The Botkins are a lovely family and we are very like-minded in many ways. As a result, I quickly skimmed So Much More and decided that I already knew and agreed with what I would find inside.
I set it back on the shelf and recommended it heartily without even having read the entire book. I recommend it primarily to young daughters in their fathers’ homes and to families who are newly interested in the idea that daughters ought to stay under their father’s authority until marriage.
I’m afraid I sold this book short.
I had the privilege of spending some time with the Botkins this weekend, and today I found myself idly paging through the book, trying to remember which bits I had skimmed. I have now decided that I need to read this book from cover to cover now, including the appendices. Thanks to their father’s influence (and their lovely mother, whom I am glad to count a friend), young Anna Sophia and Elizabeth are wise beyond their years. It’s no wonder So Much More has been #5 among top sellers at Vision Forum since it was released.
I found this insightful quote on pg.21-22:
Every woman’s life is built around men and men’s role and leadership in some way…
Women who don’t know this usually – unwittingly – spend their lives helping the wrong men…
Take a look back in history for a moment, at all the women we think of as being “independent” of men. You will discover something fascinating. Take Betty Friedan, America’s premier feminist. Even she couldn’t escape from her own inherent nature as a helpmeet. She spent her whole professional life advancing the agenda of Karl Marx and his disciples.
I’ve never thought of the issue in these terms. What do you think?
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We LOVE this book at our house!! My oldest daughters (ages 17 and 14) have read it many times. Our two copies are dog-eared and contain copious notes in the margins. It is also the number one gift we give anytime we have need of a gift for any preteen or teenage girl.
I wholeheartedly recommend it!! And, read it more than once. I find that I learn something new each and every time I do!
I’m getting ready to read So Much More for the third time and I highly reccommend it! It has made me think and has changed the way I see myself.
I still remember the first time I read that quote…. like you said, I had never thought about it like that before. Very interesting….
This book is one of those gifts that I give every chance I get!
Ohh – that is sooo good! I had not ever thought of it that way either! You who like to give this as gifts – I just had a birthday! ( :
This sounds like a book that is most needed in our home library – thanks so much for sharing this.
Warmly,
Mandi
What wonderful insights. I would love to get a hold of a copy of that book! Blessings!
Wow…my husband and boys spent this weekend with the Botkin MEN at a Father-Son retreat! (Well, some of them – the other Botkin guys sent video contributions with their dad.) And my hubby came back just glowing with vision that he received from them and wonderful time spent with his sons.
My girls meet every other week for a morning with another family’s daughters…they call it “Craft Day” because they work on whatever hand-projects they would like to and the other mom is reading So Much More aloud to them while they knit, crochet, make cards, or even just sketch. For our two families, it has been the impetus for some incredible conversations. We really recommend it.
I read it too and really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see the video they are working on.
I love your blog, by the way.
Take care,
Leigh