Reviews
The Cross and the Switchblade: The Greatest Inspirational True Story of All Time by David Wilkerson
ksherwood249's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
rachelb36's review against another edition
4.0
I can see why this is considered a Christian classic. It's a very fast-paced, exciting story of Wilkerson's ministry in New York City with teenaged gang members.
The emphasis in this book is on the power of the Holy Spirit and the importance of humility and prayer. There are countless prayers answered miraculously, and I found it an encouraging read.
My issue with the book came in the last few chapters. Wilkerson is Pentecostal and believes in the "gibberish/no-interpreter-necessary" version of speaking in tongues, which is contradictory to what the Bible teaches. In these last chapters, Wilkerson started to repeat himself a lot and seemed more concerned with being a witness to this "tongue-speaking" than in actually finishing his story, so I found the ending unsatisfactory.
The emphasis in this book is on the power of the Holy Spirit and the importance of humility and prayer. There are countless prayers answered miraculously, and I found it an encouraging read.
My issue with the book came in the last few chapters. Wilkerson is Pentecostal and believes in the "gibberish/no-interpreter-necessary" version of speaking in tongues, which is contradictory to what the Bible teaches. In these last chapters, Wilkerson started to repeat himself a lot and seemed more concerned with being a witness to this "tongue-speaking" than in actually finishing his story, so I found the ending unsatisfactory.
blessingo's review against another edition
I paused this to finish David Jeremiah's "Agents of Babylon" for, like, the third time.
joannmv's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
Moderate: Drug abuse
loudgls89's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
I had high expectations for this book as I’d been recommended it by a few people.
The story is certainly incredibly inspiring and shows a great move of God’s work.
I felt like I didn’t quite click with the narrator though and the way he did the different voices of characters which detracted a bit for me. There was also a fair amount of anti-gay speech (i.e. homosexuality is the work of the devil) which may have been partly down to the time it was written but was just very uncomfortable for me to read.
But ignoring those things, it was an inspiring read of a man stepping out in faith even when it felt completely impossible and making a huge difference.
The story is certainly incredibly inspiring and shows a great move of God’s work.
I felt like I didn’t quite click with the narrator though and the way he did the different voices of characters which detracted a bit for me. There was also a fair amount of anti-gay speech (i.e. homosexuality is the work of the devil) which may have been partly down to the time it was written but was just very uncomfortable for me to read.
But ignoring those things, it was an inspiring read of a man stepping out in faith even when it felt completely impossible and making a huge difference.
Graphic: Drug use and Drug abuse
Moderate: Homophobia and Violence
thatgirlamy's review against another edition
3.0
Some of the miracles recorded in this book gave me the chills!
tariana's review against another edition
5.0
Um dos livros mais emocionantes que já li, reflete uma vida de total entrega e confiança em Deus, e me fez querer ter o mesmo relacionamento com Ele e até mais profundo. David Wilkerson também demonstra um amor sem preconceitos ou receios ante jovens que muito sofreram na vida e nunca conheceram o verdadeiro amor de um Pai, e cuja sociedade os marginaliza e discrimina. O livro mostra que é possível fazer a diferença na vida de uma pessoa e mudar a vida dela para melhor.