What's He Really Thinking? by Paula Rinehart

Paula Rinehart has attempted a difficult task in her new book, What’s He Really Thinking? She is trying to explain men, what goes on in their heads, what makes them do what they do. Perhaps the only more difficult topic would be to explain women!

First a disclaimer: This book was written for women to help them relate to the men in their lives. I am not a woman. I am the man in a woman’s life.

I found the book to be easy to read and understand. It would have been very easy for Rinehart to get highly technical in explaining the differences between the sexes and how to better relate. I also got the sense that she is qualified to handle that technical conversation. But she successfully avoided that trap.

Most books that deal with the relationships between men and women only consider the marriage (or at least unmarried romantic) relationships. This book is about women understanding men. She applies these principles to husbands, sons, brothers, and other male/female relationships.

At the back of the book is the “Relational Genius Guide”. This is a series of chapter by chapter questions. To me, they seem especially good for groups of women to discuss. The questions appear to be well thought out and well written, leading to fruitful discussion.

As a man reading a relationship book written for women, I have to say it was reasonably accurate in its descriptions of how men think. I would definitely recommend this book.

More information about What’s He Really Thinking can be found at Thomas Nelson’s product page. I am a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program.

Rick and Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage

Radio comics Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey have returned to the publishing world with their newest release. Rick & Bubba’s Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage is a quick, easy to read collection of topics relevant to most couples. The forty-five chapters read like short humor pieces or columns. In this collection, the authors address such topics as: finding a mate, conflict, shopping, money and debt, respect, pregnancy, and grief and tragedy. They do this with the humor and style they have become known for. This is a pretty funny book.

That being said, the use of the word “guide” in the title should not be taken literally. While the book is funny, the advice is often not quite grounded in reality nor centered in the Word of God. It plays into the cultural stereotype that all wives blame their husbands for everything, thus belittling and devaluing the role and position of the husband as the head of the wife. While the Bible clearly teaches this position, Rick and Bubba do precious little to correct and teach their readers. There are other examples, but this is one of the most glaring.

If you want a decent laugh, I can recommend this book. If you are looking for guidance and advice for your marriage relationship, I think you should look elsewhere.

More information about Rick & Bubba’s Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage can be found at Thomas Nelson’s product page. I am a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program.

Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl by N.D. Wilson

In Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl, Nate Wilson takes us on a rambling journey exploring the world we live in and the God who created it. Taking his cues from the four seasons, he describes with “wide-eyed wonder” the work of God in creating and sustaining the universe.

When I referred to the book as a “rambling journey”, I am not kidding. There were many instances where I was, and am still, not sure where Wilson was going. He speaks in various creative terms: novel, play, poem, drama, etc. It was often hard to tell if he was talking about us as humans, God as creator and sustainer, or the earth as the creation. It might have been all of the above.

Perhaps, I am not the target audience. I accept that possibility. Someone a little younger than my less than forty years may get it. It is almost as if Wilson is trying a little too hard to write like Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz), another author’s popularity I do not understand. Maybe that is where I should leave this review. If you like Miller, you might like Wilson.

More information about Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl, including a preview, can be found at Thomas Nelson’s product page. I am a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program.