theCommune-ity | Youth Division United Pentecostal Church International

Book: To Own a Dragon: Reflections of Growing Up Without a Father
Author: Donald Miller
Donald Miller’s new memoir, “To Own A Dragon: Reflections of Growing Up Without A Father” is not only mesmerizing and insightful, it is a captivating journey through his life and the adolescent insecurities he nursed due to the absence of a father. Miller, author of the bestseller “Blue Like Jazz”, returns with his humorous and conversational writing style that makes him one of the most popular contemporary Christian writers right now. Weaving his awkward memories and the lessons he learned from a series of relationships with men that mentored him throughout his adolescence and early adulthood, Miller let’s the reader feel as though you are sitting across a table with him, sharing conversation with uncanny honesty and refreshing candor. Though some of the what I call “pseudo dads” in his life are comical, Miller does not insult them nor their temporary role at integral parts of his life. In the oddities of the simplest situation, Miller finds a nugget of wisdom to expose. This is a book about mentoring from the perspective of the person being mentored but it’s also a book about learning how to become a man.

The book really hits its stride when it focuses on his relationship with his most valued mentor. You quickly surmise that this relationship is what helped form the person and intriguing author that Miller is. Don’t think that you are simply reading some autobiographical and narcissistic tale of a dysfunctional young man who evolves into a bestselling author. Dragon is not about fairy tale endings. Miller still hasn’t quite figured out all of the ramifications of how the absence of his father is shaping him. He has a better grip now, but he is still learning. And, he makes some conclusions about this subject that are dead on, but he never comes off like he has all the answers. The book is contemplative about one of the greatest dilemmas of our age, the absence of stable father’s in the American domestic landscape. Take note of Miller’s insights on young elephants and you’ve already recouped the price and worth of the book.

This book is not only for people who did not grow up with a father, it’s for people that feel a burden to mentor others. Miller made sure to write this book in a fashion that is enthralling to anyone. When you pick this book up, you’ll have a hard time putting it down. It’s a quick read but a hearty challenge. To Own A Dragon should be a part of your library. Let it inspire you. Let it inform you and let it call you to action.

Wayne Francis

	strEventPageName = "/events.asp" 'name of the default events page intEventsHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use blogPagination = "2" 'how many blogs to show on the blog page showBlogRecords = "0" 'show the count of blog records on the blog page strBlogPageName = "/blog.asp" 'name of the default blog page for the site intBlogHTML = "0" 'all HTML use in blog records intTopicSort = "DateStamp" 'how would you like your topics sorted intTopicOrderBy = "ASC" 'sort ascending or descending intForumPosts = "3" 'how many forum posts to pull for the forum topic page intForumHTML = "0" 'allow HTML in forums posts [0=NO, 1=YES] strForumPageName = "/forums.asp" 'name of the default forum page for the site strProfilePageName = "/profile.asp" 'name of the default profile page strProfileTerms = "" 'the terms of use that a user must agree to when creating a new account intSchoolInfo = "0" 'include school information section in the user's profile intGuestbookHTML = "0" 'allow HTML use in guestbook entries intArticleHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use strArticlesDetailPage = "/articleDetail.asp" 'article detail page intNewsHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use in news entries strNewsDetailPage = "/newsDetail.asp" 'news detail page strNewsPageName = "/news.asp" 'name of the default news page strCorePageName = "/corepage.asp" 'name of the default core page intCorePageHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use intStaffHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use intShowStaffThumbs = "1" 'show staff thumbnail images intShowStaffBios = "1" 'show staff bio text intLinkHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use intSecurityRoleHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use intMediaHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use intFormsHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use intPollHTML = "0" 'allow HTML use intArtifactHTML = "0" 'allow HTML use intImageGalleryHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use intAdHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use intFlashGalleryHTML = "1" 'allow HTML use
	Book Review Book: To Own a Dragon: Reflections of Growing Up Without a Father Author: Donald Miller Donald Miller’s new memoir, “To Own A Dragon: Reflections of Growing Up Without A Father” is not only mesmerizing and insightful, it is a captivating journey through his life and the adolescent insecurities he nursed due to the absence of a father. Miller, author of the bestseller “Blue Like Jazz”, returns with his humorous and conversational writing style that makes him one of the most popular contemporary Christian writers right now. Weaving his awkward memories and the lessons he learned from a series of relationships with men that mentored him throughout his adolescence and early adulthood, Miller let’s the reader feel as though you are sitting across a table with him, sharing conversation with uncanny honesty and refreshing candor. Though some of the what I call “pseudo dads” in his life are comical, Miller does not insult them nor their temporary role at integral parts of his life. In the oddities of the simplest situation, Miller finds a nugget of wisdom to expose. This is a book about mentoring from the perspective of the person being mentored but it’s also a book about learning how to become a man. The book really hits its stride when it focuses on his relationship with his most valued mentor. You quickly surmise that this relationship is what helped form the person and intriguing author that Miller is. Don’t think that you are simply reading some autobiographical and narcissistic tale of a dysfunctional young man who evolves into a bestselling author. Dragon is not about fairy tale endings. Miller still hasn’t quite figured out all of the ramifications of how the absence of his father is shaping him. He has a better grip now, but he is still learning. And, he makes some conclusions about this subject that are dead on, but he never comes off like he has all the answers. The book is contemplative about one of the greatest dilemmas of our age, the absence of stable father’s in the American domestic landscape. Take note of Miller’s insights on young elephants and you’ve already recouped the price and worth of the book. This book is not only for people who did not grow up with a father, it’s for people that feel a burden to mentor others. Miller made sure to write this book in a fashion that is enthralling to anyone. When you pick this book up, you’ll have a hard time putting it down. It’s a quick read but a hearty challenge. To Own A Dragon should be a part of your library. Let it inspire you. Let it inform you and let it call you to action. Wayne Francis