Rating: 
Summary: Our Heart & the World at War
Review: I decided to write a review after reading the others on here who didn't like this book. This book will be somewhat polarizing - you'll probably either love it or hate it!A few of us brothers have been meeting for fellowship & prayer one night a week, and having dinner, for some time now. A couple weeks back several of them recommended I read this book. While at first the mythological stories the author relates, didn't quite take with me, I began to realize something. In church meetings, and in various gatherings, I have often gotten the deep sense that we are a band of noble warriors. Meeting with the brothers, I often got the sense of something like the Knights of the Round Table - with our King, Jesus. I've expressed this a few times, but others didn't always connect with what I was saying. This book connects with that sense deep within me - that we have been given a good & amazingly noble heart. My heart has been oppressed for a couple years, after I shared the gospel with some friends who didn't receive it (at least not yet). I see a little now how much the enemy hated that sharing of Christ, and has thrown everything at me to get me off focus. Saints, we are at war, like this book details. The author talks a lot about epic movies like the Matrix. I don't know about you, but that movie astounded me, in how it is just like reality - people are asleep in a world that is designed to suck out their very life! So many stories & fables down throught he ages reflect how we are in a conflict with an subtile & vile enemy that must be overcome for us to live. This book reveals this often shrouded aspect of human living very well I think, and how Christ wants to fully restore our hearts. I do have questions, which I am praying about & plan on discussing this week with my brothers group. The main questions center around these topics:
1. Do we really have a new & good heart already?
2. Resting in Christ vs. fighting the good fight.
3. Having our heart's desire vs. being crucified in Christ. I'm already getting some answers to 2 & 3. I beleive John Eldredge's (the author) heart is in a very good place as he conveys the thoughts & experiences in this book to us. To me the acid test is if it brings me closer to Jesus and fellowship. The answer to that is yes! We all have the annointing which is true, so go & read the book with an open heart, praying the Lord will reveal what He has for you. One last thing. If you are questioning getting the book, go to the 3 page prayer in the appendix on page 223 and read it. To me, it would be hard not to write a prayer like that outside of intimate fellowship with Christ. See what you think. UPDATE: Yes we have a "new heart" in Christ! We are a new creation. Read the book, look at the references & pray for His clarity! 5+ stars & I will reread!
Rating: 
Summary: self-centered and hedonistic
Review: The thing that stood out to me was Eldridge's emphasis on human pleasure. I'm reminded of CS Lewis's quote that humans are far to easily pleased with worldy pleasures and as a result do not seek after the eternal glory found only in God's mercy, love, and grace. Eldridge is satisfied with far too little -- rock climbing, hiking, fishing. He pursues the good at the expense of the best. There's nothing inherently wrong with these things. In fact all things are permissable, but not all things are beneficial. I believe this book becomes a means of rationalization to pursue whatever entertainment a person wants. That is, after reading the book a person could say, 'I want this "*****" [fill in the blank], God wants me to be happy, therefore I'm going to get it.' At best this is selfish and childish -- at worst it becomes very dangerous. Don't get me wrong I believe there is a time and a place for material things, for pop entertainment, and even for rock climbing. However, the healthy Christian perspective is to look through all of those things and towards the God who provides them -- giving worship to Him. Instead Eldridge becomes near-sighted as he focuses on his passions, his heart, and his desires. In the end there is no room left for self-sacrifice, self-denial, and the pursuit of the servants heart.... all of the things that constitue loving others and christian maturity.
Rating:
Summary: Some reviewers didn't actually read the book
Review: This is an inspired book. It gets to the heart of our faith, and tackles the issues most surface-level Christians do not want to look at. I know a few people who dismissed it because it doesn't fit the shallow version of reality they would choose to live in. One review in particular, which states that this book "misleads the living" is simply full of errors and misquotes. One wonders at the motivation behind someone who would choose to run and hide from the probing truth that Eldridge wants us to look at. People like that should stick to the meaningless platitudes of books like "A Purpose Driven Life" where all issues of faith, reason, emotion, and the deep psychological struggles we face can be reduced to a few bullet points that play well in equally shallow mega-churches. Buy this book, and breathe deeply the message to look within yourself and find out what keeps you from really committing to God. God wants all of us, not just the freshly scrubbed face (mask) many so called Christians living in western suburbia would like to present as the truth.
Rating:
Summary: A Blessing
Review: Another great book from John Eldredge that captures what is missing in most Christians today. 'Waking the Dead' is exactly what needs to happen in our communities and churches! John clearly walks close to God and in turn God really speaks through him in his books! As humans we look in every possible place, in substances and in other people to make us feel 'real', so that we might feel truly alive. We can BE truly alive, in the glory that was meant for us from the beginning. Take back the authority that has been restored to you through Christ, and truly live! John's books are like no others! These are not the same 'Christian' books that you've passed up before because they speak of things that seem unreachable or not applying to your 'real' life. Very well written book. One that you won't want to put down, I know I sure didn't! It's a good realization about how things are supposed to be, and how we've gotten caught up in the world and have taken our focus off where it needs to be. Our desire is to be free and it's a reality that we can truly experience! Enjoy the book!
Rating: 
Summary: The Worst Christian Book Ever
Review: Waking the Dead is filled with New Age philosophy, constant inappropriate movie references, and theology that is so weird that even the author admits that many of his friends have abandoned him over his wacko theories. He mixes New Age spirituality with Catholic mysticism and 14-century theology to come up with a virtually worthless book. It is a complete waste of money--I can't think of any redeeming qualities, except that he wants us to focus more on our "heart." Yet his claim that the heart is always "good" and that modern Christianity is wrong from proclaiming that the human heart is born bad is just plain unBiblical. And his constant use of The Matrix, Lord of The Rings, The Wizard of Oz and other fantasy references reduces his credibility to zero. Don't buy this book if you don't want to waste money.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ!
Review: Every once in a while a book comes along that reveals truth in a fresh and clear way. Waking the Dead has done just that. Not only will it inform, it will inspire. God is talking through John and has something important to say to every Christian. The old man vs the new man, the flesh vs the spirit, sanctification vs legalism are all clearly addressed and the freshness of just what Christ has done is presented with wonderful clarity. You must read, you will enjoy, best of all, you will be transformed. Thank you Lord for giving John these words!
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Summary: The value of Christian community
Review: With all due respect to Rick Warren's "The Purpose-Driven Life," John Eldredge's "Waking the Dead" is equally if not more effective in describing our reason for existence - to be everything that God created us to be. What keeps us from living out this purpose? The lie that we're not good enough, and never can be good enough. Who promulgates that lie? The one who has the most to gain - God's enemy. We truly are engaged in spiritual warfare and we truly don't realize it. Eldredge makes a clear distinction between the desire of our "good" heart and the "flesh" by which we stray from God's path. He correctly points to our busy-ness as a symptom of our lifeless condition. And he stresses the importance of Christian community, drawing parallels with the Fellowship of the Ring and other bands of brothers and sisters who support each other in love. Eldredge has an extremely engaging style and writes with a sense of urgency that is appropriate to our human condition.
Rating:
Summary: FREEDOM!
Review: I suggest reading John Eldredge's The Sacred Romance and The Journey of Desire, as well. It took me a year to prayerfully work through these three books and their companion workbooks; it was well worth that time. Upon finishing Waking The Dead, I feel more free than I have felt in three decades. Read this book. See how the Lord can mightily break you free from the shackles of the deepest wounds in your life!
Rating: 
Summary: The quote from Nelson Mandela...
Review: The quote from Nelson Mandela in this book, was unfortunately originally written by Marianne Williamson, a well known New Age writer who promotes the ideas in a "A Course in Miracles", a New Age book.
Rating:
Summary: Eldredge does it again
Review: This is my favorite book of the year. Eldredge is challenging is as the Church to wake up and take responsibility in the war that is upon is. Quoting Aragorn's works to the King who refuses to fight in Lord of the Rings: Open war is upon you, whether your risk it or not. The Church in America has been asleep for too long. Thank you, John.
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