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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
One of those extraordinary books that turns your world upside down and salt shakers your worldview. Reading this book marked a time in my life where my faith became my own and my opinions became grounded in knowledge.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This isn't normally the type of book I read but it was recommended to me by a coworker. I did enjoy the content & it was great to hear the authors journey. I listened on audio & while I love listening to audiobooks recorded by the author I think this one came across as "preachy" which I think took away from it for me. Overall it was a good read with a great message.
challenging
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This book is for every Christian willing to be shaken up, and every other person willing to give Christianity another look. As might be evident from the title, Claiborne thinks, dreams, plans, and does in a big way. What I found most valuable in this book were the multitude of stories, from Claiborne's own experiences and those of people he knows. He challenges every complacent Christian by showing what it actually looks like to be the hands and feet of Jesus and love our neighbors. (After reading it, you may need Rachel Held Evans' great post on finding the middle ground between selling everything to move in with the homeless and resigning yourself to continue life as usual.)
There is so much amazing content in this book that I found myself wishing Claiborne had had a better editor, as he has the irritating habit of retelling the same stories and reusing the same phrases (Yes, we get it, you like to have dance parties with fire hydrants). And sometimes his messages were too vague or abstract for me. (Don't be a candle, be a fire. But be a gentle fire. ...Um, OK?) However, this is all more or less forgiven by the vast number of incredible stories packed into this book; I may not remember what Claiborne said about God and light and darkness, but I'll remember the stories about the children's hospitals bombed in Iraq or having communion in the park.
I think Claiborne and I have some theological differences (particularly around sex and sexuality), but that doesn't seem to matter much after reading the whole book. Anyone who's willing to live out their faith that intensely and consistently is a better model for me than someone who simply checks off the same doctrinal statements that I do.
I would recommend this to just about everyone, for the sheer wealth of thought-provoking ideas about life, faith, and love.
There is so much amazing content in this book that I found myself wishing Claiborne had had a better editor, as he has the irritating habit of retelling the same stories and reusing the same phrases (Yes, we get it, you like to have dance parties with fire hydrants). And sometimes his messages were too vague or abstract for me. (Don't be a candle, be a fire. But be a gentle fire. ...Um, OK?) However, this is all more or less forgiven by the vast number of incredible stories packed into this book; I may not remember what Claiborne said about God and light and darkness, but I'll remember the stories about the children's hospitals bombed in Iraq or having communion in the park.
I think Claiborne and I have some theological differences (particularly around sex and sexuality), but that doesn't seem to matter much after reading the whole book. Anyone who's willing to live out their faith that intensely and consistently is a better model for me than someone who simply checks off the same doctrinal statements that I do.
I would recommend this to just about everyone, for the sheer wealth of thought-provoking ideas about life, faith, and love.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This is a poignant, entertaining, and yet challenging book about what it means to be a Christian. Are we living like Jesus would want us to?
Claiborne has a pretty fascinating movement, and his popularity is really interesting considering his message. I wonder to what degree his "new monasticism" is treated seriously by those who really "think it's awesome." The book is a bit wordy (especially by page 275, which is where I began to tune out), but Claiborne's an interesting character with an interesting life. It's a fairly okay read, and would be fun to look at with Young Adults.
I keep coming back and re-reading this book. Wonderful.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I read this book over ten years ago when I was in high school, and I didn’t fully grasp all of it, just that it resonated with me. Now, in this particular time I decided to read it again and it clicked. One of the best books on Christianity and how we should actually be living that’s out there.