I Like Giving by Brad Formsma

Price: $14.99
Format: Trade Paperback
ISBN: 9781601425751
Release: 2.18.2014
Self Help - Motivational

When you choose to live a generous life, you start to change and so does the world around you. Something incredible happens when giving becomes your own idea, not something you do out of duty or obligation.

When you move from awareness to action, miracles happen. As you make giving a lifestyle, you’ll realize you’re not only loving life more, you’re also creating a more generous world— a better world for all of us.

Rich with inspiring stories and practical suggestions, I Like Giving helps you create a lifestyle of generosity. Inside you’ll find:
• Giving—something you get to do, not something you’ve got to do.
• How to raise kids with a sensitivity to others’ needs.
• You don’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference.
• Practical ideas for giving to people around you every day.

I Like Giving is about experiencing the joy of giving. We all have something to give. Giving goes way beyond money or things. It can be a listening ear, a touch, or simply the gift of time. Giving is living. 

My Thoughts: 

OK first i want to say I really, really wanted to love this book. The premise of sharing and giving to make the world a better, more beautiful and harmonious place to live speaks to my heart. Sadly though I felt this book really lacked sound, biblical foundation of what giving is suppose to be about. Instead it came across very selfish sounding.

The books focus seems to be poured into how giving makes you feel and look instead of giving for the purpose of showing the world Gods love and continued care to meet our basic needs as laid out in teh bible. a couple good examples of how the author felt why we should give: “When I choose to give with no strings attached and no sense of obligation, I have the sense that I am valuable, that I am needed, that I make the world a better place”, or “Remember, giving is for you—it gives you life”. Making statements like this twists  the real reason we should be generous and giving in the first place-because God cares! The lack of a loving and generous God in the book really bothered me. Where was the mention of God's provisions for us, through the hands and feet of others?

I did not like the fact the book treated God like a genie waiting to grant your wishes far and wide. God is not a genie and sometimes no answer is the answer, it just may not be the one you want to hear. What really drew me to the book was the premise of finding new and exciting ways to help my children be more gracious givers and how to further develop that love of giving in simple ways. Sadly though the author did not really enhance on this topic and I felt cheated.

I do not want my whole review to be negative, there are parts of the book I really did enjoy such as talking about the adverse side effects of giving, how giving benefits both parties, etc. Learning to be a gracious giver and receiver is also important and I appreciated the fact that the author touches on this at some length. I love this quote:

“When we choose to give, we change, and the people around us change. When we move from awareness to action, miracles happen” (p. 6).

I leave with this: Matthew 6:2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."

Check out ilikegiving.com for more information, short films, stories and more. You can also follow this movement on Facebook and on Twitter (@ilikegiving). Click HERE to read the first chapter of this book for free. 

 

About the Author: 

BRAD FORMSMA is the creator of Ilikegiving.com, a website viewed in more than 165 countries, which inspires people to live generously through its short films as well as a platform for all to share their experiences in giving. Brad and his wife, Laura, have three children and live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Disclaimer: 
I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The Bloggingforbooks Review Crew.