HABITS OF THE MIND

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A Book Review
Presented to
Professor Kleiser
Boyce College

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In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for PH013B
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by
Garrett Daniel Spino
gspino130@students.sbts.edu
October, 13 2016

Sire, James W. Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling. Downers Grove, Ill:
InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Many would ask if it is possible to be a Christian and an intellectual. Those questions

are addressed in the book Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian. It is a slim;
although densely written book on intellectual life and loving God with our minds. Utilizing
thinking to the highest possible, with the intelligence that was endowed. The author James Sire,
is a fascinating man with an extensive resume. Not only has he spent years in the service as an
officer in the army, he has written 20 books on literature, philosophy, and the Christian faith. Sire
is a professor of English literature, philosophy, and theology. He has spoken as a lecturer at over
200 universities. Sire holds a Ph.D. in English and is a former editor for Intervarsity Press.
Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian is broken down into 10 chapters. It
begins with the introduction of the intellectual life by looking at several definitions of the word
intellectual. Sire then addresses his own definition of an intellectual as: One who loves ideas, is
dedicated to clarifying and developing them, turning them over and over, seeing their
implication, stacking them atop one another, arranging them, sitting silent while new ideas pop
up and old ones seem to rearrange themselves, playing with them, punning with their
terminology, laughing at them, watching them clash, picking up pieces, starting over, judging
them, withholding judgment about them, changing them, bringing them into contact with their
counterparts in other systems of thought, inviting them to dine and have a ball, but also suiting
them for service in workaday life. (27). Sire says, the Christian intellectual is all the above to
the glory of God. All of chapter two and three discuss the life and ideas of Henry Newman. His
ideas and character heavily intrigues Sires philosophy and intellectual ideas. Chapter four and
five discuss the mental and moral dimension of the mind. Sire relates Newmans two passions for
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truth and for holiness and how they are essential for Christian intellectuals to give glory to God.
Chapters six through nine focus on intellectual practices such as intellectual virtues, intellectual
disciplines, solitude, silence, attention, lateral thinking and prayer. Lastly the end of the book
states that Jesus is the reasoner and foundation for human reason, and how the Son of God
embodies a model of the Christian intellectual. Sire ends Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as
a Christian with: The general responsibility to glorify God takes precedence over any of the
specific responsibilities we have as intellectuals or intellectual wannabes, for glorifying God is a
full-time task engaging all we are. (224).
Sires ultimate purpose for writing Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian
is to encourage the reader to think more, and think affectively better than he or she did before
reading it. Also to strive towards the perfection of the intellect, and to enjoy the proper habits
of the mind. He does such an excellent job in his writing that it stimulates the readers mind
throughout the book. Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian is written in a way that,
as the reader flips through the pages he or she starts to question why they think the way they do,
and it neurologically excites the mind. For example, Sires states, Ideas turn me on. (71). No
matter who is writing or speaking, everything said and written is from ones perspective. That
being said, Sire has some minor biases that are stemmed from his philosophical influence, John
Newman. Newman had a huge influence on Sire and it is evident throughout Habits of the Mind:
Intellectual Life as a Christian. Throughout the book there are liberal amounts of Newman
quotes, as well as two whole chapters dedicated to Newman and how he helped shaped Sires
views.
Throughout this book there are constant thoughts and ideas that will surely impress the
reader. Sire has a gift of writing. He is an eloquent wordsmith who is able to dive deep into

philosophical ideas, but is still capable of elaborating in such a way that a so called simple
thinker would understand. Sire explains his thoughts quite well with impressive explanations
and examples, while using everyday language so the general reader would be able to understand.
It is evident that Sire is able to write in understandable format due to his experience in publishing
books and lecturing abilities. Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian will make
lasting contributions to the cause of sharing the Gospel. It reaches a niche of people who would
typically stray from the idea of combining philosophy and Christianity. In a world where
philosophy is a bad word to many Christians and Christianity blasphemy to many philosophers,
Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian bridges the gap between philosophy and
Christianity. Sire makes it clear that the two should go hand in hand and that intellectual thinking
is a form of worship if it is done for the glory of God. He felt it should not be taboo in the
church.
Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian does not just contribute to the
Christian community, but it also could be a tool to reach others who do not believe, but enjoy
intellectual thinking and can possibly create an ember to be made aflame. Habits of the Mind:
Intellectual Life as a Christian is a must read because the fact that it gives the reader the
capability to understand how to affectively worship their thoughts. Spiritual warfare is all
around, but is primarily seen and felt in the mind. Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a
Christian helps the reader sharpen minds to battle spiritual warfare by worshipful thinking and
meditation. That being said, there are some weaknesses in Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life
as a Christian. As the reader opens the book, it becomes evident that it is cluttered with quotes
on almost every page. The quotes are relevant and important to Sires book, but it causes
distractions and a disruption in the flow of the book. Not only do the many quotes pause the

reader and make him forget what Sires was saying and making it difficult, the quotes are also
written in scholastic fashion which may cause the reader confusion as both Sires writing style
and the quotes are written quite differently. Another draw back from Habits of the Mind:
Intellectual Life as a Christian is the authors obsession with Henry Newman. There are two full
chapters about Newman and many quotes from Newman throughout the book that could have
been condensed and summarized. Doing so would have left room for more examples of Christian
Scholars, which would have been beneficial for the readers to see other views and lives of
intellectual Christians who impacted the world and how believers think.
Overall the book Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian is an excellent
read with phenomenal content. I believe the information Sire provided may be essential to help
challenge a believer to be a better logical thinker and to reflect that thinking and intellect can
help grow ones faith. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thought provoking
read, as well as college students and friends who are interested in philosophy. I will conclude
with a quote from Sire which I believed to be the most powerful in Habits of the Mind:
Intellectual Life as a Christian: "What must strike any alert reader of the Gospels is the
unexpected character of the Jesus who emerges from their pages. When we pay attention, there is
an ever-renewed freshness to the Jesus we encounter. As we spend time away from the text, our
image of Jesus fades. His striking, unique reality loses its sharp edge. He becomes more and
more like a Norman Rockwell illustration, domestic, homey - a nice, rather wise man who lives
down the block, who each week comes to church to worship with us but not to call us to account.
But when we read the Gospels, we are struck with a towering figure who upsets us at every turn,
alternately fascinating and frustrating, comforting and deeply disturbing at the same time. As we
try to deal with this reality, we face both an intellectual and existential task. Here is the Jesus of

the first-century time and space now becoming the Jesus of the present in the kairos of our own
twenty-first-century moment. All our previous readings of the Gospels, the comments of the
scholars, the meditations of the saints we have reflected on in our times of quiet devotion are
called into question each time we read a Gospel afresh." (105). Habits of the Mind: Intellectual
Life as a Christian is a beautifully written book that both speaks to the heart and mind and will
surely cultivate a believers intellectual thoughts and strengthen the believer in their walk with
Christ.

I affirm the honor code.