"The Friends We Keep" & "Rising to the Call of Leadership" & “How Do You Walk the Walk You Talk?" + FREE Giveaway

"The Friends We Keep: A Woman’s Quest for the Soul of Friendship” by Sarah Zacharias Davis is a sincere book. It analyzes female friendships, what makes them, why they are important, what destroys them, and much more. There are fourteen chapters, each with an individual friendship theme. Also, personal anecdotes are incorporated into the chapters. (It is not clear as to whether or not the stories are true, but they are engaging, nonetheless.) The way Davis speaks is unusually charming. Her speech is intelligently semantic yet informally casual all at the same time. Readers feel like they are either being talked to by a wisely contemporary grandmother or innocently precocious niece. Davis explains why women yearn for friendship, and how they act differently than men. Manipulation and jealousy and juxtaposed with compassion and empathy. Additionally, there are discussion questions at the end of the book that are very open-ended. Overall, this book is a gem.

“Rising to the Call of Leadership: A 6-Week, No-Homework Bible Study” by Kay Arthur, David & B.J. Lawson is a devotional book centered around the book of Samuel (both the first and second). The authors introduce what leadership is and how it is important, as well as the different types. Then, each week delves into the Scripture to teach readers valuable lessons. The verses are provided in the margins. These correspond to questions and active reading activities that include marking certain words and phrases. By the end of the book, readers learn how different men of the Bible took on the role of leader, and which one they should emulate.

“How Do You Walk the Walk You Talk? --A 6-Week, No-Homework Bible Study” by Kay Arthur is focused on the book of Ephesians (the letter). Arthur introduces the notion of acting out what you say, and he even gives helpful advice. Then, the Bible quotations in the margins give readers more to think on. He also provides questions with room in the page to answer, as well as active-reading strategies. Luckily, since the quotations are provided, readers do not have to worry about underlining and marking up their own Bible. At the end of this short book, readers learn who Jesus wants them to be, as well as what they should do to carry their own cross.

These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307446114

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457691

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307457639

*To enter to win a free copy of “The Friends We Keep,” leave a one-sentence response with why you should get the book. Full names are not required, but please leave your email. This contest ends August 15.