The Principle of the Path – Book Review

Cover via Amazon

I have a confession to make.  Quite a while ago I read a really good book with the intention of reviewing it here…but I was in the middle of a blog series or something like that, and by the time I was through, I'd forgotten about the review. 

The book was "The Principle of the Path" by Andy Stanley.

First, allow me to tell you what this book is not.  That's because, if you're anything like me, you despise all of the New Age and occult teaching that pawns itself off as Christianity these days.  And a name like "The Principle of the Path" might set off a few alarm bells in your mind as it did in mine.  But there is absolutely nothing New Age or occult in this book.  It is not "The Secret."  Nothing like it.  It's also not about "self-actualization" or any of that nonsense. 

Second, let me tell you who this book is not for.  It is not for those of you who have it all 100% together, who go to bed every night with the calm assurance that you've lived the day to the best of your ability.  So, the two of you who fit that description may stop reading here.

This book is for the rest of us, and what it does, it does very well.  I've never read anything by Andy Stanley before, but if this book is any indication, he is one of those rare talents who can take the obvious and state in a way that makes it seem fresh.  He drives his commonsense points home in such a way that I never found myself saying, "Well duh, I knew that."  Instead, I found myself wanting to begin applying the simple but profoundly true principle that I've always known, but never really embraced.

And what is that principle?  Let me summarize it in one sentence: 

Your final destination is determined by the path you choose and where it leads, regardless of your intentions. 

Nothing earth-shatteringly new, and certainly nothing metaphysical.  But even so, this book is enlightening, entertaining, convicting and inspiring because of Stanley's gift for imparting wisdom.  In fact, I need to read it again.  I waste too much of my life pursuing activities that lead nowhere, while all the while intending to have my life end up somewhere.

Perhaps the best endorsement I can give it is this:  It was so good that it made me want to put it down…and go pursue God's path for me!

 

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I am required by law to notify you that I received a free copy of the book under review.  However, the book was given to me free and clear by Thomas Nelson before my review was posted, and it remains free to me regardless of whether my review was positive or negative.  Thomas Nelson's instructions to Review Bloggers encourage honest criticism, both positive and negative.  What I have written is my unbiased opinion, and it was not influenced in any way by the receipt of the free book in question.