Sweat, Blood, & Tears: What God Uses to Make a Man

Xan Hood
David C. Cook (2010)
ISBN 9781434766816
Reviewed by Chad Feight for Reader Views (09/10)

 

I recently received a copy of “Sweat, Blood, & Tears: What God Uses to Make a Man” by Xan Hood from Reader Views.  Hood uses this book as a chance to speak to young men about the lessons he learned personally through experience.  Basically, this is a memoir of a spoiled, rich kid being forced into the real world and it comes quite well.

I must say, when I originally received the book, I was expecting something more along the lines of a John Eldredge  book; hear a story, talk about a deep spiritual truth masterfully explained, then some sort of application to my life.  What I found, however, was a different experience.  Hood doesn’t really offer much advice or expound on any deep mystery.  Quite simply, he tells the story and shares what he thought at the time and what he learned through it.  It sounds boring and almost self-serving and superficial, but for some reason, I couldn’t help but keep reading.  I just wanted to know what other messes he made of people’s houses, or what the cantankerous supervisor had to say this time.  It almost read less like a how-to book and more like a novel.

Another bonus to this book is that most anyone who reads it can relate.  Those who grew up in affluent homes can relate to the thoughts and attitudes of Hood as he experienced life.  Those who grew up more working class can laugh and point at the mistaken world view and lack of life experience he had before “becoming a man.”  It really does cross many social boundaries.

While the book in general is well-written, I am personally not the biggest fan of Hood’s writing style.  It is easy enough to read and the stories and lessons are engaging enough, but I would have liked to see something a little more articulate.  That being said, however, this is not a poorly written book, just not my personal preference of styles.

Overall, I found “Sweat, Blood, & Tears: What God Uses to Make a Man” to be an enjoyable read and one that I would recommend.  However, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this as a “Christian men’s book,” but just a nice read with some valuable lessons.

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