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Summary: One of the top 5 Christian men's books of all time
Review: "Wild at Heart" is one of the most important books about being a man of God I have read. Eldredge puts a much-needed correction on our thinking about God, masculinity and living in the world as a man. If you are a man, Eldredge will help you think more clearly about finding and using your strength in your life roles. If you are a woman, Eldredge will help you think more clearly about how you can let your man use his God-given strength. The book is a quick read that you should make time for. I'm sending copies to my friends!
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Summary: Great Perspectives
Review: This is a thought provoking book that makes one think twice in regards to religion and sexuality. I found it had much insight into spirituality as it relates to men and women. Another book along the same lines, that I found facinating, was called, "I TALKED TO GOD AND HE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU".
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Summary: Not another book for men to be "nice guys"
Review: Powerful!
We are studing this book in our men's small group and it has been life impacting! John Eldredge goes against the grain in many aspects as he explores how men were originally to be Wild. Starting with where men are today, the soul wound that has be inflicted, what they try and do to "stitch" it up and finally how to fight the battle, Mr. Eldredge demystify's what God's original intention was for a man and a framework for getting back there.
The question is how wild does a man want to be (a man after God's own heart) in an age of 6am-6pm work, keeping up with the Johnson's (or Jone's) with the newest and biggest toys, afternoon's of watching football or playing golf, all the while trying use these as Band-Aid's on a spiritual artery that is gushing out LIFE.
Along with "Every Man's Battle" these two books need to be devoured by every man who calls himself "Christian".
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Summary: Prepare for the testosterone rush.
Review: If your book is shrinkwrapped, stand back and let the testosterone dissipate after opening!"Wild at Heart" reads like a Promise Keeper on steroids. John Eldredge delivers his analysis in a freash, stirring, and robust fashion. This book is not for the faint of heart. If you are content on your couch, remote control, and your life is just swell, don't read this book. But if you're like many men feeling a little lost, uncertain about the future and intuitively knowing that you're not the man God called you to be, sit down, put on a fire, and read on... Men, he asserts, inherently and instinctively, desire three things: adventure, battle, and to win a beauty. Instead of equipping boys and men for these virtuous tasks, society strips them of their dreams, their virile self-identity, and ultimately their identity. Instead of bold men of courage and strength, our culture grows weenies. Wimps. Passive, placid males who know not who they are, where they're going, or why they're here. Then in disgust, having already neutered them, society discards them as weak and irrelevent geldings, unfit for the ranch. If your father was aloof, removed, or never satisfied, this book may open your eyes as well as a wound or two about your relationship with him. There is good news - there is a heavenly father who is the ultimate father - and He is prepared to take you fishing, climbing mountains, and slaying dragons! The God of the Universe just might be waiting for you to crawl in His lap and sit still while He tells you He loves you. The book is stirring. Chords will strike deep in your heart. If you are a woman, you may see, for the first time, inside your man in a very private and powerful way.
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Summary: This Book Will Change You
Review: "Wild at Heart" is a fantastic book. It should be required reading for any man who wants to become a better man by better understanding how God has created him. I also know many women who have read this book and better understand the men in their lives now because of it. Of the dozen or so people I know who have read this book, all of them swear by it. But a warning...if you're not interested in becoming a strong, more secure man, then do not read this book. Actually, I'm serious about that.
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Summary: An Excellent Book For Men of all Ages
Review: I read this book and found out a lot of truths about my own heart that I have either left unnoticed or outright ignored. I feel that every man who lacks in self confidence and the ability to see his purpose in design ought to read this book. Eldridge puts excellent analogies into his writing and makes them wonderfully vivid to increase understanding. His picturesque stories and brilliant humor make this an easy read. And I love the movie quotes. "Wild at Heart" made me want to stand up and cheer several times.
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Summary: Wild at Heart will produce a Heart on Fire
Review: Many may say this book does not teach much on integrity and the like, but it does. Eldredge simply uses the word "strength" in place of "integrity." Strength which is formed by an intense desire for God, and our own Eve. Critics of this book are not entirely wrong with their critique that there is some psychobabel in here, surely you will find some of that. Not to mention there is an instance where Eldredge encourages his son to hit a bully back instead of turning the other cheek, which is just doctrinally, flat out wrong. He teaches his son to do this so his son is not "emasculated." The only other problem I have with the book is Eldredge's constant reference to many secular movies such as "Saving Private Ryan" and the most-quotable movie in the world, "Braveheart." Granted, I've seen all these movies when I was a non-christian, and also as a babe in Christ. However, it seems Eldredge who's been a Christian for years sees these movies as ok viewing material for Christians...which they are not. But I have no problem him drawing examples from these movies, no more a problem than when the apostle Paul quoted pagan philosophers to make his point. However, if you can get around these points in the book, you should do well. There is much to learn from this book concerning relationships with family, friends, and most importantly God. You will be able to look back at your life, and even current relationships, and say "Oh, that's what that was/is."
I highly encourage this book be read, there might be better books out there, but that does not mean we should exclude this one. Hopefully this book will encourage you as it has me, to "venture forth" in courage that arises out of love, a love that leaves me no choice but to cross the line drawn in the sand. "Eve was created within the beauty of Eden's garden. But Adam, if you'll remember, was created outside the Garden, in the wilderness...Man was born in the outback." (page 3)
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Summary: Read It Now
Review: Wild at Heart is an outstanding book. Every man should read it. Women who want to know their husbands much, much better - and serve as better wives - will also want to read it. I bought this for my wife, having read parts of it only, then read it myself after she finished. Outstanding. It is an excellent COMPANION book for men to read alongside those that focus more on the desires and needs of wives. What Men Should Get Out of It - I felt like I was discovering (or rediscovering) major parts of myself as I read this. Eldredge focuses on a man's innate need to find the "wild" self in three areas: being a "warrior," living adventurously, and fighting for one's woman. His message speaks to the man who has burried the wild and passionate side of himself into a passive, "nice" lifestyle. According to Eldredge (and I believe he is quite accurate) most women (at least the kind most men really want) ironically do not truly want this kind of "nice" and passive man, even though (and this is the tricky part) so many woman act so as to tame the wildness right out of their men once they are married. The man ends up not knowing what's missing from himself, and the woman ends up not at all happy with what's left over. And neither sees what's lacking. This book shows the lack. This was like looking in a mirror for me, and seeing the hidden parts that are in great need of being fed and revived. Why Women Should Read This - Any woman who reads this will (assuming she truly loves her husband) have a better idea of how to encourage her husband to be the man he was designed to be, and therefore bring her more joy in the relationship. Equally (or more) important, women will learn how to (and how not to) raise their sons. Wounds - The book spends some time discussing why things AREN'T working as designed in most men, including a sad message about how not to raise one's sons. Men will read these parts of the book and see the errors of their own parents, and will then see a path to get beyond what they were missing in the manhood passage of their own youth. And, more, men will learn how best to interact with their own sons to do it right. Warning - Eldredge mentions favorably at least one modern author who has adopted what has been criticized by Reformed theologians as "Open Theology." Then Eldredge makes points that tend to support the notion of Open Theology. Mind you, I happen to agree completely with Eldredge and with the criticism of the kind of theology that renders God (and man) as sort of risk-free puppets of an unalterable and perfectly safe hyper-detailed scheme or script. I note this only for those who are so locked into hyperCalvinism that any other view sends you into a tailspin. This is only a very small portion of the book, and really should not be any ground to avoid the meaty message of the book even for those who take a theologically purely Reformed view. Most will not even notice anyway, but it's worth noting. Caveat - One point. Although it's a great, well-written book on Christian manliness, I would suggest also one of the more stayed books on a man's role in a marriage relationship, such as those by Gary Smalley. Wild at Heart is I think the best book (by far)I have seen regarding what makes a man a man by design, but a good complimentary text that focuses more broadly on a woman's desires and needs will help assure that a novice on relationship issues will be best able to live out Eldredge's great suggestions in ways that carefully also consider one's wife's needs in a broader focus. In other words, if you're buying this book for a newlywed man, or for a guy who's about to be married (or a man who's married but is not well-focused on being a selfless and loving husband), buy this book WITH another that will spend time helping him understand the needs of the woman. But without reservation, I would recommend this book to ANY man, and to most women. Outstanding, refreshing, and truly inspiring. It changed me.
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Summary: Good Book
Review: I found the book to be affirming & encouraging. Some good principles & biblical truths reagarding the nature of man and his purpose. However, I believe Eldridge wrongfully traces the characteristics of man examined in the book backward to God, rather than from God to the image of man. For example, if God is a "risk-taker" then we have a open God who is not completely sovereign, which is unbiblical. The reader should read with this in mind, and mine the book for all it's worth...lot's of golden nuggets.
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Summary: Worth While
Review: Though I struggle with blanket statements meant for all men, the concepts brought forth are worth pondering. If you read this book looking for flaws, you will find them. If you read this book looking for answers, you will find them as well. I recommend the Field Manual if you really feel the need to dig into the subject matter of this book. He asks a lot of difficult questions that helped me better understand my own struggles with my past and how it affects me to this day.
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