Rating: 
Summary: Pretense-free, and environmentally friendly!
Review: If Philip Yancey's publishers decided to market his new book in brown paper packaging with only a pricetag on the outside and not one word describing the contents, I would still be found at the counter, buying that book. I can say that for no other living Christian author that I am aware of. Soul Survivor is no disappointment. Again, Yancey has given his readers a relevant, insightful, honest-to-God, beautifully written book. Characteristically free of pretense.
Here is what it's about. Each chapter describes the life and work of someone whom Yancey considers to have helped him in his understanding of spirituality... they've shown him what it means to be spiritually aware of God in an ever-increasing measure. His introductory chapter amplifies the importance of the subtitle of the book, which is "How My Faith Survived The Church." Here he describes how his early experience of "church" or "religion" was not always positive or nurturing for him (which is putting it mildly). At times, it was downright counter-productive! Filled with racial prejudice, legalism, and double-standards.
He found that if he had to rely only on the examples of Christianity found in his immediate and restricted surroundings, he may have lost hold of his personal faith altogether. But here he shows how these 13 remarkable individuals, some of whom he knew personally, others only having studied and read about, helped to restore and transform his own inner life. They became his mentors. Clicking on amazon's Table Of Contents feature above will show you a listing of these.
I was surprised though, that there was not a chapter on Alexander Solzhenitsyn here, for through my reading of other Yancey books I felt sure that A.S. had been a great influence in his life. But... what do I know?
The best summary is Yancey's own words in the Epilogue: "I have dealt mostly with the past in this book, for these guides set me on my own pilgrimmage at a crucial time when my beliefs were taking shape. As for the present - well, that's the subject of most of my other books..."
Rating:
Summary: Soul Mentors
Review: Yancey not only gives us an in-depth memoir of his faith journey in SOUL SURVIVOR, he opens the door and invites you into the lives and writings of thirteen soul mentors. When I first looked at the table of contents and read this list of soul mentors, I said, those people are some of my favorite authors and faith mentors. Chapter by chapter, Yancey explores his faith struggles and soul journey through his encounter with these soul mentors. The holy calling of mentoring another's spiritual life is often neglected in our modern world. Yancey calls us back to the ancient disciplines of spiritual direction and spiritual reading for the sake of the growth of our interior lives with God. One does not need to be a Christian to be richly fed by this highly readable book. Yet, Yancey keeps calling us closer to Christ through the encounters with this "baker's dozen" of soul mentors. For two other books on soul mentoring, look into THE FAMILY CLOISTER (2000) and THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY TOOLBOX (2001) both by David Robinson, published by Crossroad...
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment with Yancey - Old Whine in a New Whineskin
Review: I have appreciated some of Yancey's previous work, particularly Disappointment with God. His corpus of work, however, seems to be a reiteration of the same basic points of disappointment with the Church. Yancey's disappointment with the church functions as a foil in this book against which his spiritual (though not necessarily Christian) mentors can shine. I am a pastor. I am well aware that churches are not perfect. Christians are sinners saved by grace, and sometimes they demonstrate more of the sinful 'old nature' than the new nature in Christ. The solution to this problem is to preach truth with love and to personally exemplify grace to those who most need to show it in their own lives. Repeated criticism of the church which Christ loves so much that He purchased her with his blood is not particularly helpful and runs the risk of aiding and abetting the world in its disdain and criticism of the church. What Yancey offers us is a set of heroes -- individuals who have had a postive influence on his life. Not all of these persons are Christians. While I readily concede that there is a lot that Christians can learn from non-Christians, I am troubled by the impression Yancey creates -- that the church's sins and problems cannot be solved by Christ and His Word alone, she needs Ghandhi and other non-Christians to show her the way.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the Read
Review: "How can I fit together my religious past with my spiritual present?" "What allowed me to ransom a personal faith from the damaging effects of religion?" "How have I changed because of my contact, direct or indirect, with this baker's dozen?"
These are the questions that Yancey answers in his book "Soul Survivor." Because of the scars left from his childhood religious community he presents to the world 13 people who have impacted his faith-life and who have led him to a further desire for Jesus. Some of the people presented are Christians and some are not, all are flawed as human examples of faith but he shows his readers their worth.I admit that after struggling to read "The Jesus I Never Knew" I was not looking forward to choking down this book. I admire Yancey's point of view when he writes and I find him to be very thoughtful, even original, but I liken his writing style to that of a long winded preacher who doesn't know when to make his point and then move on. (I tend to wonder if a chapter will ever end.) Although I found his style to be the same in "Soul Survivor" I was riveted by the people that he writes about and was thoroughly hooked into this book by the second chapter. (Something that never happened for me with "The Jesus I Never Knew.") As a journalist, Yancey's life has allowed him to come in contact with quite a few people. In "Soul Survivor" he presents the 13 people that have most influenced his faith beginning with the very well known Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, to the not so well known people like Dr. Cole Brand or Henri Nouwen. Yancey presents each person as an exposition of Christian faith in one way or another. I wondered what the Mahatma Gandhi chapter was going to be about. How could I possibly be inspired from Gandhi (A non-Christian)? However, Yancey skillfully presents what is inspirational about the man and has helped me to look at Gandhi through glasses of inspiration rather than a pure Biblical rationale. I also thought that reading about infamous people like Dr. Paul Brand would be an exercise in the boring but Yancey's portrayal of him helps me to appreciate him too. (It is actually my favorite chapter in the book.) I was deeply challenged by what I read because the people that he chose to write about are truly inspirational. I knew that each human Yancey presented was sinful in their own way (he admits as much) but I knew if I could harness their areas of individual excellence into my own Christian life then Jesus would have a champion among his people. I found myself deeply challenged and provoked to repent for my short comings. After reading the "Soul Survivor" I realize, along with Yancey, that "I had not learned to love individuals." I read about people who in many ways are loathsome to the cause of Christ and I found myself in want to be as they were, or are. I learned that I think too highly of myself as a Christian and not highly enough of others. This epiphany alone made the book worth the read. All-in-all the book was good. It was typical of Yancey's style which is not to my preference, but it may be to yours. It is worth reading; and I dare say, worth re-reading.
Rating:
Summary: life-changing
Review: Philip Yancey is so honest! It's a great comfort to realize that I don't have to defend the church in every circumstance, that I don't have to be a fervent churchgoer to be a Christian, that I don't have to flaunt my "religiousness" or be a pushy moralist. Although I expected more advice or self-help, the book provides shining examples through each of the 13 profiles containing both triumphs and mistakes that are self-help in themselves. I especially liked the chapter on Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. This book is ideal for two audiences: those who want further reading suggestions, and those who could want to rebuild their faith. It's slightly slow and anecdotal at parts (goes into detail about combatting racial injustice, which wasn't much of an issue for me), but it's worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Finding God
Review: I first read Philip Yancey back in the 1970s - 'Where is God when it hurts'. As a student lawyer I was impressed his willingness to write directly and honestly about issues so often avoided by the church. In his latest book he explores the lives and works of people who have helped him survive the oppression and hypocracy of some churches he has known. He begins with Martin Luther King - who else? Yancey reminds us of his singleminded determination to see his 'promised land' of freedom for oppressed blacks in 60's USA. His personal failings are not ignored - the bible does not ignore the failings of David, Samson etc. The most moving chapter describes his long acquaintance with Paul Brand who had devoted himself to the care of Leprosy sufferers. Ghandi is included. How often has it been said or written that this frail Hindu stands as the best example in the 20th Century as one who lived as Jesus did? And so we read about this list of men and women who have influenced this influential writer. G.K. Chesterton, Tolstoy, Dostoyevski et. al. When I finished the book I was inspired to come up with a similar list - C.S. Lewis, Bishop Tutu, David Watson, Philip Yancey.......
Rating:
Summary: Stirring
Review: Yancey once again delivers a work that is right out of his soul. As someone who likes to ask tough questions of church, and of people, I totally relate to the story of the many people who influenced Yancey throughout his journey through life. His work is like nothing else out there, what a joy to read. A highlight of this work is the fact that Yancey brings these people together in a way that has a common thread that is easy to follow: people who were not afraid to experience God in their own way. Yancey stirs me to always think outside the box in whatever career I end up in. Churches should never become stagnant, and Yancey's writing demands that I never become stagnant in my own faith, and provides people to look at, and be inspired by, who made a difference in this world. I thank Yancey for another great work.
Rating: 
Summary: Another great book for thinking Christians
Review: Yancey understands those for whom formulaic Christianity (as espoused in popular works like "The Prayer of Jabez") has failed. "Soul Survivor" shows the other side of faith's coin and mirrors much of Yancey's previous work concerning the "shadow side". More biographical than other works by Yancey, it profiles 13 people influential in restoring Yancey's hope in Christ and His Church. The mix primarily includes authors, doctors and priests/ministers. He even goes so far as to include Gandhi, a non-believer. In that, Yancey is brave enough to acknowledge that even ardent believers can learn from those that do not believe. The only weakness that prevented this from being a five-star recommendation is the fact that Yancey turned a blind eye toward high-profile evangelical ministers. Certainly Yancey has learned something in his walk from a Bill Hybels, Billy Graham, or another of that stature. This would provide this book with at least one point of contact with someone familiar to a larger audience. (Some might argue that Dr. Koop fulfills this role, but I am not certain that many know his convictions. Nor is he a "preacher/teacher" in the traditional sense.) Also, Yancey's superlative abilitity to humanize the people about whom he writes would translate into a new perspective on one of these major evangelicals. A profound book from a consistently excellent author.
Rating:
Summary: Yancey's a Survivor
Review: Most of my life I've been looking for God, but in all the places where you are supposed to find him (namely church), I have found exactly the opposite: judgement, intolerance, pettiness, legalism, and lies. Yancey, whose experience with the church has been even more dismal, acknowledges this unfortunate truth, but offers suggestions for knowing God in spite of it. His primary salvation (and mine) has been the dozens of people he has known or read about that testify to God's greatness. This book is a tribute to twelve of those people. I highly recommend it. I'm only 57 pages into it and it has already changed the way I look at religion.
Rating:
Summary: I was Kicked out for preaching Baptism Holy Spirit, I know
Review: What we all and especially new Christians need to understand is how the institutional church was created. That creation has left a loop for the dark forces to exploit. True spirituality comes about when your local church breaks the bonds of the institution and binds with the spirit. I am impressed with this book in that it will seriously help new Chriatians understand that and keep the faith. I want to highly recommend a book, that will also especially help female Christians, and non Christians. But read it all before jumping to conclusions. It is the most spiritually enlightening Book I have ever read. Karl Mark Maddox, SB 1 or God
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