This is my review of The Best Idea In The World: How Putting Relationships First Transforms Everything by Mark Greene, published October 2009 by Zondervan.
I was very excited to receive a copy of this book. The title intrigued me very much as my ministry and life is based on/in relationships. I had high hopes for this book, but it did not reach those hopes. It is possible that my expectations were too high. With that said on to the reviewing.
This book is an easy read with only 160 pages with 10 uniquely titled chapters one can read it easily over a weekend. There are no major theological ideas in the book that would require deep thinking. It is a very down to earth, practical book. Although at times the British examples were not familiar to me. (The author is British)
The book is based on the question put to Jesus by the Pharisees on which commandment is the greatest. The book tries to take Jesus answer and use that as our lense to look at life through. Mark Greene tries to take our everyday life and run it through Jesus answer. The books aim is to show us a life that is based on loving God and others. Overall it accomplishes it goal, not as well as I had hoped, but it reaches the goal.
On the positive side the book does encourage people to examine the relationships in their life. I was encouraged by the book to continue developing the relationships in my life. I agree 100% that we need to follow the command to love God and others and Mr. Greene reaffirmed those principles in my life.
On the negative side there were times that felt as though he was trying to hard to make his example fit the premise of the book. (the microwave)
I give the book 3.5 stars out of 5. At the end of the day I ask myself would I recommend this book to my friends and family and the answer is yes.
