Chivalry: The Quest for a Personal Code of Honor in an Unjust World

by Zach Hunter

A generation is rising up to care for the hurting and oppressed. Committed to changing the world, they are passionate about justice and willing to fight for it. But what would that same justice look like if we lived it in our private lives―close to home, with our family and friends?

In Chivalry , Zach Hunter dares young men and women to view their lives as a quest, challenging them to develop their own personal code that will prepare them to defend others and live with civility and integrity.

Zach reframes chivalry in a modern context. He looks at everyday life as a grand adventure and shares ancient wisdom from the Bible, insightful stories, and practical examples to help you develop your own code of honor―and live a life of significance.

Genres: Chivalry, Christian Living, Audiobook, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

Zach Hunter is a college student, an abolitionist, and an activist, spending much of his time working to end modern-day slavery around the world and fighting other problems in the world today. When he was twelve, he started a campaign called Loose Change to Loosen Chains, helping to raise awareness and money to free people from slavery. The author of Be the Change, Zach speaks to hundreds of thousands of people each year, inspiring them to find their passion and make a change in the world. Now he continues his ministry with his newest book Chivalry.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chivalry is written in the concept of ten principles that is based on how the ancient knights conducted their life. Zach Hunter explained that when he is discussing the word chivalry in this book, he isn't talking about how guys are supposed to treat girls. The code of chivalry is for male and female and is meant to be applied and live out where we can see a greater impact for Christ's kingdom.

The second code in the book is entitled, "I will never attack from behind". Backstabbing, gossiping, and criticizing others seems to becoming more and more acceptable in our cultures. Zach stated that in ancient times, knights would only attack someone else and fight back if they were in fact being attacked by an enemy first. He goes on to declare that we should always be loyal to our friends and never share personal secrets that people have shared to us. If someone trusts us with things that they are going through then we should be committed to being a true friend. Jesus always loved others and like him we're called to do the same. An essential lesson in this chapter was with the changing times and technology, Zach encouraged readers to have important conversations face to face. For some examples, if we are wanting to break up with someone, ask someone out on a date, or you need to converse something personal, plan a time to meet to or do it on the phone voice to voice.

One of my favorite codes was, "I will honor truth and always keep my promises". This one really stressed the significance of being honest and when we promise that we will do something then we must try our very best to follow through. Zach Hunter shared a personal story in this chapter about when his family moved from Georgia back to Colorado during the winter break in his senior year. He decided to spend the extra amount of time in introducing himself to every single classmate in all of his classes. He began to meet a girl outside of school for coffee regularly and they began to become friends. He knew that she saw her only worth and value in her appearance. Zach eventually began to fall for her and he decided to ask her to go to prom with him. She stated that she would love to go with him and he was really looking forward to the big night. A few weeks later at a concert, he received a devastating text from her that regrettably professed, "I'm so sorry, but I can't go to prom with you. I already promised someone else I would go with them a year ago plus I made other plans with friends... I'm sorry but I can't go to prom with you" (Page 96). He called her the next day and she blamed it on her friends. She stated that they all agreed to all go without dates and she had broken that friendship rule. Funny how she kept her "promise" with her friends but not with Zach and her story kept changed dramatically. He later deliberated what happened to his friend that he had grown up with and he acted like he truly cared about what Zach was going through. When prom finally arrived, Zach decided not to go to prom but made the mistake of checking Facebook and he saw that his friend went with the girl. He later found out the truth and that his friend went to school with a bouquet of flowers and got on a blended knee and asked her to prom, and shocking she agreed! Zach, I thought was very genuine and he described how he had always struggled with low self-esteem. He shared this story to explain to readers that being honest and speaking the truth in love is what God has commanded us to do. I really connected with this story because like Zach I have went through some bad dating experiences, let's just say they could be country songs. I have seen people lie and try and play with my emotions in order to feel in control. I even had one girl that I went on a date with lie about how much money she was inheriting from their grandmother death and the amount kept magically increasing each time. Honest and telling the truth is something the world is beginning to lack. Being honest is beginning to be an enormous quality that I find attractive in a woman and it's a character trait that I want to display to be the man, husband, and father he is calling me to be. Zach Hunter recently has gotten married so there is hope for me yet.

I would recommend this remarkable book on chivalry, especially to teenagers and college students because it's more geared to that age group. But many adults would still benefit from absorbing the ten codes of chivalry and applying them to their daily life. I immensely enjoyed the ten principles presented in this book on chivalry and living how Christ has called us to live. The ten codes of chivalry are not easy to live out and many times we will fail but we have to keep trying to be transformed into the image of Christ. Some of my favorite life changing codes were, "I will never abandon my quest, I will fear no evil, I will fight only for the sake of those who are unable to defend themselves, or in the dense of justice, and I will honor true and always keep my promises". I really loved the last section of the book called, "Onward Living the Code" because it contained numerous questions and a reminder of what each code of honor encompasses. The book enclosed many personal stories about Zach, a vast number of scripture verses, thoughts from a few of his friends about different chivalry core points, and countless examples from historical speakers and everyday people. The book has the powerful force to influence our generation with following the ten codes of honor and it will prominently benefit readers into living their full purpose in life.

Tyndale House Publishers/ Tyndale Momentum has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

[Lance Cornell · Rating 1 out of 5]

First book I haven't finished in a long, long time. I somehow made it through 132 pages and I'm not sure how I lasted that long. Chapter 3 was really good but the rest was a meandering mess. Good thing I only spent $1 on it.

[Stacie Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Chivalry: the quest for a personal code of honor in an unjust world. by Zach Hunter, for honest review from Tyndale House (Tyndale Blog Network).

The book is about 10 principles of ancient knights combined with teachings of Jesus, that we can use today. How can we help others? How can we defend the oppressed? How do we act with integrity? How do we live with courage and significance?

The 10 principles:
I will not go on this journey alone
I will never attack from behind
I will practice self control and selflessness
I will respect life and freedom
I will fight only for the sake of those who are unable to defend themselves, for in the defense of justice.
I will honor truth and will always keep my promises
I will fear no evil
I will always follow the law, unless it goes against what is moral and good
I will live and die with honor
I will never abandon my quest
My Review:

I was not sure what to expect when I requested this book. By the time, It arrived, I thought, based on the cover, it was a fiction, based on science fiction, fantasy, medieval times. Tyndale does not release the books until the books are taken down from the request screen. I loved reading the book. I was highlighting from the first chapter.

The first chapter discussed Carlos and his love of trees. Carlos reminded me of Pete Nelson from Treehouse Masters on Animal Planet. He loved to grow them, watch them, study the soil, and study the roots. Carlos got married, had kids, and eventually his wife died. After his wife died, one of his kids, visited with his grandkids. Carlos made a powerful analogy about trees, which I enjoyed.

When a young tree is planted, it is at risk of being whipped about by the wind....If the sapling is tied to a single stake and pulled in one direction, it will grow up learning hard to that side. It will be uprooted by a storm or grow crooked. That's why it is important to stake a tree from multiple directions. The tension on three different sides helps a tree grow straight and true. Its roots will deepen, its trunk will strengthen, and it will bear more fruit (p. 5).

We need roots to help us grow. We need people, who will be our root in life. People, who will support us when we are falling. Give us strength when we are going through. We can not rely on one human to help us on the journey called life. We can not do this alone, either (which is a problem, I struggle with. I am an introvert, I hate relying on people, but I am learning that I have to (need to). I need to socialize. I need to build relations with people. I need to network and build a community of friends, family, and others. But, your community needs to include mentors. Someone to hold me accountable. Someone, who will be honest. Someone who wants me to grow. Someone to share their personal experiences and I will do the same. I have my mentors. and I am a few other's mentors. I know my personal brand of Stacie is not always accepted and I am learning that is ok. I can be too blunt for my own good. I don't know tact that well.

Chapter 2 focused on Catalina, who was gossipping behind her friend's back. She realized too late she hurt her relationships and through a priest's words, realized things will never be the same. The priest gave Catalina a task, which involved a chicken and feathers. People don't need to backstab, gossip, attack from behind, or even engage in malicious sarcasm (p. 16). I definitely use a lot of sarcasm. We (I) need to watch my words.

Chapter 3 focused on self-control. We need to think first, then act second. The book discussed sexual relations. (posting this on Celibacy Diaries as well). In relationships, there are things you should and should not do. We need to maintain control, so we don't end up in regret. Self control doesn't just mean avoiding something, but also focusing on goals (p. 33 to 34). Simply avoiding temptation does not mean temptation will not occur (learned that from the celibacy is sexy chat last week). Temptation is everywhere (media, television, radio, magazines, online, etc). The book talked about focusing on what you want from a committed, married relationship. For example, Stacie wants a christian, celibate man, who can put up with special needs kids. One thing, which stood out in chapter 3 was "there is no such thing as just a movie, just a song, just words, just a kiss. nothing is trivial. everything has repercussions. (p. 37).

The rest of the book followed the same set-up---shared someone's story, the author shared a story, followed by sound, biblical advice. At the end of the book, Hunter provided discussion questions for personal bible study or small group bible study. Each section also contains an oath or declaration, where you sign and date. You also can write your own pledge on how to grow more chivalrous.

[Dr. Trent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chivalry, by Zach Hunter, is a straight-forward, practical book for American teens in the Christian church. Hunter expresses how his generation, The Millennials (otherwise known as Generation Y), is a generation in conflict. He tells how they are more concerned about social justice than social civility. In a generation where intimate communication is handled through social networking and text messaging, Generation Y has become filled with activists that are unfortunately also “spiritual anorexics”. His book explores how the youth of this country are primarily concerned with being nice (an external behavior) and pay little attention to being kind and self-sacrificing in a way that reflects Christ.

Hunter is clear about what he is, and what he isn’t, talking about in a clear compare/contrast structure. He uses narrative writing to good effect as he not only tells tales to exemplify his points, but also as he shares personal anecdotes that illustrate his point on a more mundane, day-to-day level. He makes some good spiritual points that should connect with many Christian teens. His writing is made even more accessible through his use of a clear step-by-step thematic structure to his chapters.

Hunter narrates his own book which adds to the easy, conversational tone of the book. He is able to make his prose sound like a discussion between an older brother returning home during a college break and his high-school sibling. The negative to this is that he goes a little heavy on the slang and popular analogies. This is great for what I assume is his target market (teenage Christians) but it will likely lose, irritate, or disconnect older readers. Loosely tied to this is the problem of his paraphrasing of scripture. While many times Hunter quotes scripture exactly, regularly he paraphrases scripture in what I assume are his own words in an attempt to convey relevance to young people today. While the idea of this may be appealing to younger readers, paraphrasing the inspired word of God is inherently dangerous because we risk misleading our readers by both pulling passages out of context and construing them to mean something they don’t. It is due to this that Hunter occasionally hovers on the line between hip and scripturally misrepresentative. Ironically, he does do a good job of repeatedly pointing out that we can’t trust ourselves or our personal sense of right and wrong.

The book moves along quickly and is a reasonably enjoyable read. The later points are a bit overly simplified; however, this is likely due to both the author’s lack of life experience (being a 21-year-old college student) and his target audience. It unfortunately leaves the more discriminating reader wanting more. I would recommend this book to any youth pastor or Bible camp coordinator as a good starting place for discussing the ideas of loving others as we love ourselves. I would also encourage these same counselors to have their teens dig deeper to encourage a lasting walk with Jesus Christ – something I’m sure Zach will do as he grows as a writer.

Trent Nicholson, Ph.D., D.Min.
Desert Bible Institute, President

Dr. Nicholson is a member of the christianaudio review program. To learn more, visit their website at: http://www.christianaudio.com.

[Roger Leonhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first decided to review "Chivalry", I though it was a book about the changes we have seen in our country and the world. We no longer open doors for others or take our hats off inside.

Even though those things are true, it is not the subject of this book. The definition of chivalry is "the qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry"

Zach shows us that we should have these same attributes as believers.

We need others and they need us. There are no "Lone Rangers" in the church. We are a body, A body has many different parts working together to accomplish a task. Think of what it would have been like in the "Lord of the Rings" if Frodo had no Sam. His journey would have never been a success. In fact there would have been no story.

Instead of working together, we tend to work against each other. Zach shows us that gossip and sarcasm often destroy others when we should be building them up. Instead of attacking other, we should be helping them in their weakness.

I have heard it said that "The Church is the only army that kills their wounded". That is harsh, but true. We have been forgiven of our sins but we want to make sure others pay for theirs.

Through a series of observations and stories, Hunter shows us how to stop gossiping and tearing others down. He then inspires us to show compassion and lift others up.

Even though you can tell the author is very young, he does a great job and keeps the subject interesting. He is also the reader of this audio book version. He does a great job. It is nice to have the author read. He knows what he meant when he wrote it, so he can emphasize things that need emphasizing.

I recommend it and give it 4 out of 5 stars.

I enjoyed this book courtesy of the Christian Audio review program at http://christianaudio.com and received the audio book, free of charge, from ChristianAudio.com and The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know exactly what to expect when I picked up this book, but I had a feeling that it would be good, but it surpassed my expectations and turned out to be excellent!


Mr. Hunter challenges our generation to be kind, civil, honorable, and chivalrous human beings in a world that is far from noble and is in need of modern day knights, young woman and young men who will step up to their full potential to fight for what is right.


Being Chivalrous doesn't just mean standing up and being brave in an unjust situation, but it also means living an honorable life even when no one is looking, or quietly refusing and putting a stop to heartless gossip behind someone's back. It's not just about manners, it's a way of life.


Mr. Hunter does a great job of providing examples of ways that we can become more chivalrous, in a relatable and honest way. I think that's one of the things I liked the most about this book was the way that Mr. Hunter presented it. He was honest and let the readers know that he was just like us struggling to live his values in a fallen world. Being chivalrous is hard, but it is possible with God's help. Are you ready to take the chivalry challenge?



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

[GothChickVibing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Chivalry: The Quest for a Personal Code of Honor in an Unjust World.

Author: Zach Hunter.

Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Modern Problems, Honor, Knights.

Plot: Zach Hunter, author of Be the Change, has a new unexpected challenge for today's generation: to live justly and honorably in an unjust world. And this book tells you how to do that. To quote the back cover: "Chivalry is alive and well - it's just not what you expected. It's not a list of rules teaching guys how to treat girls. It's a way for young men and women - all of us - to live justly in an unjust world." With ten comprehensive chapters that cover never attacking someone from behind to practicing self-control and not fearing evil. It touches on modern concerns such as racism and slavery, and includes a chapter on what to do when man's laws go against God's laws.

Likes/Dislikes: Written beautifully, with fictional stories to illustrate a point, this book flows well and hits several good points. It's a very deep-thinking book - one I'll have to read again. But I highly enjoyed it. It certainly wasn't what I was expecting it to be. And it was very encouraging at times, so that was good.

Rating: PG-14 and up, mainly for reading level.

Date Report Written: May 20th, 2014.

I received a copy of this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chivalry, by Zach Hunter, gives practical steps on living a life of honor towards God and man. Each chapter explains one part of the code of chivalry and the importance of applying it to each individual’s lives. Many chapters also include personal stories of what each aspect of the code looks like, which I found both inspiring and entertaining. Some, of the topics, included in the code speak about the importance of having mentors in your life, choosing not to fear the unknown or evil, using words to build others up instead of attacking them, developing self-control and selflessness, honoring truth and keeping promises, fighting only for true justice and to protect those who can’t fight for themselves, respecting life and freedom, and obeying the law as long as it doesn’t go against God’s law. The book also gives helpful advice on living the code without giving up and living our lives with honor as well as dying in honor when our job here on Earth is done. I found this book to be very practical and important because people today seem to live lives that are very me-centered. I think that if every Christian were to live with a code, such as is found in Chivalry, then our world would be less violent and Christianity would be viewed with respect even by those who are not Christians. For one so young as Zach Hunter, he really seems to have a wisdom about him that does not come just from the world and I am impressed with the stand that he has taken with this book.

[C.E. Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zach Hunter reveals what it means to be a man and woman of honor. What an impact this could make on the younger generation!

Chivalry reveals ten principles that guided the knights of yore, which are synonymous with Biblical teachings. I strongly feel that if we drink in this philosophy and let it become part of our being, we really can change our world—and if not the entire world—then at least our family, our church, ourselves.

Some of the principles displayed in this book:
I will respect life and freedom
I will fight only for the sake of those who are unable to defend themselves, or in the defense of justice
I will never abandon my quest

Chivalry/b> is a great addition to any youth group library. Highly recommended. Impactful, practicle, and Biblical. What more could you want?


Cover: Like it
Title: Like it
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Pages: 240
Pace: Steady.
First Line: Carlos has loved trees since the time he tried to grow one when he was in grade school.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Advanced Review Copy free from the NetGalley book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The options I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Many people, I know I see it and experience it time and again, want to help the world. We want to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, home the homeless. But how many of us bring that spirit of humanity into our own lives with the people that we live with and work with? We're willing to go the extra mile for people we don't know but when we get home to our family we're yelling at our kids, rolling our eyes at our spouses, or gossiping about our co-workers.
This book shows you, through real examples, how you can bring that spirit of helping and Christianity into your own lives and closer to home.
It's hard not to write a book like this without sounding preachy or holier than thou, but Zach seems to do just that. It was an enjoyable, practical read that I can see myself re-reading when I find myself slipping into the old habits.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is written for a much younger audience, I really enjoyed this and got a lot out of it. I like the personal stories from the author Zach Hunter and equally enjoyed the parables told throughout the audio. Although a lot of this audio is common sense to me, it definitely needs to be told again in this age of social media, where blatant rudeness has become the new normal way of life.
The narration by the author is flawless and isn't at all preachy, but very much like sitting down with a mentor or counselor. I definitely recommend this to all age groups as an excellent resource to help you to become not only a chivalrous person but also someone who wants to live a passionate life again. I haven't come across this author before but I would love to read/listen to more by him.
Thanks to christianaudio.com Reviewer's Program for the free copy of this audio.

[Crystal Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was about bringing Chivalry back into society. Zach Hunter does a remarkable job of giving his readers some ways of doing that. He also brings in some very powerful quotes from some amazing authors. He also gives some suggestions of other great reads for his readers to dig into.

He truly has the power to make a person think long and hard about their own actions. Chivalry isn't something that can just be done by boys and men. It is something that can be done by all in this world. If we all practiced it then we would make huge difference in the world.

We need to all work on making the time to be more considerate of how our words and actions can change the lives of others. This book produces a full fledged argument on why it's so important and how to do it.

[Gp · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 10 steps Zach explains what it means to be a man or woman of honour. At first I though it was a general list of doing good things.

But in the end he grasped me with his examples and that living up to the quest is worth it.

In the end there a lot of question, so it is also a great book for groups.

[Brenten Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5

Some nice insights and an interesting perspective. There is certainly a need for more honor and civility in the world today. One step at a time.

Review coming soon.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read my review here:

http://tothinebetheglory.blogspot.com...

[Anita Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

book review in my blog post http://myeyesonchrist.blogspot.com