Deliver Us from Me-Ville

Zimmerman fiercely and humorously explores how he gets hoodwinked by his own ego and by the palace lies of our day. His story quickly invites us to reflect on our own. He teams his candor with reflections from ancient sages and modern day muses. One of my favorite aspects of the book is that he includes practical "escape routes" -- questions and actions we can engage to be liberated from our own Me-Ville. Great read.

From the first paragraph of the first chapter to the last, this book is a humorously insightful read. Sprinkled with well-distributed quotes, references and an abundance of real-life experience, "Deliver Us From Me-Ville" takes a real look at the trappings of self-centeredness and the various "escape routes" not only leading to other-centeredness but to the ultimately valuable and important goal of a truly Christ-centered life. Individuals in American society will easily relate to the ease with which we get caught up in our own personal supposed utopia, our "Me-Ville". Zimmerman, however, offers solutions to change our lives in order to better ourselves and others; to live in a way more pleasing to the Lord--the way He intends for us to live.

Zimmerman has written a superb book that somehow successful blends clever wit with deep introspection-- not an easy feat. David summons Bonhoeffer,Merton, and his own adventures in narcissism to describe our inability to save ourselves from self-centeredness. Deliver Us From Me-Ville is a smooth read. Don't mistake that last sentence as code for saying that the book is fluff. There are passages in the book that command repeat readings.

This book is well worth the read. Zimmerman deftly uses pointed humor to burst, his and our own "Spiritual Ego's". This leaves the reader with one primary task.....look in-ward and up-ward. By doing so you will grow or at the very least be aware of your/my own pride. I tend to buy several and pass them along.