The Leadership Handbook by John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell’s The Leadership Handbook: 26 Critical Lessons Every Leader Needs is just what the title promises it to be.

Maxwell tells readers that he has taken many ideas from his other books (and some new ideas) and compiled them into this handbook. He recommends that this book be read thoroughly and intentionally used as a handbook for people who are actively leading others. Each chapter is a lesson, and each chapter ends with “Application Exercises” which are intended for the reader to apply the lesson from the chapter. Following that there is a “Mentor Moment” which concludes each chapter. These give tips on how to share the lesson with those the reader is leading.

I haven’t read any of John C. Maxwell’s other books, but now I think I’d like to. I was not the target audience for this book, but I can definitely see how spending Maxwell’s recommended week with each chapter would be beneficial if I were the target audience. While at times a lot of what was written seemed to be common sense, Maxwell brought a new light to some issues. One lesson that will stick with me is the title of Chapter 9: “To See How the Leader is Doing, Look at the People.” Maxwell also gives the glory to God, which I appreciate, and on page 33 he makes a comical reference to Moses’ leadership situation. Also, Maxwell includes tips from other experts: I found his list of “Six Rules for Successful Leadership” by Jack Welch (page 67) to be particularly telling.

I recommend this book to others. If used intentionally, this book could make a difference.

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review.

"The Biggest Brag" by Mike Berenstain

“The Biggest Brag” by Mike Berenstain captures Brother and Sister in the midst of a sibling rivalry where outdoing one another is their principal pastime.

This children’s book could be enjoyed by children of all ages. After boasting and bragging and trying to outdo each other with grades, sports, and even seeing images in the clouds, the message of the story is brought through Gramps who reminds the cubs that the Bible says that with pride comes strife.

This is the second book I’ve read by Mike Berenstain, and what captured me the most in this book were the illustrations. In typical Berenstain fashion, pages contain snippets of the Bears in various situations which allow readers to know many facets of the Cubs’ lives. However, there are some full-page spreads too which allow readers to immerse themselves in Bear Country. The illustrations are vibrant and detailed, and the message is presented clearly. However, there is only one mention of the Bible, and I think that more would have been an advantage. The back of the book contains activities and questions to prompt discussion between parents and children, which is nice touch.

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review. 

From this Day Forward: Five Commitments to Fail-Proof Your Marriage by Craig and Amy Groeschel

From this Day Forward: Five Commitments to Fail-Proof Your Marriage by Craig and Amy Groeschel is what readers would expect: a real, slightly sappy, and slightly comical, book of advice about marriage.

Craig Groeschel writes the chapters and leaves Amy a few pages at the end of each to insert a woman’s perspective. Craig gives a lot of personal examples – successes and failures – which of course help to endear his readers to him. The three commitments that the Groeschels address are 1) Seek god, 2) Fight fair, 3) Have fun, 4) Stay pure, and 5) Never give up.

This book was interesting. I chose to read it because it seemed as though it would be a concise, helpful reminder about how to freshen up a marriage. It was – and it was even a little less cheesy than I thought it might be. Craig Groeschel’s undertone is genuine – when I read I believed the advice that he was giving me because it seemed in tune with God’s design. I really only got a couple of lasting take-aways from this book, but perhaps that’s enough. Other parts will appeal to other people.

I recommend this as a book with basic ideas. It didn’t present any “wow” ideas, but it did offer some tips.

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review.

The First Christmas Ever, Illustrated by Dennis Jones

The First Christmas Ever illustrated by Dennis Jones delivers the happiness that the cover art suggests that it will.  

The highlight of this children’s book, as hinted by the fact that an illustrator but no author is listed for the book, is the artwork. It is the story of Baby Jesus. The story begins with Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem and ends with a statement and pictures about Baby Jesus growing up and doing his Father’s work. The back cover of the book says that the book is for ages 4-8, but children as young as age 1 would be attracted to the pictures.

The cover illustration is what lured me to this book, and I was not disappointed. A strong, spiritual message is conveyed through the words and artwork. Dennis Jones has a talent for telling the story through his art. Every detail he includes seems to be intentional. What I noticed most were the character’s expressions. They gave a perspective that was not written down and that pushed me to recognize the character’s thoughts and anxieties during this story. I expected to read a story I’d read many times and simply enjoy the artwork, but the artwork actually made me see this age-old story differently – Jones’ details made me empathize with Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and the shepherds and to see the story through their eyes. I definitely recommend this book to others.  

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review. 

Kidnapped by the Taliban by Joseph Dilip

Joseph Dilip’s Kidnapped by the Taliban is a thorough account of a man’s kidnapping, rescue, and discovery.

Joseph tells about his background. He respected his parents and has a strong sense of family instilled in him. He tells about his passion for service, his education, his medical mission in Afghanistan, and his own wife and children in Colorado. And then he tells about being kidnapped by the Taliban. He writes in detail about each day – the conditions, his worries, and his hopes – but most notably his surprising interactions with the Afghan Taliban.

The main reason I wanted to read this book was to learn more about Afghanistan and her people, and I did. I’ve learned that Afghans value hospitality. I was reminded of how technology and media affect all parts of the world – we are all connected and live in a small world. I was reminded about how significantly situation and background affect a person. And lastly I was humbled by the heroism of American soldiers. This book made me think and held my attention. The book is thorough – no parts are left to the reader’s imagination, and not much room is left for creative thought.

I recommend this book to others. Joseph gives a compelling, honest, and humble account of his experience and leaves his readers with compassion and admiration for the Afghan people.  

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review. 

NIV Once-a-Day Bible for Women

The NIV Once-a-Day Bible for Women has an appealing cover.

This is a daily study Bible. The Bible is designed to be read in 365 days. Each day’s reading includes scripture from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and Psalms or Proverbs. Also included in each day’s reading is a devotional intended, of course, for women. Also included are some maps and tables and a few indexes to make searching helpful.

What I like about this Bible is the variety of material that is included in the daily readings. However, this Bible is not easy to use. There is not an easy way to flip back and forth between the daily readings and the index. If I move away from my daily reading page, I have to flip and flip until I find it again. Also, there isn’t a way to keep track of how many days I’ve read. I would like to have a checklist so I can see what days I’ve completed – and maybe skip around a bit – but that isn’t an option. The devotionals included in each section are basic and don’t seem to be especially for women. They aren’t inspiring or challenging. Mainly because it’s not user friendly, I do not recommend this Bible.  

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The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review. 

"Get to Know King David" by Nancy I. Sanders

 “Get to Know King David” by Nancy I. Sanders is a colorful, interesting, and educational book.

This children’s book seems to be appropriate for kids as young as age six. It is a chapter book: Sanders organizes her book into twelve chapters that span David’s life beginning with chapter 1 “A Shepherd Boy” to chapter 12 “David’s Throne Forever.” The purpose of the book is to introduce kids to King David – to show the various parts of his life from killing Goliath, to fleeing from Saul, to becoming King, to seeking God with his whole heart.

The illustrations and art in this book make it educational – even for adults! Sanders includes present-day photos from the Holy Land, photos of ancient artifacts, maps, and more. She’s also included four features to increase her readers’ understanding of the content: “Bible Hero” in which she highlights Bible heroes such as Peter and Nathan, “Eyewitness Account” where she includes information from someone who witnessed an event, “Did You Know?” Where she lists various facts, and “Word Bank” which gives meanings of words the reader may not know. Sanders has expertly combined research and narrative to make this an entertaining and educational read for kids, and I definitely recommend it. It is informative, objective, and prompts further study.

http://booksneeze.com/blogger/resources/9781400203048

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®. I was not required to write a positive review.