By John Guest. Eagle. 237 pages. £5.99
ISBN 0 86347 362 8
'Hey Dad! Where did you get this book about balloon modelling?'
'I was sent it to review for EN.'
'Dad, I'm being serious!'
'So am I, Chloe! It's not really about balloon modelling - except for the first few and last few pages. It's about work, rest and play - the importance of each and how to find a right balance between them.'
'But why the strange title, Dad?'
'I'm not too sure, love. I think it is meant to grab your attention and persuade you to read it. It's written by an Anglican vicar who is also a real-life clown in his spare time.'
'Sounds great - did you enjoy it?'
That is the really difficult question! It's certainly a book on a very vital theme. Many Christians are hamsters on the treadmill of work, work and more work. They even feel guilty when they rest and are usually too tired to play. The best chapter in the book is a powerful piece on the God-given and God-pleasing nature of rest. That's a message that needs to be heard.
It is also an easy, gentle and often amusing read, although I was surprised how often I didn't really understand what the author was getting at. Sometimes the problem was jargon, either sociological or charismatic.
Generally the author was at his best when bringing Scripture to bear on his subject, and far less helpful at other times. On the whole I was disappointed with the book's lack of cohesion and failure to grapple sufficiently with Scripture. Having read this book with hope, I fear I am still waiting for a simple, hard-hitting, biblical and practical treatment of the crucial subject of work, rest and play that I can recommend without hesitation.
