CHRISTIAN WISDOM FOR MODERN TIMES

Valentine blends Christian theology with Stoic philosophy in this self-help guidebook.

Born to “two loving parents” and raised in the Baptist Church, the author reveals that for much of his young adulthood he had “largely been unhappy.” He found a path to personal fulfillment when he combined the faith of his upbringing with the teachings of the ancient Stoics, particularly their philosophy of letting go of the “things that one cannot change, but doing what one can to change what they can for the better.” Originally written as a self-help reference book for Valentine’s own personal use (vestiges of this version remain in the book’s dating system, which reads like diary entries), the book presents Christian-themed guidance through an eclectic blend of maxims (“Never waste any more minutes unnecessarily being unhappy”) and practical advice. The author’s “GOLF principle” characteristically blends Christianity with Stoicism as it encourages readers to be Grateful for what they have, to Obey God, to Love God and others, and to have faith. Approaching 300 pages in length, the book could have used a more thematic organizational structure, but each entry taken on an individual basis offers sincere words of wisdom for those seeking personal contentment. And while Valentine takes a standard Evangelical Protestant approach to Christianity, emphasizing a personal relationship with Jesus and the primacy of the Bible, he offers readers coming from other spiritual traditions a more universal, Stoic-based approach to life. One passage, for instance, urges readers to eschew doing “something just for the money,” suggesting that true freedom comes from living a life not bound to materialism. Most of the concise entries are no longer than a page or two, with many coming in at only a paragraph in length, making this an accessible, if sometimes-disorganized, read.

An earnest if somewhat shambolic melding of Christianity and Stoicism.