The Ten Challenges: Spiritual Lessons from the Ten Commandments for Creating Meaning, Growth, and Richness Every Day of Your Life

by Leonard Felder

This book focuses on the wisdom of the writings commonly known as Ten Commandments as a source of guidance on how to live a meaningful and satisfying life. Written from the perspective of a psychologist, the book focuses on practical living, not on religious instruction. Interpretations from all major religions, as well as philosophical and psychological thought are drawn on to make this a well-rounded and broad-based analysis of the timeless wisdom of the Ten Commandments.

Genres: Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction

276 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Paula Roper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was life changing for me, and for everyone I have shared it with. Thank you Leonard Felder!

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Makes the commandments real and relevant for modern living.

[Sarah Storjohann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book, updating the Ten Commandments from "Commandments" to every day challenges, things we can all relate to and work on, no matter what religion/spiritual path/belief you have. Will use this book for the rest of my life.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good one to have on the reference shelf because of the various techniques involved that one may want to return to at times when they are particularly relevant. It's not really a religious book, but about spirituality and psychology. The author is a psychotherapist and is Jewish, but his approach to the book is interfaith, particularly Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Native American, and Hindu, in about that order, with suggestions for agnostics as well. By treating the faiths comparatively, one can easily find insights to apply from other faiths. It's never about religious dogma. It's about grounding oneself with a higher power and how one interacts with the world.

[Scott Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offered a plethora of insights into the Ten Commandments in ways i had never before considered.

[Greg Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how Felder took the commandments and made them accessible to the masses by reframing them as challenges. It’s a more universal approach

[Serena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read the intro and first chapter (which is rare for me), so feel free to take this review with a grain of salt. This book does not contain "Spiritual Lessons from the Ten Commandments" as the subtitle advertises, but rather a psychologist's analysis of them. The first chapter is almost entirely comprised of book suggestions for different religions (including one- to two-paragraph reviews of each) and examples using the author's patients. It only briefly mentions the original Hebrew, whereas the book's back cover says that it uses the Hebrew to delve deeper into each Commandment--there was no delving involved; it was simply a passing glance. I suppose the book in itself isn't terrible, it's just misrepresented and so I picked it up with misguided expectations.

[John Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for seminary and had low expectations thinking that it may be pop religious. I was surprised. The handling of each commandment is much deeper and much related to today than I expected. All of this without losing connection to its original intent. Each commandment looks at the ancient Hebrew definition. Also, my inner voice for the ten Commandments was a booming voice "Thou Shalt Not...." The voice now is moderate and calm. The Commandments are not just a throwback to the iron age era. I found the chapter on sexuality very well thought out and filled with fodder for serious and adult discussion. A treat.

[Tara Outman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was on my reading list for a seminary program and if it hadn't been I likely wouldn't have finished it. I found many of the author's points overly simplistic and generalized as though he were underestimating his audience. And yet, by the end of the book I found that there were several nuggets here and there that, in the end, made me feel that it had been worth reading. Not a great book, but well intended and not without wisdom.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows us how to create a more meaningful life by looking at the inner meaning of the Ten Commandments and applying them to our everyday lives. We wrote a paper on one chapter per month in our Interfaith seminary, as well as did a spiritual practice based on it for that month.