By Katelyn S. Irons | Echo
Bob Hostetler, who has spoken many times at Taylor writing seminars, is a prolific and award-winning writer who has written over thirty books, some selling over a million copies. He is best known for co-authoring eleven books with Josh McDowell, including "Don't Check Your Brains at the Door," a guide for Christian teenagers. His latest book, "Life Stinks . . . And Then You Die," is available via his website www.bobhostetler.com.
The Echo interviewed Hostelter regarding his most recent publication.
Echo: Your recent book "Life Stinks . . . And Then You Die" is about "living well in a sick world." How did you come up with the idea for this book?
Bob Hostetler: I've long been a fan of the Bible book of Ecclesiastes, and have read and studied it many times over the years. But in recent years, I've been unable to shake its uncanny applicability to our lives in this day and age. Timeless truth is always timely, of course, but as a pastor, coach, parent and grandparent, I've turned to it so often in recent years, I wanted to alert others to its humorous and practical wisdom.Echo: What is something that college students could do right now to "live well in a sick world"?
Hostetler: Laugh. How odd is it that, as Christians, we often have a tendency to get offended easily, to be "against" all kinds of things, and spend our time dwelling on negative stuff? One of the overriding messages of Ecclesiastes-and of "Life Stinks . . . And Then You Die"-is to lighten up, stop taking ourselves so seriously and have a good time. It's a good thing, Solomon says, to enjoy life; he uses the word "enjoy" more than a dozen times in Ecclesiastes. He says, "Young people, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in" (Ecclesiastes 11:9, NLT).
Echo: How has your life changed through researching and writing about Ecclesiastes?
Hostetler: One word, mainly: Perspective. As I read, studied, outlined and planned "Life Stinks," I was initially kind of put off by the seemingly random structure of Ecclesiastes. Solomon keeps coming back to the same points repeatedly. But then I realized (and it was a breakthrough moment for me) that it's not random, it's circular. . . or spiral. Because what he's going for is not just intellectual assent, but a shift in perspective, one that comes about not so much through agreement as through absorption. And it did that for me. My perspective-on money, hardship, work, all kinds of things-has changed and is still changing because of Ecclesiastes' life-changing wisdom.
Echo: How did you research for this book?
Hostetler: Oh, I read everything on Ecclesiastes I could get my hands on, and as I mentioned earlier, went around and around struggling to make sense of (Solomon's) thought process. I researched not only biblical scholarship and other writings on Ecclesiastes, but learned from humorists and comedians (because Ecclesiastes is itself an ironic and humorous book) and so on. As with most of my books, I spent months reading and gathering resources before I started the first draft.
Echo: How did you come up with your title?
Hostetler: My wife and I have two children, who are grown, married and have children of their own. But when Aubrey and Aaron were kids, they whined and complained like all kids do. One day, after offering all the positive encouragement I could to no effect, I said, "Well, you know, life stinks. . . and then you die." They blinked at me, and then we all started laughing. From that day on, it became a sort of mantra in our family, much like the whole book of Ecclesiastes-blunt realism spiced with humor.
Echo: Do you use your own experiences in your books?
Hostetler: Absolutely. For example, in (the book) I mention an embarrassing email an editor sent me by mistake, some of my experiences as a pastor in a college town, lessons from missions trips I've taken, my sugar addiction, my grandchildren being born with cystic fibrosis-and so on. After all, the book isn't about theoretical or even theological concepts but about real life, so of course it includes a few of the things I've learned (or am trying really hard to learn).Echo: What is the best way your fans can connect with you?
Hostetler: My website www.bobhostetler.com has several contact options. I'm also on Twitter at @bobhoss and Facebook. But probably the most effective way is to show up on my doorstep with a box of Krispy Kremes. Did I mention I'm a sugar addict?(Thumbnail image courtesy of insidethepew.net)
