Book Reviews from Around the World

By Marcus Buckingham

Every once in a while I’ll throw a secular book on leadership into my reading mix. The One Thing You Need to Know was the choice this time around. Marcus Buckingham worked for the Gallup organization for years meeting with and interviewing some of the most successful people in society. This book is a compilation of his main insights concerning management, leadership and sustained individual success.

His title comes from the idea that there is one controlling insight behind everything in life. Like if you boil everything down to the one main reason people succeed or fail at something – this would be the one thing you need to know. I’m not sure if I’m really on board with this way of thinking…seems a little over simplified to me. But the book was pretty interesting and it did get to some root issues in life.

His main thought about management was to find what makes the people you manage unique and capitalize on their strengths. He told many stories of businesses and managers that succeed by paying close attention to their employees. He stressed that if you as a manager can order your organization around the strengths of your people, you will run a much stronger organization. Seems obvious (as does most of his bottom line answers), but its amazing how many examples you can think where this is not done well.

The leadership section of the book was pretty entertaining. The key to success in leadership? – Clarity. If you can provide a clear picture of exactly where your organization is going, you have a much easier time motivating the people going with you toward that place. Instead of looking at everyone’s individual strengths, leadership focuses on the commonalities in people and leverages them into movement toward a common future. Where management focuses entirely on the people, leadership’s focus is the vision itself. Portraying the vision with absolute clarity is Buckingham’s “One Thing” about leadership.

Lastly, there is sustained personal success. Buckingham defines success as having the most impact in an area for the most prolonged period of time. I liked that definition as it really works across a wide spectrum of viewpoints. When Buckingham studied the most successful people he could find, the key insight he found was really interesting. It was “find out what you don’t like doing and stop doing it.” Sounds funny but it’s actually good advice. If you spend your life doing stuff that bores, drains, and frustrates you, you sure aren’t set up for great success. Buckingham gave a strong argument for doing what you love to do day in and day out. He pointed out that this kind of life will bring you motivation and provide the sustained energy needed to make a large impact over a long period of time.

Overall, I thought this was a good read. I found myself distrusting a lot of its concepts due to the books secular nature, but in general I agree with his bottom lines. I’m not really sure that it’s all you need for success (in fact I’m sure its not), but I liked reading about Buckingham’s research and agree with many of his conclusions. I probably wouldn’t read this book again, but would recommend it for business leaders or people working in the business world.

By Hayley DiMarco

I know, I know, my reading level is getting lower. Apparently DiMarco's books are the newest Christian teenage frenzy, so I thought that I should check it out. And I am glad that I did!
This book is addressing teenage girls and their sexuality, or rather what they do with their sexuality. DiMarco definitely calls it as it is and isn't afraid to get in some faces. She draws a line in the sand between what the world is dressing like and what the church should be dressing like. I don't know that I have ever heard such a clear message on what women are called to as the Body of Christ in how they present their bodies.
DiMarco adapts the style of the book to the culture she is addressing, so the book reads like a magazine with interactive studies along the way. I loved her use of Scripture and real life examples that brought her points home. She doesn't leave guessing room to figure out exactly what she is addressing in the fashion trends running rampant in the church as well as the world.
I learned a thing or two about the teenage world that I was absolutely clueless about and was challenged on my own philosophies regarding how women dress in the church. My only reservation with the book was the harsh tone that often came across in the teaching. However that is probably just a philosophy difference. The teaching is also heavy on women's role in guarding men from sexual immorality rather than a balance of both sexes being accountable. Then again, she was writing specifically to women though.
For all the women reading this review, you should definitely read this book. Especially if you deal with any type of ministry to other women. I would venture to say that you will be challenged and enlightened by the revelation and information that DiMarco brings to the table. I know that I was. For the guys reading this blog, you should have the women in your life check out this book. =) Sorry, this one's not for you!

First the positives:I think ol' Donny did an excellent job of reminding the church of our first and most critically important assignment (after loving the Lord our God with everything): love your neighbor as yourself. He reminds and challenges us to get in to the community and do practical ministry. He teaches us how to love with no strings attached. He shows that we lack awareness in politics, social issues, and what everyone else in this country is concerned with. He brings to life many of the thoughts and struggles within the church that people are incapable of putting in to words. In fact, I think the main reason his work is so well received is his gift of writing has people responding, "Yeah, that's how I feel! I couldn't organize my thoughts enough on my own, but he has nailed it on the head." I think it's great when an author can help a reader identify what's going on inside. Also, he is very entertaining and effectively covers many topics without diluting his message.

Now to explain my stamp of "bad theology": A perfect theologian does not exist. I give Mr. Miller much grace and don't slander his name nor his heart. However, we are warned time and time again in scripture to be on guard against bad theology and test all things before permitting them to reside in our minds and hearts. As John Bevere says in "Thus Saith the Lord?", "Teaching establishes us, but warnings protect us! If we are only taught, and the warnings are neglected, we can lose what was established through the ministry of teaching."(p.11) So, their are four main messages that permeate the book cover to cover.

The first is how he explains why he believes in God; more accurately, how he has no explanation for why he believes. His reason for belief in the Almighty is reduced to unexplainable warm fuzzies and this...thingy...that happens in his heart when he thinks about God. What scares me the most about his explanation is that I believe most people jump on board with him because that is the extent of their reason for believing. 1 Peter 3:15 says, "...and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." The disciples reason for belief was that they knew Him, that they saw His power manifest, and that they performed His power. Paul's reason was that he encountered a great light and a great voice that blinded him for three days and spoke destiny in to his life. Peter's reason was because of a vision/dream where he encountered God and was given a message to take to the nations. Numerous others believed because they saw the manifest power at work in their lives through healing, deliverance, raising the dead, miraculous provision, etc. How happy Satan must be that the majority of the church has challenged their faith to the extent of warm fuzzies. So a challenge to those who read this: are warm fuzzies the greatest fullness of God you have experienced? Is that the extent you will teach and encourage others to experience as well?Nowhere in scripture are we told to settle for warm fuzzies. That reason for belief is as about as powerful as the waddle of a duck. We have a God who has given us wings.

The second concern I have is in regards to open slander of the bride of Christ. Warning is good. Evaluating is good. Admitting our weaknesses is good. But generalizing and slandering your Church before the entire reading community is far from responsible. It's like shooting your teammates' in the foot and then gossiping to the press that they aren't doing well in practice. And he does this cover to cover. If I let it absorb, I could walk away from this book embarrassed to identify with the faith I signed up for. I could go on with this, but I won't.

The third danger in this book is a overwhelming taste for the lack of the fear of God. His relaxed approach to sin and righteousness permits the lukewarm to continue being puke-able. Call me old fashioned, but irreverence for the commands of God won't keep you saved for very long.

The fourth red flag is what I believe to be the root of the previous three. To put it bluntly, I don't believe him. I don't believe he knows God. I'm not challenging his salvation, nor could I, but rather his intimate place with the Father. I don't believe he has been on his knees. I don't believe his Bible is tired. The more people I meet who truly know God, the more easily it is to identify those who don't. I'm not mad at him for not knowing God. I'm not criticizing his place on his journey. I am simply bringing attention to the necessity to qualify your teachers. It scares me to death to think that a man who does not appear to truly know God can be so influential to those who are trying to. Without true intimacy and pursuit of God Himself, all of the love of others and involvement in the community amounts to nothing. As can be seen with many other ministries, it is barely more than the YMCA or Big Brothers Club wearing a Jesus name tag.

I felt like I finished this book knowing more about Donald Miller than I did about true intimacy with the Father and how to turn that in to visible fruit. I felt as though he were selling his approach to spirituality more than the Bible's approach. Again, it permeates from cover to cover, ever so subtle. I also understand why so many people enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. I grew from it. I was reminded of many things that I was forgetting. It is probably the most enjoyable read I've ever had. I don't look down upon those who hold it as a favorite... at all. Especially those who are theologically sound in pursuing who God is. If that is the case, this book has much to offer.

So why did I finish it? My reason for starting it was to see what food is out there that is pleasing the appetite of the American church. In light of what I found, I am heavily reminded...We have much work to do.