The Happy Rant
The Happy Rant: Wandering To and Fro Through Some Things That Don’t Matter All That much (and a Few That Really Do)
By: Ted Kluck, Ronnie Martin, Barnabas Piper
[On my list of Most Anticipated Books of 2022]
[Fulfilled ‘Book with chapter titles’ for Shelf Reflection’s 2023 Reading Challenge]
Before reading this book I had never heard of The Happy Rant. This book was recommended by a friend and I’m glad to have discovered them.
The authors (yes Barnabas is Johnny P’s son) have been part of a podcast of the same name for the last several years. They are friends who enjoy giving hot takes on Christian sub-culture and poking fun at the arguably ridiculous things the Christian community does or says. (Think Babylon Bee)
But it’s not entirely satirical and they do offer some thoughtful insights and opinions on a variety of topics. They tackle (because Kluck and football) manliness, movies, fashion, sports, holiday trends, the Enneagram, Christian fiction books, conferences, Reformed stuff and more.
Their goal in all of their writing/podcasts is: “Take Jesus seriously, take our faith seriously, laugh at ourselves, and laugh at the absurdity in so much of Christian (and broader) culture.”
I would suggest before reading this book that you listen to at least one of their podcast episodes to get a feel for their voices and personalities. I would also suggest skipping quick to the section of the book that describes some of their insider lingo/nicknames they use throughout their conversations.
I am a big proponent of nicknames so I give this section a thumbs up.
(Although Ted and Ronnie call each other ‘Baby’— apparently a reference from the 90s movie Swingers. And since I have no idea what this movie is my first thought is probably not what the film is about. And my second thought was that maybe it’s a baseball movie because they love sports. And my third thought was that maybe it’s a boxing movie because also sports. But it’s not any of those. Yet I still don’t know why it has that name and I’m still not sure if I like that particular nickname. It felt very bro-ish reading it.)
I also give a thumbs up to their jabs at the Ennegram and personality tests. They expressed a lot of my thoughts on that.
“I think the word for the day when it comes to personality tests is ‘humility,’ because believing that they create a straight path into the innermost complexities of the soul is treating them a little too much like witchcraft. Which, if you like essential oils and personality tests, is right up your occultism alley.”
“I don’t think there is a version of a personality test that won’t make us selfish and self-centered in about six minutes.”
But I will also point out that they really didn’t mention 1s at all and I want to know why. My best guess is because it’s called The Reformer.
Funny?
So anyway, you must be wondering— is the book funny?
Yes. Yes it is.
I enjoyed the part where they compared previous girlfriends to NBA players. I decided to ask my husband who I would be. He said he’d have to think about it but his first thought was Joakim Noah because “he’s crazy and unorthodox but effective. Also frizzy, floppy, ponytail.”
Their editor’s notes and footnotes were great.
And the overall vibe of the book is just fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
At one point they recommend Hot Rod and Nate Bargatze (whom I just saw live this weekend) and that gives me some good insight on their humor. Well. Except for their Steve Martin and Martin Short duo mention. Ugh, Martin Short gets on my nerves.
The guys are pretty transparent about themselves and their thoughts and acknowledging that their opinion may need to be changed. I appreciate their honesty with mostly the right amount of self-deprecation.
It read like a transcript of their podcast. The format is small sections labeled with the author’s initials like dialogue, and it’s a back and forth discussion of sorts.
It’s a super fast read. Which is good because it leaves you wanting more. You want to hear what else they think and what other Rushmores they have. Luckily they have a podcast so there is plenty more where this comes from.
If I was a podcast person, I would listen to them regularly. Instead I’ll just have to go out of my way to check in on them every now and then and see whom/what they’re blasting.
Offense or Defense?
I feel like I’m not easily offended. And if you are, maybe this book isn’t for you, or it is because you need to knock it off! Even as I say I wasn’t offended reading this, I still found myself somewhat defensive at certain times.
I have somehow taken on a subconscious role of ‘defender of Christian stuff’ and I’m realizing that I need to be more open to certain critiques. I love Jesus and I love his church and so whenever someone criticizes something around that I tend to have a knee-jerk reaction that feels like they’re attacking God himself. This is not usually accurate. So it’s good for me to calm down a bit.
For example, they mention a few times the Christian publishing industry and how they make money off selling books; they call almost all Christian fiction trash writing; they make it seem like going to conferences is a bit of a double-standard and pointless; they rag on holiday services.
So I find myself thinking- Everything can’t be free! If there are no Christian publishing companies how are books to be written and accessible? Isn’t there value in Christian books? And yes I’m tired of all the Amish Christian fiction books and a lot of the writing in Christian fiction is cheesy or preachy, but it’s not all like that! And isn’t it better that that is written for people who don’t want to read the secular stuff that’s full of f-words and sexual content? And isn’t there still value in conferences and what kind of person does that make me for wanting to go the TGC conference this year? And don’t we still need to acknowledge the reality we live in?
But then they wrap up each chapter by coming back around to pointing out the good or giving the ‘bottom line’ of the issue that is usually something that calms me down and recognize that they aren’t trying to demolish everything. They’re just pointing out some flaws and such that are worth pondering but making sure that with each topic our hearts are in the right place. That God is still the focus.
So I like this book and their podcast because it will keep me from becoming too set in my ways/thoughts or being too defensive when fair critiques are given. Nothing is perfect, and nothing will be this side of heaven. Just because something has a ‘Christian’ label or association, doesn’t mean it’s without fault but it also doesn’t mean it’s couched with ulterior motives and begging for deconstruction.
We need to try our best to stay balanced and not take the wrong stuff too seriously. A lot of what they poke at are the things that become 'performative.’ Because walking with the Lord and doing what’s right is not about performing. Especially in terms of Christian celebrity culture, mega churches, going to conferences, etc these can easily become a matter of performing to appear a certain way.
I think that is a good insight to always keep in mind- Am I performing or is this genuine?
If I’m Going to Be Judgy
One other point I found myself feeling judgy about was the 'entertainment’ aspect of their opinions.
Ted Kluck is an interesting combination of lit prof, football coach/jock, sensitive writer, movie critic. I’m still trying to figure him out.
A lot of times it felt like he got into these elitist/pretentious ‘rants’ and I didn’t really like it. Movie critics in general tend to annoy me because when I watch a movie I usually just want to be entertained. When I see the movies getting Oscars I roll my eyes and usually put them on my do-not-watch list. Which maybe seems at odds with the curious and thoughtful part of me, but listening to people compare movies and stuff is just not something I really care about, especially when the ‘meanings’ aren’t obvious.
Kluck included an entire appendix of movie Rushmores which seemed a bit of a ‘look how intelligent and analytical and funny I am’ flex.
I think the more I listened to their podcast the more I would understand his personality and I would probably be able to read all of it with a better perspective.
I think he would appreciate the book The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman because a lot of his references are from that time period and I’m a tad too young to get them.
Oh also a lot of the movies they mentioned were not ones I would watch/recommend for the content. They did say that they wish they had made different choices about this and I was encouraged that they weren’t dabbling in Game of Thrones. Of course I’m not the shining example of how to make good entertainment choices, but that doesn’t stop me from judging other people’s. I’m a sinner, too.
Additional point about Big T that stuck out to me. He mentions that he is ‘the person’ for several pastors where they can come and laugh and make fun of stuff without fear that they will be seen as terrible people or immature. I definitely get this. And I think my husband and I are those people for one of our pastor friends. We can make immature jokes or be politically incorrect or whatever and it’s a safe place. Pastors need that bit of normalcy and it’s not easy to find.
A Chat with KDM?
Kristin Kobes-Du Mez wrote the book Jesus and John Wayne. It’s a book that also critiques Christian subculture, Christian publishing companies, Christian celebrity, etc. But where her book differs than The Happy Rant is that there is no ‘happy’ and extra ‘rant.’ Also she didn’t make many statements assuring the reader that she still loves Jesus and the Bible.
I know the Happy Rant boys have at least heard of her book because Big T is a western fan and he made a few comments about John Wayne as if in response to KDM’s opinion that all Christians think Jesus and John Wayne are somehow the same thing or held in the same regard.
I think it would be a very interesting and entertaining podcast episode to hear them interview KDM…
At the very least KDM could get a few pointers on writing her next book in which she most assuredly will tear down a good portion of American Christians.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book. It’s funny. It’s easy and fast to read. It’s entertaining yet thought-provoking. It’s both immature and mature at the same time.
You’re not going to agree with everything they say or comment about. But that’s okay. This type of writing is meant that way.
The point of this book, in my mind, is both to make you laugh and also to reflect a little bit on ‘Christian’ things that you may not have really considered and may need to be more aware of.
Like Babylon Bee, you read it and think ‘Oh snap!… well actually they kinda have a point.’ Or ‘Hahaha… wait a minute… that’s me. Shoot.’
Pretty much all Christians will find their stuff relatable. If you aren’t emerged in Christian circles it won’t hit you the same way, but maybe it would be encouraging for you to read how there are people that don’t fit the mainstream stereotypes and disagree with a lot of the widespread ‘Christiany’ sentiments.
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