This bothers me. Have you heard that Thomas Nelson Publishing Company is planning to publish a book authored by Lynne Spears, the mother of pop culture mess-ups, Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears? The news media has mistakenly reported that the book will be a parenting "how-to" book. Evidently that is not the case. Thomas Nelson released the following press release just before Christmas.
— FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —
LYNNE SPEARS’ BOOK IS NOT A PARENTING HOW-TO
Contrary to Media Reports, Pop Culture Mom Is a Memoir—and a Warning
(Nashville, TN) Thomas Nelson, Inc., announced today that Lynne Spears’ book, Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World, is not a book on how to parent.
“From the onset, the media have inaccurately reported that Lynne Spears’ book is a parenting book. I’m sure this helps fuel tabloid readership, but it is simply not true,” said Michael S. Hyatt, president and CEO of Thomas Nelson. “Lynne’s memoir will provide a window into the real-life world of fame and worldly success, including the toll it extracts from some who aspire to it. It will provide a much-needed corrective to a world obsessed with the wrong priorities.”
Hyatt continued, “We believe in redemption. Therefore, we are standing with Lynne and her family during this difficult time. Though the book has been delayed, we believe God is at work. The story is still being written, and we are confident in His ability to turn ashes into beauty” (Isaiah 61:3).
In my opinion this press release doesn't really change a thing. I don't really care what the book is about. Lynne Spears may indeed be a Christian. And I'm sure that she's grieving over the messes that her famous daughters are making of their lives. But how could this book, written by a woman whose family is still embroiled in turmoil and trouble, possibly be "a much-needed corrective" to anything? Even after her first-hand experience with "the toll it extracts from some who aspire to it", Lynne Spears evidently did not attempt to keep her younger daughter from aspiring to the pursuit of fame and fortune. If her words of warning weren't "corrective" even for her, what help can it possibly offer the rest of us?
But my problem is really not with Lynne Spears, although I certainly won't be looking to her for parenting advice. My problem is with Thomas Nelson Publishing Company. They are the ones exploiting the Spears' family trouble to make a buck. The Spears sisters are headline grabbers--that's for sure. This book is sure to sell...and Thomas Nelson is sure to make lots of money. But then, I'm sure that's exactly why they're publishing it.
Michael S. Hyatt, president and CEO of Thomas Nelson.
“Lynne’s memoir will provide a window into the real-life world of fame and
worldly success, including the toll it extracts from some who aspire to it.
It will provide a much-needed corrective to a world obsessed with the wrong priorities.”
Do Christians really need another window into the real-life world of fame and worldly success? Publishing this book accomplishes NOTHING except to perpetuate the obsession with wrong priorities that Mr. Hyatt decries in his statement. Oh yeah, and it makes a lot of money for Thomas Nelson and the Spears' family, too.
I'm fairly certain that the company's founder, would not be pleased.
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4 January 2008 - Untitled Comment