Hope Road

Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart by John Ensor *****

This book is refreshingly revolutionary, disarmingly candid, and expertly succinct. It is an excellent primer on a complementary approach to masculinity and femininity. It is less daunting than the similarly-themed Piper and Grudem classic Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, making it easier to both read and recommend.

Ensor addresses a wide range of topics for a relatively short book, including sociological trends, singleness, s*xual purity, and marriage. These are all discussed in the context of explaining patterns of biblical manhood and womanhood. Ensor writes with warmth, understanding, clarity, and humor. It is obvious that his knowledge of these topics has been forged in the trenches of real life.

Tim Challies, part of whose review is featured on the back of the book, writes that “this book is a refreshing reminder of the Bible’s simple wisdom governing love, relationships, marriage, and matters of the heart” (emphasis mine). In essence, Doing Things Right… is just that - a light shed on the simple wisdom already in the Bible in reference to these matters. It is worth reading whether you are single or married, young or old.

Recommended age level: 15+. This book is frank (but appropriate) in a few places, but what it teaches is so valuable. Whether a younger teenager is ready for it or not would depend on his or her maturity level.