I read this as I held my sick little 9 month old son. For a theologian's memior, I don't think you can ask for much better. I think I was disappointed with how little I disagreed with Hauerwas. His vulnerable honesty was endearing. Hopefully I can come back and share some of the many quotes I appreciated. ( )

One of the things that mark's me out as abnormal is that I have been eagerly awaiting the publication of one of my favorite theologians memoirs for the past year. This book will likely not seen as his most important book (that would be the Peacable Kingdom), his most popular book (that would be Resident Aliens), but I found it refreshing to hear Hauerwas in his own words share some of his journey as a theologian and revealing the soil that his ideas came to fruition. ( )

Hauerwas is an unlikely theologian. Can you connect the dots between a potty-mouthed bricklayer from Texas who is completely unsure of whether or not he is a Christian to the esteemed professor of Christian Ethics from Notre Dame and Duke Universities? In Hannah's Child, Stanely Hauerwas does just that.

This memoir contains everything that makes an interesting life and compelling story. On the one hand, you have his trademark blunt intelligence. On being notified that he was Time magazine's "best theologian in America" in 2001, he replied, ""Best' is not a theological category" (ix).

On the other hand, he shows us how his life and teaching (including his prolific written output) is punctuated with having to care for his son while living with his mentally ill wife.

If you've read Hauerwas' books, you should read his memoir. It's a blunt, funny, tragic, and hope-ful look at the personal life of one of the "best" theologians around. ( )

A wonderful account of a wonderful thinker and theologian. Hannah's Child is also a wonderful account of a boy growing up in Texas, the only son of a hard working southern family and of his growth into realizing that being a Christian can be a surprising turn of events! Having had many of Hauerwas' friends and colleagues as professors and friends at Duke Divinity School where I studied for the ministry, made for great surprises and laughter! For those who have never met nor heard Stanley Hauerwas lecture or preach, you will be enticed to hear him by reading this account of his encounters with God through friends and even in spite of friends. ( )

There is a line between self-aggrandizement and abject honesty. I never felt Hauerwas was trying to build himself at any other's expense.

His understanding of how belief and faith "happens" to one rang true to me. It was charming to read the amazement as he would look back and say, "Wow. God was working in my life. That I became a theologian was a gift. Finding a faith community was important. Loving my son has been an incredible journey. Marrying my second wife was a blessing."

The story of his first wife's mental illness was difficult to read: that is as it should be since it was hell for her to live, and heartbreaking for Hauerwas and their son. That Hauerwas finally gave up is real life. That he could write it with such honesty admirable.

But yet, I felt discomfort when he aired his differences with living people--well, not so much the differences as the disparagement.

I thoroughly enjoyed his criticisms of theologians I was (I will admit) forced to read in Seminary. I need to revisit them briefly, to see if I have grown. After all, Hauerwas did! ( )