Superhero Gets 4-Star Review!

Clarion book reviewer John M Murray has just released a review of my new book Superhero: Being Who God Says You Are. Thank you John, and here is the review:

A steady metaphorical guide aims to help struggling people correct their “flight paths” before they crash in the symbolism-heavy self-help text.

Superhero

.With an ultimate goal of encouraging social cohesion, Stephen K. Moore’s religious self-help book Superhero includes recommendations for improving one’s mental health and physical well-being.

The book is centered by an allegory in which a military plane flying in inclement weather heads straight for a mountain. Dave, its new navigator, notices the mountain on his radar; the rest of the crew does not. Dave speaks up, the pilot corrects course, and the plane is saved.

With this guiding story in in mind, the book aims to help all readers just as Dave helped the plane, including those who are lost or who contend with mental and physical challenges. Dave remains its mouthpiece—a lighthearted spokesperson (modeled on Moore) who cracks jokes and suggests interpretations of scriptural verses using contemporary examples. As a guide through self-improvement, he acknowledges a diverse variety of issues, including anxiety, obesity, and interpersonal conflict, that he says can be addressed via a careful blend of faith with science.

And “Dave” suggests that if his guidance is followed, others can become “superheroes” just like him—citizens who value courage, selflessness, and loving interactions with all people, regardless of their backgrounds.

The guide is broken into three steps, involving assessing situations as they are, possible means of self-correction, and putting a plan into action. The first section is its longest; it includes real-world examples that are used to highlight possible issues that require confrontation, like addiction and marital strife. Its assessments avoid assigning blame and engaging in negativity. Still, while the book aims to be accessible to all in the course of its work, it also addresses some incendiary topics, including vaccines, COVID-19, and politics, that could limit its reach, even as it encourages civility toward all.

The guide is anchored in Christianity, though its recommendations are said to be applicable to people of all faith traditions: regardless of what someone believes, the book says, they must act of their own volition, focusing on what is within their individual control—and, optimally, ensuring that their decisions align with their faith. Patience is another recurring theme, with much of the material revolving around thinking, analyzing, and being a positive member of a social community. A workbook is included at the book’s end, filled with direct, actionable prompts to help people incorporate its teachings into their lives.

Humorous and scripture-filled, Superhero is an inspirational self-help guide that encourages people to become better versions of themselves.

JOHN M. MURRAY

(January 27, 2024)