The Mind in Another Place

My Life as a Scholar

By: Luke Timothy Johnson

Narrated by: Luke Timothy Johnson

A witness to the peculiar way of being that is the scholar’s.

Luke Timothy Johnson is one of the best-known and most influential New Testament scholars of recent decades. In this memoir, he draws on his rich experience to invite listeners into the scholar’s life—its aims, commitments, and habits.

In addition to sharing his own story from childhood to retirement, Johnson reflects on the nature of scholarship more generally, showing how this vocation has changed over the past half century and where it might be going in the future. He is as candid and unsparing about negative trends in academia as he is hopeful about the possibilities of steadfast, disciplined scholarship. In two closing chapters, he discusses the essential intellectual and moral virtues of scholarly excellence, including curiosity, imagination, courage, discipline, persistence, detachment, and contentment.

Johnson’s robust defense of the scholarly life—portrayed throughout this audiobook as a generative process of discovery and disclosure—will inspire both new and seasoned scholars, as well as anyone who values good scholarship. But The Mind in Another Place ultimately resonates beyond the walls of the academy and speaks to matters more universally human: the love of knowledge and the lifelong pursuit of truth.

©2022 Eerdmans Publishing Co. (P)2022 Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Important information for young academics.

As a university professor myself, this book was beneficial to read. I have experienced many of the trials that Professor Johnson documented.

One scholar’s journey through academia

Great narration of LTJ’s journey into and through the world of academia. This will be especially valuable for those who are less familiar with the world of scholarship in the humanities. Great insight into one scholar’s academic journey. LTJ acknowledges that his story will not, indeed cannot, be duplicated by any other scholar—every scholar will be unique. But he offers his perspective on what that life is all about and what it takes to be the kind of scholar he is (or was).

Great read!

A worthwhile read for anyone interested in a career in the academy

While the memoir portions and specifics about New Testament scholarship in particular may not be useful for everyone, the sections concerning the state of the academy (in particular the humanities) is essential reading for young or would be scholars. Highly recommend!