The No Kool Aid Zone

Out of the mouths of reviewers:

From Amazon’s Reviews of Joel Osteen’s book Your Best Life Now:

Reviewer: Iggie “Literacy Goddess” (NJ, USA)
I watch Joel Osteen every Sunday morning and consider this my “church” time. I don’t need to be in a room with others to hear and be uplifted by Joel’s message. His message is often simple and filled with common sense- but isn’t all religious doctrine the same? We all know what we should do to live life well- however, it helps to hear the message over and over again to remind us of what is right and good for us.I enjoy reading Joel’s book in the evening before I go to sleep. His words are positive and help to focus my mind on the good I have within and the good that I can bring into my life if I choose to do the right thing for myself and others. If you want a simple text on how to stay focused and positive in your life- Joel Osteen’s book does the job!

A Self-Help Book Really, January 23, 2005
Reviewer: Sally Ann SA (USA)
The best thing about this book is that it’s readable - although references God and Him and Jesus are on every line, it speaks to the ‘common man.’ Actually, if you delete all of the religious references, you’d be left with a fairly decent self-help book. The seven areas of your life that could use improvement include: enlarging your vision, giving, working on self-esteem, watching what you do and think, letting go of the past, finding strength in adversity, and choosing to be happy. I started with the last chapter first, and worked my way through the book according to what seemed of interest. The book does not need to be read cover-to-cover, and you can dive in wherever is most appropriate for you. Although I’m not technically ‘religious’ and don’t attend church, I could still appreciate the greater message in this book; the book is about self-improvement and is valuable for everyone, despite the religious overtones. The only problem I have with this book (and preachers in general) is that they are imperfect too.. how are we supposed to take advice from imperfect people? I don’t understand that part, and it was made worse for me each time Joel Osteen referenced himself and pointed out that he also makes mistakes. There were 2 points of annoyance with the book: one, he tells the story of Carla, a woman who was having troubles with her co-workers. Throughout the book he mentions having positive thoughts and thinking well of yourself and others, yet Carla called her co-workers ‘emotionally immature.’ How is that ok? Carla is supposed to be ‘above’ her coworkers and elevate her thinking, but how Godly is she if she’s thinking ill of them? The second thing that gave me pause was the story of a man who froze to death in a freezer; apparently he always thought negatively at work, and when he got stuck in a freezer one night his negative thoughts led to his death. However, the freezer was actually not even on and the temperature was 61 degrees inside; the whole story seems extremely unrealistic.

Reviewer: M. A. Chase (NYC, NY)
I think this is an excellent book with a foot in self-help/inspiration and one in biblically supported reference to God’s plan for your life. I really enjoyed reading it on the train to work and back home. It is a perfect way to set your mind in a loving, supportive, Godly persepctive prior to beginning a hectic work day and is a nice way to de-pressurize before heading home to loved ones. It is light, supportive, enjoyable, often entertaining, endearing and very easy read. Also, you have to take it for what it offers and glean it’s value as it relates to you, your life and your spiritual path. It is a Max Lucado meets Norman Vincent Peale meets Dr. Phil meets Bible oriented book. Definately one I will read again and again.

Reviewer: Robert Hunt “V_Ladd”
How ironic it is that many people who have given this book a negative review still fail to understand the basic premise of what is being said. God is not seperate from the individual, but is IN the individual. Christ was a manifestation of God… human in all respects, who knew how to harness the power of the universe.. of God, his father. God is not someone you pray too, but rather within. Christ did not teach to accept some abundance… he taught to accept ALL abundance. Ask and you are given… that is the lesson. And once you ask… believe it has already been given. You are given the life you envision by the very power of your belief, by allowing the power of God to work and by not getting in the way of yourself. Envsion your best, trust in the outcome. THAT is the lesson here. Its not about getting things, although that is the obvious outcome for those who really understand, however, it is more about the process of allowing the flow of God through you. You do not honor God by being miserable or doubting the gift of this power. You honor God by freeing your mind of negativity, of unbelief and trusting the SAME power that Christ demonstrated for man is the very SAME power that can change your life. Christ often said that he is an example for man… that man can do just as he does if you only believe. THAT is the story here! THAT is what this book is about. For those who want to do additional research, I highly recommend Ernest Holmes - The Art of Life.

For all of those who see this book as pie in the sky or unspiritual, or beyond the pale for Christianity… realize that God is within you. You are not seperate from him. You are a spirit walking in a human form. Use this precious gift of life as it was meant to be used. Honor God in accepting this power of creation and make the best life you can possibly make right NOW.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!, January 5, 2005
Reviewer: David L. Deloney (Webster, Texas United States)
Henry Ford said it best; People who think they will succeed and people who think they will fail are usually both right.
What a great uplifting book, Joel Osteen gives us a positive view of ourselves through the eyes of God. I’ve always told my kids that if you think you’ll, win you just might, if you think you’ll lose, you most certainly will. Joel sends the message that with Gods help a person can do anything, and I believe that. I’m not real religious but when I think of all my prayers that were answered, they were the ones that needed answering, and the ones that weren’t answered were because I was being selfish or shallow. I like his message that there’s nothing you can do about the past and you never know what tomorrow may bring so you have to live your life for today, everyday.

Practical and filled with advice, rather than mystical junk, December 30, 2004
Reviewer: John Leighton (Brooklyn)
I was in the bookstore and saw a pile of these. I picked it up and decided to splurge and buy it after seeing a few chapter titles, the ones about getting over disappointment.

I can see why his church is so popular, if his style is to speak so easily to people. This book is defintiely worth buying.

Ticking Time Blog Pundit Byron Harvey’s Review of the Reviewers:

Heaven forbid we’d get from Mr. Osteen any “mystical prayer junkola about scripture“.

“Isn’t all religious doctrine the same?”

“It’s about “self-improvement”–despite the religious overtones.”

“I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!”

I have only one question:Where’s Jesus?

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