A quick read (for me), but was not what I expected: lacking originality and deep insight, yet with some pointers to take home though. Not a book I will reread.

Es una obra básica en la literatura cristiana que logra transmitir de manera sencilla y accesible los fundamentos del caminar con Dios. Sin embargo, creo que la impresión de este libro en particular, puede variar mucho según la mente abierta con la que se lea y el momento de vida en el que uno se encuentre; puede llegar a encantarte o considerarlo muy malo.

El autor aborda los temas con una cautela que puede resultar segura y predecible para algunos, aunque esto puede ser un punto a favor para los que buscan una enseñanza clara y concisa, para otros faltaría un poco de audacia y originalidad en la presentación de ideas.

Sin embargo, es importante destacar que tiene el potencial de impactar positivamente la vida de aquellos que se encuentren en un momento de búsqueda espiritual o de reflexión personal. El libro está pensado como una guía práctica para descubrir el propósito de vida a través de una relación íntima con Dios, lo cual puede resultar transformador y significativo para muchos lectores.

I read this for a book group my friend was leading. I totally hated it. Totally. Hated. It.

A. I don't like any book that purports to speak on behalf of God and/or dictate what God thinks. Unless God is sitting there in the room with us and saying, "Yup, I totally agree with Rick on that point", Rick Warren has no right to speak on God's behalf.

B. It reeks of feel-good, pop-psychology-driven Christianity. "God loves you no matter how wickedly terrible you are and how many puppies you drowned and how many houses you burned down and . . . ."

C. The book focuses on making you not feel so bad about yourself instead of focusing on God. You could have edited the message in the book to be based upon any religion or even no religion at all.

D. I felt like I was reading Rick's opinion as opposed to something biblical. I too can probably find an appropriate bible verse to illustrate many things I think and believe, particularly if I use a plethora of translations.

E. I'd rather people who consider themselves to be Christians actually sit down and read the Bible. So few Christians have read the Bible for themselves and only know the contents via what others have told them.

Another book that I didn't end up reviewing because I was too occupied with other things in life. But overall, this is a life-changing book. And I wouldn't mind reading it all over again in the future because I feel like I will always need to be reminded of all the things explained in this book. It's always nice to know that you have a purpose in this world and not just mindlessly going around our days feeling useless and meaningless. Definitely a 5/5!

Read this as a lent Study, combined with the delight of watching Ricky Babes deliver 6 weekly talks on DVD. If he had rung me up & tried to telesales me Jesus with his combination of poor argument & bombastic speech, I would have hung up after 2 minutes. (PS if your wondering - yes I am a Christian)

I believe, this book was written to change the life of the reader, it gives answers to every questions you're asking to GOD, telling you your purpose and that is to live for GOD. It clarifies everything. This is really an amazing book. Life-changing! :)

Knyga, kuri suteikia atsakymus apie gyvenimo prasmę ir tikslą.
„Jūs sukurtas Dievo ir dėl Dievo – kol to nesuprasite, gyvenimas atrodys beprasmis. Tik Dieve atrandame tikrąsias savo šaknis, tapatybę, prasmę, tikslą, savo reikšmę ir paskirtį. Bet kuris kitas kelias veda į aklavietę.“ Rick Warren

I try to read bestsellers. I try to give the books a fair shot. This book was a hard one to get through. Based on a faulty premise and using bizarre logic this book has no real substance beyond that. I did laugh a few times so that's something. 0.6/5

I felt this was a wonderfully thought provoking book. I was surprised at the negative reviews posted below. I agree that you need more than 40 days, but I took this as a start for many to get real with how they are spending their time and are we serving where God is calling us. I have facilitated many Bible studies where we spend indepth time in scripture. We felt this was a welcome addition to our other studies and I plan to continue working on my Purpose. I would recommend to any who want to dig within themselves.

In essence, a guidebook for Christianity. Isn't that what the Bible is for, you may ask? Why, yes. Consider this one of the many possibly-helpful companions to the primary text. Basic instructions pulled from the...well...basic instructions. It may do it for you, it may not.

For many, this book may be a good reminder. Insightful and potentially perspective-altering for those who consider themselves to be Christians, but aren't satisfied with merely having secured their 'fire insurance'.

The re-read value is exceptional. (Just as with many books, what you derive from it may change depending on the phase of life you're in.) I've heard it categorized as a Christian self-help book, but in actuality it is a God-help book. It suggests from the get-go that you spare yourself the frustration of looking within yourself for all of your answers. Instead, you're challenged to consider how differently you may prioritize your life if you were to focus on what holds eternal value, rather than temporary gratification. And most importantly it stresses that your personal relationship with God be dynamic and continually developing, while offering you practical tools for accomplishing this.

According to this book, the path way to happiness lies with accepting the bible, understanding it, believing in Jesus (who is God come down to earth in order to suffer for some sins we all have), and going to Church.

It's very hard to separate the author's mysticism (he believes in demons and the devil, Noah is real, it was Adam and Eve that heard a talking snake) and his not explained but merely stated theology from his self help advice. I don't think there was an original thought in the whole book. It reminded me of the religious tracts I would find in the stalls of the public bathrooms last century. Reason is a bad thing, faith, submission, give your self over to a higher power and other such pablum are sprinkled through out the text.

This book is the perfect microcosm of what went as wisdom in the early part of the 21st century. I despise AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) 9 steps (or whatever the number is), but there is value in anyone talking with someone else who shares the experiences that you are going through. This book was like the AAs 9 steps (because I bet he had 7 or 8 of the steps in the book) but without the sharing except for the advice by the author to give the suggestion to have a "purpose driven life" you must go to Church. Churches are dying off in this country (and are less and less in Northern Europe) for a reason. If the best advice someone can give for purpose in life is only external (go to Church, read the bible, submit to God, and talk to imaginary people in your brain), then such a book as this should never have been written and most certainly never read by me.

I think I'm the only one in the world who hated this book. It annoyed the crap out of me. It lays out a canned formula to live. Turn-off for me.