D.J. Lang > Recent Status Updates

I promise I'm getting to the re-reading of this book. My challenge is listening to the podcast of the same name, reading the book, all within the limits of the time I currently have. It's worth it.

Almost done! The book is worth getting, but it's a book to work through, not a quick read.

Finally up to Week 4!

Almost at the end. On section 12 of 15.

My current page doesn't tell the whole story since during Lent 2025 I did the Lenten section toward the end of the book

On 189, but also finishing up Easter week on page 273.

I'm reading/doing this section and the section on Lent at the same time, and I like doing it this way.

I'm reading in line with the podcast "Subversive Orthodoxy". This is my second time of reading the book. I'm enjoying it just as much as the first time or maybe a bit more since I'm reading it more slowly.

I'm up to Section 3 of 15 in "Week 2" (not really a literal week) but took a side trip into a Lenten section in the appendix.

Ha! I ended up listening to the latest Subversive Orthodoxy podcast on Blake and Goethe and ended up re-reading the first chapter of the book, "The Soul Under Siege". I figure it's not a competition to get to the end. I recommend the book and the podcast.

Through Blake and Goethe and into Kierkegaard followed by Chesterton. Great title for this chapter: "The Soul Under Siege". I just wish the podcast Subversive Orthodoxy would hurry up and get back on with a discussion of this chapter!

Almost out of the part of Ignatian's exercise that concentrate on sin. I do appreciate the challenge to figure out the whys as well as the encouragement to look for the pathways that were present to give me a way out of temptation.

My second re-read book of the year, a book I first read 20 years ago. I picked it back up after being introduced to a new podcast also by the same title Subversive Orthodoxy, hosted by Travis Mullen in conversation each week with the author of the book, Robert Inchausti. I listened to the first two episodes and started re-reading the book. I'm happy with both.

I'm in the actual Ignatian exercises now, and I'm fairly certain I have a difference of opinion with Ignatian on what is transformative. I'll save that for when I have finished and I have written my review.

Lol. Two more sections before I even get to the actual exercises.

Still not on the actual Ignatian exercises but I appreciated the preparatory exercises , and I'm intrigued by this next preparatory part.

Just about made it into Section 3 of 3 of the PRE-Ignatian exercises. This book is going to be in the top left corner of my Goodreads for awhile. I'm not sure why I put it up here!

Still enjoying the book. On the one hand I'm asking myself if the book and author fall into the same category as Be Successful books, but I think Guidara might be different (if he and his restaurants really are as he writes about himself and them).

I'm obviously not moving very fast through this book. I could say that I am waiting for a reader in the family to catch up with me, but, no, it is so depressing. I had remembered that readers were scared it would happen, and I just now remembered it was banned. One might say it is no wonder culture chose Brave New World over 1984.

This book continues to be delightful to read.

Ohhh, good thing I'm reading some delightful books at the same time I am reading this book. I'm remembering why the book freaked people out.

I said I would be going slowly. Miss a few days and I'm going even more slowly! I'm still on board with the journey.

"Know Why Your Work Is Important" -- "You MUST be able to name for yourself why your work matters" (99).

"...if all others accepted the lie...then the lie passed into history and became truth. 'Who controls the past,' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.' "(34)

And, page 35! Too long to quote, but Orwell's carefully constructed paragraph on doublethink...wow!

Ugh...so this is going to be brilliant and depressing.
"Tragedy, he perceived, belonged to the ancient time, to a time when there were still privacy, love, and friendship, and when the members of a family stood by one another without needing to know the reason. His mother's memory tore at his heart because she had died loving him, when he was too young and selfish to love her in return, and because..." (30)

Still liking it.

This book is good for a whole lot of other types of businesses and organizations. I'd say it is a must read* for churches, or any group that has someone like a pastor (chef), a staff (waiters, etc.), an elder board (Profit and finance), and congregation (customers). And, before anyone freaks out over comparing a church to a restaurant, take the profit out of it: this book is wise advice.
*at least so far

I'm up to the actual preparatory exercises, and I'm realizing I probably should not have put this book up on "Currently Reading" because I'm going to be currently reading this book for quite a while.

"It was not by making yourself heard but by staying sane that you carried on the human heritage" (27)