Review: "I Like Giving"

If you like giving, or even if you don’t, you might find yourself inspired with news ideas about ways and when to give as you read Brad Formsma’s book, I Like Giving: The Transformative Power of a Generous Life – Practical Ideas, Inspiring Stories.

Formsma’s book is exactly what it is billed as: collected stories of people giving, interspersed with the author’s story and rationale.

The author argues that giving – any giving – wether it be a milkshake, lunch, a cruise, or a vacation – will give a person more joy than just keeping one’s money and spending it on oneself.  As someone who enjoys giving, I can concur – giving gives me joy.

Giving, wether anonymously or as the known giver, can inspire others to become givers as well.  One caveat being that some people will not receive (one story like this is giving in the book) and some people – even those who love giving – have a difficult time receiving, which is an attitude that needs to be nourished and grown in people as well.  How one does this is not specifically addressed in his book.

I found the book and its anecdotes inspiring – I thought of ways I would like to give more.  Yet, it was a bit daunting as well, as there were so many stories of large gifts (though the author repeatedly states that the gifts do not need to be large – or even money – it could be time or skill).

The author promises more books like this and encourages readers to go to his website, Ilikegiving.com, to post reader’s stories which may be used in future volumes.

Although the author does point to spiritual reasons for giving, that perspective in the book is light, and I wish he had spent more time showing, biblically, why is it a good and right thing to give to others.

Also, one could read this book and begin to give, loving the rush from it, and not use wisdom in ones financial stewardship.  That is, one could become addicted to giving and give beyond one’s means.  I wish he had spent time counseling how to give wisely.

That being said, this book is inspirational and can be used wisely to encourage people to give – and that is a good thing.  Humans are naturally self-centered, and Christians, who have received the Greatest Gift in salvation through Jesus Christ Alone, have all the ore reason to give – especially with then end in mind of sharing the Gospel.

[I received this book free from WaterBrook/Multnoma in exchange for an honest review.  This review is posted on my blog and on Amazon.com.]