TOUR: “86,400” by Lavaille Lavette
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
and the book:
86400: Making Every Second of Every Day Count
FaithWords (March 25, 2011)
***Special thanks to Sarah Reck, Web Publicist, Hachette Book Group for sending me a review copy.***
Lavaille Lavette has worked as a schoolteacher, school district administrator, speechwriter, marketing executive, columnist and Co- Host on Radio One’s Christian Radio Station, 92.1 FM. From 2001-2005, she served as special advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Rod Page.
Visit the author’s website.
Have you ever gotten to the point in your life where one day is like all the rest? Where the individuality, excitement and purpose of every moment is drained of its promising complexion? Through work, school, family and routine, people strive more and more to “get by” rather than “get going.” But God didn’t intend for it to be like this. Every precious second in a day, all 86,400 of them, is a gift from Him to us. Our lives, that we whittle away with routine and complacency, are meant for so much more.
86,400 is the instigator for a renewed life of intention and relevance-ultimately making the most out of every single day. By showcasing how she and Christians who carry either celebrity or inspirational significance manage their daily gift, Lavaille effectively teaches readers how they can fulfill God’s intended purpose.
Product Details:
List Price: $21.99
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: FaithWords (March 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446571474
ISBN-13: 978-0446571470
Press the Browse Button to View the Chapter:
MY REVIEW: The premise of this book is that purpose-management is more effective and enjoyable than time-management. As it says in the introduction:
“…focusing strictly on time management will allow you to be more efficient only at what you are already doing. Purpose management challenges you to use those precious 86400 seconds you are given each day in a way that allows you live your passion, acheive your goals, and become all that the Creator ordained you to be.”
Each chapter focuses on one of the Ten Characteristics of Purpose Management:
• Forgiveness • Thankfulness
• Wisdom • Patience
• Dedication • Faithfulness
• Balance • Generosity
• Imagination • Courage
Each chapter also includes an interview with someone “noteworthy”, advice from another well-known individual, a Bible verse, an inspirational quote, and a 10-minute (600 second) idea-sparker for how you can start putting what you’ve learned into practice.
While there were definitely some really good points made throughout the book, I wasn’t as impressed with it as I’d hoped to be. The interviews were supposed to inspire, but to me, it just felt like the author was bragging about who she knows. And I found the interviews to be really repetitive and tedious, too, often going over and over and over the same points.
Lastly, while I expected a Christian book, there isn’t a whole lot of focus on God here. There are tidbits thrown in, here and there, but there’s a definite lack of involving God in your purpose, which is too bad (see John 15:5, and Proverbs 16:3).
I think that, despite my feelings about this one, a lot of people could find this book useful, so long as they are not looking for a Christian twist to things. It certainly touches on a lot of key areas, and is still inspirational, regardless of my qualms.
Rated: C+
You summed up my feelings about this one exactly. I had hopes for this one, too.