Silence of Adam, The

Rating:
Summary: Incredible reading! A must read for all men.
Review: Great book that addresses the problem that men face everyday. Final conclusion is that we must be men who above everything else pursue a passionate relationship with our creator. No God doesn't usually give specific directions for a problem but when we pursue Him we are being conformed to the image of Christ. Having that relationship with our savior allows us to make godly decisions at all times. This book is a must read.

Rating:
Summary: Hit me where it hurts
Review: I read this book at a critical point in my life, and it has had a profound effect on how I view myself and my role as a husband. I recommend this for any man about to be married or enter another phase of their life. The authors describe how men have fallen, and throw a new (for me) twist into the old Adam and Eve story. Instead of depicting Eve as being deceived and then subsequently deceiving Adam, the book describes that Adam was there the whole time, yet said and did nothing. (Hence the book title: Silence of Adam.) The book goes on to describe many different ways men compensate for their weaknesses and inability to have all the answers by often acting in ways which harm themselves and others. What struck a deep chord with me is the way the book describes how to react or act in those times when there are no answers. The chapter "Men Who Fight Darkness" was especially powerful in that it depicts the harm in trying to fix something, or act, when the only way out is to trust and be still. Typically, my response to situations which I cannot resolve is to try something, anything. I resist being patient and waiting for situations I cannot control to unfold naturally. The book illustrates some excellent examples of the damage this causes, and the healing and success a different approach may bring. I liked the way he described how "We begin to face the loneliness of choice, the terror of trust". In the chapter titled "Recipe Theology" the author describes common responses like being a recovery addict ("How can I FEEL better"?) or a grim legalist ("How can I DO better"?), and how we "either become pre-occupied with feeling good or we feel pressured to do good. Neither lifts us up into God's larger story or invites us to participate in it". Very challenging words. I really enjoyed this book (though not always as at times I saw too much of myself in it) and would recommend it highly if read with an open mind and some self honesty.

Rating:
Summary: Hit me where it hurts
Review: I read this book at a critical point in my life, and it has had a profound effect on how I view myself and my role as a husband. I recommend this for any man about to be married or enter another phase of their life. The authors describe how men have fallen, and throw a new (for me) twist into the old Adam and Eve story. Instead of depicting Eve as being deceived and then subsequently deceiving Adam, the book describes that Adam was there the whole time, yet said and did nothing. (Hence the book title: Silence of Adam.) The book goes on to describe many different ways men compensate for their weaknesses and inability to have all the answers by often acting in ways which harm themselves and others. What struck a deep chord with me is the way the book describes how to react or act in those times when there are no answers. The chapter "Men Who Fight Darkness" was especially powerful in that it depicts the harm in trying to fix something, or act, when the only way out is to trust and be still. Typically, my response to situations which I cannot resolve is to try something, anything. I resist being patient and waiting for situations I cannot control to unfold naturally. The book illustrates some excellent examples of the damage this causes, and the healing and success a different approach may bring. I liked the way he described how "We begin to face the loneliness of choice, the terror of trust". In the chapter titled "Recipe Theology" the author describes common responses like being a recovery addict ("How can I FEEL better"?) or a grim legalist ("How can I DO better"?), and how we "either become pre-occupied with feeling good or we feel pressured to do good. Neither lifts us up into God's larger story or invites us to participate in it". Very challenging words. I really enjoyed this book (though not always as at times I saw too much of myself in it) and would recommend it highly if read with an open mind and some self honesty.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome, must read book for men
Review: This book is key for addressing some of the deepest issues men face. One of my top recommendations of all books.

Rating:
Summary: Valuable, though flawed
Review: While I have tremendous respect for Dr. Larry Crabb and his work, I was disappointed by this book. It does highlight important issues related to men, but I believe it goes too far in making the Creation account fit into the male-female relationship model for the book. Although effort is given to demonstrate Crabb's point by appealing to the original biblical languages, the overall tone is more isogetical than I am comfortable with. The fall of man is not about the failure of man to speak order into chaos. It is about the first Adam breaking the covenant of works God establshed and setting the stage for the coming of the second Adam, Christ, who establshed the covenant of grace. What Crabb describes is one among a number of symptoms of the Fall. Having said that, the book accurately describes the problems men often endure because of their failure to communicate, to speak out, and to establish biiblical order in themselves and their world. I just think the point could have been made equally well without forcing Scripture into a model that doesn't appear to match its original intent. Having been so warned, it has valuable points to make.