» Book Reviews

Thunder Dog

lila — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:12:58 +0000

Blind since birth, the life story of Michael Hingson is truly amazing and enlightening. He overcame many challenges in life, to become successful both professionally and personally. The battles that face a blind person in a sighted world, are more than we can ever imagine, and many blind or visually impaired people rely on the help of a guide dog to assist them. The bond between a person and their guide dog is unique and based completely on trust. This trust was tested to the absolute limit on 9/11, as Micheal Hingson was working on the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Centre when a plane flew into the building.

The story of how Michael and his guide dog Roselle narrowly escaped is amazing. The book takes us through the events of that day, and is mixed in with stories from Michael’s life that are both humorous and informative. I learnt a lot about guide dogs and the training they go through before they are entrusted to a blind person. When you read of how Roselle coped with the events of that awful day, and the extreme pressure she was working under, it is almost hard to believe its a true story! I fully recommend this book to you all.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

‘Max on Life’ by Max Lucado

lila — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:26:30 +0000

This was a very interesting and enjoyable book to read. Lucado uses a question and answer format to address many issues regarding life, eternity, forgiveness, finances, suicide and many more topical issues. While there are many questions that will remain unanswered until we reach Heaven, Lucado is able to give biblical references and explanations that reveal a little understanding of certain issues.

This is the type of book that once read, may sit on the shelf for a while until a situation arises when we need a reference for someone going through a particular struggle or difficult patch. Overall, quite a useful book, but not one of Lucado’s best.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

The Principle of the Path by A. Stanley

lila — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:21:58 +0000

This is one of the most fantastic books I have ever reviewed. Without a doubt, there will be many of my friends and family who will be getting this book as a Christmas gift this year. Stanley uses very biblical principles and examples, to show us clearly how the ‘principle of the path’ works. The basic definition of the principle is this, “direction, not intention, leads to destination”. I had to read this a couple of times to grasp the understanding, yet it is a very simple concept. For example, I intend the lose weight this summer and my intentions are really genuine. However, my direction today involved eating a box of maltesers and a Chinese takeaway for dinner, with very little exercise during the day. If this behaviour continues, it will result in my destination of being the same weight, possibly even heavier! While this is a very small example, Stanley applies the principle in other more important areas of life such as our finances, marriages, raising children and so on.

In using king Solomon as a main example in the book, we clearly see that although the ‘principle of the path’ is a very obvious one, even one of the wisest men to live on earth lost his way at times, and did not see clearly where the direction he was taking was leading him. There are so many lessons to be learned from this book and I highly recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

Regret Free Parenting by Catherine Hickem

lila — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:03:30 +0000

Regret Free Parenting is a great read for mothers (or fathers) of all ages. Whether your children are babes in arms, or fully grown adults, there is something every parent can learn from this book. Hickem writes from an obvious psychotherapist point of view, but in very easy to understand language. The book is broken down into seven keys principles for helping parents reach a point in their lives when they can say they do not regret the way in which they raised their children.

An interesting theme I picked up from the book was that regret-free doesn’t mean mistake-free! While we, as parents, are bound to make some mistakes along the way, we always have an opportunity to move forward and improve. It is recognizing what we are doing wrong, and fixing it, that makes us ‘intentional’ in the way we raise our children.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

Your Money God’s Way by Amie Streater

lila — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 21:38:54 +0000

This is most definitely one of the best books I’ve read concerning Christians and their finance management. Streater outlines 7 ‘money myths’ that keep Christians in financial difficulty. The easy-to-understand, direct language is the true success of this book. The reader is left without a doubt as to what is required of them to manage their finances in a biblical way. The author outlines plans to show how you can get out of debt; build wealth; gain financial freedom and stay that way for life! Although there are a lot of biblical teachings in the book, there are also many practical tips on daily expenditure and controlling the destructive behaviors that so often leave Christians in financial turmoil. I would recommend this book to everyone!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews

lila — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 22:22:05 +0000

This was a very unique book to review. Beautifully designed, it takes the form of a gift book, with short historical stories, used to show how the ‘butterfly effect’ can be seen in human behaviour. The Butterfly Effect is based on the idea that every single thing we do has an affect on everything and everyone around us. Andrews sums this up at the end of his book by explaining, ” The very beating of your heart has meaning and purpose. Your actions have far greater value than silver or gold. Your life and what you do with it today…..MATTERS FOREVER”. While I can see some biblical justification for this logic, in that every day we should be making a difference in our Christian lives, I remain unconvinced that this book expresses this in the correct way. For example, many of the stories are taken from American history, but I can think of a lot biblical stories from which the same principles can be drawn.

On the whole, the book could make a nice gift, but in my opinion we could not categorize it as a spiritual or biblical book. It is at best, inspirational, in the sense of encouraging people to live well and purposefully.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”

Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado

lila — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:04:02 +0000

An absolutely powerful book from Max Lucado! This is an excellent read for all Christians, whether mature or young in the faith, we all need reminded of the example which Christ set before us, and how we are to try and live up to that perfect standard. The book outlines the many different ways we should be witnessing and caring for those in the world around us.

The book really brought to my attention the way in which small acts of compassion (which if we are honest, we very often avoid in the name of convenience) can impact on someone’s life, and lead to a great witness for God. For example, walking up to a homeless person, handing them a gospel tract and walking away because you don’t like the way they smell, may not be the most effective type of outreach. Or waiting in the school playground for your children and purposefully avoiding eye contact with the woman who you know (from local gossip) to be single mother with a difficult past; for fear of becoming too friendly with ‘that sort’ of person, you avoid her all together.

The potential for witnessing in these situations is enormous, but we need to get out of our comfort zone first. Imagine the difference it would make if you genuinely looked at that homeless man, and asked his name, where he was from and showed an interest in him (in the same way God showed an interest in us, that we really don’t deserve). Buy him a coffee and sandwich and gave him a gospel tract. This may cost us ten minutes of our time, and a few pounds out of our pockets, but lets face it, it the Lord Jesus Christ (creator of heaven and earth and all things within them) was able to make time for this, I think we can too! Imagine going over to that single mother in the playground, having a good, genuine conversation and asking her and her child to your house for dinner some night. Can you imagine the opportunities for witnessing that could be presented in this situation?

There are many more suggestions of how we can ‘out live our life’ in this book, and I would thoroughly recommend it!

The Prophecy Answer Book by David Jeremiah

lila — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:16:19 +0000

A very interesting little book from David Jeremiah. He has written the book in a very sensible way, addressing questions that many people have and about the End Times. I would say that the book would be best suited to those who have little or no knowledge on these topics, as it gives answers in an understandable way, but does not go into great depth on any one question. The topics explained are Current Events, The Rapture, The Tribulation, The Antichrist, The Second Coming, The Millenium and The New Heaven and the New Earth. The size of the book is very compact (6 x 4) and would make an ideal gift.

“Cast of Characters” by Max Lucado

lila — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:45:22 +0000

Another thought-provoking book by Max Lucado. The very short chapters and easy-to-read style have contributed greatly to the success of this book. While I wouldn’t be in complete agreement with all his interpretations of biblical accounts, he does make some very valid arguments as to the way in which God uses very ordinary people for extraordinary things. The vast amount of bible characters he discusses makes it easy for the reader to identify with at least one character and learn lessons from a particular story.

The chapter on Joseph was particularly interesting, as Lucado highlights the way in which God decided to plan the events of the Lord’s birth was probably not what Joseph had expected. So often when things happen in a different way than we expect, we question whether it is God’s will or not. But Joseph still acted obediently despite the adverse and unusual circumstances. He trusted in God more than his own plans. I think this is something we could all learn to do in our daily walk with God. Overall, the book was very encouraging, light reading.

‘The Money Answer Book’ by Dave Ramsey

lila — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:00:07 +0000

Dave Ramsey has effectively compiled this book as an easy to use resource for people of all ages who need answers to financial questions. Issues such as how to tackle huge debt, how to budget or how to teach children to manage money are all dealt with very clearly. The question and answer format is very effective, as the book could just be used for reference only or as a complete guide to finance in general. While being easy to read, it is not ‘easy reading’, in that Dave Ramsey is very direct in speaking the truth, eg. “your finances aren’t the problem, YOU ARE!”. Many of us could learn a lot from the many home truths this book reveals. I think his approach to finance and wealth is unlike many other books of its kind, because he very often uses biblical justification for his arguments. Tithing, giving, labouring for our money are all ideals set in a Christian perspective and so I would recommend this book, and any of Dave Ramsey’s other books to Christians who are seeking financial advice. My favourite quote in the book has to be “Money is like manure. If you leave it in a pile, it stinks. But if you spread it around, it does a lot of good.”

‘Greater Love’ by Robert Whitlow

lila — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:19:53 +0000

Greater Love by Robert Whitlow is Book 3 in the Tides of Truth Series. Although I had not read the first two books in this series I was able to follow the story line easily. Without a doubt it is one of the best Christian fiction novels I’ve read in a long time! The fact that it only took me a few days to read, bears testimony to this. The book can be described as a legal/mystery novel, as the main plot involves a young lawyer who has just begun her legal career with a very challenging but intricate case. As the story unfolds it is clear that the book also has many spiritual themes as well. Ideas of faith and providence are brought out very well in the course of the book, as well as having a romantic story line embedded in a very subtle way. Overall the book was very inspiring and a great encouragement as it reminded me of the way God can work in and through many difficult circumstances.

‘A Century Turns’ by W. J. Bennett

lila — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:05:27 +0000

‘A Century Turns’ is a descriptive account of the political history in America between 1988 and 2008. Bennett analyzes the highs and lows of the two decades, whilst raising questions about the extent to which the past will help us learn how to deal with the future. He brings us up to date and describes the point at which we are at as another turning point in American and indeed global history.

I think the plain and easy to understand language of the book really helps the reader to get a realistic grasp of the events Bennett is describing. His personal feeling and opinions are not portrayed in such a way as not to be biased but actually give more of a credibility to the descriptions because he writes very openly and frankly. The book would be of particular use to those who needed a general overview of this period in time for study purposes, but also it makes a very enjoyable read to someone who just enjoys reading history books. The book most definitely made me think about the way in which the world and politics has changed in the past twenty years and I think I agree that we are at a pivotal point in a global sense, because we have so much experience to learn from. But will we act based on previous experience or not? Only time will tell.

‘How To Reach Your Full Potential For God’ by C. F Stanley

lila — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:52:36 +0000

This is one of the most challenging books I have read in a long time. C. F Stanley outlines seven essential areas in our lives which need to be given serious attention if we are to reach our full potential for God. Not only does he look at spiritual aspects but he also challenges the reader to make all parts of everyday living dedicated to God, using the gifts and abilities we have been given. All of the arguments he presents are based on scripture.

Written in a very down-to-earth, gentle way, the book was easy to understand and in my opinion theologically sound. Many of the issues raised are very challenging and made me ponder about alot of areas in my life where I could make improvements and perhaps allow for more spiritual growth and room for God to speak to me more. As the book progressed it became more interesting and I found myself wanting to read more and more everyday. Each chapter was used as a building block for the next chapter and so the writing was very cohesive and by the end of the book, a clear picture had been painted as to how we can try to reach our full potential for God. While it would obviously be a good book for new converts, I would also recommend it to all Christians, as it is so easy for us to become complacent in a our walk with God, and a few reminders of how to walk closely with God are always healthy for our spiritual growth.

‘Unpretentious Valour’ an Autobiography by William McKane

lila — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:08:09 +0000

I recently borrowed this autobiography from a family member. I am very rarely interested in autobiographies, but as it was recommended to me I thought I would have a look. By the time I was half way through the book I couldn’t put it down! The author outlines his personal background, including details of his Christian upbringing, his school years and then primarily onto his career as a prison officer. He is among the unique generation of people who can explicitly remember the beginning of The Troubles and has lived on to see how the current political situation has spanned out. From this perspective, the book makes an interesting read to those who are too young to remember the events that took place over the three decades of terrorism.

What has really been highlighted to me through the book, is the important and sacrificial part that prison officers and their families played in the war against terrorism in Northern Ireland. Personally I had never thought about the way in which prison officers came under just as much attack from terrorists as the police and army. In some way, I feel that they have almost become the forgotten part of the picture for many people today, particularly those who have no experience in The Troubles, myself included.

Being born in the late 1980′s, my knowledge of The Troubles has always been based on what I’ve been told. In all my history lessons in school, despite learning much about The Troubles, it was never presented to me in such a way as what I have read in this autobiography. It is easy for us the read about 1983 breakout from the Maze Prison, or the dirty protest, and just analyse the facts and political consequences, without thinking about the staff who were a part of these unique moments in history.

I believe that more should be done to remember the sacrifices of the security forces in Northern Ireland including the Prison Service. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn more about The Troubles, as it is written from a perspective that is very rarely voiced, and is a very factual and detailed description of the life of William McKane.