With the overpopulation of self-help books infiltrating the Christian scene many moons ago, seeing a catch line to the effect of “Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul” left me a little dubious, to say the least. John Elderedge himself even writes in the opening paragraph:
I know. I almost want to apologise. Dear Lord—do we really need another book for men?
Yet I didn’t have to look past the opening paragraph of chapter one to be enticed into this book and not put it down till it was finished. Let me start by saying there hasn’t been a book this impacting for me since The Shack. And that is a big call. Any book that starts with these words deserves a second glance:
At last, I am surrounded by wilderness. The wind in the top of the pines behind me sounds like the ocean. Waves are rushing in from the great blue above, cresting upon the ridge of the mountain I have just climbed, somewhere in the Sawatach range of central Colorado.
Not your typical opening paragraph for a non-fiction teaching book. And John Elderedge doesn’t stop there, but takes the reader—and yes, I would recommend this to women as well, if only to better understand and unlock the mystery that is the male species—on a journey to rediscovering the locked away chambers of the soul, namely the soul of a man. John talks about men growing bored, disillusioned, distracted and even uninterested in church because they are taught to suppress the deep sense of adventure they were created to fulfill.
Every man, as Elederedge puts it, needs an adventure to live, a villain to conquer, and a beauty to win. And while I realise this may be a generelisation, take a look around at the men in your local churches and churches across the nation. Do they look like they are living an adventure of wild proportions; or like they are tamed, caged animals that have forgotten how to fight for true life?
Among many of my favourite parts of the book, John talks about growing passionate about the dreams you once dreamed while lying under a forest canopy, staring up at the clouds on a sunny day. I found myself cheering him on (inside, of course) when he seemingly speaks right to the innermost deep part of your life you know just isn’t right but cannot put your finger on as to why. Normally I struggle through non-fiction books, but Wild at Heart took on the reading pace of a novel, it was that inspiring.
From my reviews you may think I only hold authors and musicians in the highest regard, but, as it turns out, I think I just get lucky as to which books and CDs I pick up. And I truly believe that I am not being over-dramatic in saying that every man should own this book and read it at least once every few years. Good on you, John; this isn’t just another self-help book for men—it’s a valuable but long hidden work of art that needs to be hung up for all to see.
- Face to Face with God: The Ultimate Quest to Experience His Presence by Stephen Garton
- Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Stephen Garton
- A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Stephen Garton
- Your Love Never Fails by Stephen Garton
