Luckily, there are now tests that can determine the size of your cholesterol and whether it is a problem. And there are steps you can take to do something about it if it is. As I explain in The South Beach Heart Program, the earlier you know where you stand in terms of your risk for heart disease, the greater your chance of preventing a heart attack or stroke in the future.
Before I go into how you can find out the size of your cholesterol, let me give you a little background on cholesterol in general.
Hit the Beach
Customer Reviews:
The South Beach Heart Program.......2007-09-22
I am a Registered Nurse and believe that this book WILL save lives if people will use his program. I brought my total cholesterol down 80 points in just 3 months-in my case, using old-fashioned oatmeal and 2 tbsp. milled flaxseed EVERY morning for breakfast and THEN following the South Beach Diet for the rest of the day. (I cannot go almost completely without carbs, it doesn't work for me.)My HDLs (good) are OVER 85 and my LDLs (bad) are less than 120. Triglycerides were great, at less than 100.My doctor was so shocked, he searched my records to make sure he had not prescribed a statin medication! I hope this is not too technical and helps you.
Comprehensive.......2007-09-07
From the author/cardiologist of the popular "South Beach Diet" comes "The South Beach Heart Program" -a book designed to get and keep your heart in shape via a 4 step plan.
Step one is getting on a good diet. It should come to no surprise that the diet plan recommended is the heart healthy South Beach Diet. Step two is the exercise portion and the book recommend walking and strengthening exercises, particularly your core. The rationale here is that you can't keep your heart strong and exercise if your other muscles are weak. Step three is about getting the right tests. In other words, the earlier you get the tests, the better your chances are of preventing a heart attack or stroke. And finally, step four is getting the right medications one might need.
Good for anyone concerned about being heart healthy, I recommend this book for due to its comprehensive discussion of its subject in plain language. Also recommend The Sixty-Second Motivator for readers needing help making healthy lifestyle changes. Good luck!
Enlighting.......2007-08-27
Gave me the tools to help myself. Wish I had the book twenty years ago.
The South Beach Heart Program .......2007-07-06
I thought it fell short in providing "do's and dont's" for the diet. It was a wealth of information on the diagnosis and treatment of heart desease. I was looking for step by step instructions on how to follow the diet, I did not get much information at all on the subject.
The South Beach Heart Program: The 4-Step Plan that Can Save Your Life.......2007-05-26
This is an excellent book and should be required reading for all adults and probably on an exit exam for high school students. I have bought five copies of the book and given four away to friends and family. I will probably buy a few more. This book tells the reader how to analyze the problem, measure it and deal with it.
Book Description
Updated with a new 12 week companion Bible study, Joanna Weaver's popular book shows women how to blend intimacy with Jesus and service for Him.
An invitation for every woman who feels she isn't godly enough...isn't loving enough...isn't doing enough
The life of a woman today isn't really all that different from that of Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Like Mary, you long to sit at the Lord's feet...but the daily demands of a busy world just won't leave you alone. Like Martha, you love Jesus and really want to serve him...yet you struggle with weariness, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy.
Then comes Jesus, right into the midst of your busy Mary/Martha life-and he extends the same invitation he issued long ago to the two sisters of Bethany. Tenderly he invites you to choose "the better part"-a joyful life of "living-room" intimacy with him that flows naturally into "kitchen service" for him.
How can you make that choice? With her fresh approach to the familiar Bible story and its creative, practical strategies, Joanna shows how all of us-Marys and Marthas alike-can draw closer to our Lord, deepening our devotion, strengthening our service, and doing both with less stress and greater joy.
Customer Reviews:
Great for today's fast-paced women.......2007-10-01
I'm only in chapter 2 but I'm enjoying the parallels from Mary and Martha's life to my busy, fast-paced life. It's a good reminder to slow down and I think this is a message many women need to hear today. I highly recommend this book!
Not very Mary.......2007-09-21
This book should maybe have been written by co-authors, a Martha and a Mary.
I've always identified more with Mary, and for me the author didn't really capture her spirit. Ms. Weaver comes across as a struggling Martha trying to be more Mary, writing down Martha-esque strategies and tips for being more Mary. Perhaps she captures a mid-struggle Martha well, but she never gets very far into the heart of Mary.
An example from the book:
"You've known the Lord your whole life, and yet you haven't found the peace and fulfillment you've always longed for."
That's a very Marthaesque statement; it speaks to working very hard to live a Christian life without recognizing what God really wants from you. I don't even understand or relate to that experience (as a Mary, my struggles are in different areas). How do you know the Lord and not know peace? A Mary might have said it like this - "Peace and fulfillment found me and I was powerless to resist; I'm not sure how it happened, but his name was Jesus. Hallelujah!"
The author also gets overwraught with her struggles as a Martha. I'm not sure Jesus was condemning Martha for being task-oriented. Society can't function without task-oriented people. All he seems to be saying is that when God shows up at your door, spend the time being present with him. I'm not sure he's asking Martha to change who she is - he just seems to be saying "I'm here. Take a load off and spend some time getting to know me, Martha heart and all."
It appears that a lot of women who have enjoyed this study identify with Martha. If you identify with Martha and are looking for a book that will help you articulate your frustrations, this might be a good book for you. I'm not sure it has any great answers. I agree with other reviewers who commented that Ms. Weaver wasn't old enough to write this and offer mature wisdom.
Best Devotional Commentary on a Popular Passage.......2007-09-17
I've read a lot of commentaries over the years that deal with the Martha and Mary passage in Luke 10:38-42. None of them enable the reader to apply the truths there as this book does. While this title is directed primarily toward women, men can learn much from it as well. What Joanna Weaver does here is to promote a balance between the productive Martha and the pensive Mary. She describes the value of both, although acknowledging that most of today's women have far more problems with the Mary side of the equation than with the Martha side. This book would make a great women's Bible study -- in fact, several ladies in my church are using it for that very purpose. This title is excellent -- I recommend it highly!
Inspirational .......2007-08-30
We have been using this book, A Mary Heart in a Marth World", in our bible studies on Wednesdays and what a blessing it has been! It is aimed towards women but men will enjoy it just as much. And you won't believe the conversations it sparks! It's an excellent source of information and inspiration that you can use again and again!
Grew our personal relationship with God.......2007-08-01
We did this as a 6 week summer Bible Study (two chapters a week). We met in the evening at different public locations and prayed and discussed the study guide questions. All of us REALLY enjoyed the study! It has made us want to have a more intimate relationship with our Lord. We feel convicted and rejuvenated.
Amazon.com
The Heart of Change is the follow-up to John Kotter's enormously popular book Leading Change, in which he outlines a framework for implementing change that sidesteps many of the pitfalls common to organizations looking to turn themselves around. The essence of Kotter's message is this: the reason so many change initiatives fail is that they rely too much on "data gathering, analysis, report writing, and presentations" instead of a more creative approach aimed at grabbing the "feelings that motivate useful action." In The Heart of Change, Kotter, with the help of Dan Cohen, a partner at Deloitte Consulting, shows how his eight-step approach has worked at over 100 organizations. In just about every case, change happened because the players were led to "see" and "feel" the change. In one example, a sales representative underscores a sense of urgency to change a manufacturing process by showing a videotaped interview with an unhappy customer; in another, a purchasing manager makes his point to senior management about corporate waste by displaying on the company's boardroom table the 424 different kinds of gloves that the company had procured through different vendors at vastly different prices. Well written and loaded with real-life examples and practical advice, The Heart of Change towers over other change-management titles. Managers and employees at organizations both big and small will find much to draw from. Highly recommended. --Harry C. Edwards
Book Description
John Kotter's international bestseller Leading Change struck a powerful chord with legions of managers everywhere. It acknowledged the cynicism, pain, and fear they faced in implementing large-scale change-but also armed them with an eight-step plan of action for leaping boldly forward in a turbulent world.
Now, Kotter and coauthor Dan S. Cohen delve deeper into the subject of change to get to the heart of how change actually happens. Through compelling, real-life stories from people in the trenches, in all kinds of organizations, the authors attack the fundamental problem that underlies every major transformation: How do you go beyond simply getting your message across to truly changing people's behavior?
Based on interviews within over 100 organizations in the midst of large-scale change, The Heart of Change delivers the simple yet provocative answer to this question, forever altering the way organizations and individuals approach change. While most companies believe change happens by making people think differently, Kotter and Cohen say the key lies in making them feel differently. They introduce a new dynamic-"see-feel-change"-that fuels action by showing people potent reasons for change that spark their emotions.
Organized around the revolutionary eight-step change process introduced in Leading Change, this story-driven book shows how the best change leaders use not just reports or analysis, but gloves, video cameras, airplanes, office design, and other concrete elements to impel people toward positive action. The authors reveal how this appeal to the heart-over the mind-motivates people to overcome even daunting obstacles to change and produce breathtaking results.
For individuals in every walk of life and companies in every stage of change, this compact, no-nonsense book captures the heart-and the how-of successful change.
John P. Kotter, world-renowned expert on leadership at the Harvard Business School, is the author of many books, including the award-winning, best-selling Leading Change. Dan S. Cohen is a Principal with Deloitte Consulting LLC.
Customer Reviews:
Not as useful as "Leading Change" by Kotter.......2007-06-28
Full of anecdotes about how the principles in "Leading Change" were implemented, I found this less helpful than that book in implementing a culture change. None of the scenarios were close enough to our organization to make a meaningful impact on the management team. A good read though, illustrating Kotter's excellent roadmap to change.
Addresses an Often Forgotten Part of Management Studies---People!.......2007-05-07
In this age of data, management is still about people. This book hits that aspect square on the head. It provides a realistic 8 step process for managing change filled with examples that bring the steps to life. The book is primarily written for managers of change, but the concepts can be useful to anyone at any level of an organization that's in a state of change. (And what organizations aren't?) It can be a bit dry at times, but the stories spice it up and make it bearable. Overall excellent content.
Just what we needed!.......2006-07-15
This book hits the "heart" of what many managers miss in planning change initiatives. This helps us remember that change isn't all number and business decisions. It's the people. I was able to immediately apply some of the ideas and resteered a change initiative successfully. Now all of my supervisors are reading and learning.
Fundamentals for helping an organization undergo change successfully.......2006-04-03
This book is the textbook for how an organization can successfully lead with change. I have used the 8-step method with various organizations and successfully 'seen-felt-changed' for the better.
Best Change Management Book I've Read to Date.......2006-02-28
I'm now in a "Change Management" role with my work, and decided to read some texts on the subject to further my understanding of the topic. Of those books that I've read, this one has clearly been the most helpful. Kotter articulates the steps of change in a way that connected with me, and made it real with a number of relevant examples. It's not onerous to read (
<200 pages) but equally isn't "lightweight." While I would never recommend reading only a single book on the topic, I would definitely recommend that this be one of the books you read!
Book Description
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease challenges conventional cardiology by posing a compelling, revolutionary idea-that we can, in fact, abolish the heart disease epidemic in this country by changing our diets. Drawing on the groundbreaking results of his twenty-year nutritional study, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., a former surgeon, researcher, and clinician at the Cleveland Clinic, convincingly argues that a plant-based, oil-free diet can not only prevent and stop the progression of heart disease, but also reverse its effects.
Furthermore, it can eliminate the need for expensive and invasive surgical interventions, such as bypass and stents, no matter how far the disease has progressed. Dr. Esselstyn began his research with a group of patients who joined his study after traditional medical procedures to treat their advanced heart disease had failed. Within months of following a plant-based, oil-free diet, their angina symptoms eased, their cholesterol levels dropped significantly, and they experienced a marked improvement in blood flow to the heart. Twenty years later, the majority of Dr. Esselstyn's patients continue to follow his program and remain heart-attack proof.
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease explains the science behind these dramatic results, and offers readers the same simple, nutrition-based plan that has changed the lives of his patients forever. In addition, Dr. Esselstyn provides more than 150 delicious recipes that he and his wife, Ann Crile Esselstyn, have enjoyed for years and used with their patients. Clearly written and backed by irrefutable scientific evidence, startling photos of angiograms, and inspiring personal stories, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease will empower readers to take charge of their heart health. It is a powerful call for a paradigm shift in heart-disease therapy.
Customer Reviews:
this really works!!! .......2007-09-21
This is a great book for people with very high cholesterol or have heart disease. It is not an easy diet to start, but once you get used to it, it becomes much easier. Going out to eat is a challenge, but can be done.
The land of Esselstyn... where the living is easy!.......2007-09-06
My cousin turned me on the Esselstyn lifestyle. Her husband, who has suffered from genetically high cholesterol, had seen many male family members die before their time due to heart disease. When vegetarianism and then veganism didn't solve his problem, they went hardcore into the Esselstyn lifestyle.
In 5 short months, my cousin (average size 12 American female) lost almost 30 pounds, much of it by foregoing the core of their vegan diet: olive oil, nuts, avocados, etc. Her husband also lost weight; better yet, his high cholesterol finally responded and is now in the excellent range.
My cousin then recommended the Esselstyn book to me, as my husband's cholesterol has stubbornly remained above 200, and he, too, has a history of heart disease in his immediate family. Though we believed we were already eating a healthy diet, several hours of reading through Esselstyn's findings soon proved we were wrong. We made a pact to try the diet for just 1 month and evaluate where we stood.
Well, 1 short month convinced us that this is the way to eat for life! We've now been following the program for 37 days, and the changes are already obvious. My husband has lost about 12 pounds and 3" in his waistline. He feels "lighter" and less bloated, and is "completely satisfied" (his words) by the wide variety of natural and delicious foods we eat.
As for me, I have lost about 9 pounds and a total of 12"; I will soon need new jeans! My mid-afternoon cravings are miraculously gone. And no one was more surprised than I to discover that we do not miss eating the staples of our previous diet, such as grilled salmon, eggs, olive oil, fat-free dairy products, dark chocolate, and an occasional 96% Laura's Lean sirloinburger. Another side benefit is that we are spending less at the grocery store!
If you're on the fence about this one, do what we did... try it for just 1 month (but be sure to give it 100%) and then make your decision.
A great book!.......2007-08-19
I first heard of Dr. Esselstyn while reading "The China Study" by Colin Campbell. I was absolutely floored by the description of Esselstyn's study, concerning the use of nutrition to halt the progression of serious heart disease. In this book you can read all the details of his study. You can learn exactly how to prevent and reverse heart disease easily--just by altering one's diet. I truly believe in the efficacy of this approach, as I've read about it in a number of other recent books.
I first borrowed Esselstyn's book from the library. But the recipes in the second half of the book look so good, I will be buying it from Amazon.com. I also intend to buy some extra copies for some relatives with heart problems.
Saved my life!!.......2007-08-03
After reading and applying the diet and lifestyle changes in this book my chest pain has reduced to near zero, my total cholesterol went from 339 to 119,my weight dropped 21lbs, and my cardiologist has become a believer! All in less than 12 weeks. There is similarity in the diet here to what Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. John McDougall recommend and with similar great results. They are all onto the true answer to heart disease, diabetes, various cancers, etc. The book takes us on a personal level, to the lives and medical histories of the patients in the study and is much more than a clinical analysis. A great read and very inspiring. The recipes were a great touch and a perfect way to wrap up the book. Buy the book and be prepared to not put the book down till the last page. A great read.
4 months and what a difference.......2007-07-31
I was convinced enough by Dr. Esselstyn's book and "The China Study" to completely change my diet 5 months ago. Since then I've lost 30lbs even though I eat all the time, my cholesterol numbers improved significantly and are now far below Dr. Esselstyn's recommended levels of 150 total, and 80 ldl, and my blood pressure is back to normal after three years on blood pressure medicine. I seem to require less sleep, and I feel great. Time will only tell whether this helps me avoid an early MI like my father, but I'm betting on this and see no reason to stray. It's not all that hard to follow if you just make up your mind to do it. For me, the change in my numbers, weight, and blood pressure in just 5 months is all the proof I need to stick with this for life.
Book Description
Keegan McKettrick has learned the hard way that women can't be trusted. The only female in his life these days is the young daughter he sees all too rarely, and his sole passion is for his job overseeing his family's corporation. Until beautiful but mysterious Molly Shields comes to Indian Rock on a mission—and keeping a suspicious eye on her becomes Keegan's full-time hobby….
Molly doesn't know why she's attracted to a man who's determined to dig up dirt on her, even if he is gorgeous. But cynical Keegan might be the one person who can truly understand her shadowy past—and if the two can risk opening their hearts, they just might forge a brighter future.
Customer Reviews:
HEART TO HEART.......2007-09-02
Another excellent addition to the McKettrick series. Premise was very unusual and caught my interest right away. Both Molly and Keegan are fractured but honorable people. The family aspect is very good. Jesse, Rance and Travis play important rolls in this issue.
Sensuality is an 8. But it also involves a tearjerker of a story. Keep a tissue handy. I enjoyed this story and all of its characters immensely.
McKrettics Heart.......2007-05-17
LLM has a good story plot but the hero in this book is a Class A Jerk from day one. He proceeds to make life miserable for the heroine.
I did not like this character. However, it is good reading material and
worth the time it took to read it. Get your hankies ready because it is
a tearjerker
Another winner for Miller!.......2007-05-15
The third in the McKettrick men trilogy, McKettrick's Heart was a really wonderful romance for anyone that is a romance buff. Keegan and Molly didn't exactly hit it off in beginning but it was a pretty lively read, good dialogue and very well written. A fast light read.
McKettrick's Heart.......2007-05-14
A good story and great desciptons of the countryside. The book is a fast read and the storyline moves along quickly. I like the continuation of lives of the McKettrick family.
McKettricks Heart.......2007-05-14
Great and exciting book would recomend to anyone. 5 star totally, Linda Lael Miller is a great author, once again very captivating.
Customer Reviews:
Thoughtful tale on motherhood........2007-09-22
Fascinating window into the life of a motherless mother. Brought to life the hidden insecurities and questions that most women would encounter in the same situation. How does one be a good mother when one didn't have a mother of their own? Paige's mother abandoned her and her father when she was a little girl (5 I think) and the majority of this novel deals with Paige's eventual abandonment of her own son in an effort to reconnect with her mother and discover the truth that's been eluding Paige her whole life. Why? Why did she leave?
Touches on issues of feminism..abortion, choices, that women have more to offer than just maternal love but in the end we all know that if one has a child it is one's duty to love and raise it well, not run away to live a dream.
Worth finishing even though the ending somewhat predictable and anti-climactic.
A Wonderful Story.......2007-09-06
I have always enjoyed Jodi Picoult novels, but for some reason I missed this earlier work by her. But I'm glad I picked it up at the library, because it was a wonderful story. It's a moving story about people who change for the better and the story pulled me into it and tugged at my emotions. I found myself disliking Nicolas for the way he treated his wife, but still there were moments when I couldn't help but laugh at some of the characters in this book. The books moves along at a good pace and I would gladly recommend it to all.
Feels like an early books by a wonderful author.......2007-08-14
Jodi Picoult had a great idea for a novelette but she had to rill 450 pages. I kept thinking that it would be a better book if she developed Nicholas' parents mid-book. Told a bit more about the internal life of Paige's dad. She did a great job with the story of her first love.
Paige has so many contacts at the dinner and the clinic. These people would be there to support her. No where in the story do we have the
feeling that she disengaged with them.
Bottom line, Jodi does not write a bad book and she does like her formula. Many of us are going to read all of her books and this is just one more.
Boring.......2007-07-16
I loved "The Pact" and "Nineteen Minutes" and after reading the reviews I thought I'd like this one too. Boy was I wrong. I thought it was the most slow moving book in the world. I gave it 100 pages then quit and flipped to the end to see what happened. It was way too wordy and I was thinking, "Please hurry up and get to the point!!!"
I also felt this way about "Plain Truth." I liked it but it got to the point where I thought it was being drawn out and then the ending just abruptly happened and it wasn't even a good ending. You could kinda see it coming. Not too much of a surprise.
A must read for any mothers out there!.......2007-07-05
We all find ourselves in situations that this novel talked about. Only most of us do not verbalize them. This was a great read for any mother to read!
Amazon.com
In The Sacred Romance, authors Brent Curtis and John Eldredge inspire readers to enter into the greatest romance of all time--one with God. Many Christians have tried to satiate the hunger of their hearts by substituting the love of God with things from this world. Since "our heart is the key to the Christian life," this often leads to spiritual stagnation and unhappiness, while God, the "Great Lover," attempts to lavishly adorn us with His perfect love. Doubting God's goodness coupled with fear of trusting Him blind the believer and prevent him from being wooed by God into a rich relationship. Life can soon become empty, cold, and worthless. Through personal narrative, Curtis and Eldredge take turns convincing the reader not only that God is good, but that recklessly abandoning oneself to Him results in a fulfilling life of abundance and awe. In this portrayal of God's character, the obvious error lies in believing that He could need anything from His creatures, or that He could be "hurt" by their unrequited love. On the whole, however, this is a call to a more passionate relationship with the lover of our souls. A follow-up book, The Journey of Desire, was written by John Eldredge after Brent Curtis's tragic death. --Jill Heatherly
Book Description
The God who saves is also a God who woos His own to a relationship primarily of the heart. As we draw closer to Him, we must choose to let go of other "less-wild lovers," such as perfectionistic driveness and self-indulgence. Eldredge and Curtis identify the lies offered by "false loves" and instruct us on the journey back to the Lover of our souls.In carefully crafted words and images, the authors entice the reader to his or her own journey of the heart, promising, "It is possible to recover the lost life of our heart and with it the intimacy, beauty, and adventure of life with God."
Customer Reviews:
Highly recommended reading for any Christian.......2007-06-18
See my review for the study guide because this is a great study to do with a group of people. Eye opening to say the least.
Fulfilling.......2007-03-30
This book really spoke to me and opened my heart to a whole new world: that perhaps God really wants to know us deeply and to love us as a lover does. The idea that we are His children, created by Him, and that we are glorious creatures marred by sin, that our hearts are new and good things once we accept Christ, are crazy ideas in the modern church, but these ideas hold up in scripture. This book has really helped me become closer to God, and closer to His true desire for my life: to live a great adventure with Him. I HIGHLY recommend it.
The Sacred Romance.......2007-01-05
I first read the book, which has profoundly and positively affected my spiritual life. In all of my readings on this subject over the years, nothing ever has put the love of God in such a relevant context. I am now re-reading the book and doing the accompaning workbook which I recommend as well. I highly recommend the book especially for those who are interested in developing a or strenghening their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Wildly Profound and Inspirational.......2006-11-20
All of us spend our lives with a desire for something more, either buried deep within our hearts or just below the surface. This book reveals what that something more is and how we both draw close to it and away from it. The authors' insights into the causes of both our joys and our miseries are nothing short of revelation. This is not a "feel good" kind of book. It does not tell us that everything will be all right if we just have faith. It explores the harsh realities of life and the glorious possibilities of our God given destiny of a life in communion with Him.
I found myself moved to the core of my being, both laughing and crying at the same time as the words of this book cut straight to the center of what my life has been missing all along. This book is not a straight-forward outline of premises though. It is a journey with God. If your heart is not open to mystery of that journey, if it is not hungry for that something more, if it does not feel something missing, then it will not be open to the message of this book. I recommend picking it up when you are at a point in your life when you find yourself hurting, lonely, lost or numb and wondering where God is and why He doesn't just make the pain go away.
New revelation, new spirituality.......2006-10-30
First of all, this book mentions "the heart" and strays from the truth of scripture terribly. God's word says the "heart is deceitful above all things and who can know it?" There is nothing good in our hearts, apart from Christ, and whatever "good" there might be in there comes from Him. Scripture tells us that in the last days the church will go into apostasy. This time has come like no other time before. There is a move to to throw out scripture and move past it, ignoring what God has already told us. What we need to know is in scripture--especially those things we need to know about Him and what He requires of us. This move in the church today to "feel" God and go "to a deeper level" is a reawakening of mysticism which does not belong in the body of Christ. The truth and objectives of scripture are not mystical, for a reason. Jesus Christ was and is not a mystic. This movement is called "contemplative spirituality" and it is subtle and dangerous. Sadly, even Eldredge has taken this route. How many more good authors and great men of God are going to forsake the completeness of God's word to turn inward to "self" and think they will find something new? Solomon said, "there is nothing new under the sun." The devil wants us to think we can reinvent and invent "new" outside of God's marvelous confines. We need to stick to scripture and stop reading books like these written by men who want to offer us something more than the Lord commanded us. We are treading on shaky ground, but all we need is His glorious word and to do what He said: "Keep my commandments."
Book Description
I can fix it.
I don't need directions.
I can figure this out on my own. These thoughts that erupt from a man's bravado, from his deep urge to be a
real man. Yet underneath this, there is a louder voice countering,
You can't.
You're not capable.
You're weak. Many men-possibly all men-face two looming questions at some point in their life. What does it mean to be a man, and am I one?
The Way of the Wild Heart reaches out to "unfinished men" trying to understand and live their role as men and fathers. Exploring six biblically based stages, John Eldredge initiates men into a new understanding and ownership of their manhood and equips them to effectively lead their sons to manhood.
Customer Reviews:
GET THIS BOOK.......2007-09-29
I loved Wild At Heart and how he restored masculinity in the church. The goal is not to train our men to be good, nice, coffee-klatsch women. There are parts of being a man that are God-given and shouldn't be set aside.
Now, as a father of two boys, trying to figure out how to be a good dad, this book is revolutionary. I am not the "outdoorsman" that Eldredge is, but we are having significant discussions at our church right now based on this book. I wish more ministers would embrace this book and offer this material to their men.
Most men are bored. And as a businessman, I am extremeley busy. If it were not for deep conviction I would not normally make the time for prioritizing spiritual things in my life. But this book helps me see that it is not just about church. It is about being fathered by God, and passing that fathering on to my sons and to younger men who also need mentoring.
I loved this book!
Wild At Heart.......2007-09-29
Compelling book ; Should be read by EVERY Man
and those who try to live with one successfully,
to help understand how he works inside.
All these books from this author are gifted works on
the workings of the adult man, I believe he is truly inspired.
Biblical Imagery of Masculine Spirituality.......2007-08-22
I've read Eldredge's first book, Wild at Heart, and believe he has as good of a work here if not better. Wild at Heart is a pre-requisite to gain the most benefit from this volume. Even without having read the first title however, Eldredge here will resonate with many Christian male readers.
I simply don't understand how other reviewers can say this book is shallow on its Biblical content -- I don't believe I have seen a better analogy to the life of David in any other work. The masculine journey, according to Eldredge, begins first at boyhood, then progresses to the cowboy, then warrior, lover, king and finally sage. While the author doesn't bluntly offer chapter and verse for the ideas he shares, anyone familiar with the life of David can see clearly the parallels.
I recommend this book to all Christian men. Grandfathers, fathers, and sons alike will all find something here to inspire to walk closer to God and to develop much-needed relationships with other Christian men. This title is well-worth the price.
Great manly read.......2007-07-25
n preparation for a up-and coming hike with my friend Dale, I decided to read this book. I read his first one and loved it. It was called "Wild at Heat." It is the best book I ever read for men and spirituality. In this hike, I am looking forward to the trip. The book certainly motivated me for this time in the woods. Because of this book, this journey is not about the woods as much about connecting to God. Being a minister, it is rare for me to get dirty and sweating, but my background in life is farming and manual labor. I need this hike for my heart. In the church we have taken God and placed him in the church building only. If you want God, find him on Sunday morning, but God is everywhere. In the encounters with God in the Bible, he never approaches the man in the building. This was the perfect book to inspire my future hike. Every man would be blessed by reading this journey. As I read it, my mind reflected back to my journey, it was a enjoyable experience.
A Guide to Becoming a Complete Man.......2007-07-03
This book is a continuation of the topics covered in the book Wild at Heart and has good expansion and further development of the themes. Eldridge's basic premise is that there are 6 stages of the full masculine journey in life. That of the boy, cowboy/ranger, warrior, lover, king, and sage. In each stage the boy/man walks through crucial elements in his development as a man.
The boy stage is when he is young and enjoying doing boy stuff like playing outside, exploring, climbing trees, basically having fun and being delighted in by his parents and family.
The cowboy/ranger stage is when the boy moves more into the young manhood stage where he goes out exploring on his on and begins learning the things of the masculine world such as how to fix a car, working with power tools, going on backpacking journeys in the woods either alone or with some of his friends. This could also include such adventures as backpacking across Europe. The main part of this stage is his learning the answer to the question "do I have what it takes/can I handle this?"
The warrior stage is when the man is beginning his quest and mission in life which may include beginning a career such as a teacher, lawyer, doctor, consultant, mechanic, salesman, or becoming a missionary overseas. This is the stage in which he is finding his cause to fight for and the things that are important to him and what he will work towards during his life.
The lover stage sometimes crosses over with the warrior stage. This is when the man is learning to appreciate beauty and how to love. It is not necessarily when he pursues a woman and learns to love in that sense but can also include the awakening to the beautiful things in life such as nature, art, and music. Full development in this stage will include learning to love and be loved by God in an intimate way. Something Eldridge said which makes sense is that it is best for the man to have established himself as a warrior before entering this stage. Many women can be frustrated with the men they marry who don't seem to have a sense of purpose to their lives and Eldridge indicates that it is best for the man to come to the woman from a state of strength and having journeyed through at least parts of the warrior stage.
The king stage is when the man becomes responsible for leading others. This might include being the head of his household, becoming a manager at work, or a coach of a team. During this stage, warriors may be working for the king.
The final stage is that of the sage. This occurs when a man steps down as a king but does not fade into the distance. He will commonly be an adviser to kings and provide the wisdom that comes only through years of living through the various stages. Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings trilogy would fit this category.
During each of the stages, the man will likely experience parts of all the stages but will generally be centered upon one of them.
In reading this book, I suggest taking it slowly, not because it is difficult reading but so that you can really absorb and take in the topics discussed. I highly recommend this book as an excellent understanding of the development of a man and what makes a whole and complete man.
Books:
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History of Far Eastern Art, A (Trade Version) (5th Edition)
- House of Sand and Fog (Oprah's Book Club)
- How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth
- Intercessory Prayer: How God Can Use Your Prayers to Move Heaven and Earth
- Joel Sternfeld: Sweet Earth
- John Shaw's Closeups in Nature (Practical Photography Books)
Books Index
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You may think that the title of this article is a mistake and that I meant to say, "What Number Is Your Cholesterol?" But the fact is that the size of your cholesterol is just as important as the total number. If that surprises you, there is a good chance that much of what you think you know about cholesterol is wrong and that what you don't know about cholesterol could be killing you.
