Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson on Leif Enger's Apocalypse & What Matters at the End of the World? (Reading to Make Sense of the World)

Mar 16, 2026

Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson, Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine and author on literature and faith, discusses Leif Enger’s I Cheerfully Refuse. She explores Enger’s hopeful take on apocalypse, why novels still matter more than fleeting media, and practical practices—bookstores, music, nature, friendship—that sustain joyful resistance in dark times.

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INSIGHT

Leif Enger As A Christian-Infused Literary Voice

Leif Enger writes Christian-informed novels that are not labeled Christian fiction and offer wide cultural reach.
Jessica Hooten Wilson trusts Enger as a dependable reader because his protagonists are insider-outsider figures who reveal cultural realities.

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INSIGHT

Refusing Apocalypse With Joy

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ADVICE

Live As A Cheerful Refuser

Refuse cultural collapse by intentionally upholding truths, beauties, and goods even when costly.
Wilson urges Christians to live as gift-givers who risk reputation or life to prioritize truth, beauty, and goodness over cultural trends.

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Why Jessica chose Leif Enger's novel

01:26 • 42sec

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Enger's approach to apocalypse

02:07 • 2min

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Enger as a Christian writer beyond Christian fiction

04:13 • 2min

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Meaning of the title 'I Cheerfully Refuse'

06:04 • 1min

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Lessons for dark times

07:15 • 3min

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Why books endure over new media

10:03 • 2min

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Cultivating practices that bear fruit

12:22 • 2min

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What being a 'cheerful refuser' looks like

14:37 • 3min

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Further reading recommendations

«Лавр» — это роман о жизни русского целителя Арсения, который проходит через четыре этапа жизни, меняя своё имя и ища искупления. Книга исследует темы любви, потери и веры на фоне средневековой России и Европы. Роман получил широкое признание и стал лауреатом нескольких крупных литературных премий.

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The Scandal of Holiness

Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints

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Fahrenheit 451

Ray Bradbury

In this classic dystopian novel, Ray Bradbury depicts a future American society where books are outlawed and 'firemen' are tasked with burning any discovered. The protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman who starts to question his role after encountering Clarisse, a young girl who loves nature and reading. As Montag delves deeper into the world of books, he begins to see the emptiness of his life and the dangers of a society that values entertainment over critical thinking and intellectual freedom. With the help of Faber, a retired English professor, Montag rebels against the system, leading to a confrontation with his fire chief, Captain Beatty, and ultimately joining a group of intellectuals who have memorized books to preserve knowledge for a post-apocalyptic future.

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In This House of Brede

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In This House of Brede follows Philippa Talbot, a World War II widow who leaves her elite life to join a cloistered Benedictine community. The novel delves into the complexities of monastic life, exploring struggles with obedience, faith, and personal growth within the community. It is a poignant portrayal of religious life in England during a period of significant change in the Catholic Church.

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Virgil Wander

Leif Enger

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Peace like a river

Leif Enger

Peace Like a River is a stirring novel that follows the Land family—Jeremiah, the devout Christian father, and his children Davey, Reuben, and Swede—as they face a family catastrophe in rural Minnesota in the 1960s. The story is narrated by Reuben, an asthmatic 11-year-old, who recounts the family's journey after his older brother Davey commits a fatal crime in self-defense and flees. The novel delves into themes of faith, accountability, perspective, and the power of family love, set against a backdrop of adventure, tragedy, and healing. It is known for its lyrical prose, vivid descriptions, and the poetic verses of Swede, the young and precocious sister.

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I Cheerfully Refuse

A Novel

Leif Enger

Refusing Despair Amidst Cultural Darkness

What does it look like to cheerfully refuse a collapsing culture without giving in to cynicism, fear, or despair? Host Curtis Chang and Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson—Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books at Pepperdine University— dive into Leif Enger's I Cheerfully Refuse, exploring why great novels still matter, how Christians can resist ideations of apocalypse with joy, and what faith-filled fiction reveals about beauty, truth, and survival in dark times. This conversation is for listeners hungry for cultural commentary,hopeful resistance, and deeper ways of reading the world through faith.

01:28 - Challenges of Reading Contemporary Novels

06:03 - The Meaning Behind the Title "I Cheerfully Refuse"

07:47 - Lessons for Dark Times

10:02 - The Enduring Power of Books vs. New Media

12:16 - Cultivating Fruitful Practices in Dark Times

14:36 - Living as a Cheerful Refuser Today

15:02 - Is the Christian Worldview True Reality Or A Bubble?

17:04 - What Is Enger's Idea of True humanity?

18:19 - Recommendations for Similar Books and Authors

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