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Non-Fiction

Book Review: Doing Virtuous Business – Theodore Malloch

_225_350_Book.361.coverGeneral Reaction: Great book on how businesses should be run.

Star rating: 3.5 out of 5

General Plot Synopsis: In this book, Malloch investigates the Spiritual Capital built by companies and how that capital helps them become and stay great enterprises.

Extended Reaction: When picking out this book, I was greatly intrigued by the fact that the book had been featured on PBS (my son has become hooked onto the PBS show Word World in recent months). I thought this was a great book. When you have books like Jim Collins’ Good to Great and Built to Last that take a look at the organizational structure it is highly enlightening to see the spiritual aspect to what makes companies great and where others fall short. If you are looking for a book that focuses on how Christian businesses work, this is not the book for you. The author’s main aim was to define the term Spiritual Capital (and that Spiritual Capital doesn’t mean that it is primarily Spiritual Capital, he looks at companies that range the spectrum of religious belief) and show how it affects the success and impact of the businesses that employ it.

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Non-Fiction

Book Review: Max on Life – Max Lucado

_225_350_Book.340.coverGut Reaction: Not quite the book that I was expecting, but a good book overall.

Rating: 3 out of 5

General Plot Synopsis: The trick about giving a general plot synopsis for a book like this is that the book really doesn’t have a plot. This book is similar to Now, That’s a Good Question by R. C. Sproul. This is basically a question and answer book where Max Lucado takes letters and other questions that he has received over the years and puts his answers in book form.

Extended Reaction: Before grabbing this book, I probably should have done a little research. If I had, I probably would have had a better gut reaction to this book. I was expecting typical Max Lucado style like He Still Moves Stones or He Chose the Nails. I was pleasantly surprised though at how much I enjoyed the book. While I don’t agree with Max theologically on every issue, it was an interesting look into Max’s mind where you could really see his heart for the people he has been leading for so many years. If you are a pastor or someone who regularly gets questions about what the Bible says about different everyday life issues, this would be a good book to add to your library.

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Non-Fiction

Book Review: Seeds of Turmoil – Bryant Wright

_240_360_Book.244.coverOne thing I love about being a BookSneeze.com blogger for Thomas Nelson Publishers is that through this program, I am able to read books that I may or may not normally read.

That was how I came across this book. A theme I am noticing is that actions have consequences, in a previous review, I reviewed The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews. Where The Butterfly Effect takes a look at the positive consequences of a person’s actions, Seeds of Turmoil takes a look at the negative and far reaching consequences of one man’s (Abraham) actions. He goes in depth into how the turmoil that we currently see in the Middle East is the result of decisions made 4,000 years ago. He talks about how because of those decisions, turmoil in the Middle East is inevitable.

Overall, I liked this book and was very impressed by the depth by which Bryant Wright digs into the history of the region and the turmoil that is inevitable. However, it did seem like the book got a little repetitive and could have ended a little earlier than it did. With all this in mind, I would definitely recommend this book to any serious scholar of the Bible (this is the version I use for my study) who wants to understand a little bit more the implications of the Biblical HIstorical Narrative on today’s events.

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Non-Fiction

Book Review: Let’s Do Lunch – Roger Troy Wilson

letsdolunch_coverIf you know me, then you know that since I stopped playing college football at Drake University and entered the “real world” and started driving a desk, I have been waging the battle of the bulge.  So when Let’s Do Lunch was available through Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze program, I decided to get the book to see what the author had to say.

I’ll first say that this is not your normal weight loss book, (I’ve read a few, listed at the end of this post).  Roger Wilson never claims to be a health and/or fitness professional.  What Roger does claim is that he lost 230 pounds using this plan and has kept it off for 15 years.  Another anomaly is that throughout this plan you eat as much food as you want, what matters is the kind of food and when.  The other non-health professional diet book that I have read is The Jerusalem Diet by Ted Haggard and they both share essentially the same approach in that the author is speaking from personal experience as to what has worked for them to lose the weight that they wanted.  Where I feel this book falls short is the lack of medical evidence from a certified medical professional validating what the author is stating.  The author does mention that his doctor’s weighed in and said that he was healthy, but I am a thinker, I want to know why the diet works, I didn’t feel like I got that with this book.

Do I recommend this book, yes, wholeheartedly because let’s face it, America is fat and will this book help people lose weight, yes.  But this gets to my next point.  In reading this book, and talking to people who work for another diet system (a potential customer of mine actually) I am noticing another alarming trend, less and less emphasis on working out or attaining a certain

level of physical fitness.  The author mentions briefly that working out is good, but he doesn’t really recommend working out.  The other diet system actually discourages you from working out…that scares me…because it takes the focus off the real issue.  Are you overweight, yes, but just attacking your weight is not going to solve your problem because you are losing weight to get healthy.  Our bodies are an amazing machine that if properly functioning will heal itself and regulate itself.  So the correct approach should be to get healthy to lose weight which includes exercise for the sheer benefit of making you healthier, that is why while as my schedule starts to become “normal” again as I approach my health and fitness and fight the battle of the bulge while I may borrow some ideas from this book (frozen grapes are amazing) my main tool will be P90X.

Related Books/Materials:

Let me know your thoughts/comments below…

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Non-Fiction

Book Review: The Butterfly Effect – Andy Andrews

The Butterfly EffectThe Butterfly Effect continues on a concept started in Andrew’s best selling book The Noticer.  In this unassuming, beautifully illustrated short book Andrews talks about how the actions of one person can affect history for hundreds of years.  To elaborate more than this would spoil the experience of the book.  But I can say that everyone should read this book to get a little “perspective” as Jones would say.

Weighing in at only 107 pages, this book is an amazingly quick read.  I read it in the span of about a half hour.  I loved the illustrations and the format of this book.  The beauty of the book helped the words have their intended impact as I considered how the inaction of one person could have irrevocably altered the history of our planet in a way that would have been catastrophic.  Then, Andrews pointed his finger at me and asked me to realize how my actions could affect history as well.

Overall, I would tell you that you have to read every book Andy Andrews has ever written (I have read 3 so far and every one of them is amazing).  The reason that I haven’t yet written reviews on the other two books of his that I have read is that I’m not sure I can do them justice in a review.  Eventually I will muster up the courage to write the reviews, but for now, just take my word and click on the [affiliate] links below and buy every one of his books.

Books by Andy Andrews – [amazon.com affiliate links]

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Books Fun Non-Fiction Reviews

Book Review: A Guy’s Guide to Life- Jason Boyett

_140_245_Book.212.cover In A Guy’s Guide to Life, the author Jason Boyett claims he can explain “How to become a man in 224 pages or less”…according to the cover.  Even though I fall outside the target demographic, as a male, naturally I was intrigued, plus I have a 3 year old son who has already asked me where babies come from.  Upon further inspection, I don’t think reading this book will automatically make you a man, but it was a very engaging read.

The book is broken into 3 different parts (mind, body, and soul) with five chapters each including such favorites as Manly Myths, Dating, Grooming, Health and Exercise, The Sex Chapter, Family, Friends, and Faith.  For any red-blooded American teenager, The Sex Chapter is sure to grab their attention.  All sarcasm and joking aside, I really enjoyed this book and

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its refreshing honesty.  The author did a really good job addressing issues that are extremely relevant to an American teen in a way that keeps the conversation light, but still gets the point across.  One section of the book that I really liked was his discussion on who our neighbor is.  He is talking out of the context of loving people, especially loving our neighbor.  Many pastors wishing to preach on the subject would do well to read this section of the book as a part of their sermon preparation.

Overall, I give it a 4 out of 5, especially for those who are parents of boys.

Categories
Non-Fiction

Book Review: You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be – Max Lucado

You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be - Max Lucado Have you ever had one of those moments where the events and circumstances in your life created a Perfect Storm?  This book did that for me.  In this book Lucado talks about finding your “sweet spot” in life, finding that thing you were meant to do.  Lucado discusses this concept in his usual inspirational, story filled, and extremely practical manner which has endeared him to so many thousands of readers.  I can’t say what decisions or ideas that came about because of reading this book, but due to me reading this book, a project that came about, and some internal heart stuff God was working with me on, I had a moment where I saw my sweet spot.  There will be a lot of prep to get there and it is not something that will happen right now, it may actually be years away but in that moment of clarity, I saw what I was made to do (for that, I am extremely grateful to Max Lucado for writing this book)Thomas Nelson recommends this book for graduates, a sentiment I would definitely agree with, but I would not constrain its use to that group either.  I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who has ever asked the question, “What am I supposed to do with my life?”  I can imagine that with the current economic situation there are a lot of people asking this question.  Do them a favor and buy them this book [amazon.com affiliate link].

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Categories
Non-Fiction

Book Review – What’s in a Word? – Webb Garrison

_240_360_Book.160.cover In my time reviewing books for Thomas Nelson publishers through their Book Sneeze program I have tried to make sure that I review several different types of books.  I continued with that trend when I picked out What’s in a Word? by Webb Garrison.  I was intrigued because I love random trivia so I thought this would be an engaging read.  As I write this, I am torn.  There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed but at times the book was kind of a drag.  Garrison breaks the words up into 17 different categories then discusses the roots of over 350 words.  Am I more enlightened because of reading this book.  Yes.  But would I recommend this book as an engaging read for someone to sit down and plow through in a couple sittings?  No.  This book would make a great coffee table or bathroom reader.  The type of book that you read in bits and pieces.  Overall it was a good book, but you have to approach it with the right attitude.  Some of my favorite definitions are:

  • Character – p.37
  • Bring Home the Bacon – p.117
  • Cheese – p.121
  • Crisscross – p.201

If you are a trivia buff or random fact buff then I would recommend What’s in a Word? to you, but otherwise, I would recommend a pass.

Categories
Non-Fiction

Book Review: Living Life In The Zone – A 40-Day Spiritual Game Plan for Men – Kyle Rote Jr., Dr. Joe Pettigrew

lifeinthezone I love being a part of the BookSneeze program, it allows me to read great books like Living Life In The Zone – A 40-Day Spiritual Game Plan for Men. This is the fourth book that I have reviewed for Thomas Nelson Publishers and with each one I have tried to pick a different genre to review.  I have reviewed the following books:

I took a risk when I signed up for this book, but it was a risk that I feel really paid off.  I am not usually the type of person that likes to have his hand held while studying the Bible, but figured I would try this devotional.  I am extremely glad that I did.  The authors hit on all the major topics facing men today (life, wife, kids, friends, work, and the future) in a format that was easy to read, easy to follow, filled with good examples and scripture, and with homework.  It also helped that it used sports as the vehicle to convey the information.  A typical devotional for a day followed this format:

  • Thought for the Day – a short idea to ponder
  • The Coach’s Corner – Discovering the relevance of God’s Word in your life
  • The Game Plan – What the Word of God has to say about the day’s topic
  • Playmakers – Real-life examples of real men in the real world
  • Time Out – Questions for personal reflection
  • Today’s Assignment – Action items for the day
  • Home-Field Advantage – Praises and concerns you want to bring before God

I would completely recommend this devotional for any male who likes sports and is trying to live his life for God.  As I went through this devotional I felt on several occasions that it was speaking directly to a situation that I was facing at that moment in time.  Hopefully, you find this devotional as thought provoking and inspiring as I did.

Rating: 5/5

Categories
Non-Fiction

Book Review: 5 Cities that Ruled the World – How Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, & New York Shaped Global History – Douglas Wilson

5 Cities that Ruled the World“Jerusalem represents the soul set free.  Athens established the ideal of free inquiry.  Rome passed on to us liberty of movement, liberty under law.  London was the place where literary imagination was set free.  And New York, with its commercial success, has shown us freedom to trade, and the subsequent freedom from want.” p. 189.

This book is not my normal cup of tea.  Typically, I tend towards fiction or non-fiction that addresses Christian living, but when I read the synopsis for 5 Cities I was intrigued.  The quote by George Santayana “Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” ran through my mind so I signed up to receive it.  I am extremely glad that I did.  Not only was 5 Cities an engaging read but I found myself educated in ways that I did not expect.  I appreciated the author’s in depth analysis of how each of these cities helped shape the world we live in today.  I also appreciated how as opposed to many history books that I have read (mostly from my school days) the author was not afraid to bring the Biblical narrative into the discussion and relate how these cities were affected by people of faith as well as how these cities affected people of faith.  One of the most stunning discoveries for me in this book was the fact that within a few paragraphs the author brought into focus a part of the Old Testament that has been blurry for me for years.  I can’t in good conscience tell you what that revelation was as it would rob you of the opportunity to glean a lot of great information from reading 5 Cities yourself.

Overall I give this book a 4 out of 5, happy reading.

Please feel free to comment or share your thoughts below.