Doing Virtuous Business

As I am building a small business, building on virtuous practices and Christian ethics is extremely important to me. I got this book, hoping that it would provide a comprehensive look at virtuous business practices - a guide book of sorts, that would offer insight into how to deal fairly and rightly in the business world.

Unfortunately, Malloch only rehashes the very basics of "doing good" in business - aimed mainly at large corporations. Now if only some CEOs of those large companies would pick this book up.

I can't really give a good recommendation on this book. It wasn't very helpful and didn't provide relevant information for anyone who already tries to uphold a moral standard in their life and business.

How to Write a Book Proposal

It's long been a dream to become a published author, so I jumped at the chance to read this book by Michael Larsen. This book was a pretty easy read - straight forward and to the point without a lot of unnecessary information.

I'd recommend this book to anyone looking to become a professional writer as it not only contains helpful information on getting published, but also plenty that can be applied to writing in general.

Unfortunately, I'd only give this book three stars. The reason for this is that while it contains much helpful information, that same info can be found on many publishing websites for free.

If you want to avoid the time spent researching online, go ahead and get this book. However, if you want to save money, go ahead and spend a little time googling questions you have and you'll find many of the same answers that this book provides.

Beyond Talent

Another fantastic book by John Maxwell. In this book (as the title suggests) Maxwell makes the point that talent is only the beginning of success. You can be extremely talented, but end up going nowhere. So what makes the difference between those who succeed and those who don't? Here are a few things that successful people know and practice:

* Belief lifts your talent.
* Initiative activates your talent.
* Focus directs your talent.
* Preparation positions your talent.
* Practice sharpens your talent.
* Perseverance sustains your talent.
* Character protects your talent.

He encourages people to turn raw talent into something more, something bigger. His writing is encouraging, challenging - and if actually implemented, the lessons taught in this book (I believe) could lead to far greater success than you'd imagine.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

The Final Summit

I nearly didn't get this book. After reading "The Heart Mender" by Andy Andrews, and not enjoying it much at all, I wasn't sure about getting another of his books. This one, however, sucked me right in and I was hooked pretty much from start to finish.

While I didn't agree with certain specific points, most of the book was fantastic - and exactly what I needed to read right now. It's challenging, motivating, and a good kick in the butt. READ WITH A HIGHLIGHTER.

The characters in the story are developed beautifully - the Angel Gabriel in particular is fantastic. Each historical figure is brought vibrantly to life, showing good research (and a little creative license). Each one crackles with character - the dialogue is very well-written.

This book is a sequel to "The Traveler's Gift." I haven't read the first one, so I'd suggest reading it before going on to this one. "The Final Summit" stands on it's own, but there are some references to the first book and gaps that need to be filled in. I'm getting the first book now.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

The Band That Played On

I really wanted to like this book. When I read the concept of this book, I was excited to read it. I understood it to be a closer look into the lives of these brave men - I expected something a little more intimate, I guess. I hoped it would provide an insight into their character that enabled them to stand so strong in the face of such tragedy.
What I found instead was a very dry, impersonal account - providing a lot of dates, places and names, but not much else. I love a good biography - I've read many, and always enjoy them. This book, however, was just too impersonal, too distant from the lives of these men. It was a tough read.
I guess I can't blame the author though. Not much is known about these seven men, so finding information on them was a tough task. I imagine it wasn't easy patching together a good story with the scraps provided.
Nonetheless, I wouldn't buy this book, and I wouldn't recommend it to others.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

The Promises She Keeps

Another book review by my wife:

Promise, a talented young vocalist with a terminal illness, is counting on fame to keep her memory alive after she dies. Porta is an aging witch and art collector in search of the goddess who will grant her immortality.

When Promise inexplicably survives a series of freak accidents, Porta believes that Promise is the one she seeks. But Chase, an autistic artist who falls in love with Promise and opposes Porta, comes between the women with his mysterious visions and drawings, and plunges everyone into a flesh-and-blood confrontation over the true meaning of eternal life.

Erin Healy spins a good story. Her beautiful writing style combined with an intriguing plot makes for a very pleasant read. Characters are well-developed and relatable. Dialogue is thoughtful and realistic. Supporting elements are woven in masterfully.

Unfortunately, the story ends rather abruptly, in my opinion. Ends are tied up quickly, so while the story ends ok, I felt it wasn't "finished." But maybe that's just me. Overall though, I'd say this book is worth reading.

I am a big Ted Dekker fan. Having written a couple books with him, Erin's writing is very reminiscent of Dekker's - which was a nice plus to this book.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

Voices of the Faithful

This is a daily devotional book, compiled by Beth Moore. Beth grew up hearing stories of missionaries who regularly visited her home as a child. The stories stirred her imagination and gave her a heart for missionaries around the world. Those stories of her childhood spurred her to write this book.

Each month covers a different aspect of Christian life, providing a daily Bible verse and a short devotional. The interesting thing about this book is that each devotional is written by a different missionary in a different country - providing a fascinating look into a wide variety of cultures, experiences, and challenges.

While not all of the devotionals are particularly poignant - some seems a bit pointless (or just filler) - the majority of the book is feeding and thought provoking.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through BookSneeze.com - their book review bloggers program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.