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dullshimmer's review against another edition
3.0
Some books you hear about long before you ever get the chance to read. If what you hear is positive you begin to look forward to getting a copy or finally getting to the copy you already have. Boundaries is one of these books. Sadly, for me I felt that it was not a book that lived up to the expectations I had for it. Not that it is an entirely bad book, but that it is a mixed bag of positives and negatives.
On the positive side I do believe that this book has a useful message. That we all need healthy boundaries and that it is okay to say no, to break patterns of being taken advantage of, and essentially that we can't do everything that others may want us to. The book even goes so far as to say that we need boundaries so that we can better serve those around us. If we're always exhausted by saying yes to everything or resentful because of what we said yes to that isn't really helping us as people or as Christians.
On the negative side, the book can feel a bit too formulaic at times. If you do this, then your life will improve and boundaries will save every aspect of your life. This just feels a bit fake, particularly in the contrast between the opening chapter and the final chapter. Maybe some will experience such a drastic shift, but I can't help but wonder if that will be the majority, or it things may be a bit more difficult for some.
It also seems a bit formulaic in the usage of Scripture. Now as a Christian I have no problem using Scripture, but some of the references seemed to be a stretch and at times I felt they used verses too rigidly not acknowledging the verses that maybe went against the point they were trying to make. I felt that this added a subtle manipulative layer to the book, well Scripture says this, so you should be doing things this way. Which just felt a little weird in a book about boundaries, as if they were encroaching in their own way.
Maybe you won't find the negatives to be a big issue for you. They weren't huge for me, but I felt that the did diminish the usefulness of the book. I still think it's a decent book about boundaries, but has enough faults to have me rate it as an average book.
On the positive side I do believe that this book has a useful message. That we all need healthy boundaries and that it is okay to say no, to break patterns of being taken advantage of, and essentially that we can't do everything that others may want us to. The book even goes so far as to say that we need boundaries so that we can better serve those around us. If we're always exhausted by saying yes to everything or resentful because of what we said yes to that isn't really helping us as people or as Christians.
On the negative side, the book can feel a bit too formulaic at times. If you do this, then your life will improve and boundaries will save every aspect of your life. This just feels a bit fake, particularly in the contrast between the opening chapter and the final chapter. Maybe some will experience such a drastic shift, but I can't help but wonder if that will be the majority, or it things may be a bit more difficult for some.
It also seems a bit formulaic in the usage of Scripture. Now as a Christian I have no problem using Scripture, but some of the references seemed to be a stretch and at times I felt they used verses too rigidly not acknowledging the verses that maybe went against the point they were trying to make. I felt that this added a subtle manipulative layer to the book, well Scripture says this, so you should be doing things this way. Which just felt a little weird in a book about boundaries, as if they were encroaching in their own way.
Maybe you won't find the negatives to be a big issue for you. They weren't huge for me, but I felt that the did diminish the usefulness of the book. I still think it's a decent book about boundaries, but has enough faults to have me rate it as an average book.
havegoodkarma's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Loved reading this book. It was a great reminder of the growth I have done as well as growth that is still needed. I love learning and growing into the person God created me to be. There is always potential for improvement 🤍
slowbollard's review against another edition
I made it about 30% through this book when my library loan period ended and I said 'oh darn'. If you take out all of the Bible quotes this book would probably be a third shorter. That's fine if that's what you're into, but I needed help with setting boundaries, and I still didn't feel like that was coming up any time soon a third of the way in. The examples of 'patients' were hokey at best, condescending at worst. And then the parts where they tell you you're raising your kid wrong but don't tell you what to do differently. 'Don't withhold affection from your child as in when you send them to another room when they're making bad decisions'... Okay, sure I can see how that might damage them, but what do I do instead, oh wise Author? 'Huh? What? Beats the hell out of me!' Then they tell you not to tell your kids how their actions make you feel because they're not responsible for your emotions. Okay, makes sense I suppose, but what do I do instead? *shrug* The real kicker is they scold you for the above, but they're totally cool with you beating your kids for discipline, because you know THE BIBLE backs that. I opted not to waste any more time on this when I could be reading something helpful.
belwood303's review against another edition
2.0
Should have been titled "Biblical Boundaries" because it was equal parts Bible study and how to set boundaries. Some really good examples and practical advice on defining, understanding, and setting boundaries. Unfortunately there were a handful of times that reinforced strict gender roles (including dismissing same-sex relationships).
wintermote's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Excellent information on forgiveness and how forgiveness and reconciliation are two different things. Largely this book is so grounded in advice and the reality of the upper middle class/lower upper class and the “ideal” of Christian family—husband, wife, kids, that a lot of it/examples don’t easily transfer.
rascalsmom1031's review against another edition
3.0
1st part was hard to get through. But I found the second half super helpful and enlightening. Don’t agree with all of Clouds uses of biblically passages. I think so of these are definitely pulled out of context but overall good.
dakotahgummauthor's review against another edition
4.0
Some things that I will definitely put into practice in my life, and I will have to get my own copy (I borrowed it), but some of the Scripture references were cherry-picked to fit the concept of the book, where they should have been left in their original context as pointing to Christ crucified for us.
_daireads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0