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The Shack | 
 enlarge | Author: William P. Young
Publisher: Windblown Media
Category: Book
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $7.14
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Rating:  1869 reviews
Sales Rank: 8
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Pages: 256
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8
ISBN: 0964729237
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780964729230
ASIN: 0964729237
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: Special Purchase Limited Time Brand New (we do not ship to ak, hi, ks, ky, ny, wa, nd)
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Product Description
Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1864 more reviews...
 Enlightening at times; misleading at other times November 20, 2008
Anette Acker
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
As an aspiring novelist, I will only say one thing about Mr. Young's writing: Any author who can capture the hearts of this many readers deserves my full respect.
But this book is not intended to be a literary masterpiece. It's really about the theology. And don't be fooled into thinking that Mr. Young dispenses with theology. The Shack represents his own interpretation of Scripture--his theology. Much of his theology is biblical, refreshing, and thought-provoking. But some of it is at the very least misleading, if not downright false.
And why does theological precision matter, you might ask. I hate to quote such a lengthy Bible passage, but please bear with me because it is so important. 2 Peter 1:19-21 says: "So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
So the Word of God is like a lamp--our only lamp--in a dark world. Some day the fog of this world will lift and all will see the truth. Now we walk in darkness, with only the Word of God to light our path. Close your eyes for a moment and picture yourself alone before the judgment seat of God, having watered down the Word of God. A careful reading of the Word of God might convince you that "I accepted Jesus at the age of 13" is no defense if you insisted on your own way. But don't take my word for it. Please do your own careful reading of God's Word.
First, I want to applaud Mr. Young for tackling the problem of evil in a moving and thought-provoking way. His phrase "The Great Sadness" really resonated with me, and obviously with many other readers. I carry my own Great Sadness, so I know that when we are caught in the throes of unspeakably evil circumstances, no amount of philosophizing will take away the pain. He is right to say that God doesn't will evil, even though He can use evil for our good. The Bible says that Jesus went around doing good and healing people. He did this by the power of the Holy Spirit, and He calls us, his followers, to do the same. But the paradox of free will versus divine sovereignty is so complex that nobody has been able to explain it to everyone's satisfaction. Suffice it to say that the Bible is full of paradoxes because God's ways are so much higher than ours, and only by the Holy Spirit can we begin to reconcile them. To use an example: When you watch a 3-D movie, you need the glasses; otherwise you'll just get a headache. The Holy Spirit is like the glasses--you'll get a headache if you try to understand the Bible without Him.
But there were problems with the Shack, in addition to Mr. Young's purported dismissal of theology. It flirts with Universalism and it discourages people from going to church. Universalism means that all people will be saved. Mr. Young doesn't actually say that, but he implies it and fudges the issue enough to make people interpret his words however they please. Now, he is right in saying that God has in Christ reconciled the world to Himself. 2 Cor. 5:18. God has removed the barrier between Himself and us--namely sin. Anyone can accept His offer of fellowship and salvation. However, we need to respond by accepting the offer of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:20. This means turning away from sin, or repenting, and allowing God to set our feet on the narrow path that leads to life. If we decide not to accept the offer of reconciliation, we will spend eternity apart from God. He will never strip us of our freedom to choose.
His criticism of the church is in many ways justified. However, let's not forget that we (Christians) are the church. Most of the time it's not the organizational structure that is the problem--it's sin and lukewarmness among the people. I don't have to go to church to find hypocrisy, complacency, and self-righteousness. All I have to do is look in the mirror. We need to function as the Body of Christ, which means we have to meet regularly with other believers. Instead of rejecting the church, let's pray that God will bring her back to life.
Finally, if you are reading the Shack for the theology, I would recommend two other books for perspective: The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Crazy Love by Francis Chan.
Anette Acker
 Clam shack November 20, 2008
shadette atchison (orleans, MA United States)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Such clap trap. I don't mind out of the box thinking, but pleeeeeeeeease this book is full of bologna. And to compare it to Pilgrim's Progress - whew - such the stretch. I really didn't want to give this book any stars!
Can be enlightening if it doesn't confuse you first.... November 20, 2008
Donna Stanfield
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I almost put the book down and wasn't going to look back, I really feel that some of of the Theology is disgraceful and if I wasn't already a Christian, I might get the wrong message from the book entirely. However, I decided to keep reading and did glean some really valuable lessons. It is really really good at explaining God's love for us and the relationship he desires with us. I was confused by how accepting of sin and false religions that the book seemed to be open to? Maybe I didn't understand these areas though...
The Shack November 19, 2008
Angela M. Hooper (USA)
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
This review will be in two folds. First, from being a reviewer and second, based on my opinion (which I never try to do - but, in this case, I feel I must).
From a reviewing perspective:
The book is poorly written and does not meet the "writing standards" of a novel. First, there is way too much dialogue and second, the author does not perform the task of making you feel there. It's just words written about. It starts out well, but then you lose focus. Or, at least I did. If it showed more emotions with Mack seeing God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, it could have been better written.
I thought I could fly through this book and at least get the feeling of what the author was trying to portray that Mack felt. There just was not enough emotion. The book stated how much Mack cried. Okay, maybe he did, but why not show more emotion with his crying. I just didn't feel it. Was there snot, was he heaving from crying so much. I think you all get my drift. Near the end, the author told us Mack was crying and slid down on a rock, shuffled dirt between his feet, yada, yada. This doesn't show me his emotions. Do not tell me, show me. That is why I read. To get away from the world and presume that I am inside a story, there along with the characters. My review of 1 star does not reflect the fact that I disagree with most everything in this book. It truly is poorly written.
My opinion:
I now see why so many others are fussing about this novel. It does go against what God has given us to learn about him - THE BIBLE. I am never one to go against anything relating to God and sure, this may cause me many enemies. But, I am okay with that, because God will be on my side. First off, the only way to God is through Jesus. With that being said, once you accept JESUS CHRIST as your personal saviour, you will then know GOD. The only way to God is through me, states Jesus. Pick up your Bible and read it. I promise, it is there. Next, the TEN COMMANDMENTS were written for us believers to follow it. It was not written for no reason. How dare anyone ever try to rewrite GODS COMMANDMENTS for us to go by and follow to be better christians. Next, the novel states that Jesus was not a christian. HUH???????????? Yes, he was!!!!!! He believed in GOD - (OUR FATHER) and himself, WHICH WOULD MAKE HIM A CHRISTIAN.
I can tell you this. If you are not a christian and are looking for God to be in your life, please, do not go by what is written in this book. It is wrong. Sure, it was right to the point that you must forgive and be good. However, it was wrong by saying that God automatically forgives you of your sins. WRONG! You must repent and ask for forgiveness, but first you must be saved. Never once did this book mention anything about being saved. That is the most important thing anyone in this world can do for you. Jesus died for all of us, for our sins so that we can endure Heaven with him. AND....the author's perspective about Heaven. Are you kidding me? I am not sure if there is a pearly gate or not, but I know that this earth will not be HEAVEN because when the rapture occurs it will be horrible to be here and then when the anti-christ takes over the world, the locusts bite and eat the people stuck here who haven't accepted Christ and if you don't accept the mark of the beast (Satan) you will be killed immediately. I am not sure of the time that the anti-christ will rule the world, but I do intend to look it up. After he reigns, GOD will come back and reign over this land, making it Heaven. I am not trying to preach here because you know, I honestly make mistakes too. Everyone does and that is why we have a forgiving GOD. But, you will never, ever hear of me trying to change God's word and the scriptures that he left for us to try to teach us what he expects out of us. I understand this book is solely based on fictionality, however, it will ruin many lives. I will start praying now that this book does not affect anyone's lives in believing that being good will get them to HEAVEN.
 Shack Up With This One! November 19, 2008
V. Marshall (North Fork, CA USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have to admit I wasn't sure what I was getting into when this book was recommended to me. At first I thought it was from either one of two genres both of which I am not prone to enjoy: sappy Christian sentimentality or easily solved murder mystery. But instead I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book, I found it to be both unique and inspiring.
The book begins oddly with a normal family experiencing an all too familiar disaster in today's society, a missing child and the family that emerges from the outcome. But it's the majority of the book that wrapped my mind up in a world of possibilities. What if we had the chance to have a conversation with the Holy Trinity? Isn't this something anyone might contemplate especially during times of our greatest needs? I though the concept was brilliant and that Wm. Paul Young has an obvious knowledge and grounding in the Biblical teachings of Christ. While it might not be a serious religious text it does go beyond that and inspire a reader to find the truth for themselves in whatever path they find the most comfort in. This little book is inventive, amusing, thought provoking and filled with wise reflection.
I believe in divine inspiration, after all aren't religious texts ultimately written by it? While I can't say this book qualifies as a religious text I do see a spiritual significance within its bright message. I did not find the hint at the Gospels at all offensive but rather a compliment to ancient writing. In fact after reading this book one might even be inspired to re-read the wisdom of Jesus and have a discussion with the Holy Trinity yourself.
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