Books: On the Unseriousness of Human Affairs: Teaching, Writing, Playing, Believing, Lecturing, Philosophizing, Singing, Dancing by James V. Schall

Humans Fully Living…

Why I Love Books by James Schall

by Robert M. Woods

Ever since God commanded His creation to rest, humans have managed to busy themselves to near oblivion. James Schall has long been recognized as one of the great masters of the essay. In his most recent collection of essays, Schall tackles the important issue of “what to do when all else is done” (xi). Most reflective people realize that our culture is driven by pragmatism. This idea has even worked its way into the community of the saints. Maybe even worse than this is that our entire society (and the church) breathe the atmosphere of utilitarianism. Even when it is not affirmed explicitly, it is implicit in virtually all of our pursuits—what is the use of this activity? It is in this setting that Schall plays the role of heretic and questions the reigning orthodoxy of utilitarianism.

Like G.K Chesterton, Schall has an eye for paradox and the ability to move the reader to think differently. By shifting the angle and turning some phrases, Schall examines topics such as wisdom, joy, leisure, play, happiness, work, conversation, letter writing, reflection, pilgrimage, teaching and being taught. Among the many delights of reading Schall is seeing how apparently unconnected issues or aspects of life are indeed connected. Dr. Schall frequently demonstrates the medieval truism that “any thing, if we think deeply enough about it, can lead us to everything” (xii). Herein may reside some of the reason for such fragmentation in our contemporary lives. It appears that there is not a great deal of thinking about things. Some may question the value of thinking. The anti-intellectualism prevalent in American culture is also commonplace in church cultures.

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