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Oct 20, 2008

Mary rated it:

I so enjoyed reading this while in Kenya. Beth Mixon, Sara's good friend who gave up her bed so I had a place to sleep, had this book on her shelf. Since it had been recommended to me by my son Ben and I have enjoyed Piper's work before I went for it. The chapter on "Risk is Right" was superb and reminded me that to risk it all for the kingdom pays BIG TIME. Not a bad return, given the current market crash. I am quite certain that when I think of risk I am thinking of different things More...

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jul 01, 2008

Traci rated it:

This book got me by the preface. I originally picked it up at the library, b/c I RARELY purchase a book. Well, I got so sucked in to it that I had to buy it and sit with a pencil or highlighter b/c so much of this book hit home.

I'm the woman with a college degree not being used, work experience in telecom which barely exists anymore (and which I'm terribly underexperienced for), a mom wanting to be here for my kids--their homework challenges, their activities, their lives--a substit More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jul 27, 2011

James added it

(Composite score)

A fairly good book in toto. One might disagree if one were to pick it up casually in a bookstore. The first 6 chapters are an abominable slog. Written in a discombobulated style (attempting, perhaps, C.S. Lewis, but with far less clarity), it is almost as if Piper is talking out loud through his points rather than writing them in a concise, orderly fashion. Despite this, there is a jewel or two in the rough in each of these chapters.

Chapters 7-9 are like bright stars in a black More...

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Jun 19, 2011

John rated it:

I guess you could say that, for me, this is the book that started it all. That is to say, for all the reading I do now of books relating to faith and theology, this is a relatively late addition to my life. I’ve always been a big reader, but prior to 2003, I pretty much stayed in the realm of fiction, with the occasional history book thrown in.

In June of 2003, however, the man who was discipling me challenged me to dedicate two of my greatest loves — music and reading — to the Lord. He More...

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Sep 25, 2010

Josh rated it:

This review first appeared on my blog, Jacob's Café.

John Piper is a prolific writer who people seem to either love or hate. In December, I had the opportunity to review his latest book (in audiobook format), which made me into a non-fan of Piper. I cross-post my reviews on other sites, including Amazon. It was quite interesting to see how passionately people defended Piper in response to my review. And how they review the usefulness of a review and people's comments based on their ag More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 15, 2010

JPaul rated it:

Another great book from John Piper with a powerful message for today's generation of believers, "Don't Waste Your Life". Piper quoting Johnathan Edwards, lists some of the resolutions that Edwards sought to live by. It would seem he did so successfully, as evidenced by the profound impact this eighteenth-century preacher used by God, had on this world.

"*Resolution #17: 'Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.'

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Jan 27, 2011

Shelly rated it:

Go to the best school you can. Get the job that makes the most money possible. Retire early. Spend the rest of your life "Doing what you want to do"-----collecting antiques, going on cruises, woodworking.

None of these things are bad in and of themselves. But is that all life is intended to be? Is that the way God designed living our life here on earth to look like?

John Piper, in the book Don't Waste Your Life, takes issue with the prevailing thoughts that l More...

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Jan 22, 2010

Danny rated it:

What a great book on focusing on the war versus merely existing. Some of my favorite quotes:
"He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him."
"Because I was created by God & for His glory...My desire is to make knowing & enjoying God the passionate pursuit of my life." Louie Giglio
"We exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples, through Jesus Christ."
"the cross is not the terribl More...

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Jul 26, 2011

Kurt rated it:

This book suffers from Piper's tendency to fill 200 pages when 30 would have illustrated his points sufficiently, but the points in Don't Waste Your Life are terrific, and it's well worth the read. Mostly, the book challenges the reader again and again to live deliberately for God's glory instead of wasting life pursuing anything else. I love Piper's exhaustive Biblical citations and his presentation of rarely referenced milestones in the history of international missions. I also love that Piper More...

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Nov 19, 2010

David rated it:

John Piper is a good motivator. He starts out telling how God got ahold of him as a young man and lead him down the path that he's on now. Piper calls the reader to a life of faith and in that avoid what the title suggests. Here are some excerpts:

"What does it mean to glorify God?...It’s more like the word magnify…like a telescope, you make something unimaginably great look like what it really is…Magnifying God like that is worship."

Boasting in the cross happens More...

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Jul 14, 2011

Lorna rated it:

In order to give the most accurate review, I've included some of my favorite excerpts from the book...I hope they reel you in to a very worthwhile read! I highly recommend Chapter 8 "Making Much of Christ from 8 to 5."

"If you don't people to God for everlasting joy, you don't love. You waste your life." (p. 35)

"...The way we honor Christ in death is to treasure Jesus above the gift of life, and the way we honor Christ in life is to treasure Jesus More...

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Mar 21, 2010

Jay rated it:

What I learned:
1. You/I can not love man or honor God without doing both.
2. You/I Don't waste your life by where you work but how and why you work.
3. The Balance of being a merciful church at home and church planting: The authenticity of each depends much on the authenticity of the other. It is unauthentic to presume to send what we don't have and unauthentic to have a treasure and not send it.
4. God is most glorified in us when we are satisfied in him.

Summa More...

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Mar 02, 2011

Noai rated it:

Amazing! everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy and be challenged by this book. Life changing

some quotes:
"God created me - and you - to live with a single, all-embracing, all-transforming passion - namely, a passion to glorify God by enjoying and displaying his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life." - p31

The opposite of wasting your life is to live by a single, soul-satisfying passion for the supremacy of God in all things." - p43

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Feb 20, 2011

Debra rated it:

I can't bring myself to finish this book. I don't want to waste my life on reading it.

While I think the idea of the message is good, the actual message and delivery is not. I found it difficult to understand in places and very repetitive. I'm pretty sure it's geared toward new young Christians, but there are so many other books that do a better job at presenting this message.

I was also feeling a sort of condemnation or legalism that I couldn't quite put my finger on to More...

6 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 08, 2008

Rodger rated it:

Piper is at his best explaining why God put us here in the first place. The title is a negative way of saying, Be Sure Your Life Counts."

Even though it is a short book, don't plan on a fast read. Savor it and take time to meditate on your single passion to live for.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 12, 2009

Elizabeth rated it:

I finished this a while back and haven't reviewed it because I am still processing it. This book was given to me in Feb 2005 while we are in Oman. I read a couple of chapters and then put it on my bedside table (after we returned to Texas, it went on my current bedside table that has stood in five apt/house since then). The other day I just had the desire to read it and was so glad that I did.
JP isn't the best writer and kinda has a CS Lewis quality of stating something very deep in More...

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Jun 15, 2011

DeAnna rated it:

John Piper says alot to make his point. He is a little more wordy than I care for, however, I rather enjoyed this book. My take away is his continual reminder that my life is meant to bring God glory. My struggle has been to find out HOW God wants me to bring Him the most glory. John Piper calls the reader to find what your God given purpose is, do it, and that is how you will glorify God. I have been inspired to continue to seek God's direction in this particular season of my life and will More...

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Mar 25, 2007

Shannon rated it:

This should be called... "Don't Waste Your Life (on this Book)". It took me about five tries to finish. It's hard to review because nothing struck out to me, hence I cannot remember anything from it.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 13, 2008

Traci rated it:

Very thought-provoking and challenging. Made me look at priorities and expressed so much of what I'm currently learning about living a life that glorifies Christ.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 24, 2011

Caleb rated it:

An excellent challenge and encouragement to live life to the glory of God. John Piper strikes a really healthy balance in affirming the value of different ways Christians can use their lives well, whether in "secular" work, in ministries of mercy and justice, in church or mission work, and so on.

Piper issues a particular challenge to readers to think and pray over whether God might be calling them to pioneer missionary work. He also gives strong Biblical reasons for why all C More...

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Sep 02, 2009

Paul rated it:

"Don't Waste Your Life" is one of the most challenging books that I have read. The title really sums things up pretty well. Undoubtedly, John Piper is one of the greatest theologians of our day. He combines his smarts with a boldness and restlessness that, quite honestly, don't course through the veins of a single man nearly often enough. When John Piper tells me to not waste my life, I listen.

I have precluded a fifth star because of enjoyability. This is certainly due to m More...

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Nov 30, 2011

John rated it:

With all due respect to John Piper, who has criticized book reviewers for saying, 'This book is a must read' because only the Bible is a must read--I would have to say that Don't Waste Your Life is a one of those rare books that every believer "Must Read." In this book, Piper shares with the reader the pivotal moment in his life's journey in which he found that Single Passion to Live By--the beauty of Christ. Having just read of the intensity of John Bunyan, Owen, and Spurgeon's spir More...

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Jun 09, 2011

Sheri rated it:

Fantastic, thought provoking book. It made me re-evaluate my life and think about putting meaning into each and every day and not wasting my life. The emphasis of the book, I think, is that the world will not know that this is not our home, but heaven is, if we have the same values as those lost people around us. If "things" appear to be top on the list and we do not live as Christ being our treasure, we have missed the mark. If our values are the same as those around us, we are More...

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Feb 07, 2012

Jeremy rated it:

I listened to this while driving from Greenville to Myrtle Beach. Somehow the tracks got out of order, and I think I listened to Chs. 2-3 at the end. There were several statements that made me wonder if I really agreed, but most of the points he made were great. Among other things, Piper talked about war-time living (not spending money on things that you really don't need), being amazed at truly great things (not just some athlete's triple-double), and using your vocation for God's glory. You ca More...

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Mar 10, 2011

Philip rated it:

Without a doubt, this work is one of Piper's most significant books. So many Christians go about their lives thinking very little of their Christ. They live their teenage years, college days, careers, family life, and retirement for themselves only to find a overwhelming sense of emptiness. In this challenging work, Piper points the reader to Christ. In Christ alone we can find our significance. In Him alone we find true meaning and happiness. The writer calls the slumbering church from the busi More...

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Aug 13, 2010

Ramón rated it:

Honestly, I felt like this book was a waste of my time in some ways. While I can appreciate the call to get off our asses and do something, most of this book felt like a very brief rehashing of Desiring God and Let the Nations Be Glad. This book was admittedly aimed at a younger crowd, but I think watering down key concepts does a disservice to young people by letting them remain in cruise control when they should be asking the harder, deeper questions.

After reading this one, I kind More...

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Dec 29, 2011

Dave rated it:

I've never been a huge fan of John Piper's writing. He is a passionate and incredible speaker but those skills don't necessarily translate to paper. "Don't Waste Your Life" is the best book I have read by him thus far. The work serves as a challenge to evangelicals to consider what they are truly living their life for and what principles they are striving to attain.

Piper is so good at challenging us with perspective. He weaves in convincing stories from soldiers who wen More...

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Jul 07, 2011

Jeanie rated it:

With all of John Piper's books, you have to think as you read. I can only read a few pages at a time because his thoughts are so deep and you don't want to miss anything. However, I should correct myself, I am sure most of his thoughts are from the Lord as scripture supports what he is writing. As the word says, Love the Lord with all your mind. The Lord wants us to think and process. Not to be passive in our love for him and others. As the title indicates, Jesus came so that we can live l More...

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May 28, 2011

Emmanuel rated it:

It was a good book which I would recommend to everyone in their early high school years. This isn't to say it isn't beneficial to college aged students or post-graduate persons, but that I think the content should mold the mind as early as possible to give people a vision of God and a passion for living their life to the uttermost for the sake of Christ. Anyone who has 'senioritis' and is not daily struggling to beat it down is not honoring God. Straight up.

The first half may seem a bi More...

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Sep 15, 2010

Tanya rated it:

"Desire that your life count for something great! Long for your life to have eternal significance. Want this! Don't coast through life without a passion." (p.46) I was reading some books in the Bible while reading this book, and it agreed with the Bible in emphasizing the importance of treasuring Jesus Christ and his sacrifice, and sharing this good thing with others. Often, I am satisfied with the simple pleasures of life - health, family, work, leisure. I fail to strive to make More...

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