Rating: 
Summary: Radically Refreshing & Biblically Grounded
Review: John Eldredge's WILD AT HEART is one of the most refreshing and radical books that I have read. Why are so many men unhappy, un-fulfilled, in jobs they hate, and in marriages that are dead? WILD AT HEART seeks to answer those questions and restore the passion and God-given masculinity that so many men in today's world, and church, are missing. Some wrongly criticize WILD AT HEART, believing Eldredge is offering up macho, dim-witted masculine bravado, or they believe that this work will be a free pass for men to leave marriages in the dust on a search for lost dreams. Eldredge will have none of that, and says himself in the book that such men are "deceived about what it is they really want, what they are made for." Don't be fooled by the various criticisms that ignore Eldredge's real meaning. A real man's desires are shaped by the Lord. Instead, WILD AT HEART is about restoring a Godly dream in the soul of a man. A desire to truly be a man, rather than a softened-neutered-nice-but-restrained-guy that the world has somehow dictated that Christian males should be. Nice men may be socially acceptable but in creating them we have snuffed out the very fire that God would have us fan in our pursuit of Him. This is an attempt to re-kindle that flame. To restore the three longings that are at the core of each man: a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue. Eldredge's arguments are firmly planted in Biblical principles, as well as his past personal experience. His writing style is very easy going, and he uses a lot of illustrations from popular culture, which makes the reading fun. I believe this book is an awesome wake up call to the church. For too long men have weakened themselves by ignoring our God-created passions. WILD AT HEART shows us how to restore them, and challenges us to take the right risks and live the adventure. It may be a bit scary (after all, did God give Abraham a risk-free offer on his call to leave Ur?), but there's no other way to reach the real fulfillment that God would have us find. I'm not a big fan of "men's books," but this is one that I am so glad that I did not miss. You shouldn't either. FIVE STARS.
Rating: 
Summary: The gospel according to John Eldredge
Review: JE advances the overarching idea that men and women, presumably Christians, have lost touch with their true natures and, in the words of JE, they have lost their hearts, because they have been denied their deepest desires. Further, according to JE, men in particular have been denied their deep desire to be powerful, dangerous, fierce and above all wild, desires that are presumably written into their hearts by God. JE supports this assertion by arguing that men, by their God-given nature, are powerful because they were created in the image of an all-powerful God (p. 18). According to JE, this powerful nature has been denied to men over the years. This denial has come by the hands of the church and society, which institutions are most commonly introduced into a man's life through a man's father. JE terms this denial at the hands of our fathers or other authorities in our lives the "wound." In a sweeping exoneration of today's men, JE blames this wound for much of the sin in the lives of men today from rage (p. 126) to sexual immorality (p. 91) to laziness. (See pp. 44, 126, 170). JE posits that all feelings of guilt in the midst of such sin are lies from Satan (p. 163). As for women, holding Ruth of the Bible out as an example, JE endorses the view that they should be valiant, vulnerable and scandalous (p. 190). Jesus Christ, according to JE, came to release men and women from the bondage of thinking that the wound, and the sin that follows, is their fault. (pp. 125-127). Indeed, one of JE's life-changing epiphanies was when he came to think that his outbursts of rage and other sin were not his fault. JE's prescription, JE's gospel, is to invite men and women to live from their deep hearts by asking themselves, as JE did, what makes them come alive and then by going and doing just that (p. 200). Most importantly, men must "enter their wound" and admit that all of the garbage in their lives is not their fault. JE teaches that Jesus Christ came to help men do this. Sadly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ contradicts every one of the above points of JE's gospel. The Bible has much to say about the attributes of ferocity, wildness and power. A simple, humble and honest search of a concordance should be clear here, with respect to whether Christians are to be "wild" or "fierce." Regarding the attribute of power, the Bible is also clear, that men are only powerful by dint of a powerful God. The distinction between knowing that a certain display of power by a man is from God or from a man's very nature is one that is made on countless pages of the Word and is critical to our walk with God. The Bible is resounding in teaching that no man is powerful in his nature. Men are only powerful when an all-powerful God works through them. In fact, the Apostles knew that every inclination of sinful men was to ascribe powerful deeds at the hands of men to man's power rather than God's power. This is why they exhorted the onlookers at the gate called Beautiful that it was not by their own power or godliness that they healed the crippled man (Acts 3:12) and refused to be worshiped in Lystra (Acts 14:14,15), and why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7 that "we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." Further, even if men are denied the very breath that they breathe, let alone adventure and power, they have no excuse for the sin that they commit, for according to Romans 1:20 "men are without excuse." After all, weren't Paul and Silas in Philippi denied a desire that all Christians know is written into their regenerated hearts by God, to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus in the streets, yet, did they sin in the jail? Did they have outbursts of anger? Did they neglect the high calling of God in Christ Jesus? No, according to Acts 16:25, they sang hymns to their Lord in jail and ended up sharing the Gospel of Jesus with the jailer and others, so that they were saved by God. To be sure, Hebrews 12:4 makes clear that we are to go to the point of shedding our blood in resisting sin in our lives. While JE believes that Christ came to help us admit that we are not at fault, Jesus preached, "repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." JE even goes so far as to liken his life-changing epiphany that his rage was not his fault to Augustine's epiphany in the garden in Italy. However, JE's epiphany and Augustine's epiphany could not be more diametrically opposed. Augustine repented after reading Romans 13:11-14, and then he cried. JE admitted it was not his fault, and then he cried. For a helpful explanation of these two different types of sorrow, one that leads to death and the other to life, read 2 Corinthians 7:8-10. The real problems in men's and women's lives today that JE addresses are rooted in the fact that they have forsaken God. Rather than write a book with the purpose of teaching about the streams of living water that are found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, JE has dug his own cistern for his readers. Sadly, a picture of such situation is contained in Jeremiah 2:13, which states "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." Thanks to JE, we have yet another cistern to turn folks away from the One and Only, Jesus Christ our Lord.
LORD help us, for Jesus' sake, Amen.
Rating:
Summary: Cop out...
Review: In Wild at Heart, John Eldredge gives us a 'psychology lite' answer to a problem that may not even exist. He hangs a lot of his effort on the symptom that men are 'nice guys'. This is not a problem. In 2-3 years this title - along with many other books that fill the Christian section at Barnes & Noble - will be forgotten. Read John Piper's Biblical Manhood, instead. It's much better.
Rating:
Summary: Misses the mark. Really disappointing.
Review: The main thing I got from this book is that men are emasculated, and that it's time to take back the manhood that God intended. I got this point because the author makes it over and over and over.....and over. We finally find out there is something we can do about it around halfway through. Then it goes back to emasculation. I had high hopes for this book. I agree that men are taught to be "nice", and had hoped that this book would look at that from a Christian perspective, but I felt like it was more of a self-help book for men with low self-esteem and regrets over their career choices in life. The author spends a lot of time talking about the role women have taken (as if they're a major part of the problem) to emasculate men and that there's no dangerous people working in offices. His point I think is that we as men should be spending more time engaged in manly pursuits in order to be more like Christ....to be more dangerous....I think....I didn't get it either. There's a video series too--we did it for a men's group at my church---one of the highlights is the men on a manly weekend (campfires, skeet shooting etc.) shooting their cell-phones as a statement of freedom and independence.
About 2/3 of the way through, the book switched gears and started talking about spirtual warfare. I think the point was to be that men must be strong in order to engage in the spiritual warfare that we as Christians engage in almost constantly, but the connection wasn't made. Of course women are capable of engaging in spiritual warfare too, so I didn't see the point the author was trying to make.
This book missed the mark for me both as a Christian man, as well as preparing me for spiritual warfare. There's better books out there on both of these subjects.
Rating:
Summary: Buy, Beg or Borrow this Treasure!
Review: This approach to Christianity is wonderful. It's in terms that guys can relate to. One almost feels as though this author is inside of your head. The detail is incredibly sensible. You can stop thinking of guilt, contradictory and demanding church expectations and get down to the real point that God and Jesus really love you and will and want to help you. The explanations of how evil manifests itself are both straight forward and realistic. This book changed my life as far as my attitude toward Christianity. I would strongly suggest that the CD is even better for immediate playback to capture what Mr. Eldredge is unveiling.
Rating:
Summary: A Waste of Time and Paper
Review: There are an infinite number of creatively acerbic ways in which one might say it, but the simple fact remains: this book is awful. This book reads disturbingly like one of those comically misguided "hygiene manuals" from the early twentieth century, as the author rails against the evils of masturbation and battlefield cowardice. The overarching theme of the book seems to echo Leo Durocher's infamous adage that "nice guys finish last." Eldredge constantly implores men to throw off the cultural expectation of "niceness" that modern society has thrust upon them, and begin fighting some unnamed foe in their necessary struggle to regain their inherent "wildness." He even goes so far as to suggest that it was this inner pull towards wildness that caused him to take up residence in the "wild" west town of Colorado Springs. And I just thought it was the weather. This book rehashes all of the old stereotypes of men as daring knights and women as damsels in desire of rescue. The author expresses his latent urge to be William Wallace (maybe it's the kilt), and even waxes poetic about a Civil War soldier who envisions his own senseless death but cannot resist "the call of the battlefield." This is a childish and woefully misinformed tome that would seem to appeal only to those with delusions of grandeur and/or little man's syndrome. In short, don't waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: The Way is Narrow
Review: I've never been so moved by a book that I actually passed out copies to my friends... That is, until I read Wild at Heart back in the summer of 2001 (That same summer I bought nearly 20 copies and handed them out.) I can't understand how some people have actually accused John Eldredge of making the Gospel better than it truly is... as if that's possible!!! The Gospel IS good news, and if the Gospel you're following isn't freeing you and making you want to burst at the seams just to get a chance to share it with others, then it's NOT the Gospel of Christ Jesus you're holding. Period. However, it's not a surprise to me that Eldredge is taking some abuse. Jesus promised that the way to Life is narrow and only a few would find it. The great thing about the way Eldredge writes is his ability to compile the greatest Christian writings into one source. When you read an Eldredge book, you're not just getting his particular point of view. You get the Bible (in several translations), CS Lewis, Gerald May, St. Augustine, Thomas a' Kempis, GK Chesterton, Oswald Chambers, etc... His writings are very similiar to those "IDIOT'S GUIDES" that you see on nearly every subject possible (camping, web design, etc...). Those guides are simply created from compiling the most reliable sources into one, easy to read book. That's John Eldredge for you. Think of any of his books as "THE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO THE GOSPEL." Eldredge's writings are balanced and full of Truth (with a capital "T"), because he is simply compiling the best of the best writings from those who have really walked with Jesus. This is not NEW stuff. (And I'm sure John Eldredge would be the first to admit that.) This is the Gospel as it's always been. If it sounds brand new, it just means you've probably been drinking from a muddy river instead of the Rivers of Living Water. (ie: Though I was raised in the church, I never truly heard The Gospel until I was 17 years old. If anyone knows what it is to THINK you know Jesus and Freedom only to find out all you truly know is religion and shame, it's me.) If you haven't read anything by John Eldredge, go for it. Wild at Heart may be a good place to start (for men or women - seriously). Dare to Desire is great if you just want to find out where Eldredge is coming from in one hour or less. There isn't anything this man has written that is not Life-giving and filled with the thirst-quenching Truth as Jesus meant it. Drink up! =) (www.ransomedheart.com is Eldredge's website. He has valuable teaching tapes / cds.)
Rating:
Summary: WWFW - World Wide Federation of WIMPS!
Review: In response to the man below: You have completely missed the point of John Eldridge altogether. A lot of men in our society have become a bunch of compliant wimps! One reason (among many) is because woman, with the backing of "laws" and "rights", have taken over (they have become the husband they always wanted to marry). Men are looked down at for being masculine ("It's not very NICE!"). Further, the church often depicts Christ as skinny, long-haired wimp, too. He was a carpenter for crying out loud who could withstand total rejection, false accusations, brutal beatings and being hung on the cross for three hours (most men "boo hoo" about having colds...). This wimpy depiction of Christ is then transferred to the congregation as "the right way to be". Bull! God is in us and we are in God. Since we have been made in His image we are not limited to just "love" and "softness" (which is important, too). God made the lightening, lions, earthquakes, thunder...and, yes, MEN, too. There is nothing "sinful" about being "wild" and adventurous; God is and we represent Him! JE is just giving men permission to be that masculine image of God and asking woman to support that. I am not implying AT ALL that men should be domineering, angry, abusive, and over-powering or the like. God is a tender warrior, and man should be the same. But if you're idea of being "masculine" is to withdrawal in front of the T.V. while drinking beer and belting out orders...then you're missing it, too. Both men and women should read this book. It is very much needed in our panty-waste society!
Rating: 
Summary: Good idea but off the real target
Review: I picked up this book at the library after hearing about it and to be honest, I wasn't sure what to think--I liked some things and didn't like others. I definitely agree that Christian men really need to step up and be Godly men but somehow I don't think I'll cross a guy off my list just because he's 'nice.' And, of course I want my guy to fight for me--WHEN NEED BE, but in all honesty I'm reading this thinking "Ok, so what will I need to be rescued from again?" I've had a great life, my heart's still together and don't plan on doing anything stupid so what's to rescue me from? It just didn't make sense to me.
The major problem I had was what he said about women and I am by absoluetly NO means a feminist!!! He kept saying over, and over that what men want is to rescue a beauty-- well, hopefully that means more than simple external beauty! I do not want a man to desire me because of the way I look, that's shallow, shabby and makes them less of a man. A true man, a man after God's own heart, knows that character and integrity are what count.
Another problem I had was him telling his son to hit a bully if the bully hit the son first. My mother is a teacher and I am planning to become a teacher after I graduate. I have spent the past 4 years seeing the effects of bullying in schools and personally, I think that lashing out in anger/self-defense can make the problem worse and is definitely not a good witness. I am not saying that there is no need for self-defense, but I don't think that children are mature enough to know when it is appropriate and how far to take it. There are other, more Christ-like and 'manly' ways to deal with situations than a simple, physical retaliation. I can do that--does that make me a strong person? Not necessarily- strength is not only physical.
In this book, John makes it seem as though the only thing men care about is the great outdoors and the only thing women care about is getting a man to rescue them (from...??). Well, we serve a creative God who created us with different talents and interests. I think Mr. Eldredge needs to be careful about the assumptions he makes about what real men are and what real women want.
Rating:
Summary: What every man should read and think about
Review: Yes this book has been met with some controversy. And it's because John Eldrigde writes on a controversial subject: namely, the place of men in today's often watered-down, bless-me, "let's play church" christianity. I heartily recommend the book. If you look at God and come to see that part of who is is a warrior, and that He has birthed that warrior spirit to one degree or another in men, then, through His Word, spending time in His presence, and making adjustments in one's life where necessary, one can take a hold of that which God desires for the men He created. God has given us men a mantle of authority to walk in. And it's not birthed out of our own strength or giftings. It's when we realise that in and of ourselves we are cursed and self-seeking, but through God, and in admission of our weakness before Him, we can walk out into creation and live the lives of fullness (John 10:10) that Jesus came to bring us. Get the book. Wrestle with it...YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH JOHN...BUT AT LEAST HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY..IT'LL GET YOU THINKING.
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