TNTbefree Book Reviews

The Shack by William P. Young

2011-06-20T18:44:00.003-04:00

The Shack by William P. Young

I am sure that this is not going to be the first review of The Shack that harps on how amazing it is. Not only is the story found between the covers fascinating and life changing, but the story on how the book itself came to be is pretty impressive as well.

Here it is, The Shack has gone viral, but before that happened, would you believe that this book was shunned and ignored by the big Christian book companies?

Why? I do not know. It may be because Mr. Young portrayed God as a big black woman. Or because Jesus is seen as a loving, short, unattractive man in this story. I do not know. But I will admit, these depictions of God and Jesus took me off guard and made me rethink my preconceived notions of what God and Jesus may look like. And those two little tid-bits are not even the real shockers found in this book.

Odds are, this book was shunned by the Christian book companies because it dared to challenge the institution known as "The Church". But that is only a guess.

William P. Young

What I do know is that after this book was shot down by the big Christian book companies, William P. Young let a few of his friends read it and they liked the story so much that they got together with a couple hundred bucks and published it themselves.

So, on a shoe sting budget and a prayer, this book, "The Shack", started to climb its way up the "Got to read it list" and has now found its way into the Top 10 best selling book charts.

Not only is it a top 10 best seller in Christian book stores, but it can also be found in the top 10 best selling books of 2009. Sure, I am a bit late with this information, and the review, but better late than never.

Anyhow, The Shack is one of the best books I have ever read. And it opened my eyes, and my heart, to a loving God who isn't talked about in this manner often enough.

Many of the questions I have had about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit where brought up and answered in a way that even I could understand. Granted, on a few of the more lofty ideals, I will have to do a bit more research, but for the most part, this book did a great job of handling the tough questions.

Other than in the very beginning, where a horrible tragedy occurs, this book is a fun and happy read. But you will find, as you read further, that any tragedy can be used by God to accomplish His purpose. So even though the first part is a bit tough to read, you got to get through it to get to the good stuff.

I am sure that when you read this book you will find it as heart warming and inspiring as I did. It is also kind of funny to keep in mind that the powers that be in the so called Christian media, could not keep a good book down.

The Eat Clean Diet Recharged by Tosca Reno

2011-06-01T21:28:00.008-04:00

This book, The Eat Clean Diet Recharged, by Tosca Reno was a pleasure to review. It is written by a woman who at age 40 made up her mind to start doing things the right way. The clean diet way.

Though she didn't know it at the time, Tosca Reno's blind determination, research, and trial and error approach lead to her creating a clean diet that any one can use. From there she took her destiny into her own hands and ran with it.

The Eat Clean Diet Recharged is a delight to read. It is like reading a motivational cook book that has helpful ideas on what to eat, do, and be to live a happier healthier life. It is a self help diet plan all wrapped up in a positive, uplifting, yet down to earth diet guide.

Tosca Reno Before and After

Tosca Reno is as open and honest as one can get in a diet guide. Though it was not a topic I needed to read about, she even spoke about her breast enhancement. She explained how and why she chose to go from "Socks and Rocks" to an enhanced 36C. TMI for me, but I can see why it would be an interesting topic for others.

As of this review, I am only a few days into the Eat Clean Diet, and so far it is all good, except for the Kefir. That stuff is a little hard to swallow. I was thinking about mixing it with a chocolate syrup and calling it "Rancid Chocolate Milk". But, if it does as much good as she says it will, I'll keep drinking it.

Besides a few things that she recommends to include in your diet that you may not care to ingest or do, for the most part the entire book is spilling over with good ideas and handy healthy tips.

I am sure that you will enjoy it as much as I did. The only thing I found at fault with in The Eat Clean Diet Recharged book was that it was too short. I wanted even more of it. But the health tips and Eat Clean Diet Recipes are to "die" for. Even though I bought this book so I could avoid doing just that.

Tosca Reno Pics

Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks Review

2011-05-31T19:30:00.012-04:00

Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks is a very interesting book, to say the least.

My review of Ask and It Is Given borders on confusion, amazement, and skepticism.

If you are able, try to follow me on this...

Ask and It Is Given is written by Esther and Jerry Hicks, sort of... It seems that the actual "author" of this book is a collective of spiritual entities named "Abraham" that are channeled through Esther, who then "writes" the words down for Abraham to produce this book.

As far as I can tell, Abraham is the ultimate ghost writer.
This entity (Abraham) virtually wrote this whole book for the Hicks so that they can share the message with the masses about getting back in tune with "Source Energy".

Now when I say, get "in tune" with "Source Energy", that is exactly what I mean. According to the Hicks, and this Abraham entity, when things are not going our way it is because we, as "vibrational' beings, are not matching our vibrations to that of "Source Energy". Thus we need to get "in tune" with "Source Energy" by matching our "vibrations" to "It".

As far as my review of Ask and It Is Given by Abraham the entity and the Hicks; I am not sure if it is the most enlightening, insightful, and groundbreaking piece of literature ever written or, the most dangerous piece of new age pseudo religion piece of dog squeeze that my skeptical eyes have ever seen.

Over all, it was a very entertaining book. A little out of the main stream, but many of the principles, that are the "Teachings of Abraham", can be applied to ones life to achieve ones goals and desires. So for that alone it is worth the read.

Are the "The Teachings of Abraham" true and real? As of yet, I have had no collective of entities channeling through me, or my wife, corroborating the Hicks view on "Source Energy".

I do have an open mind and an optimistic heart that is willing to accept the fact that there is more to life than what I can touch, see, or feel. But, I am not sure that Abraham is who he says he is, or, that things are what he claims them to be.

What the heck. Give it a read and then you can tell me what you think... If you can convince me, maybe I will put it on my Top 10 Best Ever Self Help Books page.

Amazon.com Widgets

The Best Self Help Book Of All Time

2011-05-30T20:11:00.014-04:00

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

I think that this is the best self help book for a man or a woman. This has to be the number one best self help book of all time. It even says so on the page Top 10 Best Ever Self Help Books. But of course it does, because I made that page.

I can not say enough good things about this book. Had I not found the 7 Habits, by Stephen R. Covey, I would have given up on self help books a long time ago. None of them could provide what this one did. A rock solid foundation to build on. Not a bunch of tricks or tactics to work with. The habits found in this book can literally save your life. They are a core set of principles that you can literally build your life around and be happy about it.

Though The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was mainly written as a leadership development guide, and not as a self help book, it is so applicable to peoples every day life, that it started to find it's way into the self help section of book stores. The way Mr. Covey lays out the 7 Habits, as well as the down home stories he tells to illustrate them, helps the reader to find meaning, as well as, practical use for the 7 Habits in their own lives.

I often tell people that if they read no other book in their life, this is the book to read. I also recommend the C.D./tape to go with it, because it helps bring out the meaning of the habits a bit more than just reading the written word. If nothing else, this book is a must have.

Click here to see the The 7 Habits Book or for The 7 Habits Audio CD.