Simplicity by Mark Salomon
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Book Reviews of Simplicity
Book Review: Hard Truth and Valuable Insight
Summary: 5 Stars
Guilty myself of being an elitist in the "Christian Market," I took the first few chapters almost as a personal confrontation, pushing me to analyze some of my ministries and the fruits they ACTUALLY produced. It seemed like the author was attacking me, and I in turn had some negative thoughts about HIS faith, because that's what we do. It took taking a step back and considering what real ministry is, the act of serving, and when I stopped doing what he was pointing out that I was doing, I could actually see the beauty.
There is so much truth, and it comes out of so much tough experience, and it helped to confirm a lot of the theories I have also had about the Christian music scene from my own church concert experiences. It was awesome to see someone else publish statements that so closely mirrored my sentiments, and now I am passing around my copy among members of the band I am in so we can discuss it, as though he were our new mentor and it was a job shadow for Christian Rock and what NOT to do. Very valuable insights.
Book Review: A great perspective....
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't say enough good things about this book. I was a Stavesacre fan prior to reading this book. So, that was the basis of my initial interest. I also saw Mark Salomon at a small spoken-word tour during which he read exerpts from this book.
This book will have significant impact on you especially if you are a Christian who struggles with the idea of the "christian market" and that sort of thing. This book is an autobiographical look into the life of a Christian musical artist who is honest about his struggles and shortcomings. Not your average christian book. i highly recommend it.
Book Review: a great read
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this book. Mark tells it like it is and sheds a lot of light on the issues some people may have with the band. I can seriously relate to a lot of the things he talks about, and he even made me realize things about myself that I never realized before. A must read for any Stavesacre fans and/or people who have issues with what the band or band members stand for.Book Review: Lifestyle not Label
Summary: 4 Stars
Simplicity is all about making Christianity a lifestyle not a label and about being authentic. Throughout the book you go through Mark Salomon's life of Christian music. (Mark Salomon is the lead vocalist for a rock band Stavesacre and a former vocalist for The Crucified.) He lives in Huntington Beach California and he spends most of his time touring the country with Stavesacre.
The book begins on the tour bus with Mark Salomon. Well that's even if you can call it a tour bus. It was more like a small U-Haul truck. He goes through this moment in his life to show that not all rock stars live glamorous lives and to show how it is hard to be the greatest person in cramp conditions for many months. The book takes you through many experiences in Mark's life, one of which was that people expected him at every show since he was a "Christian rocker" to preach the message of Jesus between songs and to outreach. They almost expected him to be an evangelist or Pastor type figure. He had to constantly explain to people at every show that he was an entertainer who was paid to entertain and not an evangelist. If they wanted to pay for a preacher then they should have done so, but they paid for an entertainer as he stated to many people during his life.
One of his stories for example, was when he went to the state of Washington for a "gig" at a local church. He was already having a bad day in the cramped bus/U-Haul when he met a very interesting Pastor who after the show was giving him a hard time about paying him the full price for the show because they didn't have a message about Jesus during their show. Mark and the Pastor argued about the meaning of a Christian entertainer throughout his stay at the church. Mark kept trying to convince the Pastor that he was an entertainer and not a preacher. Even many months after the "gig", the Pastor and his youth group on their way to a mission's trip traveled to Mark's hometown in Huntington Beach. Mark was working at a local coffee shop when the Pastor stopped in just to start the argument up again.
Overall, I thought the book was great and if you want to get a new spin on Christian music, you would benefit from reading this book. Or, if you are a Christian, you should read this book so you can learn from Mark how to be an authentic Christian.
Book Review: Good, but not what I'd expected...
Summary: 4 Stars
First, let me say that I love relevant and the books they produce. I was looking forward to reading this book primarily to understand the philosophy of being a christian performing artist. The book touches on how and why the author leaves "christian music", but most of the book is a personal memior on the life of a independent punk rock band. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book, but don't expect much on the philosophy and thoughts behind leaving Christian music. Read it for the first hand accounts of playing in the indy scene and of tales of life from the road. Perhaps knowing of or having heard the author before reading would put much of the book in perspective.
But at the least you should pick up this book for the first chapter and the hilarious story there. I can't think of another book that made me laugh out loud enough to almost wet myself.
In the end, definately read it if you're a fan or want to know about life on the road. Just don't expect anything else.
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