216 of 249 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Parent beware: Dumbed down material that gets down in the gutter, rather than raising the standard., October 1, 2009
This review is from: Lies Young Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free (Paperback)
Before I mention all the problems with this book, let me first say that the authors do say some things young girls need to hear. Appearance, behavior, relationships, etc. are all addressed and the authors try to say some pointed things that young girls need to be hearing from their parents or adults involved in their lives. I think that is why this book is popular--no one really wants to say the hard things to the young girls in their lives.
The problem I have with the book is the whole premise. That we need to introduce the lie or "deception" first, with some stories that I believe are included for shock value, in order to then teach the truth is damaging. Young girls are easily led astray. When something is in print, they don't usually take the time to analyze it, they just believe it. For instance, the first story in the book is about a girl who gets involved with drugs when her father offered them to her and then proceeds to have an incestuous relationship with her father.
Hmmm....whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, pure, lovely...think on these things. Do our young girls really need to hear this story?
Lets analyze the story itself. It begins with "her life was almost a fairytale until that day". Are young girls really going to analyze that statement? That a girl with such a father could not possibly have had a fairytale life up until that point does not occur to most teens. Do the authors point out that lie? No. The authors also state that "her own church-going father offered her crystal meth". Now another idea has been planted. A young girl from a Christian home may begin to wonder if her own church going father will some day change in this drastic way depicted here. Scary thought.
In a later chapter the authors proceed to quote young girls saying that they hate God, because some people "say God is like your father and you would not believe what my father has done to me..." I have worked with youth for years. I've never once had a young person share with me that they couldn't believe in God, because he was like their father. Does it happen? certainly. Is it pervasisve? I don't think so. Are there bad fathers out there? Absolutely. Why don't we teach what a good father is, or better yet, Who the best Father is?
In the chapter on dating, our young girls are introduced to the concept that o--l sex is used by some teens to remain "virgins", and the idea that some girls get involved in physical "touching" with their entire youth group! We are also enlightened with one of the author's stories about how she lost her virginity before she was married.
Amongst counselors, it is common knowledge professionaly that when kids hear what others are doing, they want to do it also. (ie One kid commits or attempts suicide, then there will be more kids within weeks...once the word has spread) The heart is deceitful above all things. After reading this book, young girls may possibly come away with some helpful guidelines, but I can guarantee they will come away with more tittillating images and maybe some new ideas on which to dwell.
Shouldn't we be training children and young people in the Truth? In doing this we can train them to recognize lies without providing innappropriate examples and ideas. Modest behavior is instructed in the Bible. Sexual immorality is condemned at length, but it is not explicitly painting a mental picture for the reader. There are plenty of books, the Bible among them that teach what this book is teaching, without all the harmful information.
I almost thought it might be appropriate for young women at college age, but honestly the writing is dumbed down to an insulting level even for educated high schoolers. As a parent of two teens, a licensed counselor and a Christian, I am appalled with this book.
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41 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Practical advice for practically any teen, April 26, 2008
This review is from: Lies Young Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free (Paperback)
This book was written with a teenager in mind. It is visually appealing, its text is conversational, and it talks frankly without "talking down" to young women. It is spot on in identifying issues that teens face, whether it is the often desperate desire to fit in and have friends or issues of honesty (do you cheat on schoolwork?) or questions of sexual purity and so much more. Just about any area a young woman struggles with is covered in this book. The authors understand society's take on the issue, and then they explain God's word on the same issue. Not in a preachy or judgmental way, but lovingly presenting God's truth.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth reading, December 10, 2009
This review is from: Lies Young Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free (Paperback)
This book addresses issues young girls are dealing with today. It is written to a specific demographic group, and I think it hit the target. In my opinion, it is worth the read. The book addresses several issues young girls deal with today, and it does it with the use of Scripture. The book starts out with lies, refutes them with Scripture verses, and ends with truth from the Bible to replace the lies of the world.
A word of caution: As addressed in a few other reviews of this book, it does cover subjects of a sensitive nature. I would not be comfortable handing this book to a young girl and telling her to read it. I would recommend reading it with a young person and doing so with the permission of a parent or reading it as a parent with my child. If I were reading it with a young person who attends public school (and is exposed to this subject matter on a daily basis), I think 14 might be an appropriate age. If I were reading it with a young person who is home schooled or attends Christian school, I think 16 might be a more appropriate age.
If you are looking for a book that will allow you to discuss, from a Biblical standpoint, some tough cultural issues with the young women in your lives, then this is your book.
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