“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.
