New Review and Contest! What is He Thinking?? by: Rebecca St. James

Contest Closed

I recently finished reading What is He Thinking?? by Rebecca St. James, a book she wrote about dating, love, and marriage that I recieved free as part of the propeller blogger program.  Check out the press release, then read my thoughts.

About What Is He Thinking??

In What is He Thinking??, Rebecca interviews a range of men from high-profile types to the guys next door, men that every woman can relate to. Although the interviews focus on single guys ages 20-35, Rebecca also includes words of wisdom from older mentors she respects who have been successfully married for years, people like her dad, life coach, and pastor.

The men share their thoughts on topics like how women can respect themselves and the men in their lives, modesty, purity, taking it slow, friendship, letting guys lead, and more. This book gives them the floor to say what they would really like women to know.

The men respond candidly to questions such as:

•What is the most attractive quality to you in a woman?

•Is modesty truly attractive?

•Is neediness a turn-off?

•What do you find beautiful?

•How can we be dependent on God for our identity, not on you?

•How can we help you with boundaries physically?

Rebecca also discusses her own dating life, speaking openly about the single life, her struggle with loneliness, and her hope for the future. She challenges women to see the men in their lives as brothers in Christ and to trust God with their dating lives.

About Rebecca

Australian born Rebecca St. James is a Grammy Award winner and a multiple Dove Award recipient, with international success that has driven her record sales into the millions. In January 2008, she was named Favorite Female Artist in Contemporary Christian Music by readers of CCM Magazine for the seventh consecutive year. Rebecca also won Best Female Artist of 2007 from Christianitytoday.com-her fifth consecutive year to be given this honor. She's been involved in several film productions and voiced the character of Hope the Angel in VeggieTales' bestselling DVD production The Easter Carol. You can read more about Rebecca on her official Web site: www.rsjames.com or on her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/RSJames.

My thoughts:

I had sort of mixed feelings about this book, mostly because it wasn't quite what I was expecting.  I thought it was going to be a "the results of an anonymous survery" kind of book.  Instead, the book is from the perspectives of only Godly Christian men.  While this is good, I think sometimes girls need to know what other guys think, because so often I see them dating non-Chrisitians not realizing how differently they think about just about everything.  Also, and I hate to say it, a lot of the Christian guys often don't have the purest intentions when dating either.  This is just reality folks.  So, while she interviewed some really great guys, I think they were not really an accurate representation of guys everywhere.  That being said, there were some great guys, and reading this would really help a girl know what to look for.

There is much to love about this book.  For one, she doesn't even discuss teen dating.  This book is not about hanging out and having a "bf "so you can post mushy stuff on facebook for all the world to see.  This book is about finding a mate for life.  This is, in my humble opinion, what the purpose of dating should be.  I think the youngest guy she quotes in the book is 18, and hasn't even dated yet.  The rest of the guys are all older. 

I also liked that she did discuss things like boundaries.  Compared to most folk, she is very conservative.  She gives a lot of great advice.  I am a bit more conservative, however, and a few things I thought were not something I would advise.  For example, in one part of the book she talked about a rule that stated that you should never sit on a bed with a guy.  Okay, I'm all for that, but I would advise to stay out of the bedroom completely, and even out of the house if no one else is home. 

So, do I recommend the book?  For just about everyone, yes.  For those who are following a more strict "courtship model," no.  My suggestion is that if you are a parent, you can click on the OpenBook link below to read the first 10% of the book.  If you feel comfortable with that, buy it, finish reading it, then if you feel it represents your family's dating philosophy, by all means buy it and share it with your daughter.  Or, better yet, you could win the book!  Check out how right after these links:

Facebook (Author): http://www.blogger.com/Facebook%20(Author):%20http://www.facebook.com/RSJames

Facebook (Book): http://www.facebook.com/whatishethinkingRSJ

Twitter: http://twitter.com/rebeccastjames

Website: http://rsjames.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/rsjchannel

Link to HBG website book detail page: http://goo.gl/RTy0O

OpenBook Link: http://goo.gl/BWgEs (preview the first 10% of the book)

Would you like to win this book?  It's easy!  Simply comment on why you would like to win it.  Having trouble with comments here on the blog?  Leave a comment on the Crazy Mom Facebook Page instead.  (I'd love it if you'd do both, but I am only counting one as an entry.)  For up to four additional entries, you can do the following:

Follow me on facebook.

Follow me on Twitter.

Follow me with Google Friend Connect. (See sidebar.)

Subscribe to my blog via Feedburner. (See sidebar.)

The rules:  You must be 13 to enter and not live in my house.  :)  Please leave your e-mail address or some other way I can contact you if you win.  MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ADDTIONAL ENTRY.  That's about it.  :)

The contest will end at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, November 27, 2011.  I'll draw the winner Monday, November 28, 2011 or sometime soon after. 

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."