David and Goliath

"David and Goliath is a book about what happens when ordinary people confront giants. By "giants," I mean powerful opponents of all kinds - from armies and mighty warriors to disability, misfortune and oppression. Each chapter tells the story of a different person - famous an unknown, ordinary or brilliant - who has faced an outsize challenge and been forced to respond. Should I play by the rules or follow my own instincts? Shall I persevere or give up? Should I strike back or forgive?

Through these stories, author Malcolm Gladwell, explores two ideas in his book David and Goliath. The first is that much of what we consider valuable in our world arises out of these kind of lopsided conflicts, because the act of facing overwhelming odds produces greatness and beauty. And second, that we consistently get these kinds of conflicts wrong. We misread them. We misinterpret them. Giants are not what we think they are. The same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness. And th fact of being an underdog can change people in ways that we often fail to appreciate: it can open doors and create opportunities and educate and enlighten and make possible what might otherwise have seemed unthinkable. We need a better guide to facing giants - and there is no better place to start that journey than with the epic confrontation between David and Goliath three thousand years ago in the Valley of Elah." (pg 5-6)

In this surprising book the reader is challenged to change their perception of how they view any situation they encounter in life, and take a different look at things through the eyes of the underdog. In reviewing the situation of David and Goliath's seemingly miraculous battle, we see things we haven't noticed before in simply getting to the end of the story. Things we overlook in the text of what was said to each of the opponents, to what they wore and how they approached the battle. Through analyzing this is great detail from a war strategy to one of confidence, you begin to see that your own personal storms in life offer a different perspective than what you thought. I simply LOVE every single story that Malcolm used to illustrate what looked like an easy victory and showed how simply changing our perspective can offer us a small window of winning against all odds.

I received David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell compliments of Little Brown and Company and B and B Media Group for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such a refreshing breath of fresh air when you look at the people Malcolm uses to illustrated the points in his book, from a basketball team of twelve year old girls who were the complete underdogs and how their coach used a completely different approach to use their disadvantages to their advantage and subsequently winning the national championships. It really does change how you will begin to dissect your situations, storms, or even adversity to life to see things the way God has designed you to see them. He challenges the reader to how we think about obstacles and disadvantages, offering new interpretation of what it means to be discriminated against, or cope with a disability, or lose a parent, or attend a mediocre school, or suffer from any number of setbacks. This is a MUST READ and MUST HAVE for anyone who has had to deal with any challenge in life. I personally give this one a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about David and Goliath, Malcolm Gladwell, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

You can also find Malcolm Gladwell on Facebook to stay up to date on all his books.

To read more reviews on David and Goliath check out B and B Media's Website.

When God Makes Lemonade

When hard times strike, and they always do, it helps to share them with friends and family. Sometimes it provides wisdom when the answers we seek fail to come; sometimes it's a shoulder to cry on when grief and loss are too much for one pair of shoulders to bare the burden alone; other times it's to provide hope when the situation in front of us is simply too much for us to deal with. In the latest inspirational book that is slated to be part of an ongoing series, author Don Jacobson, is compiling those stories that show what happens When God Makes Lemonade from the lemons life deals us. These short stories written by real people teach us all and encourage us that even though we can't always see the good in our storms, God brings about life changing experiences so we might encourage and help others out along the way.

Don Jacobson begins the book with his own personal story of just how God walked with him when his life literally hung in the balance. Picking up his shotgun and taking a spare moment to venture off into the woods to try it out, Don was more than amazed when his gun malfunctioned and he ended up shooting himself. Failing to leave word behind to his wife of his intentions, his only companion was his dog, Big Boy. Not knowing how bad things really were, he heard the voice of God guiding him along the way. What happens next is something you'll have to pick up the book and read for yourself.

"The stories in When God Makes Lemonade are from everyday people who are surprised by unexpected sweetness in the midst of sour life circumstances. Why true stories? Because they give us hope, and in these difficult times, most of us don't need to be told to work harder - we're already working as hard as we can! What we need most is to be reminded that God is here working all things together for good.

So if you're struggling beneath the weight of unemployment, depression, broken relationships, an unexpected death, or any of life's other difficulties, don't give up!

Though the settings, names and outcomes are unique in each lemonade story, they all say the same thing - you're not alone!

Yes, stuff happens in life, but so does lemonade, and when it does, it's as refreshing as a cold drink on a hot August day. May you find that kind of refreshment in the stories you read in this heartwarming book, and may God bless you with the courage you need to hold on." (Pg 18.)

I received When God Makes Lemonade by Don Jacobson compliments of B and B Media Group and Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. The best part about this book is that each story is unique and each one provides the reader an opportunity to walk in the shoes of each author and see what the long term result was. Too often we think that no one understands just what we're going through, but this book provides friendship in knowing we are not alone in our personal struggles. Sometimes it gives us perspective that others have it worse than what we are dealing with. The best part is the opportunity to share your own story on When God Makes Lemonade's website. Who knows maybe you're story will be published in the next book and the struggles you deal with now, will be used to help someone else who reads them find the light at the end of their own dark tunnel again. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars!

For more information about When God Makes Lemonade, Don Jacobson, or where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

When God Makes Lemonade by Don Jacobson

You can also find Don Jacobson on Facebook to learn more about this incredible mission of hope and encouragement.

To find out more information about how you can share your own personal story, please click here to visit When God Makes Lemonade's website. 

This Is The Moment! Giveaway and Review

Walter Green is a very extraordinary man.

He spent a year of his life taking a "victory lap" to locate all the people who have touched his life so much that is has changed his life for the better.

Too often most of us remember people who have helped us become who we are today through our memories of them, hardly thinking that perhaps by taking some time to personally meet with each of them and tell them just how thankful we are and how they have changed us.

We often wait until that person has died, to offer our words of praise and thankfulness during their eulogy. A time when that person will never hear our words. How much different would that person's life have been if they could have heard how much their actions affected our lives and made them better. How would that make you feel to hear someone thank you for what you did to make their life so much more meaningful.

In the book, This Is The Moment, Walter Green takes his readers first into the reasons behind writing his book and what this years journey will accomplish to him and to the lives of the people he hopes to meet. Second, he shares his conversations that he had recorded when he meet with his "life changers" or shared glimpses into their letters he sent them. Not all of the people in his life were still living so in those cases we see his thoughts in a letter he sent to the surviving family.

In the final section of the book, Walter walks you through taking this step in your own personal life as well and show you how to begin your own personal journey of gratitude to the people who made you, who you are today.

I received this amazing book, one of the best I've read this year, compliments of Planned TV Arts and Walter Green for my honest review. I LOVED IT!I would rate this one a stellar 5 out of 5 thankful stars!!!! I have even started my own personal journey of thanking the people in my life each week through my personal blog, Heart 2 Heart. I think this book can benefit so many people who need to hear our stories of how they really touched us and changed us for the better. It think it's even more a blessing to do that while they are alive and can hear the words from us now rather than us delivering a eulogy during their funeral.

This book is available in hardcover and eBook formats! For more information on this book, the author and where to purchase a copy of the book, click on the link below:

This Is The Moment

You can also visit Walter's blog at This Is The Moment.com/blog

Thanks to the wonderful people at Planned TV Arts and Walter Green, they are offering a giveaway copy of this amazing book to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your guidelines:

1. You must be a follower of my blog, Reviews of the Heart.

2. You must be a resident of the US and please No P.O. Boxes.

3. I will contact the winner of the giveaway by email, so please include it with your comment. You can use the words (at) or (dot) instead of the symbols.

4. Leave me a comment and let me know why you'd love to win a copy.

5. For an extra chance to win, please link this giveaway or post about it on your blog. Provide the link in your comment.

The giveaway will end on November 27th. What a great way to end the year on a positive note and just think of the difference it will make not only in your life but in the lives of the people you thank.