Unstoppable - by Nick Vujicic

I've been inspired by Nick since first seeing snippets of his life story on YouTube. This guy gives the word "courage" a whole new meaning. After watching him in action and reading his books, you'll suddenly find your own excuses looking pretty pitiful.

You might not find much "new" material in here. A lot of the points presented are pretty standard fare in many religious motivational books. I guess the thing that sets this book apart from the rest is that Nick is a living example of what he preaches. The words in his book aren't just words - they're principles, values and convictions that Nick lives out every day of his life.

If you're looking to be inspired, looking to be challenged, looking for a good kick in the pants, this is it. It's guaranteed to make you a little bit uncomfortable with the way you're living - and that's a good thing.

Disclaimer: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah through Blogging for Books - their book review program. I wasn't required to post a positive review. These are my own opinions on this book.

Neighbors and Wisemen

I'm rarely rave about a book - particularly a work of non-fiction. This one, however, really deserved the high ranking. I've been a fan of Donald Miller's work, so when I saw a book by "Tony the Beat Poet", I figured "why not?"

I wasn't sure what to expect. After all, it can be easy for an aspiring author to ride on the coattails of another accomplished writer. I'm wary of success by association, so I cracked this book open tentatively.

I'm pleased to say though, that I truly enjoyed Tony's work. His literary style is witty, gritty, and real. There's nothing pretentious in his words. Perhaps that is why they resonated with me.

Tony tackles a lot of the questions I've had myself. I grew up in similar circumstances - surrounded by Christian terminology and taglines. I grew up with the "us vs. them" mentality. As I matured, I found myself more and more repulsed by organized religion in general - and church culture in particular. It is a comforting thing to find an author who can so aptly describe my own experiences.

Only recently have I begun to see the beauty and wisdom that can be found when one opens up to the unexpected. Most in the religious community turn to pastors or spiritual counselors for guidance and inspiration; however, it's a beautiful thing when we can learn and be blessed by "sacred encounters in unexpected places." I'm firmly of the belief that truth is truth, no matter where we find it. This book has helped to reestablish that belief. I highly recommend it to those who are sick of the standard rhetoric, to those who are feeling a little lost, a little tired of the same old, and who are looking to learn from unlikely sources.

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