The aim of this book is to promote real discipleship as an abundant life rather than a straitjacket, a hobby or a fleeting phase, but without glossing over the difficulties and likely setbacks and, for the most part, it succeeds. Each chapter covers a different aspect of Christian life and begins with a relevant, fictionalised case-study. Most are excellent but the one chapter I was less than happy with was ‘When Life is Hard’. I appreciate that this is always the most difficult of subjects, but the tone – especially at the beginning – seemed harshly at odds with the rest of the book and its message that we are all ‘work in progress’ and no one is perfect. Ten pages in there was some admission that a less than whole-hearted embrace of suffering might be permissible, but if I were a new Christian going through an awful experience I think I’d have bailed out long before then! The two chapters ‘Why go to Church?’ and ‘Learning to Love’, in contrast, were the high point of the book, beautifully and persuasively written. Recommended – but with a note of caution.