Book Review: The Butterfly Effect – Andy Andrews
The Butterfly Effect continues on a concept started in Andrew’s best selling book The Noticer. In this unassuming, beautifully illustrated short book Andrews talks about how the actions of one person can affect history for hundreds of years. To elaborate more than this would spoil the experience of the book. But I can say that everyone should read this book to get a little “perspective” as Jones would say.
Weighing in at only 107 pages, this book is an amazingly quick read. I read it in the span of about a half hour. I loved the illustrations and the format of this book. The beauty of the book helped the words have their intended impact as I considered how the inaction of one person could have irrevocably altered the history of our planet in a way that would have been catastrophic. Then, Andrews pointed his finger at me and asked me to realize how my actions could affect history as well.
Overall, I would tell you that you have to read every book Andy Andrews has ever written (I have read 3 so far and every one of them is amazing). The reason that I haven’t yet written reviews on the other two books of his that I have read is that I’m not sure I can do them justice in a review. Eventually I will muster up the courage to write the reviews, but for now, just take my word and click on the [affiliate] links below and buy every one of his books.
Books by Andy Andrews – [amazon.com affiliate links]
- The Butterfly Effect
- The Noticer
- The Heart Mender
- The Traveller’s Gift
- The Lost Choice
- Island of Saints
- The Boy Who Changed the World
- Return to Sawyerton Springs
Book Review: A Guy’s Guide to Life- Jason Boyett
In A Guy’s Guide to Life, the author Jason Boyett claims he can explain “How to become a man in 224 pages or less”…according to the cover. Even though I fall outside the target demographic, as a male, naturally I was intrigued, plus I have a 3 year old son who has already asked me where babies come from. Upon further inspection, I don’t think reading this book will automatically make you a man, but it was a very engaging read.
The book is broken into 3 different parts (mind, body, and soul) with five chapters each including such favorites as Manly Myths, Dating, Grooming, Health and Exercise, The Sex Chapter, Family, Friends, and Faith. For any red-blooded American teenager, The Sex Chapter is sure to grab their attention. All sarcasm and joking aside, I really enjoyed this book and its refreshing honesty. The author did a really good job addressing issues that are extremely relevant to an American teen in a way that keeps the conversation light, but still gets the point across. One section of the book that I really liked was his discussion on who our neighbor is. He is talking out of the context of loving people, especially loving our neighbor. Many pastors wishing to preach on the subject would do well to read this section of the book as a part of their sermon preparation.
Overall, I give it a 4 out of 5, especially for those who are parents of boys.
Book Review: You Can Be Everything God Wants You To Be – Max Lucado
Have you ever had one of those moments where the events and circumstances in your life created a Perfect Storm? This book did that for me. In this book Lucado talks about finding your “sweet spot” in life, finding that thing you were meant to do. Lucado discusses this concept in his usual inspirational, story filled, and extremely practical manner which has endeared him to so many thousands of readers. I can’t say what decisions or ideas that came about because of reading this book, but due to me reading this book, a project that came about, and some internal heart stuff God was working with me on, I had a moment where I saw my sweet spot. There will be a lot of prep to get there and it is not something that will happen right now, it may actually be years away but in that moment of clarity, I saw what I was made to do (for that, I am extremely grateful to Max Lucado for writing this book). Thomas Nelson recommends this book for graduates, a sentiment I would definitely agree with, but I would not constrain its use to that group either. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who has ever asked the question, “What am I supposed to do with my life?” I can imagine that with the current economic situation there are a lot of people asking this question. Do them a favor and buy them this book [amazon.com affiliate link].
Book Review – What’s in a Word? – Webb Garrison
In my time reviewing books for Thomas Nelson publishers through their Book Sneeze program I have tried to make sure that I review several different types of books. I continued with that trend when I picked out What’s in a Word? by Webb Garrison. I was intrigued because I love random trivia so I thought this would be an engaging read. As I write this, I am torn. There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed but at times the book was kind of a drag. Garrison breaks the words up into 17 different categories then discusses the roots of over 350 words. Am I more enlightened because of reading this book. Yes. But would I recommend this book as an engaging read for someone to sit down and plow through in a couple sittings? No. This book would make a great coffee table or bathroom reader. The type of book that you read in bits and pieces. Overall it was a good book, but you have to approach it with the right attitude. Some of my favorite definitions are:
- Character – p.37
- Bring Home the Bacon – p.117
- Cheese – p.121
- Crisscross – p.201
If you are a trivia buff or random fact buff then I would recommend What’s in a Word? to you, but otherwise, I would recommend a pass.
Book Review(s) – Baxter Family Drama – Karen Kingsbury
Well that was a wild ride…
It all started one night when I walked into our room and my wife asked me a question that led to the first You Make the Call post. After watching my wife voraciously devour the first few of these 14 books and having the discussions that these books inspired, I had to try them for myself. I was not disappointed. These were great books.
Disclaimer: these books are chick books so guys, there is not a whole lot of action in them.
The books start with Redemption a book about Kari Baxter and the troubles she is having (this is the situation that I discussed in the You Make the Call post). In this book you meet the Baxter family and through the course of the next 13 books, you learn all about them.
To try and review each individual book would give away too much information (I am surprised however how much information about the series is given away by the covers), but the 14 books are broken up into 3 different series:
- Redemption Series – Karen Kingsbury & Gary Smalley
- Firstborn Series – Karen Kingsbury
- Sunrise Series – Karen Kingsbury
The thing I liked most about this series is that it made you deal with issues of faith and morality that you may not normally deal with because you can imagine the Baxters living down the street from you. Karen Kingsbury does a really good job of setting the scenes in a way that you can believe they are really happening. For instance, book 3 deals with the Baxters (and friends) dealing with the events of September 11, 2001. There are a couple topics that Kingsbury talked about that hit almost too close to home. I can’t spoil the books, but Mandy and I read Summer right around the time we attended a friend’s memorial service a situation that if you know where Mandy and I have been with a couple very close friends of ours and you know what happens in Summer you can understand why Mandy was bawling at the end of the book and I was brought to tears as well. Parts of Summer are some of the most powerful chapters I may have ever read. Reading Summer brought healing for both Mandy and I.
Mandy asked me a question when I had about 3 books left in the series was whether or not I liked the Baxter Family Drama series more or books by Dee Henderson (O’Malley Series & Uncommon Heroes Series). It was a tough call for me. I like the Dee Henderson books because for chick books there is a lot of action in them…mainly because of who the characters are. But the Baxter Family Drama really hit home on issues and make you deal with them. I told her that I think I liked the Dee Henderson books better, but after finishing the Baxter Family Drama I think it may be a tie. Either way, I hope you give both authors a chance to entertain you.
Overall rating for the Baxter Family Drama Series: 5 out of 5
About Jeff MilesThis site is run by Jeff Miles. Jeff is a jack of all trades, he is currently a web programmer in the Web Application Services division of Phillips 66. He also runs his own custom WordPress development company Two Miles Solutions, LLC and just in case he didn’t have anything else to do he is taking his passion for working out to the streets as an Independent BeachBody Coach. Jeff loves P90X and can usually be found in the evening hours practicing real DNA removal with a P90X workout.
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