Book Review: Fight Like a Man by Emeal Zwayne

There are so many things I want to say about Emeal “E.Z.” Zwayne’s first book, Fight Like a Man: A Bold, Biblical, Battle Plan For Personal Purity that from the outside looking in, it would seem contrived. Why? Because I loved this book. Everything about it. In fact, I couldn’t find anything wrong with it. Even with the great and dead preachers of the past I have always found something wrong that I didn’t agree with. But not this one. It is absolutely flawless. A true work of art and a worthy sacrifice of love.

You can immediately tell that this book was written with the utmost care with the reader in mind, but even more so, for God’s glory. It wasn’t written overnight with pithy slogans and regurgitated sayings. This was a labor of love. This took a lot of time and patience with real life poured throughout it’s pages. The editing is astounding, and whoever did it, needs aplause as well.

I chose the Kindle version of the book not because it was cheaper, but because this book is something I want to be reminded over and over again no matter where I am. Not that I can’t remember anything in the book. Zwane does an incredible job summerizing in the last chapter. But, I want it by my side no matter where I go. I can have it in a hotel room, in a bathroom when I am battling temptation, or even read it while standing in line at the bank. I’ve highlighted and taken notes so much throughout that it looks like a coloring book. Pages and pages of highlights and notes so that when I look at these in the future, I will know how far I’ve come when I read this again.

Each chapter kept getting better, and the further I went, the more notes and highlights I made. Chapter 21: Crown, was my major a-ha moment for me. I dove headlong into my soul and realized many things about my life that caused me heartache in this area, and other areas as well. I realized that I was short-sighted not only in my walk with Christ, but life in general. Mixed with unworthiness of anything good, I was a pile of oatmeal at the end. This was a huge turning point for me, and I am grateful the Lord picked me up off the floor and gives me hope for my future.

It was also refreshing to see that there were no questions to ask the reader to reflect on the writing. You don’t need it. If you sincerely read it, it will change your life. You don’t need study questions. That would be lame. The text itself makes your mind go crazy and want more and more all on its own.

Taking the reader through the things that trip us up: the Devil, the flesh, and the world, and how to go to war with each on the battlefield was truly a work of art. The chapter: N.O.P.E. gives the reader a quick acrynym that can help steer him away from the temptation and look to Christ. It gave me hope throughout the pages, even right at the begining when I was hooked. This book goes to the heart of why we as men stumble looking at pornography, but gives us practical tools to win the war. This is the go-to book for men to regain purity in their lives the way God intended though His Son, Jesus Christ. Buy this book and read it alongside your Bible, and you will have hope in your battle for purity.

On a personal note to the author: I can’t wait to thank you in person this June as I attend Living Waters Ambassador’s Academy. If this is your first book, I cannot wait to see what your others will be like. I can’t imagine them being any better than this.