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Living on the Ragged Edge: Coming to Terms with Reality

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Living on the Ragged Edge offers a cure for the ulcer-producing stresses and anxieties common in our modern world. Bestselling author Swindoll shows readers how to have it all--inner peace and success--by achieving satisfaction in their souls.

382 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1989

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101 people want to read

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Swindoll

8 books

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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Ken Grant.
260 reviews2 followers
July 29, 2019
Older book, but still holds up for the most part. Takes a realistic look at life and helps the reader to see the inadequacy of looking for ultimate joy in the things of this world. Reminds the follower of Jesus that life is not easy, but that the hope of eternity with the Lord is real. Uses Solomon's life experience to help the reader walk through the everyday realities of life and keep focused on what truly matters.
Profile Image for Fai Poon.
68 reviews1 follower
Read
May 12, 2016
this book is not very good. if you know nothing about marketing, this book will give you some idea. But what Godin did was simply find a marketing text book and using some cool phases to frame it. overall, i learn nothing new from this book.
Profile Image for Jeff Noble.
Author 1 book57 followers
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April 17, 2009
Living On The Ragged Edge by Charles R. Swindoll (?)
Profile Image for Read1000books.
831 reviews25 followers
February 28, 2011
Swindoll's homey style of "teaching you good stuff as you read without you realizing it" is at its peak here as he takes you through the book of Ecclesiastes. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Astrid.
22 reviews
July 27, 2014
A bit drawn- out, but still a good book. Especially if you are among those who feel that life is a rat- race. The author takes us through Ecclesiastes and makes it relevant for our time.
Profile Image for Ja Ja.
6 reviews28 followers
February 18, 2018
wow!! i'm so thankful I found this book..
64 reviews2 followers
February 26, 2019
It is not very often that someone writes a book on Ecclesiastes. How do we deal with the challenges of life? We need wisdom and perseverance.
Profile Image for John Hollinger.
110 reviews2 followers
October 25, 2020
A study of the book of Ecclesiastes. The first half of the book is kind of depressing and I almost stopped reading. But, the first half does set up the second half which was definitely worth it.

Some of my favorite quotes:

The good life--the one that truly satisfies--exists only when we stop wanting a better one. It is the condition of savoring what is rather than longing for what might be.

The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. 

Wisdom is the God-given ability to see life with rare objectivity and to handle life with rare stability.

When we operate in the sphere of the wisdom of God, when it is at work in our mind and in our life, we look at life through lenses of perception, and we respond to it in calm confidence. There’s a remarkable absence of fear. We are not seized with panic. We can either lose our jobs or we can be promoted in our work, and neither will derail us.

The time to live is now… Don't be bashful. Bite in. Pick it up with your fingers and let the juice that may run down your chin. Life is ready and ripe NOW whenever you are. You don’t need a knife or fork or spoon or napkin or tablecloth. For there is no core, or stem, or rind, or pit, or seed, or skin to throw away.

Before you submit yourself to the counsel of a professional for an extended period of time, be absolutely certain that person is listening first and foremost to the living God.

If a book we are reading does not rouse us with a blow to the head, then why read it? We get a lot of “blows to the head” when we read the Bible.

Our thinking will break down if we stay in the presence of and try to outsmart a fool, outtrick a fool, outfight a fool, or outtalk a fool, we will lose! (Proverbs 14:7 - Leave the presence of a fool, or you will not discern words of knowledge.)

Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me.

If I am in an industry or some profession and someone throws me a curve and God allows my whole life to be reversed, I trust Him and I give Him praise.

Christ alone is the way, the truth, the life. Without “the way,” there is no going. Without “the truth,” there is no knowing. Without “the life,” there is no living.
Profile Image for Linda .
967 reviews
October 28, 2019
A commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes. It begins somberly, but it worth sticking with it. Ecclesiastes is hard to understand, and Swindoll puts it all in perspective. It's an honest look at LIFE from the pen of Solomon, and digs down to the nitty gritty of how to cope, and how God fits in.
2 reviews
June 8, 2020
Leer sobre la vida de Salomón, nos muestra como los problemas e inquietudes humamas, han sido siempre las mismas. Y, al final, el tener una vida útil, feliz y trascendental sí se puede, si se mira por encima del sol.
114 reviews5 followers
December 31, 2022
A commentary on Ecclesiaties. I found it a bit wordy and some of the illustrations are definitely from the 80s but over all a good read.
Profile Image for Dr Rick.
287 reviews11 followers
October 18, 2023
Brilliant treatise on Ecclesiates. "All is futility" The key to a fulifilled life is an intimate relationship with God through Christ
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews