Episode
Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson on Leif Enger's Apocalypse & What Matters at the End of the World? (Reading to Make Sense of the World)
- Podcast
- Good Faith
- Published
- Mar 16, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1304
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Summary
Refusing Despair Amidst Cultural Darkness What does it look like to cheerfully refuse a collapsing culture without giving in to cynicism, fear, or despair? Host Curtis Chang and Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson—Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University— dive into Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse , exploring why great novels still matter, how Christians can resist ideations of apocalypse with joy, and what faith-filled fiction reveals about beauty, truth, and survival in dark times. This conversation is for listeners hungry for cultural commentary,hopeful resistance, and deeper ways of reading the world through faith. 01:28 - Challenges of Reading Contemporary Novels 06:03 - The Meaning Behind the Title "I Cheerfully Refuse" 07:47 - Lessons for Dark Times 10:02 - The Enduring Power of Books vs. New Media 12:16 - Cultivating Fruitful Practices in Dark Times 14:36 - Living as a Cheerful Refuser Today 15:02 - Is the Christian Worldview True Reality Or A Bubble? 17:04 - What Is Enger's Idea of True humanity? 18:19 - Recommendations for Similar Books and Authors Take the Listener Survey Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Get tickets: Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference and our recording with Matt Maher Mentioned In This Episode: Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse Leif Enger's Peace Like a River Leif Enger's Virgil Wander Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 Claude Acho's Reading Black Books Eugene Vodolazkin's Laurus Rumor Godden's In This House of Brede Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night More About Christopher Beha Jessica Hooton Wilson's The Scandal of Holiness More From Jessica Hooten Wilson: Jessica Hooten Wilson's website Explore Jessica's books HERE Read articles and Essay by Jessica HERE Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Fai…