Todd,

I’m not a fan of the title.  But her insight is right on.  And it isn’t just women.  Church people often disguise gossip in the forms of prayer requests.

I dont like the title much either, but it sounds like an interesting book. I don’t know whats worse though, gossiping and using the bible study as a cover, or just out right gossiping and not hiding it....Both are really powerful and damaging.

Thanks SO much for the picture.

Ugh.  Just the most recent battle in the ‘you Christians are self righteous hypocrites’ war.

The author purports to be trying to do a ‘good thing’ but she and her publisher knows that she’ll make more money with a crass title and smarmy cover.  And if you watch the Video’s from the link above it becomes pretty obvious that she did write the book about people she knows.

In my eyes the value of any criticism is proportional to the caring and love that accompanies it.  Pot shots which intend to tear down and not to build can do more harm than good.

That does not mean that there is no truth to this book.  Only that it is worthless because the people who might garner some wisdom from it will certainly not read it. 

It seems more like a ‘get even’ thing than a ‘let me point out a great social evil’ thing.

The Title: I’m a marketing guy, so sure, I’m biased. But I work with a lot of authors. I’ve walked the halls of the Christian Bookseller’s Association and seen hordes of books by “good christian authors.” And in being so nice and politically correct, they give their books titles and taglines that are about as exciting as watching a chess match. And they don’t sell. What bothers me much more than a possibly offensive title, is a great message that will die behind a poor title and cover. It happens way too much. Is God big enough to make a poorly marketed book sell anyway? Sure, but he counsels us to seek wisdom. I tell my authors that their content doesn’t need to change, let their message ring true. But if they want anyone to actually pull if off a shelf and buy it, they are going to have to pay attention to compelling titles and taglines.

On the subject - well, I’m not a woman. I’m married to one now, and she has often come back from bible studies knowing the intimate details of many of the congregation...that were given in confidence to some of the women leaders. My wife learned that if she didn’t want our personal laundry shared around, be careful which ‘christian women’ in church she shares with.

So kudos from me, I’ll go buy the book now.

Surely not. But Barnes & Noble will be...even better!