Category: Adult Nonfiction Review

BONUS REVIEW: The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby

BONUS REVIEW: The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism originally published in 2019, and it sat on my reading wishlist forever. My local bookstore never carried it in 2019. And when I had the opportunity to order a new book, I almost always chose a fictional adventure instead. I knew this was not going to be a “feel good” read for me.

But when the paperback released earlier this year, my local store had copies ordered for a Black History Month display. I was picking up some other books on racism and white supremacy, and I grabbed this as well. It was time.

I can read a fiction novel in a day or two without trying hard. This took me almost a whole month to finish – not because it was bad but because the truth was so hard to read. And even though I finished this months ago, it is a timely read now, in the middle of 2020, too, not just during Black History Month.

This book changed me, changed my thinking and my understanding. It changes not only how I see the Church and the state of our country today, but also how I see myself. And I am challenged by the author’s call to live out James 4:17 – “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” It is not time for silence or for fear. It is time to put the words and actions of Jesus into practice.

This book covers the history of race in America from the Colonial era to today. Concepts of racial identity and oppression are explored in the history of the country and also in where the Christian Church stood on the issues of the times. While the author is very clear “all Christians” aren’t complicit, it’s still an unflattering portrait of the Church. And readers are forced to consider, from the “enlightened” 21st Century, if we would have been on the side of right if we had lived in those times.

I am grateful for the chapters on where people of faith should go from here. There are many great ideas. I am also challenged because I am tired. I feel the weight of these stories, and I’d love to move on to something more pleasant. And that is sin – to know and to hide from action. To see the truth and ignore it is a primary example of White Privilege. It dishonors my friends who are people of color who live this every day. It dishonors the call of Jesus to love my neighbor.

So, one of my actions is to write about and talk about and recommend this book. It’s not the only action I’ve taken this year, but it is one piece.

If you love history, if you are feeling challenged to face systems of White Supremacy – or your own privilege, if you are a person of faith, do not miss this book. This December you will be able to pick up a study guide that will go with a video series on this book. If you have a membership to MasterLectures from ZondervanAcademic (which I do – it’s awesome!), you can watch the video series there right now.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Dream Big by Bob Goff

BONUS REVIEW: Dream Big by Bob Goff

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The premise of the book is to help readers find where their purpose lies and help them make a plan to achieve their ambitions. The book is set out in 7 sections. The first section is the longest and deals with character issues to prepare the reader for pursuing his/her dreams and ambitions. The other sections deal with expectations, opportunities, clearing obstacles, and expecting and preparing for setbacks. There are thought questions sprinkled throughout the book, but there is a space at the end of the book with reflection questions for each section. Readers can either flip back and forth as they work through the book, or tackle the questions at the end.

Review

This was my first time reading a Bob Goff book, and I found it to be thoroughly delightful and inspiring.

I did not expect the book to be front loaded with so much character work, but as I worked through the whole book, it made sense to deal with those questions and issues up front and then build on them through the nitty gritty tasks in the latter parts. Yes, there are nuggets about dreams and aspirations and ambitions in the opening, but they really are secondary to the sort of human being you choose to be.

The writing here is conversational. It’s easy to get caught up in the stories. There’s humor as well as transparency and vulnerability. I did a lot of highlighting as I read. I decided to read straight through. When I go through the questions later, I will get a second run at the content of the book, which felt like the best way to approach the material for me.

Faith pieces are woven into Bob’s thoughts and his stories in a natural way, which I enjoyed. But he also acknowledges that some readers may not come to this book with the same faith background or perspective. And I think any person regardless of faith tradition or experience can get something out of this book.

I will definitely be checking out the author’s other work since I enjoyed this so much. If you are a Goff fan, I would recommend you read this whether you feel like you have dreams or ambitions waiting or not. But if you do, I would recommend picking this up – and I would pair it with Jon Acuff’s Finish – to help you make progress on your dreams.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: The Honest Enneagram by Sarajane Case

REVIEW: The Honest Enneagram by Sarajane Case

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

I was pleasantly surprised by this new book that introduces people to the Enneagram!

The author is the person behind the Instagram profile Enneagram and Coffee (which I love!). She opens the book with her personal experience, background and philosophy. (I appreciate her personal effort to de-stigmatize some of the historically used language of the Enneagram.) She focuses on the basic information of each type and adds subtypes (sexual, self-preservation, and social), wings, lines (she prefers the terms stress and “rest” instead of stress and security), and levels of health. I personally ascribe to the Suzanne Stabile school of thought on lines, which says while a 2, for example, goes to 8 in stress, they can choose/learn to go to the HIGH side of 8 and use those skills to help through stress rather than defaulting to the LOW side of 8. That is NOT how this author views the moves across lines in stress and security/rest. This difference in philosophy didn’t derail my reading or my enjoyment of the book.

The way this book stands out from the crowd – and this field has gotten crowded in recent years – is the author’s H.O.N.E.S.T. system for helping readers/clients pursue growth. The H stands for “Honor your strengths” and the O is for “Open your eyes to blind spots.” The author explains her system in general terms, but then she also applies it to each of the Enneagram types. This was the piece that surprised me.

I think it is easy right now, with the resurgence in interest in the Enneagram, for people to churn out books on the topic that cover the basics. And they all start to blend together into noise. This book didn’t feel like noise. Even though I have been working with the Enneagram for about 3.5 years, there were new pieces in this that I wanted to dig into and learn. THAT is why I will be adding this book to my Enneagram library and telling others about it. For an introductory book, the author added value to it that even folks with a firm grasp of the basics can enjoy. (I also loved that she didn’t include a test!)

I still like recommending The Road Back to You as a first step into the world of the Enneagram, but this would be another great resource for beginners to dive into! You can read about other Enneagram resources here.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Ready to Rise by Jo Saxton

REVIEW: Ready to Rise by Jo Saxton

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Waterbrook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

I so enjoyed reading Jo Saxton’s most recent book, Ready to Rise. Jo is one of my favorite speakers and teachers from If:Gathering, which is where I first heard her. In fact, hearing her is the best way to engage with her because she has the BEST accent! I can hear her voice when I read her writing, and I love it. The audio book of this is a treat, I’m sure!

I was especially eager to read this after hearing Jo speak at this year’s If:Gathering conference where she brought some of the message of this book on leadership, on women rising up into their callings and into the places where God desires to use them. If you get a chance to listen to the message, gift yourself the time – it’s inspiring.

This is a great blend of personal stories, Bible stories, and practical application. Each chapter has a reflection question or two, and some have additional questions to consider as you work through the meat of that chapter. The questions were right up my alley and left me longing for a pen and paper. I am eager to get my hands on a physical copy of this so I can underline and scribble in this as well as engage the questions personally. The tone is conversational. Reading this felt like a conversation I would have with a friend or a mentor.

My favorite chapters were the ones on voice as well as the one on saying yes to who you are. I also enjoyed the places where Jo shared from conversations around a table with women. I would have enjoyed engaging in those conversations in person. Some of the Bible stories explored in the book were the creation story, the story of Deborah from Judges, and the foot washing scene in John 13.

If you love Jo, and/or if you are looking for a resource to explore your God-given gifts and voice to use for God’s purposes and for your passions, be sure to pick this one up!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: The Enneagram and You by Gina Gomez

BONUS REVIEW: The Enneagram and You by Gina Gomez

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Adams Media in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary/Structure

The book begins with something of a quiz for readers to help them identify their Enneagram type. Then there’s some introductory and background material before the author dives into a description for each of the nine types (about 5 pages of content per number). Then the book considers the numbers in pairs – Type One with Type One, Type One with Type Two, etc. – in the areas of relationships at home, romantic relationships, and relationships at work.

 

Review

In a lot of ways, this is an introductory level Enneagram book. There’s a lot of breadth. There’s a brief introduction to the nine types and some of the features of each (wings, stress and security numbers, strengths and challenges). A good portion of the book looks at the numbers in various relationship contexts.

My first concern is with the quiz. Most certified teachers will tell you that tests are notoriously bad at helping people find their true Enneagram Type. In fact, the tests can put someone on the wrong path for a long time, leaving the individual frustrated because their number only sort of fits. (You can find pieces of yourself in all nine types.) The best approach for discovering your number is to listen to some highly respected teachers (The Enneagram Journey Podcast by Suzanne Stabile is my personal favorite.). And then do some reading on the types. (You can see my reviews of other Enneagram resources here.)

My favorite thing about this resource is the author’s exploration of the various triads involved in the Enneagram – stances, or the Hornevian triads; Harmonic triads; Object Relations triads; and then the usual centers of intelligence. In my opinion, these triads are easily second or even third level material on the Enneagram. They can be helpful to beginners, because if someone finds themselves in a particular triad, it narrows their possible type from nine down to three. If they find themselves in a couple triads, they might be able to pin their number down even farther. But most introductory materials don’t dig into anything beyond the centers of intelligence.

I was delighted to find the triads piece in this book, but it is really only touched on. I would love to find a meaty resource that really digs into that level of study, but this is not that resource.

If a beginner asked me where to start, I would still recommend The Road Back to You before any other resource. And for those looking to dig into the types in relationships, I would suggest The Path Between Us. But this is a resource that could also work as an introduction to the Enneagram and to the Enneagram in relationships for those starting to explore their type.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: 100 Bible Verses that Made America by Robert J. Morgan

REVIEW: 100 Bible Verses that Made America by Robert J. Morgan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The Bible holds a sacred place in the hearts of those who base their lives on the words and concepts in its pages. It also holds a sacred place in the history of the United States of America. The author states, “I am not commending all those whose stories I tell in these pages, but I am commending the BOOK they held in their hands.” This is a pivotal assertion for readers to remember.

This book contains 100 stories of moments in American history where the Bible has figured prominently. Stories include:

  • President George Washington kissing the Bible after taking his oath of office.
  • Friar Antonio de Montesinos preaching a blistering sermon to Spaniards who were enslaving indigenous people in the “New World” which the author tied to Matthew 3:3’s reference to a “voice calling in the wilderness.”
  • Early settlers surviving based on Biblical principles like 1 Thessalonians 3:8 addressing idleness and Ezra 8 where the pilgrims identified with the Israelite exiles returning to the Promised Land.
  • Tales of women like Harriet Tubman, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Fanny Crosby
  • Contemporary examples from Ronald Reagan, the elder President Bush, 9/11, and Presidents Obama and Trump.

Review

I expected more evidence of 100 Bible verses and principles that went into the formation and work of the nation. That is not what this is. This felt more like a devotional than a scholarly, historic work (although sources are cited like you would find in a scholarly piece). This might be a good resource for readers who enjoy faith and history, but at a lighter, breezier level.

Not every story is as anchored to the scripture given as others. Sometimes the scripture listed was used in a sermon or in the speech or letter referenced. Other times it seems as if it was chosen by the author to convey the theme he wanted to emphasize with the story or the character of the historical figure referenced.

I am not sure these 100 examples are enough evidence to support the author’s claim that “the Bible is the cornerstone of American history.” I think it’s certainly a huge piece of our history – and I’m grateful for it. But if we take an honest look at un-scrubbed American history, we will see too often that we failed to live up to Biblical principles and the high calling of Christ. We will see many times when Scripture was twisted to make it say what we wanted it to say. We will see plenty of key decision makers using other means and standards to drive their choices for the country.

I could see someone using this as a devotional or as a gift for someone who enjoys historical faith stories. I found fascinating stories throughout the book. But this would not be something I could recommend for history students or others looking for an in-depth look at the Bible’s influence on American history and politics. I feel like the rating for this one suffered in part because of the clash between reality and my expectations. Readers who go in knowing the  survey-nature of the book might be more satisfied with the reading experience.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

REVIEW: Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The author, a Black Muslim writer, speaker, and teacher, created a free 28-day Instagram challenge about white supremacy. That turned into a free pdf workbook which was then updated and expanded into this traditionally published book. It begins with a forward by Robin DiAngela, a white anti-racist educator. Then Ms. Saad gives the history of the book and a bit of her personal story. Then she very clearly outlines the WORK the reader will be doing if they are serious about digging into their own relationship with white supremacy.

This is not supposed to be easy work. And it’s not one-and-done work. Readers will get out of the process what they put in. They’ll benefit even more if they revisit it and keep learning and growing.

The writing style for this is great. It’s conversational while also being honest and direct. The daily work tends to be five or so pages of reading with five to eight reflection questions for the reader to consider and journal about. And these questions aren’t about generic “white people.” They are personal, about you, the reader. The questions will require self-examination and significant self-awareness. This is why this can’t be a one-and-done sort of exercise. As awareness grows, there is value in revisiting these principles and questions.

Review

I was challenged by what I read in this book. I know there are things in the world, and in myself, that I am blind to. And this book inspired me to want to do the work and dig into these things. I know it will be difficult and not really “fun,” but it will be worthwhile. As soon as I finished reading through my review copy, I ordered an official copy that will be here later this week. My plan is to spend February, Black History Month, working through this 28-day exercise. The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

So, I can’t say what the process of completing this book/workbook will be like in this review. I can’t really know until I dig in and do the work. I can say that I was drawn in and challenged by the opening pages of this. And I feel this is the next step in my journey of seeing myself and the world around me more honestly in terms of race and racism and white supremacy. I can tell this will require a lot of prayer – to see and reflect on my own white privilege, white fragility, etc. If I am afraid to see it, I can’t root it out and replace it with things that honor BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) the way God intended.

I encourage readers to pick this up and begin your own journey with the material. I don’t feel like I can give this five stars without having actually done the work of the book, but everything I have read so far is excellent. Be sure to pick this one up!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

BONUS REVIEW: Keto Simple by Martina Slajerova

BONUS REVIEW: Keto Simple by Martina Slajerova

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this from Netgalley and Fair Winds Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

This is a Keto cookbook that endeavors to make the Keto diet easy to follow. Includes over 100 recipes.

Introductory material describes ketogenic eating – low carb, no sugar, no grains – and some simple guidelines for following it. Recipes are marked when they are dairy free, nut free, egg free or vegetarian.

Recipes are organized by meal. For example, there are 20 breakfast options including many egg dishes. There are also snack recipes, sides, soups, salads, dinners, things for the lunch box, and desserts. Most of the recipes include a full color photo. Several also give alternate versions of the standard recipe.

These are a little fussier than I personally tend to cook. I like to pick up cookbooks that have recipes that use what I often have in my house. A few of these include needs for equipment I don’t own (immersion blender, double boiler, piping bags, etc.) or herbs and things I don’t keep around (psyllium husks), but most were in the realm of possibilities for my simple version of cooking. I am also a picky eater, so while my husband would try most of the recipes here without hesitation, I would probably work with the 10-15 easiest and only occasionally branch out from there. I might use this from the library or try the author’s website for recipe options considering my peculiarities about cooking. But readers and cooks who are more moderately adventurous should definitely check this one out. The author has several other Keto cookbook options, so if you have worked with her material before you should check this one out as well.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: You Are Awesome by Neil Pasricha

REVIEW: You Are Awesome by Neil Pasricha

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a review copy of this book from Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

The author’s third book, after The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation, looks at resilience. Resilience is the ability to keep moving forward no matter what comes – success, failure, or more of the daily grind.

Mr. Pasricha says there are nine secrets to resilience including

  • shifting the spotlight from a focus on yourself,
  • seeing failure as a step toward your future, and
  • reframing your story.

A good bit of the advice falls into the category of reframing your circumstances which is a strategy I have always found helpful when facing trials.

As an optimist by nature (sometimes to the annoyance of my family), I enjoy books like this. I find them affirming and encouraging. I enjoyed the personal stories the author shared here (generally one story per secret, although several of them built on one another across the whole book). Those show that he knows what he’s talking about from experience. I feel like the conversational tone of this will appeal to readers. He also cites several studies to back up his assertions, which I also appreciate in a self-help book.

My favorite chapter was Secret #4: Tell Yourself a Different Story. The reframing here is obvious, but Mr. Pasricha asks three interesting questions to help readers with that process. I especially enjoyed the pages where he digs into those questions.

I read this because the topic of building resilience is fascinating to me as a parent, a former teacher, and someone who still works with kids. I wasn’t personally looking for solutions to the struggles addressed by the book. Yet I found several take-aways here. I believe the target audience will find many as well.

I do wonder, though, if folks who are less optimistic by nature will enjoy this as much as I did. I can think of some people who could benefit from the material here, but who might eye-roll their way past some of the secrets. As with any self-help book, though, you will get out of it what you put into it. If you are searching for techniques and strategies to adjust your thinking about challenges and failures – as well as keeping successes and opportunities in perspective – you will find some here! (Some language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo

REVIEW: How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Workman Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

This is something of a how-to book for parents, grandparents, teachers and other caregivers eager to help kids connect with books. The book is broken into sections by the age of the child – baby, toddler, emerging and independent readers, middle grade, and teen. The whole book is a celebration of connecting around books, reading and investing in kids.

The authors are down to earth and speak truth about everything from how hard it is to raise a reader if you aren’t a reader to how hard it truly is to learn to read. It’s a skill that can take until a child is 7 to naturally develop. They answer questions like, “Why would I read to a baby who can’t understand the words?” or “Why are there no brown kids in my favorite childhood books?” They also address the anxiety adults face about when their kids might start reading, differences in kids’ readiness in the same family, concerns about middle grade readers reading young adult material, etc.

Each chapter is full of tons of information. The baby chapter, for example, sings the praises of board books. The size and heavy pages are great for small hands. They stand up to older baby and toddler antics like chewing or throwing better than 8×8 paperbacks or larger picture books. Then the authors give some feedback on things to be wary of with babies and books. And finally they have a good-sized list of recommendations.

Other topics include: reading out loud, the joy of libraries, when to get outside help for your reader, when teens take a reading break, reading on devices, graphic novels, the post-Harry Potter slump, etc.

Review

I cannot rave about this book enough! The structure and organization is perfect. Parents can go straight to the stage they are in and get practical advice right away. The tone is conversational. You could easily read this from start to finish and flag your favorite books and underline the principles you love. It won’t feel like reading a bossy parenting book.

The authors are honest about their own experiences raising readers – it wasn’t perfect. They don’t shy away from questions about things like cringe-worthy classics in the 21st century or the range of ages when reading clicks for kids.

There are TONS of recommendations in this, both by age and by other categories in the final chapter. This is a resource parents can use as they plan and execute actions to help their kids embrace reading and books. Older kids might use the recommendation lists to find ideas for things they want to read next. This would work for grandparents and others who love to buy books for kids and need good recommendations. This can also be helpful if you have well-meaning folks in your life who need proof that it’s okay that your 6 year old is still learning to read. This would also be a fantastic resource for teachers, principals and other educational professionals, both as a resource for their work, but also as a resource to share with teachers and families. I highly recommend this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++