Max on Life by Max Lucado

I was sent an advanced copy of this book to review from Booksneeze.  The book is split up into chapters entitled Hope, Hurt, Help, Him/Her, Home, Have/Have-Nots, and Hereafter.  In each chapter, there is a handwritten letter to welcome in the topic and then several pages of questions that go along with the topic.  Max Lucado talks about everything from depression to loss to marriage and home life to what happens when we die.  These are questions he’s been asked through emails, in person, through letters, and as a Pastor.  Some of the questions come from his books and others not.  He ends the book with a note about becoming an author and getting published and there is a topical index to the book as well.

I am not always a fan of the Q and A books, but this book is a good resource to those who have lots of questions about faith, loss, God, and the gray areas of life.  Lucado does a great job explaining what he feels the Bible says about these topics.  I liked how the book was laid out, so if you didn’t want to read the entire book, you could skip to whatever section you were wrestling with.  I also appreciated his words on how to write, where to write, and how to get published.  As a blogger, I like getting tips on writing even if I never plan on getting published.  This might sound stupid, but the thing that bothered me the most about this book is the cover. It has a big picture of Max right on the front.  I never liked when authors did that (like Joel Olsteen and his infamous mug on every cover of his book) and to me, it seems sort of vain.  I guess since the book is called “Max on Life”, they felt it appropriate to put him on the cover.  I’m just not a fan of using a persons name or face on the cover or title, but I guess Max makes a lot more money than I do so he can do what he wants.  Overall though, what the book has to says–its message–was a good one.  I have always appreciated Max Lucado’s words and books and this hasn’t changed with this book either.  I think anyone who has questions about spiritual issues will appreciate the words in this book.

Disclosure: To comply with regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes only through theBooksneeze program.  All opinions are my own.