Become A Better You: 7 Keys To Improving Your Life Every Day

Joel Osteen reaches one of the largest audiences in the U.S. and across the globe -- more than 42,000 people attend his church every week, and millions more tune in by television to hear his words of inspiration and wisdom. His first book, Your Best Life Now, has sold over 4 million copies and is available worldwide in seventeen languages. His message of hope is helping people find a closer connection with God by learning to apply the principles of Scripture to their everyday lives.

In this new book, Become a Better You, Joel Osteen offers seven simple yet profound action steps that will help readers discover the better things they were born for...their individual purpose and destiny. As charming and passionate on the page as he is in person, Osteen incorporates key biblical principles, devotions, and personal testimonies that will uplift and enlighten readers. He speaks directly to the hearts and concerns of people from every walk of life. People love Joel Osteen -- they love to be in his presence, to hear him speak, and to read what he's written -- they just can't get enough of him.

Become a Better You will encourage and inspire readers to reach their full, unique and God-given potential.

Annotation

Dear B&N.com Customer,

I am extremely pleased to be working with Barnes & Noble.com as an online bookseller and partner for the publication of my new book, Become a Better You. BarnesandNoble.com is a premiere destination for finding books and other products online.

Get ready to embark on a remarkable journey. One that will help you break free from the past and realize your full potential as a spouse, parent, or friend. Whether you realize it or not, miracles are happening all around you. I'm confident that reading this book will lead you to accept the gift of who you were meant to be and live a life filled with more hope, joy, and victory.

Believing for God's Best,

Joel Osteen

Editorial Reviews

Megachurch pastor and bestselling author Osteen follows up Your Best Life Nowwith this disappointingly unoriginal Christian self-help book. The seven subtitular steps to improvement include instructions to develop good habits, better relationships and an inner life. Osteen balances mind-over-matter pep talks with claims that God wants to bless faithful people with successes. The future is always promising, because "God never performs His greatest feats in your yesterdays." At the same time, in order to receive God's blessing, one must back up prayers with action, obey, maintain a positive attitude toward life and "do the right thing with the right motives." Some of Osteen's advice is sound; for example, he suggests that if you are forgiving and kind to colleagues and friends, they'll cut you slack when you have crabby days. Other suggestions-like writing down a big goal and posting it on your mirror or desk-are unremarkable. Laced throughout are anodyne first-person vignettes; Osteen struggled with frustration when his favorite restaurant announced a 45-minute wait. The hurried Osteen went to a nearby burger joint, only to have a brief encounter that changed another customer's life. Voilà-God turned Osteen's disappointment into blessing! Though this book is destined for strong sales, it offers nothing innovative. (Oct. 15)Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

About The Author:

Joel Osteen is a native Texan and the Pastor of Lakewood Church, which according to Church Growth Today is America's largest and fastest growing church with over 38,000 attendees. On July 16, 2005 after completing $95 million dollars in renovations, Joel moved Lakewood Church into its new 16,000-seat home - the former Compaq Center which is now the largest regularly-used worship center in the United States.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Joel is the most watched inspirational figure in America. His weekly sermon is broadcast into television markets across the U.S. where it is viewed by seven million Americans each week and more than 20 million each month. His weekly broadcast is also seen in almost 100 nations around the world. In 2004 his first book, Your Best Life Now was released by Time Warner debuting at the top of the New York Times Bestsellers List and quickly rising to #1. It remained on the New York Times Bestseller for more than 2 years and has sold more than 4 million copies. Most recently, Joel was named as one of Barbara Walters "10 Most Fascinating People of 2006" and he was selected as the "Most Influential Christian in 2006" by the readers of Church Report Magazine.

The son of John Osteen -- a highly respected minister of the Gospel and the founder of Lakewood Church -- Joel attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he studied radio and television communications. In 1982, Joel returned to Houston and founded Lakewood s television ministry where he produced John Osteen s televised sermons for 17 years until January 1999 when his father passed away.

For many years John Osteen encouraged Joel to preach, but he always declined preferring to work behind the scenes. In early 1999, Joel felt compelled to accept his father s invitation and he preached his first sermon on January 17th of that year. Little did anyone know that would be the last Sunday of John Osteen s life. Two weeks later Joel began preaching and later that year was installed as the new Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church.

Almost immediately, weekly attendance began to grow at an extraordinary rate and, in 2005 Joel moved Lakewood Church into its present location, the former Compaq Center, a 16,000-seat arena that was once home to the Houston Rockets professional basketball team. Now, with his wife Victoria and the leadership staff of Lakewood, this innovative church is poised for the new millennium.

Joel s extraordinary success can be found in his core message: That our God is a good God who desires to bless those who are obedient and faithful to Him through Jesus Christ. It is Joel s deepest desire that his own life be an example of that principle and that everyone who hears this message of hope and encouragement would choose to accept God s goodness and mercy and to become all that God wants them to be. For more information about Joel Osteen, go to www.joelosteen.com.