It is fantastic, but gave it only three because it is a "best of" and half of it is a preview for his new book Viral. It is a good, basic intro to Sweet's works. ( )

Though the cover somehow may lead you to expect Leonard Sweet to dive into the latest technologies to create a new expression of christian faith outreach, Real Church in a Social Network Word is different. It’s an e-book exclusive compilation of provoking thoughts published in different forms in earlier books Out of the Question … Into the Mystery (2004), retitled What Matters Most in 2012, The Three Hardest Words (2006), and The Gospel According to Starbucks (2007). The last part is a introduction to and first chapter of Viral: How Social Networking Is Poised to Ignite Revival (2012), which indeed deals with the Gutenbergers (people born in the 20th century) and the Googlers (born in the 21st century aka digital natives). What’s connecting and dividing them?
Relationships is the main theme in this book. Both the relationship between God and you, as well as the real-life connections between people. Sweet testifies of a living faith, and rejects any claims to a belief system (ever heard of a life of belief?). Sweet is to the point, and at almost every page he leaves you pondering on a thought or phrase.
If you already have read the earlier books, you may skip this one and purchase Viral. ( )

A collection of material by the author regarding faith, relationships, and inter-connectivity.

The author seeks to challenge the paradigm of considering Christianity in terms of philosophical propositions, pointing rather toward Christianity in terms of relationship and development of the character of Jesus individually and collectively. The author makes a good case for understanding the emphasis in Christianity in terms of relational unity with God and one another according to the truth embodied by Jesus rather than merely focusing on propositions and their relationship with the truth.

The major challenge of the book is not really the book itself but its very existence; if I have read right, this is not a coherent book presented by the author but instead a collection of various parts of other books which the author has written. It seems that the book is a promotional vehicle for the author's most recent book, "Viral," the introduction and first chapter of which make up the conclusion of this volume.

There are good thoughts here, but it is probably better to search out the full books from which these selections derive.

**--book received as part of an early review program ( )