Book Review: Church and the New Media

The web moves at a break-neck pace and the language of the new media can seem daunting. You might be asking, "Do I twit? How do I blast my RSS feed? If I retwit something will it go on my facebook like page? Even worse, what happens if I go in a combox and can't get out?"

If those questions make sense to you, buy the book. If you laughed at those questions, buy the book. If you are suspicious, a new media user, and not sure "why, I need a book about new media since I have blog, an iPhone, blah, blah, blah?", here's why you need to buy the book.

The Church and the New Media: Blogging Converts, Online Activists and Bishops who Tweet is part hand-book, part memoir, part inspiration and is coming to a online store near you. Just in terms of who is writing in this book, its a solid purchase--a kind of 10-for-1 deal.

If you want to get good at something, learn from people who are good at it, and that's exactly what this book offers-- New Media aficionados showing you the way, the truth, and the terabyte. My favorite chapter? Taylor Marshall's reminds every author that when talking about God, our opinions will do others about as much good as our nose will. Enough. Here's my review:

Brandon Vogt-Author

"The Church and the New Media is the first-to-press of its kind that--in a book--explores both the how, what, why and what's next in what it means to evangelize on that thing called the Internet. Brandon has orchestrated bringing together a new media all-star cast but doesn't fade away in their shadows by any stretch of the imagination. From media mogul priests to chaos managers, this book will catch you up on all the possibilities of new media and maybe even give you the courage to start in the conversation. Brandon does an exquisite job of both prefacing the path of digital resistance and closing the book with thoughts worth downloading."

Buy the kindle e-version here or the paperback here. By the way, proceeds will help kids in Kenya gain basic computer literacy skills. That's what I call a win-win.


[Disclaimer: I am friends with the guy whose name is on the front cover of the book]

New Media and the Irony of the (2,000 year old) Catholic Church

First, I think it is rather funny (ironic) that since becoming Catholic I've become so aware of the fabulous media produced by this 2,000 year old institution that can move like, well, Noah's Arc at times. It's like Noah's Arc with flatscreens. And by the way, if you aren't Catholic and reading this, don't be hating, start participating...

Just check out this video:


Or this website:
http://www.johnpaulii.va/en/

All that said, it gets me really excited about my new friend Brandon Vogt's soon to be released book, The Church and New Media. What's fantastic about the book is that it is stereotype defeating. Of course for all us internet savvy, blogging Catholic types, it may not be as paradigm changing. Yet, even for us, I think the book portends a fabulous resource of inspiration, clarity and focus. We are indebted to the new media pioneers, many of whom are contributors in the book. Brandon leads the way in this IP tell all.

Check it out!