Frank Chase, Jr

I'm still working on the last half of the book in preparation for a full review, but I've read enough to share a few thoughts.

Frank Chase has some good things to say. Several times he mentions that a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to ever know how to "be a man." Scripture defines manhood and womanhood and without its blueprint we will always fall into error.

However - Mr. Chase, when he uses Scripture passages at all, rarely interprets them correctly. He appears to have show more decided what's wrong with men and how to fix it, and then set out to find some Bible stories that help make his point.

Also, though he does occasionally mention our reliance on Christ, most of his recommendations come in the form of self-help. Many of the chapters contain "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" kind of language that will not ultimately struggle. Even when we encourages men to rely on other men for support (a good thing) he does not explain the limits of this kind of help apart from a relationship with Christ.

The author is clearly writing out of his own experience with a bad, absent father. Most of the examples of men he uses in the book also had bad or absent fathers. While his goal, of making men better fathers for their own sons, is most certainly commendable, far too much time is dedicated to blaming our dads for our current condition. Mr. Chase projects the "father wound" on to all men who fail to live up to their biblical duties.

For the sake of brevity I'll leave out other criticism except one: the book is poorly written and poorly edited. Lots of typos (including chapter headings!) abound and the writing style is rambling and often unclear. The author picks a favorite word ("truancy" in the first few chapters) and bludgeons the reader with it.

If you're looking for a book on this subject that is far more grounded in the Bible, easy to read (shorter!), and well-written, get a copy of "Federal Husband" by Douglas Wilson. show less

This book is takes readers on an extraordinary journey throught the life of men as the navigate through the gaunlet of false roads to manhood. With surgical precision, the book examines the souls of men to help them understand themselves, but also informs women about understanding today's man no matter his background. Every page identifies the false traditions of men and lights a path to authentic manhood.

In Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway?, Dr. Frank Chase Jr, Th.D. explores the concept of tithing down to its very roots. Using the bible and other references, he investigates whether tithing is a mandatory tax or a gift given out of free will, as well as alternative viewpoints for those who’d rather worship with their hearts than their paychecks.

Though it certainly has an interesting premise, Kleptomaniac is perhaps a bit too winding and drawn-out in many areas. Much of show more the first few dozen pages are comprised of redundant reiterations of what the book is about, which quickly becomes tedious and may not hold readers’ attention well. A more straightforward approach would benefit this book incredibly. Also, the narrative is a bit unbalanced; some passages read like a personal memoir about the author’s experiences, while others read like a purely factual, impersonal textbook. These aspects sometimes make it difficult to maintain interest in this book.

Nevertheless, Kleptomaniac certainly has an extremely intriguing concept. The investigation of tithing in the bible, history, and modern day is a unique and not-often-thought-of idea, which is explored quite eloquently here. Dr. Frank Chase Jr, Th.D. has incredible knowledge of the bible and a vast array of excellent sources to back up his points, which only adds to the validity of his writing. Whether readers agree with Dr. Chase’s views or not, it cannot be denied that he certainly provides something interesting to ponder in this book. Kleptomaniac: Who’s Really Robbing God Anyway? is a thoughtful, well-researched book that is equally respectful and revolutionary in its unique approach to an age-old, unspoken question—what is the purpose of tithing really?
Originally critiqued by a member of the Authors Talk About It team. show less

This book is eye an opening acccount of the history of tithing. From the very beginning of the book, an empirical defintion establishes where the author will take the journey. Kleptomaniac: Who's Really Robbing God Anyway? will take you into the land, language and literature of the biblical people to help readers understand the authentic biblical tithe and who was authorized by God to actually pay tithes. Every page is a scholarly examination into biblical tithe practices that will shock show more most readers. Though many people teach that tithing is ten percent of person's income, this book takes a second look at that assumptiion and presents sound scriptural theological alternatives that blows up many mondern day monetary tithe doctrines. Not only will you get a thorough Bible lesson, you will be challenged to study the subject, and by doing so, readers could save their financial future and the future of their children's children for generations. The overall argument of this book is that no one in the church today or in the ages gone by has ever robbed God of tithes and offerings and reveals who the real God robbers are. show less