Category: Adult Nonfiction Review

REVIEW: Chasing Vines by Beth Moore

REVIEW: Chasing Vines by Beth Moore

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

It started with a trip to Tuscany with her daughters. While there, Beth Moore became captivated by the vineyards, the vines, the vinedressers, and the grapes. What followed was a season of study that led to this book. It’s an exploration of vineyards and fruitfulness and scripture that you should not miss!

Review

This book was perfect for me in the early part of 2020. If only you could see all of my dogearred pages and underlined passages! I doubt there’s more than a handful of pages that don’t have something marked in some way. I learned so much about vineyards and vines, and that changed my view of scripture, both the John 15 passage that I expected to explore and so many others.

The voice of this book is textbook Beth Moore. There are passages where I could hear her voice as I read. There’s humor AND heart as well as truth and encouragement in this. Passage after passage applied to my life.

I dug into this like a text book. Which means I made a ridiculous number of notes and highlights. I want to go back and write it all down and ingest it like nourishment. My hope is that these concepts and insights would inform and change me at a deep level. I want to look back at all the ups and downs of my faith journey through the lens of this book.

{To be perfectly honest, I wrote this review back in March immediately when I finished reading the book. The rest of 2020 has driven many of its insights right out of my brain. Thankfully, I have my own annotated copy that I can read again!}

I can’t recommend this highly enough!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++*

*♥♥♥♥♥+++=Best of the Best

BONUS REVIEW: The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation by A. J. Sherrill

BONUS REVIEW: The Enneagram for Spiritual Formation by A. J. Sherrill

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

The author’s goal with this book is to help readers see the Enneagram as a means for spiritual growth rather than being reduced to a number and a collection of behaviors and motivations. The book is laid out with some introductory material and then the spiritual growth pieces.

I enjoyed two of the chapters. One looked at two spiritual practices per type – one “downstream” practice that would come naturally to the type and one “upstream” practice that would be a useful challenge. For example, for Type Ones, the author recommends journaling for both the downstream and upstream, highlighting journaling that will come easily as well as ways to use it to dig deeper into areas that might push against the personality. This chapter also recommends a season or event in the Church calendar that might click with a particular type. The other chapter I liked chose Bible passages that can be instructive for each type, as well as a piece of scripture to memorize. For Type Ones, the author recommends reading about the Apostle Paul in Acts.

I read the sections for my type in the book and felt they were on target for things I would enjoy doing as well as things that could help me grow. I could see Spiritual Directors and/or therapists using these chapters to add to their repertoire of responses to individuals of various types looking for growth. And I definitely appreciated the approach that one size does not fit all when it comes to spiritual practices. It’s okay that certain ones don’t click for you or that some come more easily than others. You aren’t a spiritual growth failure if a particular practice isn’t your jam.

Unfortunately, other than these two practical chapters, I didn’t find much here that was new or that I didn’t already have in other resources. If someone were to ask me for a reference for spiritual growth, I would highly recommend Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram. It’s one of my top Enneagram recommendations anyway, and it gets at some of these same ideas in more detail.

If you are in practice where you work with individuals on their Enneagram types and spiritual development, consider checking this one out in addition to Spiritual Rhythms to develop recommendations and resources for each type to pursue growth and health.

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥=Good/Solid/Fine

BONUS REVIEW: The Gospel for Achievers by Tyler Zach

BONUS REVIEW: The Gospel for Achievers by Tyler Zach

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

This opens with a thorough introduction. The implied reader is someone who already knows their Enneagram type, someone who identifies with the Enneagram 3, the Achiever. While I am not an Enneagram 3, I found the introduction fascinating. It’s affirming of 3s, stating affirmations for some of the type’s features from the Bible as well as statements of God’s love. It also challenges Achievers with Biblical truth to offset the lies of personality.

There are 40 days of devotionals in the book. Each day is laid out with the title, a Bible verse, a page or two of devotional thoughts and then a feature called “The Good News for Achievers.” This section ties the general Biblical content or truth to the personality of Enneagram 3s. After that section there is a short prayer, 3-4 reflection questions (with space to write answers), and a response activity.

I don’t know if it is the quality of the content or the fact that I occasionally access a 3-wing in Enneagram language, but I got a lot out of this resource. There were action steps that challenged me, and reflection questions that made me want to grab my journal. I shared the author’s website with a friend who identifies as a 3 so she could look at the sample devotionals and give me her opinions. She found them all challenging “in a good way.”

This whole book is well-resourced. There are end notes sharing where the author got some of his quotes and content. Readers may find those additional resources enjoyable. Then the book ends with a closing prayer for Achievers and some suggested Next Steps.

I have a personal Enneagram theory that writers write through the lens of their Enneagram type, and you can sometimes pick it up. Bob Goff identifies as a 7, and you can hear it in the enthusiasm of his writing, not to mention the stories he shares. When I read Made Like Martha, I wondered if the author was an Enneagram 2 from the way she approached her subject. I really connected with that book a lot.

There was a moment when I was reading one of the devotions here where the author assigned a motive to Martha, ironically enough, that I would not have attributed to her in the story at all. His statement – that she was “concerned with impressing Jesus” – to me reflects an Achiever mindset whereas I would have described her motives differently, probably reading my own motives into her actions. This theory of mine makes me wonder if that is why some books connect differently with different readers. Maybe an author’s style or character descriptions or conclusions rub up against readers of a different type in different ways.

With that in mind, I am curious to read this author’s take on my number when he produces that devotional in the future. I’ll have to wait awhile – I think the book for 9s is coming next. This book releases August 1, 2020. At the time of this writing, it is available to read for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

You can go here to read all about the other Enneagram resources I have reviewed.

BONUS REVIEW: What's Your Enneatype? by Liz Carver and Josh Green

BONUS REVIEW: What’s Your Enneatype? by Liz Carver and Josh Green

Posted on by Jaymie

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

Summary and Review

From the book: “The Enneagram is a tool that helps us name what motivates people to do the things they do in the world.” (page 8 of e-book review copy) That’s a great description! This book comes from the folks behind the Instagram account @justmyenneatype. Some of the book’s graphics will look familiar to fans of the IG account (like me).

The book opens with a thorough introduction explaining what the Enneagram is and what it is not. There’s no test (this is a plus!). The book reinforces the idea that you do the reading (whether that’s this book or another resource), you eliminate the types that are certainly not you, and then you discern for yourself from the remaining types what seems the best fit.

There’s a great use of color and graphics throughout the book; each number has a carefully chosen color scheme. I loved the look of the book on my device, and I can’t wait to see a print version in person. The layout of the book for each type is uniform, so you can flip to the same feature for each number. The writing is engaging and conversational throughout.

Each section includes the following information for the type: wings, triads, stances, subtypes/instincts, self-care suggestions, and discussions of movement in health and stress as well a graphic of a health continuum in 6 areas. My favorite feature of them all was the description of what the world would be like if everyone was that number. It was a clever way to highlight the strengths and liabilities for each type.

I LOVED this! I have been learning about the Enneagram for about 3.5 years now, and I learned new things and got to think about things in new ways from reading this. This is now in my top tier of Enneagram resources alongside The Road Back to You, Millenneagram and Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram. This book releases August 4, 2020. 

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

You can go here to read all about the other Enneagram resources I have reviewed.

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