Mamma Natty's Raves and Reviews

Book Review: The People Factor by Van Moody

Disclosure: I received this book at no cost for this review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

The People Factor: How Building Great Relationships and Ending Bad Ones Unlocks Your God-Given Purpose is not a book I would normally gravitate to, and I did not want to dismiss it despite the authors opening remarks: “Most people do not read books on relationships if they feel their relationships are healthy, happy, or easy”. I always want to be open and eager to learn how to improve relationships in general and to "avoid or skillfully exit bad ones."

I seem to give everyone the benefit of the doubt upon first meeting them, but with age, I am trying to be a little more selective and to try to recognize others that are not always forthcoming. I am always hoping to gain a little insight as to why people intentionally hurt others, something I cannot fathom, but I did not get that with this book, however, I did get a whole lot more!

Moody has a wonderful way of writing and I enjoyed many aspects of this book. Packed with powerful insight, he skillfully brought in stories of the bible to help with his teaching. Moody puts importance on being straightforward and sincere, among many other things and believes something I have always believed too: “Being able to say what you mean and mean what you say is a vital component of a successful life and healthy relationships.” and when you encounter people who are not able to do this, it is often the first indication that they may not be trustworthy.

A few additional quotes I really enjoyed from this book are:

Moody specifically suggests the requirement of integrity from our relationships, "the bible calls us to love one another, but we should not allow ourselves to walk closely with people who do not have integrity." I also thought his part of Blessing in Disguise was a good teaching: “If we do not trust God to lead us, we will undervalue the places He puts us. We will think of certain places and experiences as bad, when in reality they are hugely significant to our destinies, they are blessings in disguise.”
“Live and thrive among the people God gives you, in the place God has placed you.” Increasing our relationship IQ is the way to becoming a better spouse, parent, friend, co-worker, leader, and better human being.

No matter what type of relationship you are in, or how you feel about people in general and despite your religious views, you should be pleasantly surprised with The People Factor, this book is powerful, informative and very well done with 15 chapters, each ending with key reminders and tips to increase your relational IQ. I would read another book by the same author.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Van Moody serves as pastor of the Worship Center in Birmingham, Alabama and is an "author, motivational speaker and media expert source who advises on matters related to relationships as they pertain to friends, family, significant others and the workplace. Moody is a "People Scholar" who understands the power and potential in developing the "right" relationships and, in kind, he helps individuals, couples and groups build their "Relational IQ" to achieve success at home, in their social circles, and in business."

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