LDS Book Reviews – Introduction

LDS Book Reviews – Introduction

My name is Ryan Daley, and I love books.  I love to read them and I love to collect them.  In fact, there is no book that I add to my collection that either I haven’t read, or that I don’t intend to read.  In fact, even when I kept certain text books from my schooling, in the event that we did cover or read every chapter in the text by the end of the semester – I would go home after the final exam and complete reading the book before I could put the book on the shelf.

Another little neurotic element of readying style is that I don’t read fiction.  I really have a hard time with it.  I read to learn, and I find entertainment in that.  In those moments of enlightenment is where I find the greatest joy, and the connections with application. 

In all of this I love Jesus… and I read not only to learn, but also to apply.  I love learning new things, I love learning things that I can apply to myself, and be a better person. 

Yet, throughout this journey, I have noticed a number of things.  There are very little resources out there for the reader and collector alike in the way of reasonable reviews for LDS literature.  And I find myself reading a lot, learning a lot, and being disappointed my a lot of thing.  I find text that require a base line of understanding from other texts to fully appreciate; texts that are utterly clear and insightful, but under-appreciated or noticed; and some that are over-appreciated and over noticed, but are either wrong or carry with them errors that many passive readers might not notice.  Most common, I find books that are marketed for sales, not for content – and these are sometimes the more dangerous or in best case scenario a waste of money; and even the best authors fall for such temptations.

With that being said, I have decided, as a hobby to start going through my readings for the last 15 years, and reviewing them.  I will refresh and re-read for the most part, give as much insight as possible on the value of the text, as well who might be interested.  I will rate each book between one and five stars, in the following manner:

5 Stars – Extremely Insightful, clear, and a MUST READ for EVERYONE

4 Stars – Really good, and should be considered if the concept interests you

3 Stars – An okay read, and something that you might want to pick up if you are bored.

2 Stars – Not a good book, and not worth your time.

1 Star – A terrible book, and ought to be avoided like the plague.

In this review process, I will also review other non-fiction, non-LDS books.  These for the most part might be other books that LDS members might be interested in reading.  Those reviews will be reviews within the LDS context and framework, and will be evaluated on the basis on how they fit within the LDS perspective. 

In addition to the written word, I intend to go small video postings.  This is intended to be short 2 to 5 minute videos that are more discussion related.  Sometimes reading something is not as interesting in getting the meat and potatoes in a quick video to determine if it is something that is work reading more about.

Ultimately, I hope to be of service in what I have found a passion in.  I hope to also be able to help others as they search through LDS based texts, and discovers which ones might be of greatest value in the quest to come closer to Christ, and develop into the individual they are intended to become and fulfill their fore-ordained missions.  In this light, I am happy to take requests to review books or texts – again, I love reading, and I love recommendations.  I receive them openly.

I do plan at some point to put a PayPal donation button the site, to allow any followers to donate towards keeping the site up, the books ordered to be reviewed, and to supplement the expense of continuing to build the collection to be reviewed.  Regardless, of whether this happens I love what I do – and I love the authors who write the words, that instills thoughts, that creates impressions, by which promptings are made, and the Spirit is then manifest.

Sincerely,

Ryan Daley