WHAT IS JESUS WORTH TO YOU?
It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually ... read full description
It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually ... read full description
reviews
Aug 19, 2011
Adam
rated it: 
Full review: http://bookwi.se/radical-taking-back-you...
Short review: I think this is one of those books that lots of people will read and many people will not do anything about. That is unfortunate, this is a call to live a life like what Christ has called us to. There are five specific suggestions that are in the last chapter and most people will not do one or two let alone all five.
I say this fully aware that I might be in the same boat. I may not really do what I shoul More...
Short review: I think this is one of those books that lots of people will read and many people will not do anything about. That is unfortunate, this is a call to live a life like what Christ has called us to. There are five specific suggestions that are in the last chapter and most people will not do one or two let alone all five.
I say this fully aware that I might be in the same boat. I may not really do what I shoul More...
Jan 11, 2012
Corey
rated it: 
Radical for the Wrong Reasons
"Taking Back your Faith from the American Dream." This is the confessed purpose of David Platt's new book, Radical. In it, he attempts to save American Christians from their cultural sins, showing that one cannot serve both the American Dream and Jesus Christ. A decision must be made: it is either radical obedience to Christ or self-centered, lukewarm mediocrity.
Summary
His thesis is based upon his interpretation of the More...
"Taking Back your Faith from the American Dream." This is the confessed purpose of David Platt's new book, Radical. In it, he attempts to save American Christians from their cultural sins, showing that one cannot serve both the American Dream and Jesus Christ. A decision must be made: it is either radical obedience to Christ or self-centered, lukewarm mediocrity.
Summary
His thesis is based upon his interpretation of the More...
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Jun 12, 2011
Abbie
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It's the orange book with the upside down face - the eye catching one that makes you wonder what's inside. The picture of the upside down house is exactly the idea of this book - it will turn your ideas, your world, your spiritual house upside down. Those beliefs that have been long ingrained in you since a child sitting on a pew will be tossed out the window. What you have held as the standard for Christianity will be turned on it's head. The standards you held will be lifted to a new level and
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Dec 05, 2011
Rachelle
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Though to be honest, my attention wasn't grabbed from the very beginning, I was challenged by this book. Once I got into it, I found that the author writes in a very simple, easy-to-understand manner on some really hard-core and deep theological matters.
A quote from the first page well describes my reaction to the book:
"David Platt's book will leave anyone who sincerely engages with his challenge dissatisfied - and faced with a decision: What will authent More...
A quote from the first page well describes my reaction to the book:
"David Platt's book will leave anyone who sincerely engages with his challenge dissatisfied - and faced with a decision: What will authent More...
Feb 01, 2012
Tracey
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Remember that great chapter in John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life, the one about taking risk? Radical is like that. But better. David Platt engages us in this journey, pointing not only to examples in the Bible, but also helping us to see what lives of righteous risk could (should?) look like here and now, in our lives today.
Platt reminds us, "The more our lives are conformed to [Christ's life], the more we will receive what he received in this world." Does he mean wealth, More...
Platt reminds us, "The more our lives are conformed to [Christ's life], the more we will receive what he received in this world." Does he mean wealth, More...
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Jan 25, 2012
Eric
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Review: Challenging. While I don't think that I would say things exactly the same way as Platt, I appreciate many of his thoughts. The book was simple and straightforward and dealt principally with Scripture passages. One thing I liked about this book was Platt's refusal to be dogmatic about how radical obedience to the call of Christ might look from Christian to Christian. He appreciates people's life situation, but not at the expense of sell short the call of Christ to go to all nations. This
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Jan 19, 2012
I've always been bothered by the whole prosperity gospel - if you pray and tithe, God will give you material things. I'm even bothered by the idea that God wants us to be happy. I think God desires our obedience and our holiness a lot more than he desires our happiness. Of course He loves us and what He has for us will always bring us joy, but if you think about Christians in the persecuted church, you realize that they aren't always "happy". Many of them have lost everything they have
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Jan 07, 2012
Lynnette
rated it:
Written in a very easy to read format, David begins the book with examples of people serving Christ in a radical (out-of-the-ordinary) manner. I enjoyed the first few chapters.
Then, I felt it became much of the same thing over and over. In addition, I felt like he wasn't really talking to me. Or if he was, he certainly didn't understand my life. I don't have a big house, a new expensive car, luxuries, large salary, time to take off (let alone the money to fly to a foreign country) fo More...
Then, I felt it became much of the same thing over and over. In addition, I felt like he wasn't really talking to me. Or if he was, he certainly didn't understand my life. I don't have a big house, a new expensive car, luxuries, large salary, time to take off (let alone the money to fly to a foreign country) fo More...
Dec 19, 2011
Chris
rated it:
In a way, I feel a little weird writing a review of this book. It's not really the type of book to be reviewed. I mean, sure, I could analyze the author's arguments and major premise. I could point out how many of the chapters focus on his own personal experiences and the experiences of people in his church in order to pull our emotional strings, rather than being based solely on the Word of God. I could note that the five elements of his final challenge to be radical mostly equate to doing
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Nov 22, 2011
Philip
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Platt’s bestselling work documents what should be clear to most, but somehow is missed by the breadth of evangelicals – the Gospel costs something. Pastor Platt reminds the reader that the call for discipleship is a call for Christians to abandon their desires, wealth, and aspirations at the foot of the cross. The work militates against the cheap grace of the modern era that expects much of Jesus but anticipates giving little in return. Time and again, the writer brings to the readers’ minds
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Sep 21, 2011
Kayla
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The American Dream. It’s something we’re conditioned to long for, work towards, and (hopefully) someday attain. It involves long hours of working to pay for “necessities,” like flat screen TVs and a better car than our parents had. Our house has to “enough space” – meaning more than we really need. We have financial goals, like having a nice cushion of cash to retire on. All this and more… at what cost?
In Radical by David Platt, he examines this mindset and, as my dad put it while we w More...
In Radical by David Platt, he examines this mindset and, as my dad put it while we w More...
Sep 20, 2011
James
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So I read this book after reading it's sequel, "Radical Together." As I expected, this is the better book of the two. Unfortunately the two books are too similar for me to enjoy this book as much as I may have otherwise. Here are some of my general thoughts on this book (more reflections than a book review):
1. David Platt manages to write in a humble, and engaging way. He tells stories about what his church is doing and the steps that they are taking to follow Jesus and to More...
1. David Platt manages to write in a humble, and engaging way. He tells stories about what his church is doing and the steps that they are taking to follow Jesus and to More...
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Sep 14, 2011
Dana
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In Radical, David Platt looks at how Christianity in America has become far too comfortable. He suggests that Americans have become more interested in pursuing the "American dream" than in fulfilling their obligations to Christ. Platt mentions that many Christians will go so far as to twist the Word of God to mean what they desire it to mean. With this in mind, Platt challenges the reader to a year-long journey to make radical changes for the cause of Christ.
Radical is the no More...
Radical is the no More...
Aug 24, 2011
Denae
rated it:
This book reminded me of FC's Crazy Love, except not as good. While DP's intentions are in the right place, getting the American Church to take God's Word seriously, he is more concerned with telling the American people that they are too worldly wealthy and spiritually poor. It's almost as if he thinks his church is the only one doing anything radical. FC is more inspiring, while DP is almost condemning in a lot of his passages.
That said, I do like how convicting this book is. How can I More...
That said, I do like how convicting this book is. How can I More...
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Jul 17, 2011
Iamthird
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There is a radical global purpose for your life. I've blessed you so that the nations will know me and see my glory. Jesus commanded each of us to make disciples. SPEND our lives for the good of others and the glory of God. A few men who would THINK as he did, LOVE as he did, SEE as he did, TEACH as he did, SERVE as he did. Jesus simply, intentionally, systematically, patiently, walking alongside twelve men.
To whom can you deliberately, intentionally, and sacrificially show the life of Ch More...
To whom can you deliberately, intentionally, and sacrificially show the life of Ch More...
Jul 10, 2011
Linda
rated it:
I started reading this book based on several people recommending it to me. While Platt does a great job of highlighting the materialism and affluence we live in, I had some issues as to how Platt seemed to present his personal convictions as convictions everyone should have. Throughout the book, there were many instances where it felt like he was trying to "guilt" people to doing what he thought would be the most Christian way of giving radically, generously, and sacrificially, but no
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Jun 20, 2011
Kayla Marie
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Radical is not only inspiring, but painfully convicting!! It gave me the opportunity to search deep within myself and ask, "Do I believe God is who He says He is. . . and am I will to pick up my cross, die to myelf, and follow Him even if it means loosing everything?" It has challenged me to look beyond comfort and self entitled dreams and rather, seek a faith filled walk to deny everything this world has to offer. . . and It's goal is to love Jesus and love others in a counter-cultur
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May 23, 2011
Stacia
rated it:
I have really struggled with how I felt about this book. At first I felt like, "I am SOOO sorry that I am a middle class American Christian, which automatically makes me somehow less of a Christian than someone in the Chinese or Indian underground church movements." (Read sarcasm.) That is probably a wrong response, but I've been feeling like that type of message has been coming from a lot of angles.
Through reading the book I felt like Platt was very repetitive he could have More...
Through reading the book I felt like Platt was very repetitive he could have More...
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May 18, 2011
Hopenafuture
rated it:
David Platt takes a serious look at the cultural trappings of American Christianity. He does not directly address the issue I noticed most when I returned from living overseas, namely, the "entitlement" attitude prevalent even among Christians. However, he does point out that living in opulence is not a biblical value, and those who have much are not somehow more deserving, but that more is expected instead. Any sense of entitlement will disappear if this attitude were adopted, so i
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May 12, 2011
Mark
rated it: 
I really don't like writing this kind of review, but I don't think I'll be able to get this out of my head until I do, so here it goes.
Warning: I'm going to be mean. Proceed at your own risk.
First, I appreciate the effort Platt is going to in order to shake American Christianity out of it's stupor. He says going to a mega-church on Sunday morning and giving a few dollars to international missions is an insufficient expression of the gospel. Amen, no argument from me. However, P More...
Warning: I'm going to be mean. Proceed at your own risk.
First, I appreciate the effort Platt is going to in order to shake American Christianity out of it's stupor. He says going to a mega-church on Sunday morning and giving a few dollars to international missions is an insufficient expression of the gospel. Amen, no argument from me. However, P More...
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Apr 17, 2011
Paula
rated it:
There are very few books that I can say have truly changed my life. Radical by David Platt is one of them. As I read through the pages, my toes were continuously stepped on, as Platt encouraged me to chase God instead of chasing “the American Dream.” I’m not saying this is true for all churches, but in our culture in general, church has become more about OUR preferences and OUR comforts rather than what God is calling us to do… which is actually to get OUT of our comfort zones and share the gosp
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Apr 17, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
This book is really excellent, especially if you feel that most Christians and Christian environments are too watered down these days. This book helps re-focus you on getting SERIOUS about Jesus -- and also alerts us to the many ways that being American inherently feeds into neglect of Jesus and his mission.
I do have a couple of complaints -- I hate to even call them complaints. But he kind of criticizes people who "just" give money to causes and don't "go" to m More...
I do have a couple of complaints -- I hate to even call them complaints. But he kind of criticizes people who "just" give money to causes and don't "go" to m More...
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Apr 07, 2011
Dave
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David Platt's book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, is an excellent book. I highly recommend it - if only for his assessment of American Christianity; the American Dream couched in Christian verbiage.
His prescription of the problem? Not so much.
The American Dream is what I would call a "secular religion" of which Platt rightly calls us to abandon, but Platt exchanges this "secular religion" for a "religious religion" and More...
His prescription of the problem? Not so much.
The American Dream is what I would call a "secular religion" of which Platt rightly calls us to abandon, but Platt exchanges this "secular religion" for a "religious religion" and More...
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Mar 09, 2011
Natalie
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One of my dearest friends first alerted me to this book in an e-mail, saying, “is SOOOO good.” Imagine my surprise, then, when I walked upstairs later that evening and saw this very book resting on the dining room table! My sister had just finished reviewing it for a magazine and my mom was making her way through its pages. I quickly took the next place in line and was grateful when my turn to read it came around. After becoming the pastor of a mega-church at a young age, David was challenged to
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Jan 27, 2011
Matthew
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Right up front, let me say this: I was rocked by David Platt’s new book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream more than any other book I’ve read in recent years. There’s very little that most believers don’t already know, but Platt refuses to allow you to ignore that gnawing feeling in your stomach that tells you you’re missing what God’s called you to. It made me uncomfortable, challenged my thoughts and beliefs about how I’m living my life, and inspired me to more. He’s bibli
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Jan 16, 2011
Adam T
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After reading Crazy Love, I was fearing I was going to pick-up another "how to be a better Christian" best-seller that really just takes a whole lot of verses out of their context and takes advantage of the church who doesn't know her Bible. I was pleasantly surprised with Radical.
Unlike Francis Chan, David Platt does a good job of stirring up the idle while not neglecting to keep the purity of the gospel intact. He's very good at assuring the reader we are saved by grace a More...
Unlike Francis Chan, David Platt does a good job of stirring up the idle while not neglecting to keep the purity of the gospel intact. He's very good at assuring the reader we are saved by grace a More...
Jan 09, 2011
Jennifer
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A plethora of books have been written on living out your faith, however, David Platt takes “Radical” to another level. Like the title implies, what he suggests in his book is anything but living the normal American life. Why should we take the Gospel to people who have never heard? The average American church member probably thinks God gives special grace to those who have never heard the name of Jesus, but Platt explains why he believes this idea is not at all acceptable in light of what the
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Jan 05, 2011
Jay
rated it:
This book is special. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. Very thought provoking and challenging, the book made me wrestle through some new ideas presented in a couple of the chapters more than once.
The basic premise of the book is that American churches today waste so much time living out a Christian spin on the American dream. But God calls us to radical obedience. The gospel is centered around God but we have made it more about us and our lives. He calls us to give u More...
The basic premise of the book is that American churches today waste so much time living out a Christian spin on the American dream. But God calls us to radical obedience. The gospel is centered around God but we have made it more about us and our lives. He calls us to give u More...
Jan 03, 2011
Bob
rated it:
"Radical" is written by the 'youngest megachurch pastor' in America. While this isn't enough to dismiss the book, the author quickly gives reasons to.
First is simply the grammar...it's atrocious. For a young man who travels and works as much as he does, he should be able to construct better sentences and write more compellingly.
Second is the poor research that the author displays as he writes the book. Most of his suppositions are followed up by personal narrativ More...
First is simply the grammar...it's atrocious. For a young man who travels and works as much as he does, he should be able to construct better sentences and write more compellingly.
Second is the poor research that the author displays as he writes the book. Most of his suppositions are followed up by personal narrativ More...
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Dec 27, 2010
Barb
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There is No Plan B
I have just finished reading "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream" by David Platt. I'm not quite sure how to start--for me, this book creates a feeling in me similar to The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns and Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala. I don't know how you can read any of these books, and not have some sort of fire lit within you.
Platt has written a no holds barred book about what Jesus has called us to do--as he More...
I have just finished reading "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream" by David Platt. I'm not quite sure how to start--for me, this book creates a feeling in me similar to The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns and Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala. I don't know how you can read any of these books, and not have some sort of fire lit within you.
Platt has written a no holds barred book about what Jesus has called us to do--as he More...
