"Getting Back Up When Life Knocks You Down" By Jeremy Kingsley

Jeremy Kingsley. Getting Back Up When Life Knocks You Down. Bethany House, 2011. 123 pgs. 

The title of this book is very revealing. This is a book of encouragement for when 'life knocks you down.' In each chapter, Kingsley explores a crisis (set backs, rejection, pain, denial, anger, bargaining, responsibility, forgiveness, guilt, and worry) and how working through it in perseverance can lead to growth in many ways. He also fills each chapter with practical advice on how to work through that crisis or problem. 

To be honest, I did not enjoy this book. There isn't anything glaringly wrong with it; no heresy, no mis-use of statistics or sources, no terrible writing. It's just that there isn't anything really right with it either. This is a Christian self help book, and while there is certainly much of the book that points to God, there is also too much of the book which points to our selves. Furthermore, it is overly simple. For example, Kingsley offers six steps to forgiveness, and they are true and right, but they do not deal with the complex realities we often face in issues of forgiveness. Of course, no list of steps could, but that is why I am not sure such approaches to these issues are the right way to go about it. 

Still, despite my reaction to this book, it is filled with decent advice and you could certainly do worse. 

Conclusion: 3.5 Stars. Conditionally recommended. You have probably heard most of this stuff before, so if you read the book prepare for the repetition. Other than that, it is average in most every way; neither especially bad nor especially good. 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".