Rating: 
Summary: Enlightening, encouraging, and entertaining.
Review: Although this work seemed to have a great idea going for it, I was a bit disappointed in the finished result. Dreams and goals are important to all of us, but life does not allow us to reach all our goals, nor would all our goals necessarily bring us success ( e.g., winning the lottery) if we achieved them. While I enjoyed the authors' use of characterization by way of description (can you say: Pilgrim's Progress'?), I would have enjoyed the lessons a bit more had they used actual Biblical characters, and their lives. If you enjoy such prompts which teach goal-setting, achieving success, dealing with hardships and other 'need to know' (and nice to know) principles for life--or want to give such to a graduate just starting out--this book pales in comparison to works such as "With Joseph in the University of Adversity" (if you can find it!), or "The Purpose Driven Life".
Rating:
Summary: A Real Eye Opener
Review: As I read the account of Ordinary I was amazed to see my life unfolding before me. Bruce Wilkinson really hit home on so many points. I can look back on my life and see the "border bullies" who stopped me from persuing my dream. However I can also see the Dream Giver giving me others to push me along and to get my dream back on track.
This was a wonderfully motivating work that has inspired me to reach out for new and bigger dreams, and to help others to achieve theirs.
Rating:
Summary: Dream Stepper
Review: Bruce has produced an excellent book, easy to read (I read it in one sitting) filled with encouraging words. If you have difficulty dealing with parables or word pictures this might not be a wise choice for you. However, if you are on a spiritual life journey and wish to know where God has you in the process, this book is for you. I believe that Bruce has struck a perfect balance of scripture and application. The allegory is perfectly clear and I intend to purchase this book for two friends who are on their own journey but in very different places than I. Buy it and put it in your church library!
Rating: 
Summary: Uplifting, Entertaining, But Unbalanced
Review: Bruce Wilkinson, the best-selling author of The Prayer of Jabez, has managed to enlarge his territory yet again with this inspirational work. A short book, 157 pages, it consists of two parts. The first is an extended allegory about a young man named Ordinary, who pursues his Big Dream through many obstacles and struggles, at the behest of the Dream Giver (God). In doing so he must leave his home in the land of Familiar, leave his Comfort Zone and deal with the Border Bullies, who include his family and closest friends. Author Wilkinson uses a lot of capital letters to make sure we don't miss his points. In the second half he talks to the reader, explaining his concepts in more detail, for any who might not have "gotten it" the first time round. He gives examples from his own life and ministry, exhorting, cheerleading and cajoling us onward to the fulfillment of our Big Dreams. The book is easy to read, uplifting and entertaining. I managed to finish it in little more than one afternoon. Author Wilkinson has a gift for communication and his writing conveys the sense of personal contact. Unfortunately, he has left out some important elements that would have given the book more balance. Not all Big Dreams are to be followed relentlessly. Some dreams are misguided or even delusional. The author meant to say, I think, that certain dreams--dreams from God, dreams of service and ministry--are to be pursued. Dreams of winning the sweepstakes or becoming a world dictator--maybe not. But, he didn't say it. I think he also meant to say that one should exercise discernment in following a Big Dream. Pray about it, get advice from others, ask questions. Is it really a Big Dream or is it just restlessness, a hankering for change. Maybe your purpose in life is right where you find yourself. But author Wilkinson doesn't say that either. The Dream Giver is an entertaining, uplifting book--but lacking in balance. Take it with a grain of salt. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.
Rating:
Summary: Dream On!
Review: From the time I was in Junior High I have wondered what God has wanted me to do with my life. If only I had this book during those years. Maybe then I wouldn't have sought the answer in high-sounding Theology but by looking deep into my own dreams and desires.
Starting with a strong metaphorical narrative, this book brings the reader face-to-face with their deepest dreams and allows them to know that is where God has given them their direction for their lives. How many times have we heard that God directs us where we want to go the least? With this book Bruce Wilkinson gives us permission to do what we always knew was right; to follow our dreams because that is where God is leading us.
One warning thought. Do not mistake your dream as something that will only serve your own ends for as Bruce Wilkinson points out all too clearly, the dream that God gives us is one that serves God and others above ourselves. As the children's song so wisely teaches:
Jesus and others and you
What a wonder way
To spell JOY
Dream on!
Rating:
Summary: This book could save your life
Review: I am always crushed to hear people talk about the dreams they USED to have. Today they just plod along living day by day doing whatever they've fallen into. Is that the existance God created any of us for? Living without a passion and/or a dream is equal to not living at all. This book will respark that dream and respark your life. All the unique struggles we all face are addressed in this incredibly compact, easy reading book. I've even had to fight with my 11 year old daughter for time in it's pages. She wants her own copy so she can bring it to school. Now, that's a powerful thing to have your daughter ask. That's how incredibly inspiring this book is. I can't wait for the study guides to come out. (...).com (...) Before you're half way through it, you'll have at least one other person come to mind who just MUST read it. (...)
Rating:
Summary: Can be a great help, read in the right spirit.
Review: I have mixed feelings about this work (as I did with the Jabez book). First off, I don't question Wilkinsons motives at all, it's apparent he's working to make the world a better place by following the Spirit and second I do question the motives of his detractors, it's easy to go on the radio or publish a book or write a review and bad mouth someone, it's not so easy to go and actually do something positive to change the world.
And it's world changing that Wilkinson address here in this book. If we, as people created by a loving Father, follow the dreams and visions and paths that He as created for us, then we will, but virtue of His nature and His motives, make the world a better place. If we don't follow our dreams, or ?the Dream? if you will, then we don't make the changes to the world that God intended for us to accomplish. I believe the most important and poignant point that Wilkinson made in the entire book was near the end, when we was describing a horrible scene in Africa, where a young boy was found on a street corner dead: that scene was a graphic word picture of someone's failed dream.
That's a hard pill to swallow, and he makes no bones about pointing out the fact that it is indeed a bitter pill. But, unfortunately, a true one, if you subscribe to the logic he presents here (and I for one, think he's on a better solid biblical footing).
So why the three star rating, instead of a five? Well, unfortunately, while I find the ideas and ideals and enthusiasm all five stars and great, I'm not going to compare the writing here to C.S. Lewis or Yancey and I also have some problems with the general lack of overall ?balance? (hoping I'm not overusing that word here).
For those that happen to like simple allegorical stories, like Hindsfeet on High Places, well, maybe maybe the first part of this book will be enjoyable to you. I was going nuts and about to scream. It was short, so I waded through it. I simply can't stand this kind of reading, I feel like I'm being talked to like I'm a six year old. Perhaps that's the reading level we Americans have averaged out at, I don't know, but I find it incredibly annoying.
The second part of the book, were Wilkinson simply explains what he means, and gives examples from his life, I enjoyed and found helpful. I think the man has incredible insight and has done much to advance the kingdom. I also think, perhaps incorrectly, that many people won't wrap all of scripture and logic around the teachings in this book and thus will produce the kinds of abuses that the detractors of this work are prone to point out. Maybe. People can be sort of ?dumb? and there's the rub. How do you write a simple teaching, one that people will read and understand, without going into a lengthy doctrinal dissertation of all the ?ifs ands and buts??
Maybe you can't, and that's a shame.
More people in the Christian community need to read Bonhoeffer I'd wager, but lets face it, it's hard work.
I do recommend this book, it's got inspirational teaching which I believe, balanced correctly, is Biblically based and sound. I also recommend reading works like The Divine Conspiracy, which compared to this short book looks like the Bible itself and perhaps as complicated. Maybe there's a bit of insight into why some people seem bitter and jealous with the success of Wilkinson's work, it doesn't really seem like it took years of toil and hard labor to write them. They are relatively short and quick reads and not very complicated. (While I don't necessarily agree that that fact should lessen the value, I do take it into consideration in my rating of the book.)
All in all there two ways to look at this work: one is to simply call it a materialistic capitistic ploy of dubious value to rib off unsuspecting and uncritical Christians and the second is to consider it a catalyst towards joining the Holy Spirit in working out your salvation in the areas of this world that have a special draw or attraction on you. A place you've dreamt about.
I wonder what train of thought is most productive?
Rating:
Summary: Thank God for the critics!!!!
Review: I loved this book and plan on ordering the 8 part study when it is available. If you have scrolled down this far you have most likely read some very negative reviews. You know this book is on the right track when it has negative garbage being written about it on the internet. When the Power of Positive Thinking was first published it attracted simular reviews. Now most Christian Leaders praise it. Thank you Bruce Wilkinson for writing such a simple yet powerful book. And you to all of the critics that have confirmed that this is truely a book that everyone should read and learn from.
Rating:
Summary: THIS ONE, finally did it!
Review: This book will take you "there" It did me, and I have read them ALL. I found that this book sincerely helped me see where I was, and how to get on with it. I liked the book very mush, the real issue here is, WHO YOU ARE, and WHAT YOUR PURPOSE IS, HOW TO FIND IT, and GETTING ON WITH IT.
Life is so much simpler than we make it. Just let this book show you how, to get to who, and what, YOU are. This book will do JUST THAT.
Rating:
Summary: THIS ONE, finally did it!
Review: This book will take you "there" It did me, and I have read them ALL. I found that this book sincerely helped me see where I was, and how to get on with it. I liked the book very mush, the real issue here is, WHO YOU ARE, and WHAT YOUR PURPOSE IS, HOW TO FIND IT, and GETTING ON WITH IT.
Life is so much simpler than we make it. Just let this book show you how, to get to who, and what, YOU are. This book will do JUST THAT.
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