The Purpose Driven Life

Title: The Purpose Driven Life - What on Earth am I Here For?

Author: Rick Warren

Pages: 334

Genre: Religion

Grade: B

Synopsis: Pastor Warren lays out the five purposes of life and breaks them into a 40-day spiritual journey. Using more than 1,000 verses from the Bible and 24 different translations, the book helps the reader to discover the answers to life's most important questions.

My Review: I found the book to be a little more preachy than I was looking for. At the same time, I feel that I have been reminded of some of the things that I need to do to be a better Christian. Most of the book was just okay, but every once in a while there would be a passage that would really get me thinking. I agree with the doctrine contained in about 80% of the book and I am grateful for modern-day prophets, including a living prophet today who has provided us with revelations explaining many of the confusing passages in the Bible. My testimony was strengthened.

From the Book: "(p. 86) Then Jesus changed the situation. When he paid for our sins on the cross, the veil in the temple that symbolized our separation from God was split from top to bottom, indicating that direct access to God was once again available."

"(p. 127) Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.
It is not enough to just say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time in them. Words alone are worthless. "My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action." Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is "T-I-M-E.""

"(p. 148) Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is thinking more of others. Humble people are so focused on serving others, they don't think of themselves."

"(p. 151) If you are a member of a small group or class, I urge you to make a group covenant that includes the nine characteristics of biblical fellowship: We will share our true feelings (authenticity), forgive each other (mercy), speak the truth in love (honesty), admit our weaknesses (humility), respect our differences (courtesy), not gossip (confidentiality), and make group a priority (frequency)."

Running with Scissors

Title: Running with Scissors

Author: Augusten Burroughs

Pages: 7 discs

Genre: Memoir

Grade: B

Synopsis: Augusten's parents go through a messy divorce when he is around 10-years-old. He remains with his mother, but is eventually pawned off onto his mother's psychiatrist, Dr. Finch. Augusten moves in with the Finches and is given every freedom that a teenager could want. Dr. Finch believes that a child reaches full maturity at 13 and that from that point on, no adult can tell him or her what to do. As such, Augusten quits going to school and just spends all his time with Natalie Finch or with his 31-year-old boyfriend. Dr. Finch is an eccentric who believes that God can talk to him through his excrement and nobody in the household feels any responsibility of cleaning up.

My Review: I enjoyed this memoir. I felt that it was very honest and heartfelt, and if I had grown up under similar circumstances, then I would have probably written a memoir as well. Augusten makes the very interesting point, that although they had every freedom and could essentially do whatever they wanted, they felt trapped and boxed in.

Disclaimer: The language in the book is slightly foul and there are a couple instances in which gay sex acts are described in more detail than may be comfortable.

The Nanny Diaries

Title: The Nanny Diaries

Author: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Pages: 9 discs

Genre: Fiction

Grade: C+

Synopsis: The book is a satire of upper-class Manhattan families. Nan is the primary caregiver young Grayer X. His father is having a secret affair and his mother shows little interest or patience with him. The book illustrates how Mrs. X and the other high-class Manhattan mothers take advantage of their nannies.

My Review: I didn't particularly enjoy most of the book, but it did somewhat redeem itself towards the end. While I knew going into this book that I was not the target audience, I had hoped to enjoy it more than I did. I found the stories and interactions to be forced and a bit annoying.