Becoming Myself

June 10, 2013
With a writing style that makes the reader feel she is having an intimate chat over coffee with a close friend, Eldredge, who co-authored the bestselling Captivating and Love and War with her husband John, goes solo for this journey to the development of life-changing self-esteem. She offers practical ways to embrace the unique dream God has for each woman’s life regardless of past mistakes or present feelings of inadequacy. Transformation must happen from the inside out, she says, but until women can see themselves through God’s eyes, it won’t happen. She offers humor, liberating insights, biblical lessons, and insightful imagery colored by blunt talk and brutally honest personal examples—including her battles with weight gain—to encourage women to see themselves in a different light. The conversation rambles as chats between friends do, but focus can become foggy. Study notes at the end of chapters or in the rear of the book might have been helpful tools for pulling concepts together and providing ways for digesting more of this meaty food for thought. Agent: Curtis Yates, Yates & Yates.

November 25, 2013
This self-help guide to better loving oneself from Stasi Eldredge is geared toward Christian women. The author delves deep into the reasons why many women struggle to find peace with themselves and their lives. Eldridge’s narration is well paced, and her casual tone will allow listeners to relate to the author and her material. While Christianity is central to Eldredge’s book, women of other faiths will find her core advice useful: give yourself up to a higher power and you will discover an acceptance within yourself that brings peace. A David C. Cook hardcover.