Book Review: Rich in Years

Rich in Years by Johann Christoph Arnold is a collection of stories on becoming older.  The author discusses the Joys and Discouragements of getting older.  He challenges the reader to look at aging as a joy and not becoming too discouraged in all the loss of family, friends, energy, their body, and their mind.  He reminds them the one thing it can’t take is your soul. 

This book is a wonderful collection stories of how many people have handled aging, sickness, and death in the lives.  So many people have learned how to end life with joy and grace instead of clinging to regret, independence, and grudges.

I, being an early thirties adult, was not the target audience for this book.  In spite of that I really enjoyed it.  It made me realize the other side of age.  I now look at me parents, grandparents, older members of my church, and strangers in a whole new light.  I want to be the support they need so they can age (and yes, eventually die) with as much peace and joy in the life. 

Note: I did receive a copy of this book for free to read and review.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: How to be Rich

How to be Rich by Andy Stanley is a book about the correct way rich people should view their money.  Andy Stanley challenges Americans to consider what Rich means and how the world defines the way we view money and spend it.

If you make more than $48,000 a year as a family, you are in the top 1% of wage earners in the world.  This fact is staggering to me.  Another mind blowing fact is that as American I can work 5 days a week (for 8-10 hours per day) and provide for my family of five for seven days.  Five days of work is sufficient to house, feed, clothe, and entertain my family of five for seven days a week.  In most nations working 6 days is normal but for many working seven days a week is connected to survival, let alone letting other family members not work and still survive.

We live in a great time where we are all considered rich.  There will always be richer, but we are rich and should act like it.  In this book and (possibly) accompanying DVD Andy Stanley discusses how Paul instructs Timothy to teach rich people to live.

…to be Rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to Share   1Timothy 6:18

I really enjoyed this book.  I found it uplifting and convicting.  This really has changed the way I view our financial situation and our obligation to the world and to God.  I look forward to applying some of these principles to our budget and all areas of life.

I will say I have one gripe with this and it’s only with the DVD.  In some of the sessions he seems very wishy-washy on God and Jesus.  Its little comments like “if we ignore all other theology and only focus on generosity that we would attract the world.”  I agree that generosity is not as present in Christian life as it should be but I do think believing Jesus as your personal savior and surrendering your life to him is a little more important that being generous.  I don’t think that’s what he meant to imply but it kind of came off that way.

Note: I received a free copy of this book and DVD to read and review.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: Wonder Women

Wonder Women; Navigating the Challenges of Motherhood, Career, and Identity by Kate Harris and Re/Frame by Andy Crouch is a book in the Frames series that looks at different areas of concern and stress in Christians and people’s lives.  Other books include 20 and somethings, Becoming Home (adoption, fostering, etc.), The Hyperlinked Life, and Schools in Crisis. 

Wonder Women takes a look at the many roles women, with and without children, face in today’s society. This book looks at many survey statistics into how women prioritize, spend their time, and feel achievement or inadequacy in many areas of their lives. Then author Kate Harris uses these statistics to explain how our lives are multifaceted.  This book does not offer steps in how to improve life or an ultimate way to fix it.  This book is just encouragement saying “I know.  I understand.”  Then she explains how each woman needs to find satisfaction in their current life situation and make the best of it for the glory of Christ.  Priorities will change.  You are never really able to compartmentalize work and home and family so why try.  It’s okay to let all of your facets be who you are all the time.

All in all I really enjoyed this book.  It came to me at a great time (I’m about to start back to work after 8 weeks of maternity leave).  I enjoyed the affirmation that is okay for women to have many hates and for them to all coincide in my life.

Book Review: Ingredients for Success

Ingredients for Success: 10 Best Practices for Business and Life by Joseph James Slawek is a book looking at the three parables in Matthew 25 and applying 10 key principles from those stories to life and business.  The Author is known for his success as the CEO or FONA (Flavors of North America) located in Chicago Illinois.  This book contains the key principles he has learned from his faith and the bible that were the key to his success and the success of his company.

In the beginning I did not think I was going to like this book. In the first few chapters the author spends a lot of time talking about himself and his company.  He kept reiterating this wasn’t about him just any example but it came off as a really long brochure about him and his company.  About half way through the book changed.  Yes, he still talked about himself but the tone changes into a really useful insightful book about business and life.  I really enjoyed how he broke apart the three parables (the 10 virgins, the bags of gold, and the sheep and goats) and pulled many simple ideas out of them.  The principles of always telling the truth, being prepared, and always trying your best are things we all know yet struggle to implement in our daily lives.

Overall I really enjoyed this book.  I will keep it on my shelf as a reminder as I think about starting a business.

Note: I did receive a copy of this book for free to read and review from handlebar publishing.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: My walk with Christ

My Walk with Christ by Delbert D Hobbs is a collection of thoughts by the author about his faith and stance on many things in the church and Bible.  Ever since the fateful night Delbert Hobbs gave his life to Christ, his life has changed drastically. Through his conversion and many years of faithful serving and learning, Delbert Hobbs has come up with a collection of his hot topic points that he discusses in his book.  Many of these views I agree with, some I do not have the same interoperation as he.

I started out really liking this book.  From the title I assumed this book would be about the author himself and his journey to and through faith. Instead it is more a quick synopsis of his he came to faith followed by a long list of “Here’s what’s wrong with Christians today” stance.  Although I agree that many Christians today are just floating through life not taking a stance when one is needed on many topics, somehow Mr. Hobbs comes off as self-righteous and elitist in this views and practices of holidays, family, and his personal health issues.  I am glad that God has given him a clear path on how to deal with this pain and his family but just because I decide to stay in contact with my family or take medication when necessary for pain does not mean I have a lesser faith than he.

All in all I would not recommend this book to anyone I knew to read.  The book is written in a broken format and has too many comments and harsh legalistic viewpoints that I do not agree with

 

Note: I was given a copy of this book to read and review for free.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

 

Book Review: Country Faith

County Faith is a collection of 58 country music stars favorite verses and why.  This collection includes stars like Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Scotty McCreery, Trish Yearwood, and many many more.  Each singer gives a short discussion on why they chose the verse they did and what significance it has in their lives.  This book is being sold as a one a day reflection.  Each passage/singer’s thought is very short and only takes a minute or two to read.  This book is also a good coffee table book with pictures of each of the singers for a quick read in your few minutes of quiet.

This book is refreshing to see how the Bible has effected so many country singers and how they hold onto these verses to give them guidance, strength, and peace in their lives.  In that way their lives are not so different from ours.  They still have the same struggles, losses, and obstacles as the average American. 

Some of the passages are better written then others.  Some are more personal and others very vague and generic but in general the book the very well put together.  Also I think it is great that 1% of the listed price of the book is donated to Sophia’s Heart Foundation.  Yes, 1% isn’t very much but considering the large number of county music fans I’m sure it will accrue into a substantial donation.

 

Note: I was given a copy of this book to read and review from Zondervan publishing from free.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.

Book Review: Lean Body, Fat Wallet

Lean Body Fat Wallet by Ellie Kay and Danna Demetre is a book on how using the same simple approach and tips you can lose weight, dump debt, and save money.

Ellie Kay has many years of personal and professional experience in how to eat right, lose weight, and keep it off.  Danna Demetre also has many years of personal and professional experience in getting out of debt and saving for the future.  Together they realized the same concepts of what goes in must equal what comes out, fighting temptations, etc. can be applied to both areas in life.

While the book is easy to read and the authors do a great job and presenting a simple method, I found the concepts and applications a little too simple.  Yes, we all know calories in should be less than or equal to calories out and that you should spend more than you earn but the book went little further than that and many keep yourself accountable and positive. 

This book would be good for beginners who are starting out fresh in either area.  There are some helpful hints but it’s more about creating the right attitude and general concepts.  I do wish they would have brought their faith into it a lot more.  I think these are two areas that the Bible has a lot of references in how we should live and not live and they are rarely mentioned.  I am surprised the book genre was labeled as Religion/Christian Life. 

Note: I did receive a copy of this book to read and review for free from Thomas Nelson Publishing.  The opinions above are my own and I was not compensated for a positive review.