Revolution of Character: Discovering Christ's Pattern for Spiritual Transformation [Hardcover]

Dallas Willard (Author), Donald Simpson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 5, 2005

This book will help you reflect on the spiritual significance of each element of your human self--heart, mind, body, social life, and soul--so that God can transform you. Includes discussion questions.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Heart, mind, body, social life, and soul. God is ready to transform every aspect of your life. Perhaps your spiritual life is not all you want it to be. Your sporadic successes, plateaus, and dry spells only lead to more frustration. Spiritual master Dallas Willard believes the main reason we fail in our spiritual life is that we don't examine carefully the roles played by all five elements of our person: heart, mind, body, social life, and soul. Real change comes when we give each element thoughtful and prayerful exposure to God's transforming work. In Revolution of Character, Dr. Willard enables you to dwell meditatively on each of the five elements, understand its role, train it in new patterns, and seek God's transforming power. This powerful, holistic approach will produce new ways of responding to life and will result in profoundly changed character.

About the Author

Dallas Willard Ph.D. is a professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He is the author of several books, including the award-winning Renovation of the Heart and The Divine Conspiracy. He and his wife, Jane, live in Southern California.

Don Simpson is a senior developmental editor for NavPress. He helped launch Discipleship Journal, The Small Group Letter, and co-founded Helmers & Howard Publishers.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: NavPress; First Edition edition (October 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576838579
• ISBN-13: 978-1576838570
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.9 x 8.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dallas Willard is a Professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 75 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Sorry to inform that Dallas Willard is NOT the author of this book... October 30, 2005

By BMAN

Format:Hardcover

The way this book is advertised is a bit misleading. Dallas Willard writes a 2 page 'Note to the reader' in the beginning of the book stating "The text of this book has been composed ENTIRELY by Don Simpson...".

Hmmmm... Ok. Well why didn't they just say that Don Simpson is the author in the first place? Would it be politically correct to call this 'ethically-challenged advertising'?

With that aside, here's what the book actually is. It's Don Simpson's interpretation of Dallas Willard's popular book, 'Renovation Of The Heart'. I like 'Renovation Of The Heart' very much. If you want to know what 'Revolution Of Character' is like, simply read the reviews for 'Renovation Of The Heart'. The only difference here is that Don uses a slightly more down to earth writing style than Dallas does. In and of themselves, both books are excellent and IMO worth 5 stars. However, I have to knock a couple stars off this one simply due to the publisher's marketing 'techniques'.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for anyone wanting to live according to Christ's teaching January 10, 2007

By C. McIntosh

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is classic Dallas Willard, one of the best authors for explaining in both philosophical and practical terms spiritual transformation through discipline.

His teaching that our spiritual condition is a product of our daily choices and decisions, and the only way to change them is by following the teachings of Jesus, is both clear and challenging.

He is the only author that I have read who discribes the spiritual disciplines in such a way that I felt sure that to learn them would truly change me at the deepest level and give me the best possible relationship with God. A great book !

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Concise, Helpful Introduction to Spiritual Transformation January 9, 2007

By Matthew L. Miller

Format:Hardcover

This is another important work containing Dallas Willard's thoughts, interpreted by Simpson, that makes more accessible the main themes of his larger book Renovation of the Heart. While reading 'Renovation' may be best for some, those who prefer a shorter work that captures the essence of Willard's ideas might do better to start with Revolution of Character. Both works provide a clear understanding of the process of spiritual transformation and give practical advice on how to open our lives to the transforming work of the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Highly Recommended.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Revolutionary February 9, 2006

By mellyTPB

Format:Hardcover

I disagree strongly with the below review. I love Dallas Willard and his writing, but often I find myself struggling through the dense (although beautiful) ideas and thoughts he has to offer. If you have read Renovation of the Heart, you'll notice that Revolution still uses Dallas' words. And this is Dallas' message! It would be unethical to NOT include his name on the cover. Even if the partnership was just Dallas' ideas and Don's words, both names still deserve to be on the cover. (But, as I said before, this book is still Dallas' words.) It's just distilled in a way that everyone can understand. Don Simpson, a master at understanding and communicating both beautifully and powerfully, has given us a Dallas Willard that we can learn from and enjoy even more. I am indebted to this rendering, and to the author who created it. This is a book that every Christian can and should read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Need help changing the way you think - start here! June 18, 2012

By Dan Panetti VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Absolutely love this book. I did find it funny that this is an "easy read" version of Willard's Renovation of the Heart - with the contents of that book made "more accessible" to the average reader - thanks for doing that! The book is outstanding, and, yes, very practical and easy to understand. The concept, however, is not so easy to apply - it is a total transformation of the way you live the Christian life! Willard (thanks to the work of Simpson on this as well) helps the Christian understand that the work of sanctification is a necessary process in the life of a follower of Jesus - the good news is that Christ is not only demonstrating His power by saving those undeserving of His grace, He continues to demonstrate His rich love and mercy by helping to transform the lives of individuals who are seeking hard after Him. The book is really a double-edged sword - there is much work that needs to be done in the life of a follower of Jesus...and the good news is there is hope and healing that comes from abiding in the True Vine!

The book is broken down into small, manageable chapters which develop Willard's VIM strategy for accessing the power of the Holy Spirit - starting with the Vision to see what God can do, followed by the Intention to actually walk in a manner worthy of our calling, completely by the proven Methods of abiding in Christ, knowing God through His Word and practicing the spiritual disciplines to stay the course.

I've enjoyed Willard books before - and I can strongly recommend this book as well.... I did think that the application for this book seems to be perfect for guys who are currently trapped in their thinking by the world system so prevalent around them - from either pornography or power - this book is a tremendous tool to help reshape your thinking grounding you in God's Word. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding January 19, 2007

By Curt Jernigan

Format:Hardcover

Dallas Willard and Don Simpson have greatly improved my understanding of my spiritual development by clearly describing the aspects of a person's being: mind (thoughts and feelings), heart, will, body, and soul. With this understanding, I am much better equiped to answer the call to righteousness that revolutionizes my character.

Curt Jernigan