Pleasing People: How Not to Be an "Approval Junkie"

by Lou Priolo

Overview

Full of Scripture and challenges to the reader, Pleasing People takes aim at a problem common in all of us: the desire to be liked by others. But Priolo is also careful to wisely delineate when pleasing people is biblical. The penetrating exercises throughout the text will help readers see how this sin manifests itself in their lives. Pleasing People will be useful for both personal reading and group study.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596380554
Publisher:	Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing
Publication date:	01/30/2007
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	238,768
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Lou Priolo is the founder and president of Competent to Counsel International and is an instructor with Birmingham Theological Seminary. He has been a full-time biblical counselor since 1985 and is a fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. Lou has been married to his wife, Kim, since 1987 and has two daughters, Sophia and Gabriella.

Editorial Reviews

I read your book on being an approval junkie. I "hated" it – it was too convicting! It was very "Baxterian" in its layout and presentation. I plan on using it as a text when I teach for BTS, "Christian Workers' Personal Life."

Jeff Lawrence

A careful study of Scripture makes it clear that there are different categories of fear. There is a natural kind of fear which is part of being a human being and is proper and even wholesome; there is, however, a sinful kind of fear that keeps us from obeying God’s commands or causes us to disobey God’s commands or causes us to think and act selfishly; a kind of fear that springs from unbiblical thinking and flows from unbelief in God and His promises. This kind of fear is always a sinful kind of fear.
Usually when we think or talk about fear we’re referring to the kind of fear which is associated with being scared, terrified or frightened; we’re referring to the kind of fear that causes us to tremble or panic. There is another kind of sinful fear that is mentioned in the Bible which is not quite as dramatic but nevertheless is much more common and much more frequently experienced. It’s the kind of fear mentioned in Proverbs 29:25 which is often unrecognized but still very destructive and dangerous. It’s the kind of fear that in biblical terms is called “the fear of man” or what we might call “an inordinate desire to please people”. In this excellent book, Lou Priolo calls this kind of fear being “an approval junkie”. In my judgment this kind of fear is epidemic in proportional; it’s one of the greatest problems we face in our spiritual lives. Lou has done a great job in unmasking the problem and also providing God’s solution to the problem. I commend this book to you for your consideration because of its biblical and extremely practical nature. Buy it, read and reread it and use it in your counseling and teaching.

Wayne Mack

Lou Priolo has written an extremely biblical and practical book to help the “people pleaser.” Even if you think you do not have this weakness, you may be convicted that you do! The strength of this book are the biblical principles, the charts with wrong compared to right ways to think, and how to become a “God pleaser.” I am very pleased to have this resource to help people and I highly endorse it.

Martha Peace

It is exciting to see Pleasing People come to fruition. I have personally witnessed Lou Priolo’s expertise in helping those enslaved to the popular lust of approval. From his years of counseling experience, he has developed a work that exposes many of its prideful manifestations, while also walking the reader through the biblical process of repentance from the heart. This is a book that God can use greatly to change lives.

Stuart Scott