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The Extravagant Fool: A Faith Journey That Begins Where Common Sense Ends
The Extravagant Fool is an underdog narrative. Readers will have a front row seat to Kevin Adams’s breathtaking story―one that builds chronologically through a very difficult four-year period. At the height of financial success, Kevin Adams had it all. A thriving business with more work than he could get to, investments spread out between luxury homes, commercial real estate, and new business ventures. However, by January 2009, over the course of the last 100 days of 2008, Kevin watched in silent amazement as he lost it all. His house of cards came tumbling down. Kevin had a choice: Do what he had always done―work harder. Or, let go of conventional thinking and learn to live by absolute faith in God. With foreclosures, lawsuits, potential homelessness, and his family looking to him for immediate answers, Kevin took the radical position of stopping every effort to survive and resting instead at the feet of Jesus. The process of living literally by faith is a gamble and one that only The Extravagant Fool for God is willing to take. The Extravagant Fool is about encountering God with an uncommon intimacy. Intimacy increases our ability to discern His voice, which leads to the revelation of who we are, what we are to do for Him on earth, and finally, the provision to carry it out. Yet none of this really takes hold without first hearing the kind of living, breathing, testimony offered by The Extravagant Fool, a man who staked his welfare―and future―entirely on the goodness of God.
- GenresMemoir
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2014
6 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Adams
58 books5 followersLibrarian Note:
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There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 4, 2014
I have learned by experience what it means to trust God even when it hurts. It seems like we only truly tune our ear to God's voice during difficult inexplicable situations. Kevin Adams knows this. He went from a financial success to one dealing with the failure of his business and the failure of his role of provider to his family. It was only in realizing that he could not provide for his family that he learned to truly trust God as The Provider.
That last sentence is a good enough sound bite for the book. It's accurate and Adams does share how he walked with God during 4 years of financial uncertainty. But he doesn't share enough. This is a decent book which could have been so much better. It is full of vague allusions to not knowing where the next month's house payment or utility bill or groceries would come from, but no in-depth exploration of how that affected him. There are of course vague references to a depression and sleeping a lot during the day and frustrated efforts, but in a book that is supposed to be a journey to a new way of life and thinking, we -- the readers -- should be let in on the difficult process of letting go of the old way.
One of the biggest omissions in my opinion, and what would have made this feel like the real story of a real family as opposed to some lesson doled out in sound bites is how this affected his family. He does get close to transparency when he shares about the time that his wife almost gave up on him and his vision from God. But throughout this 4 years -- 4 years of not knowing where groceries were coming from -- there is not one word about something that his tween daughters wanted that he could not give them. These girls went from living in a large home in an affluent area to living in an "ugly plaid shirt two sizes too small" as his wife called it. Certainly they complained. Certainly his heart wrenched as a father unable to provide the extras his children had come to expect. Following God in this way is always hard, but when it affects our children, it's even harder, and yet in reading Adams' book, one assumes that other than a little complaining from his wife and a couple of months without A/C in a sweltering Florida climate, there was no pain.
We are told of the real estate bought and sold in the quest to move to bigger and better and learn of the debt that holds him captive to the now-undervalued properties. I suppose the regret is implied, but who better to drive the point home of the sin of living in debt above one's means?
He shares the success of his business and the exponential growth in the years right before its collapse, but we never know what that business was (some sort of indefinable consulting, but please -- try to define it).
When I read a Christian nonfiction book, I usually use post it flags to mark passages that spoke to me. I flagged a lot of paragraphs and sentences in this book, so it did speak to me. It encouraged me and challenged me at times, which is why I'm not panning this book (though it might seem so). I was just left wanting, because an opportunity to really share and encourage and truly let go of the pride of caring what others thought seems to be lost.
Another positive is that it is an easy book to read. Many times when I'm reading Christian nonfiction, I get about half way through a book and struggle to finish the last half, because it reads as more of the same. I wanted to find out how Adams' story ended, so I kept reading, and because of his simple and conversational writing style, it was easy to do so.
That last sentence is a good enough sound bite for the book. It's accurate and Adams does share how he walked with God during 4 years of financial uncertainty. But he doesn't share enough. This is a decent book which could have been so much better. It is full of vague allusions to not knowing where the next month's house payment or utility bill or groceries would come from, but no in-depth exploration of how that affected him. There are of course vague references to a depression and sleeping a lot during the day and frustrated efforts, but in a book that is supposed to be a journey to a new way of life and thinking, we -- the readers -- should be let in on the difficult process of letting go of the old way.
One of the biggest omissions in my opinion, and what would have made this feel like the real story of a real family as opposed to some lesson doled out in sound bites is how this affected his family. He does get close to transparency when he shares about the time that his wife almost gave up on him and his vision from God. But throughout this 4 years -- 4 years of not knowing where groceries were coming from -- there is not one word about something that his tween daughters wanted that he could not give them. These girls went from living in a large home in an affluent area to living in an "ugly plaid shirt two sizes too small" as his wife called it. Certainly they complained. Certainly his heart wrenched as a father unable to provide the extras his children had come to expect. Following God in this way is always hard, but when it affects our children, it's even harder, and yet in reading Adams' book, one assumes that other than a little complaining from his wife and a couple of months without A/C in a sweltering Florida climate, there was no pain.
We are told of the real estate bought and sold in the quest to move to bigger and better and learn of the debt that holds him captive to the now-undervalued properties. I suppose the regret is implied, but who better to drive the point home of the sin of living in debt above one's means?
He shares the success of his business and the exponential growth in the years right before its collapse, but we never know what that business was (some sort of indefinable consulting, but please -- try to define it).
When I read a Christian nonfiction book, I usually use post it flags to mark passages that spoke to me. I flagged a lot of paragraphs and sentences in this book, so it did speak to me. It encouraged me and challenged me at times, which is why I'm not panning this book (though it might seem so). I was just left wanting, because an opportunity to really share and encourage and truly let go of the pride of caring what others thought seems to be lost.
Another positive is that it is an easy book to read. Many times when I'm reading Christian nonfiction, I get about half way through a book and struggle to finish the last half, because it reads as more of the same. I wanted to find out how Adams' story ended, so I kept reading, and because of his simple and conversational writing style, it was easy to do so.
July 21, 2014
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Kevin Adams’ The Extravagant Fool is a truly inspirational story. As he tells of his sudden and complete financial loss and the subsequent hardships, Adams writes transparently and bravely of his personal flaws and failings and the challenges he helped to create for his family. Though many readers may not have had the same drastic change in circumstances, his story is relatable and relevant from cover to cover. In the midst of the glaring and overwhelming difficulties, Adams, falling to his knees before God, finds lessons and reminders of His reliable character and providence – valuable material for any Christ follower. It never hurts to be reminded to live Christ-centered rather than Christian-centered, and I know I definitely pulled a lot of insight from The Extravagant Fool. It is not only inspirational, but also entirely encouraging and thought-provoking.
However, I did have a bit of a problem with Adams’ chosen writing style. In the given blurb, his style is likened to Donald Miller’s in Blue Like Jazz. While I can see some similarities, I do not remember stumbling over so many of Miller’s sentences. Adams writes poetically, filling paragraphs with metaphors and imagery, and to me, many parts just seemed confusing. Several times I read paragraphs over again to try to understand how he connected certain sentences, ideas or images together and still could not quite grasp it.
Despite the at-times problematic writing style, I think Kevin Adams’ The Extravagant Fool is a worthwhile read, and I recommend it. I thank BookLook Bloggers for providing me with a copy of this book and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (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.”)
Kevin Adams’ The Extravagant Fool is a truly inspirational story. As he tells of his sudden and complete financial loss and the subsequent hardships, Adams writes transparently and bravely of his personal flaws and failings and the challenges he helped to create for his family. Though many readers may not have had the same drastic change in circumstances, his story is relatable and relevant from cover to cover. In the midst of the glaring and overwhelming difficulties, Adams, falling to his knees before God, finds lessons and reminders of His reliable character and providence – valuable material for any Christ follower. It never hurts to be reminded to live Christ-centered rather than Christian-centered, and I know I definitely pulled a lot of insight from The Extravagant Fool. It is not only inspirational, but also entirely encouraging and thought-provoking.
However, I did have a bit of a problem with Adams’ chosen writing style. In the given blurb, his style is likened to Donald Miller’s in Blue Like Jazz. While I can see some similarities, I do not remember stumbling over so many of Miller’s sentences. Adams writes poetically, filling paragraphs with metaphors and imagery, and to me, many parts just seemed confusing. Several times I read paragraphs over again to try to understand how he connected certain sentences, ideas or images together and still could not quite grasp it.
Despite the at-times problematic writing style, I think Kevin Adams’ The Extravagant Fool is a worthwhile read, and I recommend it. I thank BookLook Bloggers for providing me with a copy of this book and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (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.”)
May 18, 2014
Adams and his family had it all in early 2008. They lived in a million dollar house, had properties, rentals, a business condominium. He was highly leveraged and owed millions. By January of 2009 he had lost it all and was heavily in debt. He tells his journey of faith as he learned he had had a skewed idea of faith. He was a committed Christian and had been a success in the eyes of his Christian brothers. Over these last years he has learned what it means to be surrendered to God, not just committed.
Adams is an eloquent writer. He is so eloquent that sometimes I had trouble understanding what he was trying to communicate because of the sentence structures. That is the only aspect of the book I felt was less than perfect. Adams is very honest in his struggles to be obedient to God through his financial struggles.
See my complete review at http://bit.ly/1jqG710.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
Adams is an eloquent writer. He is so eloquent that sometimes I had trouble understanding what he was trying to communicate because of the sentence structures. That is the only aspect of the book I felt was less than perfect. Adams is very honest in his struggles to be obedient to God through his financial struggles.
See my complete review at http://bit.ly/1jqG710.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.
May 18, 2014
Highly recommended for anyone who is walking (or has walked) through one of those long dry valleys described in Psalm 84.
I loved this book for its authentic portrayal of the Christian walk. There's a reason we used the phrase "leap of faith," that moment when you let go of your common sense and trust God fully. What a joy to discover that God is who He says He is.
The pastor of a church we attended used to say that God is not an errand boy or a genii in a bottle. He's the master of the universe, omnipotent and a lot bigger than we realized. That God loves us and He's trustworthy. What a gift that is! The Extravagant Fool captures that sense of love, awe and daring.
For writers . . . you'll enjoy the freewheeling story-telling.
I loved this book for its authentic portrayal of the Christian walk. There's a reason we used the phrase "leap of faith," that moment when you let go of your common sense and trust God fully. What a joy to discover that God is who He says He is.
The pastor of a church we attended used to say that God is not an errand boy or a genii in a bottle. He's the master of the universe, omnipotent and a lot bigger than we realized. That God loves us and He's trustworthy. What a gift that is! The Extravagant Fool captures that sense of love, awe and daring.
For writers . . . you'll enjoy the freewheeling story-telling.
June 2, 2014
The Extravagant Fool is one of the most profound books I've read to date. This is my favorite line in his book, "Ultimately, we fine that love is impossible in either direction without faith—faith that raises our expectations of God so we can lovingly lower them of people."
It's about a journey to child like faith and trust in some of the most challenging circumstances. This is the kind of faith that took Peter out of the boat and into the water. Kevin shares with such rich story and startling authenticity that you'll find yourself tugging into his story as if it were your own.
Every believer should read this book and ask God to do whatever it takes in our lives to bring us to this place of trust in our Great God and His amazing goodness for us, His children.
It's about a journey to child like faith and trust in some of the most challenging circumstances. This is the kind of faith that took Peter out of the boat and into the water. Kevin shares with such rich story and startling authenticity that you'll find yourself tugging into his story as if it were your own.
Every believer should read this book and ask God to do whatever it takes in our lives to bring us to this place of trust in our Great God and His amazing goodness for us, His children.
October 29, 2019
Faith in view
If you’ve ever wondered does God really intercede in peoples lives anymore this book is proof. Even more it gives hope that He can and will intercede on your behalf as well. Kevin is a skilled author who is clearly doing his best to stay working in the will of God.
If you’ve ever wondered does God really intercede in peoples lives anymore this book is proof. Even more it gives hope that He can and will intercede on your behalf as well. Kevin is a skilled author who is clearly doing his best to stay working in the will of God.
June 18, 2014
Just what I needed and a Must Read for everyone!
It’s only been a few days since I finished reading Kevin Adams’ The Extravagant Fool: A Faith Journey That Begins Where Common Sense Ends, knowing anything I would write would fall short of my best intentions. So let’s start with this: read the book.
This was the right book at the right time for me, a confirmation of the message God was already whispering in my ears, and a lifeboat sent by someone living through more treacherous waters than I can imagine. Most of all, this is a story of faith that I long for, and a tangible hand of the Spirit leading me into greater faith (foolish faith), written by the most vulnerable, authentic and honest author I have ever read. Yes, ever…
But this is also the right book for any time, and I look forward to reading it again and again. Why?
Because, for Kevin Adams, his story is HIS story. As he writes in his dedication, “may it leave a lasting impression on all who to decide to read it that [God] really [is] that good — always better than any of us can imagine.” So often we pray for God to change our circumstances, and the world tells us to at least “do something”. All the while, we forget that maybe God allows our very circumstances we want to change, to change us instead. Thank you, Kevin, for allowing God to be your provider so we all might gain.
We typically don't see the subtle differences between what we claim as truth and God’s truth, and the difference in how we respond to the “facts” that oppose God’s truth. Those “facts” shout at us daily, telling us we have the faith of fools. Kevin wonderfully demonstrates that, in the face of the world’s “common sense,” we must be Extravagant Fools to ever really know God’s truth and respond as He intends, to live the life He plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11).
Some who read this review will find that previous thought scary, if not ridiculous; some of you, I pray, will be like me and recognize it may be the biggest truth of all, prompting a “willingness to let go one’s own understanding and go against the tide of popular ideas that seem sensible on the surface, but underneath remain inadvertently swayed by things outside of God.” I pray my review, just like Kevin Adams’ book, will give you wisdom to see how God is laying out His glorious plan for you moment by moment. I pray you have the courage to keep living and believing, that God is a far better author of life than you or me.
“Wait upon the Lord.” “Walk by faith not by sight.” Those are the distinct words God began whispering to me in the last couple of months, even before I pre-ordered this book, before I received it and began reading it, before almost every circumstance of my life began to change. That is the faith of the Extravagant Fool. Trust in God, not your own wisdom, and He will take you somewhere beyond your own reach, even beyond the horizon of your own belief, certainly beyond common sense, to a place you’ve never been before.
We are taught that reading the Bible is good, but we forget that understanding it can only be as God intends. It’s His will against our own will; as long as we are willing to fight for our cause, we miss the cause of Christ and the will of God in our lives. I am so thankful Kevin decided to listen to God and discover His cause for his life, going forward. I look forward to reading his blog and witnessing additional fruits of the Spirit still to come from this Extravagant Fool.
And I look forward to leaning into becoming a more extravagant fool myself.
Oh, did I mention — READ THIS BOOK.
It’s only been a few days since I finished reading Kevin Adams’ The Extravagant Fool: A Faith Journey That Begins Where Common Sense Ends, knowing anything I would write would fall short of my best intentions. So let’s start with this: read the book.
This was the right book at the right time for me, a confirmation of the message God was already whispering in my ears, and a lifeboat sent by someone living through more treacherous waters than I can imagine. Most of all, this is a story of faith that I long for, and a tangible hand of the Spirit leading me into greater faith (foolish faith), written by the most vulnerable, authentic and honest author I have ever read. Yes, ever…
But this is also the right book for any time, and I look forward to reading it again and again. Why?
Because, for Kevin Adams, his story is HIS story. As he writes in his dedication, “may it leave a lasting impression on all who to decide to read it that [God] really [is] that good — always better than any of us can imagine.” So often we pray for God to change our circumstances, and the world tells us to at least “do something”. All the while, we forget that maybe God allows our very circumstances we want to change, to change us instead. Thank you, Kevin, for allowing God to be your provider so we all might gain.
We typically don't see the subtle differences between what we claim as truth and God’s truth, and the difference in how we respond to the “facts” that oppose God’s truth. Those “facts” shout at us daily, telling us we have the faith of fools. Kevin wonderfully demonstrates that, in the face of the world’s “common sense,” we must be Extravagant Fools to ever really know God’s truth and respond as He intends, to live the life He plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11).
Some who read this review will find that previous thought scary, if not ridiculous; some of you, I pray, will be like me and recognize it may be the biggest truth of all, prompting a “willingness to let go one’s own understanding and go against the tide of popular ideas that seem sensible on the surface, but underneath remain inadvertently swayed by things outside of God.” I pray my review, just like Kevin Adams’ book, will give you wisdom to see how God is laying out His glorious plan for you moment by moment. I pray you have the courage to keep living and believing, that God is a far better author of life than you or me.
“Wait upon the Lord.” “Walk by faith not by sight.” Those are the distinct words God began whispering to me in the last couple of months, even before I pre-ordered this book, before I received it and began reading it, before almost every circumstance of my life began to change. That is the faith of the Extravagant Fool. Trust in God, not your own wisdom, and He will take you somewhere beyond your own reach, even beyond the horizon of your own belief, certainly beyond common sense, to a place you’ve never been before.
We are taught that reading the Bible is good, but we forget that understanding it can only be as God intends. It’s His will against our own will; as long as we are willing to fight for our cause, we miss the cause of Christ and the will of God in our lives. I am so thankful Kevin decided to listen to God and discover His cause for his life, going forward. I look forward to reading his blog and witnessing additional fruits of the Spirit still to come from this Extravagant Fool.
And I look forward to leaning into becoming a more extravagant fool myself.
Oh, did I mention — READ THIS BOOK.
May 11, 2014
I am inspired to live a life that is more in tune to the voice of God and willing to step out in foolish faith for a God I know will provide. As I read this creatively written story my head filled with people I can't wait to share this book with. Many, if not most of those people are successful Christian business men who I know carry heavy weight on their sholders that God Himself has covered if they would just trust and obey Him.
I believe readers will be as inspired as I am by this testimony that was compiled completely on faith. I know as I sit here and read it that God did provide and I have a fresh look at hardships. I have a me thought about the distortion between Christian living and living for Christ. There are incredible nuggets of wisdom that I highlighted and will return to as I step out in my own faith journey.
I believe readers will be as inspired as I am by this testimony that was compiled completely on faith. I know as I sit here and read it that God did provide and I have a fresh look at hardships. I have a me thought about the distortion between Christian living and living for Christ. There are incredible nuggets of wisdom that I highlighted and will return to as I step out in my own faith journey.
February 28, 2015
(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic review copy in exchange for an honest review.)
This book is a short memoir of losing almost everything and finding God’s plan through the valleys and God’s timing.
Recommended for public libraries.
This book is a short memoir of losing almost everything and finding God’s plan through the valleys and God’s timing.
Recommended for public libraries.
May 5, 2022
Well written book about giving everything up for God, truly everything, and trusting in him wholly. Will definitely re-read.
April 19, 2017
A Tough but Worthy Pursuit
The bottom line of this book--absolute trust that our sovereign God will provide--is well presented and backed up evidentially. Adams writes well, though not as tight and clean as I would've liked. I came away feeling exhausted by the demands of a seemingly "unreasonable" God, but Adams makes his point forcefully: Important lessons don't come easy. I need to face up to the tough challenges of this level of radical, spiritual growth.
The bottom line of this book--absolute trust that our sovereign God will provide--is well presented and backed up evidentially. Adams writes well, though not as tight and clean as I would've liked. I came away feeling exhausted by the demands of a seemingly "unreasonable" God, but Adams makes his point forcefully: Important lessons don't come easy. I need to face up to the tough challenges of this level of radical, spiritual growth.
July 3, 2017
An an epic testimony with box-breaking truths, making for a must-read book. I can relate to both the overall trajectory and many details in it, because of its similarity to God's journey with my own family.
"Only when God becomes all we want do we truly see that He is all we need."
Here's to becoming a "fool" for Christ.
"Only when God becomes all we want do we truly see that He is all we need."
Here's to becoming a "fool" for Christ.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews