All Things Christian Book Reviews - The Serpent And The Mirror

Exciting, Awakening, Uplifting

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I felt an immediate connection with both this book and the author. This book constantly had me on my toes wanting to know and read more. There is something about the way the author, Steve Bruner, approached familiar ideas that immediately made me want to keep reading, reflecting, and discovering what I may have previously overlooked.

Reading this book felt a lot like looking into a mirror, except instead of pointing out your flaws, it reveals what you may have been missing all along. It challenges the illusions we sometimes see in our own reflection and replaces them with something clearer and more truthful. What I especially appreciated was that the author doesn't simply point out these distorted ways of seeing ourselves; the book explores why they happen and continually brings the reader back to the truth found in Scripture. There were moments when that truth genuinely snapped me out of an old way of thinking and helped me see myself, God, and even humanity differently.

A favorite aspect of mine is the topics explored and subjects that are frequently discussed. Things like sin, forgiveness, redemption, Adam and Eve, temptation, trust, and our relationship with God, but somehow this book and writing makes them feel deeper than the explanations we are used to hearing. Instead of sticking with the surface-level lessons many of us already know, the author gets to the root of them and gives language to things we may recognize internally but have never known how to describe. There were quite a few moments when I had to stop, think “wait, what?” and reread something because it challenged me to think deeper. The exploration of trust and the story of Adam and Eve especially changed the way I thought about something I believed I already understood. Each discussion is like seed and nutrients to grow you not only personally, but spiritually as well.

I also really enjoyed the exploration of the Enneagram, I found this topic through the book to be surprising and intriguing. Rather than simply explaining what it is at face value, the author incorporates it into a much larger conversation about identity, humanity, and understanding ourselves. I loved seeing psychological insight and biblical reflection come together, especially because the different concepts throughout the book have a way of connecting back to one another. Nothing felt included simply for the sake of being interesting; it all contributed to the larger purpose of the book: helping each person see past the illusions reflected in the mirror and uncover what is actually true.

In conclusion, this book deeply impacted me to my core. The topics were thought provoking and intentional, while the writing was moving, inspirational, and awakening. Each page has a way of staying with you long after you’ve read it. Sometimes I even find myself thinking back to certain parts of the book that strongly resonated with me when something in my own life reminds me of them. I think that speaks to just how meaningful this book was for me. It didn’t simply give me something to read; it gave me something to carry with me. It encouraged me to reflect, question, grow, and look at myself and my faith through a clearer lens. This is the kind of book that meets you where you are while challenging you to see beyond what you thought you already knew, and that’s why I loved reading it tremendously.

Order your copy of The Serpent & The Mirror Here.

Learn more about the Author Steve Bruner Here.