This book was ok. My first instinct after finishing it was that it would be a great gift for a new pastor. His story is somewhat interesting and I think it will hit home with a more appropriate audience.

The God of Wild Places is written by a former pastor. He shares his journey of faith, losing it, and finding his way back without organized religion. Having gone through burnout and a resulting divorce the pat answers that he glibly preached fell far short of his needs. He rebuilt his life around hunting and spending time in nature. As he spent time in the quiet he was able to reconnect to God and learn some lessons along the way. There are some good thoughts and takeaways but I found it difficult to follow as far as a timeline. I was never quite sure if he was referring to a time in the past, how far in the past, or present day. #netgalley #TheGodofWildPlaces

A mighty entry in the family of books drawing you from easy answers through unexpected challenges, and on to a deeper insight into the life of the world. Part memoir, part reflection on the relationships with the wildness of the full world, part wrestling with God, Jones opens his own life to inspection and consideration.

I found this book interesting and informative, however, I had difficulty connecting and engaging with the author and his story. I love the subject and theme of finding peace and spirituality through nature and the outdoors. I found that for this author, who is a former minister who leaves his church and the ministry but continues to explore spirituality and connect through outdoor adventures, writes mainly of the benefits of hunting and the outdoors with his spiritual path. For me, although I am not disagreeable to the opinion, I found it hard to engage and connect as I am not interested at all in hunting. As a reader who loves all subjects and genres, I found the book interesting, and it was thought provoking and gave me new understanding.

This nonfiction book offers a curious take on spirituality and the author's split from organized religion. I related to the idea of finding a "god" in nature. I feel the most connected to my spirituality and the universe when I think about science and math and the puzzles that rule our world. This is how I've learned to make sense of it all. Being out in wilderness is how our author feels the most connected to his idea of god and it was interesting to hear someone else's take on finding meaning and spirituality in science and the outdoors. I don't agree with all of his views, but it definitely makes me want to pick up more books about science as a kind of spirituality.

Like the author, I too have left behind the idea of big church, high intensity religion for a much simpler, quieter, and accepting belief that God can be found in the outdoors. I was not, by any means, in the author's league concerning religion and worship. Just a simple guy who found the endless proselytizing and pageantry of today's churches off-putting. A wise man once said, "I would rather be sitting in a boat thinking about God, then sitting in church thinking about fishing", haha.
I found parts of the book to be thought-provoking and interesting. Other parts were over my head, and I would have to go back and read them again a couple times to really discern the meanings. But, as is the mark of a good book, it made me think.

I am not the right person for this book. I read about 10% of it, and was appalled by the idea of giving electric shocks to a dog's neck when i doesn't listen, and all the killing of animals. I am truly at fault for not paying more attention to the description.

I am giving it four stars because I do like he author's writing style.

I definitely enjoyed this read and was able to walk away with valuable lessons to benefit me in my day to day life, but would not be able to use this in the classroom due to the religious nature of the book which might not translate well. There are some sections that can be used as a companion to a unit of transcendentalism if needed.