Scientific tools for training problem solving, intuition, emotional intelligence, creativity, and more. The author says in the introduction " This brain training book for everything but IQ will teach you to drive your mind, to get the most from what you've got under the hood." It does say that the exercises are not easy,"if they weren't challenging, they wouldn't do you any good." This book challenges you to "Forget the IQ tests and tweak those parts of intelligence that matter most to real-world success."
This book will appeal to anyone who wants to improve their mind with practical exercises and real world examples of problem solving. The subjects of intuition, working memory, creativity, multitasking, and will power, and they all get a full chapter each. Included is an explanation of the skill, and exercises to develop that skill. In the chapter on willpower the author states "If IQ is the strength of the bulb in your lighthouse, willpower is the lens that focuses it into a beam." There are answers in the back to most of the exercises in this book, but you won't want to look at them until you at least give them a try.
The author says this book will "help you train your brain with useful and engaging exercises that will help yo make the most of your brain in the area that matters most- life."
The author has written numerous books, among them Geek Logic, Brain Candy, and Brain Trust. He has also written for Esquire, New York Times, Wired, and Men's Health.
This book makes the point that I have always believed, that IQ is not enough to be successful in life. Concepts like creativity, willpower, emotional intelligence, and intuition have the most impact in the real world. If you enjoy word games, stretching your mind, thinking outside the box, and want to increase your brainpower, this book is for you.
Some puzzles require cutting out parts of the book to rearrange in a certain order, so be prepared to do so.
Published by three rivers press.com. and also available as an ebook.
I have been provided a complimentary copy in exchange for this review.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Monday, October 6, 2014
Every Disciple's Journey - Thomas R. Steagald
Following Jesus to a God-focused faith. Find the meaning of your life in the life of Jesus. The author is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Stanley, NC. This book is divided into two parts, God's journey to us, and Our faithful response. It follows Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday with a chapter on each. In one section he analyzes his own preaching, "Did I say what needed saying? Did I preach the Gospel?" After all this he humbly concludes, "I need the touch of Jesus before I can even begin to offer Jesus to others." This is good advice indeed, and we should all heed everyday.
Some may be disturbed to see a quote from Charles Wesley and Pope Pius XI on the same page. Some may also take exception to his mention of Pope Pius XI inaguration of the Feast of Christ as King as the same truth as the Barmen Declaration of Karl Barth.
This book is definitely written from a Methodist perspective, as one would expect from a Methodist minister. This book was dedicated to his father with an honest description of his life, warts and all, but still credits him for what he has become.
Each chapter ends with an Affirmation and, A Confession, and A Discipleship Task, more of a call to action. Some of my Calvinist brothers may structure as a bit ritualistic and limiting, but I think there is something to be learned from this book. The life that Jesus lived on this earth has a lot to teach us, and a book that helps us to practically live out our lives is always helpful.
Definitions of the word origins of Advent, Lent, Epiphany, and Holy Week are included, and why each one has that name. Some may take exception with the ritual aspect, but I see nothing wrong with special emphasis on certain times of the year, as long as sincere worship is encouraged.
Published by Navpress. www.navpress.com
I have been provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review.
Some may be disturbed to see a quote from Charles Wesley and Pope Pius XI on the same page. Some may also take exception to his mention of Pope Pius XI inaguration of the Feast of Christ as King as the same truth as the Barmen Declaration of Karl Barth.
This book is definitely written from a Methodist perspective, as one would expect from a Methodist minister. This book was dedicated to his father with an honest description of his life, warts and all, but still credits him for what he has become.
Each chapter ends with an Affirmation and, A Confession, and A Discipleship Task, more of a call to action. Some of my Calvinist brothers may structure as a bit ritualistic and limiting, but I think there is something to be learned from this book. The life that Jesus lived on this earth has a lot to teach us, and a book that helps us to practically live out our lives is always helpful.
Definitions of the word origins of Advent, Lent, Epiphany, and Holy Week are included, and why each one has that name. Some may take exception with the ritual aspect, but I see nothing wrong with special emphasis on certain times of the year, as long as sincere worship is encouraged.
Published by Navpress. www.navpress.com
I have been provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Be The Message - Kerry and Chris Shook
Taking your faith beyond words to a life of action. This book is a call to action. In it, the authors challenge all Christians to put into practice and action all the things we say we believe. It is one thing to say we love others, but how are we showing it?
There is a foreward by Rick Warren that is sure to attract attention just by his name being involved in this book.
The author is pastor of Woodlands Church in Houston, Texas since 1993 and has one of the largest fair trade/direct trade stores in the country and is recognized for it's work for the poor and powerless. In other words, they practice what they preach.
In the chapter on pain titled "God's megaphone" from a C.S. Lewis quote, he says, "Our understanding of someone else's hurt is now more vivid and intense so much so that we get up and do something about it." That is faith in action.
In the chapter titled "The great disconnect" he talks about a troubling disconnect between the words you speak and the life you live not always being the same.
The book is divided into four parts, Transforming, Discovering, Understanding and Taking.
Chapter titles include, The great disconnect, From mess to message, more than nothing, more than nothing, and love the one in front of you. At the end of every chapter are two call to action catagories, The divine whisperer, and love the one in front of you. They point the reader toward how God can speak to you, and how you can put the principles into practice, wherever you are, and be used by God to help others. Several life stories are mentioned of people that were used by God as examples, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, Truet Cathy and Nick Vujicic.
The whole point of this book is helping others in a practical way, to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to break free out of your comfort zone. At one point he says "Church is not about good people, it's about broken people."
He also mentions having a "holy disturbance," which is something that bothers you so much that you have to take action on, a subject that God puts on your heart. And that is how the fair trade store got started in his church.
As with a lot of book written by two authors, it may be hard to tell which one is actually writing the chapter, unless the reader is told. Often both authors are so much on the same page that it is difficult to tell them apart, and that's not a bad thing.
This author and his church are making a difference in this world. By their practical applications of Jesus' teachings in the Bible. They have made a profound discovery. "You are the Gospel" and "Be the Message."
Published by Waterbrook Press.
I have been provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review.
There is a foreward by Rick Warren that is sure to attract attention just by his name being involved in this book.
The author is pastor of Woodlands Church in Houston, Texas since 1993 and has one of the largest fair trade/direct trade stores in the country and is recognized for it's work for the poor and powerless. In other words, they practice what they preach.
In the chapter on pain titled "God's megaphone" from a C.S. Lewis quote, he says, "Our understanding of someone else's hurt is now more vivid and intense so much so that we get up and do something about it." That is faith in action.
In the chapter titled "The great disconnect" he talks about a troubling disconnect between the words you speak and the life you live not always being the same.
The book is divided into four parts, Transforming, Discovering, Understanding and Taking.
Chapter titles include, The great disconnect, From mess to message, more than nothing, more than nothing, and love the one in front of you. At the end of every chapter are two call to action catagories, The divine whisperer, and love the one in front of you. They point the reader toward how God can speak to you, and how you can put the principles into practice, wherever you are, and be used by God to help others. Several life stories are mentioned of people that were used by God as examples, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, Truet Cathy and Nick Vujicic.
The whole point of this book is helping others in a practical way, to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to break free out of your comfort zone. At one point he says "Church is not about good people, it's about broken people."
He also mentions having a "holy disturbance," which is something that bothers you so much that you have to take action on, a subject that God puts on your heart. And that is how the fair trade store got started in his church.
As with a lot of book written by two authors, it may be hard to tell which one is actually writing the chapter, unless the reader is told. Often both authors are so much on the same page that it is difficult to tell them apart, and that's not a bad thing.
This author and his church are making a difference in this world. By their practical applications of Jesus' teachings in the Bible. They have made a profound discovery. "You are the Gospel" and "Be the Message."
Published by Waterbrook Press.
I have been provided with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Killing Lions - John Eldredge & Sam Eldredge
A guide through the trials young men face. And not just young men, just about every man faces at one time or another in his life. On page 62 the author defines killing lions as "all about finding validation through genuine victories fought out of our true hearts, from which we emerge with a genuine strength and sense of self." And on page 99, "You were born into a savage war. Evil is real, Satan is real." in trying to understand why there is evil in this world. The younger author, Sam, has begun an online magazine at www.andsonsmagazine.com, and the elder is founder of ransomed heart ministries at www.randomedheart.com and author of the wildly famous Wild at Heart a few years back. Other websites are www.killinglions.com and there is an accompaning journal to match the book. The entire book is a conversation between father and son, elder to the younger, full of advice and spiritual guidance that started out as weekly phone calls.They refer to this book as "a confession and invitation and a manifesto for a generation."
One of the best pieces of advice is on page 105, where the elder Eldredge says "A man faces many forks in the road as he journeys through his life - each choice determining what kind of life he is going to live." This is true when the outcome is a blessed peaceful life or a life full of heartbreak and regret.
Divided into 10 chapters, each one going back and forth in conversation, separated by different typeface. At times it is hard to tell who was writing, until something is mentioned that makes it obvious. Titles of chapters include, College and then what?, Bouncing checks, The book of love, Decisions, Fighting for your life, and racing toward the unknown. There is a daily prayer, a prayer for sexual healing, and a prayer for guidance. The instructions on how to hear from God may make some uncomfortable, it seems we are limiting God to speak in one specific way, when in fact He can speack in many ways.
This is Sam Eldredge's first book, and he adds an honesty and openness that you don't usually find in "Christian books." Most books in this genre tend to stay on the safe topics, but this one gets into all kinds of issues many men face. Quotes from such diverse people as G.K. Chesterson, Dr. Suess, Victor Frankl, Augustine, C.S. Lewis and Dallas Willard round things out. In all, this book is more than just fatherly advice.
The author is one that supports rituals of boys turning into men, campfires, outdoor activities, hunting, fishing, rock climbing and camping as important milestones. I believe these things can be used, but aren't necessarily the only ones.
Of course, advice about women is offered, with statements such as "God created Eve as a mystery." and "Love is going to go a lot better if you will learn about the feminine heart."
I did enjoy this book. It seems like very little was edited out, or considered off limits. Honest conversations can be good to have between father and son, elder and younger, both can find something to learn from and pass on to the next generation.
Published by Nelson books, www.thomasnelson.com.
One of the best pieces of advice is on page 105, where the elder Eldredge says "A man faces many forks in the road as he journeys through his life - each choice determining what kind of life he is going to live." This is true when the outcome is a blessed peaceful life or a life full of heartbreak and regret.
Divided into 10 chapters, each one going back and forth in conversation, separated by different typeface. At times it is hard to tell who was writing, until something is mentioned that makes it obvious. Titles of chapters include, College and then what?, Bouncing checks, The book of love, Decisions, Fighting for your life, and racing toward the unknown. There is a daily prayer, a prayer for sexual healing, and a prayer for guidance. The instructions on how to hear from God may make some uncomfortable, it seems we are limiting God to speak in one specific way, when in fact He can speack in many ways.
This is Sam Eldredge's first book, and he adds an honesty and openness that you don't usually find in "Christian books." Most books in this genre tend to stay on the safe topics, but this one gets into all kinds of issues many men face. Quotes from such diverse people as G.K. Chesterson, Dr. Suess, Victor Frankl, Augustine, C.S. Lewis and Dallas Willard round things out. In all, this book is more than just fatherly advice.
The author is one that supports rituals of boys turning into men, campfires, outdoor activities, hunting, fishing, rock climbing and camping as important milestones. I believe these things can be used, but aren't necessarily the only ones.
Of course, advice about women is offered, with statements such as "God created Eve as a mystery." and "Love is going to go a lot better if you will learn about the feminine heart."
I did enjoy this book. It seems like very little was edited out, or considered off limits. Honest conversations can be good to have between father and son, elder and younger, both can find something to learn from and pass on to the next generation.
Published by Nelson books, www.thomasnelson.com.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
If God Is Good - Randy Alcorn
Faith in the midst of suffering and evil. Suffering is, in the end, God's invitation to trust Him. This book answers the question, How can there be an all-good and all-powerful God if evil and suffering exist?
Randy is one of my favorite non-fiction authors, and is founder and Director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. I was glad to see him write an extensive work on this subject.
One of the chapters takes on Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and his cohorts titled the Unbeliever's Problem of Goodness. In which he says "People speak of gratuitous evil, but what about gratuitous good?" How do these atheists explain the presence of good? Where does goodness come from? The author give the reader intelligent, well thought out answers to these questions and more. He also references an excellent book titled Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed by Phillip Hallie, in which a French town under Nazi occupation provided Jews with food, shelter, and escape simply because it was the right thing to do.
At over 500 pages, this is a massive testimony to the author's research and knowledge of the subject. A topical index can help find references to subject and names, and notes at the end of every chapter. The book is divided into 11 sections with 45 chapters , most paragraphs beginning with a statement or question, and then goes on to make the systematic argument using scripture, personal insight, or quotes to reinforce the point. Throughout this book the author states, "God is sovereign and is not the author of evil, but He is the author of a story that includes evil." Elsewhere in the book he states," What we call the problem of evil is often the problem of our finite and and fallen understanding." We are not going to understand why things happen , and even if we did, our limited, human minds could not handle or comprehend it. Quotes from C S Lewis, Spurgeon, Thomas Aquinas, Victor Frankl, John Newton, Elizabeth Elliott and others abound.
In chapter 36 titled :How the health and wealth Gospel perverts our view of evil and suffering, he takes on the prosperity Gospel with statements such as "In some cases, pleasing God results in suffering," and "Christians should expect to suffer more, not less, since they suffer under the fall, and as followers of Christ." He states,"This is so obviously opposed to countless Biblical passages, it's difficult to imagine, apart from the deceptive powers of satan, how so many Christians could actually believe them."
There is so much material in this book that needs to be read, thought about, and then read again, it will take some time to process. The author is extremely pro-life, having suffered law suits, arrest and job loss that he describes in this book.
In other parts of the book he tackles the inadequacy of the atheistic view by stating,"Why be angry with someone the doesn't exist?" Indeed that is true. He also takes on "open theism" with logic and intelligence.
This is not a book to read once through and then put aside. You can pick up from any chapter or section and find a complete and compelling argument for the existence of evil. Much like one of his other books, Money Possessions, and Eternity, this one reads like an encyclopedia with so many references and notes.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the answer to the question, If God is God, why is there evil? This book offers one of the best answers I have read.
Published by multnomah publishing, and www.waterbrookmultnomah.com.
Randy is one of my favorite non-fiction authors, and is founder and Director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. I was glad to see him write an extensive work on this subject.
One of the chapters takes on Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and his cohorts titled the Unbeliever's Problem of Goodness. In which he says "People speak of gratuitous evil, but what about gratuitous good?" How do these atheists explain the presence of good? Where does goodness come from? The author give the reader intelligent, well thought out answers to these questions and more. He also references an excellent book titled Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed by Phillip Hallie, in which a French town under Nazi occupation provided Jews with food, shelter, and escape simply because it was the right thing to do.
At over 500 pages, this is a massive testimony to the author's research and knowledge of the subject. A topical index can help find references to subject and names, and notes at the end of every chapter. The book is divided into 11 sections with 45 chapters , most paragraphs beginning with a statement or question, and then goes on to make the systematic argument using scripture, personal insight, or quotes to reinforce the point. Throughout this book the author states, "God is sovereign and is not the author of evil, but He is the author of a story that includes evil." Elsewhere in the book he states," What we call the problem of evil is often the problem of our finite and and fallen understanding." We are not going to understand why things happen , and even if we did, our limited, human minds could not handle or comprehend it. Quotes from C S Lewis, Spurgeon, Thomas Aquinas, Victor Frankl, John Newton, Elizabeth Elliott and others abound.
In chapter 36 titled :How the health and wealth Gospel perverts our view of evil and suffering, he takes on the prosperity Gospel with statements such as "In some cases, pleasing God results in suffering," and "Christians should expect to suffer more, not less, since they suffer under the fall, and as followers of Christ." He states,"This is so obviously opposed to countless Biblical passages, it's difficult to imagine, apart from the deceptive powers of satan, how so many Christians could actually believe them."
There is so much material in this book that needs to be read, thought about, and then read again, it will take some time to process. The author is extremely pro-life, having suffered law suits, arrest and job loss that he describes in this book.
In other parts of the book he tackles the inadequacy of the atheistic view by stating,"Why be angry with someone the doesn't exist?" Indeed that is true. He also takes on "open theism" with logic and intelligence.
This is not a book to read once through and then put aside. You can pick up from any chapter or section and find a complete and compelling argument for the existence of evil. Much like one of his other books, Money Possessions, and Eternity, this one reads like an encyclopedia with so many references and notes.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the answer to the question, If God is God, why is there evil? This book offers one of the best answers I have read.
Published by multnomah publishing, and www.waterbrookmultnomah.com.
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