Remembering Warren Farha
I am glad I was able to provide an unexpected guest
I was among the many to be shocked today by news of the death of Warren Farha, the founder of Eighth Day Books in Wichita, KS. Who can explain Warren? He was a soft-spoken, quietly-amused man of deep insights. He was profoundly intelligent yet always humble. He was a joy to know. The story begins with the tragedy of his first wife’s death, caused by a drunk driver; but the insurance settlement enabled him to start the kind of deep-and-broad bookstore many of us never hoped to find. (Here’s a New York Times appreciation from 2015.)
Many of his friends are working on tributes to Warren today. I’ll supply instead something I was able to contribute when Warren was given a “toast and roast” in 2017. He was the kind of friend who attracted the affection, and gentle ribbing, of all who knew him.
I wrote this minor tribute on Rod Dreher's substack this morning, and I'll post it here. But I'll add that one of the books I went there seeking last year was one of yours that I had long wanted to read: "Mary as the Early Christians Knew Her". I found it, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have made the journey to Wichita from Lincoln, NE on two occasions related to my son's college baseball career, and each time made it a point to visit Eighth Day Books in person. I've purchased several books online but wanted to visit the Mecca and was not disappointed. The first time was in 2020 and I was even able to have an extended conversation with Warren and his staff about Wendell Berry. Among the books I bought was a small book called "A Spiritual Psalter of Ephraim the Syrian". I was reading it when I was struck down by c*vid in December 2021, and during my two intubations in the weeks and months that followed my wife and a friend both would read to me from that little book when I was unconscious. I was back again in August 2025 and once more left with an arm full of books and my second Eighth Day coffee mug! I am saddened to hear the news of his passing and like you pray that they are able to continue as so much fruit has emerged and continues to grow from this place that is not merely a bookstore. It is a movement that has many times made me wish I lived nearby so I could not only walk through its aisles but also belong and attend meetings of The Hall of Men and Eighth Day Institute. God bless you Mr. Farha. Both you and your wonderful Hall of Books.
Dear Frederica,
Thank you for sharing your "toast" of Warren. He and his wonderful wife, Chris, were sponsors of our family into Orthodoxy in the late 1980's. The two of them probably have hundreds of godchildren! Whenever I think of Warren, I always feel warm and loved, the way his presence made me feel whenever I was with him. I believe that Warren will now be, by the grace of God, an intercessor for us among the saints. How could he not be? Such a faithful, kind, gentle man. What a gift he has been to all of us who knew him and to all those who have benefited from Eight Day Books. Glory to God for Warren's life and work!