3 Reasons Witnessing through Reviewing Books is a Good Idea

*originally posted at jensmindunwinds

So, yeah, I’m an author. There’s definitely a part of me writing this that preaches the importance of book reviews because I know reviews of my book will help get it seen and get my message out there. But, people, as of yesterday I’ve realized that the importance of book reviews is even bigger than that.

Yesterday I reviewed a book on Amazon and was shocked to find I was the first person to do so! It wasn’t even my book and I was kind of offended by it. Why? Because this book can and will genuinely help people if only the readers would take two minutes to hop on Amazon and review. Think of it this way; you can actually witness and get the message of Christ out there by reviewing because the heavy lifting has already been done by the author, you become more authentic, relatable and believable because you’re not pushing your own agenda, and you’re provided with an easy opener into your own testimony. 

The Book I Reviewed, My Shock, and Aha Moment

Yesterday, I hopped on over to Amazon to review Healing for Our Soul Gardens by Kristen Clouse. I was so excited because this book is da bomb! I’ll tell ya why in a minute. However, I got there only to realize that I would be the first reviewer! I was floored! This book had been out since July of 2017! How on God’s green earth has not one reader of this book submitted a review?

My immediate thought was “Gee, I mean my book may help people butthis book can and will really help people! It was just a real shame!

Watch my video review here

If you watched my video review just now, you’ll see that this book is unique. I’ve never read a book by any counselor or therapist that although the whole world may read it, it’s as if the content is tailored to each and every reader. That is a gift! This book can genuinely introduce people to Christ today in a world where abuse is rampant and really produce some serious victors experiencing true healing!

Kristen’s Already Done the Work

The idea of witnessing to others by simply reviewing and promoting Kristen’s book is easy for me. She’s already done all the hard work. She has spent countless hours praying, crafting her thoughts and cultivating these pages so that God’s work can be done in others. All I have to do is help get the word out.

What is witnessing? Google says this:

“Witnessing Christ to someone means you’re trying to introduce the individual/person to the Lord Jesus Christ, who took the form of man, came to earth to die for the sins of man and freed man forever. To ’witnessChrist’ means to simply tell people about Christ with a view to convince them to accept him.”

All I have to do is point people to this book. If they read it, the book will do the rest.

Witnessing Like this Makes You More Relatable

Witnessing to others by telling of a book that helped you makes you more authentic, relatable and believable. Why? Because you’re not selling yourself. You’re connecting with others on the same level as you in a genuine way. It takes the pressure off the one you’re witnessing to because they don’t feel like they have to be fake excited as if they might hurt your feelings personally (it’s not your work/book). It takes the pressure off you because you don’t feel like a salesman; you’re simply highlighting the gift of someone else that shines the light of Christ.

Now You Have an Open Door to Your Own Experience

Lastly, reviewing and promoting another’s book creates an easy segue to your own testimony; your own story. We all know the best way to witness is to tell your story and the bible says in 1 Peter 3:15 to always be ready to give an answer for the hope you have. Our problem is often….how do I bring it up? A good option is, “so yeah, that’s the book I read and it adds to my story and what God’s doing for me because…” You see? You now have an in to converse about what God’s done for you through the low pressure avenue of a book review.

And yes, this can be done in a written review on Amazon just as well as in a conversation.

Moral of the Story

The moral of the story is this; it takes a village. We need each other. If you know that you have the answer to help someone in their mess, how can you not share it? How can you not help get the word out? The authors are doing the writing. It’s time for us readers to do the reviewing.

Did you know that the more reviews a book gets on Amazon, the higher it’ll rate in Amazon’s algorithms and get that book seen by its next potential reader? It’s true. Basically, if an author has a good amount of reviews, Amazon starts promoting for them!

What books can you review today to witness for Christ?