In 2002, Andi Ashworth, the co-founder of Art House America (along with her husband, music producer Charlie Peacock) published, Real Love for Real Life: The Art and Work of Caring. The book is Andi’s care-filled challenge to find creative ways of bringing beauty into the lives of those around us, and it’s become a book beloved by readers everywhere. Sadly, Real Love for Real Life went out of print and copies became scarce. When Andi approached us to discuss the possibility of putting it back into print as a second edition, we were more than happy to help.
Rabbit Room Press is now proud to announce the release of the second edition of Andi Ashworth’s acclaimed Real Love for Real Life: The Art and Work of Caring, featuring a new preface to the second edition written by the author. If you, like many, have been anxious to read it but haven’t been able to find it available, fret no longer. It’s now on sale in the Rabbit Room store.
Russ Ramsey discussed the book back in 2008. And Jill Phillips discussed it in 2010. Look for a new Rabbit Room review and an new interview with Andi Ashworth in the next week.
Here’s what Publisher’s Weekly had to say:
“Edith Schaeffer’s The Hidden Art of Homemaking (1971) and What Is a Family? (1975) have sold steadily in Christian bookstores for over a generation, and now Ashworth offers daughters (and sons) of Schaeffer’s early readers an equally inspirational tribute to caregiving. Wife and business partner of Nashville musician Charlie Peacock, Ashworth maintains in this solidly biblical yet culturally aware book that caregiving, loving, and serving other people is to some extent the duty of every Christian. For certain Christians, caregiving is also a lifelong vocation that, though undervalued in our productivity-obsessed world, deserves as much respect as any paid employment. Ashworth is no Martha Stewart: she provides encouragement rather than crafts and recipes. Nor is she Pollyanna: she recognizes that caregiving can be tedious and exhausting, and only those who set firm boundaries and rely on God’s help are likely to persist. Ashworth’s own struggle with balancing business and home life increases her credibility as she promotes flower gardens, hospitality, and leisurely conversations over dinner . . . If her abundant anecdotes evoke nostalgia for a bygone era, they also reinforce her point that “when we create beauty in our environment, relationships, music, cooking, poetry, and celebrations we express our hope for the new heaven and new earth that God promises.” Ashworth does not provide a detailed road map to her peaceable kingdom, but she clearly shows that if it is ever to be created, someone must care.”
Pete Peterson is the author of the Revolutionary War adventure The Fiddler’s Gun and its sequel Fiddler’s Green. Among the many strange things he’s been in life are the following: U.S Marine air traffic controller, television editor, art teacher and boatwright at the Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch, and progenitor of the mysterious Budge-Nuzzard. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Jennifer, where he's the Executive Director of the Rabbit Room and Managing Editor of Rabbit Room Press.
8 Comments
Laura Peterson
I’M EXCITED ABOUT THIS! This book has been on my Amazon wish list for a while, waiting until I had some spare cash and there was a good used copy available. Glad I get to buy it here instead.
Kim
Whoopee! I have a beautifully dog-eared copy I found in a secondhand shop, but I have often recommended this to people without realizing it was hard to come by! Now I’ll know where to send ’em. This book, Christine Pohl’s “Making Room” and Edith Shaeffer’s “Hidden Art of Homemaking” were transformational for me.
Claudette Grinnell-Davis
This is one of the most important books I’ve read in years and I’m thrilled that it’s being reprinted. Essential reading for anyone interested in home life, the diaconate, social networks and caregiving structures, and in general just knowing how to respect other human beings…
Kami
Love this book! I didn’t know it was out of print. Glad others will be able to enjoy it.
Liz goodgame
This book is a treasure… Glad to see it in good company here at The Rabbit Room.
Loren Warnemuende
This looks like it would be a great asset for moms in a group I’m a part of, which, coincidentally, is called REAL moms 🙂 . I read and loved Edith Schaeffer’s book years ago, so if this is in that vein I’ll have to check it out soon.
Julie @ Wife, Mother, Gardener
I have had this book on my shelf since I read Jill Phillip’s review of it last year . Thanks for the reminder to move it up into my queue. I look forward to reading anyone who promotes flower gardens 😉
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