Official Review: The Book You Need to Read by Debbie Wilcox

[Stephen Campana]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Book You Need to Read" by Debbie Wilcox.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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In The Book You Need to Read, Debbie Wilcox shares with the reader some of the wisdom she has gleaned from the Bible, with an emphasis on how that wisdom can be “applied to all parts of our lives.” And she does mean all parts. For instance, you probably didn’t think the Bible even mentioned diversification, right? Wrong. Wilcox actually finds some pretty pertinent information about diversification in the book of Ecclesiastes: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land” (Eccl.11:2). “By investing in different areas,” the author notes, “we spread out the risk. One area we choose to invest in might do very well and another might do poorly.” She also mines the Scriptures for advice on other practical fiduciary matters like investing, saving, and financial planning, along with more mundane matters like relationships, judging others, making decisions, friendship, humility, fear, conflict, forgiveness, hard work, generosity, and about 30 other topics.

It’s not just for practical advice, however, that the author recommends reading the Bible. She also believes that it’s the proper channel for learning about the sacrifice of Christ, who provides “a path to be able live on forever with God, after this earthly life comes to an end.” She encourages the reader to “find an authentic Christian church, which follows the teachings of the Bible and the example of Jesus, and give God a chance.”

There’s a lot to like about this book. The author writes in a conversational, common-sense style that makes for easy reading. Here’s a sample from a chapter about what kind of Bible you should choose: “The answer to the question of which Bible is best is simple: The best Bible is the one that you will actually read.”

Another thing I appreciated was the flow and pacing of the book. The author introduces a topic, connects the topic to a verse or two of scripture, provides some commentary, and then moves on. She doesn’t quote pages and pages of Scripture as some authors do, nor does she belabor her points. Unlike some Christian authors, Wilcox appreciates the art of brevity.

I also appreciated the balance the author struck between the practical and the “religious” aspects of Scripture. The thrust of this book is the Bible’s usefulness as a resource for practical information that can be applied to all areas of life. This might suggest that the author reads the Bible in a secular way. However, that’s not the case. She also believes in the spiritual aspects of the gospel, such as Christ’s atonement for sins, the fallen nature of man, and the hope of an afterlife. Both of these sides of the author’s sensibilities are equally and honestly represented here. Lastly, the book is well written and extremely well edited (I found no errors).

If there’s anything I disliked about the book, it’s that Wilcox subscribes to the usual orthodox canard that Adam and Eve somehow spoiled God’s original plans for mankind, sending Him scrambling to a Plan B to rescue the world from its sin. She writes, “Had Adam and Eve not eaten the apple, then they would have lived happily forever after within the garden. That one act of sin condemned all mankind to a mortal death.” Nonsense. God knew what He was doing, and nothing that happened in the Garden of Eden surprised or disappointed Him.

This book should find a wide audience. It’s not sectarian or dogmatic, so it will not alienate anyone. It’s scholarly, but also accessible to the layman, so anyone can enjoy it. Christians looking for practical advice from the Bible will find a lot to chew on here, as will anyone looking for some spiritual encouragement written from a Christian perspective. This book is not for those looking for in-depth exegesis or apologetics.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I would have rated it higher, but there’s nothing new or revelatory here; it’s fairly standard Christian fare. That’s more than enough, however, to make for a good read for anyone seeking to learn what the Bible says about accepting Christ as their Savior, forgiving their enemies, or maybe just diversifying their portfolios.

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The Book You Need to Read
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I agree with you. Nothing takes God by surprise. I really enjoyed reading your review. I hope to read this book too. Thanks!

[DEEPA PUJARI]

This book is full of information and advice form the Bible. Nice review. Congratulations BOTD!

[Laura Ungureanu]

Upon first sight, I was surprised by this bold title. I'm not the kind of person that would read a book like that, especially if it has nothing special.

[AntonelaMaria]

I enjoyed your review. However, I am a little hesitant picking this book up as you said it is nothing new and for a person of faith I would much rather pick Bible up than read someone's else take on it. Great job with the review.

[Leen282]

I am intrigued by the examples of how the Bible gives guidance for very practical questions like diversification. I never saw the Bible as a source for such practical information. I think the reviewer gave a good description of what to expect from this book.

[Iva Stoyanova]

I don't think I'll enjoy this book. I'm not a person who would read Bible-related books. Anyway, thanks for your review!

[Maddie Atkinson]

While from an objective point of view, this seems like a good book to read, however from what you have said and what I have read of it, it doesn't seem to be written objectively, and while their is nothing wrong about that, I just find it frustrating to read none objective things when it comes to religion as some people manipulate it to fit their own agenda. While I am sure she hasn't done this, it would just be frustrating for me. That being said, it still seems like a very good book and a fascinating read, so I am glad that you enjoyed it!

[Luluwa79]

Your review gave us a clearer picture of what the book entails and i would love to read this.
Nice review.

[athurst123]

The book seems very informative for those who are wanting to read the Bible. Great review!

[Mtibza eM]

It looks like it is a book that wants us to read and love bible. The mere fact that the author thinks that a Bible is book to be read just shows me how staunch of a Christian she is. I won't definitely read it as I am an agnostic.

[Yvonne Monique]

I am not an overly religious person but it's interesting to see how the author studied the bible and found topics that are applicable to our daily lives.

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

I am amazed at how the author connected the Bible's teaching to so many facets of our lives. I liked the part about diversification and financial planning--there was some fascinating information. While the Bible will be continuously interpreted, I found the author's emphasis on practical matters rather intriguing. Thanks for the informative review.

[dtbrannon]

Though not a religious person myself, I did enjoy how this book was formatted. The chapters started with a title word, such as "Doubt", provided a related scripture from the Bible, then in plain, no-nonsense language explained how the verse was related to the title word.

[Sanju Lali]

An interesting spiritual book "The Book You Need to Read" by Debbie Wilcox. This book is filled with the knowledge, which the author had got by reading the Bible. Moreover, this wisdom can be applied to all the parts of our lives. I am hoping to read this book soon.