Customer Reviews

Character Makeover: 40 Days with a Life Coach to Create the Best You

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I feel a little bit like I'm cheating by writing a review of the book, "Character Makeover: 40 Days With A Life Coach To Create The Best You" (Zondervan, 2008), by Katie Brazelton and Shelley Leith. First, it is geared towards women. I'm a man. Second, it is laid out in a such a way that a person really ought to spend 40 days with it. I've only had my Advance Reader Copy for 2 days. So, given that I am not of the female persuasion, nor have I had the 40 days to live out the principles discussed in the book, I will give my general impressions.

Generally, I shy away from any product that promises to change a person after so many days or weeks. They tend to be too simplistic, not speaking to the difficulties, interruptions, and disappointments that tend to come with real life. I am even more wary of Christian self-help books, because they tend to garner more of their techniques and bullet points from pop psychology rather than Scripture. This is dangerous in that it retards a person's ability to discern things spiritually.

That being said, I like how much "Character Makeover" relies on Scripture and does not attempt to trivialize the things that people go to. This book isn't about pretending real life doesn't happen. Quite the contrary. Through the use of the stories of various women who have struggled with character issues as they face everyday life, "Character Makeover" keeps its head out of the clouds and its feet firmly planted on the earth. Rather, this book is a resource women can turn to in order to help them change their perspective and temper their reactions when life isn't fair.

Its greatest strength comes from the fact it starts off with the notion that if we wish to develop better character, we must first attend to our relationship with Jesus. The authors thus start the book with a section about humility. This is a great approach, as a person who "changes themselves" can be tempted to boast about all the changes they have made and how good that makes them because of it. However, by connecting true change to God, this encourages women to be humble in how they approach the rest of the book (and their lives).

However, "Character Makeover" is not without its drawbacks. Actually, one of its greatest strengths is one of its greatest flaws. This is not a book that a person can just sit down and enjoy like a novel. It is meant to be an immersive experience. This is accomplished through journal entries, charts to fill out, and boxes to check (on self-evaluation checklists). It is a lot of work and a person has to be totally honest with themselves (or others if they are participating in a group), if they wish to truly get anything out of the experience.

And the questions are not easy ones. For example, on Day 4 of a section about self-control, the reader is asked, "What habit or temptation has power over you?" While this question might seem simple on the surface, it is very easy to answer this question simply, avoiding darker things we know we ought to deal with in our lives. A person might answer, "I have a problem with chocolate," and that may very well be true. But, if they have a habit of gossiping or not controlling their thought life, having a problem with chocolate is the least of their worries. But, the main drawback is that some people don't have the time each day to sit down and follow this kind of program. While the authors might not mind 40 days stretching into 80 or 120 days, some readers may become frustrated and give up.

Overall, "Character Makeover" is a good resource for those who can stick with a 40 day program. I believe they will come out on the other side with the ability to discern situations from a thoroughly Christian point-of-view without sacrificing their ability to live in the real world.

Through personal stories and candid transparency, Katie Brazelton and co-author Shelley Leith invite you to join them on a spiritual journey that exposes the insecurites in each of us. While designed to be a tool and resource for women's small groups, Katie and Shelley add a personalized touch to the book that gives the reader a feel of walking over to their home for a visit and sitting and chatting with a cup of coffee in their living rooms. This resource is packed full of downloadable mini-talks, self-assessments, and questions for group discussion along with an Internet blog with access to the authors.

I picked up this book at a bookstore a couple of days ago. I'm going to be completely honest and say that I was looking for a different book, but they didn't have it. The Holy Spirit literally put this book in my hands as I waited for the clerk to check the back room for the book I was looking for. Instead, I ended up buying "Character Makeover" and I know that God hand delivered it to me for this time in my life. I've read lots of self-help books and completed numerous Bible Studies, but this book is different than anything I've encountered before. The daily "exercises" in the book really cause me to change my behavior. The best part is that the book starts with an issue that I have battled time and time again...being HUMBLE! Until I read this book, I really didn't understand what being humble means. Brazleton & Leith give you about 5 different points to think about with respect to humility. I also really enjoy that the authors utilize different formats..."email letters", online assessments, time in scripture, time in prayer. Excellent, excellent book. Enjoy.

This is a review of the Generosity chapter in the book, written by Heather Leith, the 14-year-old daughter of one of the co-authors.

"I just read the chapter on Generosity...and it was PHENOMENAL! It was easy to understand. I think women, young adults, and teenagers can all benefit from this book. It was clear and straightforward, and I could totally understand it all! It covered all aspects of Generosity! When I was reading one section, and a question came up in my mind, it was ANSWERED in the next day's reading!! The authors did an amazing job of thinking of the reader and what they would want to read about.

-It was fun and I wanted more after I was done. All the rhyming stuff, quizzes, journals...it kept me interested! A lot of books are just boring and there is tons of unnecessary stuff. But this had lots of fun stuff in every section to keep the reader interested.

-I loved all the verses in it. There was tons of spiritual wisdom and insight in it, and I felt like the authors were talking to me directly."

Basically, Mom, you get an A++++++ from me, and I am SURE everyone else will think the same!

Heather Leith

What a wonderful book! Each chapter touched on something that I could apply to my life today. The chapter on Humility was very convicting...I knew there was a reason that I was "nudged" (okay...pushed) to read this chapter. It made me pause and think...definitely made me stop and evaluate my motives of late. Motivated me to do a daily...sometimes hourly...pride check. Great work!!

I am reading this book knowing that there is not a better makeover than the one that God can give through the 40 days of reading, applying the principles and doing the exercises in this book. Taking hold of the truths found in the scripture references, journaling personal thoughts and prayers, enlisting the help of an accountability partner or coach will give you an experience not just a good read. The assessments and connection to the offerings on the Life Purpose Coaching Center International Website add even more value to the experience. I could visualize each coaching experience as I read "Welcome Back to My Place" on Day 1 of each Character trait. I would recommend Character Makeover for a personal makeover or for an entire group makeover as a book study.

Character Makeover by Katie Brazelton and Shelley Leith can be a life-changing book for anyone who chooses to use it as a workbook and a journal. It is like having a Life Coach at your disposal 24/7. I took the book seriously, read all of the Biblical references, and intend to follow my Master Action Plan this year. I highly recommend Character Makeover to anyone who is interested in taking an in-depth look at their life and their character.
Kathy M. Cook, Ph.D.

I was initially intrigued by the title of the book, as I've always wanted a "makeover" and this seemed like the best place to start! I am in the middle of Beth Moore's Breaking Free" study, as part of a women's study group, and Character Makeover is proving to be a perfect and practical companion to that study. It's not easy to admit that we need work, and the personal coaching aspect makes it a whole lot easier. The additional online resources are an added bonus. Thanks, coaches Shelley and Katie, for helping me on this journey of change.

Makeover shows like "Trading Spaces" and "How Do I Look?" call in experts when a room needs a little TLC or a fashion victim's wardrobe needs CPR.
In their new book "Character Makeover" Christian authors Katie Brazelton and Shelly Leith called on the most revered world class design team when they wanted to redecorate human character. They called in an architect and interior designer (God), His Master Carpenter Son (Jesus), and an image consultant and life coach (the Holy Spirit.) This trinity of professionals is the best in their field specializing in one-of-a-kind creations.
"Character Makeover" is a forty-day journey that explores common character traits in every soul that may need sprucing up. We all wish we had the patience of Job, but most of us more closely resemble a certain big green ogre. This book contains bible verses, practical applications, stories, exercises and journal pages to enhance who we are.
Some of us spend our whole lives feeling like Charlie Brown after Lucy has jerked the football away for the millionth time. This book can help you wash away the wishy-washiness. If your inner Fred Flintstone bellows too easily, or your pride reaches to "infinity and beyond" Buzz Lightyear proportions this book is a great guidebook to creating a more beautiful you.
This beautiful book may bring some emotional flotsam and jetsam to the surface. And you may find some tender soul places that need to be spackled and refinished, but the Holy Sprit's comfort is beyond compare. At the end of your "Character Makeover", perhaps we'll marvel at the perfection of the architect's blueprints--we were created in His image. Hopefully we will cherish the carpenter's exquisite craftsmanship--He died for us, and we should treasure the wisdom of the most divine life coach imaginable--we are His vessel.
If the fabric of your soul is draped in orange and purple plaid, don't worry orange and purple are two of the Father's favorite colors.

I have never endorsed a book, especially a book about becoming a better person, because I have never found one that I truly believed helped as much as this one! What the authors have discovered and shared in the most intimate of ways creates an atmosphere of sitting with your closest, most comfortable friend and sharing your innermost secrets. It doesn't feel like they just wrote a book to sell it, I feel after completing the "Humility, Confidence, Self-Control, and Contentment" Chapters that Katie and Shelley wrote the book just for me....especially after the "Contentment" chapter! That was a rough chapter, personally! But the authors stood by me through it, talked me through it with their Virtual Message on Day 2, and prayed me through it each and every day. Good character traits seem to be a lost commodity these days. What a valuable and wonderful treasure this book will add to the lives of the many, many women who read "Character Makeover"!