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The Way of the Wise: Simple Truths for Living Well
Do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you." These and other seemingly simple lessons were hard-won for a hardheaded young man who was more "wise guy" than "wise" early in life.
Now, internationally known psychologist and "New York Times" bestselling author Dr. Kevin Leman shares the biblical wisdom that has shaped him into the successful, joy-filled person he is today. With his trademark wit and humorous stories from his personal life, Dr. Leman shows readers how to jump-start or revitalize their lives both spiritually and practically with words from one of the wisest men of all time. (Hint: It's not him.) Dr. Leman offers hope, courage, and a fresh perspective on living a great life, all in a compact, readable package. This lively and inspiring book makes the perfect gift for professionals, graduates, and anyone who could benefit from simple truths for living well.
Now, internationally known psychologist and "New York Times" bestselling author Dr. Kevin Leman shares the biblical wisdom that has shaped him into the successful, joy-filled person he is today. With his trademark wit and humorous stories from his personal life, Dr. Leman shows readers how to jump-start or revitalize their lives both spiritually and practically with words from one of the wisest men of all time. (Hint: It's not him.) Dr. Leman offers hope, courage, and a fresh perspective on living a great life, all in a compact, readable package. This lively and inspiring book makes the perfect gift for professionals, graduates, and anyone who could benefit from simple truths for living well.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2013
33 people are currently reading
1123 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Leman
218 books378 followersDr. Kevin Leman, an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality, and speaker, has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and commonsense psychology. The best-selling and award-winning author has made house calls for hundreds of radio and television programs, including The View with Barbara Walters, The Today Show, Oprah, CBS's The Early Show, Live with Regis Philbin, CNN's American Morning, and LIFE Today with James Robison, and he has served as a contributing family psychologist to Good Morning America. He is the founder and president of Couples of Promise, an organization designed and committed to helping couples remain happily married. Dr. Leman is also a charter faculty member of iQuestions.com. He has written over 30 best-selling books about marriage and family issues, including The Birth Order Book and Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage. Dr. Leman and his wife, Sande, live in Tucson. They have five children.
Connect with Dr. Leman on:
BirthOrderGuy.com
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Connect with Dr. Leman on:
BirthOrderGuy.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 29, 2020
The Way of the Wise is an expository essay broken into chapter format using a frame-by-frame analysis of Proverbs 3:1-6. Leman uses relational experience, familial struggle, and humorous anecdotes to illustrate how to practically apply a common Proverb scripture passage.
Although much of the text is prescriptive, the author was great at directing the audience to reflect on how the Proverbs are poetic and prophetic.
From the book, I walked away understanding that wisdom comes from acknowledging repeated human imperfection and re-imagining the seriousness and authenticity of faith in action.
It is also crucial that people not use religious faith in a way that forces change or prejudice upon a person or situation that cannot, or won't change for any number of internal or external reasons.
We must be motivated toward using faith to understand that we are not equal with with Jesus. We accept him in...and He uses us. At the outset, I remembered we are not to seek equality with God or Jesus. Our acknowledging HIM should come from the grace that we know we could never be as significant as he was, and yet we are loved and valued.
Although much of the text is prescriptive, the author was great at directing the audience to reflect on how the Proverbs are poetic and prophetic.
From the book, I walked away understanding that wisdom comes from acknowledging repeated human imperfection and re-imagining the seriousness and authenticity of faith in action.
It is also crucial that people not use religious faith in a way that forces change or prejudice upon a person or situation that cannot, or won't change for any number of internal or external reasons.
We must be motivated toward using faith to understand that we are not equal with with Jesus. We accept him in...and He uses us. At the outset, I remembered we are not to seek equality with God or Jesus. Our acknowledging HIM should come from the grace that we know we could never be as significant as he was, and yet we are loved and valued.
June 7, 2013
***It’s all about God, wisdom and “teachable moments”***
Leman uses his characteristic wit to poke fun at himself using humorous personal examples that illustrate Simple Truths for Living Well, the subtitle of his new book, The Way of the Wise. There he shares ten practical and meaningful life-changing principles that provided the “…roadmap to his win-win-life…”
It’s all about God, wisdom and “teachable moments” for this internationally known humorist, author and psychologist. However, it also requires someone “…open to being taught…” and that didn’t describe the younger Leman. He was too busy using his flair for humor, acting like a “goofball” and “comedian” instead of applying himself.
Leman was 19 when his personal “teachable moment” arrived. Throughout school he averaged C- minus grades. That didn’t change the first sophomore quarter of college and he was “…asked not to come back.”…Full Review: www.examiner.com/list/the-way-of-the-...
Leman uses his characteristic wit to poke fun at himself using humorous personal examples that illustrate Simple Truths for Living Well, the subtitle of his new book, The Way of the Wise. There he shares ten practical and meaningful life-changing principles that provided the “…roadmap to his win-win-life…”
It’s all about God, wisdom and “teachable moments” for this internationally known humorist, author and psychologist. However, it also requires someone “…open to being taught…” and that didn’t describe the younger Leman. He was too busy using his flair for humor, acting like a “goofball” and “comedian” instead of applying himself.
Leman was 19 when his personal “teachable moment” arrived. Throughout school he averaged C- minus grades. That didn’t change the first sophomore quarter of college and he was “…asked not to come back.”…Full Review: www.examiner.com/list/the-way-of-the-...
August 15, 2019
Simple Truth
I’ve heard Dr. Leman speak a few times so I looked forward to reading this book. His sense of humour and his practical insights help keep the readers attention and I found it to be a quick and easy read. I liked the personal stories and the way the author kept the truth of God’s word simple enough for anyone to understand.
I’ve heard Dr. Leman speak a few times so I looked forward to reading this book. His sense of humour and his practical insights help keep the readers attention and I found it to be a quick and easy read. I liked the personal stories and the way the author kept the truth of God’s word simple enough for anyone to understand.
January 2, 2021
A very good motivation book that expounding on the scriptures of Proverbs 3: 1-6. It’s well written and presented in plain simple truths for easy understanding to those who still having doubts about God.
February 8, 2021
With his humor and easy reading style, Leman illustrates Proverbs 3:1-6 and how through Solomon's words, we can become wise like Solomon who was given wisdom by God. Of course, like all humans, we are human and mess up....
June 21, 2018
Expected philosophy, got religion
September 18, 2018
There's some biblical wisdom in here, but there's also some poor logic. And I find Leman's funny-guy shtick distracting.
February 7, 2019
Hmm. Not so good logic indeed.
August 12, 2019
Short, simple, but endearing. It would make a perfect graduation gift. I’m putting it on my “Books for my teens to read” list.
January 24, 2020
Not bad. Mostly his thoughts about life, from perspective of Proverbs 3.
August 5, 2020
This would be good for teens
April 22, 2021
Easy, sweet read.
September 30, 2021
Talked about relying on God for stress relief.
September 16, 2023
Great book
December 12, 2024
A quick meditation on Proverbs 3:1-6. It has some good Nuggets of wisdom in it.
February 25, 2017
Good book. But I wanted more...
January 21, 2016
There are so few books that are readable and enjoyable with Proverbs as the subject matter. After reading, THE WAY OF THE WISE, by Kevin Leman, my desire for good work on proverbs still exists. This is my introduction to the author, and I'm pretty sure it's gonna be a quick hello and get out town type of meeting.
Dr. Leman uses Proverbs 3:1-6 as the primary source scripture for this work. He deduces ten principles from those 6 scriptures and then uses personal experience as the books narrative. The book is humorous and he does use his work as a psychologist and marriage author and speaker effectively. The book's structure is basic and simple, a chapter per principle with an intro and closing.
The style and at times the content of the book is sometimes cloudy and drifts off. More than one time in the book I was left wondering how it pertains to the principle he opened the chapter with. I'm also finding that scriptural based books should be based more on the scripture than the author's identification with said scripture.
I listened to this book via CD on a long drive. It was better than listening to static on the radio. However, if you're looking for serious study on Proverbs, biblical wisdom or Solomon, THE WAY OF THE WISE disappoints. Save your money and check this one out of the library.
Dr. Leman uses Proverbs 3:1-6 as the primary source scripture for this work. He deduces ten principles from those 6 scriptures and then uses personal experience as the books narrative. The book is humorous and he does use his work as a psychologist and marriage author and speaker effectively. The book's structure is basic and simple, a chapter per principle with an intro and closing.
The style and at times the content of the book is sometimes cloudy and drifts off. More than one time in the book I was left wondering how it pertains to the principle he opened the chapter with. I'm also finding that scriptural based books should be based more on the scripture than the author's identification with said scripture.
I listened to this book via CD on a long drive. It was better than listening to static on the radio. However, if you're looking for serious study on Proverbs, biblical wisdom or Solomon, THE WAY OF THE WISE disappoints. Save your money and check this one out of the library.
January 8, 2014
I like Kevin Leman. Mostly because when my wife and I got married, we used his book Sheet Music to explain everything about sex to us that we didn't know but were afraid to ask. Actually our friend's lent us another book by a different popular Christian author. But that was unfortunately annotated. The chief virtue of Leman's books is that there was no highlighting, underlining or happy faces in the margins.
Anyway this book is not about sex. It is about 'the way of the wise.' In it Leman expounds ten principles from Proverbs, but mostly these are some personal reflections loosely tied to Proverbs 3:1-6. Leman is autobiographical, encouraging and humorous but this has little to do with Proverbs.
And where it does discuss the biblical Proverbs, it is wrong. Leman states that the reward for trusting in God and obeying him is that we will prosper and live long lives. When I read that I wanted to scream, "proverbs are principles not promises." He totally misuses the genre. I am exegetically offended.
I did not highlight, underline or write happy faces in the margins.
Anyway this book is not about sex. It is about 'the way of the wise.' In it Leman expounds ten principles from Proverbs, but mostly these are some personal reflections loosely tied to Proverbs 3:1-6. Leman is autobiographical, encouraging and humorous but this has little to do with Proverbs.
And where it does discuss the biblical Proverbs, it is wrong. Leman states that the reward for trusting in God and obeying him is that we will prosper and live long lives. When I read that I wanted to scream, "proverbs are principles not promises." He totally misuses the genre. I am exegetically offended.
I did not highlight, underline or write happy faces in the margins.
February 20, 2014
This is a quick read that is uplifting in a surface sort if way, but a close reading disappoints. Kevin Leman is not a theologian in any formal sense, so I didn't have very high expectations but he gets some of his Biblical references so backward it was distracting. One example is how he treated Old Testament passages that Jesus quoted. His point was 'Isn't God amazing! He knew exactly what Jesus was going to say & wrote it into the Old Testament.' Just makes me shake my head.
These passages from Proverbs are 'wise guidance' for every day living. I would have liked to see a little more about them, their nuances & background. I understand his connecting them to instances in his own life to illustrate the points, but it might have been a little less self-aggrandizement to mix in examples from his practice.
I am a pastor of a congregation and am reading this book because a group of my people chose it for discussion. It will be a fruitful launching pad, that's why I gave it 3 stars instead of 2.
These passages from Proverbs are 'wise guidance' for every day living. I would have liked to see a little more about them, their nuances & background. I understand his connecting them to instances in his own life to illustrate the points, but it might have been a little less self-aggrandizement to mix in examples from his practice.
I am a pastor of a congregation and am reading this book because a group of my people chose it for discussion. It will be a fruitful launching pad, that's why I gave it 3 stars instead of 2.
May 30, 2013
I like Kevin Leman. His books have been quite helpful to parents over the years. However, there are times when one needs to resist the urge to publish simply because one can.
Kevin Leman's The Way of Wise purports to outline ten life-changing principles from the book of Proverbs. However, very little of the book actually makes reference to Proverbs, understands Proverbs, let alone teaches Proverbs. Spelling errors and mistakes notwithstanding, this is a collection of life principles, homey anecdotes, and reflections disconnected from any particular Scripture and lacking any unifying theme.
So, save your money and read something else.
Book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Revell in exchange for an honest review."
Kevin Leman's The Way of Wise purports to outline ten life-changing principles from the book of Proverbs. However, very little of the book actually makes reference to Proverbs, understands Proverbs, let alone teaches Proverbs. Spelling errors and mistakes notwithstanding, this is a collection of life principles, homey anecdotes, and reflections disconnected from any particular Scripture and lacking any unifying theme.
So, save your money and read something else.
Book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Revell in exchange for an honest review."
March 2, 2013
I always enjoy reading books by Dr. Kevin Leman. He is inspiring and thought provoking - and funny! This little book is based on the simple truths in Proverbs 3:1-6, and making them the foundation of your everyday life. As he says, "Proverbs 3:1-6 has everything to do with who you are, where your heart is, who you think God is, and who you want to become."
It would make a wonderful short Bible Study for an individual or group. There's sure to be a lively discussion at the end of each chapter.
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
It would make a wonderful short Bible Study for an individual or group. There's sure to be a lively discussion at the end of each chapter.
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
March 17, 2013
Everyone should read, over and over. Quick, to the point & up-lifting. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. He will make your paths straight. Reading this I realized I have been trying to understand everything that happened, happens to me, to understand why so that I will take the right path, learn the right lessons, so I don't mess up again. I felt this is what God wants us to do. Wow! This passage, Proverbs 3:1-6 has always been telling me Stop That! Trust God! Don't go by your own understanding. Jimminy Christmas! What will you learn by reading this book? Dr. Leman, thank you! A life long burden lifted by a such a small book.
March 5, 2013
"The Way of the Wise" was power packed with great leadership principles based from biblical teachings mainly from the book of Proverbs. It consisted of ten main attributes that are commonly found in today's leaders, both secular and Christian. What I enjoyed, is that the author based these ten leadership principles off of what Christ had taught us and emulated Himself. A great read for both the "early" leader and "veteran" leader alike.
Phil
Phil
June 20, 2013
Simple Christian book of life lessons based of Proverbs. I felt that the book was opinonated, and somewhat thrown together, as if the author didn't have much to do one afternoon and decided to improvise a self-help book. It was a nice read, but none of the material really stuck to me (maybe it's just me, I don't know). I haven't read many of these books so I don't have much to compare, but I figure there are better books of similar nature worth more of your time.
February 4, 2014
First, let me say that I always enjoy reading Kevin Leman. This book did not disappoint. It is a very quick read, full of snippets of faith based lessons. Leman first relates tot he reader in a way that few can, and then teaches before you realize you are learning.
This is well worth picking up and reading over a day or two.
This is well worth picking up and reading over a day or two.
October 28, 2014
Quick little read, but so full of great information. I love reading Kevin Leman as it's easy to hear his voice in the print. He tells great stories and he is incredibly relevant!
The audiobook is pretty great too, but I wish it was read by the author. I guess I don't really need that if I use the print version and my imagination.
This is one to purchase!
The audiobook is pretty great too, but I wish it was read by the author. I guess I don't really need that if I use the print version and my imagination.
This is one to purchase!
January 7, 2016
The book has Lemans usual humor and good insight into relationships. Nothing surprising here and sometimes I found myself wishing he'd go further with the verse. Some good insights and reminders - particularly a reminder that the way of the wise is fairly simple.
March 31, 2013
While I didn't think it was one of his best it was still worth the read.
Leman has a way of making so many great points in simple ways and that will connect with almost anyone.
Leman has a way of making so many great points in simple ways and that will connect with almost anyone.
July 2, 2013
Definitely worth reading. Light and full of humor as Kevin so characteristically uses. Is it the best book I've read..no. But as previously stated it is definitely worth reading.
June 6, 2013
That wasn't anything like what I was expecting. Disappointed!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews