Saturday, January 30, 2010

Review/Giveaway: There's More to Life Than Making a Living

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: There's More to Life Than Making a Living: Mastering Six Key Essentials on the Way to a Life of Significance
Author: Jack C. McDowell with Phil Needham
Genre: Christian living
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: February 10, 2010
Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway. This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.

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It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:

Jack C. McDowell
with Phil Needham


and the book:


There's More to Life than Making a Living

FaithWords (November 4, 2009)

***Special thanks to Valerie M. Russo of the Hachette Book Group for sending me a review copy.***


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Jack C. McDowell was born in Hollywood, California, during the depth of the great depression. He served The Salvation Army for 38 years, devoting his life to the organization's financial needs and dedicated officers. In 2005, Jack endowed and sponsored the opening of The Salvation Army's School for Leadership Development, whose purpose is to build spiritually motivated leaders and equip them with the resources and skills to complete their mission with The Salvation Army.

Product Details:

List Price: $16.99
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (November 4, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446555940
ISBN-13: 978-044655594

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:




My Review

How do you define "success?" Some define it by money, some by position. Perhaps you'd prefer using happiness or family and friends as a gauge. I've sometimes thought of it as finding and fulfilling God's purpose in my life, whatever that may be.

As I'm reaching middle age (36 already, gasp), I'm starting to define it differently. Because I realize that even fulfilling God's purpose is something outside of my grasp, unless I let Him fill in all the gaps and make up for my deficiencies. Success to me is simply realizing that I am not, and accepting Christ's perfect record as a substitute on my behalf.

That being said, let's move on to this book. In it, Jack McDowell shares his six keys to a life of significance:

  1. find your calling,
  2. learn from your experiences,
  3. acquire habits that build character,
  4. discover the joy of generosity,
  5. build relationships for life, and
  6. don't retire.

For each key, he elaborates on several actions you should take. For instance, on "build relationships for life," the actions are

  1. make and keep genuine friends,
  2. if you marry, invest in that person for life,
  3. form partnerships that have a compassionate purpose
  4. mentor others toward compassion

I found this book to be very well organized, with lots of practical advice. The author, who has lived a life of significance in his career with the Salvation Army, includes examples from his own life. He uses Christ as an example, too, filling the role of mentor.

I've read my share of leadership and business books in my life, particularly nonprofit leadership ones, and this is one of the better books I've seen. And it's from a Christian perspective. If you're looking for a way to make your job or your career more meaningful, this would be a great motivational tool for you.

At the same time, keep in mind that no matter how much good you do; no matter how significant you make yourself in the lives of others, it is only through God's grace that we are "successful" and truly significant.

52 comments:

Lady Araujo said...

Your review made me want to read this book.
I'd love to be entered in this drawing.
marthanadnny(at)hotmail(dot)com

Mel said...

I would love to read this book...and pass it on to my hubby! Thanks for the giveaway!
mjudge83@gmail.com

Benita said...

I really need to read this book. It seems so enlightening.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I am a follower.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me.
june_spirit2628 at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower.

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

Simply Stacie said...

I follow.

Cheryl B said...

I would love to read this.
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl B said...

email subscriber & follower:
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Katie S. said...

You did an awesome review and I'd love to read it!

katieandbobby10@yahoo.com

Charleydog said...

Please enter my name in the drawing.
pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

409cope said...

This book sounds very interesting! cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

buzzd said...

Great review, I want to read the book

Anonymous said...

HORTON111@AOL.COM
EMMA L HORTON

MY SON COULD USE THIS BOOK

Unknown said...

looks really good


rugerpuppies at hotmail dot com

joannie said...

This book sounds excellent. Thanks for the change to win it, and thanks for the review!!
hi_joan_elliott at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would like to be entered.

lex.redding@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Subscriber.

lex.redding@yahoo.com

Beth said...

This sounds like a great book.

Valerie Taylor Mabrey said...

a book to make me think love it

Amanda said...

This sounds like a good book. I liked your review.

amanda.corley@ymail.com

Jennifer Wilson said...

I'd like to read this. Actually thinking of pursuing some education (again) to follow my dreams.

jenndiggy at gmail dot com

Linda said...

This looks like a terrific read!!! Please enter me.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Linda said...

I follow by Goggle reader.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Linda said...

I just signed up for your email newsletter.


desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I would love to take a look at this book and see how I can apply it to my own faith!

Anna
perfectbluemoon@gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Brian D. said...

Positive, uplifting books with a spiritual and not financial or self sufficiency basis are getting harder to find. Thanks.

Bcteagirl said...

I love the sentiment behind this book, making money should not be your entire life.

teagirl1 at telus dot net

Bcteagirl said...

I follow via google friend connect!

bcteagirl

Bachuchay said...

I would love to have this book.. please count me in

huggie0109(at)yahoo(dot)com

Nancye said...

This sounds like a very helpful book. Please count me in.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Follower

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

bibay said...

seems like a must-read =D



bvrlylava at gmail dot com

bibay said...

Hi i'm a new follower please enter me thanks!

bvrlylava at gmail dot com

Christina said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com - I agree with all of the points in your review (sometimes we do grow wiser as we grow older, me included!), and this sounds like a wonderful book! I've never been drawn to the almighty dollar myself but have seen people all around me fail by putting money first.

Faither said...

It's interesting how we delineate the difference between our will and the will of God. It's taken me a while to figure this out, but am fairly certain His will is really all that matters.

Nickolay said...

Great sounding book. Thanks for the chance



jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Anonymous said...

How true a book title!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Tinyblessing said...

This sounds like an excellent book.
lil.blessing at gmail dot com

chromiumman said...

could be a really useful book

chromiumman (at) mail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me.

garnet63@msndotcom

kerri69 said...

This book sounds really wonderful and inspiring would love to read it

Anonymous said...

Would love to win!!!

debijackson said...

love to win jacksond@nhr3.net

Unknown said...

I would love to read this book. I think it would enrich my life. garrettsambo@aol.com

cman said...

Please enter me :)

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I would love to read : There's More To Life Than Making A Living!
marcy
zestywonderland@gmail.com

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I subscribe & follow!
marcy
zestywonderland@gmail.com

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