Hear No Evil: My Story of Innocence, Music, and the Holy Ghost

by Matthew Paul Turner

Every Life Has a Soundtrack. 
 
If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straightforward and amusing, Hear No Evil is Turner’s “life soundtrack,” a compilation of engaging personal stories about how music—and music’s ability to transform—has played a key role in his spiritual life.
 
Groove along on his journey as young evangelical Turner attends forbidden contemporary Christian concerts, moves to “Music City” Nashville, and dreams of becoming the Michael Jackson of Christian music.
 
Cosmic and compelling, keen and funny, every page is a new encounter with the people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.

Genres: Music, Memoir, Nonfiction, Christianity, Religion, Humor, Christian

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Matthew Paul Turner has made his mark as a force in the Christian children's book publishing market. With his unmatched gift for rhyme blended with deliberate messages of hope and empowerment, Turner's books When God Made You and When God Made Light have become bedtime favorites for families across America. His latest anticipated release is When I Pray for You, which will debut in February 2019.

Turner's storied writing career started nearly 20 years ago, and he has published a book every year. Called “one of Christianity’s fresh voices” by Publisher’s Weekly, Turner's other notable works include Our Great Big American God, Churched, Coffeehouse Gospel and The Christian Culture Survival Guide.

When God Made You was an Evangelical Christian Publishing Association Bestseller, described as “‘Oh, the Places You'll Go' meets the Divine” by recording artist Amy Grant.

Additionally, Turner is an accomplished photographer and journalist. Turner traveled all over the world documenting National Geographic’s “The Story of God with Morgan Freeman”. For the past decade, he has also traveled extensively with World Vision to places such as Tacloban, Philippines; Entebbe, Uganda; Cochabamba, Bolivia; Gyumri, Armenia; and other locations documenting the vast effects of poverty and the humanitarian efforts of the non-profit. His writing has appeared in outlets that include the Washington Post, National Geographic, USA Today and Daily Beast.

Turner lives in Nashville, Tenn. with his wife Jessica and their three elementary-aged children. In his free time, he enjoys portrait photography, woodworking, and cooking for his family and friends. Connect with him at www.matthewpaulturner.com

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times, the author's criticism of Christian culture is spot-on. Other times, it's a bit too harsh. So, this was mediocre for me.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through the "First Reads" program.

I was disappointed by this book, but it's hard to tell if I was disappointed because of its shortcomings or because of the shortcomings of the genre it is part of and the virtual flood of books out of that genre in the last couple of years. I'm not sure I can think of a catchy shorthand to describe the genre, but it consists of memoirs by relatively young Christian people who were raised either fundamentalist or otherwise very strictly, rebelled somewhat (but typically not a whole lot) and then found themselves back in the (almost always evangelical) church around the age of 30 or so. Yet, they have rejected the embarrassing, churchy ways of their upbringing and now are hip church people, with it church people, snarky and knowing church people. This trend seems loosely correlated with the Emergent movement, but not necessarily a part of it.

I get the feeling that these young folks want to do the kind of self-aware, self-deprecating insider parody that has for so long been the trademark of Jewish American comedians, but I have to say, it's not working for me and I don't think it can. When Jewish Americans lovingly lampoon their traditions, they're doing it as double outsiders--"an American in the shul and a Jew in the streets." This lends a perspective particularly given to apt social commentary and humor. When young evangelical Christians do it, it just comes off as self-conscious and, sadly, a bit self-absorbed. They are not outsiders in the world, and they are not outsiders in the church. They are insiders, and at worst, they come off as snobbish privileged insiders who don't understand how lucky they really are. Picking on people who are "farther out" than they are themselves just comes off as mean, shooting fish in a barrel.

(I also think that people under the age of oh, maybe 50 or 60, need to just stop writing memoirs for a while. Just stop! Especially SERIAL memoirs!)

So yes, young, hip evangelicals, we get the idea. I'm not cool (even though we're the same age). You're cool. Christian rock (of the Amy Grant type) is not. Your music is cool. Churches (of the old, steeple and organ type) are not cool. YOUR churches (of the coffee house meeting, fixie bike type) are cool. You're embarrassed at how uncool your fellow Christians are, how we do old-fashioned things, cheezy things, well-meaning but embarrassing things. We're like your parents. We get it.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love music and that is why when I was offered this book I jumped at the chance. Through my reviewing I have been branching out and non-fiction is one of the areas I have branched out in. I have to say I did not know what to expect when I started reading this book. However when I started, I could hardly put it down. Why you might ask? Well here's several reasons:

Mr. Turner has an amazing sense of humor. He uses irony and sarcasm and wit through the book and I honestly would find myself laughing out loud and then sharing a passage of the book with my husband. My husband grew up Free-Will Baptist in the south and from what I read to him, he could really relate. As a child growing up in the church, I could too. From references throughout the book, Mr. Turner is my age and I found it so easy to relate to him, but I think if you are 18 or 55 you will find this book easy to relate to also. Mr. Turner just writes in an easy manner, you feel like you are talking with a funny friend more than reading a book.

I liked reading about how music worked in the author's life. From an early age when he started singing in his church to now living in Nashville, music was there with him every step of the way. I also liked seeing how music brought about good in his life. It's such a positive book with statements about music and Christianity and finding your way as a Christian.

Hear No Evil is uplifting, it's inspiring and most of all it's very entertaining. Mr. Turner has done a wonderful job with this book and I look forward to reading other titles by him.

Favorite Quote (spoken by a lady the author went to church with when he was a child, read this with the humor intended, not to be taken seriously as a statement against music by the author):

"Did you know Satan was once heaven's musical director? Look it up; it's in the book of Ezekiel. Some pastors think that's why Lucifer uses rock' n' roll to help people find hell--because he was very musical. Like an evil Mozart."

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Reads/First Reads Book. This was a very fast, fun read. While I didn't grow up in a church like Turner's, I have met many people who did. If you ever feel like you have to fight the stereotype of Christianity, this will be a fun, worthwhile book. It discusses the music industry and how many Christians consider everything bad unless it's Christian radio. I hear it a lot and always roll my eyes, and it sounds like Turner does too. I read bits to my friends because we could all relate and many of them now want to read it. I look forward to checking out one of his other books!

[William Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and I love MPT writing. As I am currently writing, I decided to read it again. His writing inspires me and I appreciate his humor and perspective. I do not agree with his recent lifestyle change and hold to biblical convictions that are opposed to his. I hate this because he would be a great resource for Mixtape. He did give Rachel and myself some advice in the early stages of our project that I appreciate. No matter my disagreements with him in several areas, I do love this book.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I relate to Turner's writing so much since I was raised very similarly. So funny!

[Bob Hayton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hear No Evil is a collage of stories from Matthew Paul Turner's past. A former independent fundamental Baptist (IFB), Turner chronicles his spiritual journey with special attention to the role his love for music played.

As a former IFB myself, I could identify with many of his experiences. I was raised KJV only, and also used my Bible as an autograph book (for the great men of God who I was privileged to hear). One of Turner's memories is particularly relevant to the audience of my blog. Sadly it rings true, to some extent, of my own experience and many others. He recounts:

I didn't study God. I just memorized Scripture verses and practiced Bible trivia. I could have told you the names of the twelve sons of Jacob or offered you a biblically accurate play-by-play of the events that led up to King David sleeping with Bathsheba. I learned facts. I knew a thousand Bible verses by heart, but I couldn't explain why God's story was important to me, personally. (pg. 122)

Clear and extremely well-written, the book makes for easy reading. In a light-hearted manner, with equal parts humor and candor, Turner recounts his escapades expertly. The stories are interesting and to some extent comical.

Unfortunately, Turner's tone is rather disturbing. As I read the book I was struggling to find a point in it all. Some of the stories seemed a bit over the top. Even granting for some authorial exaggeration, some of the scenarios he described stretched the limits of reality. Often the humor seemed self-serving. And Turner spared no punches in his shots of fundamentalists and other wider segments of Christianity.

Several scenes were painted without a clear resolution. What really is Turner's assessment of all of this? Where did he end up on the other end of the story recounted in the book? He was not timid in his insinuations about the state of Christian rock music. A Christian bass player ejects from his group and considers himself agnostic. Turner doesn't try to win him back, rather he empathizes with the pressure the Christian rock industry puts on its performers to remain virgins, albeit only in a "technical sense". Biblical literalists like the stern publisher of CCM (the magazine Turner edited for a while), have an agenda and aren't to be trusted. A gay former worship pastor, who visits his church on Easter Sunday indiscriminately receives Turner's cheerful welcome.

I do want to be careful not to judge the book too harshly. It is a personal recounting of events and nothing more. Perhaps I'm expecting too much from it. The flavor of the book is perhaps best captured in the following excerpt. Speaking of a fellow Amy Grant aficionado and staffer at CCM, Turner says:

The story of Michael's early years is nearly identical to mine. Different parents, different churches, different states, but our experiences were the same. Both of us were raised Independent Fundamental Baptists. When we met people who hadn't heard of our form of Baptist, we told them it was Christian for "scary beyond all reason."

By the time we turned twelve, Michael and I were convinced we knew everything there was to know about God. If that information wasn't already stored in our brains somewhere, our parents had flashcards to help us memorize it. People who told us that God was more or less than what we'd been taught were liars sent by Satan to deceive us. Our teenage years brought questions, college brought doubt, and we spent the better part of our twenties in therapy, trying to reconcile our understandings of God, sex, relationships, and what we believed to be true.

But there was one consistent thread of grace in our lives, a trail we could follow all the way back to when our memories began: music. Music reminded us that we could trust God even when "his people" failed us.

And at some point, our paths crossed with Amy's music, which gave both of us hope that God wasn't nearly as hateful as we'd been taught. (pg. 200-201)

This book will resonate with many. But some will be emboldened by it to continue along a trajectory outside of confessional Christianity and orthodox faith. The book is good reading, but must be read with a discerning eye.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group, as part of their Blogging for Books program.

[Stephen Escalera · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something strangely fascinating about reading other people's stories who have similar backgrounds to you. Perhaps it's reading of experiences you can relate to. Perhaps it's chuckling at the idiosyncrasies of people who sound JUST LIKE somebody you once knew. Or perhaps it's simply knowing that someone else besides you actually DID experience the same things you did and they turned out okay, too.

In Hear No Evil: My Story of Innocence, Music and the Holy Ghost, Matthew Paul Turner tells of his childhood and religious upbringing that sounds eerily similar to mine. Not everything was the same, of course, but enough for me to make connections with my background. Even my alma mater gets a not-so-subtle mention. I found myself laughing at his accounts of people's reactions to "worldly" music. I especially laughed at his retelling of the time he & his sister encountered a Michael Jackson song:

"The beat was syncopated, and for a young Independent Fundamental Baptist, few things existed that were more frightful than a syncopated beat. And for good reason too. Whenever my church deemed a beat `syncopated,' it meant it was the kind of beat to which Baptist missionaries had witnessed evil spirits conjured among naked African tribes. That was why we covered our ears--just in case some of them tried to shimmy their way inside our heads. Demons were scary enough, but nude demons gyrating their hips inside our brains--that would require a prescription. And Baptists who required antidepressants often turned into atheists or, sometimes, Methodists. " (p.58)

Turner is very good at telling stories. They are readable and captivating. He tells of his earliest forays into the musical world, his discovery of Amy Grant, his desire ("Holy Ghost" driven) to be the Christian Michael Jackson, his experiences in college and with the music industry.

When I finished the book, however, I found myself wondering what the point of the book was. As a friend of mine noted, sometimes it is enough to know others have come through similar experiences. That is true. Perhaps it is my own fault, but my expectations of the book were to find out how Turner came out of the IFB mentality, especially in regards to music. He doesn't go into the why and how or his exodus, just the fact that he did. Nor are we even told what his beliefs are concerning music. But again, maybe this isn't the point of the book.

Hear No Evil is a fun book to read, as long as you aren't expecting much resolution of any kind. If nothing else, maybe others of a similar background can find comfort and laugh a little (or a lot) at shared memories.

(This book was provided for review by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.)

[Read In Colour · Rating 4 out of 5]

He was determined to be the Michael Jackson of Christian music. No really, in his pre-teen years, Matt Turner truly believed it was his destiny to set the Christian music world on fire by becoming the next MiJac.

Hear No Evil is the hilarious coming of age story of a boy raised in a strict Southern Baptist home where secular TV and music were forbidden and even Tammy Faye and the PTL Club were off limits. Though his parents, particularly his mother, go to great lengths to keep him on the straight and narrow, Matt dreams of being on Star Search.

While attending Belmont University, he's exposed to other forms of Christianity and begins to question his mother's belief that only Southern Baptists are true Christians. Through conversations with fellow students, Matt learns that all Christians struggle with their faith and beliefs, though some more than others. I was amused by his friend Shawn, who seemed to feel as if he were on a higher moral plain than others. In the following excerpt, Shawn has just told Matt that he feels somebody "closely related to Satan" in their presence.

What does he mean by "closely related"? I thought. Are we talking about Gargamel? I'm pretty sure I can take Gargamel. Smurfs manhandled Gargamel. But if we're talking about a creature like Skeletor from He-Man, that's another story.

In another incident, Matt comes across a family that wants to pray his acid reflux induced burping away.

"... Our dear Brother Matthew has a burping problem. The acid in his stomach doesn't know how to stay put where it belongs, God. It's venturing up his esophagus and into his throat, oh Lord..."

Again, I cackled! We've all come across someone that's out to prove that they're more religious than you or walk closer with God than you. Matt seems to have run into his fair share of them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

What did you like about this book?
It was a quick and easy read. I've not read anything else by the author, but I look forward to reading more.

What did you dislike about this book?
The book opens with a scene in a coffeehouse that seemed somewhat unnecessary. I'm not sure that it served any purpose.

What could the author do to improve this book?
At the end there's a big jump, at least it seemed like one to me, from the author discussing his latest job to discussing his wife and kid when no mention of dating, getting married, etc. had been discussed before that.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this funny, sarcastic, and sometimes scathing reflection on the confusing subculture of contemporary Christianity and its soundtrack, Matthew Paul Turner, the former editor of CCM, shares stories about his budding interest in music and the attempts of his parents and community to shield him from the dangers of “the devil’s songs.”

The opening chapter is set at Fido’s, a coffeehouse/cafe in Nashville where I have spent a few mornings myself, and can easily picture the scene that Matthew describes — singers, musicians, and other hopefuls brimming with plans and dreams. His encounter with an aspiring Christian rocker (easily pegged as as “twenty-five-year-old purity pledge playing dress-up”) is laughable in the cliches it explores, but also a bit depressing because that is part of the music industry today. In later chapters, Matthew also explores the paradox of musical talent versus Christian marketability, the divide between church denominations, the evils of syncopated beats, and the cult of Christian celebrities.

As someone who has dabbled in the industry and has friends who aspire to many of the same things that Matthew does, I found this book to be simultaneously hilariously entertaining and condemning, since it highlights issues in both Christianity and the music industry which are contradictory, hypocritical, and just plain stupid. Although there isn’t much spiritual depth or exploration of theology, the book does take a critical look at popular Christian culture through the viewpoint of one who was entrenched in the machine. There were quite a few good, chagrined laughs in this one, simply because I could perfectly picture the situation or the type of person that was described. However, despite all the well-deserved cultural criticism, I feel like Turner could have done a better job at reconciling how he retains his spirituality today despite the flaws which he points out throughout the book. As it stands, the book seems merely to portray the humorous frustration that he has with Christian subculture, without any particular conclusion on his reaction or response.

[Monica Albright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

I was very excited to receive this book and sink my teeth into it. It was a fun read. I really enjoyed the style in which Matthew Paul Turner writes. It's like reading someone's well written diary. I'm going to look for his other books to read too.

If I could give this book 3.5 stars, I would...I liked it...and almost really liked it. But, there were some chapters that I was left wanting more.... While reading some of the stories I felt as though I was eating my favorite meal, but the chef left out the salt...but then other stories were seasoned so well it was delicious.

I enjoyed the lighthearted stories that the author gives. I use the word lighthearted, but there are some soulful, dark areas that are touched upon. At times I became uncomfortable, but in a good way. I was uncomfortable with the strict Baptist beliefs that are discussed. I know that there are churches that think drums are the work of the devil, but I've never known anyone who has shared their direct experiences with the church. (I'm Presbyterian...ha-ha-ha...read the book and find out why I'm laughing.)

I am a music lover. I sing in my church choir, and I direct the youth choir.(I majored in voice performance in college as well as elementary education. I'm a teacher not a famous pop singer...ha-ha...again, read the book to appreciate the humor)

I loved the musical references because I could easily follow them from Amy Grant to Toad the Wet Sprocket...especially because I just spent several weekends downloading my old CD's onto my phone to enjoy everywhere I go. This was like a walk down memory lane musically, but I am a little older than the author so my musical life journey wasn't in direct strides with his.

If you enjoy music, major in any type of music, are a Christian, or just like to read...pick it up. It's a collection of short stories. You can read it at a leisurely pace or quickly. It's your choice.

Enjoy!

[Jen Yokel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hear No Evil is a collection of honest, funny stories with music as its backdrop. Matthew grew up in an ultra-conservative Baptist church where famous preachers signed your Bible and being a Sandi Patty fan was a dirty little secret. The stories follow his life with music, from feeling called to be a Christian Michael Jackson at a Sea World otter show and adjusting to life at Belmont College, to working for CCM Magazine and learning to reconcile faith and love for R.E.M. and Joan Osborne. It's a quick-paced, lighthearted book that makes you laugh and think, and -- for me, anyway -- reads like a mirror of recognition.

What I love most about MPT's writing is that he can be edgy and sarcastic, but not without affection for his fellow Christians. Of course he's going to pick on the church of his youth, but there are plenty of other eccentric characters along the way: Belmont's artsy Calvinists, "famous in West Virginia" Southern gospel brothers, and wannabe Christian rock stars (in one funny exchange, noting that a identifying a "Christian rocker" could be the Holy Spirit, but is probably "more like gaydar.")

Together, the stories tell a greater story of grace and growth, with moments of poignant reflection. In fact, the best story in the book is the chapter "Chasing Amy," where he recalls interviewing Amy Grant for a CCM cover story that almost didn't happen... and casts a revealing look at the places where faith, fame, and forgiveness collide with heartbreaking compassion and some of his best writing yet.

This is a quick read with plenty of laughs and sometimes touching, sometimes crazy stories. It's a conversational memoir, so don't expect deep theology or life lessons of it, but simply the story of one man's ongoing faith journey and his soundtrack along the way. Read, laugh with recognition, and if you were an evangelical child of the 90's, enjoy a little dose of nostalgia. It doesn't profess to have answers, but in the bittersweet, last chapter, there is "just me and a song and hope." And sometimes, that's enough, right?

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book that I got as part of a blog tour. I have always been a big fan of music, so I thought this would be a good read. I was right.

Matthew Paul Turner grew up in a very strict - fundamentalist - church/family. I didn't realize just how sheltered some people are - and how extreme fundamentalists can be! Oddly, though, despite my growing up in a Charismatic church, I was almost as sheltered as he was. Especially when it came to music. I attended a church that STRONGLY discouraged listening to secular music. In fact, I remember a time when one of the youth leaders gave me a bunch of free CDs in exchange for old secular music of mine - which was then destroyed! Despite my "best" attempts, I've never stuck to listening to strictly Christian music for long. Anyway, because of this and similar experiences, I found myself able to relate in a way I never would've guessed!

Back to the book. I'm jealous of Turner! I'd love to work for CCM, and to meet AMY GRANT! She's the ONE artist I've been a fan of all my life. She's the person I always say I'd meet if I could meet ONE person. I would love to get to read the story he originally wrote from the interview he mentions in this book. I couldn't believe the piousness of his boss in regards to Amy's life! Apparently this man was just plain BLIND because of the REDWOOD TREE in his own eye!

This was a very enjoyable read, and I thought it was quite interesting to see some things about how the Christian music industry works behind the scenes. There were things I never would've even guessed - but makes a lot of sense.

Anyone who LOVES music (I often say it's my passion) should read this book!

[Chickadee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Matthew Paul Turner definitely knows how to shake things up. Hear No Evil was the first book of Turner’s that I had ever read and I found it painfully honest at times. As humorous as many of his stories and examples were, there were some times when I felt uncomfortable reading this book – mainly due to my theological differences. All through this book, I sensed that making others a bit uncomfortable and causing the reader to question why they view God the way that they do, is exactly what the author was after.

Being raised in a similar denomination to the one Turner writes most about in this book, I got his sense of humor right away and understood his lighthearted jabs at some of the nonsense that was (and maybe still is) taught in some churches today. With a childhood steeped in legalism – I did laugh at many of the examples he gave of what was considered “off limits” to him as a young Baptist. One of my favorite comments of his was about a woman he remembered from his childhood whom he referred to as the Born Again Gossip.

I loved Turner’s description of how his family snuck out to a “forbidden” Sandi Patty concert and experienced TRUE worship with people from every gender, ethnic group and religious background worshipping God together.

Having said all of that, Matthew Paul Turner’s take on worship and his approach to Jesus is from what I consider a “seeker sensitive” perspective. For those readers who are into light theology with little accountability, this book will probably feed right into their idea of church, God and Christianity.

[Alise · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! Really, I haven't read anything this quickly in a long time, but this one was fantastic.

I actually grew up in one of those homes that would have helped Matthew "rebel" by supplying him with music by Sandi Patti (his recollection of seeing her in concert actually made me choke up a little, remembering my own Sandi Patti concert experience!). My mom actually got into a bit of an argument with a minister we had met who had nothing but negative things to say about Christian rock. We invited people to go with us to the Creation festival and to various Christian concerts in the area. We loved music, and it was great to have something we could all listen to without blushing.

Anyway, back to the book. Matthew Paul Turner does indeed write a book about his journey into the world of music, both Christian and secular. But he also writes about his journey into a deeper, less safe faith. I think that, more than even his entertaining anecdotes about riding the fame coattails of Two4One or daring to talk to the man who had converted from being Episcopal to Christian. He allowed us as readers to take a look at his evolving faith. From one where he knew all of the answers to one where he could see that maybe the answers weren't as cut and dried as he had assumed.

Tons of laugh out loud moments in this book, but also several really poignant stories. If you've been a Christian for a while and have lived through any of the contemporary versus traditional music debate, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Absolutely be sure to check it out!

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

snarky, like everything people in their twenties write.
turner is about ten years-twenty years younger than me but much of the book still rings true. he was an editor of CCM, which i subscribed to back when it was Contempory Christian Music, tried to be a Christian musician cause God told him to be (i still have some embarrassing songs i wrote in my file cabinet) and believed the way of his church was the way. then he went to college.

he was touched by the songs of the "righteous fox", Amy Grant. for turner it was the song "Sing Your Praise to the Lord" for me it was "El Shaddai." "Lead Me On" was an album that affected both our lives. he writes a powerful chapter about her and an interview he's forced to conduct by his editor, wish he'd said if the story came out w/his byline.

this book has a lot of memories for me.

three more things, i put this in my "aging" catagory of books which i thought was for books about the elderly. turner shows it is also for books about growing up.

he talks about having famous pastors autograph his Bible, i was once at a homeless shelter w/Dr. Don Rose (and others) and the guys were really excited to have Don sign their Bibles. wish i'd thought to ask as well.

favourite line "Kathy's goal was to get her PhD in Christianity psychiarty and then move to a city with a large population of pastors who needed therapy and medication. Dallas or Houston she thought."

[Alison Strait · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there's something you don't know about me it's that I LOVE to read blogs. One of my current favorites to read is Matthew Paul Turner's JesusNeedsNewPR because of his sense of humor about Christian culture. A few months ago he put out an invitation on his blog to participate in a blog book tour for his soon to be released book Hear No Evil. So, I jumped at the opportunity to read and review his book before it's release on February 16, 2010.

From his beginnings in a fundamentalist church that preached the "evil" of most music, including Amy Grant and Sandi Patty, to his college years at a Christian university and the beginning of his career, Matthew Paul Turner's book Hear No Evil is a collection of laugh out loud funny essays about how music has impacted his life. Turner is such a visual writer that I had a "Wonder Years" experience with him becoming the narrator to what I would see as I read. While his essays could be misinterpreted as bashing the church he grew up in, I think he ultimately points out how not all aspects of Christian culture are necessarily biblical. It's easy to see that Turner's intent is to point people to the freedom of having a relationship with Jesus instead of being bound by man made rules alone.

This book was privded for free for review by the fine people at WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Company.

[Bobby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I happened upon this book while straightening the religion section at work and decided to take it home albeit with low expectations.

Within the first few chapters, I found myself laughing out loud not something that happens a lot while I read especially in the lunch room at work. I quickly read the entire book with only a few lags in interest.

Instead of the watered-down humor filled with snarky cynacism at Christian culture that I expected, I found a very endearing author striving to make sense of his past with humor and compassion. Witty without being mean-spirited. Empathetic without excusing behavior. Most of all, it was actually funny. Similar to the vein of a David Sedaris, the author astutely describes the awkward situations he finds himselve in and plays up the ridiculous details, but still reflects on the deeper influence they have on his life.

I'm very glad I picked this up. While I can't relate to the familial religious pressures, I can relate to being surrounded by a culture that encouraged the burning of secular CDs and a fear of hand-holding. Like the author, I've been able to see Jesus a little clearer out of the religious boxes since that time and can laugh about the ridiculous "rules" we thought were so important.

[Badly Drawn Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to preface my review by saying that I am not a Christian in any traditional sense and I wasn't raised with religion. But I have spent my life searching for something greater than myself and have a wide variety of experiences regarding organized Christianity. I have always been interested in other people's beliefs and the topic of faith is fascinating to me.

This book is a quick and enjoyable read that isn't heavy handed about religion. It's a book that should be accessible to most anyone regardless of their belief system. Matthew Paul Turner is raised in a very strict and borderline fanatic household. But he is able to poke fun at his family and home church without ever being vindictive. And yet, it's not so lighthearted so as to be meaningless. He is searching for answers the way most of us do, and he is open-minded enough to be tolerant of others thoughts and opinions. As a writer, he isn't a male Anne Lamott, but he has written a enjoyable and at times thought provoking book.

[Sandy Mckenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so related with the author. He and I both grew up in baptist churches in the South. He considered himself music deprived as his church was very conservative. My church was also. I remember when I was ten and the Beatles first album came out, I loved it and my grandpa (whom I grew up with ), thought it was 'devil music'. So I totally relate. I just wanted to be in the flower child generation and my grandparents thought I should hear nothing but old time gospel music. When God tells the author He needs him to be the Christian version of Michael Jackson, well, I thought that was hilarious. I never got that speech. Needless to say , I was a rebellious teenager.
This book is a great read and the author draws you into the story with him, and you will find yourself relating to so many things. It is how God shaped Michael Paul Turner's story. It made me think how God has shaped my story also. How has God shaped yours?

[Robert Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read any of Matthew Paul Turner's stuff, you know two things about him already:
1) He comes from a very interesting fundamentalist Christian background
2) He knows how to write. Very well! And keep you laughing the whole time!!!

In what seems to me like a loose follow-up to his other memoir, "Churched", Turner gives us a few simple snapshots of his past in relationship to music. Growing up, Turner's parents never allowed him to listen to too much for fear that anything outside of traditional hymns were somehow influenced by Satan.
Once in college, however, he became exposed to everything that he had been missing out on, from Bob Dylan to Contemporary Christian.
Having dreams of making it big in the contemporary Christian scene, Turner recounts his personal experiences with certain artists, songs, and those who wish they were artists producing songs.
This is a great, quick read for someone who loves humorous writing.

[Scarlett Sims · Rating 4 out of 5]

This music-inspired memoir takes the format of a series of vignettes detailing Turner's life as a Christian music fan and industry insider.

I feel like this book is most appreciated by people who grew up in the kind of conservative environment described in the book, or who are at least familiar with it. The writing style is humorous and conversational, yet I feel that outsiders from the culture he describes might not appreciate it quite as much. I think my husband would get more out of this book than I did since his upbringing was a bit closer to Turner's, it seems.

I guess my one complaint is that the book isn't more in-depth. I read it quite quickly, and while Turner touches on a few spiritual points that are very quotable, I kinda wish he had made it more blatant. Or maybe I don't.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man! Here, I thought I grew up in a pretty conservative religious home, but this book reveals that my upbringing wasn't even close to fundamentalism. That's not entirely the point of this book, but it is about springing free from that sort of upbringing and discovering a sense of grace in life and faith.

Matthew's writing style is sharp, witty, and laugh-out loud funny. And while it kept me very much engaged, the stories from the early part of the book (and from Matthews's early life) seemed sort of ho-hum.

The book doesn't really reach an emotional crescendo until a little over half way when almost out of no-where it hit me like a ton of bricks with the power and force of grace that Matthew seems to have found in his own life.

All in all it is a worthy read and I can definitely see myself recommending it to the right person at the right time in their life.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an intriguing novel. I liked the concept and how Matthew kept the stories flowing together and made everything fluid. Some of the elements of his life I could totally relate to: I grew up with certain music that was off limits but it was different to see modern music under the label "christian" was off limits for him. It was an interesting twist to see a different viewpoint from such a conservative stance and how Matthew slowly overcame this and developed his own set of beliefs about music. This was a good and quick read. I enjoyed it and found several parts of it humorous. The ending was a little bit of a letdown and I'm not sure if I entirely got the point, but I would probably still recommend it.

*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...

[Matt Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who had to sneak in Contemporary Christian music myself, and later had to justify an enjoyment of good music in all its forms I found much of this book relatable. It's a series of stories about honesty, faith and hope in music, and ranges in topics from how to spot a Christian rocker to the problems with becoming the Christian Michael Jackson. It's funny, and raises some good questions. I'm not sure I agree with all of his points, but some moments (like his interview with Amy Grant and his thoughts on being a wannabe) resonate with a lot of truth. I especially needed to read the parts about being in process, as that's how I feel right now. Sensitive readers may be offended by some of his humor, but he tells an entertaining and touching story.

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew Paul Turner's honest, self-effacing, and humorous memoir chronicles his journey from childhood in regard to the Christian music industry. He has included a number of vignettes from various points in his life that help illustrate his journey from an overly sheltered youth through being editor of CCM magazine (and beyond). Unlike some others, Turner manages to tell his stories in a way that demonstrates a level of respect for the industry, and although he uses humour and some sarcasm, he does not come off as embittered. His stories are at times laugh-out-loud funny, and they are all too familiar for anyone who has at any time identified with the Christian music bubble. I'll definitely read his other stories, as well as re-reading this memoir again.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been following Matthew Paul Turner on Twitter for a while and I was excited to get the opportunity to review his new book. I read the entire thing on a plane - half on my flight out, the other half on my flight in. I think the poor souls who sat next to me thought I was insane, as I would bust out laughing every few minutes. What's not to love about a Christian making fun of Christians? So refreshing to finally hear a religious perspective from someone who doesn't take himself too seriously.

This book is a quick read, well written and very humorous. Christian or not, you will enjoy it.

[Adam Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review at http://bookwi.se/hear-no-evil-my-stor...

Short review: I had mixed feelings about this book. As essays about Christian's perception of music (both Christian and non-Christian) it was interesting. I did not grow up in a stream of Christianity that rejected Christian rock completely, but I was aware that it was out there.

It also was good and illustrating some of the issues that Christians have with interacting with the wider culture in general.

Overall it was good, I liked the author, but it didn't grab me in the way that I thought it would. Maybe I had too high of expectations.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chapter on Sandi Patty alone is worth the price of the book; hilarious. It's amazing what a closed-minded, fundamentalist interpretation of Scripture can keep Christians from experiencing and enjoying. This book is refreshing in that Turner does not throw out all of his religious upbringing in one fell secular swoop. Rather, he approaches the reality of the existence of good non-Christian (read: anything not contained in the Baptist hymnal) music and the tension experienced by anyone who's been told that it is a tool of the devil. I found many sections humourous, some sad, but mostly all entertaining.

[Joy Matteson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more from this book--I wanted to hear more about the current CCM scene, but this book is more like a trip down memory lane for the author, from his fundamentalist independent Baptist roots (synonymous with hell-fire preaching, girls who can't wear jeans, and Satan music = rock n' roll) to his growing awareness of grace in his life. The author is a genuinely funny writer, whose anecdotes are more often hilarious than not. I thought of several people who would enjoy reading this book, especially those who grew up in the CCM scene and remember the golden days of Michael W Smith, Amy Grant, and Sandy Patti.