Here’s a 3-star review on a book I listened to called “Happy Lies” by Melissa Dougherty.
There were lots of mean 1- and 2-star reviews, but 3-star reviews are critical with a pinch of charity, which I prefer.
Her book is about the movement known as New Thought, which is where we get a lot of self-help books from.
This review is all that matters for the moment.
This is Tyler on Goodreads:
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Mostly good material, I would not seek to discourage reading this book. However, it is the kind of book that gets written when someone has only a cursory understanding of certain theological debates and historical events/movements.
That down grades it by 1 star, but the YouTube-esq snarky tone makes this book radioactive for anyone trying to deal with these kind of issues in their family or church. So minus another star. 3/5
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I don’t want to get into a tit-for-tat discussion about the critique of her academic credentials. I think she did a fabulous job. It gave me insight into why my great-grandfather died.
But look at the description of her writing: “YouTube-esq snarky tone.”
This description would make me want to read it.
Finally a Christian thinker who dares some personality.
In her defense, these are not apt descriptions of her voice.
I heard her interview on Greg Koukl’s podcast “Stand to Reason,” then downloaded the audiobook
Her style is not “snark.”
Snark is basically smart-aleck sarcasm.
“Playful” is more accurate.
Watch her shorts. She does quite humorous sketches.
If all you ever did was read her book, maybe she seemed snarky. There could be a slight disconnect between her talking and written voice. Don’t know.
But you can really hear her heart shine through in her reading.
I am not sure if she ever did voice-overs professionally, but her audiobook is one of the best author-read audiobooks I have ever heard.
My hope for you as a Christian writer is to dare some personality in all of your writing.
Train it daily by writing and publishing emails.
Make a point in your next book to risk writing how you would talk.
One of my favorite videos of hers is a 2-hour documentary about Napoleon Hill, the swindler, who wrote the famed “Think and Grow Rich.” A favorite among the self-help gurus.
Blair
P.S. So, about my great-grandfather. He got food poisoning when my grandfather, his son, was 12. But he refused to get treated (which 100% would have saved him) because he was a Christian Scientist, who believed that sickness isn’t real. Christian Science is a sect of New Thought.