Life on the Edge [Hardcover]

Dr. James Dobson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2000

America's most respected family authority candidly addresses the defining issues that young adults face and the choices-education, marriage, career, vocation-that will impact the rest of their lives. Life on the Edge helps young adults make the right choices, get control of their lives, and look forward to a meaningful future.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In his earlier books, Dobson, founder of focus on the family, wrote about topics ranging from the parental discipline of children to the relationship between husbands and wives. Here Dobson addresses the problems facing young adults between the ages of 16 and 26. Believing that life's most crucial decisions are often made during this ten-year period, Dobson offers his advice about finding God's will in the choice of a marriage partner, the quest for a profesion, the control of money, and the establishment of self-esteem. Although the book records the voices of young adults through a series of questions and answers, Dobson's tone is often arrogant, his demeanor sexist, and his attitude narrow-minded. Still he has a large and dedicated following who will request this book.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Psychologist Dobson is one of the most successful--and because of his adamancy on the sinfulness of abortion and homosexuality, most controversial--Christian broadcasters via his daily program, Focus on the Family. On the strength of that success, Word is ordering a quarter-million-copy first printing of this adviser on love and life for young adults age 16 to 26. Full of personal anecdotes and great swatches of text from Dobson's previous books, presented in a congenial, colloquial manner like that of Dobson's speeches and radio commentary, it is basically sound, commonsensical, albeit stringent counsel. Dobson is foursquare for delaying sex until marriage, choosing a spouse carefully, and dismissing divorce as a way to solve problems. He admonishes his target audience to be faithful to their families of origin despite the stresses caused by the necessity of achieving adult independence, and he advocates Christian rather than state or private secular colleges for undergraduate education. Undergirding these major themes are a pretty fundamentalist Christianity, to be sure, but also a genuine counselor's understanding of human weakness and extension of sympathy. And despite the bad rap the Religious Right, of which Dobson is a prominent voice, gets, there is not a hateful word in the book. Convinced young Christians, especially those who don't fancy themselves sophisticated, well may appreciate Dobson's manner as well as his matter. Ray Olson

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; 1ST edition (October 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849909279
• ISBN-13: 978-0849909276
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Psychology & Christianity

More About the Author

James C. Dobson, Ph.D., is founder and chairman emeritus of Focus on the Family, a nonprofit organization that produced his internationally syndicated radio programs, heard by more than 200 million people every day. A licensed psychologist and marriage, family, and child counselor, he earned a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in the field of child development. The author of more than 30 books, including his most recent bestseller, Bringing Up Boys, he has been heavily involved in governmental activities related to the family. Dr. Dobson is married to Shirley and they reside in Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why is it important to follow God's will, January 21, 2002

By 

Adrienne Ranney (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life on the Edge: Gift Edition (Hardcover)

Dr. James Dobson opens the reader's eyes in this short, but potent work. I read this book in just one afternoon; in this time my view about my future and my own personal goals and aspirations was altered significantly.

Learning how to fit God into my future is one of the most difficult problems that I, as a Christian, struggle with. Reading this book helped me to realize how important it is that God not fit into my agenda, but rather, my agenda should fit around God's.

Please understand that this book will not give you an easy pathway to God's will for your life. It will, however, give to you the reason why it is so important that your life be focused around God. As Christians, we know that God's will is best for our future. However, as humans it is in our nature to do what we want and feel is best for our own life. Dobson's goal in this book is help the reader realize that in the long run of life, it is not our own meek achievements that will matter; in fact they will soon be forgotten. He succeeds in illustrating that searching for and following God's will is the only way that any person can hope to have a life of satisfaction and significance.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all young adults, March 6, 2000

By 

Adam Scarcella - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life on the Edge (Hardcover)

I'm a 24-year-old college graduate. I studied physics and mathematics while attending Wheaton College in Norton Massachusetts and I pride myself on my intelligence and my maturity. I can honestly say that after reading Dr. James Dobson's book "Life on the Edge" I had a completely different look at the world around me, and I immediately dropped my egotistical attitude. I have recently lost whom I believed to be my soul mate and it was this loss that prompted me to try and make some sense of my life. My mother obviously noticed how much I had been hurting by the experience and she gave me this book to read. Once I read the chapters on relationships and love, I became well aware of why our relationship went sour. I had failed to understand the exact psychology and the wonderful differences between men and women and how these differences can be understood and used to compliment your partner. Men and women are absolutely created equal but we are extremely different in many, many ways. It's actually these differences that make men and women so compatible and it was my ignorance to these natural and biological differences that made me lose the girl of my dreams. Don't let this happen to you. We must learn from others' mistakes because there isn't enough time for us to make all of them for ourselves. This book deals with the decisions of finding a college, deciding on a career, understanding the ins and outs of an intimate relationship, and Dr. James Dobson describes in great detail what it REALLY takes to make a relationship last a lifetime. This should be used as a guide for all young adults to live your life for the better in almost every possible way. Dr. James Dobson is a gift from God and he should be taken very seriously. His insight into the young adult psyche is an unmistakable sign that he has been blessed with an ability that most of us need to find within ourselves. We all can learn something from this book, and if we allow our hearts to open up to the goodness of God, we can live our lives according to his Will. I lost the woman that I loved, and then I discovered Dr. James Dobson's book "Life on the Edge." I honestly believe that if I had known then what I know now, I could've avoided this tragedy and I would be getting married to the women of my dreams. I can only hope that she reads this and recognizes herself in my sincere message. Friendship, trust, respect, admiration, and understanding are all very necessary to the growth and nourishment of a life long and loving relationship. Trust me, read this book and you will be transformed into a new [better] person. God bless Dr. James Dobson and God bless women everywhere.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing book, July 14, 2007

By 

Book reviewer 2005 (MS) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Life on the Edge (Hardcover)

You cannot beat this book for a teen or twenty something who needs advice for getting on the right track. While James Dobson is a traditional religious writer I feel that this book is down to earth enough to appeal to the intended age group. It is not judgemental. It just explains the benefits of making good choices. It also gives the information necessary to make good choices. It is so harsh that it would turn off a person who may not be as religious as the usualy Dobson reader. Excellent reading and excellent advice. Could also be useful for older readers as well.