Reviewed by: Allyson M. Hutchison, a professional writing major at Taylor University.

Introduction

Title:  Set Free to Choose Right: Equipping Today’s Kids to Make Right Moral Choices for Life

Author: Josh McDowell

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press

Publication Date: February 2018

Format: Print Book

Length: 208 Pages

OVERVIEW

     Josh McDowell gives advice and guidance for parents and other gatekeepers of today’s youth to equip them with the skills needed to teach children how to make moral choices. McDowell begins each chapter with a scenario focused on Brian, Aubrey, and their teenage son, Jayden, who has been caught watching pornography. The beginning chapters show how most parents would react to this and follows the pattern of events that would most likely result. After each scenario, McDowell breaks down what happened and explains in what ways the behaviors were wrong. McDowell’s claims are supported by many facets of research, as well as some Bible verses.

     Halfway through the book McDowell resets the initial scenario and has Aubrey and Brian react in the way he thinks will best send a clear message to Jayden. He continues the style of giving the scenario, explaining what happened, and providing information. But, instead of focusing on what was done wrong, McDowell emphasizes what was done correctly. He ends the story with more statistics on pornography and explains ways to alter these trends.

     Though this book was well written, I was disappointed with the limited use of biblical connections. McDowell writes many strong opinions about what God wants us to do but rarely backs them up with scriptural references. Often, he also will have a series of Bible verses in a row and not explain their significance to the reader. I was also dissatisfied since the title includes “equipping today’s kids to make right moral choices for life,” yet the book focused solely on pornography. Though I believe this is a problem with today’s youth, I think the title should have been changed or that other issues should have been addressed.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5)

3 stars

Suggested Audience

Readers ages 22 and up, a Christian readership, a general nonfiction readership, someone who has an ambition to lead today’s youth or to be supportive of parents.

Christian Impact

This book discusses why viewing pornography is morally wrong at any age. It also discusses the proper ways to lead children out of the darkness of porn and into the light of living a life the way Christ would want them to live.

Other Notes: The suggested audience is 22 and up because it’s for people who lead teenagers. However, it is possible a teenager would benefit from reading the statistics and other information in the book. This book also discusses mature themes (pornography), thus making it not be suitable for younger children.

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