Update March 2012: This book project has been put on hold while another takes priority. It is not, however, forgotten. Enjoy the video as a taster until the book is complete.
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As many of you know, I am writing a new book. Today I am excited to introduce this new project to you and invite you to be part of the writing team! More on that in a second.
The Big Idea
A few years ago I wrote a book called Unseen Footprints and ever since I have been trying to write its follow up. The demands of a national radio show got in the way and three Open House books subsequently jumped the queue! But work slowly continued on the project. Looking back, I needed the extra time to grow personally and study deeply. I couldn’t have written the same book back then.
Tentatively titled More Than This: Searching for God in a Secular Age, the new book will be the culmination of five year’s thinking on, speaking about and research into the ways we humans search for ‘something more’ in our lives. Here’s the (equally tentative) back cover blurb:
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Our secular age has dismissed God.
But do we secretly long for his return?
In More Than This, award-winning writer and broadcaster Sheridan Voysey unveils our hidden search for the divine—a subconscious longing revealed through our shopping, working, travelling and social networking.
And through a fresh look at everyday experiences—the beauty of the world, the love of a parent, heroic acts, and humanity’s scientific quests and philosophical ponderings—he arrives at a fascinating discovery: the God we’re looking for stands right before our eyes.
More Than This is an inspiring, insightful and poetic book that will change the way you see the world and renew your search for life’s missing element.
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The book will be written for spiritually-interested young-adult meaning-seekers in the UK, US and Australia. That could be you or your friend. That’s why I’m interested in your feedback.
I have been ‘road testing’ some of the ideas in More Than This for the last couple of years, sharing them at conferences and other speaking engagements (like this event at Australia’s Parliament House). The feedback I’ve received and the effects I’ve seen in people’s lives from the message have been greatly encouraging. I can’t wait to complete the book.
Part 1: The 4 Human Longings
More Than This will be made up of two parts: the first on human longings, the second on seeing God in everyday life. In this post and the post following, you’ll get a sneak peek into the material. (The book itself will be full of colourful stories illustrating these ideas, unlike my brief overview here.)
In this short 8 minute video with Simon Smart from the Centre for Public Christianity I explain the first part of the book – the four longings of the human soul:
- The longing to find some kind of meaning for our lives. This used to be found through religious faith; I explore some of the ways we search for it in a secular age.
- The longing to find guidance. The long queues for the psychics’ rooms at Mind-Body-Spirit festivals display a deep hunger for security in our lives, finances and relationships.
- The longing to find liberation. Our desire to be freed from the world’s brokenness, from our own guilt, shame and pain, and how the rise of suburban counselling centres and psychology’s adoption of forgiveness show this to be a spiritual hunger.
- The longing for love. How each of us, no matter our race or background, long for a deep, abiding and unconditional love that will stay with us to the end, despite our faults and failings.
I’ll post a second video exploring Part 2 of the book – on seeing God – this Thursday. (Update: find it here.)
Your Invitation to be Part of the Project
Some quality authors have already offered to endorse More Than This. In the meantime, as I finish the project, I would love your input and hope to make that input-giving fun through a competition.
In the following weeks and months I’ll be posting material related to More Than This on this blog – things like articles related to the book (on human longing and the nature of God), sample chapters, potential cover designs, and more.
What I’m needing your help with is this:
- Honest feedback on the content and ideas posted.
- Assistance in getting the word out about the book through blogs, Facebook updates and shares, Twitter mentions and retweets, and the like.
- Ideas about groups, churches and organisations who might like to hear about the book.
As a thank you, 60 prizes will be on offer:
- 20 FREE copies of the More Than This book
- 20 FREE copies of the More Than This ebook
- 20 FREE downloads of the More Than This audio book
I’ll be tracking all comments on More Than This-related posts. On completion of the book, ebook and audio book, 60 winners will be chosen at random from these commenters, using random.org. The more you’re involved the more opportunities you’ll have to win a copy of the book!
(Please note that publishing schedules can mean significant delays to a book’s release – sometimes up to a year after completion of a manuscript. Prizes will be awarded as soon as possible on the book’s availability. You will be contacted by email.)
So, to get involved:
- Leave a considered comment on this or any More Than This post!
- Share the page via the ‘Share and Enjoy’ buttons below, then let me know you’ve done so in the comments (if you use Disqus, your Twitter comments should appear automatically). I’m hoping that you’ll find the More Than This content personally enriching and helpful for passing on to family and friends anyway.
Thanks for playing a part in this new and exciting project.
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Q: Let’s begin! What do you think of the book’s concept? How do the longings of meaning, guidance, liberation and love match up with your experience, or of those around you?
