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Deadly Viper: Character Assassins
Deadly Viper Character Assassins is a kung fu inspired book on leadership integrity. With provocative and honest insights on burnout, out of control emotions, sex, money, transparency, and second chances, Deadly Viper is a must read for every leader looking for sustained success. So whether you're an executive at a large company, a daring entrepreneur, a gifted salesman, or serving at a church or non-profit, Deadly Viper Character Assassins will engage you in the critical conversations about finding true meaning in life and leadership.
- GenresSelf HelpChristianity
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2009
24 people want to read
About the author
Jud Wilhite
43 books21 followersJud Wilhite is an author, speaker, and senior pastor of Central Christian Church, a church founded in Las Vegas with multiple campuses, both national and international. Central is recognized as one of the largest and fastest growing churches in America. Jud is the author of several books, including Pursued, a New York Times bestseller, Torn, Throw it Down, and Uncensored Grace. He and his wife, Lori, have two kids and live in the Las Vegas area.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 14, 2019
I had great hopes for this book but those hopes were shattered.
First, the book is subtitled "a kung fu survival guide for life and leadership" so, I don't know, I was thinking it might have some Eastern philosophy thrown into the mix. Nope, this book leans heavy on evangelical Christianity which left a bad taste in my mouth but I continued to read.
I got to chapter 2 and I'm done. First the authors mistake privacy for concealment. They use an example of how their circle has access to their search history, access to email and passwords and make it seem that, if you don't do the same, it's concealment. I'm sorry, we're allowed to have some sort of privacy.
In this same chapter the authors mention "shuck and jive" but, unless your book is on Jim Crow or the minstrelsy, there's no reason why "shuck and jive" should be coming out of a white person's mouth. There are other comparisons that could be used.
Then there's the woman driver anecdote. One of the authors had a female driver and was put off by her doing the job and being friendly. "She was hot, and I was far from home where no one would ever know. I caught myself thinking thoughts I wouldn't want to see on a billboard anytime soon; I realized how easily things could happen that I'd later regret." The authors then make a pact never to travel alone. Oh my fucking God, learn to keep it in your pants. Don't blame your woman driver for your horndog thoughts.
I made it to page 57 but I'm done
First, the book is subtitled "a kung fu survival guide for life and leadership" so, I don't know, I was thinking it might have some Eastern philosophy thrown into the mix. Nope, this book leans heavy on evangelical Christianity which left a bad taste in my mouth but I continued to read.
I got to chapter 2 and I'm done. First the authors mistake privacy for concealment. They use an example of how their circle has access to their search history, access to email and passwords and make it seem that, if you don't do the same, it's concealment. I'm sorry, we're allowed to have some sort of privacy.
In this same chapter the authors mention "shuck and jive" but, unless your book is on Jim Crow or the minstrelsy, there's no reason why "shuck and jive" should be coming out of a white person's mouth. There are other comparisons that could be used.
Then there's the woman driver anecdote. One of the authors had a female driver and was put off by her doing the job and being friendly. "She was hot, and I was far from home where no one would ever know. I caught myself thinking thoughts I wouldn't want to see on a billboard anytime soon; I realized how easily things could happen that I'd later regret." The authors then make a pact never to travel alone. Oh my fucking God, learn to keep it in your pants. Don't blame your woman driver for your horndog thoughts.
I made it to page 57 but I'm done
January 14, 2009
'cause we all need a little self-help from time to time, yeah?
pithy, practical. irreverent, yet deadly serious. a good reminder that right action is birthed from right thought, and that who you are on the inside is eventually what will be seen on the outside.
pithy, practical. irreverent, yet deadly serious. a good reminder that right action is birthed from right thought, and that who you are on the inside is eventually what will be seen on the outside.
November 11, 2015
An easy read that keeps your attention by breaking up sections with various artwork and quotes. An interesting spin on some fairly universal concepts. I highly recommend for men, as there is a raw candor and definite masculinity that I believe most would find refreshing, if not appealing.
March 24, 2018
This book would be great for someone who struggles with taking control of their life or emotions. A lot of the points of this book are GREAT but as someone who already focuses on those points from day to day, it was a bit of a drag to read. Still giving 3 stars because this is a perfect book for someone who needs guidance on how to stay positive.
May 27, 2019
A gross cocktail of racism, sexism, and some serious victim-blaming.
August 4, 2011
This book is about different "character assassins" that will destroy your integrity if you are not aware of them or if you are not setting yourself up to overcome them.
One of the things that I love about Christianity or any conversation regarding any issue when Christianity plays a part is the fact that God is the Alpha and Omega. What I mean by that is most conversations regarding God will start with God (the Alpha).
A basic conversation starts out with a basic theology of who God is, his characteristics and attributes. From there is it natural to discuss how we should live in response to the character of God as people who are created in His image and saved by His grace.
When that conversation reaches the issue of integrity we see that due to several spiritual reasons we are called to live with character. We also know that we are under attack by Satan who would love to see out character for out the window, have people question or ministry, and in the end place a nugget of doubt about who Jesus really is in the back of people's minds.
This leaves the conversation headed in one direction...God. We need God's grace to not get sucked into a cycle of spiritual masochist activity. We also need to recognize that it is His power that helps us over come temptation, or his sovereignty in always providing a way out for us.
This is what I mean by God being the Alpha and Omega of spiritual conversation, He tends to be the starting point and the ending point, which is completely appropriate.
This book is like the middle part of that conversation. There are no spiritual ties to character and integrity whatsoever. Other than mentioning quotes from Christian leaders there is not direct link to the importance of our integrity and a God who made us in His image.
I agree with what Mike and Jud say in this book. It is full of practical advice that can be applied to our lives to help us avoid pitfalls in regards to our character. Unfortunately it is only half of the conversation.
One example in the book is in the chapter called "The Assassin of Amped Emotions". In this chapter it spelled out that we should not go blind with rage, yell at a co-worker or subordinate and batter them emotionally because of a mistake. The reason for this is because "once a person in a organization has been attacked that person will stop contributing to the organization". Although this is true, it is only half of the story. Forget the fact that the individual you might yell at is a person created in God's image and a person that is cared for and loved deeply by an almighty God, what matters is that if you lose your temper that person will cease to perform for you.
The ideas of this book are true and good but the foundation is not there. It is like they have given someone who has never played baseball and given them a ball, bat, and glove and sent them out on the field but they never explained the purpose of the game.
The book is not a bad read, funny in parts, a lot of good advice, but know that there are so many more pressing issues in regards to our integrity than what is mentioned here. There is also a blog up where the conversation is still going regarding this book, I hope that there these underlying, and overlying issues will be brought up.
***On a side note, there is a small two page interview with Tony Hale in this book that for me was completely worth the read. Tony Hale is the actor who played Buster on Arrested Development. Hilariousness incarnate.***
One of the things that I love about Christianity or any conversation regarding any issue when Christianity plays a part is the fact that God is the Alpha and Omega. What I mean by that is most conversations regarding God will start with God (the Alpha).
A basic conversation starts out with a basic theology of who God is, his characteristics and attributes. From there is it natural to discuss how we should live in response to the character of God as people who are created in His image and saved by His grace.
When that conversation reaches the issue of integrity we see that due to several spiritual reasons we are called to live with character. We also know that we are under attack by Satan who would love to see out character for out the window, have people question or ministry, and in the end place a nugget of doubt about who Jesus really is in the back of people's minds.
This leaves the conversation headed in one direction...God. We need God's grace to not get sucked into a cycle of spiritual masochist activity. We also need to recognize that it is His power that helps us over come temptation, or his sovereignty in always providing a way out for us.
This is what I mean by God being the Alpha and Omega of spiritual conversation, He tends to be the starting point and the ending point, which is completely appropriate.
This book is like the middle part of that conversation. There are no spiritual ties to character and integrity whatsoever. Other than mentioning quotes from Christian leaders there is not direct link to the importance of our integrity and a God who made us in His image.
I agree with what Mike and Jud say in this book. It is full of practical advice that can be applied to our lives to help us avoid pitfalls in regards to our character. Unfortunately it is only half of the conversation.
One example in the book is in the chapter called "The Assassin of Amped Emotions". In this chapter it spelled out that we should not go blind with rage, yell at a co-worker or subordinate and batter them emotionally because of a mistake. The reason for this is because "once a person in a organization has been attacked that person will stop contributing to the organization". Although this is true, it is only half of the story. Forget the fact that the individual you might yell at is a person created in God's image and a person that is cared for and loved deeply by an almighty God, what matters is that if you lose your temper that person will cease to perform for you.
The ideas of this book are true and good but the foundation is not there. It is like they have given someone who has never played baseball and given them a ball, bat, and glove and sent them out on the field but they never explained the purpose of the game.
The book is not a bad read, funny in parts, a lot of good advice, but know that there are so many more pressing issues in regards to our integrity than what is mentioned here. There is also a blog up where the conversation is still going regarding this book, I hope that there these underlying, and overlying issues will be brought up.
***On a side note, there is a small two page interview with Tony Hale in this book that for me was completely worth the read. Tony Hale is the actor who played Buster on Arrested Development. Hilariousness incarnate.***
January 19, 2010
I grabbed Deadly Viper Character Assassins from the New Books shelf at my public library. A well designed book with funky graphics, I checked it out. The book is about maintaining an upright character. The authors list six character assassins that you must beware:
The Assassin of Character Creep: Do not cut corners when it comes to your character. That is how most people begin their fall.
The Assassin of Zi Qi Qi Ren: Zi Qi Qi Ren is the Chinese term for deceiving yourself while deceiving others. The authors caution you not to drink your own kool-aid, better yet, don't serve any kool-aid. Be straight with everyone including yourself.
The Assassin of Amped Emotions: It is easy to lose your head and make a rash, harmful decision when your emotions are running wild. Think before you speak or act.
The Assassin of the Headless Sprinting Chicken: Beware burnout. But, also beware the seductive illusion of balance. You cannot be everything to everyone at the same time. Sometimes you work hard, sometimes you play hard, just don't do both at the same time.
The Assassin of Boom Chicka Wah Wah: This one is just what it sounds like. Sex is a very powerful force in human lives. Engage in it responsibly.
The Bling Bling Assassin: It is OK to enjoy your stuff, just do not let your stuff take over your life.
The High and Mighty Assassin: Remember, no matter what your title or position, you are human just like everyone else, whether you are the CEO or the janitor.
Overall, Deadly Viper Character Assassins is a short, fun read. I did not find anything earth shatteringly enlightening about it, but reading it gave me some things to think about. I was surprised to find that the book is classified as Christian non-fiction. I did not find any overt Christian content in the book and Christianity does not have a monopoly on upright character, so I would call this a self-help book instead. Also, I felt the authors tried a little to hard to be funky and fresh, which distracted from the actual content of the book. Reviews on the internet indicate that many Asian readers were offended by the author's stereotypical portrayal of Asians. Personally, I found their facile treatment of the martial arts a negative as well.
3.25/5
October 20, 2009
Attractively packaged little book (about the size of a double CD case) about the very important topics of integrity, accountability & grace. Mike & Jud (the authors) used the ninja/kung fu theme to highlight possible ways in which our integrity can be compromised and/or destroyed... and set up some possible ways to prevent that from happening.
One problem with the book is tone: sometimes, they're striving for a "beat your chest/Man Cave" vibe. Other times, they tell important personal stories that illustrate their points with clarity & style. I'm not sure if it's the dual-author thing or just weak editing, but the book doesn't seem to flow well.
Another problem is depth: these are vital subjects, both for those who are followers of Christ & those who are not... and the book is written in such a way (read: not preachy/churchy/heavy on God content) that it could be used with both groups of people. However, regardless of your religious affiliation, there isn't enough meat on the bones of this skeleton - it's like the abridged transcript of a really powerful men's retreat.
I'm not denying that there is good stuff in here - just that I'm not sure that the "hipster" packaging/theme outweight my desire for engaging the topics in more meaningful ways. (Credit where credit is due: the last chapter, "People of the Second Chance," is great.)
A note for ministry professionals: Zondervan, the publisher, is marketing this a good study for churchwide and/or leadership. While I have not read through the study guide (it's on my desk in the "need to read" pile), the book itself contains enough borderline offensive language to make it unusable in conservative/multi-age settings. I would be comfortable using it at a men's retreat but not with my entire church.
One problem with the book is tone: sometimes, they're striving for a "beat your chest/Man Cave" vibe. Other times, they tell important personal stories that illustrate their points with clarity & style. I'm not sure if it's the dual-author thing or just weak editing, but the book doesn't seem to flow well.
Another problem is depth: these are vital subjects, both for those who are followers of Christ & those who are not... and the book is written in such a way (read: not preachy/churchy/heavy on God content) that it could be used with both groups of people. However, regardless of your religious affiliation, there isn't enough meat on the bones of this skeleton - it's like the abridged transcript of a really powerful men's retreat.
I'm not denying that there is good stuff in here - just that I'm not sure that the "hipster" packaging/theme outweight my desire for engaging the topics in more meaningful ways. (Credit where credit is due: the last chapter, "People of the Second Chance," is great.)
A note for ministry professionals: Zondervan, the publisher, is marketing this a good study for churchwide and/or leadership. While I have not read through the study guide (it's on my desk in the "need to read" pile), the book itself contains enough borderline offensive language to make it unusable in conservative/multi-age settings. I would be comfortable using it at a men's retreat but not with my entire church.
February 11, 2012
The message and illistrations are great. If you have seen the TV program of Kung Fu then the story will make more sense to you. The infor,mation and stories about staying out of trouble by watching out for the charactor assassins is very helpful. Hope they will rewrite the book to stay out of trouble with the critism of it.
Read
June 30, 2010This is not the best written book you will ever read, but it does have valuable insights. Too bad someone got offended by the Asian themes in the book and caused Zondervan to pull it from distribution.
April 25, 2008
This was co-authored by a friend of mine Mike Foster. It's a fun read puts your ego on blast without emasculating you.
August 1, 2008
Excellent look at uncensored grace on the Vegas Strip from Jud WIlhite. Challenging stories of journey and transformation from SIn City.
October 4, 2008
What a great little book. It made me think about how I lived my life. It was just a comic book like writing, but it made me think about my integrity.
November 13, 2008
not bad for an Amarillo boy. . .
January 3, 2009
Cool book. A fun way to look at the simple things that bring us down day in and day out. The assassin of character creep really stuck with me.
February 20, 2009
an easy read & a good reminder about the importance of integrity & character in work & life.
January 2, 2010
Quick read. Interesting thoughts on the importance of living with integrity, some common downfalls, and strategies for avoiding pitfalls.
Read
February 20, 2016okay
April 7, 2016
It was a good book. Some insightful thoughts with a good blend of martial arts.
June 7, 2009
I learned how to maintain integrity even when it is attacked.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews