The Shack

I read/heard this book becuase I heard somewhere that it was an interesting book. I honestly expected to just stop listening after a while as I am normally highly allergic to even the slightest mention of Jesus or religon but this book managed to get past all those defenses that I though I had so well installed. I actually cried at the end of this book for how good it left me feeling. It was the sort of view of God that I had wanted and had never heard from anyone. It won't have me showing up at church anytime soon but it left me much more open and maybe willing to believe in a loving god. It was really a gift as the authors suggested and for that gift I am grateful.

There would never be enough characters to write a review on this book, but I will try hard to make it in the Audible 2000 limit.

I read this book shortly after my mother passed away. The day after her funeral I received a call that I might have cancer, my 4 year old needed a risky eye surgery, and my laptop crashed that had all of my nursing school books and class notes and finals were coming up. Needless to say it was a tough time for me.

I came across this book through a random conversation and bought it a few days after. I opened it at 8pm one evening and finished it at 4am with a new joy in my heart and a lot of snotty tissues at my side! Since that evening I have bought copy after copy and given it to friends, family, even strangers! My husband and I are trying to work overtime to save up and buy a case of this thing so we can continue to spread it amongst the Earth. It gave me such joy to know it was doing so well and was on the best seller's list!

Be forewarned, the first 5 chapters are pretty rough and hard to get through, but I promise that if you ride that crazy road with Mac . . . what happens Chapter 6 and forward is the most perfect literary expression of God's love that I have ever read. It will bring seekers closer to finding, it will bring dusty Bibles off the book shelf, it will have those who thought they knew it all to rethink all they ever knew, it will bring your heart closer to the God who wants so dearly to hold it in His hand and make it feel joy unimaginable! You will laugh, you will cry, you will question, you will find answers, and you will be glad glad glad!

Do yourself a favor and read/ listen/ absorb/ rejoice for the experience you are about to have could very well change your life (and everyone else you come across!)

As for us, with a little patience and a lot of grace we are rockin' like little rock stars, amen!

Much Love!

I'm 58 years old. I've been a Christian/elder and minister for over 20 years. I have a large library mostly made up of bible study and referrence books. However none of these books, besides the Bible of course, have moved me in such a way; revealing to me the heart of God.

I think God gave Mr. Young and his friends a special insight into His love for man and the creation through this book.

Well done and thank you!

Unless you are a staunch Christian searching, this is a huge waste of a credit!

I'd heard alot about this book, but wasn't sure it was one that would keep my interest. I was surprised and moved by the way the author was able to tell an age old story, and make it relevant to the times. I found myself unable to pull the headphones off my ears. There were places that I actually found myself laughing and even crying. How I envied the main character as he spoke with God, and even questioned God's reasons for things that happened in his life. We can all find some way to relate to his anger and pain. How I wished I could be there with my own questions. This book is one that reaches inside you and gathers up all your beliefs and hopes and strengthens and gentles you all at one time. I recommend it highly, and hope you find your own meanings and answers in it's pages. I know I did.

Even after reading the reviews I had no idea how deeply this book would effect me. At one point I had to stop the book and take a break from it because it in the common vernacular "It stepped on my toes" just a little too much. I will be listening to it again. I will also be purchasing the paperback versions of this and passing it along to several family members.

I have had many losses in my life, one of the hardest being my 11 year old cousin dying and as of recent my Mom and Dad just prior to my wedding. My husband was hit by a bus last year, though he is not paralized he was injured so badly that he cannot work, and our dreams of children may never be possible, financially. I have been carrying around a large amout of anger towards God in my heart, without really truely reolizing it till reading this book.

I have to say that someone told me to have my husband read this due to his accident, but I ended up reading it and it allowed me to let go of all the hurt and anger that has been dwelling within me. I didn't even know it was such a heavy weight on my heart till it was gone. I have found that I can understand that God doesn't abandon his children in their time of need, he is there with them experiencing it too. I also have been able to forgive the man who drove the bus that has changed my husband's and my life so dramatically.

I am not extremely religious, nor do I go to church as often as I should, but this book has made me realize what matters when it comes to my relationship with God!!!!!!!!! I laughed, I cried and most importantly, I have been changed. I have my relationship with God again!!! I'm so glad William P. Young wrote this book. Thank you!!!

Although there were parts of this book that were definitely outside my comfort zone in terms of my perceptions of God, I'm glad I listened to it. My suggestion to anyone considering this book is to be ready to honestly explore why you agree or disagree with the author's representations of God or theology. I found that if agreed or disagreed with the author I've still gained a deeper understanding of why I believe what I believe.

"The Shack," a good message in many ways suffers from a delivery that drips with sap. The folksy tone and syntax is overdone to a fault and unfortunately, it detracts from the message of the piece.

simply could not accept the concept and gave up. I am a solid Christian but this one left me feeling cheated. Wished for the same effect it had on others.