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How to Inhabit Time: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future, Living Faithfully Now Hardcover – September 20, 2022

by James K. A. Smith (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 136 ratings
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★ Publishers Weekly starred review

2023 Christian Book Award® Winner (Christian Living)

Christianity Today 2023 Book Award Finalist (Christian Living & Spiritual Formation)

Outreach 2023 RecommendedResource (Christian Living)

A "Best Book of 2022," Englewood Review of Books

"This incisive and eloquent volume will expand readers' minds."--Publishers Weekly

"A beautifully written book. . . . [Smith] offers a good, pastoral word to Christians today."--Christian Century

Many Christians live a faith that is "nowhen." They are disconnected from the past or imagine they are somehow "above" the flux of history, as if every generation starts with a clean state. They lack an awareness of time and the effects of history--both personal and collective--and thus are naive about current issues, prone to nostalgia, or fixated on the end times and other doomsday versions of the future.

Popular speaker and award-winning author James K. A. Smith explains that we must reckon with the past in order to discern the present and have hope for the future. Integrating popular culture, biblical exposition, and meditation, he helps us develop a sense of "temporal awareness" that is attuned to the texture of history, the vicissitudes of life, and the tempo of the Spirit.

Smith shows that awakening to the spiritual significance of time is crucial for orienting faith in the twenty-first century. It allows us to become indebted to the past, oriented toward the future, and faithful in the present.
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  1. Print length
    208 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Brazos Press
  4. Publication date
    September 20, 2022
  5. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1587435233
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1587435232
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

How to Inhabit Time
How to Inhabit Time 2

Sophronia Scott

Rev. Justin Welby

Jason Byassee

James K.A. Smith
On the Road with Saint Augustine You Are What You Love Cultural Liturgies Boxed Set
On the Road with Saint Augustine You Are What You Love Cultural Liturgies Boxed Set
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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4.9 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"In this arresting and elegant book, Jamie Smith gives us a profound and beguiling meditation on time (and therefore death), on embodiment (and therefore love), on creaturehood (and therefore our orientation toward God). Philosophically rigorous and creatively daring, this original and provocative exploration summons each of us to diligent thinking and unflinching honesty, to (in Smith's own phrase) 'shared vulnerability' and deep prayer."
--Charles Marsh, University of Virginia; author of Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"In How to Inhabit Time, James K. A. Smith makes of his boundless knowledge and crystalline thinking a most evocative/provocative succession of scenes--a sensuous narrative that asks us to recalibrate our idea of time so that we might carry ourselves, with grace and gratitude, through it."
--Beth Kephart, author of Wife | Daughter | Self: A Memoir in Essays

"James K. A. Smith draws from biblical, philosophical, and therapeutic insights to weave our lives into a wondrous drama far greater than can be found in the fleeting and distracting present tense. Along the way he courageously tells his own story of finding hope for the future by reckoning with his past, our past, and God's redemptive event that is still unfolding."
--M. Craig Barnes, president, Princeton Theological Seminary

"Jamie Smith is a crucial philosopher and theologian. In a time of frightening upheaval over the nature of identity, we dearly need this wise and winsome book about how to inhabit time well. Listen to Smith unpack a song, a poem, a passage from Ecclesiastes, or a philosopher's lifework, and come away challenged, changed, and delighted."
--Jason Byassee, Vancouver School of Theology

From the Back Cover

The Spiritual Significance of Time

Many Christians live a faith that is "nowhen." They are disconnected from the past or imagine they are somehow "above" the flux of history, immune to it, as if self-starters from clean slates in every generation. They lack an awareness of time and the effects of history--both personal and collective--and thus are naive about current issues, prone to nostalgia, and fixated on the end times.

In How to Inhabit Time, popular speaker and award-winning author James K. A. Smith shows that awakening to the spiritual significance of time is crucial for orienting faith in the twenty-first century. He helps us develop a sense of "temporal awareness" that is attuned to the texture of history, the vicissitudes of life, and the tempo of the Spirit.

"This book has helped me--genuinely. James Smith has helped me think about the subject of time in a fresh way. I greatly enjoyed the distilled wisdom, the broad philosophical engagement, the connecting of Scripture, tradition, and culture. Truly this book is a gift which has engaged my awareness of how we are called to live the gifts which are our lives. My hope and prayer is that the impact of this book on how we live--on the times of our lives--will be exponentially more than the time it took to read it."
--The Most Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

"James K. A. Smith shows us that time is a gift waiting to be redeemed, and a central conviction of this book is that 'the Lord of the star fields' is intimately attuned to our haunted, beautiful histories. Dwelling with these lucid, winsome meditations on 'spiritual timekeeping' was like listening in on a lively conversation between St. Augustine, Gustavo Gutiérrez, James Baldwin, and Marilynne Robinson, while Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon played in the background."
--Fred Bahnson, author of Soil and Sacrament

"James K. A. Smith's inspired work examines time not as hourglass sand running hopelessly through our fingers but as a divine gift that we can capture just enough to recognize the pearl of life that time shapes. A thoughtful and engaging book."
--Sophfronia Scott, author of The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Brazos Press (September 20, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1587435233
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1587435232
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.86 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 136 ratings

About the author

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James K. A. Smith

James K. A. Smith

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James K.A. Smith teaches philosophy and theology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, having previously taught at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He has been a visiting professor at Fuller Seminary, Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Regent College in Vancouver, BC. Originally trained in philosophical theology and contemporary French philosophy, Smith's work is focused on cultural criticism informed by the Christian theological tradition. His more popular writing has also appeared in magazines such as the Christian Century, Christianity Today, First Things, Harvard Divinity Bulletin, and others.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
136 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

karen w.
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, meaningful book
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2022
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I love this beautifully written book, from the first page of quotes to the last page of footnotes. Here’s why:

- “How to…” is in the title and yet it’s not quite a how-to book. It’s deeper and better. There are no steps; there are meditations.

-But it’s not quite another “mindfulness” book either. Rather it’s a call to discernment, individually and collectively.

-It’s not quite a philosophical treatise either. Rather it is a book that draws upon a multitude of sources (philosophers among them) to shed light on how we view our time and how that practically affects every part of our lives. That drawing together of a multitude of sources is where James KA Smith is absolutely masterful.

As I was reading this book I felt like I was following a friendly and articulate gardener through the path he made in his garden. I listen to him as he picks vegetables—many I’ve never heard of—and puts them in a basket. Then we go to the kitchen and somehow he makes this amazing soup. I guess I’m saying that the footnotes alone are wonderful, but the way he brings them together is amazing.

My favorite parts are his more personal reflections on the fleeting quality of life. His descriptions of the temptations to clutch onto the past, present and/or future are clear and relatable. He points to the beautiful quality of temporality—of embracing it as opposed to grasping at it. As a grasper myself, (shell collector, rock picker-upper and museum souvenir buyer), I have much to learn.
I do expect this book will continue to speak to me for (God willing) many years to come.
15 people found this helpful
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Zach
5.0 out of 5 stars Regarding Time Afresh
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2022
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It’s kind of hard to put into words the beauty and yearning this book drew from my heart. With Smith’s On the Road with Augustine, he transitioned from writing purely academic books to ones which bridged an intriguing gap between meditation, academic clarity, and walks on long, beautifully winding roads. Here he beckons the reader to join him as he ruminates on time. But not time in the abstract. Rather, time in its reality of past, present and future. Time as we know it in the present, looking back upon the past as we hope and yearn into the future. It’s that intersection of the past into the future that we call the present which draws on Smith’s heart.

The chapters are divided up into three sections by meditations from Leviticus. Though these provide a loose scriptural foundation, Smith’s work is not (and most of his books have never been) exegetical. The pages are pierced with insightful ruminations of Smith. Such as “faithfulness requires knowing when we are in order to discern what we are called to” (19) and “trading testimonies across generations turns the communion of saints into a time machine” (136).

More than anything else, I think these sections of the book are intended to help people cultivate a proper heart posture towards the past, present, and future. He has some fascinating and convicting things to say about nostalgia (62) as well as the more “end times” perspective that has crept into many churches (149).

Having delved rather deeply into the Polanyian epistemology which undergirds much of Smith’s thought concerning habits and soul cultivation, I can assert with relative confidence that his approach here is not to offer dogmatic assertions for how we are to relate to time. If there are those ascribing such an approach to Smith, they are wrong. Rather, Smith invites his reader to walk for a time down this path with him. He is sharing his meditations, his thoughts and reflections. You don’t have to agree with them, but he would love for you to wrestle with them. And maybe, just maybe, he hopes we will walk a few paces or miles in his shoes, trying to view the beauty of the world and the time we’re given in it through his eyes and possibly perceive his heart along the way.

I, for one, really enjoyed the book. Do I agree with 100% of what Smith wrote? No, but I would take a walk with Smith any day to hear his thoughts.

As for intended audience, I think this would be appropriate for most adult readers. I do believe many pastors would benefit from a lot that he discusses. His discussions regarding nostalgia are especially relevant to churches clinging to more “traditional” practices. But I think there is much he discusses which would benefit all pastors regarding how they cultivate the hearts of their people in relation to their past and future.
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Christy
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, contemplative, hopeful
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2023
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Though not the easiest read for a lay-person, non-academic I still found this very profound and beautifully written. Will definitely deserve a re-read!
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Pondering Still
5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
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I didn’t even know I needed a book like this until I found it. Each paragraph was like sipping fine Champaign in the form of prose. Rarely does one find a book of philosophy and theology written with the craft of of a true writer. Definitely something I’ll return to over and over again to savor a page or two at a time. Just gave it as a birthday gift to a friend who turned 90.
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Jamie Caldwell
5.0 out of 5 stars Profound and Playful
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2022
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I have been a fan of Smith’s work for several years now. I’ve engaged his more academic work alongside his more popular work, and I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed them both. There is a playful frivolity in Smith’s thinking that manages to make things accessible and beautiful. I fully expected this book to be the same. I was not disappointed.

I knew the subject matter was deep and could be difficult, but Smith made it devotional as well. This was a pleasant surprise. I was also pleased, but not surprised, that Smith so deftly connects his work to popular culture. The “How to Inhabit Time” playlist on Spotify is an excellent companion to the book.

“How to Inhabit Time” cultivated an awareness of the way that my life actually exists in time. In other words, it made me feel — not just know — the truth of my temporality. Smith’s books winsomely operates beyond the level of instruction and engages the affections intellectually.

I recommend this book without reservation. I believe that it is a valuable tool for anyone walking through any season of life.
13 people found this helpful
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Jill Galvin
5.0 out of 5 stars Graceful and Profound
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2022
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I was introduced to Jamie Smith in my graduate studies- he stretched my thinking with his ideas about “cultural liturgies.” Now he offers us the concept of “nowhen”, living “blind to our own locatedness, geographically, historically, temporally.” His writing is graceful, intelligent, and enticing. I’m learning to inhabit time as I attend to my own history; past, present, and yet to come, both personally and communally. A book I will read over and over again.
3 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars Must be Read Slowly
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2023
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James K. Smith does it again with a must-read. This book, however, must be read slowly and meditatively. But over time, he teaches us how to live in the present, while acknowledging the past, and hoping for the future.
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Sandra S
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2023
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This is a thought provoking discourse on time in our spiritual lives.
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Top reviews from other countries

Nathan Rousu
5.0 out of 5 stars Rich with wisdom and perspective
Reviewed in Canada on October 21, 2022
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I have long appreciated Smith's writing, having been through a number of his previous works. This book adds a pleasant new dimension to Smith's work.

The book retains the deep discussions and insights we've come to love and expect from this capable philosopher, yet I find the style of prose in which it is written to be very refreshing and helps to add a dimension of connection to the subject matter.

Smith structures the book around three different mediations which serves not only to discuss the subject of how we inhabit time, but also function as helpful perspectives in how we approach past, present, and future and inhabit those spaces.

I greatly enjoy this book and highly recommend it as excellent contribution to the current conversation on this poignant subject.
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Dr. Trevor G. Stammers
5.0 out of 5 stars Moving and liberating theological philosophy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2023
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Starting with an account of your first appointment with your therapist for suicidal depression is a brave place for any writer to begin. And also a compelling read. This is the first book I have read from this prolific author and its themes surrounding the general topic of the nature of time include nostalgia, care of the environment, shame, seasonal eating, and hope that stems from intergenerational listening. There are also three meditations on selected parts of the ancient writings of Ecclesiastes, including the passage popularised in Pete Seeger's song 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' affirming that 'For everything there is a season and time for every matter under heaven.' For anyone plagued by regrets this book contains much wisdom for moving on.
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gary t conway
5.0 out of 5 stars Living in the ancient-future paradigm.
Reviewed in Canada on September 24, 2022
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James K. A. Smith's latest work is the fruit of his mature scholarship, written for a popular readership. The book is a reflection on the Christian relationship to time, past and future, and how to find our place in the present. He brings together reflections on Ecclesiastes, ancient and modern philosophers, theology, literature and music interwoven with personal antidotes to create a powerful guide to spiritual formation.
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David Harvey
4.0 out of 5 stars 3 Meditations on Time with an important caveat
Reviewed in Canada on December 26, 2022
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<strong>3 Meditations on Time. </strong>

If you know Smith then it will come as no surprise to you that this book will make you think about something in a way that you never have before. Time now gets the attention he offered to habits and loves in the brilliant “You Are What You Love”. Those familiar with Smith will recognise the development of themes and ideas that you have encountered in embryonic form in other volumes from him. It almost feels as though he’s been thinking about this book for a while.

Smith invites us as Christians to consider “when” we are in time. Noticing that many of us exist as “nowhen” Christians who may think much about place but not enough about time. To do this Smith engages three passages of Ecclesiastes and explores how we see ourselves in history and how we look to the future.

Engaging with a broad range of dialogue partners “How to Inhabit Time” will undoubtedly make you think. How we grieve, mourn, experience shame and guilt are so often linked, the book shows, to a mislocation of ourselves in time. Not only this but our common attitude towards time is (as is often the case) that of it being something we must conquer and control (which only serves to dislocate us further from how time is actually happening).

A thread that then subtly tracks throughout the book is the need to consider the role of discernment more fully. Holding an attitude that time is something that is not to be controlled but rather discerned, Smith helpful locates various manners in which we struggle to discern and how we might do so better.

Unsurprisingly, but agreeably, the liturgies and calendar of the church are introduced as purposeful guides to a different way to inhabit time. Seemingly disjointed from our ordinary calendars, Smith reminds us that our calendars are as much (and newer) constructs as the calendars of the church - except our calendar and clock is rooted in the Christ event rather than the world’s current calendars and clocks which have more to do with Caesars and Trains than any deep awareness of history and the world.

Should you read this book. Yes. If you have the time! Nothing immediately springs to mind that I might suggest would be easier to engage with deeply on this particular subject as a Jesus follower. Grab a few friends and read it together. I think this would be a really good book club book.

However, I should mention two factors about the book that irritate me (a first for me when reading Smith). Firstly, the book tracks very randomly. It occasionally feels like a series of random ideas lacking a driving intention. This could of course be the art of talking about time or an intention to give the book a feel of being more a series of meditations than an argument or plot driven volume. But for me it just occasionally felt like it was a book written either quickly or distractedly. I mention it only because this is not typical, in my experience, of Smith, so probably a comment for those familiar with him. It’s particularly surprising because the theme feels like something Smith has been considering for a long time. Secondly is his use of Martin Heidegger. Heidegger’s work “Being and Time” is cited regularly and favourably. Heidegger is even referenced as being heavily influenced by 1 Thessalonians and other ideas of St Paul’s. Smith studied Heidegger heavily in the past, so it’s no surprise he appears here in a conversation around this subject. What surprises me is the complete silence to Heidegger’s membership in the Nazi party (1933 - 1945) and that many have found his work to be completely saturated with anti-semitism. For clarity, I don’t think we should simply ignore a philosophical giant like Heidegger, but to prevent his name appearing uncritically in pulpits, I wonder if popular level Christian books like this should have a pretty large disclaimer before citing him freely. Perhaps Smith expects all readers to google Heidegger, but even if they do, the reader will only find it surprising that Smith never thought to mention Heidegger’s problematic history.
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