A warning against the competitive "up and to the right" mindset that so many of us have adopted. Lots to think about here.

(I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

By now, it's no secret that I'm a fan of world-renowned theologian and award-winning author Miroslav Volf. I discovered Volf because of my life for for Jurgen Moltmann, under whose guidance Volf received two advanced degrees.

If you know me well, you likely know that John Hiatt has long been one of my favorite musical artists. Over many years, Hiatt's music has served as a healer in my life and as a constant companion. In many ways, the same is true for the theological writing of Miroslav Volf.

With "The Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse" explores why ambition is at odds with the Christian faith and why the quest for superiority has negative consequences in pretty much all areas of our lives.

Volf has long been recognized as a bridge-building theologian. I first discovered him with "End of Memory" and have devoured his writings ever since. He was a theologian to whom I reached out after a limb loss a few years ago (and he actually responded!). As it was for many, Volf's "Exclusion and Embrace" was a life-changing book.

Here, Volf writes accessibly and in a way I found somewhat convicting about how we can achieve excellence instead of striving for superiority. Furthermore, he dives into how we can end the cycle of feeling inferior to others while also pursuing a humbler way of living. He does a deep dive into how Kierkegaard, John Milton, and the apostle Paul all talk about the cost of ambition and drives hime again and again that seeking to be better than others is at odds with key Christian convictions.

Gently and with tremendous wisdom, Volf guides us toward excellence without that excellence needing to be better or the best. Time and again throughout "The Cost of Ambition," I found myself resonating with Volf's words and reflecting upon those areas of my life where the desire for superiority seems to cause me to surrender less and seek to control more.

I've never experienced a Volf writing that I didn't truly love. The same is true here. A relatively brief writing, "The Cost of Ambition" arrived at a time only weeks after my ordination as a deacon and my occasional overwhelming feeling I should "prove" myself and strive to be "best." Instead, I think Volf would say, I should strive for excellence and serve God with all my heart, mind, body, and soul surrendered to how I am to serve.

As always with Volf, perfect timing for yet another wonderful book from one of my very favorite authors.