I was never aware of Joel Osteen until I saw him on a TV magazine show a couple of years ago. There was nothing too remarkable about the interview except that reporters did not seem to think Osteen was a crook which sort of made one wonder why interview him. The reason seemed to be that he was so popular.

I started watching him on TV and bought his book. Some sermons are better than others. Some chapters in the book are better than others. I am well aware of what his critics say about him, and don't suggest that they don't have the right to say it.

For me though, he tells us that his God loves and wants good things for us. Simple-minded, maybe so, but makes a lot more sense to me than the message that God is a U. S. citizen and supportive of our wars against our enemies even if a few thousand civilians are killed every so often.

Osteen seems to love God and people. He never mentions politics or asks for money. He is no intellectual so if you are looking for a book by the Pope, this ain't it. If you are looking for some God based positive thinking, in my opinion this is a good station on your route.

I am a little torn when it comes to this book. I really agree with the idea of individual purpose and destiny. That is totally Biblical and a wonderful truth! We are born with a purpose in God and if we follow His principles we will fulfill that purpose and live a wonderful life. The book did not seem to go in that direction. It seemed to focus on ideas of positive thinking and positive belief. It seems the focus is to a new and better is on ME and not God and the Bible. To be honest the book was a little thin on substance. I was inspired by the idea of a better life--a life of purpose but I was disappointed with Mr. Osteen’s way to get there. Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book.

This book is full of uplifting thoughts and positive thinking. If you believe hard enough, you will get what you want. But that is a flawed view of Christianity. I think there is some hope here and maybe you will find a way to "improve" yourself to some degree. However, I do not think you will find the key to a changed life. It felt like I was mostly reading fluff with little substance that I could take and apply to my daily life. There are some good suggestions, but nothing that would change my life. Plus it seemed like rewording and repeating the same ideas over and over.

Because I love Joel Olsteen and watching his programs on television, I was instantly drawn to this book. Just like on t.v., Joel keeps a very positive attitude and gives off a positive vibe about not worrying in your day to day life. I contantly worry, so this book helped to boost my self-esteem. It really helps to watch him on T.V. as well, as this book correlates with his overall message of "becoming a better you." Great step-by-step process outlined throughout the whole book as to how to improve your life. I would definitely recommened it to anyone wanting to improve your life whether you are down in the dumps or high on a mountain.

I am not one to give high reviews easily, but Joel Osteen connected with me in this book much more than any time I had seen him on television. When I bought this book I was going through a bit of a slump and was looking for direction. The way he writes makes you believe in yourself. I felt compelled to be positive and found myself motivated in ways I hadn't been for quite a long time. Now I have seen some reviews saying he is a bit preachy, and definitely more so in this book than in his show, but what does one expect? He is a preacher! Now there is a bit of this book that puts rose glasses on everything, but if you need a boost then you need this book. I truly feel this book can help you regardless of religious belief!

Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Every Day by Joel Osteen is a remarkable journey into the cavity of your searching heart. We all need encouragement to live through this life as happy or disastrous it may be. But to have that encouragement spring free fresh, lively, and full of pure good wishes is not something you find often. In Joel’s unmistakable style of speaking to his listeners, or readers in this case, he gets through to the stubborn doubting, hard headed area of your mind and livens it up, giving it hope to stand in a new world tomorrow. I would recommend Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Every Day to anyone whose ever wondered what God did to them when he left us here, or someone who just needs some wisdom or encouragement. It was one of the best gifts I’ve received in the past couple months.

This book is very uplifting, heart felt, and a total blessing. When I read this book I honestly could not put it down. Joel Osteen has a way in writing which keeps your heart beating for more. He speaks of ways in which you should trust in God to Guide you to having a happy life. Being I was raised in a Christian family I could really relate to a lot of which was written in this book, I believe anyone who reads this book will definitely come out a winner.

This book is well written and does clearly describe one category of blessings that God provides. However, by emphasizing this one category it minimizes the fact that God provides each us with a wonderful combination of blessings that is uniquely designed for each individual. And the material portion of this combination is only one aspect that, by God's perfect design, will be smaller for some than for others. So, an excessive focus on this one type of blessing can ultimiately lead to an unfulfilled life.

I found Osteen's "7 Keys to Improving Your Life Everyday," to be the most annoying self improvement book I have ever read. The book heavily relies on a biased reading of the bible and preaches as if this there is only one way of thinking. It totally crushes the readers own beliefs. In every chapter he pushes the idea that if you put your faith in God through prayer, your prayers will be answered. I found this message to be admirable....the FIRST time I heard it. That same message resonates throughout the entire novel and becomes extremely redundant. Overall, the novel reminds me of a sermon at a really conservative church. I was also appalled at the idea that he seems to credit God for helping him acquire material things because of his prayer. What does that say about the homeless or the poor? Are they not praying hard enough? Is that not an elitist idea to start with?