Next Shed Night:
View Events Calendar
Book Reviews
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
Men - Firing Through All of Life
Title: Firing through all of Life.
Author: Al Stewart. Al is the Anglican Bishop in Wollongong in NSW, Australia. Al is a family man with a good grip on how Aussie blokes think as well as a great understanding of how God and the Bible connect with men in our time.
Publish Date: The book was published in September 2007 so it has some really current insights and stats in it.
Focus: Al is a focused and practical guy. He's really tackling some of the challenges men face today in the Aussie culture coming from a uniquely male perspective. The book is practical in addressing some of the personal challenges men face in just the grind of life. He's got a pretty strong focus on working through the book of Ecclesiastes as opposed to just giving his own opinion.
Good Points: Some really practical first hand examples of real life Aussies who are facing the same issues most of us face. Great Biblical foundation and insight as he works through the chapters. A pretty easy book to read.
Recommendation: If guys are looking for some solid input from a quality practitioner, this is a great book to get stuck into. I would definitely recommend it.
Reviewed by: Steve Peach. SCCMEN Leadership Team.
Author: Al Stewart. Al is the Anglican Bishop in Wollongong in NSW, Australia. Al is a family man with a good grip on how Aussie blokes think as well as a great understanding of how God and the Bible connect with men in our time.
Publish Date: The book was published in September 2007 so it has some really current insights and stats in it.
Focus: Al is a focused and practical guy. He's really tackling some of the challenges men face today in the Aussie culture coming from a uniquely male perspective. The book is practical in addressing some of the personal challenges men face in just the grind of life. He's got a pretty strong focus on working through the book of Ecclesiastes as opposed to just giving his own opinion.
Good Points: Some really practical first hand examples of real life Aussies who are facing the same issues most of us face. Great Biblical foundation and insight as he works through the chapters. A pretty easy book to read.
Recommendation: If guys are looking for some solid input from a quality practitioner, this is a great book to get stuck into. I would definitely recommend it.
Reviewed by: Steve Peach. SCCMEN Leadership Team.
Back
Being a Bloke
Title: Being a Bloke.
Author: Peter Janetzki and Michael Knight. Peter and Michael are a couple of guys some really good, extended on the ground experience working with Aussie blokes. Both have a range of experience working with men and have really drawn well on it for this book.
Publish Date: The book is quite recent only being released for the first time in 2010.
Focus: Peter and Michael are all about helping guys discover the real meaning of manliness in the Aussie context. There are not many books out there that are written by Aussies for Aussies so this is in a pretty small pile. They don't mince their words either, it's not written particularly for Christian men but men in general so there isn't a lot of churchie phrases in the book. Like some other books it takes some good time and effort to look at some of the challenges men face today with some insights you don't read anywhere else. It's a good honest account.
Good Points: I really liked the chapter they have in this book dealing with the early history of Australia and in particular how it impacts our relationships with our own fathers. It's quite insightful and information that you wont get from an overseas author. There are also some really good examples and explanations of uniquely Australian people and ritual. Sam Kekovich's lamb ads as well as the chapter on "Who's Shout is it?" Both very Australian elements.
Recommendation: It's a pretty good book about real Aussie male issues. If you are looking for some insight into the Aussie male culture, this is worth a read for sure.
Reviewed by: Steve Peach. SCCMEN Leadership Team.
Author: Peter Janetzki and Michael Knight. Peter and Michael are a couple of guys some really good, extended on the ground experience working with Aussie blokes. Both have a range of experience working with men and have really drawn well on it for this book.
Publish Date: The book is quite recent only being released for the first time in 2010.
Focus: Peter and Michael are all about helping guys discover the real meaning of manliness in the Aussie context. There are not many books out there that are written by Aussies for Aussies so this is in a pretty small pile. They don't mince their words either, it's not written particularly for Christian men but men in general so there isn't a lot of churchie phrases in the book. Like some other books it takes some good time and effort to look at some of the challenges men face today with some insights you don't read anywhere else. It's a good honest account.
Good Points: I really liked the chapter they have in this book dealing with the early history of Australia and in particular how it impacts our relationships with our own fathers. It's quite insightful and information that you wont get from an overseas author. There are also some really good examples and explanations of uniquely Australian people and ritual. Sam Kekovich's lamb ads as well as the chapter on "Who's Shout is it?" Both very Australian elements.
Recommendation: It's a pretty good book about real Aussie male issues. If you are looking for some insight into the Aussie male culture, this is worth a read for sure.
Reviewed by: Steve Peach. SCCMEN Leadership Team.
Back
Manhood
Title: Manhood.
Author: Steve Biddulph is an Australian Family Therapist. He's written a number of books around Manhood but this has been one of his most successful which has been rereleased a couple of times.
Publish Date: The book was originally written in 1994 with a further update released in 2002.
Focus: Steve's focus is about helping guys see that there is more to life than going through the routine of the daily grind. He opens up with refreshing honesty about what Men face in Australia that causes significant challenges and gives some great insight on how to address them. He doesn't shy away from tackling some of the really important, below the surface challenges for guys.
Good Points: I really appreciated his insight and directness on the issues of father/son relationships. He also has some fantastic thoughts on how boys learn and why there are some particular challenges for boys in schools. His professional background gives him some serious credibility and first hand knowledge on current Aussie lives.
Recommendation: There is some great information in here about real Aussie stats and problems we face. If you are looking for some insight into how to practically address issues rather than seeking some Spiritual input this is a great book. Be ready to be confronted though!
Reviewed by: Steve Peach. SCCMEN Leadership Team.
Author: Steve Biddulph is an Australian Family Therapist. He's written a number of books around Manhood but this has been one of his most successful which has been rereleased a couple of times.
Publish Date: The book was originally written in 1994 with a further update released in 2002.
Focus: Steve's focus is about helping guys see that there is more to life than going through the routine of the daily grind. He opens up with refreshing honesty about what Men face in Australia that causes significant challenges and gives some great insight on how to address them. He doesn't shy away from tackling some of the really important, below the surface challenges for guys.
Good Points: I really appreciated his insight and directness on the issues of father/son relationships. He also has some fantastic thoughts on how boys learn and why there are some particular challenges for boys in schools. His professional background gives him some serious credibility and first hand knowledge on current Aussie lives.
Recommendation: There is some great information in here about real Aussie stats and problems we face. If you are looking for some insight into how to practically address issues rather than seeking some Spiritual input this is a great book. Be ready to be confronted though!
Reviewed by: Steve Peach. SCCMEN Leadership Team.
Back
Chopper - From the Inside
Title - CHOPPER -From The inside
Author – Mark Brandon Read
Publish date – 1991
Focus - Mark Brandon Read, known to his friends and enemies alike as "Chopper", has spent more than 17 years in prison and has a reputation for violence earned in a blood-spattered career as a streetfighter, standover man, gunman and underworld executioner. He has been shot, stabbed, hit with a claw hammer and nearly kicked to death. In this book Read reveals more stories from the underworld, bringing his humour and sharp eye to bear on prison life, brutality, corruption and the warped code of the values of the criminal fraternity. He also talks about the mates and regrets, In his own words Chopper says “I know that I have said I regret nothing- but the truth is I regret plenty. I regret my whole life. I regret spending half my life behind bars. I regret not spending time with my dear old dad. I regret my poor Margaret having to suffer the torment of visiting me in jail for 8 years. I regret not having lived a real life, to be able to walk the city you love, without having to sit down facing the door. I regret that I have not been close to my mother & sister. Je ne regrette rien “I regret nothing “What a sick joke. I regret everything.
Good Points. The reality of choices and consequences is made very clear.
Recommendations – Not for the faint hearted.
Reviewed by Steve Wiggins SCCMen Leadership Team
Author – Mark Brandon Read
Publish date – 1991
Focus - Mark Brandon Read, known to his friends and enemies alike as "Chopper", has spent more than 17 years in prison and has a reputation for violence earned in a blood-spattered career as a streetfighter, standover man, gunman and underworld executioner. He has been shot, stabbed, hit with a claw hammer and nearly kicked to death. In this book Read reveals more stories from the underworld, bringing his humour and sharp eye to bear on prison life, brutality, corruption and the warped code of the values of the criminal fraternity. He also talks about the mates and regrets, In his own words Chopper says “I know that I have said I regret nothing- but the truth is I regret plenty. I regret my whole life. I regret spending half my life behind bars. I regret not spending time with my dear old dad. I regret my poor Margaret having to suffer the torment of visiting me in jail for 8 years. I regret not having lived a real life, to be able to walk the city you love, without having to sit down facing the door. I regret that I have not been close to my mother & sister. Je ne regrette rien “I regret nothing “What a sick joke. I regret everything.
Good Points. The reality of choices and consequences is made very clear.
Recommendations – Not for the faint hearted.
Reviewed by Steve Wiggins SCCMen Leadership Team
Back
On the Side of Angels
Title – On the side of the angels
Author – John Smith
Publish date - !987, Revised 2006 with pics and updates.
Focus- An auto biography of Smithy’s life. From an extreme right wing Fundamentalist preacher, to hearing Gods call for a radical shift in terms of Social justice, prejudice & a gospel for those on the margins. In particular the “outlaw” motorcycle fraternity. The history, development and growth of God`s Squad Christian Motorcycle Club, which celebrates 40 years of ministry in over 10 nations around the globe. John has ridden with outlaw motorcyclists, sat with street kids, debated with academics, confronted politicians & world injustice and stands with the marginalised in the name of Jesus, the marginalised Jew from Nazareth.
Good points – Challenging, confronting, relational, inspirational.
Recommendations - In Bono`s words from U2 “this message is for people who want to do more than just listen.
Reviewed By – Steve Wiggins SCCMEN Leadership team
Author – John Smith
Publish date - !987, Revised 2006 with pics and updates.
Focus- An auto biography of Smithy’s life. From an extreme right wing Fundamentalist preacher, to hearing Gods call for a radical shift in terms of Social justice, prejudice & a gospel for those on the margins. In particular the “outlaw” motorcycle fraternity. The history, development and growth of God`s Squad Christian Motorcycle Club, which celebrates 40 years of ministry in over 10 nations around the globe. John has ridden with outlaw motorcyclists, sat with street kids, debated with academics, confronted politicians & world injustice and stands with the marginalised in the name of Jesus, the marginalised Jew from Nazareth.
Good points – Challenging, confronting, relational, inspirational.
Recommendations - In Bono`s words from U2 “this message is for people who want to do more than just listen.
Reviewed By – Steve Wiggins SCCMEN Leadership team
Back