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Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God's Image
Who are you, really? In an uncertain world, we crave the security of knowing exactly who we are and where we belong. But too often as women, we try to find this safety in our roles and relationships, our professional accomplishments, or our picture-perfect homes. And as we do, our souls shrink smaller and smaller. It's because these things aren't made to hold us. In Made for More , Hannah Anderson invites you to re-imagine yourself, not simply as a set of roles and categories, but as a person destined to live in the fullness of God Himself. Starting with our first identity as image bearers, Hannah shows how Jesus Christ makes us people who can reflect His nature through our unique callings. She also explores how these deeper truths affect the practical realities that we face as women—how does being an image bearer shape our pursuit of education, our work, and even our desire for holistic lives? Because you are made in God’s image, you will only ever know yourself—only ever be yourself—as you find your identity in Him. Find it now.
176 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2014
133 people are currently reading
2310 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Anderson
32 books378 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Hannah Anderson lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with her husband in and their three children. She is You can connect with her at her blog sometimesalight.com and on Twitter @sometimesalight.
Hannah Anderson lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with her husband in and their three children. She is You can connect with her at her blog sometimesalight.com and on Twitter @sometimesalight.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
January 14, 2016
I was really disappointed by this book. I think, in part, because I was expecting it to take a thoughtful and biblical look at a woman's identity in Christ (and how this looks relating to hot-button issues like submission and feminism and vocation). However, it is so basic that I was left scratching my head over who the audience was (too informed on Christianity to be for someone who wasn't a Christian but so redundant and 'obvious' that it was hard to see how a Christian would gain much from it).
Half the time it read like a blog, with trendy blogger-style writing, like sentence fragments and a series of sentences that all begin exactly the same way. (For example every sentence of a paragraph on page 65 starts, 'Faith to believe... Faith to believe... Faith to believe...')
The rest of the time it read like a research paper, with Anderson basically paraphrasing more thoughtful writers or scripture verses. Whenever I found something worthy of being copied out or underlined, it was someone else's words or ideas.
I often found Anderson to be preaching at some odd Christian whom I've never met. For example, "In our culture, most of us hold one of two views of gifting and service. Either we think we can do whatever we want, and nothing and no one can stop us from achieving and fulfilling our personal goals; or conversely, we think that in order to truly be servants, we must suppress all our gifting and personal ambition" (p.115). Frequently, she uses extremes like this to make her boring, common sense point somewhere in the middle of the extremes.
In summary, it was dull, unoriginal and a lot of talk and illustrations about nothing in particular. There were no earth-shattering moments while reading. It's just a very drawn-out way of saying, "be like Christ and find your identity in Him" - something I'm guessing most Christians already understand they need to do, they just need help and wisdom on HOW to do that better (and that is not something they're going to find in this book).
Half the time it read like a blog, with trendy blogger-style writing, like sentence fragments and a series of sentences that all begin exactly the same way. (For example every sentence of a paragraph on page 65 starts, 'Faith to believe... Faith to believe... Faith to believe...')
The rest of the time it read like a research paper, with Anderson basically paraphrasing more thoughtful writers or scripture verses. Whenever I found something worthy of being copied out or underlined, it was someone else's words or ideas.
I often found Anderson to be preaching at some odd Christian whom I've never met. For example, "In our culture, most of us hold one of two views of gifting and service. Either we think we can do whatever we want, and nothing and no one can stop us from achieving and fulfilling our personal goals; or conversely, we think that in order to truly be servants, we must suppress all our gifting and personal ambition" (p.115). Frequently, she uses extremes like this to make her boring, common sense point somewhere in the middle of the extremes.
In summary, it was dull, unoriginal and a lot of talk and illustrations about nothing in particular. There were no earth-shattering moments while reading. It's just a very drawn-out way of saying, "be like Christ and find your identity in Him" - something I'm guessing most Christians already understand they need to do, they just need help and wisdom on HOW to do that better (and that is not something they're going to find in this book).
July 10, 2014
I'm afraid I may have gone into this book with a slight bias: I've read Hannah Anderson's writing (via blog and contributed articles elsewhere) over the last few years, and have almost always profited from her writing and thinking. When I heard and read reviews for her upcoming book, my heart skipped a few beats with excitement, both at the topic and my knowledge of her gift for writing.
As I immersed myself into Hannah's forward, I again felt the same excitement.
Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God's Image is an invitation for women to step back from our culture's myopic view of life (both inside and outside the Church), and to take in the full scope of our identity in Christ. In the front portion of the book, Getting Started, Hannah states her purpose in writing this book:
Ensconced within the final sentences of that paragraph, I believe, is what makes this book's message so crucial. So much of today's "Biblical womanhood" teaching has not been laid as a solid foundation, but instead upon bricks of flaky theology and a chronistic view of womanhood. Sadly, many of us with such a foundation under our feet have indeed settled for far less than what we were created to be and to do.
The scope of this book is primarily a one of providing a foundational overview of living imago dei, yet under that umbrella, Anderson also offers a robust and corrective theology of vocation and education (learning).
Under the realm of vocation, I particularly benefited from this aspect that Catherine also brought up in her review of the book, and appreciated Catherine's articulation of this:
As God has shifted my paradigms of theology of vocation and Biblical womanhood over recent years, I've come to accept and appreciate this sort of "integrated identity" in myself. Because of my many interests (not all of which can be explored during this particular season, or even during any one particular life season, really), I've come to terms with seeing myself as a "renaissance soul," a concept explored in the secular book by the same name (my review here). And in reality, we are all renaissance souls, as perhaps no one is gifted or called to simply one realm giftedness and ability over the course of a lifetime. But this exploration is particularly helpful to Christian women who have often been relegated to seeing their identity as a "one-dimensional caricature" of a rather superficial view of womanhood, at that.
Written for More
As Matthew L. Anderson shared in his back cover blurb, "Here is a book for women that has something to teach men. Made for More is wise and well-written, and I heartily commend it to everyone made in the image of God, male and female alike."
This is a book that I want my children, both sons and daughters, to read. This is a book that I want my husband to read. (Thankfully he already has a good grasp on imago dei, and has not been afraid to learn theology or otherwise from women, either! :))
This book was healing and hopeful, freeing and spiritually challenging, edifying and empowering, and bears an important message for all those who bear God's image, which is all of us. Anderson writes with theological precision and academic accessibility, and demonstrates her own giftedness for writing in a way that promotes the human flourishing she speaks of in the book.
Assorted Excerpts
Original review posted here: http://wp.me/p26dwz-240
Table of Contents
As I immersed myself into Hannah's forward, I again felt the same excitement.
Made for More: An Invitation to Live in God's Image is an invitation for women to step back from our culture's myopic view of life (both inside and outside the Church), and to take in the full scope of our identity in Christ. In the front portion of the book, Getting Started, Hannah states her purpose in writing this book:
"This book is not a call to deny womanhoood in order to embrace being made in His image. But it is a call to understand that womanhood, and everything that comes with it, serves a greater purpose. It is not a call to abandon labels or categories, but it is a call to step back in order to lay a solid foundation before we build those categories. It is a call to wrestle with what it means to be made in His image and to believe that you are made for more than what you often settle for."
Ensconced within the final sentences of that paragraph, I believe, is what makes this book's message so crucial. So much of today's "Biblical womanhood" teaching has not been laid as a solid foundation, but instead upon bricks of flaky theology and a chronistic view of womanhood. Sadly, many of us with such a foundation under our feet have indeed settled for far less than what we were created to be and to do.
The scope of this book is primarily a one of providing a foundational overview of living imago dei, yet under that umbrella, Anderson also offers a robust and corrective theology of vocation and education (learning).
Under the realm of vocation, I particularly benefited from this aspect that Catherine also brought up in her review of the book, and appreciated Catherine's articulation of this:
"[P]erhaps the most profound section[s] of the book (and I hope the author writes more extensively on this topic in a future book, because I think she nailed it) is Anderson’s description of integrated identity. That is, rather than chasing the have-it-all thing, or attempting to compartmentalize different facets of our identity, Anderson advocates a convergence and flourishing that comes from seeing our different callings and roles–from personal to professional, expressing our giftedness to accomplishing mundane tasks–as a chance to be the hands and feet of Christ, and to reflect the unity and wholeness of the Trinity. And, she writes, when we love God with the fullness of our identities, and seek Him in every aspect of our lives, we will enjoy His peace and see those seemingly disparate parts of who we are “work together in beautiful coordination for our good and His glory.” I love the way she puts this:
The fact that I am a woman, that I am a mother, that I am a writer—even where I live—all work together to enable me to image God in a more complex, more brilliant way than if my identity were simply one-dimensional. So even as we strive for wholeness, we do not reach it by diminishing the multidimensional nature of our lives. We find it through the complexity of them. We find wholeness as each facet is cut to capture and reflect the radiance of Christ Himself."
As God has shifted my paradigms of theology of vocation and Biblical womanhood over recent years, I've come to accept and appreciate this sort of "integrated identity" in myself. Because of my many interests (not all of which can be explored during this particular season, or even during any one particular life season, really), I've come to terms with seeing myself as a "renaissance soul," a concept explored in the secular book by the same name (my review here). And in reality, we are all renaissance souls, as perhaps no one is gifted or called to simply one realm giftedness and ability over the course of a lifetime. But this exploration is particularly helpful to Christian women who have often been relegated to seeing their identity as a "one-dimensional caricature" of a rather superficial view of womanhood, at that.
Written for More
As Matthew L. Anderson shared in his back cover blurb, "Here is a book for women that has something to teach men. Made for More is wise and well-written, and I heartily commend it to everyone made in the image of God, male and female alike."
This is a book that I want my children, both sons and daughters, to read. This is a book that I want my husband to read. (Thankfully he already has a good grasp on imago dei, and has not been afraid to learn theology or otherwise from women, either! :))
This book was healing and hopeful, freeing and spiritually challenging, edifying and empowering, and bears an important message for all those who bear God's image, which is all of us. Anderson writes with theological precision and academic accessibility, and demonstrates her own giftedness for writing in a way that promotes the human flourishing she speaks of in the book.
Assorted Excerpts
"Thankfully, He's the kind of God who welcomes our questions, who can wrestle with us through the confusion and still bless us in the process. He is the kind of God who desires true faith, even at its weakest points, and looks for mustard seeds instead of mountains. He is the kind of God who delights in the plea, "Help my unbelief" and then holds on to us because we can't hold on to Him anymore. He is the kind of God who can handle all our doubt, all our fear, all our questions if we will simply commit to letting Him." (27)
"Instead of being fully formed, multi-dimensional people who radiate the complexity of God's nature, we [mistakenly] become one-dimensional caricatures, as limited and superficial as the thing we have devoted ourselves to." (50)
"Our God doesn't bear grudges. He doesn't hold Himself back to punish us. He doesn't "teach us a thing or two." Instead, in the face of unbelievable rejection, even as we turn from Him again and again, He patiently, generously, abundantly extends Himself to us. And when we finally return to Him, and to each other, He faithfully, freely forgives and makes us whole once again." (91-92)
"And yet Scripture does not differentiate between sacred wisdom and secular knowledge. In Psalm 19:1, David sings that even "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork." Everything you could possibly learn -- from the physics that enable a suspension bridge to straddle San Francisco bay to the social habits of whales to the tenderness of a mother's touch -- everything reveals the majesty of God 'who established the world by His wisdom.'"
"Because of this, imago dei knowledge is by necessity more than a dry, crusty intellectualism; it is more than a 'worldview.' At its root, imago dei knowledge means searching for Him with childlike curiosity, wide-eyed and eager to discover who He is and the world He has made." (99-100)
"Too often as women, we have restricted ourselves to the 'pink' parts of the Bible. When we identify first and foremost as women, we can begin to believe that knowledge of ourselves will come primarily through passages that speak to women's issues or include heroines like Ruth or Esther. But when we do this, when we craft our learning and discipleship programs around being "women," we make womanhood the central focus of our pursuit of knowledge instead of Christ.
And we forget that these "pink passages" were never intended to be sufficient by themselves. We forget that we can never understand what it means to be women of good works until we first learn about the goodness of a God who works on our behalf. We forget that nothing about them will make any sense if they are not first grounded in the truth that we are destined to be conformed to His image through Christ.
Because you are an image bearer, you must allow the entirety of Scripture to shape your sense of self. You must begin to see every verse as a "pink" passage because every verse speaks to who God is and therefore who you are as His daughter. You must begin to believe that theology and doctrine are not men's issues but that they are imago dei issues because they reveal the God in whose image you are made." (103)
Original review posted here: http://wp.me/p26dwz-240
Table of Contents
December 9, 2016
Imagine you could go back in time a bit.... Before the noise of Twitter that drowns out all our attempts at meaningful conversation about who we are with sharp chirps competing for our attention... Even before the fires of modern feminism that cast more heat than light on conversations about identity. Hannah Anderson invites you on just such a time traveling journey back to the quiet nothingness where God spoke the world into being and Anderson serves as your thoughtful tour guide in order to help you discover who you are and who you are meant to be. It is not so much that she ignores or disdains the modern conversation about identity but that she takes a step back from it all to put our conversation about identity into a much larger context because "we ourselves are more than the roles we play in this present world. We are large, deep, eternal beings, and only something larger and deeper will satisfy the questions in our souls" (23).
This book is a treasure. Anderson has polished her ideas and presented them carefully so that her thesis unfolds like a story, less about herself than it is about how and where to find oneself. And while the book has an eye towards feminine identity, it does not succumb to any of the typical pitfalls of typical women's books (like favoring personal illustration over universal revelations). It has enough theological heft to inspire the woman bored with women's books and enough well-placed poetry--just a touch, never so much as to drown out content with mere rhetorical frill--to encourage the reader intimidated by theological treatises.
Anderson understands how everything from Freud to fashion magazines has an influence on how we see ourselves, and she serves up such a deeply satisfying alternative to modern concepts of female identity that I found myself entirely absorbed in her narrative (side note: I rarely read a "women's" book without doing some skimming. I read every word of this book.) Perhaps I am mistaken, but I think this is a book that transcends its market (Christian women) and would be a good read for ALL women, especially those who don't necessarily see themselves as distinctly Christian, to understand just exactly what is so dignifying, so satisfying, so meaningful about being a Christian woman. If I were discipling someone, this is the first book I would choose to read. I think it is an evangelistic tool as well as an encouragement for Christian women.
Most importantly, perhaps, is the fact that Anderson does not get bogged down in topicality. She barely even touches on single vs, married, working vs. stay at home motherhood, etc. (or any of the other categories we love to use to describe ourselves.) Instead, she paints a picture of what it is to be a woman made "imago dei" (in the image of God) in a way that transcends categorization. In that sense, it may not feel terribly practical: you will not find a list of five things to do to be a better wife. However, I would argue that it is imminently MORE practical for giving women the theological underpinnings of their identity and freeing women to apply those ideas to whatever set of circumstances she happens to be in.
This is a book that is both good for the soul and enjoyable to read, like a meal full of ingredients that are familiar but are so freshly picked and well-prepared that it is as good to eat as it is good for you, which is a treat so rare I wish I had not given out five star reviews so easily in the past so I had some extra exclamation point to show how enthusiastically I recommend this book!
This book is a treasure. Anderson has polished her ideas and presented them carefully so that her thesis unfolds like a story, less about herself than it is about how and where to find oneself. And while the book has an eye towards feminine identity, it does not succumb to any of the typical pitfalls of typical women's books (like favoring personal illustration over universal revelations). It has enough theological heft to inspire the woman bored with women's books and enough well-placed poetry--just a touch, never so much as to drown out content with mere rhetorical frill--to encourage the reader intimidated by theological treatises.
Anderson understands how everything from Freud to fashion magazines has an influence on how we see ourselves, and she serves up such a deeply satisfying alternative to modern concepts of female identity that I found myself entirely absorbed in her narrative (side note: I rarely read a "women's" book without doing some skimming. I read every word of this book.) Perhaps I am mistaken, but I think this is a book that transcends its market (Christian women) and would be a good read for ALL women, especially those who don't necessarily see themselves as distinctly Christian, to understand just exactly what is so dignifying, so satisfying, so meaningful about being a Christian woman. If I were discipling someone, this is the first book I would choose to read. I think it is an evangelistic tool as well as an encouragement for Christian women.
Most importantly, perhaps, is the fact that Anderson does not get bogged down in topicality. She barely even touches on single vs, married, working vs. stay at home motherhood, etc. (or any of the other categories we love to use to describe ourselves.) Instead, she paints a picture of what it is to be a woman made "imago dei" (in the image of God) in a way that transcends categorization. In that sense, it may not feel terribly practical: you will not find a list of five things to do to be a better wife. However, I would argue that it is imminently MORE practical for giving women the theological underpinnings of their identity and freeing women to apply those ideas to whatever set of circumstances she happens to be in.
This is a book that is both good for the soul and enjoyable to read, like a meal full of ingredients that are familiar but are so freshly picked and well-prepared that it is as good to eat as it is good for you, which is a treat so rare I wish I had not given out five star reviews so easily in the past so I had some extra exclamation point to show how enthusiastically I recommend this book!
April 3, 2020
I hardly ever give anything five stars. I figure five stars should be reserved for those books that everyone should read, are true classics, exceptional in some way or are the kind of books that become lifetime favorites. If it's just an average good book, I give it 3 stars. If it's really good I give it 4. If it's exceptional I give it 5. Are there rules to this Goodreads thing? These are mine.
What I needed for this book was a 4 and 1/2 stars rating.
It's SO good. I really think most Christian women in our culture and time would gain something from reading this. Nearly every chapter gave me something to go away, digest, think about and grow from. I don't usually consider myself someone particularly torn about identity or who wrestles with the Christian's identity in Christ all that much. Yet I found so much good, solid, helpful truth in this book. Although it's short and easy to read, I tried not to devour it in one quick sitting, but stop at each chapter for reflection and thought because each was bringing insight and truth to bear on my thought and life the more I considered her words. I would recommend it as a first-read for any woman who does really struggle with these issues, and because identity issues are at the core of the current cultural conversation, that means I'd recommend it to just about everyone. She wrote about identity in a way that is full of truth and light, theology and scripture without becoming inaccessible to the average reader or demeaning to those who struggle with these truths. Excellent.
So why 4.5 and not 5 stars? Well, here's the thing. I really dislike most books written by women for women. Why do we have to write down to one another? Why does it have to be full of anecdotes of daily life and pretty word illustrations to be a book for women? Why do books for Christian women have to be less than 200 pages and have a pretty cover? All the things that make a book "relatable" for many women feel trite to me. Let's write substantially. Let's write deeply and broadly. Women need to write books that are for *all* Christians, not women Christians. There were so many good truths in this book that need a lot more fleshing out. A lot more depth of discussion and interaction with scripture. In her effort to be conversational, some of her anecdotes seemed forced. This book, like her previous books I've read, just barely gets into a wonderful insight and solid truth, and then moves on instead of digging in. It could've been so much more meaty and satisfying, but, probably to fit the model of Christian women's literature, it only lightly touched on the truths it contained without giving them the substance she could have. I would love for women Christian writers to free themselves of the cute toddler stories (and I love a cute toddler!) to dig in and tell deeper truth in more substantive ways. We know the word and love the word - give it us; we can take it!
So, 4.5 stars. READ IT! But it will leave you wanting more.
What I needed for this book was a 4 and 1/2 stars rating.
It's SO good. I really think most Christian women in our culture and time would gain something from reading this. Nearly every chapter gave me something to go away, digest, think about and grow from. I don't usually consider myself someone particularly torn about identity or who wrestles with the Christian's identity in Christ all that much. Yet I found so much good, solid, helpful truth in this book. Although it's short and easy to read, I tried not to devour it in one quick sitting, but stop at each chapter for reflection and thought because each was bringing insight and truth to bear on my thought and life the more I considered her words. I would recommend it as a first-read for any woman who does really struggle with these issues, and because identity issues are at the core of the current cultural conversation, that means I'd recommend it to just about everyone. She wrote about identity in a way that is full of truth and light, theology and scripture without becoming inaccessible to the average reader or demeaning to those who struggle with these truths. Excellent.
So why 4.5 and not 5 stars? Well, here's the thing. I really dislike most books written by women for women. Why do we have to write down to one another? Why does it have to be full of anecdotes of daily life and pretty word illustrations to be a book for women? Why do books for Christian women have to be less than 200 pages and have a pretty cover? All the things that make a book "relatable" for many women feel trite to me. Let's write substantially. Let's write deeply and broadly. Women need to write books that are for *all* Christians, not women Christians. There were so many good truths in this book that need a lot more fleshing out. A lot more depth of discussion and interaction with scripture. In her effort to be conversational, some of her anecdotes seemed forced. This book, like her previous books I've read, just barely gets into a wonderful insight and solid truth, and then moves on instead of digging in. It could've been so much more meaty and satisfying, but, probably to fit the model of Christian women's literature, it only lightly touched on the truths it contained without giving them the substance she could have. I would love for women Christian writers to free themselves of the cute toddler stories (and I love a cute toddler!) to dig in and tell deeper truth in more substantive ways. We know the word and love the word - give it us; we can take it!
So, 4.5 stars. READ IT! But it will leave you wanting more.
August 30, 2023
In Made for More, Hannah does a beautiful job of presenting the gospel message and “what it means to be a person made in the very likeness of God Himself.” Rich in biblical truth, wisdom, and personal reflection, Made for More is a refreshing read that women of all ages and seasons of life can enjoy, reflect on, and glean from. Though I primarily read this as a devotional and enjoyed it as such, I think it would be a good option for a women’s small group or book club to read together and discuss.
Thank you Moody Publishers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Moody Publishers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2019
"In order to know who you are, you must first know who He is." - Hannah Anderson, Made for More
This is an amazing book. And I am so, so glad that I read it. It's changed my view of God, of myself, and my identity in Him. Hannah Anderson writes with honesty and thoughtfulness, revealing incredible truths in a surprisingly simple way. Her words spoke to my soul and I found myself walking away from her book renewed and refreshed. I feel like Anderson gives very few "how-tos" in this book and instead focuses more on the glory and power of God and the beauty of finding our identity in Him.
I've learned that there is so much more to life than simply surviving. When we find our identity in Christ, when we grasp the truth that we were created to reflect and represent Him, than can we "have life and have it abundantly." Then can we live imago dei.
This is an amazing book. And I am so, so glad that I read it. It's changed my view of God, of myself, and my identity in Him. Hannah Anderson writes with honesty and thoughtfulness, revealing incredible truths in a surprisingly simple way. Her words spoke to my soul and I found myself walking away from her book renewed and refreshed. I feel like Anderson gives very few "how-tos" in this book and instead focuses more on the glory and power of God and the beauty of finding our identity in Him.
I've learned that there is so much more to life than simply surviving. When we find our identity in Christ, when we grasp the truth that we were created to reflect and represent Him, than can we "have life and have it abundantly." Then can we live imago dei.
March 3, 2018
returning to the basics of who we are, made in God's image, and how that looks in the day to day ... as women, as Christians, as parents, CEOs, or whatever else we are gifted with. and doing so with joy, presenting the image of God through our daily lives.
June 24, 2017
Made for More delves into the deep question of what we're all here for. As women, we fill a wide variety of roles--wife, mother, daughter, teacher, friend, sister, employee, employer and many more depending on our talents and where we've chosen to invest them. But none of those things, says Anderson, truly get at the heart of who we are. Underlying it all is a thirst for identity that's deeper than the roles we may fill at any given time.
Who are we? Who were we made to be? And what ramifications does that carry?
These are the questions Anderson seeks to address. I like the way the author comes at the topic from many different angles. She tackles the issue of imago dei--being made in the image of God--from the perspective of life in a broken world. I love the extensive imagery and literary references she uses throughout the book to make her points. Although I did not agree with every conclusion, I appreciated walking through the exercise with Anderson as she explored her topic in a way which I can best describe as meditative.
I wish the book had delved into each topic more deeply. In every chapter, I wanted her to provide more support--both Scriptural and from other authors--for the conclusions she drew. I wanted her to discuss the questions that naturally arise from a study like this one and make more practical applications about what that means for the specifics of our roles as women.
I recommend this book as an introduction to the engaging question of where we should find our true identity. Is it in our roles as mothers and wives? Employees and employers? Friends and church members? Or is there a deeper truth that should undergird all of those roles? If we are more than the sum total of our activities, where do we find truth about who God wants us to be?
It's a pressing problem in a society where women are consistently struggling to find balance between home and work. Anderson's book will open the door to exploring the Bible's answer to those questions, and if you're like me, it will make you want to continue the discussion with other authors and resources.
Who are we? Who were we made to be? And what ramifications does that carry?
These are the questions Anderson seeks to address. I like the way the author comes at the topic from many different angles. She tackles the issue of imago dei--being made in the image of God--from the perspective of life in a broken world. I love the extensive imagery and literary references she uses throughout the book to make her points. Although I did not agree with every conclusion, I appreciated walking through the exercise with Anderson as she explored her topic in a way which I can best describe as meditative.
I wish the book had delved into each topic more deeply. In every chapter, I wanted her to provide more support--both Scriptural and from other authors--for the conclusions she drew. I wanted her to discuss the questions that naturally arise from a study like this one and make more practical applications about what that means for the specifics of our roles as women.
I recommend this book as an introduction to the engaging question of where we should find our true identity. Is it in our roles as mothers and wives? Employees and employers? Friends and church members? Or is there a deeper truth that should undergird all of those roles? If we are more than the sum total of our activities, where do we find truth about who God wants us to be?
It's a pressing problem in a society where women are consistently struggling to find balance between home and work. Anderson's book will open the door to exploring the Bible's answer to those questions, and if you're like me, it will make you want to continue the discussion with other authors and resources.
June 23, 2023
This book was good and is a good foundational book about what it means to be human and made in the image of God. As someone who is diving into the topic of femaleness in the Bible, this is a great read before doing that work/study. Thankful for Hannah Anderson & the books she has written.
November 5, 2022
3.5 stars.
This book is a fantastic starting point for what it means to be a woman, but it's still just a starting point. I love that Anderson goes back to imago Dei and what it means to be human and in God's image as the place to begin for what it means to be a woman. I love that she draws on Anthony Hoekkema's great work on imago Dei and brings it into lay-level writing.
What I felt was lacking:
- What impact does this then have on the "pink" verses or just how the expression of imago Dei in women is the same or different from men? Almost all of what she wrote applies to both genders. So again, a necessary starting point, but often felt more about what it means to be human--which is the foundation she was aiming at, but now that there's a foundation, I want more to be built on it.
- In that same vein, I would have liked more examples of working through sticky situations and the bigger cultural questions about womanhood in light of that foundation.
- In talking about "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it," Anderson did better than most in at least including a sentence or two in lifegiving. But then she devotes a whole chapter to "reigning"--ie work and the "dominion" aspect, but neglects the lifegiving (which, I would argue that if we're considering what's "asymmetrical" about the genders, is that the dominion factors in more heavily for men and the lifegiving [physical or not] has more weight for women, at least as a general stereotype, but that's a long discussion!).
My greatest takeaway for right now (aside from my bigger quest of looking for a book on womanhood I'll finally rate 4 or 5 stars!), is her discussion on being holistic, integrated beings, not compartmentalizing the different parts of our lives. I'm continuing to think through more of what that means for my own life.
This book is a fantastic starting point for what it means to be a woman, but it's still just a starting point. I love that Anderson goes back to imago Dei and what it means to be human and in God's image as the place to begin for what it means to be a woman. I love that she draws on Anthony Hoekkema's great work on imago Dei and brings it into lay-level writing.
What I felt was lacking:
- What impact does this then have on the "pink" verses or just how the expression of imago Dei in women is the same or different from men? Almost all of what she wrote applies to both genders. So again, a necessary starting point, but often felt more about what it means to be human--which is the foundation she was aiming at, but now that there's a foundation, I want more to be built on it.
- In that same vein, I would have liked more examples of working through sticky situations and the bigger cultural questions about womanhood in light of that foundation.
- In talking about "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it," Anderson did better than most in at least including a sentence or two in lifegiving. But then she devotes a whole chapter to "reigning"--ie work and the "dominion" aspect, but neglects the lifegiving (which, I would argue that if we're considering what's "asymmetrical" about the genders, is that the dominion factors in more heavily for men and the lifegiving [physical or not] has more weight for women, at least as a general stereotype, but that's a long discussion!).
My greatest takeaway for right now (aside from my bigger quest of looking for a book on womanhood I'll finally rate 4 or 5 stars!), is her discussion on being holistic, integrated beings, not compartmentalizing the different parts of our lives. I'm continuing to think through more of what that means for my own life.
May 5, 2014
Bought it because it was recommended on Tim Keller's twitter.
I would recommend this to any female who is struggling with identity (so most females). It's more theologically/philosophically dense than the average book written to a female audience.
I loved this illustration, the author talks about how a new subscription to Harper's Bazaar:
"Before Harper's Bazaar, fashion success meant being fully dressed before the children barged into my bedroom. After the magazine entered my world, I felt intimidated...but even as I realized I couldn't measure up... I felt compelled to try"
"My complicated relationship with Bazaar was based on this universal truth: We can't really know how short we come until we know the standard. So too, we can't know what we are created to be, we can't know what it means to live as image bearers, apart from clear, direct revelation from God."
I would recommend this to any female who is struggling with identity (so most females). It's more theologically/philosophically dense than the average book written to a female audience.
I loved this illustration, the author talks about how a new subscription to Harper's Bazaar:
"Before Harper's Bazaar, fashion success meant being fully dressed before the children barged into my bedroom. After the magazine entered my world, I felt intimidated...but even as I realized I couldn't measure up... I felt compelled to try"
"My complicated relationship with Bazaar was based on this universal truth: We can't really know how short we come until we know the standard. So too, we can't know what we are created to be, we can't know what it means to live as image bearers, apart from clear, direct revelation from God."
April 20, 2015
Such a smart and MOVING book. There were loads of things I knew I needed to be about as a Christ follower but honestly the ever day life of being a mom, a wife, a friend, a sister, a neighbour, a community worker blinded me to the way I really should be acting and what I should be striving for. I live so much for the approval of others and this book helped me see where the flaw in this is and how really I should be living. I love that the book is super researched and she write with a depth that I really need to read this book 2 to 3 times to pick up on all the layers! She definitely challenged me to stop being so about myself and be what I was created to be: a bearer of Gods image! Defo gave me LOADS to process!
May 9, 2020
I read this for a book group. The rating is not for disagreement with the material, but for the organization, editing, and writing of it. The sing-song style and formulaic structure grated upon the reader's intelligence.
Here is an example from the intro of chapter 9, where the author belabors a metaphor about a thrifted entry table. The focus of the first paragraphs is on the eclectic style of family's furniture and the busyness of their life, all in a "aren't we cute" tone. Then the poor sentence arrives that is forced to carry the weight of transitioning to the chapter's main idea, "But as helpful as compartments were for organizing the paperwork of a busy family, they are not always helpful in pursuing imago dei identity."
Here is an example from the intro of chapter 9, where the author belabors a metaphor about a thrifted entry table. The focus of the first paragraphs is on the eclectic style of family's furniture and the busyness of their life, all in a "aren't we cute" tone. Then the poor sentence arrives that is forced to carry the weight of transitioning to the chapter's main idea, "But as helpful as compartments were for organizing the paperwork of a busy family, they are not always helpful in pursuing imago dei identity."
August 2, 2015
The author has excellent points to make. Unfortunately, her personal illustrations are so uniformly sweet, it is impossible to relate to her. The Pollyanna quality of her real-life examples detract from her insightful writing, generally the fruit of painful experience. I found myself wondering whether she doesn't want to be transparent or how she came upon depth in the sunny shallow end?
August 13, 2015
Really excellent book on what our identity truly is and on whom it rests.
March 25, 2019
"This book is not a call to deny womanhood in order to embrace being made in His image. But it is a call to understand that womanhood, and everything that comes with it, serves a greater purpose. It is not a call to abandon labels or categories, but it is a call to step back in order to lay a solid foundation before we build those categories. It is a call to wrestle with what it means to be made in His image and to believe that you are made for more than what you often settle for. And ultimately, it is a call—no, an invitation—to re-imagine yourself, not simply as a woman, but first and foremost as a person destined to be like your God."
While I wouldn't call anything in this book particularly "earth-shattering," it is most certainly a breath of fresh air. I have immense respect and appreciation for any book targeted at Christian women that rises above the shallowness permeating most of the market. Hannah Anderson wants us to know how we can be who we were created to be, but she doesn't mean that in any sort of sentimental, self-help way. Her message is so much deeper and more glorious. Why do we settle for letting our gender or our family or our vocation or our politics define our identity when the truth is that we have always been meant to reflect and represent God? Made for more, indeed!
While many Christian books are often guilty of being too long, I actually thought this one was a bit too short. I would have liked to have seen Anderson be able to flesh some of her ideas out even more and also give more detailed examples of how the different aspects of imago dei identity play out in our various life situations and contexts. To her credit though, Anderson does a great job of making sure that what she says applies to all Christian women whether married, single, with kids, without kids, old, young, stay-at-home, working outside the home, etc. So perhaps it was just wisdom on her part not to get too specific in her applications.
I will leave you with two of my favorite insights from the book. Admittedly, these quotes are somewhat lengthy, but the ideas are good enough to share in full. First, something Anderson says in the chapter on generosity and graciousness:
While I wouldn't call anything in this book particularly "earth-shattering," it is most certainly a breath of fresh air. I have immense respect and appreciation for any book targeted at Christian women that rises above the shallowness permeating most of the market. Hannah Anderson wants us to know how we can be who we were created to be, but she doesn't mean that in any sort of sentimental, self-help way. Her message is so much deeper and more glorious. Why do we settle for letting our gender or our family or our vocation or our politics define our identity when the truth is that we have always been meant to reflect and represent God? Made for more, indeed!
While many Christian books are often guilty of being too long, I actually thought this one was a bit too short. I would have liked to have seen Anderson be able to flesh some of her ideas out even more and also give more detailed examples of how the different aspects of imago dei identity play out in our various life situations and contexts. To her credit though, Anderson does a great job of making sure that what she says applies to all Christian women whether married, single, with kids, without kids, old, young, stay-at-home, working outside the home, etc. So perhaps it was just wisdom on her part not to get too specific in her applications.
I will leave you with two of my favorite insights from the book. Admittedly, these quotes are somewhat lengthy, but the ideas are good enough to share in full. First, something Anderson says in the chapter on generosity and graciousness:
For a society that prides itself on tolerance, we are also a society that fundamentally lacks grace when we interact with each other. You only have to read blog comments, listen to talk radio, or watch what happens when a scandal breaks—when some public figure makes a mistake or fails at his duties or says something inappropriate. If he’s an ideological opponent, we quickly become rabid animals, gleefully watching his demise. If we are his supporters, we insist that he did nothing wrong, even as we know that he probably did. And in either case, there is no forgiveness; there is no redemption. No public apology is sufficient. No attempt to pay back is enough. No acknowledgment of guilt or repentance will ever be adequate. And we wonder why the people closest to us—in our homes and churches and schools—have a hard time acknowledging their own failures. Could it be that we’ve faithfully demonstrated to them that there will be no grace when they do?And then, in the chapter on wisdom and knowledge, she says this:
Too often as women, we have restricted ourselves to the “pink” parts of the Bible. When we identify first and foremost as women, we can begin to believe that knowledge of ourselves will come primarily through passages that speak to women’s issues or include heroines like Ruth or Esther. But when we do this, when we craft our learning and discipleship programs around being “women,” we make womanhood the central focus of our pursuit of knowledge instead of Christ. . . .
Because you are an image bearer, you must allow the entirety of Scripture to shape your sense of self. You must begin to see every verse as a “pink” passage because every verse speaks to who God is and therefore who you are as His daughter. You must begin to believe that theology and doctrine are not men’s issues but that they are imago dei issues because they reveal the God in whose image you are made.
July 18, 2018
Many books written by and/or aimed at Christian women stop short of the full blessing and calling that we have as image-bearers of God, focusing instead on what it means to be a woman. This book aims higher. As Hannah writes:
"When we identify first and foremost as women, we can begin to believe that knowledge of ourselves will come primarily through passages that speak to women’s issues or include heroines like Ruth or Esther. But when we do this, when we craft our learning and discipleship programs around being ‘women,’ we make womanhood the central focus of our pursuit of knowledge instead of Christ.”
This is a superb book with some excellent thoughts about the identity and purpose that all believers have in Christ, and how God's Word calls us to something bigger and better than we often settle for -- or than other people expect us to settle for. Anderson* shows that not only is it possible for women to hold a high view of Scripture and want to obey its teachings without being limited to merely traditional or cultural ideals of femininity, it is essential for both women and men to reclaim a more Biblical understanding of who we are in order to know and love God better and serve Him more faithfully.
I don't usually write or underline in my books, but I highlighted numerous passages in this one. I've also recommended it, loaned it, and bought copies for friends I thought would especially find it helpful. I'm sure I'll be reading it again.
--
* No relation to me and I've never even met her, so this review is not nepotism. :)
"When we identify first and foremost as women, we can begin to believe that knowledge of ourselves will come primarily through passages that speak to women’s issues or include heroines like Ruth or Esther. But when we do this, when we craft our learning and discipleship programs around being ‘women,’ we make womanhood the central focus of our pursuit of knowledge instead of Christ.”
This is a superb book with some excellent thoughts about the identity and purpose that all believers have in Christ, and how God's Word calls us to something bigger and better than we often settle for -- or than other people expect us to settle for. Anderson* shows that not only is it possible for women to hold a high view of Scripture and want to obey its teachings without being limited to merely traditional or cultural ideals of femininity, it is essential for both women and men to reclaim a more Biblical understanding of who we are in order to know and love God better and serve Him more faithfully.
I don't usually write or underline in my books, but I highlighted numerous passages in this one. I've also recommended it, loaned it, and bought copies for friends I thought would especially find it helpful. I'm sure I'll be reading it again.
--
* No relation to me and I've never even met her, so this review is not nepotism. :)
November 11, 2019
I loved this book. Answering the question “who am I and why am I here?” Anderson’s answer is you are made in Gods image and are here to glorify Him!
She answers in a charming and relatable way. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a book about identity. Anderson writes “this is an invitation to reimagine yourself, not simply as a woman but first and foremost as a person destined to be like your God.”
She goes into how we’ve been searching for the answer to WHO AM I forever, and we search for the answer in our gender, our race, our job, our heritage, and yet none of these truly fullfills us. Because they can’t.
I underlined so much in this book. A wonderful read!
She answers in a charming and relatable way. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a book about identity. Anderson writes “this is an invitation to reimagine yourself, not simply as a woman but first and foremost as a person destined to be like your God.”
She goes into how we’ve been searching for the answer to WHO AM I forever, and we search for the answer in our gender, our race, our job, our heritage, and yet none of these truly fullfills us. Because they can’t.
I underlined so much in this book. A wonderful read!
December 16, 2020
I picked this to read because it was short and I could get it done by the time my new books came in the mail. Sometimes God uses these opportunities to hit us over the head with truth, and that's definitely what happened here. I often struggle connecting my career in science with the bigger and more amorphous picture of God. This book did a nice job talking about what we should be doing while we're here on earth in a nice neat list: 1) depend on God, 2) love others, 3) care for creation. It brings more meaning to my work knowing I am helping to care for His creation! I thoroughly needed and enjoyed this book. One quote she brought up that really stuck with me as a scientist:
"When you see the work of an artist your mind burns to know how and why it was created. It is the same with the world. God planted in us the unspeakable longing to know the how and why of his great works." -Origen
"When you see the work of an artist your mind burns to know how and why it was created. It is the same with the world. God planted in us the unspeakable longing to know the how and why of his great works." -Origen
July 7, 2017
This book is meant to answer the question "who am I?" The answer is that our identity is found in Christ. This isn't a deep exposition of the Bible, but it isn't a surface treatment, either - it's a good middle ground. I enjoyed it quite a bit and would recommend it to any Christian.
April 5, 2019
While this book is aimed towards women, I am pleased that the author puts forward that this is not just for women. While we do relate to God as women, we relate to God primarily as Christians. The whole Bible is for men and women.
Some might be disappointed that Anderson doesn’t delve into the specifics of following God as a woman, but I believe she provides something better. She breaks down who we are in relation to God, and the implications of what being made in His image means in our lives. This framework doesn’t tell us what to do, but gives us a way to make choices that honor the Lord.
Ultimately, it is only through seeing Christ that any of us have hope for living as image bearers who display His glory to others. Anderson helps the reader see the Lord and his greatness more clearly in this book.
Some might be disappointed that Anderson doesn’t delve into the specifics of following God as a woman, but I believe she provides something better. She breaks down who we are in relation to God, and the implications of what being made in His image means in our lives. This framework doesn’t tell us what to do, but gives us a way to make choices that honor the Lord.
Ultimately, it is only through seeing Christ that any of us have hope for living as image bearers who display His glory to others. Anderson helps the reader see the Lord and his greatness more clearly in this book.
December 29, 2023
I love that this book about flourishing as a woman in our identity in Christ moved away from hot button topics often brought up in that conversation, and focused on what it means to be a PERSON made in the image of God. The second to the last chapter was especially good- comparing the idea of being 'Real' from the Velveteen Rabbit to becoming real in Christ and our journey of sanctification.
November 8, 2023
Who else is tired of having the woman and identity in Christ conversation?🙋♀️
December 25, 2023
Excellent!! I will read again hopefully. Hannah Anderson is very solid theologically and has a heart for helping us realize our place in Gods kingdom.
April 3, 2021
So many wonderful insights in this book! I read it with a group of women at my church, and the discussion questions in the back were a wonderful guide for our discussions. I highly recommend this look at how seeking identity in God can be applied.
September 15, 2019
Read this to see how as God changes us, we become more like Him and we feel the weight of our sin more deeply. Seeing changes in ourselves will give us hope.
March 7, 2017
Based on a couple recommendations, I picked up this book last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is technically written to women, but it's about our identity as human beings, made in the image of God, so it's really for everyone.
Anderson starts with a theologically and historically rich retelling of the Christian story. she hits all the essential plot points (Creation, Fall, Covenant, Cross, Resurrection, Glorification), and she does a brilliant job at connecting those events to the present. This done, she begins to unpack the implications of Imago Dei in a number of areas - vocation, gender roles, spiritual disciplines, etc.
I was struck by how well she rooted her Biblical interpretation and application with the Christian storyline that she started with. This understanding of the whole-Bible story is such an important anchor point when addressing any issue, and it really shines through in this book. Without getting lost in the academic debates, she manages to flesh out her biblical-theological work in a number of cultural and personal issues.
Anderson starts with a theologically and historically rich retelling of the Christian story. she hits all the essential plot points (Creation, Fall, Covenant, Cross, Resurrection, Glorification), and she does a brilliant job at connecting those events to the present. This done, she begins to unpack the implications of Imago Dei in a number of areas - vocation, gender roles, spiritual disciplines, etc.
I was struck by how well she rooted her Biblical interpretation and application with the Christian storyline that she started with. This understanding of the whole-Bible story is such an important anchor point when addressing any issue, and it really shines through in this book. Without getting lost in the academic debates, she manages to flesh out her biblical-theological work in a number of cultural and personal issues.
April 3, 2016
This book might be number three on my list of life-changing books. (The first two being the Bible and Not by Chance.) It's that pivotal to my understanding of interpreting who I am based on Scripture.
January 2, 2015
will need to read this again - it gave me a lot to think about
September 24, 2018
fantastic book full of Truth. thankful for this book.
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