Book Review: "What's He Really Thinking?"

Like every woman, I often wish I better understood the men in my life.  Heaven knows, even without setting foot outside my house I have plenty of opportunities to rub elbows with people of the male persuasion. One husband plus three sons (not to mention a male cat) make for an abundance of testosterone all around me.  So, after reading some positive reviews of "What's He Really Thinking?" by Paula Rinehart, I decided to give it a look.  As the subtitle says, the book is designed to help you to be "a relational genius with the man in your life."

Does this book deliver?

I felt a bit of cynicism when I picked up my copy.  Partly, it was because I feared I might, at best, be holding a book of pop-psychology with a "Christian" label slapped onto it.  After all, that's what most "Christian" books amount to, these days.  Or, at worst, it could even be an angry feminist rant with plenty of male-bashing.  This world offers plenty of that as well, and I want nothing to do with it.

But, I had heard good things about this book, so I decided to wade ahead.  And I asked my husband to read it as well, because I figured he was more qualified than I am to decide if the book represented his gender well.

I'm so glad I did. 

The book is so much better than I had dared to hope for.  It fosters a genuine appreciation for the way God designed males, and a desire to get better acquainted with the ones I thought I knew.  I felt moved, inspired, and refreshed as I read it. 

Perhaps more significantly, my husband loved this book.  He underlined, took notes, and at some points was truly quite moved.  He expressed thankfulness to me for sharing the book with him, and for having a desire to get to know him better. 

Have I become a relational genius yet?  No, but I have great hopes that the conversations which will ensue as a result of our reading (and re-reading) this book will go a long way towards increasing our understanding and appreciation of one another.

I would unhesitatingly recommend this book.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Rediscovering God in America" – Book Review

Cover via Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a review of the book, "Rediscovering God in America" by Newt Gingrich, with photography by Callista Gingrich.

I'm not able to give the glowing report I had originally hoped to give.  Here's why.

On page xviii is a statement by Gingrich which is not backed up with a quote from any Founder:

"'True religion' was any religion that cultivates the virtues necessary to the protection of liberty." 

The entire introductory portion of the book seems to support a Deistic foundation rather than a Christian foundation for our country.  Gingrich seems to think that, because the Founders supported religious liberty, then they must have had no specific faith of their own.  Some, of course, did not.  But later in the book one finds many quotes from our Founding Fathers which either directly praise Christian principles as basic, fundamental, vital, etc; or which quote from the Bible.  This belies the image of vague universalism which Gingrich seems to attribute to the Founders as a group.

However, the book does later provide nice religious mini-biographies of earlier American leaders, a good compilation of quotes, and some passable (though hardly stellar) photographs.  Collectively, these do show that faith has historically been welcomed in the public square and in government.  For that reason, this book can be a good addition to a Christian reference library.

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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.

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.