Reviews

For the Love of Our Dogs
This is one of those books you can pick up and read from any chapter! Rusty takes on his journey of caring for the animals nobody wants and finding them families of their own! If you have ever thought of fostering this book will lead you in the right direction. It will also warm your heart & teach some very important lessons along the way. I love to give the gift of books and “What We Learned From Fostering Dog” makes a perfect gift.

Unconditional Love
Williams has an uncanny ability to place the reader in the room with him and his family. “Family” includes the foster dogs and adoptees for whom this man so clearly has unconditional love. The book includes many snapshots of these furry family members which paint an even clearer understanding of the reciprocal unconditional love that is present between Williams and his fur family.

Heartwarming! Funny! Insightful!
First off… this book is funny! And it grabs you right from the start! As a dog owner, I know nothing about fostering but have always been curious. This is a really enlightening book about the process of dog fostering. This book couldn’t have come to me at a more perfect time… post-pandemic. It’s alarming the number of dogs being put up for adoption. This book will help many families decide if fostering is a good fit for their family. Also excellent on audio. The narration is spot on.

Conversational AND enlightening
What does one expect from a School Resource Officer turned Preacher? Enlightening content in a relatable & welcoming format; on all counts, Rusty delivers (AGAIN). … This narrative is conversational, inviting the reader to amble through Rusty’s responses to the challenges & blessings of life with multiple four-legged family members, no matter how briefly they were under his roof. A nifty feature is that each chapter takes its title from successive phrases of the well-known Prayer of Saint Francis. … I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of what I can learn from this book, and look forward to sharing it with multiple family members & friends.

“In many ways, Doubt on Trial is like a firehose of information. You will definitely learn a lot. Williams’ book is worth the read. He achieves what he set out to do, which is to nudge the reader to investigate further. Because of this, I recommend Williams’ book as a means of navigating biblical scholarship.” ~ Alexander Lang, founder of The Restorative Faith Movement and author of Restorative Faith: Christianity for the 21st Century Rationalist

“A better faith awaits… take a closer look at the major themes of the book, and why I highly recommend it.” ~ David Johnson, author and co-creator of the Skeptics and Seekers podcast

“I deeply appreciate and fully resonate with William’s well-articulated call ‘to have faith in Doubt.’” ~ Martin Thielen, critically acclaimed author of What’s the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian? and creator/author of Doubters Parish

Loved the format
Have you struggled with the violence, inconsistencies, and unbelievable stories (like individuals living to be 500 years old, dead people being brought back to life, and God killing everyone on the earth with a flood) in the Bible? Have you had doubts about what you were told you should believe in your religious upbringing? Do you think the New Testament gives you guidance on how you should live your life, but accepting every word in it as being literally true raises all kinds of red flags for you? If yes, this book is a must-read for you. I loved the unique format the author used to tell his story. (Religious doubt is on trial and you are the jury.) Easy to read and peppered with some very funny lines.

Thought-provoking, interesting perspective in reading the Bible
I really enjoyed diving into this book. Insightful and informative, this book discusses how and when the Bible was written, and it helps answer questions about inconsistencies that can be found within both the Old and New Testaments. The author uses humor to help make the Bible accessible to all readers, regardless of their spiritual beliefs. In looking at how Christianity evolved, this book reassures readers that it’s okay and maybe even necessary to question their faith. Asking questions and reading the Bible from a critical perspective can lead to deeper faith, especially for those whose faith may have been shaken in these cynical times.

This book changes the very paradigm for embracing gratitude as a daily practice.
Imagine making a list of 52 people who’ve made a difference in your life – and thanking them while they are still among the living. That’s the premise here, and this is certainly a great book, not only for the shift Rusty proposes in the gratitude paradigm, but in its brevity. Do not be misled by its simplicity. In a concise manner, Rusty Williams introduces a new, life-changing approach to the practice of focusing on acknowledging the best gifts we can ever receive – the people we know and love. This gratitude journal is not your typical, all-too-common notebook for capturing what you are grateful for in your life. If you follow Rusty’s guidance within these pages, in many surprising ways it will strengthen the bond with those you love, respect, and admire. More importantly, it will also strengthen your connection with self and what’s most important on this journey called life.

Life fulfillment and connection
Author Rusty Williams has written a watershed book that will change your life. Have you been following the trend of decluttering your home? Ever clean out a closet or an everything drawer in the kitchen and feel that happy, contented feeling of accomplishment? If so, get ready to have your socks knocked off, because this is that same feeling/principle, but on STEROIDS. This slender, so-easy-to-read book offers simple steps you can follow to de-clutter your thoughts, emotions, your past, and your connections. It will help you set things right. It will help you voice things that, if you postpone, you will likely regret. This is a great book.

A Book That Will Change Your Life!
Most people wait until someone passes away to read their Eulogy. Rusty Williams helps you to realize that each day should be lived and cherished. Not only living it but telling others how important they are. This book is a life-changer! This book is to be practiced not just read!

Life Changing
From speaking gratitude to living it and beyond, this book is a game-changer. Rusty Williams broke the mold in the one-of-a-kind opportunity provided within the pages herein. This is so much more than “just a book”. It’s an experience that helps those who have impacted your life the most while improving your own life as well. It doesn’t matter what walk in life you come from, this offers joy, peace, happiness, and cheer to all. Don’t just order one copy… order one for you and everyone else you know. You will not regret it and they will thank you for it. This book deserves so much more than a 5-star review.

It’s CBT in a more approachable and digestible form
I won this as part of a Goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own. I need to give copies of this book to a few friends and family. Lol, evangelizing, me? The short “chapters” allowed me to fit this into my otherwise “busy” non-schedule. I recognized the cognitive errors in most “chapters”, however, they are written in such a way that they are easier to grasp given the examples and stories the author tells. I’ll reread the “chapters” out of order next time, since I see this becoming a go-to book when I encounter situations or thinking that will allow me to get a second opinion. I just need to figure out how to (buy and) send this online book to a few online friends who might benefit from it.

Funny, irreverent, useful
What I love best about this book is how Rusty’s wonderful sense of humor is dispersed throughout this book. The chapters are short and sweet. You can pick and choose any strategy you think will work for you, give it a try, and if it doesn’t work, pick another. There are 65 of them. One of my favorites and one of the simplest is SMILE. I keep this book on my Kindle on my phone. If I get a negative thought, I go to the table of contents, pick a strategy, do it, and feel better immediately. Get this book! You’ll be glad you did!

Delightful Children’s Book
Author Rusty Williams has written a delightful children’s book about the love shared between grandparents and their grandchildren. This book made me chuckle, but the note at the end gripped my heart. Mr. Williams included a Note to the Reader highlighting the lessons we adults can learn through the eyes of small children. This is a delightful book and a great addition to add to any young reader’s library. I can’t wait to read it to my grandchildren!

Kids will love it!
Fun story with cute illustrations!! Rusty’s story is hilarious for kids of all ages, and it also shares a good message about accepting the people who are closest to us. Great story, great theme!

Charming book
Very cute story with colorful illustrations about the unconditional love of grandparents and grandchildren! The author definitely has a love for children, and it shines through in his writing!

Very cute
Kids don’t care about smelly feet. They just want to be loved. The illustrations are just perfect for this book.

Authentic, funny, wise, and clear instructions on coping with the unacceptable
I love this author’s book because it’s real, honest, and keeps its promise to teach the reader real-life skills in overcoming “the unacceptable”. He uses his own life challenges, his multi-faceted professional history, and quotes from notable professionals to get his points across. I had to stop and repeat certain gems of sentences and marvel at the kernels of wisdom, several times. “Patience is power” was one I needed to underscore, for myself. Simple, right? How come I forget to use it? The instructions for improving one’s coping skills with humor, optimism, patience, and empathy are well-written. The chapters are well-organized and clear. I think young adults worrying about adult things for the first time would benefit greatly from this book, as well as world-weary seasoned people just trying to make life simpler, happier, and less challenging. It’s not only about health challenges, though certainly people suffering from sickness would definitely benefit from the contents of this important book. I look forward to Rusty Williams’ next book. I care about what he has to say after reading this one.

An amazing testament to the power of the human spirit
The author shares his story and the lessons he has learned along the way with a compassionate, kind, loving voice. By the end of the book, he feels like a wise old friend. Weaving his own story among the stories of others to understand the power of hope, the importance of gratitude, and the beauty in humor, optimism, patience, and empathy. He also includes some interesting and informative studies on the power of resiliency and our human capacity to survive against overwhelming odds. Rusty exudes all of those qualities and beautifully communicates his message. For anyone who is going through a painful experience or just needing some encouragement to get through the ups and downs of life, this book will be a helpful companion to accompany you on your journey. You will laugh, cry, and just want to hug him through the pages.

This book has great insight
If you are finding yourself in an insurmountable situation or if you are dealing with events way beyond your control – this is the book for you!
The author shares many of his own personal experiences, including Very daunting medical challenges, with specific ways to apply these brilliant tools. In a very straightforward and practical way, he shows how Gratitude in HOPE – Humor, Optimism, Patience, & Empathy are transformative and powerful. This book is helpful, clinically sound, and if I might borrow a phrase from him – spot on.

Presents a new, positive way to deal with life!
Using examples from his own life – and showing how those may parallel issues in our own lives, Rusty explains in clear and simple terms, how we might look at life’s obstacles in a different light and use them to actually improve life and live happier, healthy and more productive lives. A little ‘adjustment’ in our ‘default wiring’ is all we need – and Rusty shows the ways to do that. Easy to read, clear examples, clear decisions and results. Thank you, Rusty, for this very positive book!

“This is a beautiful and potent book.” – Michael Hebb, Author of Let’s Talk About Death (Over Dinner)

“Be sure to check out this friendly, accessible, and engaging book; a tender but informed way to approach end of life.” – Dr. Katherine Kortes-Miller, Author of Talking About Death Won’t Kill You: The Essential Guide to End-of-Life Conversations

“Tender Truths Caring for the Dying is an excellent resource for those who support the dying. But the book is not tender in a soft, fragile way. The authors share honest, experience-based reflections. Their combined words offer readers essential, accessible, and, yes, tender tools for all who help support the dying: deeper knowledge, the value of self-reflection, and an emphasis on vulnerability.” – Larry Patten, Author of A Companion for the Hospice Journey

A Multifaceted Read:
Tender Truths is a multifaceted book that shares not only insights into what a person nearing death might be experiencing and needing, but also what their caregivers might be feeling, experiencing and needing.

The stories in this book are shared by 6 different end-of-life professionals who share not only their insights and knowledge from their professional work, but also a vulnerable and deeply insightful glimpse into the wisdom cultivated from their personal lives and experiences.

There were many aha moments for me while reading the book, and I’ll share just a few:
In the chapter about “speaking the wrong prayer, ” by a chaplain named Rusty, I was moved by his understanding and explanation of transactional prayer. And when I applied the principle of changing that, in my nearly three-decade prayer I’ve held, I felt a subtle and beautiful shift.