Opři se o mě – Evangelium podle U2

by Greg Garrett

Who among us has not experienced hearing a song that moved us deeply, that spoke to us in a truly spiritual way? Millions of fans around the world have found that inspiration in the music of U2, arguably the biggest band in the world today. Now, on the heels of their latest studio album No Line on the Horizon, comes this engaging and informative examination of the spirituality that drives the band and its music.

The author, who as a teen interviewed the fledgling band on their first U.S. tour, takes us from their upbringing in war-torn Northern Ireland, to their dominance over the music scene in the early 1990s, and then to their role as spiritual ambassadors to post-9/11 America. Throughout we get a picture of the spirituality that flows out of U2's music and how their influence has spread beyond music into issues such as AIDS activism, debt relief for developing nations, and the crisis in Darfur.

"There are a lot of reasons to listen to music, but one of the best is that a good song is like a portal into a whole realm of human experience. When I finished Greg's book, I imagined groups of people using it to organize listening parties. Greg references a great U2 song at the beginning of each chapter, along with some worthwhile things to ponder, and participants can pull up lyrics online and go through portal after portal to think and talk about things that really matter. I think U2 would be glad to know that sort of thing was happening through their songs."
—from the foreword by Brian D. McLaren

Genres: Music, Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity, Pop Culture

168 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2009

About the author

Greg Garrett is the Austin, Texas author of two dozen books of fiction, nonfiction, memoir, and translation. Like his literary heroes James Baldwin and Marilynne Robinson, Greg moves fluidly from fiction to nonfiction exploring the big human questions, and in his books, hoping to help his readers discover some answers of their own. Among his latest books are a book of conversation with his friend Rowan Williams, the past Archbishop of Canterbury (In Conversation), a lead trade title from Oxford University Press exploring our post-9/11 obsession with the zombie apocalypse (Living with the Living Dead, Starred Review in Library Journal), the tenth-anniversary edition of his searing yet hopeful memoir of depression and faith (Crossing Myself, featured on FOX News), and a novel retelling one of our great archetypal stories in the modern world of 24/7 news and social media (The Prodigal, Starred Review in Publishers Weekly). Greg's debut novel, Free Bird, was chosen by Publishers Weekly as a First Fiction feature, and the Denver Rocky Mountain News named it one of the best first novels of 2002. His other novels are Cycling and Shame. All have been critically acclaimed.

Greg is perhaps best known for his writing on faith, culture, race, politics, and narrative. BBC Radio has called Greg "one of America's leading voices on religion and culture," and he has written on topics ranging from spirituality and suffering to film and pop culture, written on U2, Harry Potter, American politics, and contemporary faith and practice. Greg's nonfiction work has been covered by The New Yorker, USA Today, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Globe and Mail, FOX News Radio, The Christian Science Monitor, BBC Radio, BBC Scotland, National Public Radio, CBS Radio, msnbc.com, DublinTalk Radio, The New Statesman, The National Review, Commonweal, Christianity Today, Vice, Playboy, Mens Health, and many other broadcast, print, and web media sources. Greg has written for Salon.com, The Washington Post, The Daily Mirror, Patheos, FOX News, The Huffington Post, The Spectator, Reform, The Tablet, and other print and web publications in the US and UK, and has spoken across the US and Europe, including appearances at the Edinburgh Festival of Books, the American Library in Paris, Cambridge University, Kings College London, Villanova University, Amerika Haus in Munich, the Greenbelt Festival in the UK, Google London, South by Southwest, Amerika Days in Stuttgart, and the Washington National Cathedral. Greg's current projects are a literary novel set in Paris against the backdrop of international terrorism, a book on race, film, and reconciliation for Oxford University Press, and a book on the wisdom of James Baldwin.

Greg is an award-winning Professor of English at Baylor University, Theologian in Residence at the American Cathedral in Paris, and an elected member of the Texas Institute of Letters. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife Jeanie and their daughters Lily and Sophia.

Reviews

[Tereza Dobšovičová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greg Garrett pečlivě studoval texty kapely U2, jejich životy i všelijaké rozhovory. Poznal, jací U2 jsou a skrze ně nám předává tři základní okruhy, které se můžeme od kapely naučit. Kniha je rozdělena na tři dlouhé kapitoly: víra, komunita, spravedlnost.

Texty písní předkládá, kdo je Bůh Otec, Ježíš i Duch svatý, co je to modlitba a podobně. Zajímavou formou shrnuje základy křesťanské víry, ve kterých lze spatřit nový pohled na tak „ohranou“ věc. Například Trojici připodobňuje akordu. Bylo fajn si takové věci osvěžit.

To hlavní z knihy ale pro mě přichází v kapitolách o komunitě a o spravedlnosti. Daly mi nový pohled na život křesťana, Bonovo jednání mě zasáhlo a mohu říct, že snad i změnilo část mého myšlení. Je zdůrazňováno, že víra nemůže být odpoutána od skutků.

Doporučuji všem křesťanům, ale i nevěřícím, kteří se chtějí o křesťanství a Bohu dozvědět něco víc (možná trochu nekonvenční cestou) či číst o nepokryteckých křesťanech, na nichž je jejich víra skutečně viditelná.

[Simon van der Lugt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informatief

[Kare · Rating 4 out of 5]

The examples and explanations help me appreciate the point of view of a spiritual interpretation that I hadn't noticed in many of the songs. Some of the songs make more sense to me now.

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 3 out of 5]

We Get to Carry Each Other is an okay book. Greg Garrett draws on a large number of other writings by and about U2, integrating these quotes into a discussion about the ways that U2 models and advocates for the Christian life. His three big themes are: Belief, Communion (and ecclesia), and Social Justice. The writing meanders quite a bit within those themes, and I felt sometimes that a sharper focus--perhaps if the books was organized into shorter, more focused readings, rather than a few longer chapters--would have been a stronger presentation. For me the most useful part of the book was the Introduction, in which Garrett argues for the value in looking at U2 from a theological perspective. I would happily recommend that chapter to almost anyone--especially those who don't believe there can be anything worthwhile from such a discussion, or people who are unaware of the Christian background to U2's work.

Garrett references other Christian writers, like Brian McLaren, Scot McKnight, and N. T. Wright, almost as much as he quotes U2. If you've read those authors (especially McLaren and McKnight), then you'll have a good idea of whether you'll enjoy We Get to Carry Each Other.

Not my favorite book about U2, but not a bad book either.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1985, Rolling Stone proclaimed U2 as the band that matters most, perhaps even "the only band that matters." This book does a great job exploring why that claim might remain true to this day, especially focusing on the theological/spiritual side of the band's work.

The author explores the band's work/witness in three areas: belief, community, and social justice, in what is certainly an interesting and thought provoking read. The author puts to words much of what I have always felt and thought about the band over these many years.

[Annette]

I read it, but not as deeply .... as in, with the playlists the book suggests. I plan to re-read it again with the playlist request as it will enhance things so much more. All that being said, I love how this book shows the integration of the Gospel message in U2's music, and how they get things across without being overtly "preachy" ..... preachy, that is, as in "you better believe in Jesus or you'll burn in hell." If you're looking to enhance your understanding of real Gospel values -- especially from a social justice standpoint -- you can't go wrong with this one!

[Tim Beck · Rating 2 out of 5]

i love U2 - but this hardly keeping my attention as an avid U2 fan, this was a little disappointing.


it took me a while to get through this book. i had to keep coming back to it.

parts were interesting, but most seemed pretentious and overdone. it was as though Greg Garrett was trying, to hard - to be spiritual.

lots of quotes from U2. lots. forced writing.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's taken me two years to read this book, little by little, mainly on Sundays when I needed a little more than what I was getting at church that day. ;)

It's extremely thought-provoking and more than just a little inspiring. I found myself taking notes and highlighting passages more often than not.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Something about them [U2] commands both affection and admiration. What they are doing in their music, in performances, and in the public sphere somehow causes people to identify them with holy and transformative times in their own lives, and somehow calls them to something higher and nobler." (page 11)

This quote and Chapter 2 is the reason I LOVE LOVE LOVE this band!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what I should have expected from a book like this, but the tone was both pretentious and gushing, and the author was trying too hard. Still, I'm excited to see U2 in concert in June.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read if you are Christian and a U2 fan. I really liked it!!

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and compelling insights into the music and spirituality of U2's music and lives.

[Lon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just started. Looking forward to this.

[Andy Shadburne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It was good and worth reading, but it's heavy handed at times.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the middle of the U2charists at Joy's church.... these were so uplifting, so I decided to look further into how belief was such a big part of U@'s music.

[Jennifer Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great read, getting behind the scenes of what makes the members of U2 tick. I've always liked U2, but now I have a newfound respect for them.

[Corey Herlevsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction and overview but nothing mew for those familiar with U2 and their music.