At the start of a new year, many of us resolve to change our diets and eating habits. While this may improve our physical bodies, what can we do to help our spiritual health? In The Wisdom Pyramid, Brett McCracken shows us how we can better feed our souls in a post-truth world.
McCracken is the senior editor for The Gospel Coalition, and I’ve appreciated his articles on art and culture. (Editor’s Note: McCracken is also on the SOLA Editorial Board.) While McCracken consumes a lot of media, both for his job and for enjoyment, he is also critical of the media he consumes. His background makes him an especially informed and qualified author of this book.
Current Issues
McCracken identifies the sources of our current malaise as well as the sources of our guiding wisdom, not all of which are good. We are depressed, lonely, and unhappy. We also are anxious, addicted, and distracted. In other words, he diagnoses us as mentally and spiritually sick.
Using diet as a metaphor, McCracken says we eat too much, eat too fast, and eat only what tastes good to us. But there is a solution, writing that the antidote to dangerous distractibility is purpose, focus, and intention. He proposes the “Wisdom Pyramid” to show how people should choose where and how to consume wisdom.
The Bible is the Basis of Wisdom
The Wisdom Pyramid is shaped like the commonly used USDA Food Pyramid, in which the bottom tier shows the food we should consume the most, while the top contains the foods we should eat sparingly. McCracken’s Wisdom Pyramid is structured similarly, with the ultimate source of wisdom at the bottom and the most fleeting types of knowledge at the top.
Naturally, the Bible is the basis of the Wisdom Pyramid, and while it is infallible, it must be handled correctly: (1) It should speak to all of life, (2) it should define our paradigm, (3) the whole of Scripture is valuable, (4) it should spark worship and obedience, and (5) it doesn’t have to make complete sense. Next, the wisdom of the Church is championed, and it’s the communal aspect that helps us find true, meaningful connection.
Surprisingly, nature is next on the Wisdom Pyramid, followed by books. As a book lover, I would have thought to have books go before, but McCracken is correct in that God initiates the discussion – showcasing his glory through his created world. Nature is an open book that begs to be read. And while books are a blessing, McCracken offers three tips of discernment when reading: (1) Read old books, (2) read books that challenge you, and (3) read books you enjoy.
Cultivate Wisdom
McCracken places art, music, movies, TV, and other narratives in the category of beauty. He reminds us that human creativity is a unique way of bearing God’s image. The Church uses beauty in an excellent way through singing and sharing the Lord’s Supper. McCracken’s ability to make these connections is outstanding, and he states them simply with care and clarity.
Finally, the Internet and Social Media are at the peak of the Wisdom Pyramid, and McCracken offers five habits for cultivating wisdom online: (1) Go online with purpose, (2) seek quality over quantity, (3) slow down, (4) diversify your exposure, and (5) share what’s good. His suggestions are practical and possible. This chapter deserved my attention, as I am prone to invert the whole Wisdom Pyramid – often placing the Internet and Social Media as an incorrect priority.
Feed Your Soul
Wisdom has discernment, patience, and humility in regards to our media diet. When I stop to think about the time we spend online, it only makes sense that we must be better stewards of our spiritual life. This book is perfect for teens and those beginning to understand our digital world. But it is also excellent for those of us who are older and need to make some changes in how we consume media.
This book is particularly relevant during these politically divided, COVID-19 times, when it is easy to turn to technology for wisdom, as McCracken warns us about “alternative facts” and the ultimate dead end of following “your truth.”
Let us answer the call of wisdom, and find the Bread of Life that truly satisfies, ensuring that we live physically and spiritually healthy lives.
I received a media copy of The Wisdom Pyramid and this is my honest review.
Photo Credit: Amazon