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Reviews
Befriend: Create Belonging in an Age of Judgment, Isolation, and Fear by Scott Sauls, Ann Voskamp
quaerentia's review against another edition
4.0
It is surely an indictment of Western culture, but also very revealing, that this is a necessary book. But I do believe it is. For in an age of parochial self-interest, culture-war mentalities, and brutal ad hominem politics, the notion of friendship with anyone who is different from me in any way (politically, culturally, economically, physically, racially, educationally etc etc) seems hard to imagine. It certainly won't happen without a concerted effort or a degree of humility and readiness to listen.
So Scott Sauls' book is a timely antidote. He has a refreshing willingness to transgress prevailing social divides. His is an important challenge. In Trump's America this is more urgent than ever. But the same must be said of an increasingly nationalistic Europe. If the followers of the boundary-destroying Nazarene can't do what he did then what hope do any of us have?
So I really enjoyed this book: a sequence of brief but challenging calls to befriend 'others' whom many of us would rather ignore. To this end, Sauls is provocatively non-partisan. No one can get away with a smug complacency after this.
If I had one quibble (and it really is a small point) an editor could have helpfully excised some of the slight tendency to name-dropping and Tim Keller name-checking! Sauls worked with the latter in NYC and was naturally deeply influenced. But we don't need to have his great virtues extolled at every mention! But hey - what do I know? I never worked with Tim Keller!
So Scott Sauls' book is a timely antidote. He has a refreshing willingness to transgress prevailing social divides. His is an important challenge. In Trump's America this is more urgent than ever. But the same must be said of an increasingly nationalistic Europe. If the followers of the boundary-destroying Nazarene can't do what he did then what hope do any of us have?
So I really enjoyed this book: a sequence of brief but challenging calls to befriend 'others' whom many of us would rather ignore. To this end, Sauls is provocatively non-partisan. No one can get away with a smug complacency after this.
If I had one quibble (and it really is a small point) an editor could have helpfully excised some of the slight tendency to name-dropping and Tim Keller name-checking! Sauls worked with the latter in NYC and was naturally deeply influenced. But we don't need to have his great virtues extolled at every mention! But hey - what do I know? I never worked with Tim Keller!
gjones19's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a creative book with good ideas about befriending various types of people as an expression of Christian character and witness. It’s not necessarily new information for most Christians - and I wouldn’t say it all the same way that he does - but it’s a good book!
katethegreat92's review against another edition
4.0
This book contains such heart and passion for community via friendship. I loved so much of this book and the short examples and stories given. The author does a great job of using each story for a point without it feeling cheesy or just preachy. Would recommend this book! The importance of love is spot on.
“He has foremost called me to be loved. To be receptive to his love. And to find my rest in his love. He has called me to remember that because of Jesus I already have a name.”
“He has foremost called me to be loved. To be receptive to his love. And to find my rest in his love. He has called me to remember that because of Jesus I already have a name.”
kara4's review against another edition
5.0
I very much enjoy Scott’s writing. I am always challenged by what he has to say in my daily walk with Christ. I am learning to get outside of the us vs them mentality on many issues, and instead, seek compassion for those who are different from me, and show the love of Christ to all I come into contact with. I am thankful for how he speaks into all areas of life and all kinds of different than me. He is biblical, and keeps the focus on who Jesus is, what He was about, and how I can seek to do the same in a way that is humble, and seeks His help in befriending others. I appreciate how easy he is to read dm understand as well.
armiles713's review against another edition
4.0
This book was easy to read, but was so inspirational, which I think a lot of the times is one of the best combinations. Each chapter looked at a different type of friendship, or a different way of engaging with people, and I found myself wishing each chapter could be its own entire book. I definitely learned a lot from reading it, and would highly recommend.
psprigg__97's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent book about compassion and the love of God which stretches to everyone, even those who we don't naturally gravitate towards. I deeply appreciate the kindness, thoughtfulness, and honesty with which Sauls writes. He communicates why we need to make friends and how to thoughtfully love those friends.
awolgs's review against another edition
5.0
One of my top nonfiction reads of the year, Sauls' work is a collection of challenges/encouragements for the reader to befriend types of people that they typically wouldn't interact with (or - perhaps - folks they'd even avoid). Sauls never does this via guilt, but rather by shedding light on the blessing and learning that occur when atypical friendships and interactions are pursued.
I frequently found myself tearing up at the stories Sauls told and the beauty that new friendships create, and I'm committed to pushing my introvert tendencies for the good of the kingdom and my soul.
(full disclosure: the agency I work for represents this author and book)
I frequently found myself tearing up at the stories Sauls told and the beauty that new friendships create, and I'm committed to pushing my introvert tendencies for the good of the kingdom and my soul.
(full disclosure: the agency I work for represents this author and book)