Customer Reviews

Before I Go: Letters to Our Children About What Really Matters

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
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Peter Kreeft is an outstanding philosophy professor at Boston College who has written over 40 books, most of which are excellent. Professor Kreeft is similar to G K Chesterton and C S Lewis in that he is a Christian philosopher who writes very clear and profound books that are full of wisdom.

BEFORE I GO consists 162 life lessons that Kreeft has learned, and each lesson is covered in 1 to 3 pages. Lesson 6, "The Most Important Person" is a hierarchy of what a person's priorities in life should be, with God first, one's spouse second, one's children third and so on. Lesson 9 is a succinct description of "What is a Good Person?"

Lesson 48 has a funny litmus test on how to tell if a book is a great book; funny because it rings true. And Lesson 51 has a poignant lesson learned too late from the poet Thomas Carlyle. Kreeft's advice on how to keep marriages intact in Lesson 87 is short, sweet and dead-on-target.

"Before I Go" is short - it took only about 3 hours to read - and full of wisdom. This is indeed a great book in that it gives cogent guidance on the good, the beautiful and the true. Were Socrates to read this book, he would realize that he had finally found that wise man that Socrates sought in ancient Greece but never found. This is Kreeft's 2nd best book - exceeded only by his outstanding HANDBOOK OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS - and I give it my highest recommendation.

I liked the readable format in which to share some universal "words of wisdom" with my children. Perhaps reading them in another person's time & space will reinforce the significance for all.

How much more SINCERE can a book get than one written by a father for his children? How much more LOGICAL than one authored by a renowned philosopher?

Peter Kreeft has received honors such as the Woodrow Wilson, Yale-Sterling Fellowship, Newman Alumni Scholarship, Danforth Asian Religions Fellowship, and Weathersfield Homeland Foundation Fellowship.

Spectacular. But I think I'm safe in guessing his greatest achievement to date includes his children, for whom this book is written.

Kreeft saves his best nuggets of wisdom for his latest, easiest-to-digest work. Whether you want to know the four most imporant choices in your life (I'm not going to spoil it but they're simpler than you think), how your life is art, or how simplicity can literally change the world, you'll find it in the pages of BEFORE I GO.

Treat yourself to this gem of a publication. It's one you'll likely want to pass on to YOUR children as well.

As Peter Kreeft himself says, some of his simplest works are is most favored. This is one of them. Some of the most simple things in life can have the greatest affect on how well our life is. This book provokes thought on things that are often overlooked. I love Peter Kreeft's philiosophy and so far this is my favorite of his books. It deserves careful and thoughtful reading.

I bought this book to give to my kids. It is filled with so much wisdom that I need to share with them "before i go".

In short chapter format, this book lovingly, gently and wisely shares with the child all the important information that Christian parents want their kids to embrace. I hope my parents and all my children read this book because it's my sentiments exactly. Let's all read this book...please. If I am not around and my kids read this...please read this book.

In 162 short letters to his adult children he summarizes what he would like them to be sure of, to realize, to do, and to love. The idea is nice. Kreeft puts all his intensity and devotion in his letters as he does with all his books.

The only minus I would give in this case is that it is too vague, too general in scope. I guess that is the nature of advice, otherwise it would need a full book to explain why this advice is given, why so important. Then this is not the kind of literature that appeals to me most. But for ole time Kreeft readers it won't disappoint.

This book has inspired me to start the same sort of thing to leave behind for my daughters. There's so much that they don't hear now and as one reviewer stated, this is like an "insurance policy". Your word, thoughts, feelings, etc. can be remembered when you're gone. Very fast read. Let it inspire you .

If you have chosen a Christian World view this book touches on life's problems and shares the advise all of us should share with our kids. Dr Kreeft notes priorities that shape our decisions. He reminds us we are the ultimate shapers of our happiness and with forgiveness,love and perserverence nothing is impossible to change. The chapters are each only a page or two long but you should plan on digesting what he writes

This book has opinions that differ from mine slightly, but are presented in a way that shows that the author is honestly trying to inspire people to live life well. The author presents simple, yet difficult challenges for everyday life. The format is easy to read, and has a very enjoyable writing style that makes it feel really personal. Even if you don't agree with the statements he makes, he still points out issues that need to be dealt with, and this makes me appreciate the book in its entirety.