Customer Reviews

Running on Empty: Contemplative Spirituality for Overachievers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(2)
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Fil Anderson's book, Running on Empty struck a nerve that continues to resonate to this day. As a preacher in a little church in Washington, DC once said,"If you can't say amen, just say ouch!" I had to say ouch as I read of Fil's journey and struggle with a busy ministry but unfulfilled relationship with the Jesus that he had given himself to years before.
As one who has known the same busy-ness and emptiness, it was great to hear the story of a fellow sojourner and get some practical help on how to reconnect with the One who cares more for us than we care for ourselves.
I highly recommend this book for all who are feeling physically and spiritually drained and looking to rekindle or ignite the intimacy of a person relationship with Christ.

I bought ten copies of Fil Anderson's book before I ever read it. Knowing Fil and his journey, I knew that his words would be insightful, witty, calming, challenging, funny, thought-provoking and gentle. I knew that Fil would be authentic in relating his life experiences while making those experiences relevant to his readers. I knew that he has been down the roads many of us have traveled, trying to make vocation, marriage, parenting all work together rather than against one another. Running on Empty exceeded my expectations.

Fil quotes Martin Luther, "While I drink my little glass of Wittenberg beer, the gospel runs it course," then comments: Surely this is one of the truest and most reassuring things ever said about beer and God in the same breath. While some might be offended that beer and God are intertwined in the same sentence, the essence of Fil's message comes through loud and clear: stop trying to achieve for God and enjoy being with God.

You'll find practical advice for walking the journey, without adding guilt-laden "to-do's" to your list of things you haven't gotten around to. This marvelous book will encourage you toward greater intimacy with Abba.

Fil Anderson's gut level honesty opens us up to be aware of our own frantic pace in life. The first half of Running on Empty tells the author's life story of the "barreness of busyness". Externally productive and successful he finds himself physically and spiritually bankrupt living for God rather than with Him. The painful experiences were something I could relate to and the inspirational stories gave me hope for renewed intimacy with Christ.
In the second part of the book Anderson offers up some ancient Christian practices to anchor our souls in the Presence of God and find a healthy rhythm of life. He does this reluctantly not wanting to add one more thing to our "to do list" but he effectively passes on the desire to be in a position that allows God to care for us.
I highly recommend this book for every church leader who feels they are chasing after the wind without a sail and every lay person in a storm without an anchor.

Running on Empty was such a powerful read that I bought additional copies for my co-workers who have been convinced that DOING is more important than BEING.

As one of those chronic overachievers Fil Anderson is writing to, I can't wait to read this book again and dig deep at the challenge it presents.

"Running on Empty" is boldly honest in describing the author's struggles, and gently encouraging in talking about the lessons he's learned about the importance of silence, the open-armed experiences God offers us through prayer and the joy of transformation. And his belief that God doesn't need our help is thought provoking. I don't necessarily agree with everything Fil says, but the soul-truth of his experience and wisdom resonate through the book.

If you enjoy being challenged to go deeper in your experience with God, Fil Anderson's "Running on Empty" is worth reading.

Peg Robarchek

I read this book some time ago for the first time. I have since read it over ten times. Fil can resonate with the simplest ideas. I was so impressed that I flew Fil out to speak to our staff of 55 employees for a two day retreat. His masterful storytelling and practical ideas just keep filling you over and over.

I recognized the path of destruction he writes about with many in the work of ministry, but it also applies to those in business and families.

The second half of the book with the path of recovery gives hope to all of us who have had the American work ethic shoved down our throats for so many years. There are practical life applicatons. There are the tried and true and many new ways too.

Read it and study it, the book is a life changing opportunity.

It should be in every personal library.

This is a most helpful read; a candid look at the performance obsession that haunts most serious Christian and masquerades as commitment. I also found the book helpful in showing a way forward into a more rest-centered life.

Anderson provides an easy-to-read book here, giving anyone who has an overloaded, exhausting schedule sympathy and understanding. He describes the problems of emotional exhaustion very well, whetting the appetite of the reader for answers. Sadly, in the second half of the book on recovery he doesn't provide them well. He describes solitude, prayer, the Bible, spiritual direction, sorrow and joy as traits a person should have to recover from and to avoid emotional exhaustion, but doesn't relate them to one another. He also shows the reader where he needs to be, but does very little to help him get there.

I've read much better books on emotional/spiritual exhaustion. Unless you are a fan of the author, I'd encourage you to pass on this one. The title is catchy, but it is all downhill from there.

It's an all too common trap: structuring our life in such a way that we are simply performing for God instead of abiding in God, and then wondering why we struggle. In Running on Empty Fil Anderson gives a very personal look at his own struggles with a life lived ostensibly for Christ but in reality devoid of Christ, and his path toward healing.

There are passages in this book that made me think and touched my heart. Unfortunately, the book has some major shortcomings, and could have been much better. The chapters often do not have a coherent flow: a passage will make a point and then the next passage will make a different point, and you're not sure where he is going. Illustrations sometimes seem forced or out of place. There is a chapter that basically outlines the four ancient steps of lectio divinia, but he doesn't actually label them as the four steps in the text. He states that the biblical text "pray without ceasing" can be interpreted "come to rest"--- which is just plain wrong. I actually became frustrated with reading this book, which is rare for me.

I appreciated Mr. Anderson's honesty, but this book contributes little to spirituality literature and has significant shortcomings. Bottom line: not recommended reading.