I cant be objective. Even if a journalist could be completely objective (which is impossible since journalist arent gods, despite all that they believe about themselves) I wouldnt want to be. So this entry is a disclaimer for a future blog. This future blog will be a review of Mark Steeles book Flashbang that was just released this week.
No matter what the book is really like I will give it a good review. And this creates a problem, what if the book IS really good? Because I cannot give it a bad review (Mark is a friend and mentor of sorts to me), how good of a good review can I give it that you will believe? So before I finish reading the book I need to lay out the hinderances to objectivity and then when I do publish the review you will have all the facts you need to make a decision about when to buy the book and from where.
The first question a skeptic would ask is, what if the book is terrible? The answer is that I will delete this entry and pretend nothing ever happened. So as far as the worse case scenario is concerned, if you are reading this then it cant be really bad.
So Ive established in my truncated logic, the fact that the book must be good. That no matter how good it is I cannot be objective, therefore you will have to read the book and make up your own mind. And finally, no I am not getting any kickbacks or affiliate commissions for pushing this book. Although that is a good idea.
The only problem that remains to be discussed is what if the book is too good? I mean what if it is awesome? The issue at stake is whether I should throw in my moist towellette (my fingers need TLC after typing) and stop writing. Ill explain.
My sophomore year in college I began working for my schools PR Rag … ur… Newspaper. Shortly after I started I was promoted to editor and later a full time columnist (the Peter Principle in action is beautiful if you get a chance to experience it first hand). As a columnist I was often compared to Mark Steele (he had been a columnist at the newspaper in the early 90’s). I have older brothers so Im used to being in other peoples shadows (of course being in my younger brothers shadow must have been a cosmic joke). Anyway this didnt bother me, especially since I had met Mark Steele and his wife Kasie (they had mentored the missions team I was on one summer) and they are good folk. And they still are good folk even if the book sucks. Of course I dont think it will because his writing style and mine are similar. Except his is better.
Which brings me back to the question, what if his book is awesome?
After college Mark went into media production, starred in some TV movies, hosted major media events, performed stand up comedy, and started his own company and now has his first book published.
And this is where the shadow thing comes back to brighten my day. I uh… I went to film school, starred in direct to personal video library sketches, was present at numerous parent-teacher nights, performed stand up once (not counting the 4 years of teaching), created the name for my future company and now have my own blog.
Its like were twins. Yes, and Im Danny DeVito.
I digress but what is new. First my hair and now this entry. I really am Mr. DeVito.
FYI: Im okay with all this now. God has taught me (and will be reteaching Im sure) to rejoice for others when they experience success and to pray for them. I think it is human nature for people to be envious of other peoples success, especially when the thought is, that could have been me. I hope it is human nature, if not Im even more of a freak than I thought.
So in conclusion, I hope the book is awesome. I hope it does very well and that readers really enjoy it. I hope Mark corners the market on polyphonic experiential diatribes and that his business is a staggering success. And I mean all of this – Im not being sarcastic at all. I earnestly (earnestly is a good word because its so King James) want him to succeed.
Why? Why do I wish him the greatest success? For starters, he deserves it. For seconders, he is very talented and has worked very hard at perfecting his craft. And most importantly, if his book sucks Im going to have to delete this blog.
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