Getting to Zero: Australia's Energy Transition by Alan Finkel | Goodreads

Getting to Zero: Australia's Energy Transition by Alan Finkel | Goodreads

Getting to Zero: Australia's Energy Transition (Quarterly Essay #81)

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Nick

Apr 26, 2021Nick rated it liked it

The science is there, the market is there, the infrastructure is (nearly) there - and yet our government's collective lack of spine forces them prostrate before the throne of coal and oil.

Finkel lays out how Australia is well placed (perhaps uniquely so) to take advantage of the renewable energy revolution. Yet Finkel is no revolutionary himself, taking an obstinately pragmatic tone throughout.

And while the focus on hard science and infrastructure concerns led to some dry reading at points, I w ...more

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Yuri Sharon

Mar 26, 2021Yuri Sharon rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition

Detailed and thorough, but where was the editor when, on p. 19, we have “... the Tasmanian premier, Guy Barnett ...” Really?!

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Ben Robinson

Apr 05, 2021Ben Robinson rated it really liked it

Clear and insightful overview of Australia’s emissions profile and how we can reduce it. Learnt a lot.

I like his ‘technology agnosticism’ when it comes to the how of reducing emissions and whether natural gas should be involved. However, he is overly generous when describing key liberal party figures like Taylor and Frydenberg. He makes them appear supportive of the need to reduce emissions and adopt new technology (such as hydrogen) when the opposite is true. The liberal party have had a cancerous effect on Australia doing anything meaningful about climate change over the last two decades. One would expect someone as evidence based as Finkel to acknowledge this, or at least avoid portraying them positively. (less)

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Jeremy Ray

May 10, 2021Jeremy Ray rated it really liked it

A super solid State of Play on Australia's path towards zero (or near-zero) emissions. This essay lays out the new technologies we should be embracing, lays out what the renewables-based future will look like, and charts a course for how to get there. It also shows how this global crisis is Australia's biggest economic opportunity.

There's nothing of the politics of the situation in here. That'll be a plus to some and a minus to others. We definitely have some political "obstacles," but Finkel didn't want to go into who the friends and foes were/are of Australia's zero-emissions future.

If you're already up-to-date on all the details surrounding Australia's role in battling climate change, you might not learn anything new here, as this is very much an essay to catch everyone up. It was all new to me, and there are very few wasted sentences in Finkel's writing. It's an info-packed 100 pages and I felt like highlighting the whole damn thing. (less)

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Joel D

Apr 13, 2021Joel D rated it liked it

Shelves: finished-2021

Decently written but not particularly compelling. Basically he just explains the practicalities of the technology for a zero-emissions economy. Tone is approachable and conversational which is good I suppose.

The correspondence, responding to Laura Tingle's NZ/Aus essay, is not particularly interesting. There's also one terrible letter going on about how special superannuation is and then I checked and the man writing it is, surprise surprise, from Australian Super. Not sure why he got a platform in the QE to shill for the super industry, but there you go. (less)

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Fridja Ernens

Mar 26, 2021Fridja Ernens rated it really liked it

Shelves: audible

Inspiring read on the Net Zero potential of Australia from a technology point of view. Really enjoyed how clearly he described what needs to happen in different sectors to make Australia prosper and thrive.

I was disappointed however in the lack of policy recommendations that will help enable and accelerate this path to a Net Zero Australia. Finkel clearly sketches how Australia can be a world leader in clean energy, but with current policies we'll be a late adaptor and miss out on many opportuni ...more

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Liam Halford

Apr 04, 2021Liam Halford rated it really liked it

Super relevant! And makes you less scared to see that the government feasibly can to do something about climate change.

Both specific and big picture view written by Australia's Chief Scientist. Looking at how practically Australia will manage to transition to zero emissions and how it will impact a range of industries. Everything from "how do you keep the electricity grid stable with renewables?" to "how do we cope with losing our coal export industry?" and "what if I don't have off street parking so charging my car will be a pain?"/"how do we fuel long haul planes?" Etc.

Would recommend. 5 stars for content (less)

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Julia

May 30, 2021Julia rated it really liked it

Great. Easy to read for complex ideas, the future is now people. Alan Finkel clarifies the path ahead for net zero energy in Australia and it is POSSIBLE. I just kept clenching my fists thinking whyyyyyy are we not doing this yet. This helped to ease the climate anxiety and see a way up and out.

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Nell Cohen

Jul 26, 2021Nell Cohen rated it liked it

Objectively good and important essay but very technical. Was not really in the mood for it at the time of reading.

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Alisha Davie

Apr 21, 2021Alisha Davie rated it really liked it

I read this as a follow on from Bill Gates - how to avoid a climate disaster. Great overview and provided the relevant information to Australia's roadmap to net zero emissions (less)

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Wide Eyes, Big Ears!

May 12, 2021Wide Eyes, Big Ears! rated it really liked it

Shelves: z-documentary

Australian Chief Scientist, Alan Finkel, lays out the case for tackling climate change and how we can get there. His pragmatic approach embraces a ‘technology agnosticism’, i.e., the aim is to get to zero (low) emissions by whatever means necessary. Abruptly ceasing fossil fuel usage will not help us transition without stuffing the economy. There are loads of facts and figures which are hard to retain, but some of the major points:

1) As we’ve progressively adopted coal, oil, and gas, we’ve kept using the older fuels so that their effect is additive

2) The goal is ‘The Electric Planet’, where most energy usage will be in the form of electricity produced by clean technologies

3) Clean hydrogen is the most promising future fuel and Australia could be a major producer and exporter

4) Developing and transitioning to new clean technologies take time and natural gas is the least worst stepping stone

5) A single vote makes little difference, but many votes cause change. Equally, every person and country has a part to play in the energy transition, it has a cumulative effect. (less)

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A.M.

May 16, 2021A.M. rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook, i-own

It's not the author's fault, but I just despair of the Australian Liberal government. The same people that shrill that electric cars will take your ute, refuse to even state which year we aim for net zero carbon emissions, and wave around lumps of coal in parliament; those people have no intention of promoting the sciences and the policies we need to be competitive in the world market for renewable resources.

And it's Australia, you know? The one thing we almost have too much of is sun, and it's only going to get worse. We have the raw resources to make batteries, we should be making them here, filling them via solar power and shipping them offshore. It seems nuts that Singapore wants to build a giant solar farm in Australia to power their country when we are not doing it ourselves.

Finkel seems more focused on Hydrogen as a fuel source but concedes that things will need to be a compromise for a while to come.

3 stars (less)

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Gavan Huang

Sep 20, 2021Gavan Huang rated it it was amazing

Written by Australia's former Chief Scientist from 2015-2020, this book dictates the work that Australia needs to do to reduce emissions to zero, or almost zero, by 2050. The book provides great insight into why climate change is real and anthropogenic, as well as the current state of the nation's energy consumption and pollution and the methods in which Australia can move to lower emission pragmatically. More importantly, this short book easily communicates scientific and environmental concepts to the general public.

(less)

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Gavin

Jun 22, 2021Gavin rated it it was ok  ·  review of another edition

Finkel knows the topic, is invested in it’s success and opens quite well with the suggestion for a perfectly reasonable approach to reach zero. Why then does he spend so much time on pie in the sky nonsense like “clean hydrogen”? In the end a disappointing read, which hopefully will draw some pointed rebuttal in the next edition’s correspondence.

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Jim

Jul 16, 2021Jim rated it liked it

A good review of the technology that’s going to get us there. But technology is the easy part - Dr Finkel doesn’t give us any analysis of the much more complicated social and political factors that are holding up progres. Techno-determinism leaves too much room for politics to shape the transition.

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Garry Aydon

Sep 16, 2021Garry Aydon rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dollars and Sex: How Economics Influences Sex and Love : Adshade, Marina: Amazon.com.au: Books

Dollars and Sex: How Economics Influences Sex and Love : Adshade, Marina: Amazon.com.au: Books




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Dollars and Sex: How Economics Influences Sex and Love Hardcover – 1 April 2013
by Marina Adshade (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 65 ratings


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Review
A most stimulating and rewarding read.-
-New York Journal of Books

Economists may seem soulless, unlikely guides to affairs of the heart. But 'Dollars and Sex, ' a delightful book by Marina Adshade, an economist at the University of British Columbia, may convince you otherwise.
-New York Times

Sex, love and romance are the obsessions of poets and songwriters. Why not of economists, too?
-Ben Steverman, Bloomberg

About the Author
Dr. Marina Adshade teaches economics at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada. In 2008, she launched an undergraduate course titled Economics of Sex and Love, which invited her students to approach questions of sex and love through an economist's lens. The course was an instant hit, and led to the launch of the blog, Dollars and Sex.

Start reading Dollars and Sex: How Economics Influences Sex and Love on your Kindle in under a minute.

Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
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4.1 out of 5 stars
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JARoberts
5.0 out of 5 stars Smart, quirky bookReviewed in Canada on 28 July 2014
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Quite an interesting delve into the 'economics' of relationships. A solid lit-discussion and general re-think of traditional relationship perspectives. Lots of surprising results, and lots of relationships that show how real economic decision-making and our sense of morality may be at odds. Though not particularly prescriptive, there are pieces that you can apply to your own life, especially if you are young, though the real value is probably more in its ability to inform a wide variety of policy decisions.

Smart, quirky book.
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CD
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent BookReviewed in Canada on 29 November 2018
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Read this twice now. Such a fresh and interesting topic to apply economics to - goes to show that economics is everywhere and can be applied to many more things than we intuitively think. Thank you for the new perspective.
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Sarah H
3.0 out of 5 stars Some problems.Reviewed in the United States on 31 May 2019
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I thought most of the stuff in the book was interesting, especially comparing same-sex relationships to straight ones that are subject to gender roles, but the biggest problem I had was that the author doesn't understand the difference between promiscuity and date rape. Even when women outnumber men, patriarchy and rape culture still exist.
You have to keep in mind that you cannot fully separate economics from culture. Years of conditioning by a patriarchal culture can make a woman act against her economic well-being, like how the stigma of divorce made a woman stay with a husband who spends money on alcohol instead of saving, or a woman who's happy being unmarried is pressured into marriage.
She doesn't at all make a mention of the late 19th century American West where there was a shortage of women and the white prostitutes had bargaining power, but there was sex-trafficking of Chinese girls. The slightly higher % of girls to boys in colleges do not take into account that colleges are often run by men, combined with the fact that there's still patriarchy/rape culture.
She quotes a bias figure saying that about 10% of men are raising kids that are not biologically theirs (it's biased because that figure comes from cases where paternity was in question, not from the whole population).
The whole book assumes that the sex and marriage takes place in a capitalist setting (which makes sense because that is how the U.S is, so it's what all the statistics are for).
She has a very idealistic view of marriage that doesn't take into account that for many people, it was not a choice, and it's not the low probability of marriage that makes someone have unprotected sex.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Have you ever wondered why nice guys never get the girl?Reviewed in the United States on 14 December 2016
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Have you ever wondered why nice guys never get the girl? Well, Marina Adshade has some news for you. In 2008, Adshade piloted an undergraduate course at the Vancouver School of Economics called “The Economics of Sex and Love” and published her book Dollars and Sex: The Love Market in 2013 to encourage college students and young adults to learn more about how sex and economics are related.
The subject and style of Dollars and Sex challenges conventional thinking by connecting two inevitable aspects of a person’s life in a way that does not seem possible. Each chapter depicts a sexual behavior that is motivated by a certain macro or micro economic principle. One of my favorite chapters she writes is about interracial marriage and the opportunity cost it takes each race to marry a person from a different race. For each of these sexual behaviors Adshade creates compelling narratives depicting personal experiences that the reader can relate to and strengthen the overall connection between economics and sex. Even those of us who have very little knowledge about economics can see the benefit of reading this book. It guides the reader through the stages of their life by providing them with insight as to why people are motivated to participate in some of the most important situations of their lives such as dating in college, the reasons behind why people have sex, and eventually marriage.
Dollars and Sex is not perfect. There is a fundamental flaw in Adshade’s organization. Throughout every chapter there are separate subtitles that illustrate another experience but by incorporating these subtitles she is disrupting the flow of the main text. The first time I saw one I completely lost my place and train of thought. I would suggest skipping over them and then at the end of the chapter go back through and read the separate subtitles.
The book may portray some very depressing situations like never feeling loved or as if you are stuck in a constant cycle of meaningless sex but it can also help you learn how to navigate the dating market and make the most of every relationship you are a part of.
Adshade explores the relationship between sexual behaviors and the economic principles that drive those behaviors in the book, Dollars and Sex, a well-written and fun text that conveniently reveals a variety of our most romantic feelings and bedroom behaviors that previously have not been discussed. Dollars and Sex is certainly worth reading for those college students or young adults who are single or in a relationship because they can easily relate and learn from the experiences and situations portrayed in the book.
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Jamiel Cotman
4.0 out of 5 stars But no pictures?Reviewed in the United States on 16 December 2017
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Loved that this book tackles such a needed subject matter, namely, the economic backdrop to how we relate, date and love. Its always the thing that makes or breaks a relationship be it casual sex or lifelong marriage. I recommend this book for anyone in the dark on how relationships really work, what went wrong and what the hell is going on. It really sheds light on the raw mechanics of something as intangible as attraction and love

I couldn't give it 5 stars because for all of its amazing research and analysis it had little to any visual representation. That and I felt the author didnt take a bold position on what any of the studies seem to suggest [i.e. "these studies suggest, we're better off staying away from ..." ]

Great work!

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Sex and Money: Pleasures That Leave You Empty and Grace That Satisfies by Paul David Tripp | Goodreads

Sex and Money: Pleasures That Leave You Empty and Grace That Satisfies by Paul David Tripp | Goodreads

Sex and Money: Pleasures That Leave You Empty and Grace That Satisfies

by
Paul David Tripp
4.04 · Rating details · 437 ratings · 68 reviews

Pleasure. We live in a world obsessed with finding it, passionate about enjoying it, and desperate about maintaining it. Chief among such objects of affection are sex and money—two pleasures unequaled in their power to captivate our attention and demand our worship. 

In what is sure to become an instant classic, popular author Paul David Tripp pulls back the curtain on the lies of our flesh and the ways we distort God’s good gifts, examining the insanity of our culture and exposing our tendency to fall prey to the hollow promises of this world. 

In exploring how God’s grace frees us from futile pursuits, Tripp directs readers to the wisdom of God in Scripture and the liberating power of the gospel, offering practical guidance on finding true joy and enduring satisfaction.

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About the Author

Paul David Tripp (DMin, Westminster Theological Seminary) is a pastor, 

author, and international conference speaker. He is also the president of Paul Tripp Ministries. He has written a number of popular books on Christian living, including What Did You Expect?, Dangerous Calling, Parenting, and New Morning Mercies. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Luella and they have four grown children. For more information and resources, visit paultrippministries.org.

====

Editorial Reviews

Review

“I’ve come to count on Paul Tripp’s books being biblical, Christ-centered, deep, engaging, and well-written. Sex and Money is no exception. Its insights into our cultural idolatries and God’s transforming grace are priceless.”

—Randy Alcorn, Founder and Director, Eternal Perspective Ministries; author, Heaven, The Treasure Principle, and The Ishbane Conspiracy

“Sex and money. Are there any other subjects that occupy our thoughts more than these? Are there any other subjects that enslave our lives more than these? Paul Tripp provides insight into how we have turned these blessings from God into bondage and how a Godward perspective is the only way that they can be put back into their proper place in service to him. All who have struggled with these issues, which includes most everyone, will find practical, biblically grounded help in these pages.”

—Timothy Z. Witmer, professor of practical theology, Westminster Theological Seminary; pastor, St. Stephen Reformed Church, New Holland, Pennsylvania; author, The Shepherd Leader and The Shepherd Leader at Home

“Paul Tripp reaches out to those weighed down by the sexual insanity and rampant materialism of our day. With careful biblical teaching, grace, and gospel at the heart of his argument, Tripp explains that it is only when we recognize God as the unchallenged master of our hearts that everything else will be in its rightful place. As he writes, ‘The gospel is the only reliable diagnostic when it comes to sex and money, and because it provides the only reliable diagnostic, the gospel also races us with the only truly effective cure.’ This is a humble, hopeful, relevant book—a wonderful reminder that Jesus’s way truly is easy and his burden light. I highly recommend it.”

—Chris Brauns, Pastor, The Red Brick Church, Stillman Valley, Illinois; author, Unpacking Forgiveness, Bound Together, and When the Word Leads Your Pastoral Search

“Fresh. Honest. Real. Paul Tripp tackles the familiar snares of sex and money with fresh perspective, honest answers from God’s Word, and a real sense of our need for God’s grace. I commend this new resource to you from my friend and ministry partner.”

—James MacDonald, Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, Illinois; author, Vertical Church

I always benefit from Paul Tripp's relentless focus on how the posture and beliefs of our heart are the seat of our behavior. In Sex & Money, he has taken two of the greatest idols and unmasked them against the glorious gospel. If you really want to unseat the insanity and power of lust and materialism in your life, this book will take you to the one true solution—Jesus himself.

—Jay S. Thomas, Lead Pastor, Chapel Hill Bible Church, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Top reviews from the United States

Bradley L Kautz

5.0 out of 5 stars Sex and Money

Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2013

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Paul David Tripp is a man with a passion to bring the bright light of Christ to all of life's dark places. I have read several of his earlier books and he is a pastor, teacher and counselor who cares deeply for the people of God. And in those roles he does not hesitate in showing that the Good News is precisely that. Or said differently, time and again he shows that the only true hope for any human suffering is to be found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Good News is not merely that, i.e. good news, but it is really, and only, the greatest news. Sex and Money: Pleasures that Leave You Empty and Grace That Satisfies is a masterwork in dealing with what he sees as two of the most tenuous issues that daily confront and ensnare the Christian in the 21st century.

Tripp opens with a discussion of the reason people were created from a biblical perspective, which in a nutshell is to glorify God. He believes that because of this we are hard-wired for glory, which for many of us is misdirected towards the pursuit of other gods, most often sex and money. He then provides an overview of these two primary subjects; ones that he believes are driving our culture insane. He takes each of these issues in turn and walks through them with an open Bible, time and again showing how God's grace can touch wayward hearts and bring wholeness to places that often appear to be hopeless.

As he reaches his conclusion Tripp points out that there is purpose in living as broken people in a broken world. He writes, "God has chosen to keep you in this broken world in order to use its brokenness to prepare you for what is to come. The brokenness you live in the middle of, and the difficulties you face there, are not in the way of God's good plan for you; they are an important ingredient in it. Right now, God is not so much working to change your surroundings but to change you so that you are ready for the new surroundings he has planned and purchased for you in his grace." (189-90)

Sex and money are two things created by God in His goodness but which often end up infiltrating and consuming our hearts. Tripp has written an excellent book to help Christians put them back into their God-honoring place as they journey through this world to the next, the place where nothing will get in the way of all Christians giving God the glory that only He deserves.

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Teekay Elle

5.0 out of 5 stars Life changing, Eye opening. Must read

Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2015

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I can't even put into words how awesome this book is. Even if you don't think you have sex and money struggles ( after reading this you may realize you really do) this is an eye opening book on how these two issues shape our worship of God and how much the church buys into the insanity of the culture around us. I read the other reviews that had issues with his repetitions but I guess because I was prepared for it, it didn't bother me. I really felt the author did it to stress his points, not to be a nuisance or forgetting he already said it. Read this book once and then read it again truly asking yourself the many questions it poses. It's going to lead to some life changing revelations on sex and money and your worship of God.

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R. Jankowski

5.0 out of 5 stars Sex and Money as a religion of worship

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2013

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As of 9/18/13, there are 20 reviews for this book all giving 4 and 5 stars. I really like the work of Paul Tripp, and with that sort of feedback, I thought it a safe bet that this book would be consistently beneficial as I have found other books of Tripp's. Having now completed the book I can empathize with the appreciation found in the other reviews.

Tripp devotes the first half of the book to sex and the latter to money. Both are seen as acts of worship. I found the message of the book in many ways consistent to Randy Alcorn's book, "Money, Possessions, and Eternity", which is also a highly recommended book to read.

The premise that Sex and Money are acts of worship is not necessarily profound, but the manner in which this material is presented was found not only indicting, but Tripp has a way of encouragement that inspires a redeemed one to redirect one's life to use Sex and Money as means to worship the one true God, rather than use them as a form of idolatry.

I really think you will find this book encouraging.

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K. Falzter

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read

Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2016

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This book should be required reading for every Christian in our sex and money insane world. Our world is crumbling from our actions and lifestyles. Death by distraction of false delight.

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David Gilleran

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Sex and Money Are Gifts and Not Idols To Be Worshiped

Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2016

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This is a book I wish was written when I was a teenager. It is is full of sound, Biblical advice about two major themes found in our society today. Many people make idols out of sex and money. Dr. Tripp's book helps us to understand that these gifts from God are that, gifts. They need to be enjoyed and not worshiped. If you have children or grandchildren who are teenagers or above, get them this book.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent

Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2014

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I began reading this book to help me as I desire to biblically rear my teenagers. What I have walked away with is more than I could have imagined. The Lord showed me so much throughout this book about life on this fallen planet and has pricked my heart personally. It has helped me help my teenagers, but done even more in my walk to become more like Christ. It is convicting and hopeful all at the same time! I have recommended this book to many already. Excellent!

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flo wolfe

5.0 out of 5 stars Balanced prespective

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2013

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Without histrionic language, Tripp approaches the craziness (his term) of the current culture's perspectives on the satisfaction promised, but not delivered, bu sex and money. Biblical but not preachy, Tripp tackles a topic not many Christian authors will address in today's world. The language is clear but not inflammatory.Kudos for a solid presentation!

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Jason C. Dukes

5.0 out of 5 stars We all need help or at least need help giving help in these areas.

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2013

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So grateful for Paul Tripp bringing a gracious, loving, hopeful, challenging perspective on the two most defining issues of our culture. The church is ignoring these issues pushing moralism rather than gospel-transformation. Tripp encourages us not to ignore how imperative our need for grace and for community are in growing to respond to these issues with Jesus rather than modified behavior. We need this book. I need this book. Thank you for writing it.

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Steve

5.0 out of 5 stars A book which ministers.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2014

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Paul's thirst and hunger for God and His grace being our only hope is so refreshing. Yes there are ways through which we enjoy life like friendships, function etc but the grace that is the life of Jesus is truly our only hope. I love how Paul deals with route issues and not symptoms. In a complex world of questions and a climate of no real way of being able to know what's good and what's not Paul prophetically gives a voice which can't not equip a heart to encounter and go deeper in the life of Jesus Christ. Thanks Paul.

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G Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2017

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Great read!

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Herb Hunter

5.0 out of 5 stars personally enriching

Reviewed in Canada on August 18, 2013

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You need to read this book...it is a balm for the soul! Thank you , Paul Tripp for the words of wisdom!

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Jan 17, 2021Johannah added it

Shelves: marriage

Really helpful gospel-focus on the subject.

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Apr 26, 2018Kevin Halloran rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition

Shelves: sexuality, 2018

I'm a big fan of Paul Tripp, I really am. I also know this book can be life-changing for people. What I didn't think worked very well was tackling two topics in one book (perhaps that's why Crossway is releasing two Tripp books this year: one on money, one on sex). It didn't seem natural for me even though there are similar root problems. I also feel the book could have been 30% shorter--it got very repetitive during the second half. Don't let my critiques discourage you from reading this (or better yet, one of Tripp's newer ones). Tripp knows the complexities of our sinful hearts how the gospel applies. It's beautiful. (less)

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Jun 28, 2017Bob Morton rated it it was ok  ·  review of another edition

I really did want to like this book. I wanted so bad to like this book. But it just was not there for me. For the record, for the average Christian who does not think that they need this book, this could be an eye opener to their lifestyle that they are not aware of. That is, if they could get past the title that they would skip over because they do not think that it would apply to them.

So what was my problem with this? In an unofficial capacity I have a ministry to men with addictions. The title screams that this would help me help them, especially those with sexual addictions. Mr. Trip tells us over and over that we should turn away from out problems (rarely does he call them addictions) and put Jesus back on the throne as we move ourselves off of it. Now, this is good advice, I have no problem with that. The problem is a person with addictions needs to hear this but also needs to be given steps in the natural to overcome their problems. Mr. Trip does not offer anything like this at all. One without the other is not a real solid teaching in my estimation.

Except for a few chapters it is mostly about sexual problems in life. Change the statistics and put in other addictions and this book could have been about any pair of addictions that you want them to be. The book is really that generic. Basic quote from the book to sum it all up:

“The dynamic of addiction is that if you look to something that God created, to give you what it wasn’t intended to give you, either you get discouraged quickly, and wisely abandon those hopes, or you go back again and again, and in so doing, you begin to travel down addiction’s road."

In other words, you take the creation and replace the creator with it.

I think that the only chapter I liked really well was chapter 4 that talks about 'The highest pleasure'. He tells us why we are wired for pleasure and how to get Godly pleasure.

For the average user this book will most likely be OK. I really can not recommend it for anyone who is working in ministry to people like this or to the families of people with addictions. They will repeat the things to the addict thinking they are helping and the addict needs help, not just words. (less)

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Sep 22, 2016Carol Arnold rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016-challis-challenge

I started reading this book for two reasons. 1. One of the categories on the current Tim Challis reading challenge is to read a book about money or finances. 2. I had received it for free some time back from Christian Audio. I started reading it with the assumption that I was good on both issues, but I should have known better! It was by Paul Tripp and he always goes straight for the heart! He showed how both of these issues is a heart/worship issue. He says that we are created to worship and we worship every day, not just an hour on Sunday morning. Question is, "Who/what do we worship?" These two areas of our life reveal the answer to that question. Way too often we are selfishly worshiping self and seeking our own good, our own pleasures. We, by our actions, show that we think we are better than God in giving ourselves the good things that we desire in life. When we do this, we reveal that we don't understand that this life is just preparation for eternity! (less)

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Aug 21, 2017David Mosher rated it liked it

This is where we see self-ism manifests itself the most, in how we view and approach sex and how we think about money. The younger you are (within reason) when you understand the God given importance of each, the better off you will be. Both were provided for very specific purposes, for good, by our Creator and when we pervert either one of them, the road to destruction is wide. This book has some very important content in it and while I do recommend the book, it comes with a warning.

I am probably in the minority when I say I am just not a big fan of Tripp's style of writing. This book would be far more impactful had it been 40 pages shorter. Tripp tends to fill many pages by repeating what he had already written, several times. Some really enjoy that style, I personally don't unless it is in the context of the Bible. So, read the book for the applicable content on sex and money, but don't be surprised if you end up skipping through some pages. (less)

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Nov 25, 2013Michael Boling rated it it was amazing

Sex and money – two things many would arguably state they don’t have enough of these days. Additionally, these two issues comprise the pursuits of far too many these days. It is not as if sex and the pursuit and use of money are sins as after all, God created sex and money is an inanimate object. What gets most people in trouble is the incorrect pursuit of these two issues to include the lordship that sex and money has in the lives of many people today. It is this incorrect application and the need for society at large to reassess sex and money in relation to how God desires them to function in our lives that is addressed in Pau Tripp’s excellent book, Sex and Money: Pleasures that Leave You Empty and Grace that Satisfies.

I will state at the outset of this review that this book is one of the best books I have read all year. For an individual such as myself that has the opportunity to read a wide variety of theological and Christian living books throughout the year, that is saying quite a bit to rate this book so highly. As I read this book, I found myself continually convicted resulting in the realization that I have quite a few misplaced priorities in the areas of sex and money that need to be addressed. Immediately, I began to evaluate areas in my life and in the life of my family that need to come under the lordship of God to include a discussion with my wife of how we spend our money. Essentially, this evaluation boils down to whether or not sex and money are things in my life that glorify God. Admittedly, in many areas the unfortunate answer is no.

Tripp rightly notes our world has gone completely crazy when it comes to sex and money. Often, our society’s issues with sex and money are blamed on environment, sex or money itself or anyone other than ourselves. Tripp saliently notes “the humbling truth is that when it comes to sex and money we don’t have a thing problem; the things (sex and money) are not evil in themselves. We don’t have an environment problem, as if our surroundings cause the difficulty. No, we are the problem. The counterintuitive reality is that it’s only ever the evil inside us that magnetizes us toward and connects us to the evil that’s outside of us.”

There is a solution to this problem. It is not simply rooted in no longer looking at dirty magazines, movies, lewd music or avoiding the Black Friday sales which lure people into overspending on material things that will be thrown away or forgotten in a matter of weeks. Since our problems with sex and money are evidence of a wicked heart, the only answer to faulty appropriations of sex and money is the grace of God. This aspect is where Tripp’s book really shines. It is one thing to simply point out that society has a problem. One would hope at least that even the most spiritual blind among us can at least partially admit that society is over-sexualized and the pursuit of things and keeping up with the latest fad and celebrity is the focus of many people’s every waking moment. Providing helpful biblical solutions to the problem separates mere self help approach style books from books rooted in pointing the individual to the answer, namely the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

I appreciated Tripp’s focus on worship, relationships, and obedience in relation to sex and money. This takes the focus off of ourselves and our penchant for misusing these gifts to focusing our efforts in regards to sex and money to the worship of God, the building of godly relationships, and being obedient stewards of money and being obedient to how God designed sex to function. Tripp aptly comments “Sex for the glory of the Creator is sex made sane again. Sex as an act of the worship of God is sex made right again. And in this struggle of glory and worship, God meets us with his tender and patient grace.” Furthermore, since everything is life is rooted in loving God and loving others, the proper use of sex and money is the proper building of relationships. Instead of being me focused, the use of sex and money must be God focused. Tripp again aptly declares “Divine enthronement is at the root of sexual insanity of every kind. If you are questing for the position of God, you will not behave as you should in any area of your life.” This same truth can be applied to our use of money as well. Finally, Tripp avers that “Sexual purity doesn’t begin with setting up a regimen for behavioral change. It begins with mourning the condition of your heart, and when you do, you can rest assured that you will be greeted with powerful grace because your Savior has promised that he will never turn his back when you come to him with a broken and contrite heart.”

In a world that finds itself under a mountain of crushing debt and devotion to sexual immorality of all types, the typical approach is to look everywhere for help except God. The result is a society that loves sex and money instead of loving God. Many have asserted that money is the root of all evil or that sex is bad. Money is not evil and sex is not evil. It is the misuse and lordship of both over God that is evil. The answer as Tripp so marvelously reminds the reader throughout this excellent book is the grace of God through Jesus Christ. I truly loved the way Tripp ended this book, especially his closing argument that “we needn’t panic; we needn’t succumb; we needn’t thing that our battles are leading nowhere. We must not give way to assessments of poverty, aloneness, and impossibility, because the insanity has been invaded by the Messiah, Jesus. He faced every insane thing we face, and he defeated it all on our behalf. He did all this so that you and I would have the grace we need to face the sex-and-money struggles that we will continue to face until eternity is our home and the insanity has been quieted forever.”

Since the issues of sex and money impact every person on this planet, this book is a must read for everyone on this planet. We all struggle with how to properly view sex and money in our lives so understanding how to deal with those struggles in a biblical manner is a must. Tripp reminds the reader over and over again of the need to lay these struggles at the foot of the cross. Only by reorienting our perspectives and focus in life, can we even begin to properly deal with sex and money, let alone understanding that sex and money misused are but fleeting pleasures. Sex and money properly used build godly relationships and store up treasures in heaven, focusing all the glory to God and Him alone who is the only one who deserves to be God in our lives. (less)

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Aug 07, 2017Norm Konzelman rated it really liked it

This is a long and always good, if not excellent book.
It's a shame the title seems not to live up to the rescuing information and truths contained within it's pages, though for the life of me, I wouldn't know what else to title it.
For me, it was much deeper as how to walk with God more sincerely, and warnings to help avoid the tragedy that love of money, and impure desires can take a person to.
The author keeps hammering on the sin for a long time in this long book, and I could not take it in except by measure. Not until near the end does he begin to "speak comfortably" with encouragement, but I wouldn't change a thing even if I could.
The audio is very well read and I wish everyone could hear this work in these days of lowering standards and morality in the lives of far too many.
Thank you. (less)

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Jan 06, 2021Debi rated it liked it

Shelves: books-i-own-physical-copies

This book is gospel centric and treats sex and money more as “case studies” of things that often usurp God in our life. It’s not explicitly about sex or money or per se. The book does an excellent job of explaining why our worship should focus on the Creator and not His creation.

The problem with this book is how it is written. Tripp takes pages to explain things that could be summed up in a couple of sentences. He is very repetitive as well. I feel like the message could have been sent with half the number of pages. He also seems to focus more on sex than money, and didn’t really the real two topics together. The book comes across as very sloppily organized.

This is the first book I’ve ever read by Paul David Tripp and it makes me not want to read more of his work. I do have his daily devotional book, “New Morning Mercies” and I noticed the same repetitiveness and wordiness in that as well.

He speaks the truth, but I wish he had a better way of presenting it. (less)

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Jan 27, 2018Will rated it liked it

This book has a lot of godly wisdom regarding sex and money, but listening to it is like panning for gold: you have to go through a lot of pebbles before you find that nugget of gold. But I say "listening" because I couldn't decide whether it's the writing itself that was poor, or whether it just didn't lend itself well to the audio format. The "anonymous stories" at the beginning of most chapters get really repetitive after a while, and don't always help to illustrate the concepts or advance the arguments. Still worth it though. (less)

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Aug 09, 2017Theron StJohn rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition

This book is honest, heart-exposing, and hopeful. It is honest as Paul Tripp transparently shares and confesses his own struggle in these areas. It is heart-exposing, opening my eyes to subtleties where I have sought for these areas to satisfy, thereby calling me to repentance. It is hopeful because it points the reader to the only One who can satisfy and solve our problem, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our hope is His gospel!

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May 29, 2019Vincent Ng rated it really liked it

The book is as the title describes. Tripp delves into the two gargantuan issues affect mankind; the first being sex and the other money. Tripp explores how these two ambitions ultimately fail to satisfy mankind, but keeps us wanting more. He states that the issues we have are not budget, financial and things issues but rather issues of treasure, kingship, and heart. The only proper solution for our money and sex idolatry is the grace of God culminating on the cross.

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Feb 10, 2018Mark Donald rated it it was amazing

Excellent work on two incredibly important, yet under addressed subjects in the Christian life.

Tripp addresses both Sex and Money with biblical clarity and points to a grace filled, God glorifying vision for how these gifts can be enjoyed in a way which honors God.

Highly recommend. Wish I could give a copy to every member of my church and have them read it!

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Jun 16, 2017Erik Spohr rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition

Incredibly helpful work on temptation and identity.

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Feb 26, 2018Rachel Oldaker rated it it was amazing

all a matter of the heart. a book I will come back to and read (or listen to) again and again.

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