How to Pick Up a Stripper and Other Acts of Kindness is mostly a collection of anecdotes from the experiences of Todd and Erin Stevens in Nashville, TN as they relate to evangelism through the Friendship Community Church, Nashville Strip Church, and personal efforts. However, its primary purpose is to demonstrate and encourage the love of God through actions. Regardless of what the reader may think about individual examples, the actions and words used, and the Stevens’ arguments therefore, I’m not sure it’s possible to walk away from this book unaffected in a positive way. How to Pick Up a Stripper is a sucker punch to the face with stinging conviction about how we view and love others through the eyes and heart of Jesus. This is a great book for lighting a fire under someone’s complacency. Nashville is a world of its own, and not all contexts would be very conducive to the strategies described in the book, but every place (everyone!) needs love—the love of God. Use or don’t use the examples provided—I don’t think that’s what Todd and Erin care about; they do want the reader to do something, and there’s plenty of direction to go around for considering a path for one’s own context.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”