The People Factor by Van Moody is the best book on relationships I’ve ever read. That sounds like hyperbole, but this is the first time I’ve ever had a complete “Oprah Moment” and thought, I want to buy 1,000 copies of this book and give it to everyone I know.  I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t gain something valuable from this wise examination of friendship and professional relationships. (Lacking Oprah’s resources, I’ll simply suggest: it’s worth your time to read.)

As I mentioned, the focus of the book is friendship and professional relationships (some of what he says applies to marriage, but he’s clear that  not all of it does, given the uniqueness of the marriage covenant).  His points revolve around the the principle that the people you spend the most time with will have exceptional influence on the direction of your life. I’ve heard this before in various phrasings, but Moody is the first author I’ve seen break it down so practically.  This isn’t just “Go find the winners so you’ll win too!” cheerleading. This gives you a biblical lens through which to view different relationships and see which ones are healthy and deserve more attention, which are struggling but worth the effort, and which ones are going to drag you down and suck you dry no matter how good your intentions.

One of the best parts of this book is how he draws some insights out of familiar Biblical stories that I hadn’t heard before, rather than just reiterating the same seven or ten points you hear in every book on relationships.  I appreciated the effort he made to dig deeper and offer something new. It adds to the edifying quality of the book, strengthening my perspective on Scripture, as well as my approach to relationships.

I appreciate his blunt candor, but also the value he places on human relationships and how vital they are to our well-being.  I learned a lot from this book, and I think I’ll be a better friend, colleague, and family member because of it.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.