It was too long for the content of the story. This was a book written from a movie instead of the other way around. I heard Randy Alcorn (who I very much enjoy) in an interview discussing the challenge of "adding" to the story to provide content for the book. This is pretty evident as you read the book. Alcorn did an excellent job of working the storyline around the screenplay in the absurd amount of time they gave him to do write the book. But what comes over very well in a movie gets redundant in a book made from a movie.

Finding out which law enforcement officer was stealing drugs was one harrowing moment. I suppose the most memorable moment would be when the little girl was killed and how God used that situation to bring her family closer to Himself.

No.

I have all the movies that the church in Albany, Ga. have produced and enjoy them all; however, this movie (Courageous) and the resulting book written from it were a little disappointing. Still worth seeing and reading, but not quite as good as Fireproof, Facing the Giants, and Flywheel...

I appreciated the law-enforcement aspect and portrayal of the life of a law-enforcement officer; the story had interesting surprises, but became too "preachy" for my taste.

I liked this book. I thought the narrator did well with distinguishing all the characters. More towards the end of the book it gets all churchy, but it was still a good book.

I loved how some of the characters were developed. I watched the movie first, so I was excited to see this audio book. The message for husbands and fathers was great ... and much needed. But I also enjoyed the humorous bits sprinkled throughout.

The most memorable moment for me was when Adam goes back to the place where Emily had asked him to dance with her and finally does "his half of the dance". Have tissues close at hand for that one.

I really liked the scene where Adam tries to figure out who Javi is and how he came to working on the shed. The understated humor of that scene is priceless. There were many powerful scenes, but I have a hard time saying that a scene where someone is hurting deeply is my favorite.

Of the main five men, including Javi, I'd have to say either Nathan or Javi were the most memorable for me. I liked Nathan because he was willing to lay his life on the line for his son and stand firm against a teenaged daughter's moods. I liked Javi because he was simply a good, strong man who loved his family and respected his own father. That said, honestly, the very most memorable character for me was not one of the main characters. I say he is memorable, but at the moment, I cannot think what his name was with 100% certainty. I think it was Bronson, the enormous officer whose hallmark move was to head-butt the crooks before he arrested them.

This story is well worth the time to listen to it. Drama. Action. Hearbreak. Humor. Conflict. Faith in action. It is all there. Put in your earbuds. Sit back and enjoy.

Courageous helped me become a better husband and father. I listened to this book while driving to/from work, doing the dishes, excercising, etc. I couldn't get enough.

This is a great book about what God is truly calling fathers and husbands to be in this sin filled world.

I questioned my purchase of this at first, thinking a book that was made after the movie can't be good, but the author nailed it and not only did he nail it, he expanded upon it, brought deeper character depth and added a few extra characters and story lines for those extra characters which seamlessly flowed into the story arch.
This book not only inspired me to be a better man and father for my family, it changed my dynamic on thinking about life and what truly is important. Since reading it I feel my own son and I have come closer together, instead of drifting apart.
I saw the movie after reading the book and though it was good, the book definitely added more wholesome meaning to each of the characters plights with life.

Adam Mitchel, a initially very stoic character who has resigned himself to the mundane existence in his small hometown, working, paying the bills, seeing his family but only partially interacting.
It takes a huge reality check to put things in perspective and let him know that life is short and he must value every minute, love every minute and support his family in times of need and even in times when it is not needed.

Opening scene drove it home, Nathan Hayes doing anything to protect his family.

Very much so, then again I'd never pay attention to my own family if I didn't break it up into parts.

Great screenplay to book adaptation!

Are you born again? If so, and you are a Christian, than this is a great book for you. However, if you are one of the many other religions in this world, you should be aware that the message here is that if you believe in Christ, then you will be saved and not damned to eternity in hell and if you do not believe/follow Christ then you had better understand that your afterlife is going to be extremely hot.

Bit trite. Nothing exceptional in the story line and overall a very low level book in many regards.

The men working on the house together.

No

The message is very important, fathers are integral in a young man's life. All religions need to strive to keep the family together and it is essential to spend quality time with your boys (and your girls). As an educator, I see so many broken kids from broken families. The correlation is obvious and the message is clear. However, again, I was surprised that the focus of this book far too often was based on one's relationship with Christ. Had I been aware of this in the synopsis I would not have bought this for as a Jew I don't subscribe to this way of thinking.

I am also amazed that a book that purports to be so invested in family values and the quality of life here on earth, supports dietary habits that are so harmful for those who constantly seemed to indulge poor eating throughout the book. These good old Christian boys surely have no concern for the animals they eat and I was offended with the mixing of meat and diary as well.

I was pleased with the transparency of the characters - each showed their vulnerabilities and faults, but at the same time a driving sense of being all they could be ... with a little accountability and a lot of help from God, they did what we all need to do... resolve to be men and women, fathers and mothers, of courage.

When Javier is offered a promotion in his work but suspects the boss might want him to pull some strings and do something illegal for him... wont spoil it but a great lesson in that.

Roger did a fine job with the characterisation of different voices and kept the pace of the story alive... great job!!!

The Resolution

There were plenty of laughs along the way, but there is a sense of purpose in this screenplay and book that compels us to return to a time that seems forgotten, yet it has never really left us... that time when fathers would not let go of loving their family no matter what, and everyone in the family knew it... a time when "what pleases God" seemed to be the best option.. that time is now.

They're all equally great!

Adam telling the sheriff he loves him. In the back seat of the cop car with the guy who was arrested and Adam's friend.

He's very good at imitating voices. He almost sounds like the actors themselves.

There's already a film! Love it just as much as I love the book.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this story. The movie, the book, the message. I always look forward to Sherwood's next project!