We need books like this that address the issue of how modern people form their sense of self and how the secular horizontal self creates a culture of anxiety and narcissism and fails to provide a robust identity. Sayers helpfully contrasts the horizontal self (an identity formed by looking outside and within) with a vertical self (an identity formed by looking to to creator and who he says you are).

I particularly enjoyed Sayers insights into the culture of cool, classy and sexy.

I had high expectations for this book, but in reality I found it tedious to read. Sayers illustrates the same point over and over with stories from culture and history. These stories rarely advance the argument of the book and they read as the authors ramblings on a number of topics he finds interesting.

Moreover his treatment of how the Bible offers an alternative sense of self was all too brief and would have benefited from more theological insights such as:
- how “in Christ” language shapes identity
- how adoption to sonship shapes our identity
- how justification by faith not works shapes out identity
- how having “died with Christ, and I no longer live but Christ lives in me“ shapes our identity
- how the gift of imputed righteousness covers our shame and makes us attractive, holy, approved to God ( )

There were two main points that I read right from the beginning that invited me to keep reading this book on how biblical faith can help us discover who we are in an age of self obsession. One was that the Greeks (yes, I am Greek) looked to a greater good, an essence or standard of good, to define their lives. In today's fast paced life , media drenched landscape that surrounds us, vanity (it's all about me) is celebrated to the hilt and deceptively embraced as a virtue. Mark calls this horizontal view one that elevates performance above character (being a super star). Plus, the author expounds on the roller coaster ride of constantly reinventing your identity in finding a sense of self... (who are you really?)

The second point that Mark makes in his awesome, eye-opening book, is that "Christianity asks you to be who you are and who you are not at the same time." The author uses a compass, if you will, (horizontal and vertical self) to map out clearly that finding your identity in Christ will produce holiness, a desire to follow and obey precepts that will bless your life in learning things, giving you more self confidence in honoring your talents. When we "take on Christ", we find life.

This book is worth reading for those who are seeking a deeper relationship in their walk with God. To those who are exhausted with life's messages being thrown at them at a fast, constantly changing pace of reinventing yourself to discover a truer identity of you, this book is worth buying. C.S. Lewis wrote it so simple: "The goal towards which He is beginning to guide you is absolute perfection; and no power in the whole universe, except you yourself can prevent Him from taking you to that goal."

The Vertical Self was provided for review by ThomasNelson Publishers. I am thankful for the opportunity to have read this great book. ( )