Chapman-author of the bestseller The Five Love Languages-posits that "our culture often seems to have a love-tracked mind." This time he takes his expertise in the area to a more personal level by offering readers 40 stories written by everyday folks who have practiced what Chapman preaches: "love is a verb." Readers will discover a husband and wife who make "I'm sorry" part of their lives; a father who sacrifices coaching basketball to help care for his infant daughter; a university staff member who learns to see an outcast girl through God's eyes; and a mother-in-law who learns to love her son's wife. Chapman follows each story with several paragraphs highlighting a key point that can help in developing healthy relationships, drawn directly from the preceding story. Those who have read and applied Chapman's "love languages" to their lives will find inspiration; newcomers to Chapman's work will find that love takes on many forms and is worth the effort. (May)Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
"To last for the long haul and through the stresses and complexities of life, love has to be more than something we feel. It has to be something we do. We have to demonstrate it concretely in our marriages and families, among our friends and acquaintances, and, yes, even among our enemies.
And that's what this book is about. In the following pages, you'll see examples of people just like you--like all of us--who learned to take the obstacles, the lemons they face in life, and turn them into satisfying, emotional thirst-quenching nectar. These are the success stories that make you want to go out and try harder."
--Gary Chapman
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
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4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Cindy (West Virginia), July 28, 2009
It's easy to pick up the book when I have a few minutes of spare time and read a story. Usually I'm left with a happily positive feeling to go with. I can say that reading these true life accounts will appeal to a wide range of a readers, not just to women. Personally, I would have liked to have seen more husband-wife stories in the book or at least to have had husband-wife stories at the beginning.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sara (NY), July 10, 2009
I'm a Gary Chapman fan. The Five Love Languages was a very eye-opening book for me. I learned more about myself, my husband, my children, and even my parents by recognizing their love languages and attempting to "speak" them. Consequently, I've read just about everything Gary Chapman has written, including Now You're Speaking My Language, The Four Seasons of Marriage, Love as a Way of Life, and even his fiction series co-written with Catherine Palmer. You might guess that I was happy to receive Love is a Verb: Stories of What Happens When Love Comes Alive, published by Bethany House, to review.
I expected to receive a book full of wise advice on relationships and ways to practically apply principles outlined by Dr. Chapman. He does offer his sound advice in the book, but in a more limited capacity due to the book's format. The book reads like a "Chicken Soup" type compilation of stories of love in action. You'll find everything from marital love to loving your neighbor and all situations in between. Dr. Chapman offers some insight at the end of each story. These are true stories from real people who have experienced the life-changing power of love in their lives. It serves as an inspiration for us all to put love into action -- just the way Jesus did.
This book would make a good gift for almost anyone. It's a great book to pick up and read anytime, whether waiting at the doctor's office as I did or spending a few moments of quiet time before bed or first thing in the morning. Since the stories stand alone, it can be read in any order. It would make a great addition to your summer reading list!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sandra (Jackson, TN), June 06, 2009
An inspirational, heart-tugging collection of stories that prove love can overcome anything. When we choose to love instead of walking away, we enrich our own life as well as those around us. I was very touched by the story of a woman who finally learned to love her husband after 40 years of marriage.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christy Lockstein (Oconto Falls, WIsconsin), June 01, 2009
Love is a Verb by Gary Chapman is subtitled Stories of What Happens When Love Comes Alive, and this book is full of love! In a format similar to the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, Chapman has collected several stories about how the power of love has completely transformed lives. Marriages reborn, children who teach about the true meaning of love, and love even through illness, every story is an illustration about how God uses other people to teach us how to love and how He loves us. After each story, Chapman gives a short summary about how the reader can apply the message to his/her own life. Every story is uplifting, and many may induce some tears. This book brought a smile to my face every time I opened the covers.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Danielle Levesque-Medeiros (Westport, MA), May 28, 2009
I enjoyed reading this book. It is the kind of book that you can't put down. Each story has a real life lesson. Depending on your personal situation, these lessons can be applied to your daily living. Not just in your marriage relationship. I would definitely recommend this book to family and friends.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Gina Blakey (Jamestown, KY), May 21, 2009
It's a great book about real people and how they were affected by God's love. I enjoyed it so much I bought copies to give my family and friends!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Leland Carpenter (Johnsburg, IL), May 21, 2009
It is great to see love in action. Our missteps and how by and through God's grace we can recover to be an expression of God's love in other peoples lives.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Carly (Burlington,NC), May 17, 2009
There is still a lot of love left in this world and the proof is in the pages of Love is a Verb by Gary Chapman. This book is a collection of 40 stories shared by a variety of people who have experienced acts of true love in their lives. These stories will warm your heart and lift your soul. At the end of each story, Mr. Chapman has written the key points of the story and how we can apply these practices of love in our lives. This is a great book to either read from beginning to end or to just pick up and read a story or two when you just need a little pick-me-up. As I read through the stories in this book, I was given extra hope that there are still loving people out there and the world isn’t as bad as the evening news tries to tell us it is. I think my favorite story was the one called “Pulling Weeds on Blossom Trail”. I think we have all been in a situation at least once in our lives like the one told about in this story. If we just practice unconditional love, our lives will be much fuller and more joyful. I highly recommend this book. It will put a smile on your face and tears in your eyes.
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