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Jan 11, 2008

lisa rated it:

In the spirit of sweeping generalizations, youth pastors fall into two categories. The first is the middle aged man who excitedly pumps students up with pizza parties and all-night lock-ins. Then there are the too-cool-for-cool ones. The youth pastor at my church fell into the second category. He was one of those, "You think I'm cool, but I'm not. Because only, Jesus, man. Jesus is cool."

Shane Claiborne is one of those dudes, too.

In The Irresistible Revolution, More...

12 comments like (18 people liked it)

Jan 31, 2010

Dave rated it:

at first, i liked this book. i actually reccommended it to a friend. ignoring the first forty-something pages full of prefaces, forwards, dedications, and author's notes (which really tried my patience. theres no point to that.), i thought that the author started off by making a good point. then all the crap came out. first, this guy has a big problem with authority. being someone who is a self-professed follower of Jesus, he should be more submissive to authority. and its not just police or the More...

7 comments like (8 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Meghan rated it:

Shane Claiborne has a lot of interesting stories and valuable insights. It's a funny book; very Donald Miller-esque in tone. There were several parts where I had to cringe as Claiborne tended to border on self-righteousness from time to time, but I don't think that it distracted too much from the beautiful images he successfully presented of what it means to live in real Christian community, the way Jesus did and required ALL his followers to do as well.

The accounts of the time Clai More...

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Jul 23, 2007

Mary rated it:

I got through half this book. It got wacky. I gave it a couple more chapter. And then I gave up. This book is pretty liberal. I'm not. This author seems to think very highly of himself. He seems to think to be a true Christian you must give up any sort of business, live among the poor and blah blah blah. He thinks he's so open minded and new age, but he's actually REALLY close minded. What about the average Christian who is looking to be the best they can at showing Christ's love in the More...

15 comments like (6 people liked it)

Jul 24, 2008

Jud rated it:

The Irresistible Revolution is a book written from a place of love by someone who has put his love into action, and as such, I would recommend it to anyone who can read around its sometimes glaring flaws to find the challenging truths that make up the bulk of the book.

Claiborne writes with humor, kindness, and humility. He challenges the status quo of American Christianity, calling us to love the poor. He shines light on and brings into question beliefs and practices of both conser More...

0 comments like (7 people liked it)

Dec 16, 2009

Joanna rated it:

Everyone should read this book. Shane has such a beautiful perspective on the world. As I have often found myself frustrated and disenchanted with what I have seen in American Christianity, Shane reminds me that my God is a God of the small but beautiful things, who calls me to be part of his empire-toppling revolution of love. Shane calls particularly this generation into "small things with great love" and lives a profound example of that. One of the most encouraging things about More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Dec 16, 2009

Tom rated it:

Very inspiring, a book about getting back to the root of what it means to be a Christian, i.e. living with "the least of these" and fighting for peace and justice. However, the book is marred by its youth-pastor-esque voice of excitement and by Zondervan's over-marketing (just look at the fake duct tape on the cover).

Also, as a former resident in an intentional Christian community in a poor neighborhood, his stories of his own life are rosy and idealistic. Claiborne never m More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jun 16, 2008

Naomi rated it:

Do you have a desire to follow the calling of God? Is there a deep yearning inside you that cannot be filled only with faith, but must have action as well? The Irresistible Revolution is a novel that searches for real and true Christians. From as far as Wall Street, to the ghettos of America, slums in Iraq and orphanages in Calcutta, the author Shane Claiborne takes the reader on a journey though the social injustices and ungodly principles of the world and the Christian church today. Convince More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Apr 02, 2008

Shiloh rated it:

This was a really good book. There were quite a few things I couldn't completely agree with. I did not agree with public disgracing of the president, and his view on war. Almost everyone would rather have peace, and the idea of peaceful revolutions and laying down your life for it is a decision that has to be made by individuals and not the powers that be. I have read too many materials about the people in Iraq that are happy that we liberated them, and wonder why we didn't do it the first t More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 31, 2008

Mary Katherine rated it:

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0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 03, 2008

shaun rated it:

If Donald Miller wasn't enough for you, then try a dose of Shane. A great book that tells some amazing stories of God's work through the ministries he is in, and does a good job at showing how some of the pitfalls of American Christianity can be overcome by changes in lifestyle.

However, the book ends up falling flat with over-hyped idealism without much meat. Rosy words and slick phrases abound in this book, as the writing is hyperemotional, self-told-story-driven, and often fails to More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jun 03, 2008

Jonathan rated it:

An impressionistic review of an impressionistic book:

I finished Irresistible Revolution shortly after debating Gitmo with a friend from church. He argued that we should trust our executive branch to do the right thing, and that innocent casualties in a war are worth the expense. They aren't US citizens, after all.

This book would not change that friend's mind about anything. Indeed, I disagree with a lot of what Claiborne says. But I found the book oddly soothing after tha More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 08, 2007

Marc added it

Shane's view of Christianity is appealing, it is neither liberal or conservative. He takes Jesus' call to give away all your wealth and be a servant to the poor literally. I haven't and probably never will do so to the extent Shane has but hope to keep moving in that direction. Shane succeeds not only in inspiring others to live more like Jesus but also making it seem possible that enough people will try to really change the world. The Simple Way is about doing "small things with great lov More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 19, 2008

Nathan rated it:

I don't agree with Claiborne's "generous orthodoxy" stance, but it's impossible to argue with his simple commitment to living out the Gospel in everyday life. When I finished this book, I wanted to sell all my stuff and hang out with poor people...and that's the point. If Tolstoy and Francis of Assisi hold any appeal, this book will too, as it's basically their ideas, framed for modern, post-church Christians.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 02, 2008

Susan rated it:

I had a hard time reading this book because of the writing, which left a lot to be desired. I'm sure it was not the author's intent, but at times he comes across as a bit self-righteous. I think his youth is evident in his writing; a lot of passion, idealism, and an appetite for revolution. ;-)
My basic thought was that this was more a book about the redistribution of wealth than it was a discourse on how to live for Jesus (I'd love to hear from him again when he reaches middle age!). Howeve More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 28, 2008

Alexander rated it:

Ahh, the irresistible revolution of left-wing politics. Blech. I can't tell whether Shane is a follower of A) Barabbas, a messianic freedom-fighter (almost) executed by an oppressive empire for his solidarity with the poor, or B) Jesus.

Assuming it's B, I will pray for this brother in Christ-- I'll be praying that he can give up his individualism and attachment to stuff, and join a real monastery. That would involve committment, a vow of poverty, obedience to a superior, and a lot More...

7 comments like (3 people liked it)

Apr 21, 2008

Lyn rated it:

Shane Claiborne is doing what he hears God calling him to do, and that is so very admirable. But he doesn't leave lots of room for one to live another way. He's too idealistic and just a touch too pleased with himself. He doesn't come out and say it, but I'm left with the feeling that he judges the rest of us just a little too harshly.

I do like the radical departure from mainstream Christianity, which in so many ways deserves being departed from. I like the idea of trying to live The More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Apr 11, 2007

terry rated it:

My son, a Sr. at Middlebury College brought this book home over Christmas break. Shane, (the author) had spoken at Middlebury during a "homeless awareness" week. The last book my son brought home was Blue Like Jazz. If you liked that you will probably like this. Makes you think seriously about your everyday walk with Christ. It's honest, refreshing, challenging and very thought provoking. Easy to read but you need a while to digest each chapter. I wanted my friends to read it so i coul More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 18, 2010

Carrie rated it:

This book is not well-written, it smacks of idealism and self-righteousness from time to time, and it's not realistic to think everyone that reads it is going to become an "ordinary radical" or "new monastic." What I think the reader will find by reading it is humor and a desire to shut the mouth and stop throwing money at "causes" and actually DO something. You can bitch all you want about how he's idealistic and crazy and hates authority, but I don't think there More...

1 comment like

Mar 26, 2009

Stephanie rated it:

A year or so ago my friend recommended this book to me. I came to this page and read the 5 star and 1 star reviews, and because of the 1 star reviews wrote it off as one-sided and an attempt to convert people to a new way of thinking.

Many of the 1 star reviews mentioned that they believe the author thinks the ONLY way to live out your faith is how he does. I'm not interested in someone getting my attention just to persuade me I'm wrong. A few weeks ago Shane was in town so I went wit More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Feb 19, 2009

TEAR rated it:

Review by Bryan Hughes

READ MORE AT:
http://www.tear.org.au/education/reviews...

Young American Shane Claiborne writes with wit, humility and insight about his own attempt to move beyond just being a believer in Jesus, to being a follower of Jesus.

This journey takes him to the slums of Calcutta where he meets Mother Teresa and people living in a colony for people with leprosy. Later he joins in with other students in Philadelphia to support 40 homeless famil More...

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Dec 21, 2011

Matt rated it:

So this book brought me into a lot of vigorous chin-scratching and wrestling, which is probably the sign of a good book. I wanted to say, "Screw it all, let's plant trees, throw our money away, and just worship." and then the other side of me said, "That's unrealistic." I think I'm still there. I still don't know how to leap in the way that Claiborne guides his readers to. Claiborne reminds us that the orphans and widows that we fantasize about in church are all around us and More...

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Nov 12, 2011

Melanie rated it:

I loved this book. A book that challenges your very thinking.
I had previously seen Shane Claiborne speak at two youth conferences, so it was refreshing to read his book The Irresistible Revolution; it almost like I was listening to him speak once again. The three things that I found extremely inspiring and revolutionary would be the way we are told to approach our careers, money, and our Christian flame. Shane talks about how when we truly encounter Jesus, we need to either redefine our jo More...

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Nov 12, 2011

Dollie rated it:

I was curious what others were writing about this book and as I suspected, most comments would be way more about Shane Claiborne, who he is, what his motives are than what he actually says in this book. I don't travel or am I even all that acquainted with categories of youth pastors or church leaders. I am starting not to care much because I am finding all this evangelical this, progressive that, tea party this and protester that and conservative this and liberal that and who is cool and who is More...

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Nov 07, 2011

Rich rated it:

I have to admit, I started this book reluctantly. Having read some articles from Claiborne, I knew I wasn't going to agree on many fronts. But I'd been told the book did a good job explaining how he came to believe what he believed about how Christians should actively live out their faith (orthopraxy)-- and that sounded interesting to me. And, the first 100 or so pages very much were. But then ...

The second 2/3 of this 350+ page book are so filled with leftist philosophy and weak, sh More...

0 comments like

Aug 27, 2011

Lesley rated it:

i neither loved nor hated this book. it didn't blow my mind the way it may have 5 years ago – before many of my friends and my church community introduced me to a lot of these concepts. i enjoyed that he got me thinking, and definitely affirmed many of my beliefs. it encouraged me to go deepen my commitment to people in need and to peace, as well as keep perspective on what's important. that being said, i found it had a very strong underlying current of a "try harder" gospel. i felt it More...

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Jul 30, 2011

James (JD) added it

I began this book expecting to be called to a new monasticism as Shane practices it at his community in North Philadelphia, but instead I was called in a prophetic way to examine how I interact with fellow Christians, view the actions of my government, and pursue Christ's will in my life, my family and my community.

Make no mistake: Claiborne's message is revolutionary. You won't read this to pick up a few inspiring ideas, you will be confronted with a radical, Christian worldview. Claiborne ha More...

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Jul 27, 2011

James added it

It was difficult to rate this book. Claiborne can be startlingly luminous and spectacularly wrong.

The Good:

[I] His "Economy of Love" (though untenable in the long run due to the nature of man). [II] His "Theology of Enough" (though not the part where God defeats patriarchy!!1! on p175). [III] Chapter 5, on the joy and purpose of community.

[IV] Chapter 7, on the warring allegiances between God and America. [V] "Holy Mischief," p279ff, in which, thankfully, he denou More...

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Jun 18, 2011

強 rated it:

Despite the debate that this book has caused here, I rather enjoyed it. The book made me feel uncomfortable, and I guess that is a good thing in some ways. Shane Claiborne caused me to think a great deal about the whole Christian lifestyle and look at what Jesus actually says and does in the Bible. It was a useful prod to a useful search. It is not a book to read if you want to be comfortable about things, (which I certainly was not), but it could be a good book for challenging people. Evidently More...

0 comments like

May 08, 2011

Emily rated it:

The Irresistible Revolution started off fairly well. Shane has done a lot of cool things with his life and no one can deny that he's doing a wonderful job of living radically. He seems to be one of those people who really lives out his beliefs and that's hard to find these days. A lot of the stuff in this book really made me think. Let me give you some quotes that I found really challenging:

"Jesus never says to the poor, come find the church, but he says to those of us in the More...

4 comments like (1 person liked it)