The Life We're Looking for: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World
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- Author：Andy Crouch
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Summary
A deeply reflective primer on creating meaningful connections， rebuilding abundant communities， and living in a way that engages our full humanity in an age of unprecedented anxiety and loneliness--from the author of The Tech-Wise Family
"Andy Crouch shows the path to reclaiming a life that restores the heart of what it means to thrive。"--Arthur C。 Brooks， #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Strength to Strength
Our greatest need is to be recognized--to be seen， loved， and embedded in rich relationships with those around us。 But for the last century， we've displaced that need with the ease of technology。 We've dreamed of mastery without relationship （what the premodern world called magic） and abundance without dependence （what Jesus called Mammon）。 Yet even before a pandemic disrupted that quest， we felt threatened and strangely out of place: lonely， anxious， bored amid endless options， oddly disconnected amid infinite connections。
In The Life We're Looking For， bestselling author Andy Crouch shows how we have been seduced by a false vision of human flourishing--and how each of us can fight back。 From the social innovations of the early Christian movement to the efforts of entrepreneurs working to create more humane technology， Crouch shows how we can restore true community and put people first in a world dominated by money， power， and devices。
There is a way out of our impersonal world， into a world where knowing and being known are the heartbeat of our days， our households， and our economies。 Where our vulnerabilities are seen not as something to be escaped but as the key to our becoming who we were made to be together。 Where technology serves us rather than masters us--and helps us become more human， not less。
"Andy Crouch shows the path to reclaiming a life that restores the heart of what it means to thrive。"--Arthur C。 Brooks， #1 New York Times bestselling author of From Strength to Strength
Our greatest need is to be recognized--to be seen， loved， and embedded in rich relationships with those around us。 But for the last century， we've displaced that need with the ease of technology。 We've dreamed of mastery without relationship （what the premodern world called magic） and abundance without dependence （what Jesus called Mammon）。 Yet even before a pandemic disrupted that quest， we felt threatened and strangely out of place: lonely， anxious， bored amid endless options， oddly disconnected amid infinite connections。
In The Life We're Looking For， bestselling author Andy Crouch shows how we have been seduced by a false vision of human flourishing--and how each of us can fight back。 From the social innovations of the early Christian movement to the efforts of entrepreneurs working to create more humane technology， Crouch shows how we can restore true community and put people first in a world dominated by money， power， and devices。
There is a way out of our impersonal world， into a world where knowing and being known are the heartbeat of our days， our households， and our economies。 Where our vulnerabilities are seen not as something to be escaped but as the key to our becoming who we were made to be together。 Where technology serves us rather than masters us--and helps us become more human， not less。
Reviews
David
，
I had really high expectations for this book， because of how much I've grown to appreciate Andy Crouch's thoughts about the world。 While it didn't quite meet my expectations， it was still really good。 In this book， Crouch writes about how it's possible to become persons again， even though we live in an increasingly impersonal， technology-driven world。 Crouch explains that we start our lives with the desire to be recognized， to be seen and loved by others， not on the basis of what we offer but ba I had really high expectations for this book， because of how much I've grown to appreciate Andy Crouch's thoughts about the world。 While it didn't quite meet my expectations， it was still really good。 In this book， Crouch writes about how it's possible to become persons again， even though we live in an increasingly impersonal， technology-driven world。 Crouch explains that we start our lives with the desire to be recognized， to be seen and loved by others， not on the basis of what we offer but based on who we intrinsically are。 He goes on to point out that "every human person is a heart-soul-mind-strength complex designed for love。" To the degree we lean into this is the degree to which we will flourish。 However， our technological world is shaping us to desire more strength combined with less effort， what Crouch calls the superpower zone。 The problem is， these superpowers diminish us as persons， and prevent us from learning what is actually good for us。In the last third of the book， he starts leaning into what he recommends for re-claiming healthy relationships and bucking this trend of desiring superpowers: namely， moving from "devices" that ask less of us to "instruments" that require all of us and leaning into the idea of creating households。 While I think some of ideas sound interesting and good， I'm not clear on how I could realistically put them into practice。 “God wishes to put all things into the service of persons and ultimately to bring forth the flourishing of creation through the flourishing of persons。 Mammon wants to put all persons into the service of things and ultimately to bring about the exploitation of all of creation。” 。。。more
Meredith McDermott
，
There’s nothing revolutionary about this book， but her it’s so well said & really made me think。 It’s a great reminder to not let devices and consumption keep us from what we really want: deep connection with other people， based on nothing but their personhood。 “We weren’t made to have an impact on the world， so much as to be a taste to the world” is a quote that will stick with me。
Will Turner
，
like combining culture making with the tech wise family then expanding upon both。we are created to be known。
Joseph R。
，
Modern conveniences have only gotten more and more convenient。 We can communicate with almost anyone on the planet， and not just in text or on the phone but with live video。 We can order food， drink， books， clothes， entertainment， gadgets， and anything else at the click of a button， often with the item arriving in a matter of hours， let alone days or weeks。 The world is at our fingertips。 And yet， there is a crisis of genuine contact between people。 Text messages are notorious for being misinter Modern conveniences have only gotten more and more convenient。 We can communicate with almost anyone on the planet， and not just in text or on the phone but with live video。 We can order food， drink， books， clothes， entertainment， gadgets， and anything else at the click of a button， often with the item arriving in a matter of hours， let alone days or weeks。 The world is at our fingertips。 And yet， there is a crisis of genuine contact between people。 Text messages are notorious for being misinterpreted; even videos don't quite give us the same experience that we have when we meet in person。 Convenience has come at a cost。 Do you even make eye contact at checkout counters？ Do you even see the same people at the same store？ Do you even see them as people？ Of course， the opposite is distressingly true--do others sees you as a person？ A person is more than the spending power of their credit card or the entertainment value of their presence。 What we learn in modern interactions is not knowing a person as a person。 Andy Crouch looks at this dehumanizing quality of modern life and convincingly documents the ways that life has become less personal。 Technology can do amazing things and can be helpful in certain ways， but the dominate tone is a false promise of fulfillment， fulfilling only basic needs and wants， not looking to deeper and more specifically human needs。 Crouch provides ideas for how to counteract the numbing and isolating effects of our technologically-dominated world。 He builds on ideas started two thousand years ago， when the Roman Empire was at its height of world domination。 A new movement started， in homes and around tables， where everyone had equal dignity: the scholars， the government officials， the scribes， the slaves， the females。 Christianity provided a sea change in human culture with its emphasis on human dignity and care for even the most marginalized and supposedly worthless members of society。 While it seems that such a scheme is doomed to failure， look where the Roman empire is today （in history books and museums） and where Christians are （all over the world， in hospitals and hospices， in food banks and soup kitchens）。 Crouch recommends we build households， places where people of different stages and stations in life gather and truly live together。 Some households only have family， but often people who are not blood relations live in common and still develop close bonds and give mutual support。 These are communities like the early Christian communities， where people would gather to pray and eat and serve each other。 Such a lifestyle is unglamorous and won't wind up in history books or museums， but it will last for generations to come and will make the world a better place。This book is inspirational without being ham-fistedly religious。 While referencing Christianity， Crouch does not argue that we depend on grace or supernatural interventions in order to heal the wounds in modern society。 He is not telling anyone to go to church or to pray to God （he does not write about that）。 Crouch keeps it on a humanist level， even while acknowledging that the problems of hedonistic， materialistic culture are the results of serving Mammon， which Jesus claims in Matthew 6:24 is what you are serving if you aren't serving God。 People need to make priorities and some priorities are better than others。Highly recommended， and it's a quick read too！SAMPLE QUOTE: "The privacy we cherish is constantly in danger of curdling into isolation。" [p。 160] 。。。more
Kevin
，
Probably a 3。5 stars but the second half was stronger than the first。 Important ideas worth mediating own and working on putting into practice， even if it felt a little thin in parts。 I think it is a book that would be worth reading in one or two long readings。 That way you get the whole picture of the book rather than small snippets of individual short chapters。If there is a weakness， it is that， at times， it verges on utopian or overly-idealistic。 But if you need practical advice on technology Probably a 3。5 stars but the second half was stronger than the first。 Important ideas worth mediating own and working on putting into practice， even if it felt a little thin in parts。 I think it is a book that would be worth reading in one or two long readings。 That way you get the whole picture of the book rather than small snippets of individual short chapters。If there is a weakness， it is that， at times， it verges on utopian or overly-idealistic。 But if you need practical advice on technology Crouch has a book for that。 I think you have to use the ideas in this book as a lens through which you see the world and embed this attitude in your decision making。 Am I creating a household where value is not set by Mammon/efficiency？ Am I using technology as a tool or instrument or am I using it like magic？ Am I building real relationships with other persons or am I making thin connections with "friends" on the internet？ 。。。more
Annie
，
After reading a lot of denser books， the writing style of this one was a bit of a shock。 There were many helpful observations Crouch made， but I had a hard time adjusting to his style—however， that’s my own fault， or just a matter of personal taste， not a judgement on his work。
Alyssa
，
Andy Crouch reveals the root cause of our loneliness and discontent in today’s relationships while generally exploring how we can continue a way of true connection that has surpassed the complexities of each generation。 While the organization left me feeling a bit scattered， I was ultimately inspired and encouraged to move forward in our technologically advancing culture。
Elizabeth
，
1
Trevor Atwood
，
Simply- beautiful。 I could not give a book a higher recommendation。
Christopher Fouche
，
I love how Andy Crouch writes， and I love how he presents the faith。 This book is equal parts beautiful and challenging。 Highly recommended。
Luke Evans
，
Extraordinary book。 Moving。 Timely。
B。J。 Richardson
，
Andy Crouch speaks my language。 He has put into beautiful words many of the ideas that were churning in unfinished nexus form deep inside my heart and my subconscious。 His insights have put into words the discontent and ill ease that has been growing in my soul with regards to the ever increasing isolationism that is part of our technological world。 Crouch isn't a Luddite。 His premise is not that technology is bad but rather that we must own out technology rather than letting it own us。 He creat Andy Crouch speaks my language。 He has put into beautiful words many of the ideas that were churning in unfinished nexus form deep inside my heart and my subconscious。 His insights have put into words the discontent and ill ease that has been growing in my soul with regards to the ever increasing isolationism that is part of our technological world。 Crouch isn't a Luddite。 His premise is not that technology is bad but rather that we must own out technology rather than letting it own us。 He creates dichotomies like devices vs instruments and superpowers vs flow to demonstrate how modern innovations can promise the world and yet steal our soul （while giving us none of those things promised）。 A few quotes: "Before we ever knew to look for a mirror， we were looking for another person's face。" "Power without effort， it turns out， diminishes us as much as it delights us。""Once we lived with allness of heart， with a boldness of quest that was too in love with the good to call off pursuit when we encountered risk。 Now we live as voyeurs， pursuing shadowy vestiges of what we desire from behind the one way mirror of a screen， invulnerable but alone。"Crouch gives his book a bold title。 As he himself acknowledges， we are bombarded with big， bold promises all the time。 There are all kinds of new gadgets， new diets， new financial investment plans， new。。。 whatever， that will boldly promise "the life we are looking for" and yet they all fail to deliver even a fraction of what they promise。 So I was skeptical going in to this book。 It didn't take me long to realize that Crouch doesn't just promise。。。 he delivers。 My life， your life， our lives will all be so much deeper and richer if we allow the ideas he presents to saturate our souls and impact influence our lives。 Get this book。 Devour it。 You won't regret it。 。。。more
Michele Morin
，
Once again Andy Crouch offers startling commentary on the culture and our relationship to technology。 Picking up where The Tech Wise Family left off， The Life We’re Looking For addresses the state of our hearts， for our obsession with our devices is truly an obsession with ourselves。 Over time， humanity has traded our search for significance in the eyes of another person for the self-affirming mirror of customized entertainment and digital distraction。Somehow， in a world obsessed with identity， Once again Andy Crouch offers startling commentary on the culture and our relationship to technology。 Picking up where The Tech Wise Family left off， The Life We’re Looking For addresses the state of our hearts， for our obsession with our devices is truly an obsession with ourselves。 Over time， humanity has traded our search for significance in the eyes of another person for the self-affirming mirror of customized entertainment and digital distraction。Somehow， in a world obsessed with identity， we have lost touch with some of the most important ways of being human。 Part One of the book laments this loss， and Part Two responds by offering strategies and a mindset for a more fully human life。I have been personally challenged on some specific fronts:To continue to see my dining room table as a place where genuine change can happen。To be suspicious of the word “superpower” as a dehumanizing influence。 Wherever the sensation of strength is separated form the sensation of effort， we have been diminished。To be cautious about making choices that mask emptiness， all the while deepening it。 Crouch puts a finger on our “small consolations and addictions，” the things that keep us just barely comforted， when God has designed us to flourish。To beware of the allure of “impact。” What I really want to have with my readers is influence， a subtle and lasting change over time and through relationship and intentional， consequential contact over words and ideas。Rather than replacing people with cyborgs， the goal of truly valuable technology is to re-place us， to “put us back in our place as… the crown of creation。” （1480） As an instrument in the the hand of a skilled practitioner， technology benefits us most when it enhances our human capabilities and lifts our burdens。Many thanks to Convergent Books and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review， which is， of course， offered freely and with honesty。 。。。more
Taylor Barkley
，
About what I expected from Crouch。 I don’t think he’s correct that digital tech is inherently dehumanizing。 From that flow his arguments， mostly。 I did really love his OHare airport story！
Anthony Rodriguez
，
4。5 stars。 Andy Crouch is a gift。
PD
，
Excellent。 Not only a good description of the ways things are （on account of where we have come from）， but also a helpful suggestion of the ways things could be （shaping the imagination and heart to guide what we might cultivate）。 Packed metaphors for thought:* force vs taste* devices vs instruments* roads vs paths * charms vs blessing* and othersEmbodied persons in place with others。
Nic B
，
This book was a hard read。 The overall idea and premise is something I agree with but I wish it could have been written in a different way that made more sense to me。 It felt like so many of the brilliant thoughts and takeaways were buried in an excess of words。
Keith
，
An interesting take on technology and how it is shaping our lives。 A little different than other books I’ve read on the topic。
Eli Johnson
，
A quick and simple examination of our loneliness and disconnected world， as well as the call back to a household-love and community less focused on efficiency & productivity and more focused on self-giving & wonder。 There’s a lack of practical advice which I appreciated， and the final chapter united the books themes quite beautifully。
Matthew Gulenchyn
，
Essential Christian reading especially for those who have a yearning for authentic community。 I loved the social context of the Christian history that Andy referenced throughout the book。 Will likely have to go back over certain parts of it。
T。
，
Excerpt from CT:“Mammon，” he writes， “is ultimately not at all just a thing， or even a system， but a will at work in history。 And what it wants， above all， is to separate power from relationship， abundance from dependence， and being from personhood。”How do we preserve （or rejoin） what Mammon seeks to separate？ The answer， according to Crouch， is reviving the ideal of living together in a household， defined as “a community of persons who may well take shelter under one roof but also， and more fun Excerpt from CT:“Mammon，” he writes， “is ultimately not at all just a thing， or even a system， but a will at work in history。 And what it wants， above all， is to separate power from relationship， abundance from dependence， and being from personhood。”How do we preserve （or rejoin） what Mammon seeks to separate？ The answer， according to Crouch， is reviving the ideal of living together in a household， defined as “a community of persons who may well take shelter under one roof but also， and more fundamentally， take shelter under one another’s care and concern。 They provide for one another， and they depend on one another。 They mingle their assets and their liabilities， their gifts and their vulnerabilities， in such a way that it is hard to tell where one member’s end and another member’s begin。”As Crouch observes， “This is the one thing we need more than any other: a community of recognition。 While we must always insist that every human being matters whether or not they are seen or treated as one by others， we also know that no human being can flourish as a person unless they are seen and treated as one。 And for that， the household is the first and best place。 We need a place where we cannot hide。 We need a place where we cannot get lost。“So much of the tragedy of the modern world comes down to this: Most of us do not have such a place。“Perhaps we once did， for a time。 Maybe there was a home down the street， belonging to extended family or friends， whose back door was always open to us when we were a child; tastes of life under one roof that came with military service or short-term mission work; a year or two with roommates who did more together than just split the household bills。 But because these arrangements are not expected to last， they readily dissolve。“Many of us have friends， but friendships that are not bound together by household life tend to remain thin and fragile in our mobile world—all the more so after the peak bonding years of late adolescence。“Many of us have families， but family is fragile too， and its most crucial stage—the raising of children from infancy to young adulthood—is temporary by design。 A married couple with one or two children at home is the implicit cultural norm， but today it describes only a minority of the households identified by the United States census。 And such a small family is barely large enough to really form the kind of community of personhood for which we are made， even before the children are grown and gone。“If you are looking for a single proximate cause of the loneliness that is epidemic in our world， it is the dearth of households。“Nothing can truly erase the fact that most of us live long stretches of our lives without the community of recognition we most need。 And it should go without saying that merely having roommates—or a spouse or parents or children—is no guarantee at all， in Mammon’s realm， that we will be members of real communities of recognition， that there will be anyone who really knows us。”https://www。christianitytoday。com/ct/。。。 。。。more
Richard
，
Andy Crouch does it again with his perceptive insight into our human condition and his sobering assessment of our technological times。 Highly recommend。
Trish
，
Thought provoking， and more importantly， heart/mind/soul/body-restoring。 I hope to long recall the story of walking through O'Hare airport thinking "image bearer" about each person he sees。 His definition of Mammon is eye opening as well。 Worth reading！ Thought provoking， and more importantly， heart/mind/soul/body-restoring。 I hope to long recall the story of walking through O'Hare airport thinking "image bearer" about each person he sees。 His definition of Mammon is eye opening as well。 Worth reading！ 。。。more
Denisa Ostas
，
The book is welcome in our tech culture。 Andy Crouch elaborates on the way technology invades our space and identities。 He talks about using it as instruments in our lives， jobs and families。 Loved this idea！
Chicken
，
"For Mammon does want something very much indeed， because Mammon is ultimately not at all just a thing， nor even a system， but a will at work in history。 And what it wants， above all， is to separate power from relationship， abundance from dependence， and being from personhood。" -- pg。 76if you are alive today， prioritize crouch's new book。this is my new favorite entry in the "distracted age" subgenre of literacy / mindfulness / tech vs。 man conflict / the-world-is-going-to-hell-for-real style po "For Mammon does want something very much indeed， because Mammon is ultimately not at all just a thing， nor even a system， but a will at work in history。 And what it wants， above all， is to separate power from relationship， abundance from dependence， and being from personhood。" -- pg。 76if you are alive today， prioritize crouch's new book。this is my new favorite entry in the "distracted age" subgenre of literacy / mindfulness / tech vs。 man conflict / the-world-is-going-to-hell-for-real style polemics。 my other favorites from this subgenre:-- How Do To Nothing: Resisting The Attention Economy by Jenny Odell -- Reclaiming Conversation: The Power Of Talk In A Digital Age by Sherry Turkle-- The Shallows: What The Internet Is Doing To Our Brains by Nicholas Carr-- The Pleasures of Reading In An Age Of Distraction by Alan Jacobscrouch's title makes five titles in my list， so i'm ready to craft a syllabus for class titled Dystopian Nonfiction: Explorations In A Prepositionally Rich Subgenre。 i may be the only student taking the class （while also teaching it）， but they say the teachers learns most anyway。the bits i appreciated most about crouch's book:- our need for recognition （especially as a person） is primal- devices （and some tools） assure our personhood remains ever less intact or necessary- no tenderfootin' that modern tech industry is the plot of a malevolent spirit- impact vs。 influence （seek the latter）- any device that makes life "easier" at the expense of "expanding experience" is anti-human- households over family （fascinating discussion）i loved this book。 may the house of crouch be blessed in all its influential directions for generations to come。 。。。more
Kristen
，
Thoughtful analysis of what our technological， mammon-centered world does to our souls。
Conrade Yap
，
As more people live and work online， the age-old question of what are we looking for remains unanswered。 What are we searching for whenever we are at an Internet search engine？ Are we dependent on personalization algorithms to tell us what we need or do we already know what we want？ During our times of loneliness， what are we looking for to fill that relationship vacuum？ Clearly， there is a growing problem。 Research continually reveals that the problem of loneliness is growing。 Technology was su As more people live and work online， the age-old question of what are we looking for remains unanswered。 What are we searching for whenever we are at an Internet search engine？ Are we dependent on personalization algorithms to tell us what we need or do we already know what we want？ During our times of loneliness， what are we looking for to fill that relationship vacuum？ Clearly， there is a growing problem。 Research continually reveals that the problem of loneliness is growing。 Technology was supposed to be the relationship saviour， but alas， it might have worsened the problem instead。 The key is not to let technology lead us but to recognize our unique personhood。 Unfortunately， our modern lifestyle is not just impersonal， it reduces relationships to transactions。 Just like cashiers going through the motion of collecting money for purchases without even looking at their customers。 Worse， in an Internet age， transactions are increasingly conducted without having to talk to a human face or person。 The framework of the book is as follows。 First， the author highlights the growing problem of living in an increasingly impersonal world。 Aided by technology， this trajectory is poised to get worse。 If it is not recognized or addressed， we might be paying a deep price for the cost of technological and scientific advancement。 Crouch asserts that every human person is a "heart-soul-mind-strength complex designed for love。" The heart arouses our desire。 The soul drives the depth of ourselves。 The mind influences our quest for knowledge。 The will emboldens our energy toward actions。 Our chief goal is love。 However， this world has other plans。 In desiring more power for less effort， more time for less investment， and more fruit for less work， we consume technology thinking that by saving energy， time， and effort， we can become more of what we want to be。 Technology seduces us into thinking that it can replace the very things that define our personhood。 By focusing only on the product， we let technology deal with the process， including the very things that nourish the process of becoming human。 Like the frequent use of the calculator that diminishes our mental skills in math。 Truth is， being human requires both process and product。 In other words， we have allowed our drive for technology to replace our quest for personal connections and human development。 Crouch points out how technology is a form of money and mammon。 We use technology to make more money。 We use technology to attain the positions promised by mammon power。 Yet， something's gotta give， and Crouch tells us it is our personhood。 What then must we do？ Redeem， reclaim， and restore。 Redeem our opportunities while they exist。 Reclaim our relationships before it is too late。 Restore our need for authentic relationships while we can。My Thoughts==============Let me offer three reflections on this book。 First， I appreciate how Crouch highlights the problem of loneliness。 Since the creation of man， God had already said that it is not good for man to be alone。 That applies across genders。 Loneliness is a problem。 With technology， this problem has been exacerbated by disconnectedness and disembodiment。 The latter two worsen the loneliness problem。 Just being family alone is not enough。 We need a household， a community to which we can have a sense of belonging。 For Crouch， a common household is one that is about intimate relationships among people who love us。 It is a community that recognizes us and cares for us。 My question is whether Crouch's vision is some unattainable utopia on earth？ A cursory reading might suggest it is improbable， if not impossible。 Yet， it is important to cast vision。 A farmer who plants seeds must have a vision of a great harvest。 Likewise， we need to cast a vision of hope of community in an increasingly lonely world。 This is an all-important first step。 Recognize the problem and re-orientate ourselves toward solving it。 Second， I think Crouch is spot on when he points out the need for community。 I like how Crouch brings back the dignity of the ordinary， the mundane， and the seemingly "unuseful" processes of our lives。 This is something that we can learn from the dying。 Caregivers often share the four words people most needed: "I am not alone。" Anything we do that reminds us that we are not alone is definitely worth doing。 Whether it is mundane jobs or monotonous routines， there is a difference between doing it alone versus doing it together in a community。 Once we allow technology to replace the opportunities to establish friendship and community， we dig our own graves of loneliness。 Finally， we are reminded of how the human race has been cursed by sin， leading to the problem of restlessness。 Where is this restlessness driving us toward" What are the things that the unconscious use of technology leading us away from？ These are questions that we ought to ask from time to time。 The way we use search engines could be a clue to what we are looking for in life。 In seeking for solutions， are we downplaying the critical place of process？ In trying to make things more efficient， are we unwittingly destroying the very space where communities flourish？ If yes， are we then able to create new opportunities for human connections？Technology is not the problem。 It's the uncritical use of it that is the problem。 Thankfully， Crouch is one of those who not only recognizes the dangerous trajectories of our current technological environment， he points us on a way forward on what to do about it。 We need to bring back the spirit of community。 Technology is here to stay。 As we learn to use it and live with it， we should not let technology replace our humanness。 Wake up and take charge of technology。 Otherwise， we will be taken over。 Andy Crouch is the author of four books; he is also a partner for theology and culture at Praxis， an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship。 For more than ten years， Crouch was a producer and then executive editor at Christianity Today。 His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times， The Wall Street Journal， Time， Best Christian Writing， and Best Spiritual Writing。From 1998 to 2003， Andy was the editor-in-chief of re:generation quarterly， a magazine for an emerging generation of culturally creative Christians。 For ten years he was a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Harvard University。 He studied classics at Cornell University and received an M。Div。 summa cum laude from Boston University School of Theology。 A classically trained musician who draws on pop， folk， rock， jazz， and gospel， he has led musical worship for congregations of 5 to 20，000。 He lives with his family in Pennsylvania。Rating: 4。75 stars of 5。conradeThis book has been provided courtesy of Convergent Books and NetGalley without requiring a positive review。 All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied。 。。。more
Patrick Shipley
，
This is one of the more important books I have read in 2 years。
George P。
，
Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone to the world on January 9， 2007。 Since then， Apple has sold more than 2。2 billion units。 My iPhone 11 has more computing power and runs more sophisticated apps than my first computer， which was a Macintosh Classic。Smartphones make life easier。 I can call， text， or videoconference people for work and for fun。 I can write （or dictate）， edit， post， and share articles via social media。 I can snap pictures or take video of family events。 When I’m bored， I can stream m Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone to the world on January 9， 2007。 Since then， Apple has sold more than 2。2 billion units。 My iPhone 11 has more computing power and runs more sophisticated apps than my first computer， which was a Macintosh Classic。Smartphones make life easier。 I can call， text， or videoconference people for work and for fun。 I can write （or dictate）， edit， post， and share articles via social media。 I can snap pictures or take video of family events。 When I’m bored， I can stream my favorite TV shows or movies。 And I can shop for almost anything anytime online。By the same token， though， smartphones make life weirder。 I experience phantom vibration syndrome， the feeling that my phone is buzzing even though it’s not。 My ability to concentrate when reading a book has suffered， as I now constantly check my iPhone for fear of missing out。 And how often have I seen （or been） the date-night couple checking their devices instead of talking to one another？All technological advances have such pros and cons。 To evaluate tech， then， we must ask whether it contributes to human flourishing。 And that， in turn， forces us to ask even more fundamental questions: What is a human being， and what constitutes human flourishing？The Life We’re Looking For by Andy Crouch seeks to answer those questions。 According to Jesus’ Great Commandment （Matthew 22:37–40）， people are supposed to love God with all their heart， mind， soul， and strength， and to love their neighbors as themselves。 From this， Crouch infers a definition of human being: “Every person is a heart-soul-mind-strength complex designed for love。” If this is what human beings are， then flourishing occurs when people grow holistically into their relational design。The problem with technology is that it promises “power without relationship” and “abundance without dependence。” Crouch names these two promises “magic” and “Mammon，” respectively。 They hold out the hope for “superpowers” that enable us to rise beyond our limitations。Ironically， however， magic and Mammon， when left unchecked， corrode the holism and relationality that make life worthwhile。 Crouch counts the costs:Mind: “The defining mental activity of our time is scrolling … taking shallow hits of trivia， humor， and outrage to make up for the depths of learning， joy， and genuine lament that now feel beyond our reach。”Strength: “The defining illness of our time is metabolic syndrome， the chronic combination of high weight， high cholesterol， high blood pressure， and high blood sugar that is the hallmark of an inactive life。”Heart: “The defining emotional challenge of our time is anxiety …。 Now we live as voyeurs， pursuing shadowy vestiges of what we desire from behind the one-way mirror of a screen， invulnerable but alone。”Soul: “We have lost the sense that we are both at home and on a pilgrimage in the vast， mysterious cosmos， anchored in a rich reality beyond ourselves。”In short， technology reduces flourishing to an exercise of power in pursuit of stuff， ignoring the non-material and relational aspects of human being。 “So it is no wonder that the defining condition of our time is a sense of loneliness and alienation，” Crouch writes。 FaceTime is no substitute for face-to-face time， you might say。 Technology cannot replace relationship。In my opinion， there is no greater proof of the truth of this statement than the past two years of the pandemic。 However necessary social isolation and information technology were for getting us through Covid， their use has correlated with an increase in mental health disorders and a decrease in social trust。The dangers of technology don’t require Christians to become Luddites， however。 Remember， technology has pros， too， not just cons。 I know this personally。 At the age of 21， I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that that causes inflammation in the vertebrae。 Over time， the disease curves the spine forward into the shape of a C， making it difficult to walk or breathe。At first， the treatment for this condition consisted of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that alleviated the effects of inflammation。 Advances in medical technology have produced biologic agents that reduce the causes of inflammation。 Biologics have side effects， to be sure — such as greater proneness to infection — but overall， the newer treatment is much better than the older one。So how do we discern the usefulness of technological advancements？ How do we know that tech is helping us become heart-soul-mind-strength complexes designed for love？ How do we avoid tech that promises power without relationship and abundance without dependence？It would help， Crouch suggests， if we would distinguish a “device” from an “instrument。” Say you want to play Bach’s Cello Suite No。 1 in G-major。 You could take out your iPhone， open the YouTube app， and play a video of Yo-Yo Ma performing the song。 Or you could take out a cello， open the score， and play the suite yourself。 In this example， your iPhone is a device while your cello is an instrument。Both the iPhone and the cello allow you to do something you wouldn’t be able to do without them: play Bach’s Cell Suite No。 1 in G-major。 The difference is that a device makes you rely on its capabilities， while an instrument forces you to develop your own capabilities。 Only the latter is consistent with growth as a heart-mind-soul-strength complex。Mostly， though， Crouch focuses on developing our capacity to form loving relationships in a “household” as the antidote to magic and Mammon。 A household is related to but not limited to a “family。” Crouch writes:A household is both place and people — or maybe better， it is a particular people with a particular place。 A household is a community of persons who may well take shelter under one roof but also and more fundamentally take shelter under one another’s care and concern。 They provide for one another， and they depend on one another。 They mingle their assets and their liabilities， their gifts and their vulnerabilities， in such a way that it is hard to tell where one member’s end and another member’s begin。 If technology offers power without relationship and abundance without dependence， the household offers its antithesis: relationship that empowers the powerless and dependence that abounds to the needy。 According to Crouch， the New Testament exemplifies this kind of “community of the useless，” one blessedly free of a concern for magic and Mammon。 It can make use of technological advances， but it always requires that such advances serve the purpose of binding people to one another in love。The Life We’re Looking For， like Andy Crouch’s other books， is well-written and thought-provoking。 I see the truth of its analysis most clearly when it comes to IT， smartphones， and social media。 Such communication technologies are excellent examples of magic and Mammon’s false promises。But I’d be lying if I said those promises held no allure for me。 Creating a community modeled on the New Testament household is not easy。 It requires us to acknowledge our needs， even as we use our resources to meet the needs of others。 Too often， we just don’t want to bother or be bothered。 We want to be left to our own devices。And that， I suspect， is the attitude driving our dependence on technology。Book ReviewedAndy Crouch， The Life We’re Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World （New York: Convergent， 2022）。P。S。 If you liked my review， please click “Helpful” on my Amazon review page。P。P。S。 This review is cross-posted from InfluenceMagazine。com by permission。 。。。more
LeAnne
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