BOOK REVIEW
Title: Words of Gold
Author: Donald E. Wildmon
Publisher: Five Star Publishers, Southaven, MS
Year Published: 1976
Contributing Author(s): none
Genre: Literature, Christian, Inspirational
ASIN: B000735EGA
SUMMARY: Donald E. Wildmon is a United Methodist preacher and wrote this book early in his career. The book reflects his sources of inspiration and philosophy of life. It contains thirty-four short, inspirational stories which are suitable for sermon illustrations. This was one of his early works and is full of his characteristic vigorous optimism and moral outlook. The stories are a mix of ancient fables and modern morality tales, so obviously it’s not all original material. Each “word” (as they are called in the book) begins with a Bible verse and concludes in a way that provokes the reader to think about related values and principles.
Rating 9/10 (less one point for the basic quality of the binding, typesetting and writing style)
REVIEW
This is a short book, so this will be a short review. To be concise, I liked the book chiefly for the inspired positive mood it left me in and for the new knowledge I acquired from it. These days it seems a majority authors take themselves too seriously or not seriously enough and either write sophisticated, ponderous works that it seems they hope will immortalize them (or at least make them rich and/or famous), fulfill and agenda or they write trivial fluff that has no higher aim than to scratch someone’s literary itch. Wildmon’s book is a refreshing breath of fresh air from simpler, more hopeful times. It has a nice balance of morality and entertaining stories with a rich mixture of the old, the new and the profound.
Not only are the stories eclectic, derived from business themes, fables, ancient and urban legends, humor, history, news, the author’s experiences and everyday life, but so are his complementary scripture quotes. They come from the NEB, TLB, TEV, KJV, RSV and the Moffatt translations (plus one without reference). The fact that the author balances such diverse sources so well and integrates them into a captivating and readable book is a tribute to his broad knowledge, adaptable literary talents and varied interests and experience.
My favorite “Word” was the story of James Harte. He was a law officer in Nebraska who was well liked, involved in his community and especially active in scouting. He was typical of many exemplary citizens like himself and would not be especially noteworthy except for the circumstance of his birth. He was the son of Teresa Capone and had four brothers notorious for their criminal careers; the best known of them being the mobster, Al Capone. For he had been born James Capone and changed his name to distance himself from their notoriety and had made his life a repudiation of their careers. I had never heard this story before, nor knew that Al Capone had three other criminally minded brothers as well. I liked the idea that James could come out of the same upbringing as his brothers and still become a model citizen. This underscores the truth of free will and the ability to choose to do good even in the darkest of situations.
Many of the “words” include a pithy saying or a short poem. One that inspired me was included in the tale of James Harte and it goes like this:
“Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side.”
James Russell Lowell
I also especially liked the stories of William Colgate who rose from poverty to success in soap making, Capt Abe Lincoln of the Illinois militia during the Indian Wars and the tale of how Christians in ancient Rome responded to the practice of abandoning unwanted babies by adopting them. All of these were new to me and inspirational. I imagine the reader of this article could find something new and inspirational in this book too!
Later in life Rev. Wildmon founded the American Family Association of which is he is the Chairman Emeritus. Long before I read the book, I began to support the AFA because of the singularly good and necessary work they do to defend and promote positive family values. More information about the AFA can be found at http://www.afa.net/.
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES:
Price: $57.00 USD
Reading Time: 2 hours
Format: Hardback
No. of Pages: 110 pages
Dimensions: 5 7/8” x 5 1/8” x 5/8” thk
Weight: 272g (9.5 oz).
Cover Design: Gold plated leatherette binding with Gold Cross hardcover, unattributed
Illustrations: none
Maps/Inserts: none
Appendices:
index: none
bibliography: no
biography: yes, 1 pg
glossary: none
Other: section “How to improve your faith”, 3 pgs
Other books by the author: Nuggets of Gold, Leaves of Silver, Pebble in the Sand, Thoughts Worth Thinking, Practical Help For Daily Living, The Book of Love, A Gift For Living, Treasured Thoughts, Stepping Stones, Think on These Things, Springs of Faith, A Gift For the Graduate, Living Thoughts, Window to Life, The Case Against Pornography, Don Wildmon the Man the Networks Love To Hate, Stand up to life: A Man's Reflection on Living, Following the Carpenter: Parables to Inspire Obedience in the Christian Life, The Home Invaders, Speechless: Silencing the Christians, Yesterday, Today, Forever! The Ten Commandments, Windows to Life
Title: Words of Gold
Author: Donald E. Wildmon
Publisher: Five Star Publishers, Southaven, MS
Year Published: 1976
Contributing Author(s): none
Genre: Literature, Christian, Inspirational
ASIN: B000735EGA
SUMMARY: Donald E. Wildmon is a United Methodist preacher and wrote this book early in his career. The book reflects his sources of inspiration and philosophy of life. It contains thirty-four short, inspirational stories which are suitable for sermon illustrations. This was one of his early works and is full of his characteristic vigorous optimism and moral outlook. The stories are a mix of ancient fables and modern morality tales, so obviously it’s not all original material. Each “word” (as they are called in the book) begins with a Bible verse and concludes in a way that provokes the reader to think about related values and principles.
Rating 9/10 (less one point for the basic quality of the binding, typesetting and writing style)
REVIEW
This is a short book, so this will be a short review. To be concise, I liked the book chiefly for the inspired positive mood it left me in and for the new knowledge I acquired from it. These days it seems a majority authors take themselves too seriously or not seriously enough and either write sophisticated, ponderous works that it seems they hope will immortalize them (or at least make them rich and/or famous), fulfill and agenda or they write trivial fluff that has no higher aim than to scratch someone’s literary itch. Wildmon’s book is a refreshing breath of fresh air from simpler, more hopeful times. It has a nice balance of morality and entertaining stories with a rich mixture of the old, the new and the profound.
Not only are the stories eclectic, derived from business themes, fables, ancient and urban legends, humor, history, news, the author’s experiences and everyday life, but so are his complementary scripture quotes. They come from the NEB, TLB, TEV, KJV, RSV and the Moffatt translations (plus one without reference). The fact that the author balances such diverse sources so well and integrates them into a captivating and readable book is a tribute to his broad knowledge, adaptable literary talents and varied interests and experience.
My favorite “Word” was the story of James Harte. He was a law officer in Nebraska who was well liked, involved in his community and especially active in scouting. He was typical of many exemplary citizens like himself and would not be especially noteworthy except for the circumstance of his birth. He was the son of Teresa Capone and had four brothers notorious for their criminal careers; the best known of them being the mobster, Al Capone. For he had been born James Capone and changed his name to distance himself from their notoriety and had made his life a repudiation of their careers. I had never heard this story before, nor knew that Al Capone had three other criminally minded brothers as well. I liked the idea that James could come out of the same upbringing as his brothers and still become a model citizen. This underscores the truth of free will and the ability to choose to do good even in the darkest of situations.
Many of the “words” include a pithy saying or a short poem. One that inspired me was included in the tale of James Harte and it goes like this:
“Once to every man and nation
Comes the moment to decide
In the strife of truth with falsehood,
For the good or evil side.”
James Russell Lowell
I also especially liked the stories of William Colgate who rose from poverty to success in soap making, Capt Abe Lincoln of the Illinois militia during the Indian Wars and the tale of how Christians in ancient Rome responded to the practice of abandoning unwanted babies by adopting them. All of these were new to me and inspirational. I imagine the reader of this article could find something new and inspirational in this book too!
Later in life Rev. Wildmon founded the American Family Association of which is he is the Chairman Emeritus. Long before I read the book, I began to support the AFA because of the singularly good and necessary work they do to defend and promote positive family values. More information about the AFA can be found at http://www.afa.net/.
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES:
Price: $57.00 USD
Reading Time: 2 hours
Format: Hardback
No. of Pages: 110 pages
Dimensions: 5 7/8” x 5 1/8” x 5/8” thk
Weight: 272g (9.5 oz).
Cover Design: Gold plated leatherette binding with Gold Cross hardcover, unattributed
Illustrations: none
Maps/Inserts: none
Appendices:
index: none
bibliography: no
biography: yes, 1 pg
glossary: none
Other: section “How to improve your faith”, 3 pgs
Other books by the author: Nuggets of Gold, Leaves of Silver, Pebble in the Sand, Thoughts Worth Thinking, Practical Help For Daily Living, The Book of Love, A Gift For Living, Treasured Thoughts, Stepping Stones, Think on These Things, Springs of Faith, A Gift For the Graduate, Living Thoughts, Window to Life, The Case Against Pornography, Don Wildmon the Man the Networks Love To Hate, Stand up to life: A Man's Reflection on Living, Following the Carpenter: Parables to Inspire Obedience in the Christian Life, The Home Invaders, Speechless: Silencing the Christians, Yesterday, Today, Forever! The Ten Commandments, Windows to Life
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