A Guide Through the Trials Young Men Face - Killing Lions

*I received this complimentary copy from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

This is a must read book for any young man just high-school onward. It is a dialogue of two men in different stages of life trying to ascertain what it is to be a man.

From trials that they face to finding identity as a man, the Eldredges dive into problems that many young men face. As they explore these problems they do so with candor, fears, determination, and humility.

What this book is not is some psychological work on why we respond as we do. Rather it is a desire to know what causes to rise above, dig deep, and conquer our world. Why has God placed in men this desire?

While the answer may be simple in stating it takes a lifetime to master with God’s help.

I really appreciated the honest desire to not accept anything but really wrestle with questions and doubts. It is this desire to know deeply because of working out issues that I really resonated with and appreciated.

I left before dawn, heading West into the mountains through a misty morning of drizzle and darkness. I was listening to a pod-cast of John Eldridge and his son Sam, as they read through the first chapter of their new book Killing Lions. It’s like a journal of the dialog the two of them have been having as Sam explores the front edges of manhood. His sense of disorientation and disillusionment are so typical, and the wisdom of how to press through is entirely relevant to this new generation of men. And to the men who are coaching them through the process.
As the chapter was drawing to a close, I was thinking that the sun ought to be coming up by now. But the east in my rear view mirror was still dark and heavily laden with ominous black clouds. Strangely, the sky in front of me- to the West- was getting bright. It was as if the sun was coming up over there, instead of in the East where it is supposed to.
The earth keeps turning. Morning comes; with or without the anticipated light. It occurred to me- in the context of their book- that adulthood happens whether “manhood” accompanies it or not. And when the World throws light in the wrong direction, and illuminates the wrong goals, it can be extremely disorienting. Upon what will a young man base his sense of direction? Where does a guy get accurate definitions for success? The World has different answers than God gives in Scripture.
As I left the pavement, and climbed higher in altitude, the dirt road took me into the clouds. Thick, overwhelming, all-encompassing “fog.” The normal landmarks of distant passes, well-known peaks, significant creeks and even familiar trees, were obliterated by the heavy, wet veil. Kinda cool, but a little creepy at the same time. Then I saw a golden light from the porch of our cabin. I wasn’t really even lost, but that single light, penetrating the gloom, and confirming my way, warmed my heart in a remarkable way.
John and Sam’s book is like that: A clarifying, illuminating, and inspiring light in a dark and confusing culture. So grab a dozen guys between ages 20 and 80, and explore it together. You’ll be moved, challenged, and encouraged. Whether you’re the young warrior just learning the skills of battle, a guy in the middle of it all, trying to figure out where he left the trail, or an older sage desirous of helping others on their journey to their dreams, this book is for you. And me.
Doug Lagassé
Colorado Springs, CO

I have read most of what John Eldredge has written and absorbed a bulk of everything else through audio resources. This is one of the best books he has written; not only because of the incredibly timely message to the rapidly vanishing breed of genuine young men in our culture, but because the format lends itself to discussion and introspection. At my age (52), it has also provided a healthy dose of reflection.

What does it mean to be a man? What does it take to become a man? What if I have messed it up so far? So much of this book hits so dead center that you can't burn through it. The open and transparent conversation between father and son is what all of us want between us and our sage, whether or not that man is our father. I wish I had this kind of advice and perspective 30 years ago.

Whether you are involved in any kind of ministry involving men, but particularly if you have 20-something guys in your sphere of influence, this is a must read and a must have. Buy a bunch of copies and give them to the young men near you. Buy a copy to give to the older men you know that impact younger men. God's design for men has not changed and if you're searching for a tool to help illuminate that, this is it. It's vintage Eldredge and the collaboration with Sam just makes it that much better.

As we move through life on our journey toward authentic manhood, every man wants to hear encouraging words—“You are not alone. It’s not all up to you. You are going to find your way.” That is the theme of the joint venture by father and son, John & Sam Eldredge, Killing Lions: A guide through the trials young men face.
In the preface, Sam explains that after college, he went through a season of searching. After the elation of being on his own wore off, he found himself floundering. He was struggling on his own, yet wanting to be self-sufficient. He wanted to know it all yet didn’t have the answers he wanted for the deeper issues of life—identity, relationships, women, work, marriage, doubts about God. It was then he turned to his father.
As Sam explains,
I stopped one day and asked my dad if we could talk about how things were going for me. What followed were weekly phone calls where we would dive in to my struggles and seek answers together—conversations not all men get but, I think, all of us desperately want. This book is a result of those conversations, an opportunity for us to flesh out the process for your benefit.
The story ebbs and flows in and out of the college years, searching for meaningful work, pursuing a young woman, getting married, and chasing my dreams. None of this is fabricated—the questions are real, the doubts are real, the answers are real. The interaction between father and son are real.
I recently read an article about a young Maasi man who came to the United States to pursue his master’s degree and then a doctoral degree. Before arriving in the Western world, the young warrior had killed a lion in order to protect his village and their cattle. This practice is deep in their tradition—that young men must face and defeat a lion with a spear, should it attack their livestock. He had been badly wounded, as one would expect, but after slaying the predator he was regarded as a hero and a leader. I can’t imagine any university final or job interview being very daunting for a man with lion scars across his chest.
There was something about that story that spoke to the deep places in my soul—something about having faced a great challenge, one in which victory was far from certain, yet conquering it, that makes me wonder. If I had prevailed through my own great trial, would I walk taller or carry a greater confidence into this uncertain future? I can’t help but think: if I had taken down a lion, life wouldn’t feel like I’m heading out into the bush with only an iPhone at my side.
And so we offer this book as a confession, an invitation, and a manifesto for a generation.
I found the book to encouraging and helpful in thinking through the trials and challenges that are faced by a younger generation. It gave me ideas and questions to ask as I talk with my son and other young men in my church.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com http://BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Killing Lions (A Guide Through the Trials Young Men Face) By John Eldredge and Samuel Eldredge is a book featuring an ongoing narrative between a father and a son. The book is based off of real conversations and struggles about finding your significant other, following your dreams and finding the call God placed on your life. It is intended for young men who are journeying through life and seeking God.

I enjoyed reading this book as I have a background in psychology and I enjoy learning about the struggles this generation faces. Although the book provides fatherly advice in a non-threatening manner it doesn't provide a lot of references to the Bible. If you are looking for scriptural references you may not find it in this book. Overall, it was easy to read and I was interested in learning about Samuel Eldredge's journey into adulthood. I think young men would enjoy reading this book.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are 100% my own.

This book is unique and powerful for several reasons.

1. It is a heart to heart question and answer format between a father and son.
2. It is vulnerable and honest in (which I have come to expect from Ransomed Heart) it's depiction of Sam's times of struggle, confusion, and disbelief.
3, This book addresses leaving behind the religious but embracing Jesus and his way.
4. Although written for young men, I have found it applicable for men and women of all ages.
5. This book confronts several generational downfalls of Sam's particular generation with kindness and strength.

I will recommend it highly to my friends. My husband and I have three sons and a daughter. I have found the material here giving us words to use in talking to our children. It also touches those young and untaught places in our hearts.

Understanding what it means to be a man is difficult. Understanding how to BECOME a man is even more difficult. Our society has eschewed a formal maturing process for men, and modern society has obliterated whatever informal processes we once had. We, as sons, don't hunt with our dads to put meat on the table. We don't walk the fence line, go on walkabouts, or submit to rites of passage, other than a trip on Space Mountain or learning to play golf.

Sam and John Eldredge have taken up the cross of answering a lot of the questions ALL men ask as they are growing up. In particular, Sam has asked these as a young college graduate, trying to find meaning and purpose and direction in his life. John, his father, answers and comments on these questions, not as the man who knows everything, but as a man who has been there, and done that.

As a professor at a Christian university, I have seen countless young men ask these same questions, seeking guidance, seeking truth, and seeking camaraderie. Heck, I asked the same questions 30 years ago. As the Millennials go to and graduate from college, and enter the workforce and society as a adults, we will see more and more men seeking some form of masculine wisdom, the kind not taught in classes.

Killing Lions is just as much for fathers as it is sons. I don't see it as a book of answers as much as it is a trailguide, one to help you keep moving forward along your path. I have read lots of John's previous books, and for the sake of disclosure, I've liked them all. Wild At Heart was a life changer for me. What John has done in the past, and he and Sam do well together, is to give us a conversation that is real and meaningful. Yes, it talks about God and takes a Christian approach, but you needn't be a Christian to enjoy this book.

I think one key thing I learned from this book is that becoming a man is not a destination, but a journey. This book views wisdom as fork in the trail, one you can choose to take. I am buying bunch of these books and giving them to my friends with sons. And truth be told, I've already recommended it to a close friend who is the mother of a boy who has grown up without a father. I find that a tragedy, but this book is a great place for her to start!

Killing Lions is a window into the developing soul of a young man. What every young man desires is a wise and loving father who will take the time to listen, ask questions, offer counsel, and generally help interpret the happenings of life. To this end, Killing Lions is a gift!

This is not a book of “How to . . .” or static advice, but rather it is a guidebook where one man (the father) comes alongside another man (the son) and the two learn together. It is an exchange of perspectives, ideas, counsel, wisdom, and experiences that enriches both author’s lives as well as the readers.

As a man in his 40’s and a father myself, the book raised the longing I have had for a good father. It also raised the longing I have to BE a good father. And toward those longings, Killing Lions was such a fresh perspective. I enjoyed the book like I enjoy a good journey. Seeing new things, experiencing unique places, and knowing that there is a source of life in a community of men, be they father and son, brothers, friends, or lion hunters.

One final note is the observation that this book would be a tremendous resource for a fatherless young man. To be fatherless and invited up into this father/son relationship that John and Sam show us . . . it would mean more than I could say. It is a book to be read, but also shared.

Killing Lions offers a unique opportunity for individuals and groups to take a journey through the trials of life that a man encounters. The format opens up the door for multigenerational participation in a study sharing the perspective and questions that a father and son each must face.

It is very readable all by itself, but with the Journal makes a great tool for helping men grow together.

As a pastor and as a Certified Men's Ministry Specialist I am constantly looking for good resources to use in my own ministry, but also for recommending to others. This has a permanent place in my library. In fact on a recent trip I brought the book out to show others and the first comment was "Where can I get this for myself?".

Highly recommended!

Read it and you will not regret it. Great reflections on life and how we are living it or would like to be. I am 30 year old man no set career path and in a huge transitional period of life and have found this book refreshing and challenging my perspective of how to go about making life choices. This would be an excellent book to read with others no matter what stage of life they are in!

John Eldredge is one of my favorite authors pf all time. When I heard of his new book written with his son, i got excited.
Killing Lions is a unique book. It is written as a conversation between father and son. The book is specifically written for people in their 20's navigating through life's challenges and changes.
Even though I am past my 20's I benefited from reading it because I have a son and at some point i will have to help him become a man
This book helps guys become men in the godly sense of the word. if you are in your 20's or are looking for something for your 20 something son, this is the book, i highly recommend it to you.
This book was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review from booklook bloggers.

This book rocks! I really like the back and forth approach. I felt as if my own dad and at times my heavenly father was talking to me. I plan on sharing this book with my son in the near future. Our plan is to read it together.

I have devoured everything the Eldredge's have put out and this book is no exception.

I also shared it with a collage age friend who read it twice in one week. I would high recommend it for any and all collage age men as well as teens and even dads trying to reach the heart of their son!

This is an incredible journey between Father and Son, a must read. I loved this book from the first chapter to the last and a book every son and father should read together and discuss. I was blown away by the honesty of Sam in describing all his questions and concerns about his life and his future. John's thoughtful response was straight to the heart of the issue and brilliant in it's insight. If you want to get a glimpse into the inner world of this new generation coming up today then this is the book for you.....especially if you are unsure how to respond to them and the questions that are buried deep in their heart. This is right up there with Wild at Heart and Beautiful Outlaw as my favorite reads. Buy it, buy it now.

I have been involved for many years in ministry to boys and young men. When I first heard of this book and watched the early mini-movies, I was thinking of using the material in our leadership development program for 16-18 year olds (and we will use selected movies in this program). Now, having had the benefit of reading an advance copy of the book, I feel it is best suited for those in their early 20's moving through or finishing university and moving towards marriage. It does of course say something to all ages of man. I am now planning to use the book with our young adult course staff as a staff development tool - to encourage (and challenge) them and as part of their equipping to lead younger men. I have ordered 20 copies, which I hope to pick up when I am in the US in two weeks time (I am in Australia) and bring home with me to share around.

I started reading this book after running across Sam Eldredge's online magazine "And Sons." I watched the first video and my heart cried out for more. When I found out the video series was a precursor to the book I knew I needed to read the book. And once I receive the book it was even better than the video series. The videos got me interested but the book went deep to all the questions that us young (or youngish) men often have but are too scared to ask. This book is a must read regardless of age as it was great to get to the heart of the matter as a man but also in helping me think about how I will raise my two boys. Thank God for the Eldredges' (and all their crew at Ransomed Heart) willingness to step out in faith and ask the deep hard questions. A man's heart is truly deep waters and this book certainly stirs them up.

This book has a great, strong, masculine title. After opening the book up, I quickly lost the vibes that this book was going to deliver great stuff.

The first thing I'd tell you about this book is that it doesn't read like the typical non fiction book. It's based on conversations between a father and son, so there's a chunk of the son's writing, a chunk of the dad's. That doesn't seem like a big deal, in fact, it sounds like it could maybe even be a good idea. And I think it could. However, in this case I did not like it. Many times I wasn't sure if I was reading John (Dad) or Sam's (son) words. It seemed to jump around all the time, and I never knew where the book was headed. Maybe books that are labeled 'guides' or 'handbooks' just aren't for me. Basically, it felt like a lot of ramblings compiled into a book.

Another criticism is that it felt like the authors went out of their way at times to be 'edgy'. This included numerous references to drinking beer, being a little bit crass with their language, and some of the Sam's questions about God. I'm just not sure if there was any benefit to these things. Are they attempting some shock value? Hoping to offend some? Did it serve a purpose? Or is that just the way they talk and they didn't think about it? I don't know.

So this book has a lot of great ratings, so surely there's some great things about it? There are 2 things I liked about this book. One, I love the idea of the openness between a father and son to have honest, raw discussions like this. If they actually have what's portrayed in the book, it's pretty cool. Two, the book has some pretty great quotes from others. While the quotes are great (they were my favourite part of the book), what average guy pulls out quotes by famous dead guys in an average conversation? In a sense, all the quotes, while providing some solid content, make me question how much of the content of the book was actually from a real discussion, and how much was just fabricated to write what they thought would make a great book.

If you are able to pull out the good stuff amid the distracting (to me) format of this book, you may enjoy it, and even find it most helpful. But I didn't.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book courtesy of Booklook Bloggers.

This book is supposed to be a compendium of insightful guidance from a father to his son, a college-aged man, about becoming an adult, useful both for young men and father readers. I'm a father reader. Frankly, it irritated me more and more to the point it killed my patience with it.

I think a lot of the issues Sam raises are issues with which many young persons struggle, and this was the basis for my hope for the book. I say "persons" and not "men" because I think everything that is discussed here as young men's challenges are simply challenges of any young person. In fact I reject the repeated categorization throughout the book, mainly by John, as "men are ..." and "women are...". As if all men are the same and only men feel the pressure to know the answers to life's questions, and all women are the same and only women look to their spouse or partner for support. He rants about the polar opposite natures of men and women and how men can never understand women. I happen to know my wife very well, and my sister, and some female friends, and I reject the notion that men and women can't understand each other. So, firstly, I'd say you can apply this book to any young person; just ignore the gender references.
I agree with a previous reviewer that the book is wooden, edited, unnatural. It's obviously a case of an author father helping his writer son get a book written. It was an easy book to write - about the struggles of his young life - and his dad would write half of it. I tried to see past that fact and the staged nature of the discussion and appreciate what the writing was offering, though.
My biggest issue with the book, however, is that John tries to weave God and his faith into every answer, which then turns into a sermon with a decidedly conservative bent. He pleads, "The Devil exists," and coaches to see the Devil's work in your struggles. He gives as proof that the Devil exists a past incident in which Sam's wife was having nightmares, which they prayed to stop, and they stopped. Obviously it was the Devil, he says, because nothing else would have stopped the nightmares. (Huh?) This is the kind of help they're offering? Blame it on the Devil and pray that it will go away. Pah-lease. Another "off the deep end" example was about sex, in which John describes the self-conducted form as a sin. Let me guess he learned that point of view in his church. I don't recall him calling out LGBTQ orientations specifically, but he does say that if a man isn't helplessly attracted to women he must re-examine things. This just calls John out as a closeted person who turns in small circles of like-minded people, and doesn't get out much into the real world to know what people and life are really about.
At that point I lost my patience with his advice. There are nuggets of good ideas worth remembering and passing on. You just have to wade through and ignore all the gender and sexual and religious close-mindedness to find them. Eventually, you might, like me, figure its not worth the effort anymore. As I put the book away I sincerely hope Sam manages to break away from the grip his father has on him, insisting Sam lead his life as his father instructs. That control by his father is the lion Sam needs to kill.

As a father of two children currently in college (and a third soon to follow, God willing) I can not recommend this book highly enough! It is timeless wisdom given in a conversation between a father and adult son who is in the post college/just joining the work force age group. The questions and struggles the son raises are ones that all men have dealt with and in many cases continue to deal with long into life. The wisdom given by the father is biblically sound and very revealing in explaining how all of theses things relate to knowing God as our Father and learning to trust him in our journey.

Killing Lions is going to resonate. Most of John's previous books were a single topic directed at a large audience. Killing Lions seems more like a book that addresses a number of issues directed at individuals, meaning this: readers of Killing Lions will find it easy -- compelling even -- to personally associate themselves in the dialog.

For men of all ages, particularly for fathers -- with their sons approaching adulthood -- this is an important book.

Enjoyed the content as it dealt with real life issues, issues I have thought about many times and have wrestled with. The format of a conversation between father and son reminded me of conversations I had with my father as well as many conversations I wish I had had. Regardless of age, the material addresses things you are going through, will go through, or will help equip you in mentoring others.

Title: Killing Lions

Authors: John Eldredge & Sam Eldredge

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Year: 2014

Pages: 188

Killing Lions at Ransomed Heart

[Disclaimer: I was provided with a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for my fair and unbiased review of this book. I am required only to be honest with my review. I was not compensated or asked to write a favorable review.]

If I recall correctly the history of my reading, this is the third John Eldredge book I have read in my life. I'm not sure what the other two were--maybe The Sacred Romance and Waking the Dead--I really don't remember. All I can say is that neither left a mark on me. I think when it comes to John Eldredge books you either get it or you don't. I fall into the latter category. I'm just not quite able to put a finger on what it is he is writing about or why he's writing it. I don't think that is an indictment of him or his writing as much as it is a nice way of saying I just don't care for his writing.

Now add his son Samuel to a book. That's where I'm at with Killing Lions. And given that this is the third of his books I have read it's not like I haven't tried. I still don't get it. Furthermore, given the wide range of life experiences of young Samuel, I find it hard to believe that many people--many young men--will be able to relate to his peculiar brand of 'woe is me.'

The book is billed as a guide through the trials young men face. Sounds admirable. Sounds interesting. Sounds like a great way for a dad to get his son's writing career off the ground. Half-way through the book I couldn't shake this thought from my head, by the end nothing had changed. I'm not saying there is anything necessarily wrong with that. I wish my dad could do the same thing for me and Lord knows if I could do that for my sons I would. But whatever sympathy I might have had for young Samuel quickly evaporated when I had to read, at least once per chapter, about his world travels and how terribly broke he was while he traveled to Malaysia (56, 95), or completed a Vision Quest at the age of 14 by climbing the Grand Tetons (63), or went sailing, or suffered as RA at the college he went to or how he had to spend a semester abroad because he was rejected by a girl (4 months to be exact. I remember one time I was rejected by a girl. I had to get up the next day and go to work. See pages 40, 115), or how he was certain his writing career was never going to get off the ground (51). This poor kid has done more by the age of 20 than most of us will do in a lifetime.

But he was struggling to find himself. And his career. Until one day his wise friends told him, "God was after how I saw myself" (55). I'm all about finding yourself and wading through the struggles of a young man--learning that alcohol is not helpful, that serial dating is a waste of time, that we often have to find the right career by being fired or quitting a fruitless job--and that's what this book amounts to: one young man's journey. The problem, as I see it is, is that his dad's advice is good for him. It might be helpful for others; it might not be helpful for others. I'm not sure who the audience is for this book because the people who probably should read it won't and the people who will read it will already agree with Eldredge because they have bought into his rather strange philosophy of warriors, masculinity, and romance. You either get it or you don't. There's nothing unique or inspiring about the content of this book.

The book is full of quotes. It is clear that the authors either read a lot or are good at quote mining because there are a lot quotes from all the people one might expect: Chesterton, Lewis, Tolkien, Buechner, U2, Frankl, Pascal, Dostoyevsky, and a few other philosophers and authors--some known, some obscure. The things these people have to say are important in certain contexts, but I think in this book they were filler. Use of these quotes always felt kind of forced and convenient-even if the quotes were the good quotes one might expect to see from these authors. I like quotes, but there was nothing surprising about these quotes.

I think when it's all said and done, as I noted above, you are either a reader who gets John Eldredge or you are not. If you are not, you will find a lot of the 'dialogue' tired and boring. Most of us do not live in a world where we discuss or engage in things like the 'Warrior' stage of life, go on Vision Quest's, eat Tiger beer as curry mee in Malaysian food courts with friends (I've read pages 95-96 two or three times and I'm still not sure what Samuel is trying to tell us in this story because I'm not sure what a person falling down and cracking their head in a Malaysian bathroom is reason enough to ask the question, "Why God?"), or 'suffer' from relational paralysis. Most of us don't have time because we are too busy living to take the time to 'find ourselves.' For most of us life and the journey is discovery enough without having to dedicate time to the specific task, and I can assure you that writing one book, traveling through Europe, and getting married will not end your journey to self-discovery. I am now 44 years old and I still learn, and will continue learning, but not so much about myself. At some point we need to grow up and give up the notion that learning about ourselves matters. We will do so when we start seeking first the Kingdom (Matthew) or when we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews).

I have grown weary of a generation who thinks that life is all about self-discovery. I have grown even more tired of the publishers who think all of these angst ridden tales of spoiled brats need to be published. It seems to me that we all know enough about ourselves. Life is not necessarily a journey to find ourselves. In fact, a better goal would be to lose the self and find Jesus. We truly start living when our ambition each day is to discover Jesus in the faces and lives we see each day, to do everything with love, and to die trying. This is the essence of taking up the cross, denying the self, and following Jesus. And despite the prayers at the end of the book, I don't sense that that is the gist of this book.

It seems that many of the problems young Samuel had to pass through (as are the problems most people face at that age) were self-inflicted problems because he wanted to live the so-called cookie cutter, standard life of a 18-20 something rebel--complete with drinking, smoking, bouncing from girl to girl, and, of course, taking 4 month 'find yourself' journeys in Europe (see page 49-51). I'll be honest when I say that I just don't understand all this angst that Millenials feel they are suffering or this so-called higher sense of awareness they think they have. It all seems so self-centered: "Woe is me. I have to figure out life. I need to travel around the world to find myself and see how God wants me to look at myself. And we will be so aware and sensitive that the world will change. And we are the only people who suffer this way. And blah blah blah..." Really. Get over yourselves already.

And I certainly don't think one needs to travel to Europe and visit Auschwitz in order to know that there is terrible sin in this world and that humans are capable of horrific, ungodly, despicable violence against one another. Look around. Be more aware of what's going on in your own neighborhood. Stop climbing mountains and start stooping down to help someone right next to you.

So Sam and John discuss all sorts of things: girls, relationships, sex, money, careers, church, God, suffering & evil, building cars, travel to exotic locations, video games, and friends. Yes. All 'lions' as they say in due course. Every now and again there were some helpful thoughts, but for the most part the conversation between dad and son sounded edited, written. I'll be honest, it wasn't raw enough. I think this book might have worked in an electronic version where it could have been left raw and unedited and less wooden. Yes. That's word I'm looking for: it's too wooden.

In conclusion, I will say this. I do agree with John's words on page 119: "Christianity is not a 'blind leap of faith' as many have been led to believe. According to Jesus--and the entire canon of Scripture--faith is trust and confidence in a person whom you have good reason to believe is trustworthy" (his emphasis). I think he is right to put the emphasis of faith on a person who actually lived in history instead of upon some strange idea that theologians have conjured up. What I wish would have happened though is that this would have found its way to the front of the book because then maybe young Samuel might have understood life a lot better. Samuel wrote, "My generation is desperate for meaning" (7). Well? Have you read your father's books? Can you get over yourself for five minutes and figure out that life is not about you and your meaning? That you are not the culmination of history? That you are not the reward?

We have meaning. All of us. We don't need to search for it and I'd tell Viktor Frankl that too. Our meaning has been summed up for us nicely in the person and rule of Jesus.

We have meaning already and sadly I don't think this book is going to contribute much to the journey of discovery that some young people seem to think they must go on. Open your eyes. Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Peter)

I don't think this book is meant for a wide audience. It's meant for a niche group of readers who already get the work of John Eldredge.

2/5 Stars

PS--I disagree thoroughly with his take on Luke Skywalker on page 110. I don't think Luke ever, for a minute, experienced self-doubt. Watch the films again: he wanted off Tattoine to fight; he went into the cave on Dagobah, he left his training to rescue his friends in Bespin, and he left the group on Endor to confront Vader. This is not self-doubt. This was a man who knew what he had to do and did it. He often did it without thinking ahead, but Luke was a man who knew what it meant to be a friend, to be loyal to something pure, and who had a clear vision of right and wrong. There was no doubt in Luke Skywalker and he is not a good model of comparison for this current generation of humans growing up, spoiled, and searching for meaning. Luke knew, in his bones. Frankly, if anyone tried to hold Luke back it was everyone around him.

John's books have helped guide me through some of the most critical stages of my life. They do so by addressing the issues of the heart that every man faces. This book is no different. The collaboration between John and Sam takes real life issues that young men face and offers a real life advice and counsel from men who have walked that trail.

As the father of three daughters, this book was the discussions I hope fathers will have with my girls' future spouses. What insight and openness shared by both John and Sam. This is an all time great high school or college graduation gift for young men of this age. Read, ponder and enjoy!!

Absolutely Phenomenal! This book speaks truth and right into my heart as a man. I cannot recommend it enough, to any man who is seeking God and wanting a deeper walk and relationship with Him. I highly recommend this for men in their 20's and 30's - pure gold. I read it one afternoon - I couldn't put it down. Now, it's time for the re-read and the true mining of the gems.

I should have known better. I really should have. So it's my fault.

I tried to read John Eldredge's Wild at Heart several years ago and just couldn't get through it. I tried again a couple of years ago with the same result. What is that definition of insanity again? For whatever reason, that book just didn't resonate with me. Oh, I wanted it to. I had heard good things about it and I am a fan of learning how to become a better man. But in the end it was the citrus to my chocolate - we just didn't mix.

As I sat down to read Killing Lions by John and his son Sam, I really wanted to enjoy it. I wanted to learn from it. I wanted the book to make me a better dad to my two boys. Tell me about that definition of insanity again.

Killing Lions is intended to be a voyeuristic look into a conversation between John and Sam with the reader being a fly on the wall. And that was my first struggle with the book. Much of what the two "discussed" was more of their own struggles and perspective of life and God and not representative of universal struggles with young men reaching adulthood. That's not to say that their struggles and thoughts were unique, but instead it is to say that they are common for people who think like Sam and John. Guys who yearn for freedom outside of the lines on the coloring page. And that's fine for them, but that isn't me or my oldest son. We find a level of comfort in those lines - as long as we understand them.

My second struggle with the book was that it seemed to be - well - cotton candy theology and advice. That's probably too strong of a word picture, but that was what it felt like to digest. Sweet to the taste, but not very nourishing. Both John and Sam tried to weave Scripture and theology into their discussion, but it certainly was not at its core. I wanted meat. Steak and potatoes - perhaps a sweet potato. It seemed that both Eldredges focused more on man's heart than God's Word. Now, I know that God wired the heart and John even warned of the deception of the heart (and perhaps had I read Wild at Heart I would understand their approach more), but I am concerned any time we take extra (and unnecessary) steps away from the Bible. The Bible speaks directly and clearly about being a man. It deals with finances and relationships and sex and decisions. Why interpret these through the heart instead of going directly to the Scriptures?

My third struggle with the book was, quite frankly, John's credibility. Here's what I mean. Sam wrote this book in his mid-twenties after rebelling in college and struggling with developing a perspective of life and work ethic. He also questioned several bedrock doctrines of the faith (eg. the inerrancy of Scripture and the exclusivity of Christ). Shouldn't John have poured these into Sam during his childhood and teen years? The two clearly have an open and honest relationship, which I greatly appreciate, but it just seems that Sam lacked a firm foundation to stand upon as he entered college and beyond.

My fourth struggle with the book was Sam's repeated references to alcohol. Now, let me be clear. I do not fault a believer for drinking alcohol. I don't believe Scripture forbids drinking - just getting drunk. However, it seemed that Sam intentionally forced references to alcohol into the book and I suspect there was a reason. There are some who believe that a Christian drinking alcohol is hip or even a sign of spiritual maturity ("I am not enslaved to traditional fundamental views of spirituality. I have advanced beyond that!"). Realizing that I can be off here, it seemed that was Sam's point. He seemed to want to be emphatic that he has an enlightened view of drinking alcohol. Why else mention it so often?

By now, it should be no surprise that Killing Lions was not for me. Grab a book by Dennis Rainey or Tedd Tripp instead.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review which I provided.