Lafaut draws from his own experiences to provide realistic examples to readers, offering charts to illustrate concepts like the “Sin-Conduit Structure” and the ramifications of unresolved sin and candidly detailing his own process for exploring and conquering bad habits. He addresses heavyweights like fear and pride, cautioning readers to see through these behaviors to the underlying issues, explaining that conceit is born out of a desire for belonging and arguing that fear becomes unproductive when it causes self-reliance instead of depending on God to solve problems. Lafaut also offers hope for readers who persevere through the hard work–he describes the end result as a “tree of life” that will eventually result in positive traits like joy and faithfulness.
The overarching goal according to Lafaut is “to do to others what we would want done to us,” and he frequently cautions readers to avoid being “moral policemen” in favor of increasing tolerance and empathy. Prayer is his recommended currency to work through unhealthy traits and build a more intimate spiritual life. This is not light reading, but it’s written with passion and clarity. Christians struggling to come to terms with personal faults will find plenty to digest.
Takeaway: Christian readers will appreciate this comprehensive examination of how to overcome sin and unhealthy habits.
Great for fans of: John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation, Jerry Bridges’s Respectable Sins.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B
Dismantling the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Within So Love Can Thrive: Learning to Renew the Mind and Heart (Renewing One's Life) is a work of non-fiction in the inspirational and spiritual writing subgenres. It is intended for the general reading audience and was penned by author Rene Nestor Lafaut. As the expressive title and subtitle suggest, the work offers readers a chance to transform their minds and hearts to bring greater peace to themselves by accepting love and compassion from Christian religious beliefs and practices. The author uses the metaphor of the Tree of Knowledge to deliver a method by which people can let go of behaviors that are damaging to themselves and others and instead accept more peaceful and productive emotions into their lives.
Whether you’re a religious person or not, the ideas behind author Rene Nestor Lafaut’s work hold true and resonate deeply. In a modern world where many people are discovering their boundaries and owning them and empowering themselves to deserve more compassion and respect, there are those who are still discovering their own toxic behaviors with regard to others. Lafaut’s resonant work offers a great explanation for behaviors such as being overly judgmental, losing your temper, and feeling jealous or spiteful to others because of your own insecurities and inner pressures. These behaviors are then put into a spiritual context and it becomes easier to see the bigger picture and how to minimize these actions and let go of the negative feelings which cause them. Overall, Dismantling the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Within So Love Can Thrive is a powerful and insightful read with much to teach those willing to listen.
