Rating: 
Summary: MUST reading for every man
Review: Simply amazing! I hardly know where to begin! This book brought perspective to the frustrations and tensions of my "domestic" existence. I'm bored! I want adventure! Now, I feel a great freedom to live life a little more "out there". The life of faith must be lived on the edge! My wife is thrilled, too, because she's become bored.Additionally, as a new parent, I am inspired by thoughts of how empowering my interaction with our children can be for them. I have the power to make or break my little son's spirit. How I want to do everything in my power for him to be free to live radically for God.
Rating:
Summary: fantastic
Review: Wild At Heart by John Eldredge reveals incredible insight into true masculinity and feminity. From this woman's point of view Eldredge expertly combines scenarios from popular movies with examples from the Bible to effectively reveal his vision. He challenges a woman to be valiant, vulnerable, and scandulous and supports these descriptions with Biblical text while presenting a refreshing viewpoint on how to live. His challenge of the androgenous stereo type of a nice guy is to be commended. Reading this book will challenge the readers, both male and female, in their walk with Christ and provide insightful knowledge for more effective and productive interaction with the men of all ages in their lives.
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Summary: Beyond Androgyny
Review: Wild at Heart is, in a world of fruit drinks, a double gin and tonic! Powerful, warm, bracing, and permission-granting. This book takes a crowbar to the lid that religion and other domesticating forces have clamped on men (and women). At first impression, Eldredge seemed to be issuing a fine and compelling call to manhood, ala Braveheart (and, yes, even at that level, it's a rollicking great book). Then I realized he is really confronting that androgyny which is inevitably produced by the forces of conformity. Here, he is operating on new ground: the contemporary church world has unwittingly pressured men and women to trade their sexuality for a third gender called "Christian." But, then, he surprises again by throwing back the curtain even further and revealing the throbbing vitality of a connection with the God. He designed men and women, therefore, only He can define and empower their roles. Men must take their strength to, not from, women! It's time for men to unhook their little tubes from their mothers and wives and get reconnected to the Fatherhood of God. Readers of Wild at Heart are in for some delicious and even stunning passages. His view of Ruth and Boaz's courtship is a vivid revelation of the essence of a woman; it is also thigh-slapping funny. The parable of intercourse(page 185!) is another revelation; it genuinely stirred me (it would make Aunt Bee reach for a fan)! Eldredge's portrait of Joseph (Jesus' earthly father, not the patriarch) is moving and insightful. And, his explanation for pornography's pull on men is crystal clear. Please understand: this is not a trendy nor iconoclastic nor macho manifesto for men. Eldredge's heart is humble, his theology is surprisingly mature, and his mission is serious as a shotgun. Perhaps the most valuable cargo of the book is the way he challenges men to care and 'fight for' their wives and children. Wild at Heart says much about the sad abandonment of women by their men, especially in those long marriages, where the initial glow has faded and couples find themselves in a malaise. Eldredge challenges men with 'She's still in there, but she's captive. Are you willing to go in after her?' Men who have mounted their stallions and charged, dashingly, into a career need to turn around and ride back into the land where she fell, and sweep her up from the ground. Yes, she's still there and waiting to be rescued!
Rating:
Summary: Revolutionized my view of myself as a man...
Review: There are few books written about being a man of God that I have not either read or reviewed. None impacted me the way this book did. I had the fortune of attending a weekend retreat with the author, John Eldredge, and realized almost immediately that I had never heard anything like this. I can't begin to describe what happened in my heart as the weekend progressed. Suffice it to say, I was undone. Everything I thought about being a man in the image of God was shaken. I can only recommend this book for reading in this forum. I wish I could recommend this way of life but you will need to read it for yourself, and if possible connect with other guys in reading and discussing. Strength and honor!
Rating:
Summary: Wild at Heart
Review: This was a fantastic read. I have purchased 4 copies to give to friends and I am encouraging everyone I know to read it. Where are the real men of the faith -- not the timid souls who are afraid to take a challenge and attempt something great for the kingdom but those who are willing to lock arms with a band of brothers and make a real difference? Count me in for this brand of companionship -- for this brand of faith. "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who come alive."
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Summary: Being the man God designed me to be...
Review: Many books have filled our heads with knowledge but few have moved our hearts towards God as this does. In, "Wild at Heart", John lays out not only what God's design for a man is but what is keeping a man from God's design. After speaking to the deep parts of a man's heart: a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue, he then uncovers the wounds of our past, exposes our enemies, and unfolds the greatest adventure of a lifetime. This is not a recipe book with a cookie cutter approach to being a man. It is a treasure map that points and guides but never gives away the exact location of the treasure, as the journey to recover the heart of a man is unique for every man.
Rating:
Summary: What it means to be a man.
Review: This book captured what it means to be a man. It explains in it's valiant political incorrectness why we are the way we are, what motivates us, and what problems are inherent to our nature. I have never read a more invogorating book that made me search out "who I am" more than ever before. This is a must-read book for all men.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome.
Review: Over the last 20 years I have read many books on the subject of Christian masculinity, but this one is by far the best I've ever read. In this book, Eldredge cuts across the grain of mainstream Christianity to articulate, explore and advocate a way of living that most men only subconsciously dream of: full of a thirst for Christ and purposeful, courageous adventure. This book has had a deep and immediate impact on me as a husband, father, brother and follower of Jesus. Don't let the short number of pages fool you. Eldredge pulls no punches in this highly concentrated work. Sometimes you'll sit down to read a chapter and only be able to get through the first few paragraphs before having to put it down to think and pray. And ladies, this isn't just a "guy thing". It would be an awesome book for wives to study with their husbands, and explores many issues pertinent to women as well as men. Overall, a refreshing, beautifully-written book that I think is exactly what the church needs at this time. I wish every man I know would read it.
Rating:
Summary: Changes my paradigm
Review: John Eldredge's book, Wild at Heart, along with his previous two works, The Sacred Romance (with B. Curtis) and The Journey of Desire, has given me such a vision of how God has intended for us to live our lives. The book teaches about three things that men need to have in life: a battle to win, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue. Wild at Heart shows how we have lost sight of these things, why we lost sight of them, and how to gain our hearts back. All through this book, I found myself nodding my head in agreement as to how my insecurities and lack of passion for the Gospel have been disguised through "busyness" in church, friends, etc. This book makes you realize that there is truly more to the life than just serving in church, raising a family, and succeeding at work. These are the fruits of our relationship with the living God, yet I have treated these things as the end-all goal of my life. My only complaint is that I felt like I wanted more application on how to include battle, adventure, and rescue in my day-to-day life. All too often, I felt as though the only way to achieve these things is by moving out west to go climb mountains and wrestle with elk all day long. I am getting ready to go through the book again with a friend to get his perspective on it. That may help me with the daily application. All in all, I loved this book. Reading this mainly at the local Starbucks on a daily basis, I found myself many times wanting to stand up and yell "Yes!" after reading some statement in the book. But instead, I would just take an extra sip of my Sumatra.
Rating:
Summary: Awaken the wildness
Review: What a great book!! "Wild at Heart" was a breath of fresh air in my life. Mr. Eldredge reminded me of who God is and who I am in relation to God, and what an amazing thing to be reminded of. The book talks about how most Christian men have been brainwashed into the attitude that being the "nicest guy around" is the ultimate goal in life. However, as followers of God, we're never told to do that. Jesus calls us to lose life in order to save it, pursue the pearl of great price, and risk to grow in relationship with God and others. Through "Wild at Heart", God has reawakened the wildness that I once posessed. Thanks Mr. Eldredge, I needed this book.
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