Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself) by David Zahl

Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself) Reviews

• 
  Conrade Yap

  Do not let the title of the book fool you. This is not a graduate-level textbook about human nature. It is essentially about how we think about human behavior. The title might seem intimidating at first but the contents are inviting. In order to satisfy the curious, author David Zahl at the onset defines anthropology as the "operative theory of human nature." He then gives us a spectrum of examples of what high and low anthropology is all about. In a nutshell, "high anthropology" covers grand optimism about the goodness of being human, that people are basically good, who tend to be at their best behavior usually, altruistic, and also constantly positive about life. It is a path to achieving success as much as possible. At the other end of the spectrum is low anthropology, where sentiments like brokenness, heartaches, self-doubts, shame, and negative perceptions live. It is a path to avoiding failure at all costs. Then, Zahl gives us a twist. The way to higher anthropology is via the paths of low anthropology. He observes that his most effective sermons over his 20 years of preaching are the ones assuming the audience is suffering in some way, or in some area of need. This spurs the making of this book. With society constantly crying out for help, perhaps, the way forward is to begin from where the people are. The premise of this book is that if we want to grow authentically forward, we need to start where we are, be honest with ourselves, about who we are, and learn to experience life as grace. In other words, the way we see human nature will determine how well we behave and live in this world.
  
  The way Zahl begins is not with low but high anthropology. He reflects on the interview process in which many people use the "humblebrag" method to answer what their weaknesses are. A popular answer would be "My greatest weakness is that I am a perfectionist!" Trying to turn a supposedly weak point into a strength essentially hides one's tendency to stress oneself out. This leads to burnout and eventually breakdown. No wonder many people prefer to remain in their constant state of busyness to feel important, justify their usefulness, or avoid any form of inner insecurities. Other examples of high anthropology are:
  
  - Desiring to be perfect in all of their efforts;
  - Emotional labour that is never satisfied;
  - Crave for control;
  - Constantly seeking approval via likes on social media;
  - Convictions that would even prefer division instead of unity
  - ....
  
  All of these attempts stem from a refusal to acknowledge the lowly human nature. Having described the dangers of attempting high anthropology, Zahl then points out the misunderstandings surrounding low anthropology. The rest of the book not only clears up the meaning of low anthropology, but it also expands on the shape, the mechanics, and the life of low anthropology (LA). On the shape of LA, Zahl shows us the three pillars: "limitation, doubleness, and self-centeredness." How is that a pillar? LA begins when we accept our limitations. Instead of pushing ourselves beyond who we are or our abilities, we need to learn to lower our self-expectations. It is a belief that less is more. It acknowledges that our convictions about certainty might very well be an exercise in futility. Only God is good. Only God is enough. Only God is worthy. The second pillar is doubleness which refers to the "competing forces, or voices, that drive our behavior." It is recognizing that we are often conflicted in our decision-making. Just like Paul's predicament in his spiritual battle of knowing what is good but gravitating toward what is evil. Things like the temptation of extra-marital affairs, or the committing of certain evils. By recognizing that the heart often rules over the head, it helps us appreciate LA as a way to do the right thing. With the freedom to flee from any pretension, one becomes more authentic. The way to persuasion is more often through winning hearts rather than conquering arguments. The third pillar is self-centeredness which most people would reckon as negative. Yet, Zahl observes how the dislike of self-centeredness applies more to others instead of ourselves. The very thing in others that we see with contempt is the same thing that haunts us. How are these pillars of LA help us? Simply put, they recognize the sinfulness in us and make no qualms about exposing them. Like the guilty who admits wrong, a LA enables us to begin truthfully about our flaws and to frankly recognize our faults. Once we arrive at square one of our spiritual reality, we can begin growing toward becoming the person God has made us to be. More importantly, we learn to see the good news as truly good news.
  
  My Thoughts
  This book offers us a unique look at the meaning of grace. The best way to understand grace is to feel our need for grace. This is what LA is all about. By peeling away the layers of our sinful selves via the three pillars of LA, we become more authentic with ourselves. We avoid targeting accusations at others just because we want to run away from the very unpleasant sentiments themselves. The key starting point is neither high nor low status but realistic expectations. Although this might make us vulnerable, it also helps us not to be so easily offended. Zahl also notes how the most difficult people Jesus had to deal with were people of high anthropology, the highly strung individuals such as the Pharisees, the rulers, and the powerful leaders of the day. Are we guilty of that as well? Maybe. Zahl also makes a provocative statement: "If success breeds competition and burnout, then failure breeds camaraderie, possibly even love." The way to unity is via shared failures. Something to think about.
  
  Perhaps, one reason why the word "hypocrisy" has been used so often by people, even Church people, is that it is a subtle acknowledgment that what we see fails to connect with what we feel. We tend to exercise double standards by applying some virtuous requirements on others more than ourselves. This is the danger of high anthropology, which is often about our ideal expectations, our perfect requirements, and all kinds of what people should do in life. Such a perspective leads us toward perfectionism and all forms of unhealthy expectations that will ultimately disappoint. We burn out. When we stumble and fall, we get easily depressed and discouraged. A low anthropology enables us to take the pressure off ourselves and others. When we are truly free to know who we are, perhaps, we are also free to recognize grace in its fullest sense. More crucially, we acknowledge a deep need for grace that only God can satisfy.
  
  Readers might find this book a little difficult to follow at first for it runs against the grain of things that we are often so used to. How can anyone understand that the very things that project negative connotations are also the very pillars to help us to embrace grace? Maybe the labels are a little too offensive. Perhaps, once we look beyond the labels and to use them as launchpads to understand ourselves, we are better poised to explore the contours of grace and ultimately jump into the deep embrace of God's grace.
  
  I recommend this book to anyone struggling to make sense of life, of relationships, and of themselves. The way to see grace better is to recognize that we ourselves need grace. This book opens up the so called "can of worms" about our true selves so that we will not be haunted or enslaved by the fear of facing our own authenticity. Once that happens, we can not only be more authentic, we can also be more gracious toward others.
  
  David Zahl is founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries, which receives more than 1 million website pageviews per year and has 35,000 newsletter subscribers and social media followers. He is editor in chief of the Mockingbird blog and cohost of the Mockingcast podcast. Zahl wrote the critically acclaimed book Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It and has written for Christianity Today and the Washington Post. He lives with his wife and three boys in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he also serves on the staff of Christ Episcopal Church.
  
  Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
  
  conrade
  This book has been provided courtesy of Brazos Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
• 
  Anita Yoder

  This might be my best read of 2023. I listened to the audio version, read by the author, which is a delight, but I often wished for a hard copy to underline and reread lines. This will definitely be a reread.
  It gives a way to see humanity and accept, even embrace, imperfection and disappointment in ourselves and others. This is not about being Eeyore's who expect the worst but about knowing none of us never outgrows the need for grace.
  Anyone who interacts with people needs this book.
• 
  Heidi

  Don't be fooled by the highfalutin' title: "Low Anthropology" is not a grad school textbook. It's a book for everyone: a highly accessible, readable look at human nature and the ways our outlook on human nature shapes our view of ourselves and others.
  
  This isn't really a theology book, and in some ways it's not even an explicitly Christian book, although it's written by a priest and ultimately ties everything back to Christ. The core question is this: Are humans fundamentally good and capable of change and improvement? Or are we flawed and incapable of fixing ourselves? And what implications follow from the view we choose to take? How does it affect our interaction with others?
  
  Zahl argues that argues that "low anthropology," viewing humans as fundamentally limited and selfish, is not only a more realistic view, but also allows us to treat ourselves and others with more compassion and grace in our relationships, our social settings, our politics, and our faith communities. It forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about our own limitations and weaknesses, and places us in a position of equal footing with those we'd prefer to view as fundamentally different or lesser than ourselves.
  
  Along the way, we're invited to share in everyday stories of addiction, frustration, shame, and weakness that we can all relate to, and encouraged to take an honest look at the world around us and wonder if we're really as beautiful and perfect as Oprah tells us we are. Can we actually optimize ourselves and achieve enlightenment and perfection in this world if we try hard enough? Can we expect others to act rationally and be on their best behavior all the time? How would we interact with the world differently if the answer was "no?"
  
  The book is written for a wide audience, and if it suffers from theological vagueness, it's specifically because it's geared toward, well, everyone. For me, as a Christian, I was waiting for chapter 9 the entire time, and I'd probably advise other Christians to read the first couple chapters, chapter 9, and then the rest of the book. I found the middle of the book lagged for a few chapters while I waited for that final chapter.
  
  But this is also a core strength of the book: Zahl talks with grace and humor about our limitations, our self-centeredness, and our inability to act on our convictions and values in a way that isn't limited to believers, but invites readers of all backgrounds to consider our own weaknesses and to extend grace to others in their weakness.
  
  It's fabulously and beautifully written, and packs a lot of punch without becoming overwhelming. Highly recommend for book groups and anyone who wants to take a step back and reconsider some fundamentals of human life.
  
  **Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
  
• 
  Robert D. Cornwall

  Anthropology involves the study of human life, culture, and existence. Theological anthropology obviously looks at human existence but from a theological rather than scientific perspective. As you can imagine, as a theological category it is complex. There isn't just one Christian anthropology, because different traditions look at humanity differently. We might start with the premise that humans are created in the image of God (Gen. 1), but from there we rarely agree. In fact, things get complicated with the story of the fall. What actually happened in the Garden and how might what happened there get passed on to the rest of humanity. While some take that story very literally and presume that at the beginning there was a couple named Adam and Eve and everyone descends from them. For others of us, who do not embrace the literalness of the story, we can ask the question of how that story influences how we see human life.
  
  I've shared all of this as a prelude to my review of David Zahl's "Low Anthropology." Zahl offers the book as a word of grace and hope to beleaguered Christians who find themselves unable to live up to the "standards" set up for them. Zahl is the founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries and author. He is the son of a retired Episcopal priest --
  Paul Zahl -- and a staff member of an Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, Virginia.
  
  The book seeks to address our expectations of human life, as Christians, as it relates to many life issues, ranging from friendship to politics. He wants to address what he believes is a perfectionism inherent in what he calls "high Anthropology." This view of humanity, apparently, is highly optimistic about human ability to live the Christian life, and that leads, in his estimation to burnout. He offers, as an alternative, a low anthropology that is grace-filled and assumes that it is God who needs to act. If we let God act and rest in God's grace, knowing there is nothing we can do on our own, we'll be much happier. Thus, he's a critic of the self-help genre and optimistic theologies like those purveyed by a Robert Schuller.
  
  There is much to like here, as he does speak of grace. Yet, I also found the book confounding. Ultimately, the message here is deeply rooted in Augustinianism and perhaps Luther. He doesn't speak of total depravity, but he does appear to have low expectations for humanity. While humility is a good quality to develop, at times it seemed that he was advocating passivity. As the book came to a conclusion and the Augustinian/Lutheran vision became clearer (though for someone trained in theology it's clear from the beginning), I wondered how he deals with, for instance, the letter of James or even the Sermon on the Mount. He seems to be critical of the social justice movement within mainline Christianity, even as he is concerned about the puritanism of conservative Protestantism.
  
  I expect that this book will be a welcome contribution to the lives of those who have struggled with perfectionism. On the other hand, I can see others finding permission here to just live and let live because it's all in God's hands. In other words, I think there is room for a middle anthropology, one that's not so high that it assumes we are capable of doing whatever is needed with little or no help from God, or so low that it is assumed that nothing is really expected of us because it's all up to God. As James reminds us, faith without works is dead. So, perhaps we need is a bit of Christian realism, that is a bit of Reinhold Niebuhr, so that we can be cognizant of our own limits, something that Zahl emphasizes, while not undermining the call to act.
  
• 
  Lori Eby

  It’s a 5 star book if I rate based on how relevant it was to me. Mind-changing and, I hope, life changing.
• 
  Steph

  So good. I will be thinking about this for a long time. Kevin read it over a year ago and has been referencing principles from it ever since, but it honestly wasn’t until I saw the cover that I felt confident enough to read it. Don’t be fooled by the title, which sounds intensely academic. It is very accessible and has given me language and a lens for things I didn’t even know I needed. I can’t unsee it now though!! Incredibly helpful.
  
  “A low anthropology understands that people change only when their desires do, when one addiction or emotion is supplanted by a different one. That is to say, a high anthropologist looks at problematic behavior and sees a lack of information or awareness. A low anthropologist looks at the same issue and sees a lack of agency or power. What desire is holding this person back? A low anthropologist does not expect fresh facts to change convictions or to alter deeply rooted patterns in our lives.”
• 
  Jared

  It’s been said that human depravity is the easiest Christian doctrine to prove. But we all avoid accepting it. We need a dose of realism. Zahl provides it, making a winsome case from culture then Scripture that we’re all weak, conflicted, and bent in upon ourselves. With a spoonful of humor, he also shows that recognizing the reality of our beggarliness is what helps us find God’s love and treat our neighbors with kindness.
  
  I’ll remember the sections on unconscious bias and systemic injustice (pp 94–97) and the humor of the Muppets (pp 145–148).
• 
  George P.

  When I drive home from work, I often see a guy at the bottom of the off-ramp holding a cardboard help-me sign. I rarely carry cash, so I have none to give him. Still, I do my best to avoid his gaze.
  
  I can’t avoid the debate taking place in my head, however. On the one hand, this guy probably made a lot of bad choices, and giving him cash would simply allow him to continue his losing streak. Good thing I don’t have any!
  
  On the other hand, I know what it’s like to be in debt. Maybe he had a run of back luck and simply needs someone to notice and help. I should’ve lifted a Lincoln from my wife’s wallet this morning!
  
  David Zahl would say that my internal debate is about anthropology, that is, “our operative theory of human nature.” Specifically, it’s a debate between high and low anthropologies. High anthropologies offer “sunnier estimations of what women and men are like,” he writes, while low anthropologies offer “more sober estimations."
  
  A high anthropology sees help-me guy as a moral agent capable of making choices. He is on life’s off-ramp because of bad choices. Good choices will put him on life’s on-ramp once again. Whether off or on, help-me guy is in control, which is why I hesitate to give him money.
  
  According to Zahl, a low anthropology sees “the human spirit as something that veers, by default, in a malign direction and, as a result, cannot flourish without assistance or constraint.” In this view, “people [are] finite, blind, and, in many cases, quite weak,” which is why I probably should give help-me guy money.
  
  My thoughts about help-me guy, however conflicting, assume a high anthropology for myself. I’ve made good choices. I have the money to help. Whether I choose to help him or not, I am different than him.
  
  A low anthropology challenges that assumption. “Everyone is screwed up, broken, clingy, and scared, even the people who seem to have it more or less together,” writes Anne Lamott, whom Zahl quotes approvingly. “They are much more like you than you would believe. So try not to compare your insides to their outsides.”
  
  When we take a closer look, whether at others or ourselves, we find that we all have three qualities in common. Zahl calls them limitation, doubleness, and self-centeredness.
  
  “Limitation means that we are bound by time and biology and history and all sorts or other factors that shape our behavior,” writes Zahl. Such factors impose constraints on what we can do and know. I may want to ride roller coasters with my kids, for example, but I can’t because of fused vertebrae and hair-trigger motion sickness.
  
  Doubleness has to do with “the competing forces, or voices, that drive our behavior.” Like many Americans, I’m overweight. I know that I need to eat right and exercise. But given the choice, I prefer donuts for breakfast and a comfy recliner where I can read books for hours on end.
  
  Finally, there’s self-centeredness. Our desires, contrary as they are, “veer toward the self, such that what we want comes at a cost to other people,” writes Zahl. I’m never too busy to read a book. (It helps that I’m an editor by trade.) But how often have I been too busy to play with my children?
  
  These qualities are depressing, but Zahl thinks that acknowledging them is the first step in the right direction. “I am convinced that if you want to see an increase in hope, understanding, and unity amid the engulfing mercilessness of today — indeed, if you want to communicate anything approaching grace — you must begin with a low anthropology.”
  
  Why? Because low anthropology begins with humility. “A high anthropology entertains the possibility of mastery and comprehensive understanding,” Zahl writes. “It can therefore be highly judgmental in practice.” Like me judging help-me guy’s choices in life from behind rolled-up windows.
  
  “If you and I are finite beings, then we are incapable of making watertight judgments of others,” writes Zahl. “There is always a piece of evidence that might be missing.” Humility rolls down the windows, asks questions, and offers the possibility of relationship.
  
  Even more, humility leads us to acknowledge our own weaknesses. I may not stand at the bottom of an off-ramp, but I am help-me guy in my own way. At least he has the honesty to hold up a sign.
  
  I encourage you to read David Zahl’s Low Anthropology for yourself. Better yet, read it with others. It is a wise, witty, and well-written book.
  
  Indeed, without being preachy or proof-texty, it’s a deeply Christian book. Our lives are characterized by both creatureliness (limitations) and sin (doubleness, self-centeredness). Because of that, what we most need is grace, both from God and one another.
  
  As Zahl quotes Reynolds Price in the book’s epigraph, “The whole point of learning about the human race presumably is to give it mercy.”
  
  Book Reviewed
  David Zahl, Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself) (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2022).
  
  P.S. If you liked my review, please click “Helpful” on my
  Amazon review page.
  
  P.S. This review is cross-posted from
  InfluenceMagazine.com with permission.
• 
  Kris

  Once again, I am surprised and impressed. After Zahl's Seculosity I wasn't sure if he could do it again. But this is another good work. Not quite a sequel, but a spin-off of sorts.
  
  This is a primer on the concept of original sin for the non-religious. He shows how a high anthropologist can become unrealistic, even zealously hopeful for human potential, and the ways this can end in disaster and brokenness. A low anthropologist acknowledges humanity's innate capacity for, even prevalence toward, wickedness and corruption. When we taper our expectations, we become generally better at creating community, relationships, and fostering compassion, even humor.
  
  I've been waiting to find a writer who talks about how one's views on the nature of mankind (generally good vs. generally bad) affect the conservative/progressive divide in politics. Here Zahl discusses that. I only wanted more!
  
  Particularly the ending chapter about low anthropology and religion hit home. There Zahl focuses on semi-Pelagianism and the way we turn faith into a work, how modern popular American Christianity quickly becomes moralistic and exhausting.
  
  Would recommend Zahl's
  Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It
  
  I'm now curious about Paul Zahl's writings. For example, see
  Who Will Deliver Us?: The Present Power Of The Death Of Christ.
  
  On 17 Nov 2022 I attended a book signing/speaking event by David Zahl held at Concordia University St. Paul.
  
• 
  Kyle Dupic

  In Low Anthropology, DZ accomplishes what he so often does in his preaching and other written works.
  
  At the beginning, I’m thinking of how many other people need to hear this news, how profoundly helpful for them it would be. Slowly…but surely…DZ’s writing gently nudges me to consider how helpful this would be for me to consider in my own life. Soon enough, I’m opened up to the reality of my own limitation, doubleness, and self-centeredness. And as he so beautifully articulates, this allows me to see myself (and others) in a more gracious way. In short, it gives me much more peace as I work through my day.
  
  Two bonus points:
  #1 - chapter 10 (Low Anthropology in Religion) should be required reading for all in church work/leadership
  #2 - I have a handful of people I listen and reach out to, in order to better understand the nuances of coaching, pitching mechanics, strength and conditioning, and social issues. They help me think with clarity through such nuanced problems. But all these people help me see ONE aspect of life I’m working through. DZ’s last 2 books (this one and Seculosity), lay a framework over the entirety of life for me to begin to understand more deeply what is going on, how I should understand it, and what I should do moving forward.
• 
  Derrill Hagood

  Low Anthropology reveals the good news about human nature—none of us are perfect, thank God! David Zahl does an excellent job of exploring how having a realistic view of humanity, that we are all sinners and all failures, leads to the path of grace, both with ourselves and with others. He shows that adjusting our expectations of our own life and the lives of our friends and neighbors leads not to despair and disappointment but to hope. The book is accessible and thoughtful, realistic and encouraging. We don’t have to be perfect, and neither do our Twitter accounts.
• 
  Barry

  Despite the strange title and kooky cover design this is a fascinating and helpful exploration of human nature.
  
  If anthropology is what we believe about human nature, a “high anthropology views people as defined by their best days and greatest achievements, their dreams and their aspirations,” whereas a low anthropology believes that all humans seem to share certain less than noble traits. Zahl narrows these down to three pillars:
  
  Limitation: there are limits to what we can do and what we can know. We have blind spots. We die.
  
  Doubleness: we don’t seem to be able or willing to do what we know we should do. We do stuff that we know is stupid or harmful. Henry James called this “the divided self.” “Doubleness comprises the observation that our agency—or personal power—is more restricted than we like to think it is.”
  
  Self-centeredness: “It is fairly easy to see this in other people, but we have a harder time identifying it in ourselves that is, we are less likely to acknowledge our complicity, manipulations, and corner-cutting than other people's.”
  
  He shows that this understanding of ourselves and others tends to foster hope rather than shame, humility rather than judgment. It better enables acceptance and community.
  

  A low anthropology understands that we are all, to some extent, beholden to our histories and subject to relational patterns beyond our choosing. Our loved one's alienating behavior suddenly stands a chance of being received with generosity instead of accusation. No wonder Alain de Botton says, "This is what it means to truly love someone: to be generous in one's interpretation of another person." This posture theoretically allows a low anthropologist to head into a relationship with eyes open, sparing themselves the shock and surprise when limitation, doubleness, and self-centeredness raise their heads, as they inevitably do.

  
  
  
  For me, his chapter, Low Anthropology in Religion, pushed this book into 5-star territory. He discusses the common problem of burnout that occurs when Christians embrace a selectively high anthropology believing that following conversion their sanctification should be instant and completely transformative, only to discover that they remain limited, double-minded, and self-centered. Church then becomes a legalistic bootcamp. A treadmill of moralistic striving which eventually becomes exhausting and demoralizing.
  
  Instead, we should understand that even after salvation our natures are still fallen, but we have discovered grace. Luther described this as being “simultaneously justified and sinful at the same time.” Simul iustus et peccator. Zahl admits that these are theologically complex waters that warrant further reading. Indeed.
  
  
  Zahl is becoming one of my favorite authors. I also really enjoyed
  Seculosity. I may just have to add him to my Must-Read Authors list.
• 
  Jaimie

  The clear law/gospel distinction and strong proclamation of Christ alone originally drew me to Mockingbird Ministries. When the opportunity to read the pre-release of David Zahl's new book presented itself, I jumped at the chance.
  At first I was skeptical; the book seemed mainly directed at the un-churched (not a bad direction, just unexpected) and was not obviously religious. Zahl's theology shapes this entire book, although the writing isn't always blatantly theological. I decided this is a good thing, and I hope people from all walks of life and faith backgrounds read Low Anthropology.
  Zahl sealed the deal with me in Chapter 6 "The Fruit of Low Anthropology" with mention of The Muppets, that "collective of felt and fur." All of Zahl's illustrations are spot-on, but who doesn't love The Muppets? As a child of the 80s & 90s, I learned some of life's greatest lessons through The Muppets, and they illustrate Zahl's point that a low anthropology allows us to relate to one another, avoid fatalism, and understand our own weaknesses.
  I'm a Lutheran pastor, and I will be recommending this book for people in my congregation. Zahl never turns away from Christ. He does not approach life or promote a "ladder theology" that teaches people to simply try harder and be better. Rather, he explains how our lives are made simpler, kinder, more gracious when we approach life and one another with a low anthropology that recognizes our shortcomings rather than a high anthropology that is never satisfied.
• 
  Thomas Kuhn

  Zahl presents what he calls a "low anthropology" as 1-limits, 2-doubleness and 3-self-centeredness. His main idea is that embracing this view of one's self and others can actually lead to a better, healthier, more grace-filled life. I found myself nodding along in agreement l, though I had a minor quibble or two with his understanding of sanctification and some of the points of application he makes. His writing is excellent and his illustrations/cultural references were so spot on. In tone, it reminds me a bit of Francis Spufford's "Unapologetic" but with less swearing. Overall, I'd highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand what it means to be a human. Zahl is writing from a Christian standpoint but the insights would be valuable for all.
• 
  Lauren

  "A high anthropology views people as defined by their best days and greatest achievements, their dreams and their aspirations. A low anthropology assumes a through line of heartache and self-doubt, that the bulk of our mental energy is focused on subjects that would be embarrassing or even shameful if broadcast, and that our ability to do the right thing in any given situation is hampered by all sorts of unseen factors."
  
  Dave Zahl makes a compelling case that it is the latter view of human nature that allows us to view others (and ourselves) with compassion. Having spent plenty of time in circles with a high anthropology, I can attest to the freedom of being with people who understand that "everyone is screwed up, broken, clingy, and scared, even the people who seem to have it more or less together" (Anne Lamott). This book isn't just for Christians, but I found the chapter on low anthropology in religion to be especially helpful, particularly for those who may have been wounded by the church. Highly recommended.
• 
  Trey Hall

  Humorous anecdotes and accessible reflections on a heavy subject: the frailty and can’t-sort-ourselves-out-ness of “human condition”. The author makes his point well, in prose that’s sometimes searching and transcendent while at others quite casual. Funny, helpful stuff. Folks from 12 step recovery communities will be saying “Amen” throughout
• 
  Katherine Willis Pershey

  Brilliant.
  
  I found myself weirdly jealous that I did not write this book. Probably because it’s a better version of a book I intended to write years ago, but didn’t.
  
  I will read this again, hopefully for a discussion with church members.
• 
  Kamrie Rhoads

  add this to my list of: books i wish i would’ve read at 18 and you all should read too!
  
  will come back to this one. david zahl i am in, send me all the mockingcast episodes and other books im coming!
• 
  Gina Dalfonzo

  Wise, witty, and thought-provoking.
• 
  Starr Cliff

  Perspective shifting and important. Loved this.
• 
  Joey

  I've been eagerly awaiting this book since hearing that Dave was writing it, and it met all of my (ironically high) expectations. Don't let the "Anthropology" part of the title deter you, this is a clear and accessible distillation of the insightful work Zahl does with Mockingbird ministries.
  
  Drawing on sources as varied as Augustine, Philip Melanchthon, Zadie Smith, Alcoholics Anonymous, Jim Henson, and 20 years spent working in ministry, Zahl gets to the heart of what ails us: our hearts. We all like to think that we're reasonable above all else, but when we do even the smallest amount of honest introspection, that mirage dissipates quickly. We are ruled by our emotions. Society tells us to trust our hearts, and that if we find "our people," or "do the work" to uncover our "true selves" our problems will be solved. But what if our hearts really are deceitful above all things? And what happens when we end up in conflict with "our people," or we sense our "true self" shifting?
  
  What if, instead of aligning ourselves with others based on our accomplishments and affinities, we do so on account of our shared suffering and fallibility because that is actually where we can all find common ground?
  
  Zahl successfully keeps this book more in the realm of the descriptive rather than the prescriptive, because subscribing to a low anthropology means we know that Paul's great insight in his letter to the Romans, "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate," holds true to all of us, and that telling people what to do will often (in Zahl's words) "provoke the opposite response." That we have to leave the "heart-change business to God and circumstance," because "People's hearts change only when either the pain of not changing outweighs the pain of change or...they no longer feel they have to change in order to be loved."
  
  Highly recommended.
• 
  Faith Tonnesen

  Low anthropology- audio book
  
  
  Book couldve been summed up in “understanding how people’s past affects their current decisions and emotional issues.” Which is I think pretty basic, but author used good points and studies to explain ideas, like needed confession for sins and issues for growth in relationships. Also neat how much we grow in relationships while in affliction and not as much in success.
  
  Author is evidently not a theologian, though he comes from a pastoral perspective, and a lot of times goes over Scripture to make bold claims. Includes social gospel and psychology rather than identifying sins, example being when he claims some people are biological narcissists. That is not biblical. People are frankly sinners, and we bear with them because of Romans 15 and 1 cor 13, not because of their past or biological disposition. A MAJOR red flag is the need to “bear with someone because you dont know why they did that decision!” Regardless if a nonbeliever had an abusive upbringing or is simply a self centered bigot, we value them as image bearers and depraved. We demonstrate both compassion and justice. He did not discuss this topic. Likewise, regardless of a believers cause/effect for his/her sin, we demonstrate patience and forgiveness. *****We forgive and care, not because of their background, but because of the forgiveness we received in Christ. ******
  
  To grow in humility and friendship, we must look to the mercy shown at Calvary. This was a very humanistic perspective, though I enjoyed and learned from parts of it.
  
  This type of mindset excuses sin because “we don’t understand.” Humility is viewing our sin as the greatest (what a wretched man I am!). Not excusing others sin, but feeling the gravity of ours and the overwhelming rescuing grace lavished on us.
  
  But I get it. We need to consider others perspectives and backgrounds, we need go expect failures and sins. Have low expectations. But I think a biblical counselor can write this book better, with discussing the need to expect little and love a lot. The last chapter about “come as you are” really upset me— the author softly rejects sanctification and church discipline.
• 
  Esther Beard

  I keep thinking about this book (which is a good thing). I grew up with a theology of low anthropology but was raised with a practical, lived-out high anthropology. I was confused the majority of my young years by this contradiction and hypocrisy. I was fortunate to land in a church that taught the importance of the Gospel daily and in every aspect of my life and not just salvation. However, this book gave language to my lived out confusion that I have never been able to articulate till now. Thank you David Zahl for this important read.
• 
  Hiram

  Outstanding!
• 
  Hobart

  This originally appeared at
  The Irresponsible Reader.
  ---
  This is another one of those books that I have to fight the temptation to dig deep and spend a few thousand words laying out the ideas in detail and responding to them in kind. But that's not what I do around here—nor is it what I have time to do. But mostly, I wouldn't do it as well as the author did in the book—so why not just stick with what I do and tell you to buy the book?
  
  WHAT'S LOW ANTHROPOLOGY ABOUT?
  Zahl's concern is the way we think about human nature—our anthropology—not in some academic sense (or just that), but how, individually, what we believe about human nature impacts the way we live and think.
  
  High anthropologies are based on some idea about basic decency and goodness in humanity and that with the right ideas, the right amount of effort and ambition, we can improve ourselves, and fix ourselves. Low anthropologies start off with the idea that people are broken, sinful, a mess, and that while we'll do the right thing sometimes, those times are the exception. And yes, with help, we can stumble through life in a way to be of service to others and do better ourselves.
  
  By realizing—and remembering—that everyone is broken and struggling, we can be gracious. We know ourselves and that we are a mess, we deal with bad habits, addictions, imperfections, and sin on a more-than-daily basis. But we forget that's true of others, too, especially in a social media world where we only see the airbrushed images others put forward.
  
  High anthropologies tend toward self-righteousness, perfectionism, and judgementalism (toward ourselves and others). Low anthropologies can and should free us from that—to compassion, humor, and charity.
  
  At least that's the basic idea—he fleshes it out and argues for it much more convincingly. Then he applies it to various aspects of life—relationships, politics, and religion.
  
  SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT LOW ANTHROPOLOGY?
  This really reminded me of Alan Noble's You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World and Kelly Kapic's You're Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News (it's not that surprising, really, I invoked Kapic's book when I posted about Noble's). The three books approach similar topics in very similar terms—just changing the focus a little bit. The chapter on politics reminded me of the relevant chapters in Michael Horton's Recovering Our Sanity: How the Fear of God Conquers the Fears that Divide Us (and there's probably some overlap with other chapters, too).
  
  I guess what I'm saying is that there's a lot in this book to tie to things I read over the course of the year—2022 ended up being along a theme. In essence, humans are limited creatures—and when we remember that (as true of ourselves and others) and recognize the legitimacy of those limitations, as well as who put those limitations on us—it will affect the way we live and think of ourselves. It will free us to obey as we ought, to live as we ought, and treat ourselves and others along the lines we're supposed to. We can think of it in terms of limitation and creaturely dependence, in terms of being those purchased by Christ, or in terms of realism about human nature. All call us to humility, all put the emphasis on our hope in Christ, and all will help us serve others because we're in the same situation as them.
  
  Zahl's treatment of this is a bit briefer—and he applies it to more situations than Noble or Kapic, so it's inevitably shallower. Not worse, I want to stress, but he can't get to the same depth as the others.
  
  Zahl's sense of humor is evident throughout, and his engaging style really carries this work—it's not just a helpful book, but you want to be helped by it because you're having such a good time reading it. He brings in good illustrations and insights from psychology and culture alongside his points from Scripture and theology.
  
  This is a practical work—the theory is sound and worked out well, but it's not theory for theory's sake—Zaahl's eye is on doing something the whole time—living better, serving others, and being gracious. I wondered a little bit about particular applications he makes, and if they're as consistent as I'd want them to be. Thankfully, a low anthropology ensures there's plenty of room for Zahl and me to be wrong on those points and not get too worked up about it.
  
  I really liked this work and suggest you find some time for it.
• 
  emily

  I read this book in one sitting, on a rainy evening at home, and found it deeply moving in a life-changing kind of way. As a regular listener of the Mockingcast, a podcast on finding grace (and its absence) in everyday life, I had been anticipating the deeper dive into this novel concept (a term coined by the author’s father!) of low anthropology.
  
  Low Anthropology is brilliantly researched and written while also, somehow, being accessible to those of us who are not religious scholars. Every section is broken down and illustrated with relatable and memorable examples that run the gamut from The Muppets to Augustine of Hippo to baking cookies. You get the sense that Zahl has spent a lot of time thinking about this new (old) take on what it means to be human, applying it to a wide variety of real life situations and, most refreshingly, to his own life which he thankfully doesn’t seem to have all figured out either. 
  
  I found the sections on limitation, doubleness (another new term!), and self-centeredness both fascinating and discomforting. I say discomforting because there are parts of this book that made me feel seen, albeit in a constructive way. I’d be reading along about self-centeredness, wondering if I’ve ever really acted that way…until getting hit square between the eyes with a line like, “For instance, instead of really loving someone, we use them to make us feel better about ourselves. We start to care less about them as a person and more about what they can do for us. Before we know it, we’ve remade that other person into our personal vending machine of validation.” It hurts because it’s true. No one gets out alive. 
  
  Fortunately, for every harsh reality, Zahl manages to show us that flower growing in the middle of a cracked sidewalk. Some of my favorite parts were in the chapter on the Fruit of Low Anthropology, the humor section alone! As someone who came to faith in the wake of a tragedy that sharply exposed my limitations, I found the anecdotes on the Craigslist Confessions and “Back Row of America” particularly moving. I believe what Zahl says to be true that, “Faith in God begins where faith in oneself ends.” 
  
  Perhaps there’s a reason why this book didn’t exist before now. As mentioned above, it is at times a tough read, not for its prose or syntax, but for its willingness to pull back the veil on the finely edited and selectively remembered narratives we’ve held dear about the world, others, and especially ourselves. It is a brave book that does not shy away from sensitive topics like cognitive bias, racism, and politics. When election season comes around again, I will remind myself that, “The real drivers in politics are not numbers, statistics, and reason but fear, hope, love, and belonging.”  
  
  Low Anthropology made me laugh, cringe, and marvel at the counterintuitive nature of grace. Safe to say, it is unlike any book of nonfiction I have ever read. It made me wish I had known about it sooner, even if the knowledge would have spared me none of the suffering. I think it deserves a bookshelf of all its own. 
  
  As for me, I’ll be recommending this book to all my fellow disasters in crime and referring to it often. That is, right after I pick up the pieces of myself from stepping on the land mines of my own making (yet again). Gratefully, I’m not ultimately in charge of putting myself back together.
• 
  Panda Incognito

  In this unique book about grace, David Zahl encourages his readers to embrace a "low anthropology" of human nature. Although this sounds very academic, Zahl wrote this at the popular level, and he defines our anthropology as our set of beliefs about human nature. He challenges his readers that the best way to accept others and ourselves is to abandon lofty ideas about human potential and get real about the fact that we're all limited, self-centered, and characterized by conflicting desires. Throughout the book, Zahl explores these issues, addresses common objections, and shows how lower expectations can help us cope with life's challenges and become more gracious in our relationships, in our faith, and in the political sphere.
  
  Although Zahl writes from a distinctly Christian perspective, the book is accessible to people of different beliefs. He clearly explains biblical concepts, shares examples that anyone can relate to, and offers general, practical takeaways. Nonetheless, Christian readers will glean the most from this book, as Zahl explores the biblical basis for low anthropology and shows how it fits within a philosophy of Christ-centered grace. The chapter about our need for low anthropology in religion is particularly helpful, as he shows how legalistic environments lack realism, not just grace. This chapter is a must-read, especially for Christian leaders, as Zahl explores the cost for people who want to honor God, but burn out from never measuring up to sky-high expectations.
  
  Low Anthropology is thought-provoking, nuanced, and helpful. I found parts of it repetitive at times, and I would have appreciated more insight into how pessimists who naturally see the worst in themselves and humanity can become more gracious. This book is best for people who feel burnt out on high expectations and need a paradigm shift, but everyone can find wisdom here, and I would especially recommend this to ministry leaders, who often set the tone for how their churches or organizations view human nature and human capabilities. This book provides a much-needed corrective to both religious legalism and secular dreams of utopia, and can help readers grow in love and compassion for themselves and others.
  
  I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Corby H

  In “Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself)”, David Zahl urges the reader to formulate their conception of human nature not by the mountain peeks of accomplishments, but by the mundane and low moments of our lives, which is more often than not, filled with confusion, embarrassing stories, heartache and self-doubt. As the subtitle suggests, the great irony of the low anthropology concept is what sounds insulting is actually liberating, and what sounds liberating at first is actually oppressive and embittering.
  
  In just the first few pages readers will be confronted with this high/low anthropology paradox as Zahl works in pop culture, theology, and sociology to great effect. He is gifted in being able to see the ramifications of our speech and actions we have towards each other and ourselves. However, Zahl, as an ambassador of low anthropology isn’t afraid to bare it either. The book is chock full his own judgementalism, and embarrassing, awkward and disgraceful moments.
  
  
  Overall, “Low Anthropology”, is a great primer on Reformational theology: Augustine’s doctrine of original sin, total depravity, law/gospel distinction, and the works and grace antithesis. Especially for those who may not be interested in a religious/theological volume, as it’s not very technical and doesn’t get bogged down in the minutia so common and expected in theological texts. Make sure to do yourself a favour and read this book.