How to be Your Own Selfish Pig And Other Ways You've Been Brainwashed 1982 first printing paperback

by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

This book won’t teach you how to be a selfish pig. But it will tell you what a lot of people think about pigs, robots, the tooth fairy, and more serious topics like God and right and wrong and what’s worth living for. You’ll meet a lot of people in this book, real ones, who have tried all kinds of lifestyles with all kinds of results. What they have in common is that they all, at one time or another, took a serious look at their lives and their worldviews. You’ll laugh and cry with these people. You’ll learn how you could end up a selfish pig and why you might not want to.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, School, Christianity, Self Help, Faith

Unknown Binding

First published June 1, 1982

About the author

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay grew up in Switzerland at L'Abri Fellowship, which was founded by her parents Francis and Edith Schaeffer. She and her husband Ranald Macaulay established and led the L'Abri branch in England for several years. She is also the author of For the Family's Sake and contributed to Books Children Love and When Children Love to Learn.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an odd book. It had some redeeming stories about people and their salvation stories, but overall, the book didn't really have a strong, central message. Wouldn't recommend it to others to read.

[Brittany Lindvall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Term 1 with my 8th, 6th & 3rd graders. We skipped some chapters/sections and I edited a bit on the fly but overall the older kids and I enjoyed this book. The issues she brought up were good and prompted some good questions.

[Amy Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. A few lines might need to be modified if reading with younger teens. This is basically an apologetics book for high schoolers/college age.

[Laura Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

”The danger today is that we who believe in the God of the Bible often go on living like everybody else-especially if our Christian understanding is wobbly and unsure. We miss out of many benefits the Bible promises to us in the life. We should be bold enough to say, “if the Bible is true, then I can act on what it says”.”

[Dianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've gotten stalled in my reading and I'm DNFing this one. It's basically a bunch of discussions that took place at the author's L'Abri hostel. I started reading this one day when I learned about L'Abri, and I was really interested in it (it's basically a place where you can stay for awhile to be quiet and learn and think, presumably about the existence of God). This book is a series of conversations between troubled individuals who seek out the hospitality of L'Abri, bring up their concerns, and are nudged toward a belief in God by the author/hostess.

Actually this is not bad stuff, and I liked some of the ideas presented, but it seemed a little repetitive and disjointed. Also, the author never mentioned any of my personal reasons for believing in God, such as seeing his hand in my life and feeling his love—it was mostly logical arguments (although I didn't finish, so perhaps I missed that part). I suppose that's why I couldn't really relate or get into the book.

[A.R. Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questions are everywhere. Questions about life, death, spirituality. Answers are everywhere too, about what to do to be happy, to be important. With so many answers, you'd think everyone would be happy, wouldn't you (there I am with another question)? But most of those answers just lead to depression and failure. In fact, all of them do but one. L'Abri is the old manor house in England where people go after reaching the endgame of these answers, the answers that say Have fun! Live for you! If it feels good, do it! It's where those who don't know what else to do gather to ask questions and discuss other answers, real answers, answers that will change their lives.

In How to be Your Own Selfish Pig: And Other Ways You've Been Brainwashed, Susan Schaeffer Macaulay explores questions she's encountered from real-life people who came to L'Abri, people with unwanted pregnancies, drugged pasts, scarred hearts. She presents the facts, and her way that she came to her answer-- then she leaves you to decide what yours is. Do you believe that God is real? That He has a benevolent nature? Do you believe some people will go to Heaven and some to Hell? That all people are important? Do you?

Sometimes being a selfish pig is the easiest way to live. But is it the best way?

As Susan Schaeffer Macaulay says: What do you think?

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written the year I was born (!), this book has got a major 1980s vibe, and I described it to my husband as like a conversational overview version of basic apologetics, accompanied by newspaper-style '80s cartoons. My favorite chapter was the one for which the book is named, "How to Be Your Own Selfish Pig." "Me-first" is the air we breathe these days, so pervasive it's hard to even notice! Reading an argument for why this is an empty, unsatisfying path grabbed my attention. Another standout was when Schaeffer Macaulay describes getting on a plane after finding out her dad had cancer. She has to really ask herself, what if everything I believe isn't true? And she felt panicked. The way she worked through that question, trying different philosophies on in her mind and seeing what fit with reality, that resonated so much. I enjoyed this very much and look forward to having my kids read it, too. Recommend!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son and I had many great conversations because of this book! His number one remark over and over again was just how much the things she wrote about applied so well to the world today.

[Devonne West · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy, comprehensive approach to teach the Christian worldview. In a world where we are constantly taught there are no absolute truths and God is not relevant, this book addresses those lies. We do live in a world of "selfish pigs" because we are all flawed humans and we are all self-centered instead of "God-centered." As Benjamin Franklin said, "The most acceptable service to God is doing good to man."

[Gina Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

AmblesideOnline Year 7. Easy and entertaining. Francis Schaeffer’s daughter tells stories about people she met and problems they had and why Christianity makes sense. They are very blatant about things like drugs and trying to find fulfillment in sex. I felt like it’s a really good book for teens to read but one parents might want to be sure and pre-read.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kind of "why Christianity is true" booklet. The title reveals itself in one chapter, but really isn't indicative of its actual content. (And "brainwashed" never has a good connotation to anyone who might be, especially in a world of "fake news.")

[Drew Ellenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

An approachable and immensely readable philosophy. Frances Schaeffer's daughter gives her father's thoughts and her own as easy as conversing over a spot of tea. I highly recommend this read.

[Rosie Gearhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated but a good introduction for Christian teens to some big ideas.

[Rick Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for worldview discussion. Probably best suited for 8th-9th graders.

[Remy Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enlightening book about certain things in our culture and it was written in a very readable way.

[Melissa King · Rating 2 out of 5]

Outdated for todays students, look for modern alternatives.

[Lily Bliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ★ - (liked it)

rtc

[Havebooks Willread · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beliefs have consequences in actions. This is why I want to study worldview with my children.

I did so much worldview study with my older two children--rather involved worldview study with multiple books, videos, and writing of essays. I had always heard of this book, but am just now reading it. This may be my simple worldview text for my next two. Chuckle. 119 pages. Sometimes I make things entirely too complicated.

It is simple and to the point, written by the daughter of Francis Schaeffer. She uses examples from the lives of people she has known and how they experienced despair by following worldly philosophies but then as they learned of God's ways and followed the teaching of His Word, they began to experience hope and purpose. I plan to read it aloud this next school year with my young teens (13 and 14) and hope we'll have some good discussions.

I especially liked the chapter which shares the title of the entire book as it addresses "today it is practically a religion to worship and seek pleasure for oneself" and "the current attitude that you are being 'used' if you sacrifice for or serve others" because "your highest goal is happiness for yourself" (102). As an aside, I will say it is terribly ironic that I picked up this quick little book and read it while also attempting to plow through Glennon Doyle's memoir "Untamed." Were I a lawyer, I would submit that book as Exhibit A for this chapter!

"The danger today is that we who believe in the God of the Bible often go on living like everybody else--especially if our Christian understanding is wobbly and unsure. We miss out on many benefits the Bible promises to us in this life. We should be bold enough to say 'If the Bible is true, then I can act on what it says'" (118).

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little conversational book on Christian apologetics. There is much I appreciated about it but what I most enjoyed/found encouraging is how Susan respected the questions others were asking her. She saw the logic or reasoning behind the questions and took the time to think logically (and biblically) through them. Many times Christians overlook the importance of allowing others to ask questions though as Christians, we need to be ready to give an answer to those who ask us "of the hope that is in us." We also need to be allowed to have our own questions. When we have doubts, ignoring them is unfruitful as we need to be allowed to shine the light of Truth on them in order to grow and learn in our faith. Christianity, if true, has nothing to fear from such questions or doubts as the Truth will shine through them. God cares. His Word is true.

[Noelle Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a worthwhile read and not just because I'm a Christian. I felt it not only gave me practical insight for why I believe what I believe (apologetics), but also helped me to see perspectives of various people who were struggling with the big questions of life.

It reminded me:
1. of where I've come from.
2. what can happen with time invested in the lives of those we come into contact with and
3. humans are all created by a loving God, but we all carry our share of experiences and burdens.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has something for everyone! It asks us to"look inside yourself. Do you feel some direction about right and wrong in your own mind? If so, where do you think it came from?" The author also presents us with questions that we all ask no matter what we believe, such as what is the meaning of life?😳
But the one I liked best is: is morality something society can alter if it chooses?

[Jeanne Castle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The conversations recorded are very outdated, and also sometimes they dwelt on sexuality too much for my homeschool kids ages 10-16. I didn't love the style of writing, with chapters a mix of conversation, sidebar, and quotations. But Ms. Macaulay definitely causes you to think about your faith, which is always a good thing!

[Elaiyna Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not my favorite. Had some pretty good "food for thought" so to say. I enjoyed it none the less.

[V.P.]

Ambleside Y7 book.

[Abigail Whitcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

AO Y7 assigned read. Very good, very engaging, very thought provoking. Lots of mature subject matter, but I'm hoping it will spark lots of good conversations as my kids and I read it and discuss it.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book. I think everyone should read it. I love her style of writing and the ideas presented and discussed are important for us all to consider.

[Steven Rossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though a little dated, this is a really helpful book for helping middle school students think through a handful of important worldview questions

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most interesting part of this book is getting some inside scenes on L'Abri. But it's a decent intro to having a Biblical worldview I read with 13 yo.

[Dena McGoldrick Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re read this book that had a huge impact on me as a college freshmen.

[Juan Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty solid apologetics book; I appreciate the doodles.