics in a lukewarm, inconclusive way.
In the last third of the book, he addresses other serious topics, but these chapters are also shallow and unconvincing. His goal is to encourage reconsideration, not to persuade everyone to his views, but he never engages with good arguments against his positions, and just shoots down the worst and weakest ones. Also, in a chapter about Christian doctrine, he questions whether or not "foreknew" is a word, and wonders if he has just invented it. Thus, he has clearly not done any deep theological reading about the topics that he is addressing. Not every Christian needs to be passionate about theology, but it doesn't seem wise to take on profound, challenging, and mysterious aspects of the Christian faith in a humor book when you haven't studied the issues in enough depth to even know that "foreknew" is a real word, and is a word that is in the Bible.
Shallow Argumentation
He also fails to engage with the philosophical underpinnings of his own arguments. For example, in the chapter about his affirmation of LGBT relationships, he bases his position on the fact that someone's sexual orientation isn't just a behavior choice, but is the "essence" of who they are. Really? I wouldn't expect him to claim that his fundamental identity as a person is based in his attraction to women. Also, his argument isn't going to persuade social conservatives, and many progressives have also challenged this idea in recent years, insisting that someone is not totally defined by their sexuality. Our attractions are a significant part of who we are, but they do not define us as human beings, and McCoy's claim shows a very reductive view of human nature.
I hope that this book will encourage people to reevaluate their beliefs, but it does not model how to do that well. Even though McCoy may persuade people to loosen their hold on tribal identities, reevaluate the world, and come to new conclusions, his method of switching out old beliefs for new ones involves shallow reasoning and personal feelings, rather than a deep, well-reasoned, persuasive dive into life's biggest questions. Granted, I don't know the full story of how he came to the conclusions that he shares here, since he is often describing the process very briefly after sharing a funny story, but the arguments that he presents to his readers are shallow and flawed.
Conclusion
I wanted to like this book. I feel strongly about the importance of reconsidering beliefs, and I thought that a humorous book with low-stakes examples and some serious reflections would be an enjoyable read and something good to recommend. Unfortunately, even though I found many of the lighthearted chapters entertaining and laughed out loud many times, aspects of this book seemed very self-indulgent and unnecessary, and the author failed to engage deeply with the big issues that he tried to tackle in the last third of the book. I found this book very frustrating, and even though I don't enjoy writing negative professional reviews, I truly did not like this. Other people may feel differently, and they can enjoy laughing through this without such strong feelings about the argumentation methods, but this book is merely entertainment, and does not provide a solid roadmap for reevaluating important beliefs.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Humor and Hamilton References
It is hard to review humor books, since people have different tastes. Overall, I found this book funny, and I laughed out loud many times, but some of the chapters didn't amuse me at all, or seemed unnecessary and unkind to the people he was throwing under the bus for his punchline. Maybe McCoy's old college roommate agreed that he could tell the story about the time that McCoy and others talked him into walking through the Taco Bell drive thru naked, but that's a lot to share about someone just to conclude with the message that you should be careful how you use your influence. The takeaway message was not unique enough to justify telling a story like this, and even though other people may find it absolutely hilarious, it just seemed rude and unnecessary to me.
In addition to this, some elements of this book seem self-indulgent. I couldn't even get through the entirety of McCoy's diatribe about why Lebron James is a better basketball player than Michael Jordan, and chapters like this often struck me as the author's opportunities to soapbox, not attempts to connect with an audience. Also, he footnoted every single one of his references to Hamilton lyrics, and I'm not sure who he thought he was doing this for. It was funny for the first few chapters, but the footnotes disrupted my reading experience, especially when he was pointing out references that were really just regular phrases that happened to appear in his favorite musical. This joke got very, very old over the course of an entire book, and I say this as someone who absolutely loves Hamilton.
Failures of Reconsideration
Also, since this book is entitled All Things Reconsidered: How Rethinking What We Know Helps Us Know What We Believe, I expected much stronger persuasive claims. In one chapter, McCoy criticizes the ubiquity of sex scenes, since they so rarely support a story in a meaningful way, but aside from a Harvey Weinstein joke at the beginning of the chapter, he doesn't engage with the destructive aspects of Hollywood's emphasis on sex. He's faster to say "I'm not a prude!" than to engage with how profoundly damaging sexual objectification is, and he does not share a strong, conclusive message. If this were simply a book of random thoughts about pop culture, I might not have noticed this so much, but since his premise is about rethinking old beliefs to come to new conclusions, it bothered me that he would write about this and other topics in a lukewarm, inconclusive way.
In the last third of the book, he addresses other serious topics, but these chapters are also shallow and unconvincing. His goal is to encourage reconsideration, not to persuade everyone to his views, but he never engages with good arguments against his positions, and just shoots down the worst and weakest ones. Also, in a chapter about Christian doctrine, he questions whether or not "foreknew" is a word, and wonders if he has just invented it. Thus, he has clearly not done any deep theological reading about the topics that he is addressing. Not every Christian needs to be passionate about theology, but it doesn't seem wise to take on profound, challenging, and mysterious aspects of the Christian faith in a humor book when you haven't studied the issues in enough depth to even know that "foreknew" is a real word, and is a word that is in the Bible.
Shallow Argumentation
He also fails to engage with the philosophical underpinnings of his own arguments. For example, in the chapter about his affirmation of LGBT relationships, he bases his position on the fact that someone's sexual orientation isn't just a behavior choice, but is the "essence" of who they are. Really? I wouldn't expect him to claim that his fundamental identity as a person is based in his attraction to women. Also, his argument isn't going to persuade social conservatives, and many progressives have also challenged this idea in recent years, insisting that someone is not totally defined by their sexuality. Our attractions are a significant part of who we are, but they do not define us as human beings, and McCoy's claim shows a very reductive view of human nature.
I hope that this book will encourage people to reevaluate their beliefs, but it does not model how to do that well. Even though McCoy may persuade people to loosen their hold on tribal identities, reevaluate the world, and come to new conclusions, his method of switching out old beliefs for new ones involves shallow reasoning and personal feelings, rather than a deep, well-reasoned, persuasive dive into life's biggest questions. Granted, I don't know the full story of how he came to the conclusions that he shares here, since he is often describing the process very briefly after sharing a funny story, but the arguments that he presents to his readers are shallow and flawed.
Conclusion
I wanted to like this book. I feel strongly about the importance of reconsidering beliefs, and I thought that a humorous book with low-stakes examples and some serious reflections would be an enjoyable read and something good to recommend. Unfortunately, even though I found many of the lighthearted chapters entertaining and laughed out loud many times, aspects of this book seemed very self-indulgent and unnecessary, and the author failed to engage deeply with the big issues that he tried to tackle in the last third of the book. I found this book very frustrating, and even though I don't enjoy writing negative professional reviews, I truly did not like this. Other people may feel differently, and they can enjoy laughing through this without such strong feelings about the argumentation methods, but this book is merely entertainment, and does not provide a solid roadmap for reevaluating important beliefs.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2020
I really, really love and appreciate this book! As someone who has gone through a long season of reconsidering a LOT of things, this struck like a thousand chords in me. It’s the perfect balance of thoughtful and hilarious. It's light and funny in some moments and deeply uplifting and challenging in others. I also just super appreciate the fact that the author doesn’t insist that we walk away from the book believing the same on every issue as he does or mirroring his reconsiderations…but simply that we learn to see reconsideration itself as the worthwhile and, frankly, vital thing that it is. We *should* be thinking and changing and growing for our whole lives! There are truths I cling to that will never change—but there are facets of my faith, my politics, my beliefs about the world around me that have and are changing as I (hopefully) am growing and learning.
Anyway, enough making this review about me. Mostly, I just think this is a book for our time…for the days we’re living in now. And I really appreciate Knox McCoy's reflective, inspiring and personable approach.
(Also...that forward by Jamie Golden—loved it. And I hope we get more writing from her in the future too.)
(Also...if podcasts are your jam, please do yourself the biggest favor ever and check out both The Popcast and The Bible Binge with Knox McCoy and Jamie Golden.)
(Also...I just wanted to add a third “also.”)
Anyway, enough making this review about me. Mostly, I just think this is a book for our time…for the days we’re living in now. And I really appreciate Knox McCoy's reflective, inspiring and personable approach.
(Also...that forward by Jamie Golden—loved it. And I hope we get more writing from her in the future too.)
(Also...if podcasts are your jam, please do yourself the biggest favor ever and check out both The Popcast and The Bible Binge with Knox McCoy and Jamie Golden.)
(Also...I just wanted to add a third “also.”)
July 8, 2020
The author is very witty and funny. There were moments in the book that I was laughing out loud. My confusion with this book is the topics he talks about reconsidering (hence the title of the book). He brings up rather random or inconsequential things for us to reconsider and it isn’t very practical or useful. I sort of read through the information, giggled a couple of times, then moved on with no real idea what I was supposed to do with that information.
Towards the end of the book, he brings up a very heavy and controversial subject regarding homosexuality. Where he lost me is that he only gives me his feelings and does not back up anything he says with scripture. If you are going to write a book under Christian pretenses then you have to back up your argument with more than a feelings-based approach.
He also made several remarks about the Bible that, in my opinion, were distasteful and a bit disrespectful. He did it in a way that makes you laugh but that was also problematic for me.
I’m not offended by this book, but I also don’t think that it offers much in the way of reconsidering anything. So...2 stars it is.
Towards the end of the book, he brings up a very heavy and controversial subject regarding homosexuality. Where he lost me is that he only gives me his feelings and does not back up anything he says with scripture. If you are going to write a book under Christian pretenses then you have to back up your argument with more than a feelings-based approach.
He also made several remarks about the Bible that, in my opinion, were distasteful and a bit disrespectful. He did it in a way that makes you laugh but that was also problematic for me.
I’m not offended by this book, but I also don’t think that it offers much in the way of reconsidering anything. So...2 stars it is.
August 10, 2020
One of my favorite podcasters is back at it with a book of reconsiderations. Knox doesn’t use flowery language or lofty concepts that are hard to decipher. He writes from the heart and addresses subjects that would intimidate many. He never pretends to have all of the answers, but rather poses questions that make the reader think. While I enjoyed the subject matter of his first book a bit better, I thought this was a solid book and I can’t wait to read what he writes next!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2020
Before getting this book on Netgalley, I had never heard of Knox McCoy or the popcast so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I do know that I am an advocate for digging into the why of what you believe, questioning, and thinking deeply about your faith in order to grow. In fact, we are even told to do this in the Bible! I also value reconsideration on many other things throughout life such as a television shows or favorite foods.
The bulk of this book is just anecdotes about the life of the author. He looks back on his life as a comedian might to feed his comedy routine. Some chapters discuss many different things including a whole chapter on 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 and a plethora of 𝘏𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘯 references. There were moments in these chapters that I would chuckle and roll my eyes... but also question why I was reading this book.
The last 30% of the book finally begins to touch on a few deeper issues. Unfortunately, instead of giving these topics the space needed, these chapters remained superficial. I expect a deep dive into Scripture from someone who is examining their Christian faith. Instead, we get a feelings-based approach to making decisions. When you examine your faith by measuring it against your feelings and popular culture you will fail every single time.
I closed this book without getting a single thing from it and wishing that I had not wasted my time. As I mentioned above, I am an advocate for digging deep. I am an advocate for asking questions on both personal and spiritual issues in a biblical way. Unfortunately, this book did not accomplish either of those things for me.
If you are a Christian who has doubts about your faith or you are wrestling with questions this book will not help you work through those issues.
If you are not a Christian and want to know how Christians think or what they believe, this book will not help you.
Overall, I will not be recommending this book.
The bulk of this book is just anecdotes about the life of the author. He looks back on his life as a comedian might to feed his comedy routine. Some chapters discuss many different things including a whole chapter on 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 and a plethora of 𝘏𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘯 references. There were moments in these chapters that I would chuckle and roll my eyes... but also question why I was reading this book.
The last 30% of the book finally begins to touch on a few deeper issues. Unfortunately, instead of giving these topics the space needed, these chapters remained superficial. I expect a deep dive into Scripture from someone who is examining their Christian faith. Instead, we get a feelings-based approach to making decisions. When you examine your faith by measuring it against your feelings and popular culture you will fail every single time.
I closed this book without getting a single thing from it and wishing that I had not wasted my time. As I mentioned above, I am an advocate for digging deep. I am an advocate for asking questions on both personal and spiritual issues in a biblical way. Unfortunately, this book did not accomplish either of those things for me.
If you are a Christian who has doubts about your faith or you are wrestling with questions this book will not help you work through those issues.
If you are not a Christian and want to know how Christians think or what they believe, this book will not help you.
Overall, I will not be recommending this book.
June 16, 2020
I was hoping to get some insight into the Religious Right, but came away with nothing of substance. There was one innocuous essay about a sitcom called Full House, which was mildly funny. Knox McCoy lives by the credo "Only God can judge me." In this book he provides a list of words he mispronounces, lots of advertising of his Bible Binge podcast, and a s-word ton of Hamilton references. He also riffs on pop culture in meme-speak so über current I'm afraid it will curtail his book's shelf-life. Maybe this is considered avant garde by those who enjoy "a language that is more a collection of Jesus bingo phrases than a reflection of authentic feelings" owing to its hardly daring mention of dinosaurs, science, and LGBTQ rights.
November 10, 2023
with as many hours of @thepopcast + @faith.adjacent as i’ve listened to, @knoxmccoy and @jamiebgolden (who co-wrote this book, ofc) feel like friends, and this book felt like an extension of all the conversations we (they) have on the podcasts.
in summary— very good, honest and self-deprecating, funny without trying too hard, thoughtful and insightful, relevant and laden with pop culture references, and genuinely helpful (which many books try and fail to be).
grateful for the ways knox invites to live with a posture of openness and curiosity to new ways, to reimagining possibilities, to reconsidering… all things.
(i had to.)
in summary— very good, honest and self-deprecating, funny without trying too hard, thoughtful and insightful, relevant and laden with pop culture references, and genuinely helpful (which many books try and fail to be).
grateful for the ways knox invites to live with a posture of openness and curiosity to new ways, to reimagining possibilities, to reconsidering… all things.
(i had to.)
May 6, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson, W Publishing for the free digital copy.
I need you to know that I’m a huge fan girl of The Popcast. I am a Patreon Best Friend of the Show. I listen to every episode Knox and Jamie produce as soon as they drop. I have attended two live shows to see them thus far, and one of the photos I took with them is framed in my house. They are funny and smart and real. One of the things I love most about them is their podcast The Bible Binge. They approach stories in the Bible in such a relatable way, that even as a Christian who has heard most of these stories time and time again, they make me see them with fresh eyes.
And that’s what this whole book does. Makes you look at different facets of life with fresh eyes. I don’t come to all the same conclusions as Knox does as I reconsider topics, but I think that he is helping me think about aspects of life while also being wildly entertaining.
If you are a fan of the Popcast, pop culture, humor, or just reading about a pretty normal human who is also obsessed with Hamilton and quite funny, then you should read this book.
I need you to know that I’m a huge fan girl of The Popcast. I am a Patreon Best Friend of the Show. I listen to every episode Knox and Jamie produce as soon as they drop. I have attended two live shows to see them thus far, and one of the photos I took with them is framed in my house. They are funny and smart and real. One of the things I love most about them is their podcast The Bible Binge. They approach stories in the Bible in such a relatable way, that even as a Christian who has heard most of these stories time and time again, they make me see them with fresh eyes.
And that’s what this whole book does. Makes you look at different facets of life with fresh eyes. I don’t come to all the same conclusions as Knox does as I reconsider topics, but I think that he is helping me think about aspects of life while also being wildly entertaining.
If you are a fan of the Popcast, pop culture, humor, or just reading about a pretty normal human who is also obsessed with Hamilton and quite funny, then you should read this book.
June 8, 2020
What a time to read this.
It’s going into our fourthish month of coronavirus social-distancing. Anti-racism is a big deal as in the last few weeks George Floyd was killed by a white cop while three others stood by and let it happen. The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor have come to light and there have been protests, riots, looting, a call for justice.
All that said, I’ve had to reconsider a lot of what I believe recently. In the past 5-10 years I’ve reconsidered what I was taught as a kid, what I knew as a teenager, what I was sure of as a 20something. I’ve read too much, seen too much, heard too much to continue thinking ignorance is okay. To keep my head in the sand and ignore what’s going on around me.
Knox encourages the reader to reconsider many things, but when I got to the section on belief, I felt seen. I’ve wrestled with my thoughts, going back and forth between being so sure to feeling guilty that I might be changing my mind. Going against what I was raised to believe was right.
I’m not saying this book convinced me or completely converted me to one thing or another—it really just made me feel okay to reconsider the light and fluffy parts of life, but also very much the deeper “truths” I already struggle to reconcile.
It’s going into our fourthish month of coronavirus social-distancing. Anti-racism is a big deal as in the last few weeks George Floyd was killed by a white cop while three others stood by and let it happen. The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor have come to light and there have been protests, riots, looting, a call for justice.
All that said, I’ve had to reconsider a lot of what I believe recently. In the past 5-10 years I’ve reconsidered what I was taught as a kid, what I knew as a teenager, what I was sure of as a 20something. I’ve read too much, seen too much, heard too much to continue thinking ignorance is okay. To keep my head in the sand and ignore what’s going on around me.
Knox encourages the reader to reconsider many things, but when I got to the section on belief, I felt seen. I’ve wrestled with my thoughts, going back and forth between being so sure to feeling guilty that I might be changing my mind. Going against what I was raised to believe was right.
I’m not saying this book convinced me or completely converted me to one thing or another—it really just made me feel okay to reconsider the light and fluffy parts of life, but also very much the deeper “truths” I already struggle to reconcile.
Want to read
June 10, 2020Highly recommended by Tsh Oxenreider: In this new book, Knox takes a look at the changes and reconsiderations we all go through in life as both okay — and honestly necessary. Let's just say I yes'd and amen'd my way through this paragraph from his introduction:
"It is my belief that we're currently in the middle of a cultural overdose on authenticity — but without that necessary companion of vulnerability. I love that we're all being so authentic and genuine. But to me, the best connections come when we pair that authenticity of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs with the vulnerability of why we believe them. I hope that this book will be a window that allows you to do the same in your own life, whether a crossbow-wielding dog is involved or not."
"It is my belief that we're currently in the middle of a cultural overdose on authenticity — but without that necessary companion of vulnerability. I love that we're all being so authentic and genuine. But to me, the best connections come when we pair that authenticity of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs with the vulnerability of why we believe them. I hope that this book will be a window that allows you to do the same in your own life, whether a crossbow-wielding dog is involved or not."
July 20, 2020
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this book before I started it, but let me just say, there's a reason it (& McCoy's previous book, 'The Wondering Years') has a 5-star rating on Amazon...it's hilarious! I knew right away I'd like it after the first paragraph in the 'How to Read This Book' section:
"So, look, in a lot of ways this may be a weird read. First off, it's not fiction. So it's already not like the other books because it's not 'The Girl Next Door's Husband's Wife in Cabin 32 Who Went Missing and May Be Dead or Dying'." Like seriously, did he write that spot on for me (& many of you!) or what?
.
There's a lot of pop culture references, which I always dig, including many from 'Hamilton' which ya'll know I LOVE! (& if ya don't know, now ya know...A.Ham reference) Even the footnotes in this book are funny! I found myself annotating/underlining throughout the book, too! McCoy takes things we consider one way, whether it be good or bad, & explains how maybe if we reconsidered it another way, how it will change the way we look at it.
.
'All Things Reconsidered' is a quick, thought-provoking, witty, unexpected, & captivating read. I will be ordering 'The Wondering Years' now & listening to 'The Popcast' as well. Please visit momlovesreading(dotcom) for more info & links.
"So, look, in a lot of ways this may be a weird read. First off, it's not fiction. So it's already not like the other books because it's not 'The Girl Next Door's Husband's Wife in Cabin 32 Who Went Missing and May Be Dead or Dying'." Like seriously, did he write that spot on for me (& many of you!) or what?
.
There's a lot of pop culture references, which I always dig, including many from 'Hamilton' which ya'll know I LOVE! (& if ya don't know, now ya know...A.Ham reference) Even the footnotes in this book are funny! I found myself annotating/underlining throughout the book, too! McCoy takes things we consider one way, whether it be good or bad, & explains how maybe if we reconsidered it another way, how it will change the way we look at it.
.
'All Things Reconsidered' is a quick, thought-provoking, witty, unexpected, & captivating read. I will be ordering 'The Wondering Years' now & listening to 'The Popcast' as well. Please visit momlovesreading(dotcom) for more info & links.
July 23, 2020
I have enjoyed The Bible Binge podcast by Knox McCoy and Jamie Golden for a while now, and when I saw Knox had a book coming out, I absolutely wanted to read it, and it did not disappoint. Knox spends his time in this book calling out several things that I know I have questioned (looking at you participation trophies), and things I have never thought about but BLEW my mind (Uncle Joey from Full House, still reeling over that chapter).
The most impactful to me were the chapters on faith, as his questions were often some of the very same ones that I have had, and I felt validated. Did he have all the answers? Of course not, but it was good to know that I wasn’t alone and that it was ok to challenge and be curious.
We always have work to do, and this was a great book that covered a multitude of topics, so I think there is something for everyone in here. There were tons of Hamilton references throughout as well, which was fabulous in my book1.
1The audio is fantastic.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Thomas Nelson for the free book to review.
The most impactful to me were the chapters on faith, as his questions were often some of the very same ones that I have had, and I felt validated. Did he have all the answers? Of course not, but it was good to know that I wasn’t alone and that it was ok to challenge and be curious.
We always have work to do, and this was a great book that covered a multitude of topics, so I think there is something for everyone in here. There were tons of Hamilton references throughout as well, which was fabulous in my book1.
1The audio is fantastic.
Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Thomas Nelson for the free book to review.
May 25, 2020
I loved this book. All at once I was laughing out loud and thinking deeply about my beliefs in life. I originally picked up this book and Knox’s previous book out of love for the Popcast and Bible Binge podcasts and curiosity on whether his books could live up to his podcasting. While I enjoyed his first book I didn’t absolutely love it but this one won my heart. I just couldn’t stop reading and loved every minute of it. Funny and deeply thoughtful his own stories of reconsideration really make you think about why you believe what you do and whether you should reconsider those beliefs.
*I received a ARC copy of this book via Netgalley as part of the Best Friends Of the B Word launch team. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
*I received a ARC copy of this book via Netgalley as part of the Best Friends Of the B Word launch team. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
May 18, 2020
Through this book Knox has found a way to give me permission to rethink, reevaluate, and reconsider both deep spiritual things as well as whether or not I actually prefer smooth peanut butter to crunchy. Our journeys may not be the same and we may not end up in agreement, but it’s important to take a step back and maybe ask “why do you believe the way you believe.”
May 4, 2020
*Note: I preordered this book that will be released in early June, but as a "Friend of the B-word", I was able to receive it extra early.*
Not many books make me laugh out loud. This one did. Very few books make me see myself in its pages. This one did.
Knox McKoy takes a lot of the everyday things we accept as factual and asks the reader to reconsider how s/he has come to his or her own beliefs. He also manages to thoughtfully and delightfully explore his process.
All Things Reconsidered is a lovingly crafted book that I will return to often, as life is not a linear journey, but one that requires new paths be forged. Thanks for the reminder, Mr. McKoy.😁
Not many books make me laugh out loud. This one did. Very few books make me see myself in its pages. This one did.
Knox McKoy takes a lot of the everyday things we accept as factual and asks the reader to reconsider how s/he has come to his or her own beliefs. He also manages to thoughtfully and delightfully explore his process.
All Things Reconsidered is a lovingly crafted book that I will return to often, as life is not a linear journey, but one that requires new paths be forged. Thanks for the reminder, Mr. McKoy.😁
May 20, 2020
I love the Popcast and, growing up with a similar background to Knox, really appreciate his point of view on life and faith. His first book The Wondering Years really resonated with me and this book was no different.
April 18, 2020
It’s 2:43am and I just tapped out the last page of this ARC (thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson) on my kindle. I don’t normally read at this ungodly hour. So that should give you a clue to the level of readability of Knox’s newest book. Plus it’s a coronavirus world and all sense of time and sleep patterns are out the window. I’m having a hard time deciding what to rate this one. On one hand, I laughed till I cried at his unfortunate shanking(?) incident. On the other hand, I’m having all the deep thoughts about about all the deep topics like prayer and faith and heaven. On another imaginary hand, I’m pissed because now Full House will never be the same. Thanks a lot, Knox. Oh, who am I really kidding? There’s nothing to reconsider. This is a solid 5 star book and you should definitely go to your favorite independent bookstore and pick it up. Or order it if we are still in quarantine in June.
I received a free copy to review but these thoughts and opinions are definitely my own thoughts and opinions.
I received a free copy to review but these thoughts and opinions are definitely my own thoughts and opinions.
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June 15, 20203 1/2 stars
All Things Reconsidered is not a traditional self-help book. It’s author, Knox McCoy, is not here to say, “You should live your life the way I do. Here’s why and a 657-step plan to help you do so”. Neither does he say, “Trash all your stupid, outdated beliefs and start from scratch”.
Knox McCoy is here to say, “We all change and grow as we’re exposed to new things throughout our lives. Our beliefs should change and grow with us. Let me give you some examples from my life that will make you laugh until you choke and Dr. Pepper comes out of your nose.” (Not that that happened to me personally. Except that one time.)
I’m a huge fan of Knox McCoy's podcast, The Popcast w/ Knox and Jamie, so I was fully on board for this book, expecting to totally love it. And… I don’t totally love it. I totally like it really a whole lot. But not love.
The high points:
1) The basic premise of the book is both timeless and timely. Taking a hard look at why we believe the things we believe and deciding if these beliefs still serve our current season of life is always important, but even more so in these difficult times.
2) Using personal anecdotes is a great way to emotionally connect with a reader and drive home the points you want to make. This author takes that to a higher level with stories of a nude friend picking up tacos in a drive-thru and a nuclear-level pantsing. And it works: I won’t soon forget the stories or the greater lessons they taught.
3) The footnotes are truly hilarious.
The low points:
1) At 30 chapters, a foreward, an introduction, a two-page section on How To Read This Book, a conclusion, and acknowledgements, the book is too long. The important points are lost in too many words.
2) A few of the essays don’t add anything substantial to the theme of the book. They seem self-indulgent, like the chapter ‘Lebron James vs. Michael Jordan’, which doesn’t seem to have any point other than the author feels beleaguered in his preference and wants to argue his side.
Despite its shortcomings, I absolutely recommend this book, as the concept of reconsidering our beliefs is an important one. Just be prepared to skim or skip a few chapters.
All Things Reconsidered is not a traditional self-help book. It’s author, Knox McCoy, is not here to say, “You should live your life the way I do. Here’s why and a 657-step plan to help you do so”. Neither does he say, “Trash all your stupid, outdated beliefs and start from scratch”.
Knox McCoy is here to say, “We all change and grow as we’re exposed to new things throughout our lives. Our beliefs should change and grow with us. Let me give you some examples from my life that will make you laugh until you choke and Dr. Pepper comes out of your nose.” (Not that that happened to me personally. Except that one time.)
I’m a huge fan of Knox McCoy's podcast, The Popcast w/ Knox and Jamie, so I was fully on board for this book, expecting to totally love it. And… I don’t totally love it. I totally like it really a whole lot. But not love.
The high points:
1) The basic premise of the book is both timeless and timely. Taking a hard look at why we believe the things we believe and deciding if these beliefs still serve our current season of life is always important, but even more so in these difficult times.
2) Using personal anecdotes is a great way to emotionally connect with a reader and drive home the points you want to make. This author takes that to a higher level with stories of a nude friend picking up tacos in a drive-thru and a nuclear-level pantsing. And it works: I won’t soon forget the stories or the greater lessons they taught.
3) The footnotes are truly hilarious.
The low points:
1) At 30 chapters, a foreward, an introduction, a two-page section on How To Read This Book, a conclusion, and acknowledgements, the book is too long. The important points are lost in too many words.
2) A few of the essays don’t add anything substantial to the theme of the book. They seem self-indulgent, like the chapter ‘Lebron James vs. Michael Jordan’, which doesn’t seem to have any point other than the author feels beleaguered in his preference and wants to argue his side.
Despite its shortcomings, I absolutely recommend this book, as the concept of reconsidering our beliefs is an important one. Just be prepared to skim or skip a few chapters.
May 20, 2020
What I love about McCoy’s style of writing is the straight-shooting, witty way he addresses difficult and not-so-difficult topics. Unlike many books in this genre, McCoy is not afraid to be honest and say hard things. And, to admit he doesn’t have the answers and that is okay. In each chapter, he explores what happens when we question what we think we know and how we can work through our own beliefs and reconsider them. I think my big takeaway from reading All Things Reconsidered is that it is okay to question those things that we grew up thinking, and that there is space to reconsider our own beliefs and experiences and formulate something that is our own. As I reflect on my own truths, I wonder what are truly my own and what have been instilled in me from outside. (Note: That is not to say every chapter calls us to do deep soul searching. Some chapters ask us to reconsider pronunciation, sex scenes in film, and birthdays, just to name a few.)
For me, the bountiful footnotes are the star of the book. In the footnotes, you see McCoy’s gift of dry wit, the ability to work a Hamilton reference into just about anything, and his propensity to work pop culture into all the things. And I am here for the pop culture references. Just like in The Wondering Years, pop culture references abound throughout the book, and even when he’s talking about tough stuff, McCoy’s ability to bring levity and anecdotes to the topic makes each chapter a joy to read.
There are so many quotes in this book that I marked because they just spoke to me. (I cannot share them until I have the final copy of the book.) I think this book is brave, funny, and smart. It is particularly brave for McCoy to reconsider some of his evangelical upbringing and find his own truth. I can imagine the experience of writing this book was both terrifying and cathartic, and I appreciate McCoy’s willingness to share all of this with his readers. I highly recommend this book if non-fiction thinking is your thing, and if you like books that you can dip in and out of with ease. It is available for preorder right now!
For me, the bountiful footnotes are the star of the book. In the footnotes, you see McCoy’s gift of dry wit, the ability to work a Hamilton reference into just about anything, and his propensity to work pop culture into all the things. And I am here for the pop culture references. Just like in The Wondering Years, pop culture references abound throughout the book, and even when he’s talking about tough stuff, McCoy’s ability to bring levity and anecdotes to the topic makes each chapter a joy to read.
There are so many quotes in this book that I marked because they just spoke to me. (I cannot share them until I have the final copy of the book.) I think this book is brave, funny, and smart. It is particularly brave for McCoy to reconsider some of his evangelical upbringing and find his own truth. I can imagine the experience of writing this book was both terrifying and cathartic, and I appreciate McCoy’s willingness to share all of this with his readers. I highly recommend this book if non-fiction thinking is your thing, and if you like books that you can dip in and out of with ease. It is available for preorder right now!
July 5, 2021
DNF. This book reinforces my opinion that self help books written by people who never helped anyone but themselves are worthless.
Knox McCoy co hosts a podcast, which means he is goid at talking. I am good at talking, but I would not recommend you take my advice at self improvement.
"All Things Reconsidered" just restated things most people have already heard a lot of times.
If I felt like it I could waste a lot of time reusing the "re" prefix, but you either get it or you don't.
Go self help yourself. Then don't write a book about it.
I received this book free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
Knox McCoy co hosts a podcast, which means he is goid at talking. I am good at talking, but I would not recommend you take my advice at self improvement.
"All Things Reconsidered" just restated things most people have already heard a lot of times.
If I felt like it I could waste a lot of time reusing the "re" prefix, but you either get it or you don't.
Go self help yourself. Then don't write a book about it.
I received this book free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2021
The title of this book should really be : Random A$$ Thoughts I want to write about By Knox McCoy.
It was funny, I loved the pop culture references, except I realized have total FOMO for all the Hamilton references. Footnote: Need to watch Hamilton ASAP.
Audiobook was great, quick listen, border line too much Religion, but it’s Sunday so I’ll let it slide.
It was funny, I loved the pop culture references, except I realized have total FOMO for all the Hamilton references. Footnote: Need to watch Hamilton ASAP.
Audiobook was great, quick listen, border line too much Religion, but it’s Sunday so I’ll let it slide.
June 14, 2022
This was an entertaining, quick read. It was published as Christian living, but I would hesitate to call it that. Only that last third of the book deals with topics of faith. Knox McCoy a delightful podcaster that I often enjoy listening to, and this book consists of anecdotes from his life and essays about his thoughts on various topics. When Knox and Jamie describe their podcast The Popcast, they use the phrase “we discuss the things that entertain but do not matter,” and the first two thirds of the book was that—entertaining and I laughed out loud at least once, but not causing you to think about anything meaningful. In the last third of the book, Knox encourages readers to reconsider what they believe, and not to believe something just because you always have. Have a reason for your belief. And while I might not have agreed with all of Knox’s conclusions, that’s okay, and part of the point of the book is that we can have different opinions on some of these things and still have respect for one another.
Overall, this was as much fun as you would expect from Knox McCoy. Definitely recommend if you want a light read that makes you think a bit and a lot of smiling.
I give it the green light 😊
Favorite quote:
“The world is wide enough for us to not always know exactly what we think. The world is wide enough for us to disagree with each other without resorting to petty dismissiveness. And the world within ourselves—our minds, hearts, and beliefs—is wide enough to accommodate both hanging back to thoughtfully preserve our traditions and experiences and charging forward with the boldness of reconsideration in the pursuit of better understanding.” Pg 232
Overall, this was as much fun as you would expect from Knox McCoy. Definitely recommend if you want a light read that makes you think a bit and a lot of smiling.
I give it the green light 😊
Favorite quote:
“The world is wide enough for us to not always know exactly what we think. The world is wide enough for us to disagree with each other without resorting to petty dismissiveness. And the world within ourselves—our minds, hearts, and beliefs—is wide enough to accommodate both hanging back to thoughtfully preserve our traditions and experiences and charging forward with the boldness of reconsideration in the pursuit of better understanding.” Pg 232
June 2, 2020
This is an interesting and enjoyable read. I like Knox McKoy's podcasts and I also enjoyed his first book, so I was excited to read this one as well. Knox possesses a keen ability to examine the world through a lens that's both poignant and humorous. The issues and topics he chose to reconsider gave me an opportunity to reflect on my own beliefs. It's important to know what we believe and why. It's also important to acknowledge that not everyone sees the world the way we do. Knox does an excellent job of explaining his point of view within the context of his own experience and humbly shares (in a way that only Knox can) the how and why behind his reconsiderations.
I applaud Knox's boldness in approaching some weightier, more controversial topics, especially since his audience is probably comprised of a wide variety of world views. Some will cheer when they read those chapters and others will not be pleased. For me, I don't have to agree with everything Knox says or writes to appreciate the hard work he invested in completing another book.
My main hang up with this book is the footnotes. They popped up in random places, maybe because I read it on a Kindle. Also, I haven't seen Hamilton so I didn't understand the references or the significance of those references within the larger context of the essays.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions stated here are my own.
I applaud Knox's boldness in approaching some weightier, more controversial topics, especially since his audience is probably comprised of a wide variety of world views. Some will cheer when they read those chapters and others will not be pleased. For me, I don't have to agree with everything Knox says or writes to appreciate the hard work he invested in completing another book.
My main hang up with this book is the footnotes. They popped up in random places, maybe because I read it on a Kindle. Also, I haven't seen Hamilton so I didn't understand the references or the significance of those references within the larger context of the essays.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions stated here are my own.
May 18, 2025
Hearing Knox read this book made it a 5 star read. Despite Knox’s great dislike for extroversion, it felt like I was having a coffee with him and exploring everything from Full House and Uncle Joey
to Hell, getting pantsed at youth group and what it means to question what you believe. Somehow this book was the perfect combo of endearing, laughing (probably so you don’t cry) and ahhh! moments.
Special mention to the way Knox said ‘footnote’ and had an exorbitant amount of Hamilton references.
Rachael Held Evans would be proud.
to Hell, getting pantsed at youth group and what it means to question what you believe. Somehow this book was the perfect combo of endearing, laughing (probably so you don’t cry) and ahhh! moments.
Special mention to the way Knox said ‘footnote’ and had an exorbitant amount of Hamilton references.
Rachael Held Evans would be proud.
December 23, 2024
As a former evangelical who is deconstructing and has already deconstructed a lot, Knox’s stories were especially poignant. Told with the familiar sense of humor I’m used to as a BFOT of The Popcast, the audiobook was a delight, but not a vapid one: this book has humor and substance, and it invites us to reconsider our tightly held beliefs and give grace to those who are not reconsidering or who may never do so.
June 15, 2022
I think the title did a disservice to the book, because it made it seem more interconnected with a bigger lesson at the end. Once I accepted that it was a collection of essays about things Knox has changed his mind about, I enjoyed the experience much more. Some essays are very silly, and some essays are very serious.
I listened to it on audio, because I know Knox from his podcast.
I listened to it on audio, because I know Knox from his podcast.
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