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The Beauty Chasers: Recapturing the Wonder of the Divine
"This idea of chasing beauty is about pursuing a lifestyle that goes against the cultural grain of busyness, loudness, and naked ambition—you know, the kind of ambition we're told we must have in order to find success in this cutthroat world."
But can we afford to chase beauty in a world that emphasizes distraction over marveling at true wonders?
The everyday road of life is littered with the pains of growing up, loving and failing to love, of peace and discord. What is God saying through all the muck of life? God speaks to us through beauty . But to hear his words, we must slow down and listen with our hearts.
What would happen if you and I slowed down and looked at the world and our lives with new eyes? In his counter-cultural book, The Beauty Chasers, author Timothy Willard shows us a secret passageway that leads beyond the muck of life and the utility mindset that banished beauty from our hearts. He gives us a guidebook for discovering how to see the world with fresh eyes and let beauty guide us in life and our relationship with God.
The Beauty Chasers will ...
Are you ready to live life to a different cadence? Do you find yourself longing to recapture the wonder in your spiritual journey? Are you willing to walk the path less traveled? If so, then read on, friend.
But can we afford to chase beauty in a world that emphasizes distraction over marveling at true wonders?
The everyday road of life is littered with the pains of growing up, loving and failing to love, of peace and discord. What is God saying through all the muck of life? God speaks to us through beauty . But to hear his words, we must slow down and listen with our hearts.
What would happen if you and I slowed down and looked at the world and our lives with new eyes? In his counter-cultural book, The Beauty Chasers, author Timothy Willard shows us a secret passageway that leads beyond the muck of life and the utility mindset that banished beauty from our hearts. He gives us a guidebook for discovering how to see the world with fresh eyes and let beauty guide us in life and our relationship with God.
The Beauty Chasers will ...
Are you ready to live life to a different cadence? Do you find yourself longing to recapture the wonder in your spiritual journey? Are you willing to walk the path less traveled? If so, then read on, friend.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published June 21, 2022
65 people are currently reading
669 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 8, 2023
This book proved an interesting phenomena for me. I disliked it until about 1/3 of the way through, and then ended it by loving it and listing it as one of my top favorite books on this subject.
About 10 years ago I listed beauty as one of my top three core values in a mentoring program, and I feel like I’ve spent the last 10 years exploring and searching out what this means for me and plumbing greater depths of the theology of beauty. This book gave much greater meaning to beauty for me and put words to why it has been so important for me. Although it wasn’t the book’s intent, it almost convinced me to get rid of my smart phone, since how we use our devices cultivates a disengaged existence and shows what our hearts value.
Read this book, it will change the way you view beauty as worship and the pursuit of God.
About 10 years ago I listed beauty as one of my top three core values in a mentoring program, and I feel like I’ve spent the last 10 years exploring and searching out what this means for me and plumbing greater depths of the theology of beauty. This book gave much greater meaning to beauty for me and put words to why it has been so important for me. Although it wasn’t the book’s intent, it almost convinced me to get rid of my smart phone, since how we use our devices cultivates a disengaged existence and shows what our hearts value.
Read this book, it will change the way you view beauty as worship and the pursuit of God.
August 16, 2025
Timothy Willard is a wordsmith. He puts words and chapters together in a beautiful way. Longing for beauty appeals to the best part of our humanity and draws us into the realm of the holy. Willard encourages us to find joy and intimacy in our love relationship with our Creator God and His Son, Jesus Christ and the daily gifts that He bestows upon us. In His presence, we are surrounded by His glory and beauty. This is what we are to chase after!
October 18, 2024
I loved this book. I read it in short 10-15 minute sections while sitting outside. It was lovely. I will absolutely read this all over again and again.
October 12, 2022
Timothy Willard's book is the most wonderful defense of, and invitation to beauty I have ever read. With the frame of a simple story, he argues for the importance of beauty as a way to know God, and then outlines ways to bring beauty into our own lives. Thought-provoking and hopeful!
October 24, 2022
This book was recommended by Sarah Clarkson and was just lovely. The writer spent two years studying in Oxford and talks about having tea at Blackwells and being at the Kilns. So fun that I was there this summer!
November 20, 2023
I found it difficult to get into this book, but once I did, discovered beautiful, dreamy writing, encouraging Christians to chase beauty in all things as a reflection of, and expression of worship to, the King of beauty.
February 10, 2024
I would probably give 3.5 actually! Very sweet book. Willard has a great vocabulary, although I felt like he repeated himself a lot. I really liked the little vignettes of creative writing here and there; they felt like parables. Many of them were incredibly profound, and I would recommend reading them even isolated from the rest of the book. At times, however, I felt a little babied by his writing and wished he would have said something new/ moved at a faster pace. Overall a good concept, and good recommendation from roomie Emmalee.
September 3, 2022
I highly recommend this beautiful, encouraging book. Willard encourages us to make time in our life to “recapture the wonder of the divine”.
July 14, 2022
This should be standard reading for every Christian. This message is powerful and needed in a world that insists on continuing down the path of living more and more in a virtual world. He is strongly rooted in God and reality therefore his talk of beauty takes on a whole different tone than what our culture currently says about beauty. It’s a delightful read.
October 11, 2022
"That is beautiful." What does this even mean? Does it mean that I am attracted to the object I behold? Does it mean the object posseses an attractiveness whether I'm there to view it or not? Does it mean it points toward something my soul longs for a bigger picture of? Some of these questions Willard's wrestles with in his book Beauty Chasers. I say wrestled with because he does not wrestle through them to a perfect, clear conclusion. He writes with a sense of awe and humility that recognizes that beauty isn't something to be grasped entirely with words. Nothing will bind it. It is rather to be felt, seen, heard, experienced.
In his book he touches upon the writings of many famous authors who have grappled with this subject. I found his summary of Hebraic beauty word groupings particularly fascinating. His love for the natural world and the supernatural God permeates the book and soaks into the reader's thirsty soul.
I did struggle with the organization of the book, though. I anticipated him to take the Hebrew word groupings and then define and illustrate each of those in the consecutive chapters. He doesn't, in case you're wondering. Instead he takes the reader on a conversational-style journey through his personal experiences of being struck with awe and of catching glimpses of beautiful truth throughout his life. For a three points and a poem reader such as myself, I sometimes found his narrative frustrating, but rarely do I finish a chapter of a book, slip on a jacket, and crane my neck for half an hour to stare at the heavens. This book made me do just that. Ironically, maybe purposefully, his flow of thought meanders like the footpaths into the hills seen from George's window.
Unfortunately, his style also didn't suit my taste. I did not find him particularly quotable, and the quotes that did make me pause were quotations from other works. But this is a preference, I think. I am quite sure that other people may find his writing quite entertaining.
I would recommend this book for someone who wants a introduction to the topic of beauty. However, don't stop there, or Willard would have failed. Go take a walk too. Slow down. See. Hear. And be awed by the presence of God in the shades of the forest, the laughter of friends, and the setting of the sun.
In his book he touches upon the writings of many famous authors who have grappled with this subject. I found his summary of Hebraic beauty word groupings particularly fascinating. His love for the natural world and the supernatural God permeates the book and soaks into the reader's thirsty soul.
I did struggle with the organization of the book, though. I anticipated him to take the Hebrew word groupings and then define and illustrate each of those in the consecutive chapters. He doesn't, in case you're wondering. Instead he takes the reader on a conversational-style journey through his personal experiences of being struck with awe and of catching glimpses of beautiful truth throughout his life. For a three points and a poem reader such as myself, I sometimes found his narrative frustrating, but rarely do I finish a chapter of a book, slip on a jacket, and crane my neck for half an hour to stare at the heavens. This book made me do just that. Ironically, maybe purposefully, his flow of thought meanders like the footpaths into the hills seen from George's window.
Unfortunately, his style also didn't suit my taste. I did not find him particularly quotable, and the quotes that did make me pause were quotations from other works. But this is a preference, I think. I am quite sure that other people may find his writing quite entertaining.
I would recommend this book for someone who wants a introduction to the topic of beauty. However, don't stop there, or Willard would have failed. Go take a walk too. Slow down. See. Hear. And be awed by the presence of God in the shades of the forest, the laughter of friends, and the setting of the sun.
August 5, 2023
"Beauty can change you if you let it," begins Timothy Willard in his book The Beauty Chasers. Tim provides a strong framework for this assertion throughout the book using personal anecdotes, a myriad of thoughtfully-chosen resources, and Biblical insight. His in-depth study of the writings of C.S. Lewis while earning his PhD from Oxford uniquely qualifies him to address this topic.
I love how The Beauty Chasers makes me think. It is obvious that Tim is well-read and has done meticulous research, yet he maintains an approachable tone. To me, reading his writing feels kind of like listening to the wisdom of an older brother or an uncle.
The message of The Beauty Chasers is vastly important in our fast-paced, highly-digital age. It is so easy to speed through life, blind to the wonder that is all around us. . . And, oh, how much joy we toss aside in our rush! The Beauty Chasers calls readers to a different, fuller, more joyful way of living.
I highly recommend The Beauty Chasers. I think it has been the most impactful book I have read so far this year.
I love how The Beauty Chasers makes me think. It is obvious that Tim is well-read and has done meticulous research, yet he maintains an approachable tone. To me, reading his writing feels kind of like listening to the wisdom of an older brother or an uncle.
The message of The Beauty Chasers is vastly important in our fast-paced, highly-digital age. It is so easy to speed through life, blind to the wonder that is all around us. . . And, oh, how much joy we toss aside in our rush! The Beauty Chasers calls readers to a different, fuller, more joyful way of living.
I highly recommend The Beauty Chasers. I think it has been the most impactful book I have read so far this year.
September 3, 2024
What is beauty?
The topic of beauty is important. And while it is a deep philosophical concept, the author does an excellent job of bringing it completely to the popular level. I am very pleased to have found this book, as I have been wanting to learn more about it, but am not in a stage of life where I have the time to study philosophy. The author had a PhD in it, and is very qualified. My only criticism is that he didn't go as deep into how beauty interacts with suffering. He spends a lot of time contrasting the value of beauty over against our technology use. We are almost left with the impression that a beauty chaser is someone with a reduced work load who therefore has time for lots of quiet strolls in the woods, that the risk that is taken is that of reducing one's work load. But what about the beauty chaser that keeps having babies when the world said they should have prioritized self care, that adopts medical
special needs kids, the beauty chaser that gets thrown in prison for telling his neighbors about the beauty of the gospel, the beauty chaser that keeps showing up to care for the mother of a suicide victim. Does beauty chasing mean that our quest for beauty leaves us with a safe life? I think the answer should be no, but it would have been nice to interact with these paradoxes at a deeper level in the book. But maybe that will be a topic for a part two.
The topic of beauty is important. And while it is a deep philosophical concept, the author does an excellent job of bringing it completely to the popular level. I am very pleased to have found this book, as I have been wanting to learn more about it, but am not in a stage of life where I have the time to study philosophy. The author had a PhD in it, and is very qualified. My only criticism is that he didn't go as deep into how beauty interacts with suffering. He spends a lot of time contrasting the value of beauty over against our technology use. We are almost left with the impression that a beauty chaser is someone with a reduced work load who therefore has time for lots of quiet strolls in the woods, that the risk that is taken is that of reducing one's work load. But what about the beauty chaser that keeps having babies when the world said they should have prioritized self care, that adopts medical
special needs kids, the beauty chaser that gets thrown in prison for telling his neighbors about the beauty of the gospel, the beauty chaser that keeps showing up to care for the mother of a suicide victim. Does beauty chasing mean that our quest for beauty leaves us with a safe life? I think the answer should be no, but it would have been nice to interact with these paradoxes at a deeper level in the book. But maybe that will be a topic for a part two.
June 2, 2024
I’m many ways I enjoyed the concept of this book, and there were moments that challenged and encouraged and spoke to my soul.
But I also struggled with following his writing, flitting between theology and imagination, and it took most of the book to understand his structure. As a Brit I also struggled with the American romanticism of Oxford and the almost idolisation of a time and place as his source of beauty. If God is the beauty we’re chasing, we can find Him in our homes and council estates, in local parks and graveyard wanderings - we don’t have to have the wealth to travel Europe or the luxury of hob nobbing with the literary elite. Jesus didn’t come and tell people to wander around the wonders of the world, or the rich and beautiful cities, but He modelled meeting God in the crowds and distractions, in the busy homes and being hassled by children. Yes, He met God on the mountains, but those moments were often interrupted. I understand the encouragement to encounter nature and lay aside distractions, but for many of us that can be an unattainable dream of glamorous escapism, and we need to balance it with recognising the beauty of God in the midst of our real lives, our everyday moments.
But I also struggled with following his writing, flitting between theology and imagination, and it took most of the book to understand his structure. As a Brit I also struggled with the American romanticism of Oxford and the almost idolisation of a time and place as his source of beauty. If God is the beauty we’re chasing, we can find Him in our homes and council estates, in local parks and graveyard wanderings - we don’t have to have the wealth to travel Europe or the luxury of hob nobbing with the literary elite. Jesus didn’t come and tell people to wander around the wonders of the world, or the rich and beautiful cities, but He modelled meeting God in the crowds and distractions, in the busy homes and being hassled by children. Yes, He met God on the mountains, but those moments were often interrupted. I understand the encouragement to encounter nature and lay aside distractions, but for many of us that can be an unattainable dream of glamorous escapism, and we need to balance it with recognising the beauty of God in the midst of our real lives, our everyday moments.
September 25, 2025
The first thing to do after reading this book: exhale.
Timothy Willard sets the stage through Sam and George longing for the beauty and experiences beyond their hospital room window.
Then, he takes the reader slowly and purposefully through the park, into the hills, and up the mountain, in a search for unbridled and unrestrained beauty. The kind of beauty that melts the plasticity of our era and breaks through the cacophony of information overload.
In a way, it harkens to simpler times, but more importantly, it reveals the purpose of beauty: to direct the observer (rather, the experiencer) to the wellspring of beauty--the source of all that is good--the Creator Himself.
While inviting the reader to walk more closely with Jesus and live more deliberately in and through Him, the author packs this book with densely layered descriptions that at times overwhelm the reader (at least, from this reader's experience) with sensory overload.
And ... exhale.
Timothy Willard sets the stage through Sam and George longing for the beauty and experiences beyond their hospital room window.
Then, he takes the reader slowly and purposefully through the park, into the hills, and up the mountain, in a search for unbridled and unrestrained beauty. The kind of beauty that melts the plasticity of our era and breaks through the cacophony of information overload.
In a way, it harkens to simpler times, but more importantly, it reveals the purpose of beauty: to direct the observer (rather, the experiencer) to the wellspring of beauty--the source of all that is good--the Creator Himself.
While inviting the reader to walk more closely with Jesus and live more deliberately in and through Him, the author packs this book with densely layered descriptions that at times overwhelm the reader (at least, from this reader's experience) with sensory overload.
And ... exhale.
February 20, 2024
READ THIS! This book is a thought provoking, genuine, truth filled book that every God and beauty chasing believer should read. It's not just a fluff book that throws a couple verses at you. It's deep and crafted, it pulls on your heart and echos similarities to the depth you find in C.S. Lewis. It wasn't just a book to read, I felt it was an experience I was walking through, and my heart was saying... yes... I agree.. yes, yes finally someone gets it. Tim makes it clear that we should be seeking the actual beauty of God and chasing him in our life. I absolutely loved it. I am better for having read it. I'll be reading it again and again.
So needed today and at the risk of sounding cliche, so relevant.
So needed today and at the risk of sounding cliche, so relevant.
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February 3, 2023I enjoyed 'The Beauty Chasers'. When I heard about its release, I was keen to read it because it centres on a theme that has really become the creed of my life. At times it felt a little over my head ... but I partly blame that on the social media and the screens that I allow myself so much access to ... there were sections that seemed quite dense and I easily lost concentration. (Interestingly, the detrimental effect of social media and viewing the world through a screen is something that gets touched on in this book too).
Anyway, I found myself recommitting to being a Beauty Chaser and listening to God communicating to me through beauty.
Anyway, I found myself recommitting to being a Beauty Chaser and listening to God communicating to me through beauty.
July 5, 2025
Lots of gems in this. The author does ramble a little too much and there wasn’t enough bible references for me, although more near the end, in fact the beauty of the word wasn’t delved into properly. I also think the brokenness of nature due to the fall wasn’t touched on enough. There’s a grief there that we should feel and this should propel us further into God’s arms. I also think the character of God should have been a deeper topic, his might and mercy etc was touched on but not enough. So I think there were enough gems for 4 stars, but it was still lacking. I loved some of the word pictures and feelings created and the whole idea.
June 10, 2023
Now one of my favorite books of all time. I lingered over it for almost a year and may just be ready to re-read it again. There are hardly words to describe the brilliant and artful creation of this book and it's purpose --to encourage us to draw closer to God by appreciating his creation in a countercultural manner. If anything about the description appeals to you, I urge you to read it and allow your life and your focus to be changed and reoriented to God.
September 15, 2022
There were some really good things in this book. It’s not my favorite book on beauty, but it’s good. I both read and listened to it, and I would rate the audio book at 3 stars because of the distracting, fake voice the author uses when he switches into “Well, Tim…” sections. It’s distracting and pulls the listener out of the narrative, rather than drawing the listener in.
December 9, 2023
This book was a great book about beauty, and though I didn't really see the point of what he was trying to say(other than encouraging us to put down electronics and go on a walk) it was still well-written and well-researched. My favorite part was at the end when he was talking about God's four dimensional love for us, how it spans through time and space.
I'd recommend it as a casual read.
I'd recommend it as a casual read.
March 26, 2024
After hearing Tim as a guest speaker in my coaching certification, I was excited to read his book. He was do compelling as he spoke but I just couldn't get into this book. I just couldn't get into a flow reading it. I did finished it and I'm going to try it again in a few months (it could have just not been the right time for me to read it?). I really wanted to like it. Maybe next time.
June 16, 2023
Author Timothy D. Willard connects the chase towards beauty with both inner and outer focal practices, channeling other voices like Albert Borgmann, Neil Postman and Shane Hipps (as well as Brother Lawrence) as he points to experiences in nature as a way to re-center our selves in the divine.
January 12, 2025
I loved this book and the imagery sparked my imagination. As an artist I felt encouraged and challenged to express the Beauty of the Lord in my creative outlets and to slow down and see the beauty around me. I’d read it again.
December 14, 2022
Convicting read. A little rambling at times but overall gave me lots of things to contemplate and change.
January 18, 2023
Such a charming read! I am a beauty chaser
April 10, 2025
Good premise about why we crave beauty.
April 27, 2025
Soul-refreshing and truly inspiring to seek God in His created beauty and to pass on wonder to the precious souls around me.
July 18, 2025
3.5 I imagine this would be the book Anne Shirley would write if she gave up novels for theology.
November 18, 2025
I didn’t wait for the paperback to arrive before I started The Beauty Chasers. I am thankful I gave it a listen, first. The book will be on next year’s to-read list, for sure!
April 26, 2023
It's like you are being invited into Tim's journal of experiences and lessons of beauty, which he shares with you to grow connection and thus become a valid source of encouragement for you to go forth and entangle with beauty yourself. Because who is better at guiding and impacting than a trusted confidant?!
A few words to describe the book are: fun, quirky, and thought provoking. Being a huge fan of outdoor explorations, it was easy for me to relish and relate to his stories.
I found the Waypoint segments intriguing and definitely part of the book that caught me by surprise. I figured Tim would get me contemplating on things, but wasn't anticipating for the writing to request my engagement so directly.
If you have been a follower and fan of Tim's for awhile, you know he has a delightfully unique style. That is surely documented in this book. And if you ever listen to his audio...there are moments you can almost hear him speaking through the pages.
My favorite parts were the insights he shared for seeking God in beauty and what an integral characteristic that is of the Lord. He touches on some Hebrew and scriptural notions around beauty and how that is and reflects God...but I would not have minded if he had gone even further into unpacking and elaborating on beauty in the Word.
That said, I think this book surely has its place in helping anyone approach beauty from a Godly lens and how beauty can and should be woven into our lives...
A few words to describe the book are: fun, quirky, and thought provoking. Being a huge fan of outdoor explorations, it was easy for me to relish and relate to his stories.
I found the Waypoint segments intriguing and definitely part of the book that caught me by surprise. I figured Tim would get me contemplating on things, but wasn't anticipating for the writing to request my engagement so directly.
If you have been a follower and fan of Tim's for awhile, you know he has a delightfully unique style. That is surely documented in this book. And if you ever listen to his audio...there are moments you can almost hear him speaking through the pages.
My favorite parts were the insights he shared for seeking God in beauty and what an integral characteristic that is of the Lord. He touches on some Hebrew and scriptural notions around beauty and how that is and reflects God...but I would not have minded if he had gone even further into unpacking and elaborating on beauty in the Word.
That said, I think this book surely has its place in helping anyone approach beauty from a Godly lens and how beauty can and should be woven into our lives...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews