Book Review - "Collapse of Distinction" by Scott McKain

Other than your DNA what makes you different than the next person? If you were applying for a job and the person interviewing you asked the question "Why should we hire you? Why are you right for this job and this company?"

If we are not different, we aren't attractive. That goes for individuals and businesses.

I recently completed a really good book by Scott McKain, called "The Collapse of Distinction". This book is a business based book. Scott draws experiences of growing up in a small town and comparing two different restaurants to partly illustrate how one should run their business. He also has first-hand experience of his father owning a business. This personal experience helped me to better understand what his principles should look like in real life.

The reason why we visit different places of business is usually because there is something distinct about them. These distinctions can have about as much variation as the color spectrum. However, the key is to have something that makes your business distinct (not just a color scheme). When a business is distinct is it going to live. When it is ordinary and the same, then it will not last.

Oddly, as a minister, this book had a lot of good principles to use in ministry. Churches are, in a sense, businesses. We, too, must be distinct, otherwise we will die. Much of what goes on inside a building is very similar. Christian churches use the Holy Bible. So, what makes one distinct over another, especially within one's town? I have already thought of different things that I am working on utilizing the principle, in the church setting.

I really enjoyed this book and will probably pick it up again in the future to read again!

In the Footsteps of Paul - by Ken Duncan

Living in modern-day America, it is quite difficult to envision what the Apostle Paul must have experienced – the land, sea, and the towns. Ken Duncan, author and photographer of “In the Footsteps of Paul: Experience the Journey that Changed the World”, takes us to many of the places that Paul was or likely was at during his lifetime.

This one hundred seventy-five page book is filled with stunning photographs of places that I will probably never see. As I read and looked through it I was intrigued to want to look deeper and deeper into the two dimensional pictures. I wanted to peak around corners and reach out and touch. However, I had to rely on the photos to give me a perspective of what life was like in Paul’s day. I tried to envision people walking around the streets. Paul getting into boats. Structures not being torn down.

This is a book which I will look at over and over again. Paul is a main character in the New Testament, so, as a minister, I will be teaching about him regularly. I feel that this book gives me a better visual insight as to who Paul was and where he went as he traveled. I think I will be more in tune with Paul as I will be able to open up this book and visualize him in the Scriptures.

The book does offer more than pictures, as there are hundreds of quotes and scriptures to help you be more acquainted with a particular picture.

It is a great resource book to have to help anyone visualize Paul and the life he led.

"The Great 8" by Scott Hamilton

There is not a person that I've ever met that could use more optimism. In a world of recession, divorce, & depression, optimism is always needed.

"The Great 8", by Olympic champion, Scott Hamilton, is a book dedicated to helping its readers become optimistic. Naturally, he uses skating as a method to explain how to be happy, when it seems like it may be impossible.

I enjoyed the use of figure skating examples and illustrations to help me understand the message Scott was trying to convey. I learned things I didn't know before about figure skating (like why it was called figure skating).

Scott makes great points that should help anyone achieve the goal of becoming more optimistic. For example, you've got to get up even when you've fallen, trust the one who is coaching you, learn through losing, clear your mind, be positive, smile, go last, get out of your rut, and stand in the spotlight.

One critique I would have about the book, is that it seemed there were times that the information about Scott's cancer seemed a bit repetitive.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking to have a better outlook on life. It was an easy read but was very enjoyable at the same time.