The Joy of Missing Out Book Club Kit

 

According to the publication, the kit was created by the editorial team of "We are Bookish" an independent division of NetGalley. Sadly it was also sponsored by Thomas Nelson Publishers. Perhaps Thomas Nelson never actually read the kit contents? Or perhaps they have just gone the way of too many other "Christian" publishers: bowing to societal trends, psychobabble and buzzwords. I had so much hope for this book (even forked out money to purchase two copies of the hardcover...grrrr.).  Shame on me for not first reading the book club materials before ordering the book itself. Would have told me all I needed to know about its disappointing content.

The concept of a book club kit is a great idea. This particular kit includes:

• Author Interview 
• Discussion questions
• Prioritizing worksheet
• Additional book suggestions
• Printable bookmarks
• Tips for a successful book club

The recommended reading section is what set off red flags for me. When the author not only quoted Elizabeth Gilbert (by no means a model of virtue or Biblical truth) in the book but also suggests reading one of her books, that was a deal-breaker for me. In a book about prioritizing your life and pursuing what is most important, we should fill our mind with secular wisdom? I think not.

Further down the list is a book cover with a mostly naked woman (except for plants over select body parts), regarding body positivity. From reviews of that book, sounds more like a rant about excusing obesity and learning to celebrate physical dysfunction blaming anyone but one's own self for making poor health choices. Sorry, cannot do that. And that message certainly does not jive with the idea that our body is a temple that we are expected to steward well.

Nice idea to include bookmarks; just wish they'd had some Scriptural wisdom on them. I would have thought a Christian book club resource would perhaps have included some Biblical content. 

I like the concept of a book club kit but if the book is a Christian one, please employ believers to create the kit or at the very least have a pastor review its content. The book may have some merits, but the book club kit does not.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of the "Joy of Missing Out Book Club Kit" from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.