Publishers Weekly
06/12/2023
In this cogent debut, Rowan, CFO of the in-flight internet provider Gogo, proposes a Christian approach to business that prizes faith and humility. Arguing that professionals should “engage in the world for God rather than for our selfish gratification,” Rowan outlines how readers might “more fully connect the daily with the divine,” first by surrendering to Jesus, then by learning to think and live in more Christly ways (for example, attending to “God’s priorities in the present” rather than overplanning), followed by bringing faith priorities into the workplace, and finally by using business to shape a better society (fostering inclusive work environments or supporting worthy charities, for instance). Rowan weaves in anecdotes from his own corporate experience, recalling how his faith helped him keep his cool during high-stakes board meetings, as he strove to do “what I believe is right in the sight of God and leave the judgment to him.” While he sometimes fails to translate his solid insights into concrete action items (he asks readers to consider a personal challenge and then “give it to God”), his message of working in service of a higher purpose is well argued and grounded in a wealth of valuable, real-world experience. Christian professionals will be inspired. (Sept.)
Richard Stearns
"The Spiritual Art of Business can transform the way you think about your faith in the context of your work. Based on his own remarkable career, Barry's book takes you into the unvarnished crucible of the workplace—with all its gritty challenges, victories, setbacks, and difficult people—and shows you how your career can become a sacred and purposeful journey instead of just a daily and exhausting grind. Spend a few hours with Barry, and he will show you how God intends to repurpose you. The Spiritual Art of Business is a book that can transform the next few decades of your career."
Diane Paddison
"God has a purpose for us, explains the apostle Paul in Romans 8:28. In The Spiritual Art of Business, Barry Rowan uses his life as a perfect example of God purposefully using his work. The wonderful reflection questions at the end of every chapter allow readers to deeply examine their lives, especially relating to their work. I recommend this book to anyone in the workplace. It would especially be great for a small group or book club to go through together, then touch base periodically afterward. God does have a purpose for all of us in our work, in different ways and at different times, to be his light on earth."
Denise Daniels
"I have long admired how Barry Rowan integrates his commitment to God with his daily business practices. This book is a wise distillation of his learning, hard won over a wide-ranging career marked by both successes and failures. Through short and accessible chapters, Rowan encourages us to surrender our work to God, allow God to use our work to transform us, realign our work with God's purposes, and contribute to a better world through our work. This is a book to be read slowly, savored, and revisited over time."
Scott Stephenson
"In a conversational style that feels like a fireside chat with an old friend, Barry Rowan has distilled his study of the Bible and decades of experience as a senior executive in The Spiritual Art of Business. Each chapter is a nugget of wisdom, and the reader will be rewarded for remembering the stories and taking seriously the questions that Barry poses."
Katherine Leary Alsdorf
"Working through The Spiritual Art of Business is a thought-provoking, spiritually enriching endeavor that can transform our relationship with God and our work. Barry Rowan's short and practical chapters reflect his own deep wrestling with God about the meaning of his work and all the accompanying trials and rewards. He launches us into our own 'archaeological dig' into the feelings, beliefs, and habits that so often encumber our experience of work. Do a chapter each day, using the probing reflection questions at the end, and allow yourself to be drawn deeper into the freedom and adventure available through a life of following Christ."
John Coleman
"In The Spiritual Art of Business, Barry Rowan takes us on a forty-day journey of submission and renewal in Christ. A seasoned C-suite executive, Rowan has thought deeply about the theological and practical realities of God working through him in the marketplace. And in this study he takes us on a four-part journey of surrender, transformation, realignment, and fulfillment. It's a journey every Christ-follower in business should take, and Barry is a worthy guide and mentor in this important spiritual work."
Ruth Haley Barton
"This is a truly helpful work, integrating deep spiritual lessons with the call to serve God and others in the business arena. The short chapters that conclude with penetrating reflection questions are perfect for creating space to do your own integrative work. It is both a blessing and a challenge!"
D. Michael Lindsay
"Barry Rowan's decades spent in senior leadership experience are set in a new light in The Spiritual Art of Business as he humbly calls Christians to a life of surrender and service. In laying down our personal desires and plans, we can pursue transformed lives, ones realigned with God's purpose."
