Book Review

RESTORE: Break out of your past and into God's future
by Vince Antonucci
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
2017

Reviewed by Diane Busch

This was a book of pure curiosity for me.  I am not dealing with a bad, haunting past creating bitterness in my present day life OR a present day addiction - both situations for which the book was written.  

Throughout the book, author Vince Antonucci, a pastor in Las Vegas, shares his wrecked childhood and adult bitterness due to an abusive father whom he struggled to forgive.  It could be called an addiction to unforgiveness.  As a matter of fact, the book is really written for people struggling with an addiction.  As the author shares his Christian experience, wisdom, and insights on how the equation “God + rehab = RESTORATION”, he does so in an easy to read and digestible 30-day style - one reading per day.  Obviously, you can read at your own pace, which is how I made my way through the book.  I found the organization of the book helpful in its 30-day readings, six “Steps to Freedom” groupings of readings, Moving Forward, and untitled appendix section that includes a discussion guide.

The author lightens up this serious issue of addiction with plenty of doses of humor—from his own humor interspersed throughout the text to the occasional Top Ten List (11 in all), on topics such as: self-help books, signs you should be reading another book, and signs your inner child is upset.  This feature adds to the book’s ability to help all who struggle with out-of-control behavior.

As a final encouragement, don’t miss Vince’s “Letter I Wrote about Me, to Me, from God” in the appendix section.  The author was directed to write his letter as part of a sexual addiction program he took NOT to deal with any sexual addiction but to deal with forgiving his father!  It is a surprising twist in the author’s personal story but effective in assisting him on his forgiveness journey.