Following the events of the January 6th capitol riots, media attention soared and books flew off the shelves.Īccording to Du Mez, the enthusiasm from readers across the country led to its inclusion on the New York Times bestsellers list. The critically acclaimed book received both national and international media coverage from outlets ranging from NPR to Christianity Toda y at the time of its release. “I have to give them a huge shoutout”.Īfter an 18-month writing period, “Jesus and John Wayne” was released in May of 2020- coinciding with a rise in interest in the study of Christian nationalism during the Trump administration’s final months. What sustained me was my team of student researchers, and they read a lot of those sources too…to do this in community and work on this project together really was amazing,” said Du Mez. She resumed her research in 2016, digging through “difficult sources” with the help of three student research assistants.

The journey to “Jesus and John Wayne” began nearly 15 years ago, with Du Mez starting her research in 2005 before temporarily putting it on hold. I don’t really know what to say.” said Du Mez, who was informed of her bestseller status on Wednesday, June 16. “It’s still a new thing…It’s kind of amazing. Kristin writes beautifully and very accessibly…She has done fabulous research.” On the other hand, it’s not surprising that Jesus and John Wayne should turn out to be one of the few history books that attains this level of popularity. “Typically the writers who make the nonfiction bestseller list are celebrities or journalists, not academic authors. It’s very rare for an academic book to reach the New York Times bestseller list, so it’s definitely a remarkable achievement,” said Kate van Liere, chair of the history department. “We are tremendously proud of our colleague Kristin. Making the New York Times bestsellers list is a first for Du Mez, a history and gender studies professor, as well as an accomplishment for the Calvin community, as it marks the first time a member of the Calvin faculty has made the list. Professor Kristin Kobes Du Mez has another accomplishment to add to her resume: she is now a New York Times bestselling author.ĭu Mez’s 2020 book “Jesus and John Wayne” has landed on one of the most prestigious book lists in the nation almost a year after its debut, reaching #4 on the Paperback Nonfiction Books category.

Jesus and john wayne summary