An immensely readable and engaging book about creativity, community, and Christ. Andrew Peterson has a wonderful storytelling honest voice that engaged me, and gave me hope. Though mostly geared toward songwriters and writers, I feel like anyone who enjoys creating and giving God the glory through it will enjoy, and learn from, this book.

I loved how Andrew shares his story and process! I did feel like it was more geared towards writers and song writers though.

Andrew Peterson’s ADORNING THE DARK is part memoir, part call-to-create, and all the kick-in-the-pants I needed. I’ve not read any of his books or listened much to his music (that will change), but I found a fast friend and mentor on these pages. If you grew up in the Christian culture of the 1980/90s, I think you will find a lot of common ground here, too. Peterson gives resources and stories and encouragement for how to create good Christian art/stories that push back the darkness of this world. And, friend, we are all creators and storytellers — we tell a story every day with how we place our imprint on this world: a transient world that contains echos of our eternal stories.

ADORNING THE DARK has been a catalyst to create what God has called me to create. It sparked a vision for me, and I feel that fresh fire again. I will be forever grateful for this book.

Thank you BH publishing and NetGalley for sending a review copy!


I posted a longer review on my IG and Goodreads: instagram.com/book_beat (handle is @book_beat).

I've listened to Andrew Peterson's music for years and have heard good things about his Wingfeather Saga but have never read this book. Another friend recommended it to me and I was so glad she did!

It is beautifully written and you can feel the author's passion. His advice is not just practical but it unlocks something deep inside of your heart and you feel it. I love his heart for other's and for making art that points to God.
This is a book that I would highly recommend for those who are artists and for lovers of words and poetry. I will definitely be giving this as a gift to several friends.

Thank you to Netgalley and B&H Publishing Group for providing a free free ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Singer, songwriter, and author Andrew Peterson shares his insight on creating in this book. He uses personal experience as well as wisdom from other songwriters and authors to discuss the process of writing songs, the ups and downs of the business, and using one's creative abilities to tell a story.

I'll start my review by saying that I was not the main target audience for this book. While Peterson does do his best to expand beyond songwriting into fiction-writing and other kinds of art, the heavy focus is on the musical realm (and poetry to a lesser degree). I'm a fiction writer, but have no experience with or even much of an understanding of writing songs. Plus, he referred to songs and books by various songwriters and authors a lot and talked about them as if the reader should know them as well as he did. I'm not nearly as well read as him, and I am definitely not as immersed in music culture, nor do I listed to as wide a range of music as he. As such, I do think that quite a bit of the book was lost on me.As such, I do think that quite a bit of the book was lost on me.

Another way this book did not resonate with me is that I came to realize by maybe halfway through the book that my personality, and the way I see the world around me, is vastly different from his. He sees beauty in everything, but I've never been all that sentimental. So that was another chunk of the book that fell flat for me.

However, that does not mean that I did not find plenty of gems in the book, things that work for any kind of creating. For example: "If you wait until the conditions are perfect, you'll never write a thing." Or: "The songs won't write themselves, and neither will the books, the recipes, the blueprints, or the gardens." Even with the difference that Peterson describes between songwriting (which can also apply to poetry to a degree) and writing fiction, the clear point is that you have to get through the bad to find the good.

He also addresses the different between "Christian art" and art from a Christian perspective, which I really appreciated. As an author, I've struggled in the past with thinking that I should only be using the gift God gave me to write specifically Christian fiction. However, I no longer think that's true. Instead, I can write stories with a Christian worldview, which will most likely be acceptable to most Christians, and will even be acceptable to many non-Christians who just want something good to read. And in approaching the art that way, perhaps it would allow the artist to actually reach more for Christ.

There were a few things about which I disagreed with the author, but even in those I think it mostly comes down to a difference in mindset or preference. I did agree with the idea that calling some people "creatives" excludes many people who really are more creative than they think. Just because "art" isn't the end result, pretty much everyone creates in their own way--that can come out as critical thinking or problem solving, or so many other things that don't seem as creative. In the end, I'm very glad I read this book, as it gave me some interesting insight into a singer whose music goes back as far as my marriage, and plenty of solid advice on writing, some of which I needed to hear even today. I recommend this book for Christians who are interesting in creating, no matter the form it takes.

Andrew Peterson wrote a book about making art. I'm not an artist, but wow I was moved all the same. I found applicable and helpful instruction relating to the writing I am blessed to work on for my job. I was reminded of God's graciousness which He reveals through nature, through creativity, through community. And I got to know this incredible singer-songwriter, author, husband, friend and dad. What a cool guy. He wrote a great book full of humility, humor and loving advice. I'm thankful to @netgalley for the free ARC and I happily give Adorning the Dark ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a very enjoyable and thought provoking read. Andrew Peterson writes with an easy, conversational tone. He gives helpful insights into the process of writing and creating art, and glorifying God through these things.

I found much in this book to encourage and challenge me. Adorning the Dark has been helpful for me as a wife, a mom, and a blogger. It helped to fuel the desire in me to keep writing, because writing is an important art. This book also helped me to see ways I can encourage my husband and my children, cheering them on as they write and create. I will be a better wife, mom, and writer because of Adorning the Dark.

I never heard of Andrew Peterson before I picked up Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making. I discovered this book by happenstance and was initially reluctant because I had just read a book on writing by another Christian that disappointed me. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered the author was a songwriter as well as an author of fantasy books (a man after my own heart!). And the book, like its author, also went after my heart.

About the author
Andrew Peterson is an award-winning singer, songwriter, author, and filmmaker. He is the founder of the Rabbit Room, “a ministry dedicated to fostering spiritual formation and Christ-centered community through story, art, and music.”

About the book
Adorning the Dark is about the process and mystery of creating art. In this book, Peterson provides us with behind-the-scenes stories of his journey in writing songs to encourage his readers as they also pursue their calling. It is not your typical how-to-write book. Adorning the Dark serves more like a memoir or autobiography with select stories to illustrates specific points about creativity.

Though Peterson mostly pulled from his songwriting experience, Adorning the Dark applies to Christians who seek to use their creativity in the service of their Creator with beauty and excellency.

The book is divided into sixteen chapters, each loaded with stories and anecdotes from the author’s life, and a lesson on creativity to harmonize them. Some of the topics covered include serving the work, serving the audience, selectivity, discernment, discipline, and community. The book also features an afterword with a list of pointers on art and a useful list of book recommendations.

My thoughts
Adorning the Dark was very well written —which is always good on a book on writing. I loved the writing style, imagery, and humor Peterson employed throughout his book. It made it easy to read and extremely enjoyable.

Content-wise, I must say, the book was not what I expected. I didn’t expect it to be so personal and feature that much storytelling. Peterson’s honesty and transparency about his writing journey and the struggles he faced deeply resounded with me. I could relate to some of the things he went through, and I appreciated his encouraging words.

However, as much as I enjoyed learning more about his life, I thought he rambled off at times, and ome of his stories seemed neither here nor there. Also, I think the book leaned too much on the memoir side than on the writing. If you are already familiar with Peterson, it might be a treat. But if like me, you have never heard of him or almost all the names he dropped, it might not be that thrilling. Also, it isn’t really a criticism, but he mentioned Rich Mullins way too much in this book.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading Adorning the Dark. The pieces of advice Peterson gave were useful, Christ-centered, and I loved how he wove it through real-life stories. Thanks to this book, I am more encouraged to produce art with honesty, beauty, truth and to do my best to adorn this dark world with the light of Christ.

My recommendation
I recommend this book mostly to fans of Andrew Peterson and Christian writers (songs, books, poetry, etc.). I wholeheartedly agree with the author that we are all creatives, but I think this book is more pertinent and beneficial to writers.

*B&H Publishing graciously gave me a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Andrew Peterson writes an honest biography about the creative process of producing music and writing books. There are so many nuggets of truths that speak kindly to the struggle in finding inspiration. “That’s what really led to writing, if I’m honest. In the beginning it wasn’t about glorifying my Maker – it was about declaring my own existence, for my own sake. It took a long time to realize that that was a dead end. Literally. This book is about a better way, and even now I have to fight to follow it.” There are no solid answers or bulleted lists in this book. Just a conversation between author and reader, about how God is working good things into our self-doubt filled messy expressions. So, if you need a book that says “me too” in a compassionate way, pick up this book!

I love Andrew Peterson's way with words, which is often evident in this somewhat rambling volume. And, I loved many of the ideas he presents here about community, calling and creativity, but even Peterson would say these ideas are not unique to him. He quotes from many of my favorite authors on the subjects and recommends their books - which I agree with, but which lessens the impact of Peterson's writing here. I did enjoy hearing about his own journey as a song and novel writer, and the book DID make me want to go back and listen to my favorite Peterson songs with a greater appreciation of where they came from.

While Adorning the Dark was a bit too winding and wandering for my personal taste, there are some great nuggets of wisdom here and some recommendations for other books and poetry that I added to my list. However, Peterson doesn't claim to have written a cohesive treatise on creativity and faith, and the subtitle is an accurate representation of what you will find here, various reflections and thoughts on community and artistic endeavors. So, this review is less about the objective merits of the book and more about my own subjective preferences. This was a quick and easy read, and I really appreciated the conversational tone. So, overall I am glad that I read this, even though I probably won't feel a need to return to it.

I sadly was unable to finish this before it expired, but up to about chapter 7 (I believe) this book was absolutely magnificent & inspiring! I will hopefully be purchasing this title in the near future.

Here are 3 reminders from his book, that encouraged me, and, I hope, will encourage you.

1. Creativity is a Risk
What happens when you put your creation out there for the world to see? It's a risk. The song you wrote, the blog post, the Etsy shop, it all entails uncertainty...will anyone like it??

It's scary. It stops us sometimes from doing something bold and stepping out in faith.

He writes, "If you wait until the conditions are perfect, you'll never write a thing. It's always a matter of the will." This is also a risk. Our creativity also has a cost, which often is our time. We invest in the time it takes to share and develop something, without knowing what the return will be.

What would it look like to surrender our fears, our own insecurities, and to use our gifts, trusting that the words, the expression, the visual appeal will rest in the hands of the Lord; that as we prayerfully, and intentionally create, He will be the one to bring fruit of our efforts - whether that is to the masses, or in our own soul.

It's a journey of faith, of learning trust and dependance.

2. Creativity is About Serving
"If I wanted to quit, someone was there to look me in the eye and tell me my songs mattered, to them if not to the masses. Art nourishes community."

It's not easy to slug through the work of creating something, only to wonder if it was worth it. We need to remember that our finished products serve someone. Instead of grandiose imaginations of what could be, can we be content to serve one person? Can our impact be small in the eyes of the world, and yet successful in the eyes of the Lord?

We surrender ourselves for the sake of others. We look not just to our own interests, but also to the interests of others (Phillipans 2:4). Creating is about serving someone, bringing someone else closer to the Lord through an avenue that God has given us. When we keep our eyes on love for others, our perspective changes to see the value in service.

3. Creativity Glorifies God
Peterson reminds us of the famous runner, Eric Liddell, when he says that he feels God's pleasure when he runs. Using our creative gifts will often give us that sensation of pleasure, those moments of knowing that this is what we were created for. Our gifts, our competence, our joy, brings glory to God.

God's faithfulness to us knows no bounds. Whether we are large, or small in the eyes of the world, we are large in His eyes. We are His beloved. Our purpose is not to make much of ourselves, but to make much of our Creator. As we share our gifts, and surrender to Him in all we do, He will be glorified.

I've written 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 in all my journals since last year, "That my God would make me worthy of his calling and would fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus would be glorified in me according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." This reminds me constantly of my desire that whatever I do bring Him glory.

So, if you are creative and feeling stuck, or just need someone to accompany you on that journey, pick up "Adorning the Dark" for encouragement and insight.

What is your favourite mode of creativity?


**Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy of this book and the opportunity to post an honest review

I really enjoyed this book. It was very thought-provoking and even inspiring. As someone who is very creative and has creative children it was especially so. Probably the only struggle I had was the rambling writing style. Sometimes it was endearing and lovely and sometimes I would be a little lost and hope it came back around to where I could track with the text again. I have enjoyed Andrew Peterson’s books and music. I am not a super fan or anything, I just have a hearty appreciation for sure. If you are a creative person or are raising one you may find this incredibly encouraging. I understand and agree with his idea that everyone is a creative. My husband lacks musical skills entirely and his drawing is just ok, but he does some beautiful things with food, model trains, and wood. So, I agree, but having a child who will probably end up doing something artistic it was a nice read and to be reminded that even though we are pre-programmed to think worldly success is a certain series of events it really isn’t and really doesn’t necessarily matter. Nice book!

Excellent. Reads like a song. It’s inspiring and motivating, not just for musicians and writers but all who create — which is everyone! This is a book I will come back to. Definitely one that will be reread.
I received a review copy from netgalley. This has in no way influenced my review. All thoughts are my own.

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson is one of those books that feels like you just had an enlightening conversation with a wise friend. I lost myself in the conversation, and time flew. Before I knew it, it was over, yet I felt full and happy and inspired. Something about the way Peterson writes just pulled me in and made me feel like we were hanging out on the couch talking about creativity, songwriting, and life in general. That’s kind of what Adorning the Dark is.

Peterson writes: “...this book is a glimpse into my own faltering journey as a songwriter, storyteller, and Christian. It’s a love song, if you will, about the life God has given me.” That faltering journey, as he calls it, made for one of the best books on the creative life that I’ve read. Adorning the Dark takes us back to Peterson’s beginnings as a young songwriter and poet and walks us through what he has learned over the years living not just a creative life, but a creative life as a Christian.

When Peterson discusses looking for our identity in our work or creativity, He writes:
We need not look anywhere but to the eyes of the Savior for our true identity, an identity which is profoundly complex, unfathomable, deep as the sea, and yet can be boiled down to one little word: beloved. That’s it. And that’s why it’s so silly (and perilous) to use your gifting to clothe yourself with meaning. Those clothes will never quite fit.
  
I don’t know how many books on the creative life you’ve read, but there’s often a cliquish sense of otherness or elitism. As in, “I’m a creative, and to even begin to understand my words, you have to join this exclusive group and be a creative too.” There’s nothing pretentious in Adorning the Dark. I love how Peterson includes songwriters, poets, writers, painters, and also pastors and teachers writing sermons and lessons. It all feels like a friend sharing his tips and wisdom with you.

Ultimately, Adorning the Dark is about how we (as in everyone) can use our God-given creativity to bring light and truth into the world, not because we’re so great, but because God is. I can’t remember a book that felt more genuine than this one. It was joy to read.

This is an in-depth and honest look into Peterson's journey as a writer/songwriter. It's encouraging, particularly if you've ever felt (or currently feel) unqualified to do what God's calling you to do.

Two of my favorite quotes:

"Sometimes you start with nothing and hope is all words out. Not sometimes - every time."
"Writing a book is about endurance."

*cries* Its so raw and gorgeous. 💖

I never, ever read nonfiction.....and then give it 5 stars. Like ever. 0.0 This book has knocked all my expectations off the table and handed me something better. Something I can't name for lack of words.

As I sit here ... thinking how to explain my feelings so it's adequate to the beauty Andrew Peterson handed me ... my heart beats fast and my brain continues to go blank.

What do I say? What CAN I say?

Peterson pours his heart and passion into this book, wraps it up with love and prayer, then asks that we hear what he has to say. I think we can do that.

Andrew Peterson is a man of humble depth and thought, urging us to write (songs, books, poems, etc) with raw openness. Let that idea--that passion--have it's own wings, but write from your heart. I really appreciated everything he had to say (you don't want to know how much of this book is highlighted....😂😂). I just feel so full of goodness and encouragement!! *shrieks*

Every time I opened this book I longed and expected to be filled with goodness (for lack of better words). Every time it surpassed what I was expecting. 💖💔💖💔💖 I was--still am--amazed at the depth and beauty with which it touched me.

It was gorgeously written and the Holy Spirit was SO in this. 💖💖 I really wanna meet him in person now, even though I feel that I know him so well already.

His testimony and advice is unique and wonderful.

GAHhhhhh. *cries in hands* I just can't express my feels perfectly.

THIS BOOK IS GOLD. 💰

Read it. Buy it. Own it. Love it. 💕💕💕💕

Looking for encouragement, inspiration, or writing advice with a Christian perspective? This book is the one for you.

**FTC DISCLOSURE** I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required. This is my opinion, so please don't take it personally if something was offensive to you. Thanks! :)

Thank you B&H Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

In Adorning the Dark, Andrew Peterson shares his experiences as a singer/songwriter and a novelist and offers insights on creative process and the Christian's redeemed imagination. This will be a book that I go back to and read again to be inspired and encouraged as an aspiring writer and as a Christian who wants to continue to bring order to God's created world.

I had the opportunity to get this book from B&H a couple of months ago, and even given my love for Andrew Peterson I wasn’t sure it was for me. But it’s short, and I have a friend who would love this book so I wanted to read it and pass it on. Why did I think it might not be for me? Because it’s a memoir about being a songwriter and writer, neither of which I do as a job. It seems weird to be saying this while in the process of writing for an audience, but I don’t even consider myself a writer. I just read stuff and want to share it with the world, so to me it’s almost an extension of being a teacher.
Anyway, I was wrong. This book was for me, even though I don’t consider myself a “creative type”. Peterson even bemoans the terms “creatives” and “creative types” in one chapter. He writes:
Now there are conferences for “creatives” and it just won’t go away. It took me a while to figure out what irritated me about it, but it comes down to this: we’re all creative. There is no “creative class.” Sure there are people who make their living as artists and entrepreneurs. But those people, I insist, are no more creative than anyone else.
And that’s what Peterson gets to throughout the book. God made us all creative, obviously in different ways, and I often think he gave out a few extra helpings to my wife and shorted me a few. But then I think of all that God has been able to do through me, the things He has created on account of me, and it’s simply true. God created us to create. So we need to be faithful to Him and make something that magnifies our Maker.
Adorning the Dark is a memoir, it’s an advice book, it’s a book for makers, but more than anything I think it’s an honest look at how God has used one person who is committed to Him, and how Andrew Peterson has stayed true. No matter the size of the stage, God wants to use you to bring glory to Him. To put it in a more personal way, Peterson sums up a perfect quote in the introduction by saying this: “You know and understand things about the heart of God that only you can teach.” The priesthood of the believer at work. It sounds over-the-top, but that’s what God has done for each of us. He chooses to reveal Himself through us, and He uses each one of us differently to show different parts of His creative and unexplainable self. So read this book, and in the meanwhile get to making.
I received a review copy of this book courtesy of B&H Books and Lifeway, but my opinions are my own.