The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Series #1) by Jim Stovall
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Book Reviews of The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Series #1)
Book Review: The Ultimate Gift: A Treasure for the Christian Life
Summary: 5 Stars
Despite dealing with the crucible of blindness, author Jim Stovall has enjoyed a life filled with achievement in business, athletics, and family. Having been honored by Jimmy Carter, and Mother Teresa for the International Humanitarian of the Year award, Stovall exemplifies one with priceless gifts, talents and qualities. In story format, he effectively shares the importance of life's major "gifts", and how an ordinary person can develop these qualities to have enrichment of life, joy and prosperity. It is an inspirational masterpiece that gives the reader new perspective, and a positive outlook on life. While Stovall gives the reader clear and wise council on life, "the Ultimate Gift", effectively portrays the potential that exists in all of us; by using excellent character development, superb storytelling, and an appeal to human nature.
Stovall uses excellent character development to help the reader understand the potential all of us have to change for the better. Jason Steven's is introduced as an arrogant, greedy and ignorant great nephew of the late Red Steven's, a loved and influential billionaire. Upon the death of Red Steven's, dozens of relatives and associates greedily await their massive inheritances as Mr. Hamilton, Red's most trusted friend and associate, reads Red's will and begins to divvy up the spoils. One by one, Red's beneficiaries receive their portions. When at last it is Jason's turn to collect his inheritance, he discovers that quite a different gift is in store for him. Jason hesitantly and arrogantly begins a year-long quest to discover what the ultimate gift is that his great uncle had in store for him. As the story unravels, Jason's character begins to see life in a different light and his development effectively portrays our potential to acquire priceless gifts of life.
Stovall effectively conveys truth about life using ethos. Red Stevens becomes Stovall's authoritative character that exhibits vast experience and knowledge about life and it's problems. His council is not only practical, but it's true. Red's character obviously portrays a man with high morals and family values. His council applies to many readers, like myself, because we can relate directly to the poor attitude and selfishness of Red's nephew, Jason Steven's.
As part of the "Ultimate Gift", Jason discovers what it mean's to leave a legacy. His uncle challenges Jason to discover the gifts that had enriched his life by pursuing twelve, 1-month long lessons that his uncle has outlined for him. Such lessons included Jason's ability to learn: The gift of work, the gift of gratitude, love, family and many others. Over the course of a year, Jason's character changes dramatically as he begins to understand the finer things of life. Stovall brilliantly concludes by helping the reader understand that all of us possess equal potential to develop such esteemed qualities.
As the story develops, author Jim Stovall shed's light on how the most precious things of life cannot be bought, but rather earned. His capstone quality, the gift that Stovall believes is connected with all others, is love. Despite the predictability of the story, Stovall explains that gifts such as love must be earned. For example, his evident theme that money cannot buy everything is portrayed in chapter four where Jason learns that "loving money leads to a hollow, empty existence". And that "when you learn how to love people and use money, everything is in it's proper perspective". This book certainly makes my top five list because it is filled with wise, solid council that is not only morally sound, but ethically correct.
Stovall's story motivates and inspires readers to better their lives. He uses persuasive logic to help readers visualize what it is that is lacking in their lives. As we relate to Jason, Stovall's motivates by using logic such as: "The desire and hunger for education is the key to real learning". Or on the family: "I think family is not as much about being related by blood as it is about relating through love". Stovall motivates us to give by declaring: "when you give out of love, both the giver and the receiver hove more than they started with". Or even: "When we truly love others, our love makes each of us a different person, and it makes each one we love a different person too". He motivates us to seek unique gifts such as laughter by declaring: "It is the ability to look at yourself, your problems, and life in general, and just laugh. Many people live unhappy lives because they take things too seriously. Life without laughter is not worth living". Such logical statements are found within every chapter of the book. Truly, "The Ultimate Gift" is a motivational and inspirational book for anyone who desires to better their life.
Finally, Stovall wonderfully portrays human nature, in our strengths and weaknesses. As the story develops, we see the foibles of Jason's character begin to fade away, and be replaced by an underlying foundation of moral character and strength. Jason was clueless as to what his final inheritance entailed while he engaged in the 12 lessons his uncle outlined for him. He fought back, demanding to know what the ultimate gift was before he went through with his year long journey. This ignorance revealed our nature to complain because oft in life, we indeed cannot see what lies at the end of the road. Jason's billion dollar inheritance was realized only AFTER the trial of his faith. Stovall uses Christian based reasoning to help us understand that living a life well, serving others and loving God will provide the ultimate gift to each of us. Scripturally, 1st Corinthians 2:9 states "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him". It is evident that Stovall portrays human nature to resist the unknown, and to earn rich reward by faithfully following through with the outlined course.
In conclusion, my analysis of this book is only positive. It reflects deep yet simple insight to life. It is inspirational to all who will read it. "The Ultimate Gift" is a wonderful text that will only improve and prosper our lives. Despite it's predictability, it is a wonderful read that will strengthen and motivate you. Being blind, Stovall knows the challenges life can bring. His work effectively helps all of us cope with our problems with optimism and courage. I highly recommend this book due to it's moral nature, it's Christian approach, and positive outlook. For me, it is a path to a greater life. Simply put, people of all ages will relish this book and have a fondness for the lessons of life it teaches.
Book Review: Ultimate Gift...
Summary: 5 Stars
The book of the week was The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall. It clearly doesn't fall into the normal genre of this blog. I read it because someone told me I was becoming quite robotic last week and made me question whether this blog was being done out of habit or whether it was for some greater purpose. I have been thinking a lot about whether I have been getting robotic and I suppose it's becoming more and more true. So, I reflected on the reasoning behind this blog while reading this book... it was really fun.
My conclusion is that I created this blog to help people... I am passionate about helping people become solid leaders, get financially secure, and create a purpose in their lives. The name The Guide to Get Rich is not necessarily about getting loads of money, but about getting richness out of life. I think an effective path to getting richness out of life is having the three traits I mentioned earlier. With these things covered, you can focus on what is important to you... whether it is family, traveling the world, donating your time to a good cause, etc.
However, doing this blog is fun for me. I love helping people and teaching them about the things I have learned, and I have learned more in the last year and a half then I could have even thought I would. And the information is extremely interesting to me too.
So what is it that drives me? Well, I get asked this questions all the time. I am not one that lives an extravagant life. I have everything I need, and I don't need a lot in the terms of material possessions. I create my goals and make myself more and more financially secure to give myself the ability to give my future family what they want. This book was about a billionaire that passed away and when he did his estate was divided among his family members. One member of the family who was kind of a selfish jerk was put through a year of lessons and at the end was able to get "The Ultimate Gift." I won't spoil what he got because its a fun part of the book. But while I was reading this I was thinking that I don't want to have to put my family through lessons in order to understand the value of the dollar and how to treat people. I want to have a billion dollars, so I can coach and train my descendants the value of those dollars and how to make the greatest impact on the world with them. I would love to create a change in the world using money, because it's not money that is the root of all evil, but the love of money. Money has the ability to do so much good if it is used right and my purpose is to show how true that statement can be.
If I was given a billion dollars today, what would I do? Probably keep doing what I am doing, still continue to sharpen my leadership abilities, the principles that I follow that keep me and my future family financially secure would still be followed, and my purpose would still be the same. A few key areas of my life would just be funded with more money... mostly investing and donating. I may buy a nice steak dinner and take my family on a nice vacation, but I wouldn't make any decisions without careful consideration and I wouldn't go wild on buying material objects. (I would probably start a few endowed charities though.)
After a week of reflecting I think I have a great purpose for this website and it is continually growing in readers. Hopefully, I will be able to touch more and more lives with the information I have to give each week. So, there we go. I filled you in with what The Guide to Get Rich is all about... maybe not what you expected. I do have a tendency to act quite robotic these days, but that's not all that bad. The book of the week was a fun, light read, that has pretty much nothing to do with investing, business, or leadership.... back to your regularly scheduled blog postings next week. As always, if you have any questions on the book don't hesitate to ask. I would be more than happy to help anyone that wants it.
Book Review: Read the book, watch the movie - both will inspire!
Summary: 5 Stars
I received this book as a gift shortly after watching the movie by the same name - I was greatly impressed with the movie and anxious to read the book (since everyone knows that the book is always better than the movie). This book is no exception to that rule - an outstanding read and it was as easy to read as the movie was to watch. This is a novel, a work of fiction that drives home some real life points! The premise of the book is about what's really important in life - is it what we build with our hands or the money and worldly success we achieve, or is it something more than that, something that isn't tangible and can't be bought or sold for any amount of money? In his final will, a dying wealthy man tries to communicate from the grave the true meaning of life to a family member who up until this point hasn't got a clue!
I would think that this book could probably be read to children in upper elementary school and could be read by 7th or 8th graders on their own. The book should be read by parents first so that they can engage their children in conversation along the way. While the book isn't overtly Christian, you'll find that the lessons taught in this novel are very similar to the wisdom shared in the Book of Proverbs and throughout Scripture. Stovall isn't preaching, but he sure can drive a point home with this story; and these twelve "gifts" passed from one generation to the next are essential for each and every one of us to learn as well.
While some say that the movie isn't as good as the book, I say that they are a pretty good compliment of each other. The movie takes various liberties with the book to get this message on screen, but you won't be disappointed with either. The book is written to provoke thought and discussion and families should use them as tools to teach valuable life lessons to their children - Red Stevens would have wanted it that way!
Book Review: One of the most inspiring books I've ever read
Summary: 5 Stars
The Ultimate Gift ranks as one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. In a simple, but emotionally compelling story, Jim Stovall has captured a lifetime of wisdom and presented it in brief, easily absorbed chapters. There is no author of whom I know who has greater insight into what makes the heart open, the mind activate, and the spirit rise.
Jim Stovall is an author whose keen senses have been tuned to the music of the soul and he weaves his message and his characters like a symphony conductor. Throughout my first and second reading, tears flowed freely down my face from the simple spirit of goodness this book contains. Since then, I have purchased copies of this book for my children, my friends, and my employees, and expect to give away many more in the course of my lifetime.
If you're looking for an easy way to present principles for living a great life, this book can help you. The language is accessible and the plot will keep you turning the pages. While you are completely absorbed, you will also be assimilating some of the great truths taught by teachers throughout the history of mankind: hard work, generosity, purpose, integrity, authenticity, compassion, and love, all come beaming through Jim Stovall's masterful creation.
Buy this book, then buy the sequel, and read them. They will change your life. But be prepared - for as soon as you finish them, you'll be buying copies for the most important people in your life.
This book is truly a gift to the world from a passionate, insightful author.
Jim Huling author of
Choose Your Life!: A Powerful, Proven Method for Creating the Life You Want
Book Review: Motivational.....
Summary: 5 Stars
When Red Stevens died, he left a vast fortune. His greedy relatives all gathered to see what they would gain from his death. The attorney handling the estate, Mr. Theodore Hamilton, acknowledges the beneficiaries one by one until only Red's nephew remains. Jason Stevens also wants a piece of the wealth but his great uncle Red has another plan in store for Jason. Jason sets off on a year long quest, supervised by Mr. Hamilton and his capable assistant Miss Hastings, that will change his life. Jason is about to learn the secret of THE ULTIMATE GIFT.
Perfectly packaged to be a gift book, THE ULTIMATE GIFT offers up a very succinct tale with a much deeper message. The overall story is simple, perhaps deceptively simple. Each month Jason learns the value of such things as work, friends, dreams, etc. The details behind his learning process are only briefly mentioned, leaving readers to fill in the details from their own life experiences. Readers looking for complex, deep relationships or life altering events to be fully fleshed out in this book will be disappointed as THE ULTIMATE GIFT is more an overview than an actual complete tale. The heart of THE ULTIMATE GIFT lies in what the reader sees within Jason's changes and how this applies to his or her own life.
THE ULTIMATE GIFT is an endearing and very motivational book. Most will not find anything new within the pages but merely obtain some very good reminders of what is important. I could actually visualize the motivational speech that would accompany this book as I was reading it. THE ULTIMATE GIFT is powerful in its simplicity.
COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES