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"I really have enjoyed your book because just reading it makes me want to make some changes in my life and be a better person. Like you, there are some issues that I'm having a hard time dealing with (in terms of perfecting one's personality and lifestyle). I'm seriously thinking of making "a list" (too) of things that will help me be the true woman that I want to be. I know the book was written for guys and that I haven't experienced the things that you have, but I can kind of relate to things that you went through . . like with the concept of death, being unattached to the world and material things, etc. . . . In other words - your book is very inspiring, and I thank you for giving everybody out there a chance to read it and to be able to have that "gut check." -MG, Houston "This book couldn't have been titled better. I'm a mid twenties male from outside of Houston. An awakening happened inside me after reading this book that made my quality of life grow substantially. Unfortunately, conventionality started to gain strength in my life again leading to a downhill spiral... but then i happened to wake up one morning and see the binding of your book staring back at me. I will be reading it again this week, with an even more open mind than last time. I'm sure it will help. It also has inspired me to start writing down my ideas about the whole "Conventionality vs. Morality" complex that plagues my mind. Thank you for standing outside the crowd and speaking up for what we all know is right, but are either to lazy or scared to say." -JR, Houston "You & your book were a great inspiration for me, and it was exceptionally good timing when I was finishing up your book last week. . . thank you for your book and God Bless you and your family." -RE "Hi Tarek, I thank you for writing Gut Check, a sensitive and thoughtful book about masculinity & the place & role of men in the world today. The rise of feminism has made men reflect on what defines us, what motivates us, what excites us, what makes us tick! It is equally important that we respond appropriately to women, and that, I think is the challenge to men today. Gut Check is this kick off that men need. I think your book is realistically reflective piece on masculinity and its emergent philosophy. I pray that it will endure the test of time." -GC, Singapore "Dear Tarek, I just finished reading your book and saw your website listed at the end. I got it as a Christmas gift from my girlfriends mother, it was truly one of the best gifts I have ever received. You have been a true inspiration to me, I am sure you get this all the time from readers or whatever, but you really have helped guide me in my life and what it means. I am 21, about to graduate from college, with not much of idea of what to do with myself. Thanks to your book, I have much more direction and a higher spiritual outlook. Thank you for your book and knowledge and I hope you know how much of a difference you have made in my life and the future lives of others." -NR "Tarek, Quick email here to thank you for pouring out your soul and creating this book. It resonated on so many levels. I'm 35 and can relate to many (if not all) of the stories in your book. Most importantly, though, and what I wanted to email you about is that the book is very motivational to lead the life God wants me to live...the life I want to live, but have struggled to lead for so long. Not struggled in the way that my life has been a train wreck - but struggled in failing to make some of those tough decisions along the way. The decisions which determine if you are living an authentic life as a true Catholic man, or if you are limping along, following the masses, and caving in at those critical times." -MP, Pennsylvania "I wanted to say that I connected with your book so much that I was inspired to do things differently in my life. I loved your list of what kind of man you wanted to be because I agreed with everything. It would take too long to list all the things that I had in common with what you wrote, but I in short, I was moved. I guess what I'm trying to convey is... thank you. Thank you for standing up for what you believe in because you are not alone. I too am fighting the good fight no matter how many times I fail." -JP, Louisiana "Tarek I just finished Gut Check - read it in one day. I am only a few months older than you, and although I have been married for almost 7 years, I found your book to be a great inspiration. Thank you for writing such an honest, motivating, uplifting book. Of course, you inadvertently added to my reading list, and now I have dozens of extra works to read to catch up on my spiritual growth!" -DB, Columbus, OH "Hey Tarek -Just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done with Gut Check. I never saw The Apprentice, but I have been waiting for the book ever since you were on Life on the Rock. I have often found myself in the same situations and mindsets that you wrote about, especially the part where you saw yourself having a "double life". Although I thought I was illustrating my morality among friends by not "going too far" with partying/girls/etc, I've learned that this fact alone doesnt exactly make you a saint or worthy of praise. No lie, certain chapters of this book sound like they could have been written by me...its that accurate. I have put a checkmark next to lines that seem like they are my exact thoughts. Needless to say, the book has plenty!" -DP, North Carolina "I was recently given this book by my stepmother and it has been one of the biggest changes in my life. I am 26, and I have to say, this book connected with me on many many levels. . . . Since I finished the book, just over a week ago, I have made tremendous changes in my lifestyle, and have seen many blessings in my life since." -PT, New York "I have completed your book and what a picture it paints. I am not a big sit-down and read a book type of person. . . So finishing the book in less than week is an indication of the impact it has made. I have written this email a dozen times in my mind, trying to find the right words. I can't find one word, thought or emotion to comment on your book. The book told the story of my life, then and now. . . . many times I found that I would drift back in time. Everything you said about being a man today and the difficulties it brings was right on target." -MB, Cincinnati "Tarek - This was the most inspirational book I have ever read. . . . Almost every thought and experience that I have witnessed since college you have addressed in your book. And you made so much sense out of it. I have struggled with the thought that there are not very many people out there that have the same things going through their minds as I do. But you made me realize that there are good people my age that really do strive to serve God with all their hearts. Your book strengthed my belief in God and my Catholic faith. You answered some of my questions that I really needed answered." -DC, San Diego "I finished it in a few days... I couldn't put it down. I really appreciate your honesty in the book. I just graduated from college in December and entered the business world just over a month ago. I think your book will help me to prepare myself to defend my faith in the working world. I know I'll be turning back to it constantly for guidance and inspiration." -PA, Washington, D.C. "I recently bought a copy of your book "Gut Check" for my son. Before giving it to him I read it myself - in one sitting until 3am! It may have been written for young men but it is certainly applicable in many ways to women as well. Certainly in regard to how women, wish to see their men. My son was equally blown away by the book. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it - I feel you will reach out to a large number of young Catholic men searching for a better way to live. You are a wonderful role model of how to stand tall, make a difference and still be a modern male." -MF, New Zealand "Tarek, I just finished your book in one sitting. Wonderfully written, but most importantly, this book is a life-changer. As a Christian man who spent a good majority of his twenties mentoring high school students, I find the corporate life stifling at times. I always try to bring joy and contentment to the workplace, but that becomes harder and harder with each passing year.. . What I appreciate most about your book is how cut and dry you are about your beliefs and how you spent a great deal of time on how you came to your conclusions. I've been "gray" so often in my life that when I was reading some of your chapters I felt like I was reading something I would have written." -ER, Dallas "I love your book GutCheck! Great spiritual direction and testimony on how faith can change a man for the better. I'm 86 years old and it helped me!" -Anon., Cincinnati "Hey Tarek- My wife bought me a copy of your book and sent it to me here in Iraq and I just finished it. It was excellent, and I almost felt like I was reading my autobiography at times. Crazy! Anyways, nice job articulating what many of us have and are dealing with as men in today's culture. It is motivating to know there are other men out there who have been challenged in the same way, and have made it such a priority to do battle with today's challenges head-on." -RM, Baghdad "Tarek, I finished your book yesterday. It only took me two sittings and I hardly read, and never read a book that fast. . . I've already handed it off to one of my friends and I'll have to get feedback from him . . . I wish a lot more people could go through the transformation you went through. I enjoyed all of the different quotes you added, all of them were inspiring. And I want to read into St. Augustine and other Saints more." -CG, Omaha "Tarek, count me in as another 'Catholic-home-schooling mom-of-9-what-am-I-doing-reading-this-book-for-people-my-son's-age?' fan of "GUT CHECK". Very enjoyable and uplifting. As a writer myself, I must compliment you on your writing style and believability. . . . I soon was drawn in by the message and couldn't put it down. I finished it in just a day (that's pretty good for a busy mom of nine kids!) My 19 year old college sophomore son is half way through the book and gives it an enthusiastic 'thumbs up'!" -TT, Indiana "Hey Tarek, I'm home for the summer from college. . . A couple of weeks ago my mom tossed Gut Check on the kitchen counter and said, "You should read this, you might like it." So I put it aside for a little while, but eventually picked it up and started reading it. It was hard to put down, man. I really enjoyed it, and it was so helpful and insightful. I'm not a businessman, by any stretch of the imagination (double major theology and music), and business is not my thing at all. But even still, I could really relate to the book. I often feel a huge need in my life to reprioritize everything, because I know that all too often, God gets pushed to the side to make room for the things that I would rather pay attention to. But your book is a great reminder that my habit of doing that is disordered and backwards. You really did a good job in relaying the message that no matter what, God should always be first and foremost, and should shape the way we do and think about everything. It sounds kind of cliche to be saying that right now, but your writing made it very real, and I was and am inspired by this book. So thank you." -CG, Indiana "Hey Tarek, I just finished your book earlier this week and I have to say it is one of the most powerful books I think I have ever read. I attend St. Francis University in Loretto, PA and have run a number of men's groups/retreats and this is one book that I definately want to bring in to my sessions. Thank you for writing such a personal, down to earth account of your own personal struggles. May God continue to bless you and strengthen you." -JR, Pennsylvania "I'm a single, practicing Catholic, professional guy who's going to be 47 next month (yikes!--to borrow a word) and it seems like nothing gets me more fired up spiritually than a guy who's zealously youthful and countercultural . . You've made me want to re-examine what it means to be a man, and to take some major steps towards eliminating my recurring lukewarmness. (Must confess that I'm still somewahat attached to nice clothes, happy hours, cool cars, working out, and noncommittal dating . . . egads, I sound like the Peter Pan poster guy!) . . . I need to figure out what God really wants from me. At least, my young friend, you've got me thinking about it." -JL, Cincinnati "Dear Tarek, I finished your book yesterday...about four hours after I received it in the mail. Truly fantastic...as an avid reader of both religious and leadershi/business literature, I have to say that I am both impressed and delighted by what you have done. In many ways, I felt that I was reading about a life that has paralleled my own...very well done. I am a 31 year old Executive for a fortune 500 company...and I know the burden that unsatiable ambition can bring...as well as the conflict that it can create with our Catholic Faith. I recently came to the realization, just as you did, that the treasures on earth are meaningless without the treasures in heaven. As a husband and father, this realization couldn't have come sooner." -MS, Denver "Tarek, Kudos! Extremely well written book, timely, and real. It's amazing how we men view the world from such an egocentric point of view, always thinking we are the only ones suffering a "special" cross. Your book proves how universal (and timeless) the quest for manhood and God is." -PD, Maryland "Tarek, I got the book and read it the same day. Amazing, brother! Thanks so much for writing this - I felt like I was reading my own life story." -MC, Baghdad |
