Adorning the Dark

Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making

By: Andrew Peterson

Narrated by: Andrew Peterson

Making something beautiful in a broken world can be harrowing work, and it can’t be done alone.

Over the last 20 years, Andrew Peterson has performed thousands of concerts, published four novels, released ten albums, taught college and seminary classes on writing, founded a nonprofit ministry for Christians in the arts, and executive-produced a film - all in a belief that God calls us to proclaim the gospel and the coming kingdom using whatever gifts are at our disposal. He’s stumbled along the way, made mistake after mistake, and yet has continually encountered the grace of God through an encouraging family, a Christ-centered community of artists in the church, and the power of truth, beauty, and goodness in Scripture and the arts.

While there are many books about writing, none deal firsthand with the intersection of songwriting, storytelling, and vocation, along with nuts-and-bolts exploration of the great mystery of creativity. In Adorning the Dark, Andrew describes six principles for the writing life:

• Serving the work
• Serving the audience
• Selectivity
• Discernment
• Discipline
• Community

Through stories from his own journey, Andrew shows how these principles are not merely helpful for writers and artists but for anyone interested in imitating the way the Creator interacts with his creation.

This book is both a memoir of Andrew’s journey and a handbook for artists, written in the hope that his story will provide encouragement to others stumbling along in pursuit of a calling to adorn the dark with the light of Christ.

©2019 B&H Publishing Group (P)2019 B&H Publishing Group

Excellent, Engaging and Interesting!

Loved this book by Andrew Peterson. My husband and I love his music already so this book was a must read. His easy to listen to voice and flow of words keep you engaged and not wanting to miss anything. I want to share this book with family and friends and plan to listen again. Encouraging for anyone, but especially those who feel a pull to write songs, poems, books or prose of any kind.

Positive, humble and helpful

I didn’t know what to expect when I decided to give this book a try. Honestly I was not at all familiar with the author’s work. The whole book is so sincere and loving, it is like a breath of fresh air in a world of vapid televangelists and mass produced media. Thank you, Andrew!

Gorgeous, comforting and hopeful

I read this book in the middle of a move and the author’s descriptions of settling on to his home (The Warren) were timely and gorgeous. This book ministered to my soul and it will point you to The Father as well as let you get to know more about Mr Petersen’s personal journey. It was like having coffee with a new friend and overstaying my welcome because I’d gotten so comfortable. I did t want it to end.

Absolutely love this book

Such a beautiful book, just wonderful writing and imagery. Describes a lot of what our story is like, it’s like reading a book about ourselves. Can’t recommend this book enough if you are creative in any way and need some encouragement.

Stunning

I have enjoyed his music and his fiction, so this was a true delight. As a writer myself, I struggle with a lot of the typical struggles that plague authors. I found great encouragement from Andrew’s words, particularly from his emphasis on the importance of community for writers. I’m feeling motivated and envisioned to finish the novel I’m currently writing.

Inspiring

If you’re a musician, writer or artist this book will give encouragement to your soul to create what God placed within you to share with the world.

If you don’t think you’re an artist, this book will help you see that you are and God gave you the gift of creating beauty.

This is a beautifully written and inspiring book about the value of art and our place in creating it. There is so much dark in the world but there is also beauty. It is our responsibility to push away the dark by creating beautiful things that draw our eyes to the light.

Exactly intended

I believe Peterson succeeded in writing exactly what he intended. I do not agree with all of his opinions but I have a great appreciation for all that he has written here. Andrew if you're free give me a call sometime love to talk to you.

Resonates with my heart

This book addresses many unspoken deep yearnings, fears, and questions that I’ve always had about life and productivity as a Christian. His descriptions of his inner thoughts as he works resonated with me so deeply that at multiple points I had to pause and just absorb it. Andrew honestly opens up about the struggles and the joys that many Christians just don’t talk about. I truly believe the Holy Spirit used this book to encourage me in my own journey. The style is light and entertaining while also being brutally honest about his own shortcomings and successes. I laughed, I cried, and I stopped to think about topics which I instinctively shy away from openly admitting.

This books also indirectly gives insight into his inspirations for the Wingfeather Saga. He doesn’t explicitly talk about the novels however you can catch nuggets of why the world building is how it is via his life experiences, which was a pleasant bonus.

He gets it

It the most real explanation of the creative process I’ve ever read. There are practical applications and understanding that explains exactly how I feel. It gives me hope that my unique expression of creation matters.

Intensely Meaningful

Andrew Peterson has worked hard with God to offer up good Craft. His prose is lyrical, stories timely and poignant, his advice helpful. He leads you along humble and gracefully, as opposed to delivering blunt, wrapped up answers proudly. I could not recommend this book more highly to anyone and everyone who is looking to Make things: artists, authors, musicians, homemakers, accountants, engineers, machinists, chemists, truckers—this book speaks to everyone because all people share a common Creator, Jesus the Word Himself. And Peterson has made this book in close association with Jesus. The book positively drips Christ, each word and sentence him along to the music of creation. Also, AP plays some songs in the audio recording, and since he wrote it he best knows how me meant each paragraph to be read out (what tone, cadence, mood, stress, etc.). 10/10