Travis Peterson says:

David Platt is a name that is growing in popularity in the Southern Baptist Convention and all over the evangelical world. Platt’s reputation is growing, not because of a massive church growth strategy or gimmicky program, but because he is being recognized as a pastor who preaches the word passionately, honestly, and boldly, and who calls people to a dramatic kind of obedience to the commands of God. Thus, the book Radical: Taking Back your Faith from the American Dream is a perfect expression of Platt’s ministry.

Simply put, Radical is a challenge to live with genuine, deep, “radical” obedience to the word of God. Our culture often tends to blind us to the eternal life that is beyond all our nice cars, pleasant homes, and fancy toys. Plat has called on his local church (through sermons and changes) and now us (through this book) to radically obey the Lord Jesus, giving up our worldly ambitions to honor Christ and take the gospel to the nations.

The call to radical obedience is one that American Christians of all denominations need to hear. Platt surrounds this bold call with powerful illustrations that remind us of the glorious strength of God to satisfy our souls even as we give up our very lives for his glory.

I recommend this book very strongly. It will make an excellent resource for group reading that might powerfully change your local church. If you will allow it to, this reading will certainly change your outlook on your possessions and your time.

I listened to the audio version of this book from ChristianAudio.com as part of their reviewers program. The recording is excellent with Platt interpreting his own work.
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Joanna Holman says:

In Radical, David Platt challenges Christians to let go of the American dream and live a life of radical dedication to and action for Christ.

In many ways this is a needed book. The American dream does often shape what we think about faith, even for those of us who are not American. Very often it is not for the better. Things like materialism and spiritual laziness are a problem for most of us. The book provides a strong challenge to re-assess our beliefs and actions in light of scripture. I doubt any Christian could make it through this book without being convicted about something.

Despite the much needed challenge the book provides, it also has some weak spots.

The book had a lot of focus about what we should do. Without a corresponding strong focus on what Christ has done, it risks creating a unbalanced view of the gospel which is centred on what we do and our becoming radical enough to be true Christians.

The book is a bit confusing as to how exactly we should be radical. At some points in the book it sounds like you should sell everything and be a missionary overseas. At other points we are told to do such not particularly radical things as read through the bible in a year and get involved in a church. Regular clarifications on big statements he made also made it a bit hard to follow at times.

There is a risk that books like this one will prompt people to attempt being radical in unwise ways that are ineffective or even harmful. I don’t think the book provides enough caution in this area. I think that this book would be best read alongside books on relevant topics like skills required for cross cultural ministry or helping the poor in sustainable ways. Those reading this book would also benefit from the council of Godly believers in how to best apply it.

I reviewed this book in audio format. The production was very well done, but the narration did not work well for me. I tried going through some sections in print format and found that easier. #

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Bradley Chambers says:

I've been following David Platt for quite a while. I listened to every sermons he's done at The Church at Brook Hills. I've listening to all the secret church sessions. I even drove 40 minutes to worship with his church while staying the weekend in Alabama.

David gets it. Simply stated, but very powerful. It's not about David, His church, or even The Church. It's not about innovative programs or classes. It's about glorifying Christ to the ends of the earth through making disciples of all nations.

David is calling out against the Christian spin on the American dream. Don't read this book if you don't want to be challenged or convicted. David takes an honest look at the Jesus of the Bible with some challenging revelations: When we make Jesus who we want him to be, we are no longer worshiping the Jesus of the Bible, but rather ourselves.

David is the narrator and does a great job. No one else could have pulled it off.

I am a reviewer for Christian Audio. #

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