Book review: Tough Guys and Drama Queens

This book is meant to be a guidebook to help parents navigate the difficult emotional and relational issues that come with having tweens and teens. There is so much that is changing in our world in regards to technology, communication, entertainment and culture in general, when you compound that with changing hormones and trying to figure out this strange middle ground between childhood and being an adult, it can be a very combustible combination.

 I loved this book! While it took a little while to get going, I thought that Mark spent a little too long emphasizing that the world has changed in this now digital age, the practical advice and the topics covered where spot on. By presenting major topics in both parenting styles to avoid and parenting styles/things to embrace, Mark lays out steps to develop and maintain a relationship with your child that will stand through the storms of the tween/teen years. This relationship is critical as you are ultimately trying to equip your child with the skills necessary to become a functioning adult.

Using stories that Mark has personally witnessed by being a youth counselor as well as just presenting the bigger picture, this is a great book to put into your parenting ‘toolkit’. I hope that I am able to actually put this information into practice and as my kids go through these years, be able to have successful kids and strong relationships with them in the end.

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.”

Book review: Empty Promises by Pete Wilson

In this book, Pete Wilson tackles something that every one of us faces, that feeling that what we have been chasing in life is just hollow. The sinking feeling that what we thought mattered most really doesn’t.  This book also is a resource to peel back the blindfold and really examine our lives and make sure that we are actually targeting the right things.

The book is divided up into two parts. The first really lays the groundwork to understand that much of our lives lived with our priorities out of whack. Rather then having God be the number one, front and center of our lives, we have instead bought into the lie that says something else should be first. With chapters that provide easy examples as well as some gut wrenching questions, the topics covered are things like approval of others, power and even religion. The second part of the book really helps in the area of calibrating your life and really works towards helping your determine if your life is one that is prioritized correctly.

While this book is easy to read, it is challenging. I sometimes have the illusion that my life is somewhat together, chapter by chapter, Pete peeled back the layers and showed how many lies I am currently chasing in my life and how out of order I am. And while there is a hunger that will never be filled because ‘we are not home yet’, Empty Promises helps to guide you back to where you should have been all along. This book should be considered a must-read.

Full discloser: BookSneeze® did provide me with a complimentary copy of this book to review.

Most anticipated book....

Since like ever.......  I am so excited to learn more!

Classic - reinvented

There are times when the classic is the best. That you just shouldn't touch it. However there are times when someone comes along and updates a classic and in some ways it is better then the original. I think this might be one of those times...

Book review - Soulprint by Mark Batterson

The premise of this book is that we are all unique. Similar to your fingerprint, we all have been wired in a special way at a soul level. Many of us struggle to figure out who it is that we are meant to be, and this book is meant to be a guide on that journey.

 The core premise of this book is that you will never know who you should or could become until you understand who you are. In a telling question, Mark asks, “If you live as a stranger to yourself, how can you find intimacy with others?” In order to find out who you are, you must go back and examine your life for pivotal moments. Mark uses the life of King David to demonstrate how key moments in his life created pivotal opportunities that lead him to become the leader and man that he was.

Some of the key points that I took from this handy book are:
Don’t worry about timing – that is God’s area
Create ‘life symbols’ or ways to remember those key moments in your life
Integrity above all else
We must be transparent – cover-ups never allow us to find our true selves
Don’t cut corners
Confession is a powerful thing

The key phrase for me from Soulprint is this line towards the end of the book: “It is not the number of breaths we take that make a life worth living. It’s the number of things that take our breath away.”

A quick read, but a powerful one.

 In full disclosure: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. 

Book review: In a pit with a lion on a snowy day

First off this book wins the sweet title award. It is a reference to a small Biblical tale (all of  a couple of verses) of Benaiah who did some amazing things including chasing a lion into a pit on a snowy day and living to tell about it. He then arose to be the head of King David’s bodyguard.

Mark Batterson uses this story as a launch point to look at what it takes to become a ‘lion chaser’. That is someone who will capitalize and accomplish amazing things in what others might see as impossible or crazy circumstances. This means that our greatest moments will often come from our biggest ‘pits’ or facing the ‘lions’ in our lives.

This means conquering and facing our fears, updating our attitude, and understanding that even though we may not defeat every lion, our lives will be so much less if we don’t face them head on. In fact we should be looking for lions to chase.

There were several aspects that make this book such a great read, one was the many stories that Mark uses to elaborate and support his statements, second was the short follow-up items at the end of each chapter which helped to reflect on what was just covered.

If you life feels a little safe or you are wondering if there might be something more, this might be the jump start you need.

In full disclosure: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. 

Book Review: Nearing Home

Nearing home is Billy Graham’s thoughts and reflections on aging. How life and circumstances change as the number of candles on the birthday cake increase and we start looking for a fire extinguisher to put them all out.

There is a lot of great advice within the covers of this book. These range from how to plan for retirement and aging from a physical and financial standpoint, about how our interactions with others change, and that we shouldn’t fear the inevitable. Much of this information is what we have heard from others, but for some reason having Billy Graham deliver this information is different. And this different is good.

Presented in a conversational manner, it is as though Billy has invited us to sit with him on his porch for awhile and listen to him reflect on his last several years, and what life looks like in the mislabeled ‘golden years’ and what sorts of things we should prepare and look out for as we approach them.

Scriptures and wise sayings surround these nuggets of wisdom and help reinforce the fact that barring any unforeseen tragedy or health issue, we are all going to age and face the end of our days, and we should do this well prepared and ready to make the most of the time that we have so that we can finish well. This is a valuable resource to any age group, because we are all moving in the same direction in time. We will all grow old. And what better then to be able to look back and enjoy our time as we near home?

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.”

Book Review: Decision Points

I am always intrigued by how leaders arrive and make their decisions. The greater the responsibility or authority of that leader, the bigger those decisions are. These decisions typically have broad implications that are often not realized or known, but a decision must be made. Through studying how the decision making process of various leaders, and the results of these decisions, it has allowed me to improve my own decision making process.

When I had the opportunity to read and review Decision Points by George Bush, I jumped at it. Even if you feel that some of the decisions that he made were wrong or poor (and based on his low approval ratings, most of us did), I don’t know that a recent president has been faced with greater changes in the world then George was.

This book really focuses on the major decisions that George was faced with throughout his life. Each chapter starts with a decision that had to be made, then gives historical background of what lead up to that decision, the various options, as well as giving George’s personal thoughts on what was known at the time as well as reflecting on that decision.

Some of the decisions covered in this book are personal, such as George’s quitting drinking, but many are about the large issues that arose during his presidency. A few of these are the response to September 11th, Katrina, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as increased funding for AIDS and malaria treatments in Africa. What surprised me in reading this book was how personal George is in reflecting on each of these decisions. Not all of his decisions are considered perfect or in some cases even right, he brings you into the evaluation process and the internal struggles that he faced with each of these situations.

 Because of the personal touch in the writing as well as taking a fairly even-handed approach in presenting the various options that were available for each of these decisions, I feel that anyone in a leadership role should read this book to reflect and improve on their decision making process.

For full disclosure: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. If you would like to become a part of their program, you can sign up here.

Book review: Steve Jobs

I want to start off by stating that I am writing this post on my MacBook Pro listening to music via iTunes in the background while my iPhone sits on my desk to let me know if anything important happens in the world. 

This book is a very even look at Steve Jobs. It really shows both his passion and dedication to perfection, even on things that no one would ever see or care about. This is what we wish more companies would do when it comes to products and services that we interact with rather then settling for low cost and easy. But he was also a jerk to those around him, including his own family. 

The best thing that I can say about this book though is that it is even handed. Many of these type of books either attempt to present the person as a deity. Which you could make Steve out to be, with all of the amazing pieces of 'magical' products that were released and also the industries that he transformed - such as music, books and movies. Or books like this attempt to vilify the person, which you could do to Steve as well. The way he abandoned his daughter. The way he treated people around him, belittling them, and running roughshod around rules and laws (such as backdating stocks). But this book doesn't do either. 

Steve is a very complex and complicated person. And this book does a good job of navigating the many sides of him in an unblinking manner and allows the reader to make up their mind about him. This is a great book to read to really examine the man who changed so many things and made our lives easier. And you don't have to be a 'techie' to enjoy it. 

An interesting book...

That at some point I should get around to reading....

Book review: The map of time

This is a collection of three stories that come together and revolve around the life of H.G. Wells, the author of 'The time machine'.

In Victorian England, life is a struggle if you are not one of the elite and it isn't all that great even if you have some money. The first two stories start with individuals who are looking to end their life and how their interactions with H.G. Wells and the thoughts around time travel change their viewpoints. The last story is about other novels and how time travel might effect them.

 This story takes a little while to get wrapped into, but once you take the bait, it is a great read. It is actually one of the better breakdowns of what time travel might involve and the idea of other dimensions that I have read.

The only part I wish that could have been changed a little is the fact that everyone seems to cheat on their relationships in this book. I am not sure if that is meant to talk about the futility of consistency in the face of so many other dimensions and other tangled times, but it made me sad to think that no main character was able to keep faithful to their relationship commitments. That being said, it is still a gripping book that deserves a read.

Book Review: The name of this book is secret

I have started a new series of books and have just finished the first one, 'The name of this book is secret'. The overall format is that the story is slowly shared in between warnings that it is dangerous and probably in the best interest of the reader to give up and drop the book as quickly as possible.

You met the two main characters, Cass and Max-Earnest who are two misfits who together end up on this extraordinary adventure.

It really made me think of the 'Series of Unfortunate Events' books. And even though the stories were a little weak sometimes - and this book has some pretty big stretches where you just think, really?!? It is still a fun ride and I look forward to the others in the series.

Book review: Man's search for meaning

I was pointed to this book by a friend who rides into work with me. This book held special meaning to him as he had recently met a relative who had survived the same tragic events of living through World War II in a concentration camp. I am so glad that he pointed me in this direction. 


This is not a typical memoirs book, though there are personal stories sprinkled throughout it. Viktor Frankl was a survivor of some of the worst camps and treatments that the Germans put the Jews through. Rather this is a book that examines the mental and psychological effects that such an experience has on an individual. 


In many cases this book reinforces the thought that it is not what is done to you but your response, your attitude to it that really determines who you are and what you will be. 


As stated in the book:
"We who lived in the concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way."


There are also some interesting thoughts around the fact that our lives are meant to have and contain tension. We should not be trying to find a frictionless existence but instead Viktor writes:
"I consider it a dangerous misconception of mental hygeine to assume that what man needs in the first place is equilibrium or, as it is called in biology, “homeostasis,” i.e., a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him"


While short, this book took me awhile to get through because there is a lot to ponder. The book is divided into two parts - the first about the suffering and mental phases that a person goes through in a concentration camp, the second about his theories of psychology. This is an important book because the suffering and the pain that was inflicted during that time - while not completely unique (there has been a lot of evil done to others throughout history and it continues in different parts of the world) - the generation that lived through this is fading and as the completion of the book states:
"So, let us be alert-alert in a twofold sense:
Since Auschwitz we know what man is capable of.

And since Hiroshima we know what is at stake."

To know that meaning in life is not what it gives us but by what we give to it. That is a powerful thing.

I strongly recommend working your way through this book and pondering the implications in your own life and how it changes (if any) your reactions to those around you. 

Book review: Save your marriage in five minutes a day by Bonnie Jacobson

This book is meant to be a practical guide book that helps you find quick and easy ways to improve and maintain a great marriage. Tackling many of the key ‘hot topics’ that can occur in a relationship, everything from money, intimacy, children, chores, they are all covered in this book. Another great aspects of this book are: quick to read and digest chapters, couples stories, and a bullet list at the end of each chapter of ideas to try.

This is a great book to read to really inject some excitement and improvement into your relationship. One of my favorite parts about this book is the “say this” sections which help to get at the heart of many issues without making it personal and equipping you with words to find resolution.

The best thing that can be said about this book is that it is SO practical. I loved the bullet list at the end of each chapter and have taken time to attempt to apply bits and pieces into my relationship, and to tell the truth, my wife is very glad that I have been reading this book! We had a great relationship before I started reading this book, and it has gotten better as I have gone through it.

Give it at try and watch your relationship improve.

iSteve - a new book coming that I have to add to my reading list

It appears that there is an 'official' biography coming sometime early next year about Steve Jobs. Being the fanboy that I am, this will go on the top of the list when it is released. Also given the author, I am sure this is going to be a great book!

Book review: Matched

The story starts with the setting that 'Society' has evolved and now everything is managed and controlled. People have become basically drones that have their lives directed for them by 'Society'. Your job, where you live, your schedule, your diet, how long you live, who you marry or even if you are allowed to marry is controlled.

The main character is a girl named Cassia who goes to her 'Matching' ceremony to learn who she will marry and afterwards there is a glitch and she sees 2 faces - both people whom she knows. There becomes the tension as she attempts to live within the constraints of Society and yet also figure out who she is.

This quick read has some great tension points and makes you think about the tension between safety and freedom, and how much you are willing to go on one side or the other. Or can you even have one with the other?

Highly recommend for a lazy afternoon read.

Book review: Everyone Communications by few connect

I was lucky to be able to get a copy of this book to read and review through the Tomas Nelson Book Sneeze program that allows me to get free copies of books to read and review.

I love to read books, but there are many times when you read a book cover to cover and maybe pull an idea or two from it. Rare is it that every page contains an idea, quote, thought or practical application that you can take and apply to those around you.

This book is like a mater’s program on getting the most out of your life. It is not something that you can just zip through, but in order for this to be effective, you need to ‘marinate’ on the ideas that are jammed between the covers and start applying the ideas one at a time. There are many books about getting better about a specific area of your life, or moving up in your career, but I don’t know if I have read a book like this that applied to virtually every part of my life.

This book isn’t just a ‘How to’ manual, it lays out practical concepts and then backs them up by examples and quotes from influential people. However, the most effective part however is they ‘real life’ stories and thoughts that are shared by common people like you and me that help make these concepts more real.

I could attempt to list out all of the great concepts and talk about how much more effective you will be at your professional and personal relationships, how your outlook on these relationships will change and if you take these concepts to heart it will require a ton of work but your life will be better for it, but I won’t do that. I will just say, you should get a copy and read it. And then start to apply some of these principles and watch things start to come together.

Book review: Linchpin

This book by Seth Godin is awesome. If you follow my blog at all, I know that I really dig the guy's thoughts and insights so the first sentence really shouldn't surpise you. However, this is probably the best book his has written. This is a sucker-punch of a 'just who are you going to be' book that I think I have ever read.

It basiclly breaks work down into two camps, the cog and the artist. While this might be a slight simplicfication, Seth works at laying out his case. That is that most jobs are done to spec, to the manual and therefore makes the person doing it a cog or an easily replaceable item. An artist on the other hand creates something no one has seen before. They navigate where there is no map. The write their own manuals.

Seth also talks at great length about what he calls 'the lizard brain' that is the hardwiring that we wall have to give up, to not do the radical thing, to run from change. He does give some great examples and thoughts about how to get past this.

The thing about Seth's books is that while they lay out the ideal, which means they are hard.

This has made me really examine what I do and also my motivations for doing my work. I have realized that there is a lot of crap that I let suck up my day (checking email every couple minutes, looking at Facebook on the hour) and also just meetings that I don't miss even though I don't need to be there. So I am looking for ways to stop the time-sucks, to loose myself of the draining 'work' that really doesn't ammount to anything. And looking for ways to make connections. To make art.

Book Review: Fresh Start

This book is based on the premise that we are all living lives that we know are not where we want to be, and that we are stuck in this less then ideal life. The problem is that we often see people in our lives that just stay in this place of ‘stuck’. This extends to all areas of our lives – though this book focuses on our spiritual life.
With your faith being at the core of who you are – being stuck there can really be like a hallow feeling that over time really eats at you.

In reading and working through this book, there are some great parts about it – there are quite a few places where you are to pause and reflect on your life and then fill out answers to questions which really makes this journey to a fresh start personal. It also takes a great look at the main reasons that we end up ‘stuck’ and the barriers to getting ‘unstuck’. 

This is a continual journey that will not be completed once and then your will be ‘fresh’ forever. It is a repeated journey to find new and fresh aspects of your faith and taking new steps towards a deeper relationship with God.

While this book is a written in a very easy to read manner and I was able to really gain a lot of understanding about my own ‘stuck-ness’ and even gain some new insight that has helped me (particularly about working with others to make your fresh start) – the light way that the book is written almost veils the fact that change is really hard. That is why there are so many books on this topic and why I will continue to need to restart my spiritual life over and over. It is not easy.

But over all – I would recommend this book as a good one to get started in thinking and planning about a ‘Fresh Start’.

Book Review: Sweet by and By

One of the great things about having a blog is that sometimes people will just give you things to review so that you can write about them.

That is the case with the book, ‘The sweet by and by. ‘This book was written by country singer Sara Evans. After I agreed to read and review this book and it showed up, I got kind of worried. It has all the look of a ‘chick lit’ book. And to a large extent it is.

 This is the story of Jade and how her life comes crashing in right before her wedding. As the story unfolds we learn both about Jade and her mother and the various choices that they made and how they have affected their life since then.  We see how worried Jade is that her past is ‘catching up with her’ and will ruin her perfect present with Max, her fiancée. What we find out is that Max isn’t really perfect either and that everyone has sides to them that aren’t always the prettiest.

My thoughts on this book are first off, this is a really great read. ‘chick lit’ or not, I really enjoyed this story. The realistic dialogue was especially refreshing. The way that the story is revealed a little at a time from both Jade and Beryl (the mother) is also a nice touch

But most of all I really liked how this story examined how we all have things in our lives that we wish others wouldn’t know about. And that we will never get past or over them until we face them head-on and rather then blame others and circumstances realize our own responsibility.

This being a first novel, I am hopeful that there will be others from Sara Evans.