Book Review: Courageous by Randy Alcorn

Publisher: Tyndale House
Publication Date: August 1, 2011

Courageous, a novelization of the screenplay of the same name written by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick, follows the story of four men serving their country in one of the hardest jobs there is, as law enforcement officers. As each of them face tough situations on the job, they face equally difficult circumstances at home, learning to draw upon God and each other to sustain them.

I greatly enjoyed reading Courageous, not only for the entertainment it provided through it’s fast-paced read, but for the men that were held up as heroes. The characters are well-developed, three-dimensional men who struggle with real problems while trying to live out godly lives. I laughed out loud at many parts, such as when Adam gets off the phone with his wife, and moments later also talks to the Sheriff on the phone and then proceeds to bid him “Love you. Bye”. I particularly found this funny as I’ve done the same thing to my own boss! Other parts, such as when a child dies, are heart-wrenching. I couldn’t believe it when I found tears in my eyes!

The book was very well-written, not only entertaining me but creating much food for thought. Topics like fathering, being a good husband, or trying to make sense of tragedy are handled in a refreshingly honest and direct way. Some of the book seemed a bit preachy in terms of driving home the point about the importance of fatherhood and the impact that not having a daddy has on children. However, that message is so vital I can’t really fault the author for trying to make sure the reader understands what he’s saying. Fathers have a high calling, and we need other guys in our life to hold us accountable to that calling. When Adam is contemplating the fact that so many men think asking for help is a sign of weakness, I couldn’t help agreeing that this is all too true. Who knows how many men could be better husbands, help save their marriages, turn away from pornography, be better fathers, if they’d reach out for help when needed?

I highly recommend this book to all readers, but especially to men out there who are fathers or who may be fathers one day. The book is sure to get your adrenaline pumping while it stirs your soul. 5 out of 5 stars.

This review is based on an electronic copy provided by the publisher via netgalley for the purpose of completing this review.