Take the Reins: A Father Teaches His Son About Life, Commitment and Spirituality [Hardcover]

John L. Moore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1997

John Moore chose a life of relying on things beyond his control. One that demanded more than one man could give. In this uncertain landscape, he carves out an imperishable legacy for his son, Jess, teaching him to find security in the eternal, and to persevere in the strength of maturity, wisdom, courage, and character.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Take the Reins collects a father's lessons to his son about "life, commitment, and spirituality." Author John L. Moore (best known for his fiction, including The Breaking of Ezra Riley) is a rancher who lives north of Miles City, Montana. Take the Reins consists of short meditations on experiences that he and his son Jess have shared on the ranch, where bad luck, drought, disease, and other dangers constantly shatter any illusions that this world is a safe place to live. The book's basic lesson is that only God offers security. Admirably, Moore manages to convey this lesson without denigrating the physical world. The book has more than its share of excitement and suspense--runaway horses, hunting trips, long hours lost on the plains--and it is equally adept at poignant understatement. (Describing his care for a sick calf, Moore writes that "We carried the calf to the bathroom and lowered the cold body into the warm water. The smell of afterbirth came alive in the heat.") Take the Reins is a fine book whose lessons regarding paternal love have a quiet, universal appeal.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 203 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc; Gift edition (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785272267
• ISBN-13: 978-0785272267
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #462,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

John L. Moore, born in 1952, is an award-winning novelist and an award-winning journalist. He has written five novels and several non-fiction books. His journalism has appeared in scores of publications ranging from The New York Times Magazine to Western Horseman to Charisma to various literary publications. Moore's writing is birthed from the soil of the Montana ranch where he was born, raised, and now lives with his wife, Debra. They have two grown children and four grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A profound book with wisdom for everyone., January 4, 1999

By 

Kevin Miller ([e-mail] (Franklin, TN (suburb of Nashville)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Take the Reins: A Father Teaches His Son About Life, Commitment and Spirituality (Hardcover)

John Moore writes this book from a spirit that lives within all of us. This book emodies the true value that books can bring us. John Moore has spent his lifetime to this point learning some immense lessons that we can be privy to and digest in the scope of an evening or two. I am writing a review of this book as I have come to send a copy to a friend. I would venture to say that anyone who reads this book, especially a man, who does not have parts of his soul stirred, is not wholly alive. And as a parent, it is great wisdom. I shared passage after passage with my wife, who had great appreciation for the human insight Mr. Moore shared. I now have a great desire to visit the ranch and man from which this book was birthed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take the Reins, May 19, 2000

By 

Alice Wells (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Take the Reins: A Father Teaches His Son About Life, Commitment and Spirituality (Hardcover)

This book has been such an inspiration to my family and friends. We so believe that the lessons taught in Mr. Moore's letters to his son should be shared with young parents, we have given away over 75 books. We highly recommend this book to anyone whose responsibility it is to raise children to become adults of good character and strong faith.

5.0 out of 5 stars something for everyone, July 30, 2000

By 

B. Thomas Haygood, Ph.D. (Tyler, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Take the Reins: A Father Teaches His Son About Life, Commitment and Spirituality (Hardcover)

This was John Moore's first book for me. It introduced me to an entire world of not just the old west brought alive today, but true spirituality within the context of grass roots family living. Especially father-son relationships. I've recommended this book to well over hundred persons. A great gift for graduation! Both encouraging and sad. Encouraging that there are still folks like John and his family. Sad what is happening to our country with the loss of direct experience with life. Too much of our lives is lived through the media and PC--2nd hand living. This book will grab you with life on life's terms.