Book #1...

The Noticer
Andy Andrews

This is the story of a wandering "homeless" man named Jones who offers wisdom and advice to anyone he comes across that finds themselves in a particularly difficult or unfortunate part of life. It just so happens that in this story, every character is going through something, and everybody inevitably has some interaction with Jones.

The idea that Jones brings is that everyone just needs a little perspective. They need to change the way they are viewing their life, the way they look at others, the way they treat their loved ones and those around them. And in each chapter you find yet another example of how changing your perspective will change your life.

It's just too neat and simple. Sure, I get the premise, but anyone who's ever hit a tough patch in life knows that just changing your perspective will not solve all your problems. Sure, there is something to be said about learning to be content in the situations we face, but life doesn't get summed up in one chapter. Does it?

The book struck me as a little too much like a TV sitcom. Every problem from failing marriages to bad work ethics gets patched up. It's all basically fixed in 22 minutes because of some wise words or advice from Uncle Joey (a la Full House).

That said, I will be honest and say that there is probably some truth to what is found in this book. That sometimes we all need a change in perspective, that we need to pull our collective heads out of the sand and look at things a little differently. That alone can help some of us at least get pointed in the right direction even if it won't solve all our problems.

Meh...I'd skip it if given the chance.


*Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with this book. Just thought I'd say it so that we're all by the rules with the FTC. I'm under no obligation to say that this book rocked my reading world, which is good because it didn't.