Believers in Business

Rating:
Summary: The authority on the impact of Christianity in business
Review: Believers in Business is widely acknowledged as the authoritative study of the impact (or lack thereof) of personal faith and organized Christianity in the business world, specifically among Christian CEOs. Dr. Nash makes a sympathetic, yet critically rigorous, analysis of her interviews with 85 CEOs. She explains the paradox of why many business people say their faith is crucially important to their business practice, yet talk so little about the specific impact their faith has made in particular decisions. The apparent gap between their claims and their actions makes them vulnerable to a stereotyping that Dr. Nash attempts to explode. She examines seven tensions that serious, self-aware Christian business leaders must navigate to integrate their faith with their business life.

Dr. Nash also demonstrates that organized Christianity has almost no impact on the practice of business, even though the personal faith of some business leaders does. The reason is that church leaders, especially clergy, have not learned how to engage the business world on its own terms. Lacking a real understanding of business, the churches are doomed to fail in their attempts to influence the business world. Dr. Nash offers a way forward through serious engagement between the church and the marketplace, an endeavor in which she continues to provide academic leadership as Director of the Institute for Values-Centered Leadership at Harvard Divinity School.

The book is distinguished from the usual over-earnest, under-critical works in the faith-and-business genre by its top-quality intellectual rigor, in-depth data acquisition, crisp and enjoyable prose, and gently ironic good humor. Among all the other books in the field that take themselves so self-importantly, where can you find another that dares to use a pun as its title? Yet this is the one with the real meat.

Review by William G. Messenger, Director, The Mockler Center for Marketplace Ministry

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary South Hamilton, Massachusetts

Rating:
Summary: How to fill 296 pages...
Review: I am not sure I would ever recommend this book to anyone. In the first three chapters, where the author establishes the reasons for writing this book, you are introduced to the seven creative tensions. These tensions form the framework for the rest of the book. However, the author reveals to the reader that she developed these tensions after her research. While the identification of these tensions does earn the author some respect the application of them throughout the book is sketchy at best. I got the sense that the Author was "grasping" to pull this book together.

Each chapter is peppered with quotes from various CEOs. In some cases the author has to explain what she "thinks" the interviewee meant and how it fits in to her post production tensions.

To help make sense of this the author creates three distinct categories called the Justifier, Generalist and the Seeker. These three distinct ways of looking at Christianity were intriguing and upon there introduction, in the first couple of chapters, I was very engaged. However, the author all but abandons these catagories; making only token references throughout the rest of the book. I was left wanting.

The writing style also appeared forced. It was as if the author was trying to fill 296 pages. This book could have easily been condensed into a short research paper without losing any of the meaning or useful content.

I am not an academic, by any means, but if you would like to read a book full of circular logic and no real answers then this is the book for you. However, if you would like to read a book full of principles and rules that you as a Christian can apply please read "Business by the Book" by Larry Burkett. If offers much more conclusive answers to the questions posed by the Nash book. I read both of these books back to back and the Burkett book was an easier read and much more satisfying.

I hope this was helpful.

Rating:
Summary: The authority on the impact of Christianity in business
Review: Laura Nash is among the first to take a thorough look at how a person's faith impacts the way that person does business. In doing so, she shatters many common misconceptions and allows readers to grasp a greater understanding of how to make their spiritual beliefs an integrated part of their work worlds. The first three chapters explain the rational for the book, addressing such questions as "who are evangelicals" at work and "what the believers say about business." Chapter Three gets to the heart of the matter. It outlines the "Seven Creative Tensions" for believers in business. The chapters that follow address each "tension" in more detail. This is a well-researched, objective and easy-to-read book that everyone interestest in a holistic approach to work should read.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic look at the role faith place in our work.
Review: Laura Nash is among the first to take a thorough look at how a person's faith impacts the way that person does business. In doing so, she shatters many common misconceptions and allows readers to grasp a greater understanding of how to make their spiritual beliefs an integrated part of their work worlds. The first three chapters explain the rational for the book, addressing such questions as "who are evangelicals" at work and "what the believers say about business." Chapter Three gets to the heart of the matter. It outlines the "Seven Creative Tensions" for believers in business. The chapters that follow address each "tension" in more detail. This is a well-researched, objective and easy-to-read book that everyone interestest in a holistic approach to work should read.