i would like to formally award dealing with the devil the prestigious honor of “corniest book of the year.” i mean this with affection. between the in-book gif-energy illustrations, 90s clip-art vibes, and a writing style that feels like your very intense uncle cornering you at a church potluck, this book is… an experience.
but once you peel back the aesthetic choices (of which there are many), you actually find some decent, even valuable, ideas. lovett is dead-serious about spiritual warfare, and while his tactics occasionally wander into “christian self-help manual” territory, he does keep circling back to real biblical principles — resisting temptation, identifying lies, remembering the enemy is not flesh and blood, etc.
i will say: some of the advice feels a little technique-heavy, and i personally lean toward a more classic, rooted approach — you know, the kind that emphasizes relying on christ’s finished work, the steady power of scripture, and the ordinary, everyday rhythms of grace rather than spiritual acrobatics. but even with the occasional eyebrow-raise, there’s something refreshing about a book that genuinely wants christians to take spiritual reality seriously.
still, i can’t lie — i had fun reading it. the book is part spiritual warfare guide, part vintage christian artifact, and part “did he really just say that?” for believers who can laugh at the packaging while appreciating a few solid reminders about vigilance and discernment, it’s a quirky little read.
corny? absolutely.
helpful in places? surprisingly, yes.
would i read it again? honestly… probably not but if i did it would only be for the clip art.