Book reviews: Men are from God, women are from God

A review of John & Stasi Eldredge’s Captivating: Unlocking the mystery of a woman’s soul

By Samantha Young ’10

John and Stasi Eldredge have never disappointed me when it comes to writing inspiring, deep, and spiritually enriching literature. Captivating is an excellent example of the power and truth that the Eldredges convey in their writing. This book is about encouragement, empowerment, and most of all, the per­fect love of God.

Captivating is geared toward women of all ages. Through eloquent writing, frequent references to Scripture, and the use of quotations from a variety of sources, the authors capture the majesty of one of God’s finest creations: women. They emphasize the importance of femininity and the wonderful gifts that it brings to a hurting world. This book teaches women how to discover their own beauty and find intimacy in rela­tionships. It discusses the variety of ways that women are wounded and attempts to show that only Je­sus Christ can be the healer of those wounds. This book portrays God as a redeemer, lover, and lord who cares deeply about having an intimate rela­tionship with His children.

I found this book to be extremely insightful and helpful in my relationship with God, and it helped me understand my role and value as a woman. I enjoyed the logi­cal progression of the chapters and the challenges that John and Stasi present to their readers. This work is profoundly personal and deeply moving, easily relating to women in all walks of life. Captivating is also a great book for men who want to learn more about the hearts of women. I highly recommend it.  

A review of John Eldredge’s Wild at heart: Discovering the secrets of a man’s soul

By Jason Deering ’10

When you think of Christian masculinity, what comes to mind? Does the mental image look like Ned Flanders from The Simpsons, with his pervasive devotion to niceness? Or do you recall memories of the seemingly ordained order to be “a good boy”? Do you see it as watered down, where no adventure, risk, or expression is allowed?

John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart has inspired many men young and old to look at godly masculinity in a new light. El­dredge poses that the God that created us is not a stodgy deity who throws us like drones into mo­notonous religious practice; He is more of a warrior and a father than an old man sitting on clouds in the sky. Eldredge writes that as image bear­ers of God, these traits are within us as well, and we should embrace our masculine tendencies rather than try­ing to quell them. Using illustrations from his adventures in the outdoors and major motion pictures such as Gladiator, The Lord of the Rings, and Braveheart, Eldredge presents a view that contrasts societal and religious representations of masculinity.

Eldredge says every man has a question that they ask: “Do I have what it takes to be a man?” He goes into how men need to be fathered by God, who can make up for the failings of their human fathers, whether they missed key moments in boyhood or were abusive towards their boys. Men often look for the answer to this question in women but this is for naught. Eldredge exhorts men to approach God with these wounds of the heart, weep over them, and let God come in, who will answer the question with a resounding “Yes!”

He also submits that all men have a battle to fight, an adven­ture to live, and a beauty to rescue. He links the lifestyle of a man free in Christ to these points – knocking down walls in battles against sin, taking risks and adventures with God, and loving the women in our lives better and helping with their wounds. He also warns of the dangers of taking these things too far.

When I first picked up this book, I connected a lot with the theatrical references Eldredge used, such as the comparison of Christ to William Wallace in Braveheart. When presented with the question of whether Christ is more like Mother Teresa or Wallace, Eldredge retorts: “It depends. If you’re a leper, an out­cast, a pariah of society that no one has ever touched because you’re ‘unclean,’ if all you have ever longed for is just one kind word, then Christ is the incarnation of tender mercy. On the other hand, if you’re a Pharisee, one of those self-appointed doc­trine police, watch out.”

This book released me from a warped view of masculinity, where I had to be quiet, nice, and restrained. I gained a better sense of what is right and wrong in masculine expression. As for the section on wounds, Eldredge helped me break through the stereotypical “tough guy” walls most men are notorious for con­structing and become more intimate with God in doing so, lay­ing the wounds before God – not through passive, monotonous prayer, but with intimate and honest cries out to Him! These chapters, among others that affect me on a personal level, help make this book a mainstay in my library.

However, some readers may not like Eldredge’s writing style. It is not eloquent, borrowing illustrations from his experiences, famous authors, songs, and movie references. Understand that he is not calling those who do not enjoy manly movies or the outdoors less than men. If you want to get a better view of godly masculinity, I challenge you to give Wild at Heart a look.