brynners89's profile picture

brynners89's review

5.0
challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

cannoli1116's review

4.25
informative inspiring slow-paced

redbeard92's review

4.5
informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Studied this book as a class and it was very challenging, yet very eye opening. A crest book for deeper disicipleship as you look into complete transformation. 
jeansbookbag's profile picture

jeansbookbag's review

3.0
informative reflective medium-paced

This is a book I picked up based on a friend's recommendation, one I would never have picked up for myself, so I was surprised to find out that I actually kind of liked it. Honestly, it was a bit to religious for me personally, but I did think Scazzero makes some really good points and the writing was very readable. For me the biggest takeaway is that it's okay to feel your negative emotions. You don't need to let them rule you, but you don't need to pretend they don't exist, either. This message really hits home in a book like this, because in my experience, many American Christians, especially Evangelical Christians, are so immersed in the prosperity gospel that the idea that a believer could at times be sad or angry is almost sacrilegious and shouldn't be acknowledged. While maybe not groundbreaking, that chapter alone was worth picking the book up, in my opinion.
juliannatoma's profile picture

juliannatoma's review

4.5
challenging reflective medium-paced
emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

This book did not reach the high expectations I had for it. Peter just basically talks about his life and the gold nuggets in the book are quotes from others. It was a struggle to read through, nothing new. Sounds like a diary and boast of his family and how good they have gotten. Long book that is kind of a waste . If you want more in depth and better books about spiritual growth, read spiritual formation by Henri nowen (5 star) and a book called margin by Richard Swenson.

Not sure how this book was so popular, as a therapist I would not recommend this book to my clients or friends.
sfrench430's profile picture

sfrench430's review

1.5
informative slow-paced

Read it for class and gave it a very fair and honest read. There are certainly some good nuggets in here that everyone should have access to, but the theological fuzziness of the book became overwhelming. The arminian libertarian human will did not bother me as much as the buddhist-thinking about detachment. I can't say that I recommend this book, although I haven't found anything that is more effective in accomplishing its goals.
eclectically_bookish's profile picture

eclectically_bookish's review

4.75

This is my second (or third?) time working through this book and the principles inside. We have been reading it together with a small group at our church and so many of the participants have been learning to deal with the troubles of this life maturely and holistically instead of hiding certain memories or feelings away, thinking they are forbidden from the Christian life. I don't really have anything bad to say about this book, except there is so much to apply that revisiting every few years is probably a good idea!