Fresh-Brewed Life: A Stirring Invitation to Wake Up Your Soul-revised & expanded
4.2
5
14
14
Starts strong, but then loses steam
Fresh-Brewed Life by Nicole Johnson is an interesting look at how a person can revitalize their life, mostly through journaling. The author uses the analogy of coffee to emphasize her points. It is set up a bit like a Christian devotional, but it is mainly self-focused and uses journaling exercises to bring the reader's own life into focus. Very little use of the Bible is presented.
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the second half seemed to go downhill. I don't really agree with some of the conclusions and ideas that the author presents, but I think the methods presented are good for drawing the reader's focus to what issues may be hiding in the background of their life. It is a method of bringing awareness to one's consciousness that I don't think will necessarily work for everyone. Without having the willingness to journal, the book is just full of nice ideas and interesting thoughts.
I love to write and journal, but the exercises weren't interesting enough for me to want to actually take them on. I hope this book does prove useful to someone, it just doesn't interest me enough for a second read.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneezeî.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
February 5, 2012
I love the idea behind this book, but...
This book is clever and entertaining to read. It wasn't really mt type of book however and that is probably why I didn't love it as much as I thought I would.
The author urges us to wake up our lives in the three most important elements of our lives; a relationship with God, a relationship with others and a relationship with ourselves.
The book is funny and useful, this is an expanded edition and offers led journal exercises as well as more details then the first edition offered. I think the author has also added updates as the first run of this book was written in 1999. If you are a fan of self help books you will probably enjoy this one too. (Book was provided through Booksneeze all opinions are my own.)
January 16, 2012
"Fresh-brewed life"...not up to par
I joined up with Book Sneeze because I love to read and their idea of a complimentary book with just a review was very tempting to say the least.
I just read my first book called, âÂÂfresh-brewed lifeâ by Nicole Johnson. Even though I am not a coffee drinker I was willing to give this book a shot. But in the defense of coffee, let me say this, I do love the smell of coffee brewing, just not the taste. As a child, I grew up in a house where the coffee pot was on from morning til bedtime. But somehow, I escaped the love or need for it.
As for the book. I have to admit I was a little disappointed in the read. It was an easy read, but one that was hard to stay with. I felt it dealt more with journaling and how to, and when to, and all of that, more so that what I thought it might be. I had other notions of what this book would be about. I felt it would be more of a devotional type, but was dismayed that it wasnâÂÂt.
It is for sure a book meant for those who love to journal. It is a step by step, go to book, for this very thing.
Yes, she had lots of insights that were good, but just not in the context that I like to read about.
When I joined BookSneeze I knew I had to write a review. I feel that this one being my very first, is not the positive review I had hoped it would be. But it is my opinion and mine alone.
Yadabi
November 4, 2011
Lacking spiritual depth
Coffee, it tastes good, smells good and makes you feel good, right. Just walking into a coffee shop can make your day better. Books can do the same, make you feel good, take you to other places, awaken your senses. So, when I agreed to review this book I hoped it would be like drinking a fresh cup of sweet cream flavored coffee while reading a good book, but as another reviewer put it, "it was a little like drinking that lukewarm cup of coffee you seem to never finish because of kids and chores." (partial quote from Angela Cook)
For me a good cup of coffee is freshly brewed, iced, most days, some autumn harvest or caramel flavoring added and sweetened with a bit of splenda. I like to drink it slow and savor the flavor, make the moment last. A good book makes you think, makes you want to drink that late night coffee to stay up and read it. Unfortunately Fresh Brewed Life was too much fluff and not enough coffee, or in this case spiritual depth. Nicole Johnson had too many coffee analogies for my taste. When I read spiritual books I want to be convicted, be encouraged to press on, to grow and get closer to God. Unfortunately Fresh Brewed Life was more like ordering a Caramel Macchiato Frappe without whipped cream and paying for coffee on ice.
October 25, 2011
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