Loving My Actual Neighbor (Book Review)

By Benjamin H. Liles

            I often think of ways of how I can show God’s loving care, compassion and mercy towards others. With Alexandra Kuykendall’s Loving My Actual Neighbor, she puts forth seven things she considers worth looking at in dealing with our neighbors. Those things she looks at within the pages of this book are holding a posture of humility, asking questions to learn, being quiet to listen, standing in those times of awkwardness, accepting what is, lightening up, and giving freely.

            While I applaud her efforts in raising a standard God holds dear for all of us as His children as well as ambassadors, there are times I feel she’s a bit heavy. Don’t get me wrong, I can be heavy myself with talking about how to go about doing things God’s way, so don’t think I’m putting Kuykendall down on this point. I just mean she gets in-depth on what she’s talking about.

            Overall, I find I like the book. I would say that in the interest of can this be a best-seller? Perhaps it is. After reading it, from my view, I don’t hold it in that same sense, but that’s just my opinion. As I said, Kuykendall has a lot going for her with her points and it moves the book forward in the message she’s sending: we, as God’s children, ought to show the utmost love and respect for others. It is also in this I say all of this to show I care deeply about that same message she offers in this book.

            I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Books for a fair and objective review.