Captivating Review (S/P G) (NYR 3)

So I finished Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge this morning. Wow. I had read John's Wild at Heart which is for men what Captivating is for women. All I can say is that I truly had no idea. And at times in this book, I just felt so unaware. I mean to read the biblical references, to read the anecdotes, to read the whole book really, was just a vision changing experience.

With both Captivating and Wild at Heart, the authors encourage that the spouse reads the counterparts book, and I could not agree more. When I finished reading Wild, I wanted to be the man described in the book. A warrior, an adventurer, a hero. But after Captivating, I know why I want to be. Because that is what my wife needs. That's what she wants. And I think women would get the same effect from reading their book and then his. A want to be the woman described and then the why behind the want.

I've talked with Stacy (my wife) while I've been reading this, asking her questions about things brought up in the book. I was so jarred at one point, I was compelled to write her the first "love letter" that I can recall ever writing her. If one reads these with an open mind and heart, I think you can be truly better once finished. But not finished being better.

In closing, I have so much more reverence, respect, and am just in awe of the women in my life now. My wife, my mother, my grandmothers, friends & relatives. I am truly luck to have had this book put into my life.

Rating 9 out of 10 - I know I rank books high consistantly, but if it isn't any good, I don't finish it and thus don't review it. With that being said, this book is awesome. I only dock it a point because while they encourage men to read this, it is a little difficult to read when they are addressing the reader directly with the thought the reader is female. Personally, I am going to recommend this book to everyone I can, man and woman alike. Women need it to know how truly awesome each one of them are. Men need it to reinforce their role in a woman's life, to better understand how their actions (or inactions) can effect not just the relationship, but the woman themself.