Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

"A writer searches for the existence and nature of the Christian God ... endlessly thought-provoking ... A readable and highly detailed inquiry into the roots and values of Christianity."

Reedsy Discovery

"Worth reading … This book is written for people who are searching for meaning in their lives… Questions are posed to the reader and deftly explained … overall it is well written … This would be useful for readers who wish to explore Biblical ideas before actually perusing a Bible. This book would be a good read for a new Christian with modern sensibilities."

Jay Miller (Truman Press)

Rating: 9.3/10

In "Discovering LIFE'S PURPOSE: RE-EXAMINING THE CLUB," author Del H. Smith takes readers on an extraordinary exploration of life's greatest questions. Smith, an esteemed international marketing consultant with an impressive client portfolio, brings his analytical skills and personal journey to the forefront, resulting in a captivating and thought-provoking book.

Smith's transition from atheism to an unfulfilled convert and ultimately a fervent Christian provides a unique perspective that sets this book apart. His critical examination of The Club, the multi-denominational Christian Church, adds depth and insight to the exploration of life's purpose.

The book's central theme revolves around the search for life's purpose beyond the teachings of religion. Smith invites readers to question the answers provided by religious institutions and embark on a personal journey of discovery. He delves into the mysteries of uncovering one's own life's purpose and provides a sound rationale to support these discoveries.

What sets "Discovering LIFE'S PURPOSE: RE-EXAMINING THE CLUB" apart is its profound exploration of some of the most pressing questions facing humanity. Smith fearlessly examines atheism's arguments, the existence of a loving creator, the authenticity of the Bible as the Word of God, and the significance of Jesus Christ. His examination of Jesus' teachings, particularly "The Sayings of Jesus," offers readers a unique approach to internalizing the teachings of one of history's most influential figures.

Smith's writing style is clear, engaging, and accessible. He effortlessly presents complex ideas in a manner that resonates with readers from various backgrounds and beliefs. The book's thought-provoking content encourages readers to reevaluate their own perspectives and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

"Discovering LIFE'S PURPOSE: RE-EXAMINING THE CLUB" has the potential to reach a wide audience due to its universal appeal. Whether readers are questioning their own beliefs, seeking personal growth, or simply curious about life's purpose, this book offers profound insights and guidance. Smith's ability to blend personal anecdotes, critical analysis, and thought-provoking questions creates a compelling narrative that will captivate readers from start to finish.

Reading "Discovering LIFE'S PURPOSE: RE-EXAMINING THE CLUB" is a transformative experience. It challenges readers to explore life's purpose beyond religious teachings and provides a fresh perspective on age-old questions. The book's greatest strength lies in its ability to inspire self-reflection and personal growth.

In conclusion, "Discovering LIFE'S PURPOSE: RE-EXAMINING THE CLUB" is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of life's purpose. Del H. Smith's unique journey, combined with his insightful analysis and engaging writing style, make this book a standout in its genre. I highly recommend "Discovering LIFE'S PURPOSE: RE-EXAMINING THE CLUB" to all those ready to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery.

Ben Howard (5 Minutes Media)

Rating: 9.5/10

"Discovering LIFE'S PURPOSE: RE-EXAMINING THE CLUB" by Del H. Smith is a remarkable exploration of life's most profound questions. Smith, an international marketing consultant turned fervent Christian, leverages his analytical prowess to delve into the concept of life's purpose, resulting in an engaging and thought-provoking read.

Smith's background in global companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Dell Computers has undoubtedly honed his ability to present complex ideas in an accessible format. This skill is evident in his writing style, which is clear, concise, and captivating. The author's transition from atheism to Christianity provides a unique lens through which he examines life's purpose, making this book a standout in its genre.

The book's core concept revolves around the question of life's purpose. Smith challenges the reader to look beyond religion for answers, encouraging a personal journey of discovery. This approach is refreshing and inclusive, appealing to readers of various beliefs and persuasions.

One of the book's unique aspects is its critical examination of The Club - the multi-denominational Christian Church. Smith's insights into the Church's stance on the Bible and Jesus Christ are enlightening, providing readers with a new perspective on these age-old teachings. His exploration of Jesus's teachings, lovingly referred to as the "book within the book", is a treasure trove of wisdom and inspiration.

Reading "Discovering LIFE'S PURPOSE: RE-EXAMINING THE CLUB" is more than just an intellectual exercise. It's an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. As readers embark on this journey with Smith, they are likely to gain a deeper understanding of their own beliefs and life's purpose. The book's exploration of love, atheism, and the divine is bound to stimulate thought and provoke meaningful conversations.

In conclusion, "Discovering LIFE'S PURPOSE: RE-EXAMINING THE CLUB" is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand life's purpose beyond religious teachings. Its universal appeal, engaging content, and unique insights make it a worthy addition to any bookshelf. Smith's clear and engaging writing style ensures that readers of all backgrounds can enjoy and benefit from this book. I highly recommend "Discovering LIFE'S PURPOSE: RE-EXAMINING THE CLUB" to anyone ready to embark on an enlightening journey of self-discovery.

Cyrus Webb (Vine Voice)

5.0 out of 5 stars

With DISCOVERING LIFE'S PURPOSE author Del H. Smith shares the journey we all are on - "Why am I here?" "What is my purpose?" Those are questions we can all relate to as we look at the world and try to figure out our place in it. For Del H. Smith, it is a journey he has been on for some time, and he shares what he has learned in the book DISCOVERING LIFE'S PURPOSE. You might not agree with everything that he has learned, but what I feel you will take away from the book is that our Creator saw fit to put us here for a reason. Our charge it to discover that and walk in it. The other thing that Del realizes is that our walk might be different than someone else's. What matters is that we go about being the best we can be, knowing our Heavenly Father can help with the rest

LitPick Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars

A fresh take on religious writing

Discovering Life's Purpose by Del Smith is a critical examination of the multi-denominational Christian Church. Del Smith calls it "The Club." His re-examination is neither dogmatic nor dry, however. He uses a process called "Experiential Learning," which uses life experiences to evaluate assertions, ideas, and beliefs. He employs this method to the various assertions made by Jesus, the Bible, and the Roman Catholic Church. His experiential and analytical approach is lucid and common-sense. He asks thought-provoking questions along the way and supplies answers from his experience. What strikes the reader is his humility. He really takes us along through his own journey of discovering experiential truth.
Opinion: Del Smith's "Discovering Life's Purpose" is an honest look at the Christian religion. He gets a lot of things correct, even without formal theological training. His reasoning is very clear and consistent. And as I mentioned in the summary, his humility really shines through in the way he presents his conclusions. He is not pushy at all. It's a fresh take on religious writing. However, if I may share a "piece of glass" (as the author puts it), he should do some more reading on the Holy Spirit. True faith in God is not our choice; true faith in God is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Our love for God, which is our response to His salvation, is also worked in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It is also the Holy Spirit who opens up God's Word of truth to us and to our understanding, like it says in 1 Corinthians 2. The author would also be helped by reading more into the rest of the Bible. Jesus' sayings in the Bible is an excellent way to start and a good focus. But there is more in God's Word than just that and I think it would help the author in his experiential learning process.

David Reyes (The Book Commentary)

5 stars

Del H. Smith's Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining the Club is a re-reading of the Scriptures and the author offers a fresh perspective on using the Bible to uncover one's purpose in life. This book answers to the question: Can life's purpose be known with certainty? Raised as a Roman Catholic, the author examines the club, the traditional religious institution, and discusses some of the topics that create controversy — masturbation, celibacy, contraception, adultery, etc. — allowing readers a clear understanding of how flawed religious teachings can be. To uncover his life purpose, the author uses a method known as Experiential Learning, which allows him to read his own life under the light of the Scriptures. This method becomes the central theme of this book, a technique that readers can use to develop a deeper connection with God and understand why they were created.

This author challenges the traditional images of God and shows readers how to uncover God's essence and what He wants for them. The book features the author's unique journey to discovering God and His purpose for humanity and fills the gap between what is taught about God and what personal experience of God offers. The author gives a brilliant critique of the Church's doctrine and sheds an illuminating light on the limitations of organized religion. Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining the Club is a daring book that applies formal logic to understanding God's ultimate message for humanity. The author writes in language that is hugely accessible and crafts passages that are both resonant and inspiring. This book was an eye-opener for me, extensively researched and expertly written. It introduces a new path to discovering one's purpose in life.

Kim Calderon (The Book Commentary)

5 stars

"Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining the Club by Del H. Smith is a book that challenges what most readers know about God as presented in Christianity. This author sets out to establish that a personal encounter with God is possible and explores spiritual wisdom that will help readers understand their life's purpose and pursue it. Readers encounter the work of an author who put into question most of what he was taught, growing up as a Roman Catholic, and who confronts the Bible with writings from atheists, scrutinizing the doctrine of Jesus and seeking to uncover the real nature of God. At the heart of this book is the question: Can one find meaning and purpose by looking beyond religion and can one know his life's purpose with absolute certainty?

Del H. Smith establishes that life has a purpose and sets out to show readers how to find it. While religion can offer a path to understanding life's purpose, this author takes the path of Experiential Learning and shows readers how to uncover the Creator's will for them. His experience is pioneering and it offers a path that others can use to connect more intimately to life's purpose. Readers will find clarity on very controversial topics like masturbation, contraception, homosexuality, celibacy and female ordination, and adultery. The author explores the principle of love and affirms that it is at the center of life's purpose. Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining the Club has a lot to offer readers and I particularly enjoyed the author's deft exploration of the key wisdom in both the Old and New Testaments and his interpretation of the law of love for God and neighbor. The book is deeply researched, crafted in beautiful prose, and brimming with wisdom and insight."

Frank J Post Business and IT Consultant (Amazon)
4 stars

"An interesting and serious attempt to answer some hard questions This book is really 2 books in one. The first is the story of a person's thoughtful attempt to find and understand the answers to some serious questions, like: Who and what am I - really? Why am I here? Where am I going? What should I do about it? It is written as a story, which keeps it interesting and personal. It's written from a very Christian point of view. But that shouldn't stop you from reading it if you're interested in the questions - even if you aren't a believer. The author attempts to take an organized and logical approach to a difficult and dangerous subject - and presents an interesting case for his conclusions. The second part of the book is the author's analysis of the New Testament of the Bible. If you conclude (as the author does in the first part) that there is "really something there" that's real and worth believing in, then based on a systematic analysis of Jesus' actual words (statements) only, what is He telling us? It is an interesting approach to what it means to be a Christian (and one I've not seen before). An interesting (and enlightening) read - even if you don't agree."

Andy1 (Amazon)
5 stars

"Very meaningful, inspirational and enjoyable book. An outstanding and comprehensive overview and discussion of many of the major concepts relating to real life in the Bible from a very meaningful perspective. A very worthwhile read. Simplifies many confusing and complicated issues in the Bible in a very applicable way. The author writes from a Catholic perspective and discusses his beliefs in principles of the Catechism in a very refreshing way."
 

Simon Irving Conductor, Organist MA FRCCO (Amazon)
4 stars

"Good Answers to Life's Hard Questions. 'Discovering Life’s Purpose' is the kind of book it might be easy to shrug off. But instead, the author’s honesty and intellectual integrity shine through as he describes his personal journey from skepticism to joyful belief, and compels the reader’s attention. He freely admits his errors and shortcomings, while also garnering admiration for his dedicated and relentless search for truth. This book is required reading for anyone who wonders about the Christian faith and how to go about building their understanding."

praetorian2004 (LitPick)

5 stars

Discovering Life's Purpose by Del Smith is a critical examination of the multi-denominational Christian Church. Del Smith calls it "The Club." His re-examination is neither dogmatic nor dry, however. He uses a process called "Experiential Learning," which uses life experiences to evaluate assertions, ideas, and beliefs. He employs this method to the various assertions made by Jesus, the Bible, and the Roman Catholic Church. His experiential and analytical approach is lucid and common-sense. He asks thought-provoking questions along the way and supplies answers from his experience. What strikes the reader is his humility. He really takes us along through his own journey of discovering experiential truth.

Romuald Dzemo, (Readers' Favorite)

5 stars
"Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining The Club by Del H. Smith is an engaging self-help book with a strong appeal to Christian readers. In this book, the author picks up familiar lessons from the Bible and shows readers how they constitute a path toward finding their purpose and meaning, articulating brilliantly on Christian principles and teachings, on the power of faith, the place of service in the journey toward love and fulfillment, and experiential learning. I was fascinated by the way author Del H. Smith writes about his experiential learning, the journey to overcoming his doubts in miracles, and finally embracing his purpose. While the book is filled with religious meaningful teachings, including the fundamental principle of loving thy neighbor, the author weaves relevant examples of life shared, divulging to readers the role of two women in his life. I particularly enjoyed his relationships with Margaret Jean (Peggy) Gillis, his late wife, and Marcelle Carmen Kipp-Smith, his current wife. This is not a book that claims to give readers everything they need to find their purpose, but one in which the author reflects on his personal experience of faith, and demonstrates the miracle of personal transformation that happens when we dare to believe and to put what we believe into action. It is filled with spiritual wisdom and insights that will help readers understand their personal calling more deeply, and translate the vision of Christ into a living, tangible reality. Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining the Club is a beautiful book that should be read and shared generously."

K.C. Finn, (Readers' Favorite)

5 stars
"Discovering Life’s Purpose: Re-Examining The Club is a work of non-fiction in the religious and self-help genres. It is aimed at the general adult reading audience and was penned by author Del H. Smith. The book comes in two parts. The first part is about utilizing Experiential Learning in order to successfully find meaning in your life, drawing upon the author’s own experience of using the technique. The second part is an exploration of the teachings of Jesus that aims to help the reader to better understand the meaning behind these lessons, including a focus on the topics that Jesus discussed most often. The first half of Discovering Life’s Purpose was a revelation into how people can use their experiences in life so far to identify a direction for their future and, throughout this section, author Del H. Smith demonstrates a keen understanding of the topic. Through comparisons to his own experiences, after two decades of using the Experiential Learning technique, the author has a wealth of solid expertise which he utilizes to highlight the logic-based and secular method with which he himself found direction in life. The second half of the book is a fascinating exploration of the teachings of Jesus, which is aimed at people who have faith but find it to be lacking something they need to live it fully. The insights into Jesus's teachings are profound and here, once again, Discovering Life’s Purpose proves itself to be a vital handbook for anyone who feels lost on the path toward spiritualism and faith."
 

Ruffina Oserio, (Readers' Favorite)

5 stars
"Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining The Club by Del H. Smith is a ground-breaking book that proposes a sure path to finding one’s purpose in life, and one which will appeal irresistibly to fans of Christian non-fiction. The author takes a theme that is much talked about, finding one's path in life, and weaves personal stories and an experiential learning journey into it. The work teaches readers how to discover their path by connecting with the core message and values taught by Jesus in a way that is concrete and transforming. The author is someone who has been plagued by doubts in the past, especially when it comes to miracles, and in this book, he sets out on a journey to crystallize his faith, uncovering the hidden importance of the biblical message of Jesus, and finding clarity in embracing his purpose. Along the way, he shares case studies with his late wife and current wife and shows how the living faith of other people helped him find his light and purpose. This book has relevant biblical references and the author shows readers the intersection between faith and experiential learning. For those who have already mastered the teachings of Jesus, it is easy to understand what their mission is, but author Del H. Smith, a skeptic, needs a unique experience to discover what he is called to be. The book is inspiring, filled with manifold lessons on the Christian life, faith, and the core message of Jesus. It is written in a captivating and irresistible voice, and the author shares his personal experiences with distinctive clarity and honesty. Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining The Club is inspiring, moving, and packed with Christian wisdom. The book is well-researched, masterfully written in prose that is enjoyable, presenting lessons that will change the way we relate to God and to ourselves."

Vincent Dublado, (Readers' Favorite)

4 stars
"The world-renowned psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl once stressed that life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose. In Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining The Club, author Del H. Smith shares his discovery of life’s purpose and welcomes you to The Club, his term for the multi-denominational Christian Church, an institution that is non-exclusive and is open to everyone. As The Club has thoroughly studied life’s purpose and becomes an invaluable tool in navigating one’s way through the world, this work allows you to examine The Club’s teachings independently by way of Experiential Learning to get the most out of it. Part of this book will help you understand why you and the people close to you have rejected The Club, while other parts may help you develop a deeper relationship with your creator. Before you pass judgment that this book aims to proselytize, you need to really give it a chance. Just like you, author Del H. Smith had his share of objections to The Club before. But in applying experiential learning in his perception of The Club’s teachings, along with its applications in his own life, he hopes that you could similarly discover your own purpose. For me, this is the most important thing that I learned from reading this book: a meaningful purpose is something that one must discover. In doing so, it becomes a part of yourself that matters and gives you a deeper connection to life and to your divine creator. Smith writes with a practical, no-nonsense approach that makes it easy for you to understand how life’s purpose can come in different shapes and sizes. Meaning and purpose exist, and experiential learning can help you find it in the daily moments in your life. For anyone who enjoys reading books like The Purpose Driven Life, Discovering Life’s Purpose is an enjoyable and easy read that is also life-changing."
 

Grace Masso, (Readers' Favorite)

5 stars
"Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining The Club by Del H. Smith is a powerful and compelling book that answers the questions: can we know our life’s purpose with absolute certainty, and what are we here for? While some people can easily find their path and purpose, it comes to others through hard work and learning, and the author of this book falls into the latter category. A man assailed by doubt in miracles, he sets out on a spiritual odyssey to uncover his life’s purpose, a journey that unearths ground-breaking lessons on experiential learning, strong faith, a deeper understanding of the spiritual laws, and the essential elements of faith and love. In this book, the author shares his personal journey of faith, invites readers to revisit some of the teachings of the Roman Catholic faith, and explains how they eventually gave him a foothold and unveiled his purpose. This is a well-written book in which the reader gets the feeling that they are in a heart-to-heart, frank conversation with an author after his experience of enlightenment and deepening faith. Filled with relevant biblical references, personal stories, and life-changing relationships, this book contains the wisdom that will inspire readers to dig deeper into themselves to discover the light that leads to God and to their vocation. Readers will enjoy the love and devotion with which the author speaks about his late wife, his wife, and the roles they both played in his journey and spiritual quest. I enjoyed the sections about case studies and how the author describes the stages of his experiential learning. Del H. Smith has a message to share with readers and knows how to communicate that message, writing in beautiful prose and creating entertainment with the storytelling craft. Discovering Life's Purpose: Re-Examining The Club will help readers discover what they are here for, give them tools to accept their path, and allow it to connect them deeply with God and their neighbor."

There's a saying that goes, "life happens to everyone." It usually depicts that, though what happened is not desirable, it has to be accepted. Ideally, we prefer things to happen as we wish, but it doesn't always panout that way. This is just one of the many issues we face in trying to live life. Chief of them is discovering our purpose in life. With the events of days and nights culminating into years and years of our lives, we
invariably come to a point where we begin to ask ourselves, "what is my life's purpose?"

Sam Ibeh, (Online Book Club)

4 out of 4 stars

Del H. Smith, in Discovering Life's Purpose, makes a good attempt at answering that question. He starts by probing and trying to understand the source of life itself. Is it from God? If not God, then what is it, and how can we determine the purpose of life? If God truly exists and He is the source of life, then should the purpose of our lives be His purpose for our lives? This is only the periphery of the series of questions he tackles in this book. These questions and puzzles have plagued him right from childhood and into several decades of his life. He tries to seek answers from his parents, the Roman Catholic Church, school, friends, and private studies.

It begins a process he calls "experiential learning," where he learns from his experiences, putting pieces of answers together to form a picture of what he believes is life's purpose. Discovering Life's Purpose in itself is an experience for me. I admit that I have had my share of questions as to what life is all about. So I am thrilled by this book's topic and have learned a lot from it. I can relate very well to the thoughts the author shares with us — thoughts he gathers during his quest. I believe many people also share these same thoughts, especially with the many longstanding debates on religion and the existence of a supreme being.

I admire the extent to which he went into step-by-step details, dissecting every doubt and belief. It's apparent that the author studied and researched before coming to a logical conclusion about what he believed to be the best solution for every puzzle. This is a life quest for him, and his success so far in this journey has become a beacon of light that will help many others find their way without experiencing any difficulties.

Discovering Life's Purpose was well written and edited, reflecting the author's systematic approach toward perfection. But I disagreed with several of the conclusions he made. If he had a wider range of experiences, those conclusions would have stood a better chance of convincing me. Also, if he had widened his scope of search beyond the Roman Catholic Church, he would have gotten more satisfactory answers, especially for questions left unanswered in the book. I wouldn't say the author did all the due diligence needed to drive a topic like this home. The one-sided, religious nature of some of the conclusions was the only bane of this book. I was almost going to take away a point from the rating. On second thought, I realized that the core audience might not have issues with this. With that, I'd give it 4 out of 4 stars.
I recommend this book to Christians seeking to understand what to make out of life and know their purpose, people who would like definite answers about whether there is God, and Roman Catholics who seek to understand their doctrine better.

Owuamanam, (Online Book Club)

4 out of 4 Stars

The books of history mention that the world has had many beliefs and philosophers that question the existence of God. One of the prominent questions was the one about evil in the world. The pioneers of this view argued that if God is all good, why is there evil in the world? The book of history also provided answers presented by Augustine of Hippo in 416 AD. However, a thorough evaluation of the problems and situations in the world leaves one to wonder if there is a God. In his book Discovering Life’s Purpose, Del H. Smith presents the challenges humans face in discovering their life’s purpose. As humans, we are not born with a purpose, but we discover the purpose for which we exist. Without purpose, one is chasing the wind. Without having a destination, one is embarking on a senseless journey. There are various ways of finding purpose; it could be through"the club." We can also do it through an experiential process. However, the author presented his life journey and how he found purpose through the experiential approach.

The author also teaches the reader how to find purpose through the experiential method. This book is a product of the author’s experience, thoughts, and story. The peculiarity of the book makes me love it. On the other hand, the author started as a Christian due to pressure from his mother. The author also shared that as he got to his teenage years, he questioned all the tenets and propositions of Christian doctrine and dogma. On this note, the author had the experience of all the sides of religious affiliation. Relatively, he wrote with experience that is whole. The book really guides the reader through the Christian journey of discovering life’s purpose. More so, the author presented his ideas alongside personal stories, and it is commendable. In the book’s structure and organization, the author adhered to all the rules of traditional writing. This book was of more help to me than I thought it would be. I learned from the author’s story and personal experience. I discovered that in order to discover one’s purpose, some level of openness must be present. The book is outstanding, and I have nothing to dislike about it.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 because it was exceptionally well-edited. The author also wrote with conviction and passion. It is the author’s life story aimed at teaching the reader how to discover life’s purpose. Thus, I appreciate the author’s will to teach through his personal life experiences. I also feel the experiential method is not a new aspect of the study. John Locke, David Hume, and the empiricists also hold the view that knowledge comes through experience. However, the author presented this book practically by using his personal story. I feel the rating is justified as the author followed all the principles of traditional writing. I recommend this book to anyone seeking to discover their life’s purpose. If you are on a quest to find purpose in life, then read this book.

Jessica Lucci, (Reedsy)

“Discovering Life’s Purpose” by Del Smith is a Christian-based self-help book. The focus of the book is to lead the reader to find individual purpose in life. The Christian Church is referred to as “The Club,” founded by Jesus Christ. The Judeo-Christian Bible is referenced as The Club charter. Different sects of Christianity are called clubhouses. The Club is described as the best way to discover one’s purpose in life.
This is done through “Experiential Learning.” This book is geared toward non-Christians and non-practicing Christians. It attempts to encourage this audience to consider The Club as their new faith base. Questions are posed to the reader and deftly explained, such as the origins of Jesus Christ, the validity of miracles, and the truth of the Bible. Told in a preachy yet sometimes tongue-in-cheek fashion, the chapters of this self-help book read as a compilation of essays. The end of the book is an index, which is essentially a compilation of Bible sayings. This would be useful for readers who wish to explore Biblical ideas before actually perusing a Bible. This book would be a good read for a new Christian with modern sensibilities.