Deadly Viper Character Assassins by Mike Foster & Jud White

I grabbed Deadly Viper Character Assassins from the New Books shelf at my public library. A well designed book with funky graphics, I checked it out. The book is about maintaining an upright character. The authors list six character assassins that you must beware:

• The Assassin of Character Creep: Do not cut corners when it comes to your character. That is how most people begin their fall.


• The Assassin of Zi Qi Qi Ren: Zi Qi Qi Ren is the Chinese term for deceiving yourself while deceiving others. The authors caution you not to drink your own kool-aid, better yet, don't serve any kool-aid. Be straight with everyone including yourself.


• The Assassin of Amped Emotions: It is easy to lose your head and make a rash, harmful decision when your emotions are running wild. Think before you speak or act.


• The Assassin of the Headless Sprinting Chicken: Beware burnout. But, also beware the seductive illusion of balance. You cannot be everything to everyone at the same time. Sometimes you work hard, sometimes you play hard, just don't do both at the same time.


• The Assassin of Boom Chicka Wah Wah: This one is just what it sounds like. Sex is a very powerful force in human lives. Engage in it responsibly.


• The Bling Bling Assassin: It is OK to enjoy your stuff, just do not let your stuff take over your life.


• The High and Mighty Assassin: Remember, no matter what your title or position, you are human just like everyone else, whether you are the CEO or the janitor.

Overall, Deadly Viper Character Assassins is a short, fun read. I did not find anything earth shatteringly enlightening about it, but reading it gave me some things to think about. I was surprised to find that the book is classified as Christian non-fiction. I did not find any overt Christian content in the book and Christianity does not have a monopoly on upright character, so I would call this a self-help book instead. Also, I felt the authors tried a little to hard to be funky and fresh, which distracted from the actual content of the book. Reviews on the internet indicate that many Asian readers were offended by the author's stereotypical portrayal of Asians. Personally, I found their facile treatment of the martial arts a negative as well.

3.25/5