This is a life changing book! I have grown so much because of her gentle nudging in these pages. I have been reading and re-reading the book since 2000. For three years now I have picked it up again and again. I'm starting accountability groups based on the book now. This is one where there is always more to learn about myself and about God.

This book is 3 books in one. The first part, Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman, gives you advice and tips about every day living: wardrobe, time management, etc. The second part, Disciplines of the Heart, helps you enhance your relationship with God and your faith and trust in Him. This part has helped me a lot to be more confident in God, to not worry so much but
trust Him. The third part, Disciplines of the Home, is addressed especially to women who are also mothers.

Mrs. Ortlund does a beautiful job in teaching women how to organize their lives and get their priorities in place according to what will please God. She clearly sets the ideal, which may be unattainable for most women, especially those with young children. However, every woman should be able to gain some insight from this book and make her life better.

First of all, this book has an overtly Christian tone. The great thing about it is it made me realize some of the things that were wrong with my relationship, even though we aren't married. For any Christian couple out there that is going through tough times, I'd definitely recommend this book. I'd also recommend it for someone who is dating or married to someone who isn't Christian. It may help you to see some things you'd never noticed before. Very helpful book!

This book explains how it is never too late to accept God through the Son He sent to bring us to Him. We all can be Wet Cement in the Creator's hands. This book really pointed me in the right direction!

A wonderful book for anyone who has struggled with "doing" the Christian life, giving tangible ways in which to rest in God's presence and His provision; just "being" rather than doing. Without negating the need for right living, it helps to alleviate the feelings of condemnation many of us have when we don't measure up to certain standards of behavior, whether those standards are God's, our own or those of other people, while making it clear that God's standards are the only ones that truly matter.

This book starts with a graphical, three part model that forms the basis of the book. It describes each task / journey / endeavor / relationship, etc. as going through three stages - the initial startup phase, the "problem phase" and the success or maintenance phase. It then provides valuable insight to what characterizes each phase and prepares you for barriers that will occur and offers sound strategies to counter them. Forewarned is forearmed. Some would say this is pretty simple, but I think many powerful concepts are indeed simple. This is a book that you can easily read in a few sittings but it's model and message will stay with you forever. I've given copies to my 3 children and two friends - one contemplating divorce and the other wanting to quit his job. Highly recommeneded to all ages and all people. Wish I had read it when I was in high school.

Anne Ortlund seems like a wonderful Godly woman but a lot of the focus of this book is about getting the outside looking beautiful. I was looking for tips on how to be beautiful on the inside and she is telling me to cream my body each night so it's soft for my husband's touch. A lot of focus on being organized and keeping a clean house but not much on becoming beautiful inside.

I read this book just before I got married, and again during my pregnancy, learning so much more each time that I've gone out and bought about twenty copies each time I heard a girlfriend struggling with discipline in herself and her home. This is not just a book, but a great and wonderful tool. Thank you Anne Ortlund!!!!

Praise God for books like this! Anne Ortlund has wonderfully shared golden nuggets of truths for any, if not for all of the women of the world, especially to those of the family of God. Her teachings are very practical and very attainable with the help of God Who dwells in the hearts of those who believe in Him and in His word. Indeed, a beautiful woman is not only with a beautiful face and body, but most of all, she has the Lord Jesus Christ at the very center of her life. That, is God's kind of a beautiful woman!Thank you Anne for sharing you life in a book.God bless you!

I met Ray and Anne, just before buying this book. I'm amazed at how much of who they both are comes out in the style and content. There are several of us using this book to facilitate a weekly accountability group. We haven't been able to find enoiugh copies of the book for everyone. Looking forward to the next printing.

It's obvious that Anne loves the Lord, and that love comes through on these pages. This is the book that got me to be serious about tithing, and more diligent about Bible study and discernment. My two insurmountable arguments with the book are: 1. she says in one chapter that children need to be lifted from the "burden" of piano lessons, 4-H, etc. and "sheltered" to "make their own play." Maybe she's really trying to say, "Don't overprogram your kids," but it came out all wrong to me. One of my spiritual gifts is music--and Anne is a musician herself--so she should know that some kids are called to be musicians and shouldn't be sheltered from piano lessons. 2. I really bristle at blanket statements that all divorce is adultery and a sin. I do understand that our society has gotten more comfortable with it than is really healthy, but condemnation from the church is not the answer. The church needs instead to create an atmosphere of acceptance that will help the divorced person feel that you don't have to be married or re-married to fit into its social structure. Only when the church holds itself accountable for strengthening existing marriages and communicating clearly with people whose marriages are in any kind of trouble, can it sit back and say, "you're wrong. Period." Other than these two quibbles, there's a lot of gold in this book. I hope it's re-released someday:)

This looks like fluff, but don't judge till you read. Full of scripture, it goes deep enough to hit you for days. I want to have a copy of my own, but it is out-of-print. The topics deal almost exclusively with personal, soul-based issues that bring you or keep you from God. Lots of good references also. I loved it.