Review: “Fearless”

“FEARLESS” by Max Lucado

As a reviewer for Thomas Nelson Publishers, I receive very few disappointing books – however, I have been disappointed by this one.

But let me get one thing straight before I tell you why…

I’m a big fan of Max Lucado. When I was a new Christian, Lucado’s gift-book titled “The Cross” formed my understanding of the Atonement in a significant way. I appreciate his ‘easy-reading’ writing style. I appreciate his warmth and ability to ’spin a good yarn’.

However, I was left feeling under-whelmed by this book.

It’s my belief that if an author is going to tackle the subject of suffering (or ‘fear’), that author must be willing to go DEEP. To go deep into the scriptures, deep into the issues and causes behind suffering, deep into the purposes and providence of God. Unfortunately, what I heard from Lucado was mainly platitudinous story-telling and superficial teaching.

That may sound harsh, but I had such high hopes for this book.

One reviewer has labeled Lucado “skillful as a surgeon” in his treatment of the topic… That he is skillful is without doubt – but as a surgeon I require him to go deeper into the flesh. It may require more time (the book is only 200 pages), it may require more detail, but as a surgeon [going deep] is what must be done.