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Book Review:The Noticer

April 27th, 2009 | Add a Comment

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My Father was visiting over Easter, and ironically enough, noticed the review copy of The Noticer I had received. Dad is not a big reader. The books he reads he really seems to enjoy, but most of the time he enjoys so many other things more than reading.

But with time on his hands, he read it and was very impressed with the “common sense” proverbs Andrews relates by weaving them around the story of “Jones,” a magical man who appears at just the right time with the right words of wisdom to those in need. My dad was amazed at the simple wisdom in such sayings as “You see shrimp and crawfish. I see Surf and Turf.” My mother laughed at him, saying, “Have you never read a self-help book?” He hadn’t so all this was new to him.

But it wasn’t new to me. The central sayings and mottoes, the wisdom and insights are all recycled here from other bestsellers. The first chapter relates the near-New Age, “Life is what you make it and how you see it” mantras of popular Christian preachers. In another chapter he preaches “love dialects” instead of the “Love languages” that Gary Chapman popularized nearly fifteen years ago. Andrews does a wonderful job of weaving these popular insights into stories, connecting them with the angelic Jones character, but doesn’t offer much new. For those who’ve read a few modern self-help books over the past decade, this book may only re-emphasize things you’ve already learned.

It’s real strength, however, is in reaching people like my dad who don’t read self-help, inspirational books and may have never been exposed to some of these ideas directly. It’s brevity and narrative flow make it especially attractive to infrequent readers. And the proverbs and perspectives Andrews teaches are valuable, and probably need a larger audience. I’m grateful that my dad noticed the book, and I’m grateful for some “common sense” reminders as well.