Book Review: Things Not To Say To Someone Who Has Cancer, by Jo Hilder

Jo Hilder, a cancer survivor who lives in Australia, has written something we all should read. I say all of us because, statistically, just about everyone reading this will know someone who faces cancer. I know I have a tendency to say insensitive things from time to time in all situations, but cancer is a situation which especially requires sensitivity. Judging by the fact that Jon Acuff's "Stuff Christians Like" blog post about the same topic received hundreds of comments last June, this is a subject which needs addressing.

Hilder's experience as a cancer patient gave her an insight that we all can learn from, of course. But I have to say that when I read the title, I was afraid the book would be taking on a lecturing tone and would shine a light on all the buffoonish things I have said over the years. I am glad to say I was wrong. "Things Not to Say to Someone Who Has Cancer" never condescends, never lectures, and never makes the reader feel discouraged by anything he might have said in the past. In fact, it's quite encouraging in many ways.

The tone of the book is not so much instructional as it is helpful. The author shares her observations and experiences, and these stories really helped me see how my words can be taken in a way I never intended.
Yes, I did wince a time or two as I read Hilder's stories about things she has heard from well-meaning folks not unlike myself. But I never felt like a heel; I simply learned. And that's the point.

I really liked this book, and I recommend it to you in the hopes you never have to apply it in your own life. That said, there's a pretty strong chance you will.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author, for the purpose of providing an honest review.

Comments

Jo Hilder said…

Thank you James, I really appreciate your review of the book. I’m also immensely grateful for your feedback. :)
JO

January 2, 2013 at 11:48 PM

Embarrassing video clip--John Cougar

I recently stumbled across some Youtube gold: a live performance by John Mellencamp when he was Johnny Cougar. He appears to be have been about 23, and he's singing "Ain't even Done With The Night", in front of a fairly unresponsive crowd with Bobby Bare (?!) in the front seat. Cougar/Mellencamp is dressed in a nerdy sweater and generally bears no resemblance to the singer as we knew him just 5 years later. He looks a lot more like Potsie from Happy Days than the guy who sang "Pink Houses". Certainly, there is no way to watch this and make a connection to the guy whose song "This is Our Country" beat us to death by overuse in pickup truck commercials. But the real entertainment value from this clip comes from the guys behind Cougar. In hot-pink tuxedos, there are 5 Pips-like backup dancers/singers who don't sing, but clap their hands real well. They essentially spend the entire song performing cheerleader dance routines not unlike those ...

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Book Review: Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge

John Eldredge's latest title, "Beautiful Outlaw" is his first since switching publishers. After a longtime association with Thomas Nelson, he's now writing for Faithwords, home of the great Billy Coffey . [Disclaimer: I was given a copy of the book for review purposes] The subject of "Beautiful Outlaw" is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Eldredge feels that many (most?) Christians have a distorted, incomplete, or one-dimensional view of Jesus, and he feels so strongly about this that he wants to set the record straight for all believers. My take on this book is mostly positive. It's well-written, engaging, and anything but boring. The reader will be enlightened and encouraged to love Jesus more, because once you know Him, you can't do otherwise. Eldredge takes many familiar stories about Jesus and expounds on them in an informative and inspiring way. I am praying my way through this book, asking God to reveal Himself to me, and, while I ...

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