In this unusual book, Jay Burkette provokes readers with new ways of thinking and practicing utopia. Analyzing texts from the ancients to the moderns to the postmoderns, from German Jewish thought to African American thought, and with surprising turns including to Eminem and Camelot, Burkette builds a constructive account of utopia that synthesizes critical theory and theology. While it is unlikely that readers will agree with all of Burkette’s arguments, thinking through those disagreements will surely be edifying.

Vincent Lloyd, Villanova University

I have long considered Jay Burkette an insightful thinker and wonderful conversationalist. In this provocative and indispensable work, Burkette takes bold steps—navigating the jagged terrain of weaponized vocabularies and polarized social relations—in pursuit of the utopian novum. This opportunity to engage with his formidable intellect, in long-form writing, should be cherished by anyone committed to unmaking codified social hierarchies, realizing divine human dignity, and unceasingly striving towards a better world.

Anthony Kwame Harrison, Alumni Distinguished Professor, Virginia Tech

In Upside-Down Utopia, Jay Burkette offers a practical guide on how to make progress toward a utopian ideal. Utopia, Burkette suggests, is a verb. Utopia is not a final state that society reaches; instead, it is a process. Burkette uses his expertise in social science and philosophy, and the religious view of the City of God, to show us how we can make a utopian ideal a reality. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the connection between sociology, moral theory, and religion.

Nathan Rockwood, Brigham Young University