Glittering Vices: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Remedies

I was looking for a good book on the seven "deadly" sins and this book exceeded my expectations. If you are looking for a folksy, superficial read - this is not going to be it. DeYoung delves deeply into each of the seven deadly or "capital" vices, defining clearly what they are, how they derive their foundation in pride (the "father" of the seven), and how to recognize each of them in our lives. Perhaps most importantly, she clearly illustrates WHY each of these vices leads to destructive behaviors, relationships, and spirituality. And then, to top it all off, she illustrates how each of these vices are generally opposed against various virtues (e.g., envy opposed to love and closely tied to vainglory) and how we can practically try to overcome these vices in our daily living. The book is very well written and DeYoung's writing style is intelligent, yet imminently readable. This book is rooted in Christianity, and DeYoung clearly articulates how each of these vices is caused by an improper relationship to God. As such, it's geared more towards a Christian audience though I believe it's a great read for anyone that is simply looking for some spiritual guidance or self-knowledge. I like the fact that she draws from a wide variety of literary sources and historical figures. She draws not just from the Bible, but a lot from theological/philosophical giants such as Augustine, Gregory, Aquinas, and Aristotle. At the same time, she'll reference pop culture like Robert DeNiro, REM or Amadeus (the movie), her own experiences as a professor and a mother, and more contemporary authors like Buechner or C.S. Lewis. There's also a great history on how the seven deadly sins came about in theology, which was a helpful context - given that they are never explicitly listed as such in the Bible. If I had a complaint about this book, it would be a small one. At times, I felt she could make her points somewhat more succintly. But I'm really splitting hairs here. The bottom line is that if you are struggling and not at peace, then please buy this book and read it. You may find that the cause of your situation is not so much your family, your house, your friends, or your job. But rather, it could be the negative patterns of vice ingrained in your life. Hope that helps!

I've presently got about 100 sticky notes in this book, so let me see if I can collect my thoughts! Rebecca DeYoung wrote this book for her students at Calvin College, and it definitely belongs in the genre of thoughtful general reading suitable for teens, adults, and communities. Like the prior reviewer (J. Woestman) says, DeYoung draws heavily from Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas' ideas about a middle path of virtue being situated between two 'disordered' extremes, or distortions of that middle way. For example, courage is the best position between cowardice and rashness, as a well-ordered enjoyment of food is between avoidance or finicky eating, and desperate overeating (both being aspects of gluttony). DeYoung quotes from movies such as 'Groundhog Day' and 'Amadeus,' as well as literature and poetry. I especially appreciated her use of Madeleine L'Engle's poems of love in the final chapter. If I could recommend anything to improve a reading of this book, it would be to pair it with a thoughtful follow-up book that situates this understanding of the sins and virtues in a way of spiritual formation. I believe this is especially necessary for Protestant communities, as we so often rush towards individual virtue-improvement without developing long-haul relationships that could lead us to communities of virtue borne out of love. Perhaps it's because I read this alone, but I want to emphasize that reading it with a group of friends or family - and following it with readings on spiritual formation - would be even more beneficial! If anyone has recommendations of good follow-up books, please let us all know in a comment or review!

I picked up "Glittering Vices" on a whim because I was interested in the author's approach of taking the seven capital vices and discussing them within an Aristotelian/Thomist understanding of virtue. Konyndyk DeYoung begins with a chapter that places the discussion solidly within the Christian tradition (and explains her use of the phrase "capital vices"), and defines virtue for the conversation. She continues with a chapter on each of the seven vices. Each chapter is excellent. It defines each vice within its historical Christian understanding, explains what it is, and gives examples in our present day. She also gives advice on how to move from vice to virtue. This book is an excellent introduction to the seven deadly sins. It's a convicting read that is profoundly devotional while remaining thoroughly theological/historical/biblical. P.S. - The chapter on Gluttony is amazing. Best treatment of gluttony I've ever read.