The Map: The Way of All Great Men by David Murrow

Two things: First, The Map is a book for men and for women who want to understand men. The author freely acknowledges that he has not figured out the implications for women. Second, it is a work of both fiction and nonfiction.

That said, I am really torn about this book. The first half of the book and the epilogue are a story about a map to spiritual maturity found in an ancient Greek monastery. I did not like this part of the book at all. It was all too contrived, too pat and too fantastic. I would have enjoyed the story more if it read like a story instead of reading like a first person memoir.

Once I got in to the second nonfiction part, I enjoyed the book more. The author’s basic premise is that all great men follow three separate journeys of submission, strength and sacrifice. Although this is written from a Christian and Biblical perspective, he does not confine it to the religious arena entirely.

The main issue I have is that the author tends to view the three journeys as separate when they should build on each other. We should operate in strength under submission and sacrifice from strength under submission. While the author briefly acknowledges that they are not entirely separate, the main thrust of the book is that they are.

All that being said there is some value here in the tools, pitfalls and suggestions the author lays out. I recommend that you skip the first 102 pages and just read the last 124 pages while ignoring most of the epilogue.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”