Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul
Written by John Eldredge and Stasi Eldredge
Narrated by John Eldredge and Stasi Eldredge
4/5
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About this audiobook
This expanded edition features a new bonus chapter where Stasi answers the top Captivating questions.
Every little girl has dreams of being swept up into a great adventure, of being the beautiful princess. Sadly, when women grow up, they are often swept up into a life filled merely with duty and demands. Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the pressure to be a "good servant," a nurturing caregiver, or a capable home manager.
What Wild at Heart did for men, Captivating is doing for women. Setting their hearts free. This groundbreaking book shows readers the glorious design of women before the fall, describes how the feminine heart can be restored, and casts a vision for the power, freedom, and beauty of a woman released to be all she was meant to be. By revealing the core desires every woman shares-to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a grand adventure, and to unveil beauty-John and Stasi Eldredge invite women to recover their feminine hearts, created in the image of an intimate and passionate God. Further, they encourage men to discover the secret of a woman's soul and to delight in the beauty and strength women were created to offer.
John Eldredge
John Eldredge is a bestselling author, a counselor, and a teacher. He is also president of Wild at Heart, a ministry devoted to helping people discover the heart of God, recover their own hearts in God's love, and learn to live in God's kingdom. John and his wife, Stasi, live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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Reviews for Captivating
374 ratings22 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book... there is not a word to describe this book and do it justice. It's incredible, amazing, heart-felt, touching, and just unbelievably moving. It puts women back in touch with the feminine desires they gave up a long time ago, and helps them to have more fulfulling relationships with other people and with God. Every woman needs to read this book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very good insight to understand your woman, very good book
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is a must read for those that have a heart that isn't afraid to feel and want more. More knowledge of who we are as women. If you don't find yourself mocking deep emotional struggles then read this book! You'll find answers you've been searching for, and some you didn't even know you had.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Exactly what I needed to read this week. Gave me a LOT to think about and illuminated a number of things in my life.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5This is just as bad as the male version "Wild at Heart"
"The message of "Captivating" is this: Your heart matters more than anything else in all creation. The desires you had as a little girl and the longings you still feel are telling you of the life God created you to live. He offers to rescue your heart and release you to live as a fully alive and feminine woman. A woman who is truly captivating."
This quote from the summary says it all really. I don't agree with any of it and this is definitely not what the Bible teaches... - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book brought up so many new ideas for me, I couldn't put it down.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book brought a sense of worthiness, which had been missing in my life. It made me feel good about being a woman, but in a holy sense. I realize the beauty of the creation of women and the significant role through God's order. I'm glad it brought clarity and helped the image of who I am.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is my 3rd go-around with this book and given the free time I've had on my time off, I am glad that I actually finished it. It gave me a new perspective and reminder how blessed I am to be a woman of God and reminded about how beautiful and precious I am as a woman. At times, it was a lot of digest in such a short time. If you are interested in reading this, you might want to read it in shorter chunks than I did (a chapter or two a day). It's a lot of information and some of the digging into the baggage that I've carried around with me from my past was difficult to go through in such a short time, but it was definitely worth it. A must-read for women!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is a wonderful book for a mature Christian woman. Women who have gone through various life trials will benefit the most as it speaks to a woman who has tried to do it all herself and has become disenchanted with the results or has become weary in trying to fix their own lives by themselves. My favorite part was the description of the love affair that the Lord wants to have with every christian woman and how he woes her through HIS actions. He always calls for her and her beautiful heart to follow after him, to come closer. The description of how a woman is defined by God and not by a man is especially poignant to those who have tried the worldly method and failed. Here is the reason why so many christian woman are so unhappy and unfulfilled!Non-Christians will probably have a difficult time understanding a lot of the references. Younger woman who do not a depth of life experiences to draw on may find it difficult understanding the themes also.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is an intense book where each chapter has you looking deep inside yourself and outside yourself to God. It was not a quick read for me but I would recommend it to every woman.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book written by a Christian couple is based on the premise that a woman longs for three things; to be romanced, an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, and beauty to unveil. Although, in summary, it sounds quite cheesy, Stasi and John guide the reader on a journey through scripture, literature, and real experiences that tend to lack empirical and statistical evidence yet resonates within the recesses of the mind.That God created man, both male and female, in his own image is an accepted Christian doctrine. The authors take this doctrine a step further by expressing the divine nature of womanhood. He specifically blessed us with qualities that are feminine; relational, beautiful and seeking validation. It is their goal to assist the female reader unveil her femininity and connect with God and her man.Validation is found within the books pages as the authors reveal that God is beautiful and glorious. He seeks to have an intimate relationship with His children. He seeks our honest hearts and implores us to seek Him.It is easy to assume that every woman carries with her wounds that have not healed. Most pop psychology books provide ample fodder that our parents have wounded us. I tire of this mentality. It quickly establishes that our parents are the enemy rather than part of a support system that shaped our diverse personalities and independent selves. This mentality also relieves the grown child of any responsibility to respond differently to stimuli.On the other hand, John and Stasi Eldredge offer compelling arguments for accepting our Divine Nature and infinite worth as Children of God. A God who reserves a piece within His heart that only we can fill. A god who can validate our existence and provide shelter and peace.This book will not appeal to every reader. While reading it, I found gems of truth that resonated within my soul. In my attempts to articulate these truths at a later time, they sound sloppy and cheesy.Bottom line: We possess divine matter. The qualities that are belittled and squelched for the perceived lack of strength are really our divine nature. It is the woman who seeks out relationships and deeply connects to those around her. It is the glue that holds society together. We are the ezer kenegdo, a beautiful Latin word that can not be directly translated into the English language and is erroneously penned as "help meet" to our husbands, conjuring utilitarian images. In a more accurate picture, we are the part of Adam that he lacks. Together we complete each other and hold a healthy and vital balance of who God is.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Although I found some sections of this book to drag a little, I definitely enjoyed it on an overall basis. I was delighted to know that some of my feelings, concerns, and desires are common in women and are nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed by. This was a wonderful read and I've even encouraged my husband to read it!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was an essential part of my walk towards wholeness... thanks to Stasi's personal and encouraging style
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5THE best Christian women's book I've ever read! For the first time I really understand some of the passions of my life. Stasi bares her soul and shares the exciting journey to which Jesus invites women. She starts with Eve and uses lessons from other women (both from the Bible and real life) to inspire women to value 1) themselves, 2) other women, and 3) men.She and her husband John coauthored this book and the male/female perspectives really enhance the message. Highly recommended!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The way I think of myself as a woman was greatly influenced by this book. The Eldredge's paint a beautiful picture of how God loves His creation. As with any self betterment book, I did not agree with everything, however I would recommend this book for any woman who is struggling with their self worth. Finding your value in Christ is the ultimate goal, and I believe that this book points you in that direction.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was a great read as a woman who was struggling with self worth and looking for a husband. This book helps one realize that you have to put your self worth in God. If you cannot be at peace with yourself then its hard to be at peace for your spouse.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Imagine living the fairytale you imagined yourself in as a girl... John and Stasi Elderidge tell us that those dreams weren't put there randomly, but form a part of us as women and can be realised with the help of the ultimate romantic, Jesus Christ. I really really enjoyed this book, although I didn't agree with some small details it empowered and challenged me to realise my identity as a woman.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Awesome book
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This really helped me to understand the warfare waged against women, and what a rare and precious thing it is for a woman to feel secure enough in God and her husband to reveal her inner beauty. A must read for the man who is struggling to help his wife and doesn't know what to do. No, a must read for those who think they do know what to do.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Covers a variety of topics. Highly recommend for those with a past full of hurt, but everyone can probably connect with at least one chapter. And my one chapter made the whole book well worth it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book re-enforces, perhaps defiant feminists may cry, nothing but the image of a weak woman that the 'patriarchal Church' has always tried to impose on Western societies. Within Christian circles, the validity of the book's message have equally been disputed. I personally, however, found in this book some sort of comfort, because I was that kind of girl which it described. It has helped me in accepting what I thought was a 'silly' part of me.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wow, this book explains what is capitivating in a woman and how to bring that out. How God made you to be unique as a woman and to cherish that.