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Courageous

by Randy Alcorn (Goodreads Author), Alex Kendrick, Stephen Kendrick

4.47 of 5 stars 4.47 · rating details · 2,403 ratings · 223 reviews

Retailers Choice Award winner, 2012From the creators of "Fireproof" comes an inspiring new story about everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challen...more

Paperback, 384 pages

Published August 1st 2011 by Tyndale House Publishers

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Mar 18, 2013 James rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am a Christian and I like fiction. I even like Christians who write fiction, but as a rule, I do not like Christian fiction. Why? Because good fiction shows, and Christian fiction tells. The didactic purpose of Christian fiction means that it often more than a story with a message. It is a message with a thin veneer of story.

But if you like Christian fiction you like Randy Alcorn's adaptation of the Courageous film. Alcorn's characters are contrived and somewhat formulaic, but they are likabl...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Hilary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction

At first I was disappointed with the writing; the characters seemed two-dimentional and stereotypical. Then I realized that they weren't stereotypes they were archetypes. Instead of having strong characters which were clearly individuals, Alcorn has created characters which could be anyone. We can see them as templates for people we know.

On to the story. 4 men, very different, all face different challenges of integrity and courage in their daily lives: being a good father, husband, provider, lea...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Jelly Bean rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book pushes you beyond the norm.

Ok, I am not a guy, dad, nor husband. I am a Lady, mom, and wife. Of course I don't have the same outlook of a guy. But, after reading this book, it makes you look at your man. Your Husband, the father of your children. The man that God paired you with.

There are basically four main characters in the book. They all have faced, are facing, or will face the storms of life. Like we all will. This book makes you look at your life now. Are there changes you need t...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Marianne rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful book based on the newest Christian film to come out of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. In the same spirit of Fireproof and Facing the Giants, Courageous takes both the reader and those who watch the movie to the small town of Albany, Georgia and to the every day people who live there. Fireproof involved firefighters. Fighting the Giants involves the football team and fans. Courageous brings us into the lives of law enforcement officers. Each of the four primary la...more This is a wonderful book based on the newest Christian film to come out of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. In the same spirit of Fireproof and Facing the Giants, Courageous takes both the reader and those who watch the movie to the small town of Albany, Georgia and to the every day people who live there. Fireproof involved firefighters. Fighting the Giants involves the football team and fans. Courageous brings us into the lives of law enforcement officers. Each of the four primary law officers are from slightly different backgrounds but each is facing his own trials and tribulations.

When I read some of the other reviews I almost skipped the book and just watched the movie. However a Pastor friend of mine used the movie and the book for his men's group. When I discussed it with the men who had studied the book first and then seen the movie, they all advised me to read the book first. I am glad that I did as it helped add depth to the movie.

Possibly the movie was more powerful and more exacting than the book but most people are more visually stimulated. I tend to be drawn more into a book as I can read parts several times and see things I might have scanned too quickly before. With a movie, I rarely just go back and watch a certain chapter. Instead I watch the entire movie again.

I can see some points of the other reviewers but primarily, I was disappointed that several reviewers gave it one star or another said they would have given it no stars had that been possible. I feel they were being judgmental and highly critical, at best. Few books are closely similar to the movie. By the time a screen play has been rewritten and modified, it rarely is a replica of the original manuscript or vice versa.

I am aware that many churches are using the book and the movie as a course for both men and women groups and small groups. Since the movie only takes about 2 hours to watch, some people would rather just watch the movie. However many Christian leaders prefer the book as a study guide as it helps break down the key issues of the subject matter. The entire story deals with these men, the work, their homes and their loved ones. That these men make a stand for righteous God and family centered lives is proof enough that there are golden nuggets which can be found by the reader.

My prayer is that you read both the book and see the movie and rearrange your own life to be of the same moral fiber as the four men of this inspiring story?(less)

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Mar 02, 2012 Siobhan Parker rated it 5 of 5 stars

Movie and television tie-in fiction novels are quite the mixed bag. Some people don't like them at all; they say, "If you've already watched the movie, why do you need to read the book?" I, however, enjoy them when they're done correctly. Usually, what makes a book that's based on a piece of cinema worth reading is the added content, such as scenes that were deleted, or planned but never filmed. R. A. Salvatore's novelization of "Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones" had several chapters...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Prom rated it 1 of 5 stars

This book was beyond horrible. And I am only giving it one star because there is nothing lower than that. What??? is the deal with the prose? Seriously? The only thing I could visualize when I read any parts involving the "ghetto" or the inner city was some white writer watching troubled youth shows and doing research on how to be "gangsta" and then interpreting that to the page. Awful.

These books, the ones with the messages centered around a Christian moral, are written, it would seem, by the p...more This book was beyond horrible. And I am only giving it one star because there is nothing lower than that. What??? is the deal with the prose? Seriously? The only thing I could visualize when I read any parts involving the "ghetto" or the inner city was some white writer watching troubled youth shows and doing research on how to be "gangsta" and then interpreting that to the page. Awful.

These books, the ones with the messages centered around a Christian moral, are written, it would seem, by the preacher for the choir. If I were a non-believer, I would never have made it past the first paragraph of the first page. It is so unrealistic in its plot and contrite in other areas that concentrating on anything besides the horrendous writing was difficult. No character had their own voice. No character embodied any personality. Horribly, horribly written. But I am a believer. In God. In these books. And, above all, in the written works. So I finished the piece.

I am a sucker for these books because I believe in their cause. I did knowingly and willingly purchase this title on the off chance that it might be different than Fireproof (an equally displeasing read). And I want franchises like this to succeed. But there has to be more in it for the loyalty some of us offer. At least, at the very least, a well written piece that doesn't seem like it was conjured up by some 13yrold for his creative writing class. Take away creative and thats exactly what this is.

While the book did have a good message (one, in my opinion, directed to Christian men and only Christian men, eliminating an entire demographic of other men seeking something but not sure what.) it failed in its quest to deliver said message in a manner thats accessible to the general reading public. Hard working dads (which is exactly who the target audience is) will never take the time to read something like this. Their wives will read it and then force the highlights onto their husbands. And the husbands will vaguely look on as their wives speak because the wives were unable to grasp the core content due to such inept writing.

If this were a letter to the author, I would specifically ask him to write to his audience, not a manner that allows the reader to find commonality with the characters, but rather in a manner that allows the reader to recognize themselves in the trials and triumphs the character struggles through. I would ask the author to hold his readers to a higher esteem and assume they are intelligent and can handle a little more substance. But this isn't a letter to the author. Its a book review. So to you, fellow readers, I say good luck. Because if you've managed to stick around for my entire review and still think that this book is worth the read, you're going to need it. (less)

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Jan 07, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you didn't know already this book was based on a movie by the same name. In our small town we do not get first run movies, so this movie hit our one screen theater in January 2012. My kids went to see it and came home fired up, just like after Fireproof (another movie by the same people). I had to see this. Somehow I ended up awake at 4 am and buying this book for my Kindle. It is now 8:30pm and I think that is the fastest I have ever finished a book. This book will make you laugh, cry, wonde...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

This book revolves around the lives of four men, all officers of the law and their families. Other characters enhance this fast paced story. Nathan, a transfer to Albany GA, Adam, David, a rookie, and Shane. Each man realizes that sometimes being a father holds more challenges than being a police officer, each learns what it takes to be a better father and in his own way. Derrick, wants to prove to gang leader TJ, that he has what it takes to be a member of the Gangster Nation. Javier, looking t...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Jodi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This was another great story by Sherwood Baptist Church. I loved all three movies so far and this one was just as good. I had high expectations for this book and it met them all. I was so impressed with the amount of heavy topics they discuss and the way that they present so many tough issues that we face here on earth. I loved the story line about the men being cops and it brought me back to my former career life. Adam was a cop first and a dad second. He had two children and girl and a boy. He...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Starr Griggs rated it 5 of 5 stars

First of all I was very excited to get this book to review. I love the Kendrick brothers’ first couple of movies. I thought that it was awesome that they decided to put out a book first. I didn’t even know that Randy Alcorn was going to be doing the novelization. Obviously, I also didn’t know that Facing the Giants and The Love Dare also had been books. But I was excited, and I couldn’t wait to get started. This is probably the first book that I’ve read that has a very specific target in mind. S...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Diane A Brown rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amazing, Enlightening, Thought Provoking!

The life of a deputy sheriff is no easy job. It requires split-second judgment, level headed confidence, and a genuine concern for the public they serve. Courageous takes a deep look into the lives of four deputies, their choices in life, their wives, their children and their friends.

The writing is very realistic and believable and gives the reader a front row seat to the drama that is everyday life for them. The amazing stories emphasize life threatening...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Charity rated it 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW-WOW!! This is about all I am going to say about this book. I have been anxiously awaiting the next film from the Kendrick brothers after watching Fireproof. I get the updates, have the wallpaper on my laptop and I now have the book!

Now, I don't want to spoil anything for those who have not watched the movie or have not read the book. So I am going to be somewhat cryptic in this review. Not like my normal ones where people can know who I am talking about, etc. I just really want to give...more MY REVIEW-WOW!! This is about all I am going to say about this book. I have been anxiously awaiting the next film from the Kendrick brothers after watching Fireproof. I get the updates, have the wallpaper on my laptop and I now have the book!

Now, I don't want to spoil anything for those who have not watched the movie or have not read the book. So I am going to be somewhat cryptic in this review. Not like my normal ones where people can know who I am talking about, etc. I just really want to give a good review for this, but I want to keep things a secret for those of you with the pleasure of watching this book come to life in the film. The book is written by Randy Alcorn and I have to tell you, I have loved many of his other books. So even if this wasn't actually a screenplay by Stephen Kendrick, I would have liked the book:) But having this a novelization of the film by the Kendricks just makes it that much better. There is actually only 20% taken from the film itself and Randy Alcorn made the rest of the book. So I was glad about that.

It is an excellent plot, a great cast of characters and soo many good things about this. I have to say my favorite is probably Adam. But the rest of the characters were soo good it was hard to pick out a favorite. There were several times were I was in tears and then many times of such encouragement and wisdom. This book has soo many strong points to it I couldn't even start to tell you about them.

The action and adventure is not lacking either. There is one part with a daughter that I really loved. Again, sorry I can't tell you more:) This is such a great book for fathers to read with their sons. With their families would be wonderful but especially with their sons. Take the message of this book and train your children with it. If you are waiting for the film, please pick up a copy of this book anyways. You will want to read it after you watch the film. And the pictures inside make it a really nice copy. Excellent book with a strong plot. Great for any Christian!!

According to FTC Disclosures, I received a copy of this book from Tyndale Media. I did not receive any monetary compensation. All thoughts are 100% mine. (less)

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Aug 25, 2011 Jennifer Jensen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’ve heard the song by Casting Crowns, I’ve read the book, and now I’m ready to see the movie. This compelling story of the everyday lives of police in a small Georgia town is a great read (not surprising since Randy Alcorn never tells stories half way) and one that encourages men to be the leaders of their families not just because it is Biblical, but because it’s the right thing to do.

The characters in the story are believable and honest, and their individual paths are difficult enough to be r...more I’ve heard the song by Casting Crowns, I’ve read the book, and now I’m ready to see the movie. This compelling story of the everyday lives of police in a small Georgia town is a great read (not surprising since Randy Alcorn never tells stories half way) and one that encourages men to be the leaders of their families not just because it is Biblical, but because it’s the right thing to do.

The characters in the story are believable and honest, and their individual paths are difficult enough to be real. One of the only things that felt a little over done in the book was the constant harping on ‘fatherless’ homes and how much that impacts the family. I live in a city where a lawyer constantly hawks divorce help for men by using statistics that start with “Fatherless homes are more likely to result in children who don’t finish high school,” and other scary data that make it sound as though the biggest mistake a man can make is to divorce his wife without this attorney. Although I know the facts are real, and I certainly think that the change in family values is a huge detriment to society as a whole, it felt a lot like it discounted the prayerful courage of a single mom in the home. Sometimes that’s all there is, and while it may be the exception, there are plenty of instances where moms make a difference, too.

Still, the overall plot of the story was well put together, the family dynamics were heartfelt, and the characters were ones that I could like. I will definitely see the movie, and I am hopeful that this book will create a generation of fathers who don’t need the aforementioned divorce attorney, not because they don’t care about their children, but because they care enough to be the good father they need to be.

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8(NIV).

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

(less)

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Aug 25, 2011 Gail Welborn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

Courageous, a Novelization by Randy Alcorn, Based on Screenplay by Alex Kendrick & Stephen Kendrick, Tyndale House Publishers, 2011, 392 Pages, ISBN-13: 978-1414358468, $14.99

Brimming with optimism over a “…new job, new house and new start” in Georgia, Nathan Hayes topped off his tank, got into the pickup and turned the key before he remembered the “carnage…of June bugs…on his windshield.”

He stepped back out, left the “…truck running, door open and reached for the squeegee…in seconds…the doo...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, fiction

"Courageous" is a Christian general fiction novel with a fair amount of action. It's a novel based on a movie by the same name, and it sometimes read like it (especially during the action scenes). However, it had more depth than I was expecting from a movie-turned-novel.

The main characters were varied, complex, and reacted realistically to the various struggles they faced. The details about police work, gangs, and families brought the story alive in my imagination. However, a couple of the polic...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Paula Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

If I had to sum this novel up in one word , it would be "WOW" . Writing this review is harder than I thought as this book would have to be one of the most amazing and outstanding novels that I have read ever. Where to start , Courageous focuses on four men - all Police officers who after a series of incidents and miracles decide to re-examine their lives and make a vow to God to forever be there in his name and to care for their families and be Men of God. The novel starts off with the newest Po...more If I had to sum this novel up in one word , it would be "WOW" . Writing this review is harder than I thought as this book would have to be one of the most amazing and outstanding novels that I have read ever. Where to start , Courageous focuses on four men - all Police officers who after a series of incidents and miracles decide to re-examine their lives and make a vow to God to forever be there in his name and to care for their families and be Men of God. The novel starts off with the newest Police officer Nathan Hayes , he and his family have just moved to Albany for a new life . On his first day, he stops at a petrol station to fill his car and his car is high-jacked - Nathan only thinking about his baby son Jackson in the backseat rushes to the truck and doesn't let go as the car is bustling down the highway , all for the love of saving his baby boy. What a father would do for their children is purely amazing and so heart-wrenching in Randy's new novel Courageous. I couldn't help as I was reading it , my eyes started tearing up and tears rolled down my cheeks - it was such an emotional novel, the love that poured out from the fathers. Adam - we see him go through tragedy as he loses a child but in the process ,he gains not only God's love but his family back and two children. David , five years ago -he was on a bad track and got a women pregnant and had a daughter. When he finds God, the first thing he does is writes a letter to the mother apologising and asking for her forgiveness as he would like a part in Olivia - his daughter's life if she allows and lastly Javier , him and his wife Carmen were low on money and left wondering how to support their family and children -when a miracle occured leading Javier to a job which lead to a door opening for Javier to meet Nathan and the others . Read as God touches and blesses Javier's family as they put their complete trust in him. This is one novel that I encourage every single person - female or male -especially male to read and if you aren't a reader , then keep your eyes peeled as Courageous is being made into a movie and it's definitely one movie I'm adding to my To be watched list.(less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars

Randy Alcorn in his new book “Courageous” which is a novelization of the screenplay by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick and is published by Tyndale House Publishers gives us a look into fatherhood.

Four men work as police officers in Georgia. Each of these men have issues from their own childhoods that they are bringing into their current family relationships and are driving their children away from them. One knows how to deal with his daughter but not his son because his son has interests othe...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Dana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: faith

This was a powerful story. I knew a movie of the same title existed, but I thought, as is usually the case, that the book predated the movie. I was wrong--this is a book from a movie screenplay. It reads like a movie, which isn't bad if the story is all you're after. But for me, the writing left much to be desired.
Also, I kept expecting a dramatic climax nearer the end, as is often seen in films. But that didn't happen. The climax--if you can call it that, it's really more of a turning point--co...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Jody rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, good-fiction, religious, thriller

I really enjoyed the movie, it made me cry. That doesn't happen very often so imagine my surprise when I found myself weeping while reading this book. The book has a lot more backstory to it than the movie so of course you are going to like the book better. I just didn't think it would be that much better. I cannot say a whole lot more without ruining some of the surprise extras that are in the book but just let me say it would be worth your time to pick it up. Some on here are really downing th...more

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May 10, 2013 Ashton rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Because I had already seen the movie, I wasn't too sure what to expect out of this book. Normally, I prefer reading a book to seeing a movie and I thought that would be the case for this book but it wasn't. I was surprised to say that I actually preferred the movie. Being able to really see the characters and the emotions behind everything was vastly helpful. While the story is obviously very similar in the books and sometimes word for word from the movie, I didn't feel that there was enough dep...more

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May 12, 2012 Bonnie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm a big fan of Randy Alcorn, but Courageous is not really his story. It's a novelization of a movie screenplay. I'm watching the movie today and hopefully it isn't horrible. I almost gave up on the book three chapters in. The depictions and language of the gangsters seemed really stilted, as if a nice, upright, white man was writing it. Alcorn has written gangsters before and I've never noticed that falseness but I noticed it here. I hung in there and the book started to grow on me. It follows...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Rick Higginson rated it 4 of 5 stars

We enjoyed the movie on which this novelization is based, and when the book was offered for free on the Kindle, I jumped at it. The book follows the movie very closely, though I do believe some additional scenes have been added to the novel. The story is thought-provoking, at times heart-rending, and managed to step on my toes more than a few times. I wonder sometimes what kind of difference it might have made if I'd read this story thirty years ago, when our eldest was an infant and our younges...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Paul Lee rated it 5 of 5 stars

christian fiction other than left behind series, awesome.

this is the story of 4 police officers and their families. The 4 police officers are Nathan and his partner rookie David and Corporal Adam and his partner Shane.

Corporal Adam's daughter get his by a drunk driver and Emily dies. Adam forgives the driver and so does his wife Victoria. Adam didn't have a good relationship with his son in the early part of the novel, they didn't run together but later they run together and talk about everythi...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Bob rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian

This is a hard one to rate: I ended up giving it a 3 because I consider it to span two different genres.

As a novel, I give it only a 2. It's a little interesting, but not spellbinding. The characters are fairly predictable, fairly wooden. The good guys and bad guys are one-dimensional: they exist solely to play a particular, specific role. The main two characters have a little depth, but nobody else has much. It feels preachy, more so than a novel should feel. There are several times where the n...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Funkygirl rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OMG! if I could get away with no star I would have chosen no rating at all. My partner and I went to see this movie because the synopsis in no way indicated that it would be far damn cheaper to go to church to be preached at.
When I go to a movie and pay $10 I expect to be entertained and see a good plot in action for two hours that will grasp my imagination. It became quite clear to us within minutes that what was being inflicted on us was having bloody religion shoved down our throats.

Religion...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Matthew Robbins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, read-in-2011

Alex and Stephen Kendrick (Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof) are back with their next sermon/story in Courageous, which follows a group of policemen in Albany, GA as they learn what it really means to be fathers. Based on the screenplay by the Kendrick brothers, Randy Alcorn’s novelization delves into more characters, subplots, and backstory than the movie (although since the movie isn’t out yet, I’m not sure what’s new).

I’ve been a fan of Alcorn’s fiction (and his non-fiction) for a while...more Alex and Stephen Kendrick (Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof) are back with their next sermon/story in Courageous, which follows a group of policemen in Albany, GA as they learn what it really means to be fathers. Based on the screenplay by the Kendrick brothers, Randy Alcorn’s novelization delves into more characters, subplots, and backstory than the movie (although since the movie isn’t out yet, I’m not sure what’s new).

I’ve been a fan of Alcorn’s fiction (and his non-fiction) for a while. Books like Safely Home, Deadline, and Lord Foulgrin’s Letters are some of my favorite novels. He has a knack for describing situations, actions, and the thoughts of his characters in such a way that really reveals how their worldviews are affecting what they say and do. He understands how non-believers think and paints realistic portrayals of their motivations. He’s also very good at tugging on your heartstrings when needed.

These strengths are on display in this book. Delving into issues of fatherlessness, neglect, and apathy, the story’s numerous subplots examine many different situations and how fathers can and should handle them. There’s a subplot with a young man and a gang situation that shows why many urban youth turn to that as a source of pride and stability. Alcorn’s interjects his narrative of the thoughts of the characters over the screenplay’s occasionally stilted dialogue to bring out what’s really going on with them. I wonder how much of that will come through in the movie version.

As with Fireproof’s “Love Dare,” there’s a plot device built in that’s sure to lead to a follow-up marketing effort with Christian bookstores. The men in the story commit to a “Resolution,” a series of promises to God and their families to fulfill their roles as husbands and fathers. The text itself is very biblical, and essentially a paraphrase of the passages in scripture aimed at those roles. While the ceremony to sign the Resolution comes off a bit corny in the book, it would be fantastic to see more Christian men take their roles seriously and truly commit to these words as they serve their families.

I’ve enjoyed the movies for Facing the Giants and Fireproof, not because they are great art, but because it’s enjoyable to see a movie made from the worldview you hold, despite its drawbacks. There’s been a noticeable increase in the quality with each movie, and I’m hoping that continues with Courageous. If they are able to capture the overall feel of Alcorn’s adaptation in this novel, it will be an enjoyable (and emotional) yet experience for many people. I felt very challenged as a father reading this book, yet thankful for that role as well.

There’s a fatherless generation growing up around us, both those who have been physically abandoned and those who’ve been left emotionally. While there are probably works that deal with these issues with a little more nuance than this story, there are few likely to have the widespread impact this can have. I’m thankful for what the Kendrick brothers and the people at Sherwood Church are doing, and I’m thankful they partnered with a talented author like Randy Alcorn for the book version.(less)

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Jul 23, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, books-i-own, relationship-guides

Sometimes a novel can be nearly as powerful as a sermon, and for me this was one of those times. It isn't a perfect book, but it caused me to really think about how much (or how little) time I spend with my family, what the outcomes of my choices might be, and inspired me to want to witness to others more and study my Bible more. There are some mature elements (violence, drug content, etc.), but this is primarily a book for fathers and perhaps for troubled teens. There were also some moments of...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Keith Bell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wasn't overly impressed when I started out reading this book but it did get better. Still won't give it more than 3 stars though. Great focus on fatherhood and raising a Christian family and some touching moments but..... Their films and movies appeal to a select audience and unfortunately I am not of that audience. This isn't to say that I don't gain anything from their films and movies, they're just not a big hit with me. My biggest problem with the Kendrick brothers films and books, is the wa...more

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Jan 29, 2012 D.M. Self rated it 2 of 5 stars

I watched the movie, which is beyond superb, and then I bought the novelization.

In my opinion, the book could have been better written. Within the first three pages of the book, I was seeing the view point from three different people. There was no feel for the characters nor the situation at the time. All emotions and actions were cardboard cut-outs.

The words created a very two-dimensional scene. It didn't delve into the characters' emotions and actions. Pretty much, it read like a screenplay w...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Rachel Cherry rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really, really loved this book. This book is the story of four deputies, Adam, Nathan, David, and Shane. This book expressed the values of family life, and how important it is to have a loving father. Everything was strikingly realistic...Randy Alcorn gave it to us just like it is...
One of the best I've read in a while. I'm so glad I bought Courageous for my Kindle. In stores, I often saw the movie being advertised, and I think, Okay, this is some movie about four cops.
I had no idea what Coura...more

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About Randy Alcorn

Randy Alcorn is the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. EPM exists to meet the needs of the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled and unsupported people around the world.

"My ministry focus is communicating the strategic importance of using our earthly tim...more

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Books by Randy Alcorn

The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving

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Quotes from Courageous

“[Nathan] wasn't blindly obsessed with a possession. He wasn't crazy. He was a hero--a father who'd risked his life to rescue his son.” — 1 person liked it

“I've heard it said that healing after losing someone you love is like learning to live with an amputation. You do heal, but you're never the same. But those who go through this and trust the Lord find comfort and intimacy with God that others never experience. Now, you've got to give yourself time to grieve. But you also need to make efforts to move forward with your life.” — 0 people liked it

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avg rating	preview: Courageous Goodreads rating: 4.47 (2403 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10790276-courageous?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348846582l/10790276.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10790276-courageous?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Courageous by Randy Alcorn[/url]

Courageous

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