Customer Reviews

It's All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life

5 star:		(105)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I got this book yesterday and finished it before finally going to bed.
I laughed, I cried and I cheered for this amazing woman who was telling
her very personal story of not only her private life, but her journey with
God. Unlike Denise, I was not raised in the church, but have been searching for a way to connect with god. By reading this account of
her life and marriage, I feel like I found a start at that connection.

I've long admired Alan Jackson's talent, and have admired the fact that
these two were able to put their marriage back together after their
much publicized separation almost a decade ago. But, this book provided
me with a new appreciation for the woman "behind" the man. I'm glad
that Alan realized, before it was too late, what a prize he had.

Although this book is largely about God, it is not presented in a heavy
handed or difficult to follow way. By sharing her personal story as
she has, Denise allows those of us that are searching for the kind
of peace she has found with god, to at least chart a path on our
own journey.

I highly recommend this book.

This is a unique, encouraging book. In a world where celebrity divorces and family breakdowns happen all the time, it's pretty cool to see a famous marriage that has been pulled out of the fire.

Denise is honest and humble in telling the Jackson's story, admitting her faults and mistakes, and it makes the lessons that she writes about all the more compelling.

Also, it's worth mentioning that the book contains a CD with two songs by Alan: "It's All About Him" and "That's the Way." I think this book is the only place to get them right now.

If you've ever been in love and almost lost it, if your heart resonates to the honest emotion of country western songs, if you've loved and lost and hope to love again, read this book written by a country western star who's sung about it and lived it herself.

The authors have written a story of hope, heartache, renewal, God's grace, and love conquers all. This book is written straight from the heart and I suspect it will deeply touch yours.

It's always inspiring to read of a couple who falter and then right themselves again, and who are still around as a couple 10 years later, to talk about it. If you've ever really loved someone, this book will ring true for you.

This book is highly recommended.

For Alan Jackson fans, the biographical information is interesting. It is also encouraging to read about a celebrity couple that has kept their marriage together through tough times, especially when so many couples choose to bail out these days. It's a story of learning to forgive and how God can heal our hearts and our relationships. For Christian readers, the best part of the book is in the latter pages, where Denise describes how she finally "gets it" and realizes how important it is to put Christ first in your life. Her list of resources is good, too and would be especially helpful to newer Christians.

I only gave this book three stars because it left me a little dry. It was a turn off to read the frequent, detailed descriptions of their extravagant lifestyle. If I had picked up a secular book on another celebrity, I would have expected that sort of thing, but not in a book that is supposed to show us "It's All About Him". It would have sufficed for her to have just said that she and Alan have been blessed materially beyond their dreams, and left it at that. Instead, she seems to define the timelines of their life based on material things. Here are just a few examples she talks about - their mansion, three vacation homes, private planes, personal employees to do all her work, full length fur coats, a five and a half carat ring that reached her knuckles, the matching mother/daughter Mercedes, Alan's 19 car garage and statements such as, "Alan always made sure I had a new Cadillac to drive." Comments like that added nothing to the content of this book. Instead, it was a distraction.

Since Denise so freely talked about all the luxuries they own, and since she was trying to point out that God should be first in our lives, I kept thinking somewhere she would eventually make a statement about how they are using the wealth God gave them to bless others. Have they started any church based ministries or support other ministries/missions? Are there charities near and dear to their hearts they support? We'll never know, based on the information in this book.

It's All About Him is the story of Alan Jackson's wife, Denise, as she shares her life story, starting with meeting country music recording star Alan Jackson at the local Dairy Queen to his scaring her when he pops, unexpectedly, out of her backseat when she's driving away. Including backstory of Denise's roots, It's All About Him goes through the passage of time with the birth of three children, the purchase of a castle (their home mansion) and three vacation homes, to their separation and counseling, and eventual reuniting.

It's All About Him includes lyrics, some written by Alan Jackson, and some by other songwriters, all that work into the chapter somehow. The hardcover book even includes a CD "It's All About Him" that Alan wrote especially for this book, and another song "That's the Way" that Alan sang to Denise on their wedding day.

It's All About Him is very well written and engaging, and held my attention even though I didn't particularly care about Denise Jackson and her life as a rich socialite. Country music has little to no appeal to me, so I was definitely not a reader who picked up this book simply so I could have an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a celebrity. That said, Denise's coming to faith and realizing that her life isn't all about her, but about God - the Him in the title - is definitely worth reading about.

For those who want to read It's All About Him just to get a glimpse into Alan and Denise Jackson's life, you won't be disappointed either. The book contains plenty of information about their life and family, but it also includes pictures of them, their three children and Alan's and Denise's childhood photos.

No matter why you choose to read It's All About Him, the story is about real people, real struggles, and a real desire to change. Pick up your own copy of It's All About Him today.

Armchair Interviews says: A true life story that has messages for all of us.

When I first heard about this book by Denise Jackson, wife of country superstar, Alan, I thought it was just some sappy celebrity wife talking up her fairy-tale romance with her celebrity husband. Rags to riches, rise from nothing to material super abundance, Stand by Your Man drama, where a woman belittles or martyrs herself for some adulterous lout, does not appeal to me. What kind of a title is "It's All about Him", anyway? I couldn't believe any woman would be so self-deprecating, so much at loss for her own identity, to say that her world completely revolved around her husband...and then broadcast it to the world. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I'm a book snob. There was no way I planned on buying a book like this, one that I looked down my nose at. It wouldn't be "deep enough" for me. Pffff. Seeing a piece of an interview with Denise Jackson while I was at the gym one day started to change my mind.

Apparently, it wasn't about *him* meaning her husband... it was about Him, meaning the Lord Jesus Christ. Still, what could some celebrity wife tell me about that which I couldn't better learn from Lewis or Tozer? Upon reading another article about the book, I discovered... maybe a lot.

I ordered the book. Amazon couldn't ship it right away, so busy with reading other things, I put it out of my mind. Until it arrived yesterday. As is my usual habit, I read a few pages in the beginning, flipped to the back of the book to read then end...and read a few pages in the middle. I was floored. Here was a woman who claimed no great writing skills or powers of persuasion, and yet was digging deep into my spiritual dead spots, watering a desert wasteland, reminding me and awakening me to my developing complacency.

Denise Jackson uses a simple analogy in the back of her book that spoke volumes to me. In the chapter "Drive," she speaks of being behind the wheel of the imaginary vehicle of our life. Warning: I'm completely paraphrasing this analogy from my own perspective now: We accept Christ, and let Him come along for the ride. More often than not, we want Him in the backseat...there if we need Him, but you're still in control and not really wanting to crane your neck around to listen to His backseat driving. So life happens, maybe you wake up a bit and realize...you do NEED Him. You start studying the Word and you realize you want more, you need more of Him. You invite Him to move on up to the passenger seat, where He can sit alongside you and hold the map for you. You choose the direction you want to head and you expect Jesus to guide you along the best route. You expect Him to steer you clear of any bumpy or difficult roads and provide companionship along the way. All is well and good, until the moment you realize that you can't control the vehicle. And in that fear is where you find freedom - like in Carrie Underwood's song, you cry out "Jesus, Take the Wheel." That involves more than just letting Him drive you out of a difficult situation...it involves giving up control and letting Him choose the direction. It's a place of complete trust where you believe that the destination He has in mind for you is far better than any destination that you could choose yourself, even if the roads do seem to twist and turn and the ride isn't always smooth and easy.

In this book, I was startled to find a very real woman with some of the same insecurities and issues that I deal with daily - who professed faith in Christ yet made some of the same mistakes I've made. A woman who thought she understood faith, suddenly discovered the greatest love of all - she found that having everything and having nothing are the same, because if you don't have a love affair with Christ, life is empty. It's a love story about the only love that matters and about that Someone who loves you so completely, no matter who you are, what you have or what you've done.

And to shame my inner snob - she quotes Lewis, Tozer, Philip Yancey... and more importantly the Word of God. It's a book about forgiveness, about restoration, about revelation. It's about what real happiness is and the only way it can be obtained.

I love Alan Jackson's music but this is not why I read this book. I read this book because I was intrigued by Denise Jackson during her interviews regarding the making of what I consider her husband's best CD ever, PRECIOUS MEMORIES. Once I understood her book was all abouht HIM (God) I was even more intrigued. I read it in one sitting and LOVED IT. Very inspirational and uplifting. If we all loved Jesus as Denise and I do the world would be a better place. God Bless this amazing young woman for telling her story, intricately weaving her faith in between each line . It is also a beautiful love story. Next should be another gospel CD with he whole family! BUY this book!!!!!!

I read this in one day-couldn't put it down. Denise is honest & open in her relationships w/her husband, friends and God. What an incredible journey in her walk w/God. It's a good story of hope, redemption, love, family, faith and perserverance. Blessings to her and her family.

Growing up in South Carolina, I have always been a country music fan. Over the years, I have enjoyed the music of Alan Jackson along with many others in his profession. However, my decision to read this book was based more on my love for the Lord. As I began to read this book, I looked forward to hearing the Jackson's testimony, not knowing what a blessing it would turn out to be! I read the book in a day and have been blessed tremendously by the Jackson's willingness to share some of their own personal experiences and heartaches. Having grown up in a Christian home myself, I felt that I was well aware of what the Lord can and will do when you give your all to him. Little did I know, as Denise touches on in this well written account of her life, I have only been allowing the Lord to be a front seat passenger (the co-pilot) in my life lately. This book has inspired me to strengten my relationship with him and allow him to be the "pilot" in my life. A heartfelt thanks to the Jacksons........may the Lord continue to tremendously bless your life and your marriage! In the sinful, self gratifying world that we live in, it is so refreshing to know that there are "celebrities" that truly realize that without the Lord they would be nothing, just as we all would, and that they thank the Lord and give him the glory for all of their riches, knowing that our worldly riches are nothing compared to the eternal riches that we have in Christ Jesus!

Easy read and a good book for someone who wants to read of a successful couple who has had their challenges, and have gotten back on track and have a successful marriage. I wouldn't say the book can actually help other couples, since having the money the Jackson's have, helps, since most marriages fail in large part because of money issues. The value of the book in my opinion is reading of a famous couple and how they endured some of the same issues everyday couples endure, and in a business where divorce often seems the norm not the exception. Reading of the rediscovery of their faith in the Lord was a bonus.