Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books of the year
Review: "Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them" is one of the best books I've read this year. The basic premise of the book is that as long as we define others by putting them into a predefined mold based on their beliefs, age, education, or other traits, we will always find that they don't fit. Why is that the case? It's because we determine what is "normal" for people of that age, belief, lifestyle, or whatever and then find that nobody is "normal". As long as we define unique individuals as non-unique beings we will always be disappointed and end up in confrontations or disillusionment. This is a book about doing the opposite. It is about building relationship and community by accepting people for who and what they are - complete with any and all flaws.

Ortberg's writing style makes his works a delight to read. While creating an entertaining read he still manages to make his point very effectively. You finish the book with a deep appreciation for others and a strong commitment to building a positive community among your friends, family, and others. And, of course, that includes building the same strong relationship with God, who does accept us just the way we are with all of our faults. Just as God accepts us as we are, we need to accept others as they are. This is the foundational premise for building a positive community relationship with others. "Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them" should be required reading for everyone and deserves the highest recommendation that I can offer.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books of the year
Review: "Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them" is one of the best books I've read this year. The basic premise of the book is that as long as we define others by putting them into a predefined mold based on their beliefs, age, education, or other traits, we will always find that they don't fit. Why is that the case? It's because we determine what is "normal" for people of that age, belief, lifestyle, or whatever and then find that nobody is "normal". As long as we define unique individuals as non-unique beings we will always be disappointed and end up in confrontations or disillusionment. This is a book about doing the opposite. It is about building relationship and community by accepting people for who and what they are - complete with any and all flaws.

Ortberg's writing style makes his works a delight to read. While creating an entertaining read he still manages to make his point very effectively. You finish the book with a deep appreciation for others and a strong commitment to building a positive community among your friends, family, and others. And, of course, that includes building the same strong relationship with God, who does accept us just the way we are with all of our faults. Just as God accepts us as we are, we need to accept others as they are. This is the foundational premise for building a positive community relationship with others. "Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them" should be required reading for everyone and deserves the highest recommendation that I can offer.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book for Everyone
Review: Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them has everything a reader can ask for in a non-fiction book. Ortberg presents an excellent balance of stories, metaphors, quotes, biblical teaching, autobiography and spiritual insight. He adroitly intersperses humor into the writing that will make you laugh out loud. The variety assures that the reader will get the important message of the book and be entertained.

This is an upbeat book about relationships that we have with God and other people. It also targets how we see ourselves. The premise is that nobody is really "normal;" we all have quirks, defects and faults that make us very much in need of grace and mercy from God and others. Likewise, we all need to give grace and mercy to others and accept that all people come "as is" rather than perfect.

Ortberg writes, "when we enter relationships with the illusion that people are normal, we resist the truth that they are not. We enter an endless attempt to fix them, control them, or pretend that they are what they're not. One of the great marks of maturity is to accept the fact that everybody comes `as is.'"

The book is divided into three main sections: "Normal: There's no such Thing, Dear," "How to Get Close without Getting Hurt," and "The Secrets of Strong Relationships."

Ortberg leads the reader to an examination of heart and soul and to open the eyes to the dynamics present in all relationships. He focuses on principles and truths that are relevant to all people, such as the inevitability of conflict in relationships and the best way to deal with it.

If you want to improve the way you interact with your family, co-workers, church family and people you meet everyday, this is a book that will definitely help. Each chapter is followed by several discussion questions that can be helpful to small group interaction, as well as personal reflection.

Throughout the book, Ortberg takes great advantage of Biblical stories to convey lessons about relationships. He artfully brings to life several Old and New Testament accounts, filling in cultural background and offering theological insights.

I think you will thoroughly enjoy reading Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them and will appreciate Ortberg's skill in writing and teaching.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book for Everyone
Review: Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them has everything a reader can ask for in a non-fiction book. Ortberg presents an excellent balance of stories, metaphors, quotes, biblical teaching, autobiography and spiritual insight. He adroitly intersperses humor into the writing that will make you laugh out loud. The variety assures that the reader will get the important message of the book and be entertained.

This is an upbeat book about relationships that we have with God and other people. It also targets how we see ourselves. The premise is that nobody is really "normal;" we all have quirks, defects and faults that make us very much in need of grace and mercy from God and others. Likewise, we all need to give grace and mercy to others and accept that all people come "as is" rather than perfect.

Ortberg writes, "when we enter relationships with the illusion that people are normal, we resist the truth that they are not. We enter an endless attempt to fix them, control them, or pretend that they are what they're not. One of the great marks of maturity is to accept the fact that everybody comes 'as is.'"

The book is divided into three main sections: "Normal: There's no such Thing, Dear," "How to Get Close without Getting Hurt," and "The Secrets of Strong Relationships."

Ortberg leads the reader to an examination of heart and soul and to open the eyes to the dynamics present in all relationships. He focuses on principles and truths that are relevant to all people, such as the inevitability of conflict in relationships and the best way to deal with it.

If you want to improve the way you interact with your family, co-workers, church family and people you meet everyday, this is a book that will definitely help. Each chapter is followed by several discussion questions that can be helpful to small group interaction, as well as personal reflection.

Throughout the book, Ortberg takes great advantage of Biblical stories to convey lessons about relationships. He artfully brings to life several Old and New Testament accounts, filling in cultural background and offering theological insights.

I think you will thoroughly enjoy reading Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them and will appreciate Ortberg's skill in writing and teaching.

Rating:
Summary: A good book about Christian community...
Review: I admit, the title caught my eye. I have never read anything by Ortberg till' now, and for the most part, I liked his style. However, being a young college student and all, I felt like he sometimes avoided more serious issues by telling a joke or making light of something. Most of the time, it didn't bother me, but a few chapters really were speaking to me and then, he would kind of make them "lighter" by telling a joke or making a sarcastic remark.

However, who am I to judge? I've never written a book before and I'm one of the most sarastic people I know...so aside from that, this book is a delight and is an easy read for anyone serious about Christian community. There were a few times where I wish Ortberg would've let go completely and just speak of letting Jesus' love do to people what it should, but nonetheless, he's ten times better than most of the baby boomers than I know when it comes to seriously addressing Christian community.

If you liked this book, check out "12 STEPS FOR THE RECOVERING PHARISEE"...it has several similar characteristics of this book and takes them a little further and deeper.

However, all in all, Johnny, thanks for a good read that provokes some thinking and made me nod my head a little too often. As someone considering to serve the church by loving God as my career, it was very helpful.

(p.s. I hate the phrase "going into full time ministry"---I feel like we all should be doing that in whatever profession we should choose to pursue and I think Ortberg is with me on this one!:)

Rating:
Summary: A good book about Christian community...
Review: I admit, the title caught my eye. I have never read anything by Ortberg till' now, and for the most part, I liked his style. However, being a young college student and all, I felt like he sometimes avoided more serious issues by telling a joke or making light of something. Most of the time, it didn't bother me, but a few chapters really were speaking to me and then, he would kind of make them "lighter" by telling a joke or making a sarcastic remark.

However, who am I to judge? I've never written a book before and I'm one of the most sarastic people I know...so aside from that, this book is a delight and is an easy read for anyone serious about Christian community. There were a few times where I wish Ortberg would've let go completely and just speak of letting Jesus' love do to people what it should, but nonetheless, he's ten times better than most of the baby boomers than I know when it comes to seriously addressing Christian community.

If you liked this book, check out "12 STEPS FOR THE RECOVERING PHARISEE"...it has several similar characteristics of this book and takes them a little further and deeper.

However, all in all, Johnny, thanks for a good read that provokes some thinking and made me nod my head a little too often. As someone considering to serve the church by loving God as my career, it was very helpful.

(p.s. I hate the phrase "going into full time ministry"---I feel like we all should be doing that in whatever profession we should choose to pursue and I think Ortberg is with me on this one!:)

Rating:
Summary: Solid!
Review: I have always been a fan of John Ortberg, and this book is no exception. I appreciate the ways he speaks about his faith and his struggles in it. This book takes a close look at community and how churches should be measuring up, really thought provoking.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book on Community
Review: I have come to love the writing of John Ortberg. He has a great way of taking complicated biblical truths and presenting them in a way that is easy to understand. I usually read a book and highlight important points. There is actually a section where I highlighted three entire pages. He does a wonderful job of showing what true community looks like and how we can get there.

Rating:
Summary: Community of Dancing Porcupines - read it and see!
Review: I really enjoy Ortberg's wit and ability to illustrate things in a clever and entertaining way that makes the reader think deeper about Christian community and personal transformation.

Rating:
Summary: Another provocative title from a great storyteller
Review: I've had the pleasure of meeting John Ortberg. But more, I've had the life changing experience of listening to John and reading his books. His tape on Life without regret, and It all goes back in the box, are so good and so life changing that it does them a disservice to call them classics. This book is in that tradition. The Holy Spirit abounds in John's work here. It answers the question of how porcupines dance and why, and why we pick up rocks.

It tells us why we need each other and just what community really is and how much God wants us to make it work. This is well worth the time to read it, and buy a couple of copies to hand to friends. They will thank you for it.