Refreshing yet practical, Jim Wallis' timely book, Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street, provides a tense argument and solution for the current state of the nation. Both readable and stimulating to the reader's inner psyche, Wallis strips away all the extra jargon and maintains a direct voice throughout the book. As a bold spokesperson for liberal Christians who merge faith with public and political life, Wallis inspired many spiritually oriented people to break free from the dichotomy between religion and state. Wallis explores the connection between the teachings of Jesus and a level-headed but holistic approach to money, morality and happiness, while exposing the ritual of consumption and the idol we have made of the market. According to him, we must replace these lifestyles with the practice of conscious citizenship. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay At first, the economic crisis of 2008-2009 seemed like a devastating turning point for most Americans. Yet Wallis reveals the gift hidden in the problem: the opportunity to reclaim our values, as individuals, as families, and as a society. Our own moral restoration is perhaps even more important than economic restoration. Wallis offers a metaphor for the current state of our nation in the form of a three-legged stool. The three components include the commercial sector like Wall Street, the public sector like government, and the civil sector like churches. Wallis points out that America – along with much of the world – has allowed the commercial sector to wield too much power and influence. As a result, this particular leg of the stool has become excessively long, resulting in an unbalanced system that will soon collapse. Rather than simply presenting a tough, ethical diatribe against the ruthless narcissism of Wall Street, Wallis instead focuses most of his energy on pointing out the unwise choices made by ordinary citizens, particularly in how they perceive and manage their money . Additionally, he points to the Church's embarrassing and blatant display of perhaps the most egregious vice in America's greed, as well as the Wal-Mart CEO's annual income of billions of dollars. Wallis more than adequately describes the lack of morals and values ​​among the leaders of countless companies, as well as the dilemma of lost wages and income inequality. He examines the corrupt method of redistribution practiced among the rich even as unemployment and wage losses continue to rise: "Yet today, if anyone asks whether these bonuses are really deserved and whether we, in as taxpayers who financed all this should be able to share in all the profits, they are accused of being socialists, communists or worse” (Wallis 222). He expresses a strong belief in the dishonest methods of the rich and the manipulation of public perception. Wallis also explores what he calls "the big lie," which is a widespread cultural belief that many citizens adhere to without even realizing it. It is a belief that claims that "those who are rich are rich because they are responsible and just, and that those who are poor must be irresponsible, even immoral [...] It is the belief that great physical wealth indicates that God must be pleased with your actions and that poverty suggests disfavor and even punishment from God” (Wallis 90). This is where morality becomes terribly skewed, and those who have theno longer in need of love, mercy and care are rejected as people who have lost God's favor because of unpleasant actions. Here, he continues to shed light on facets of reality that often go unnoticed. Wallis suggests that we have a more generous vision, one that sees every citizen as important and deserving of dignity. Yet right-wing readers, while recognizing that generosity should perhaps be exercised more regularly, can also argue that it should not be forced or demanded. Although conservatives and right-wing individuals may have difficulty adjusting to Wallis' overtly left-wing views, he also offers understanding and guidance to the group of liberal Christians who seek to intersect their spiritual faith with their beliefs and concerns policies. Gay rights, environmental awareness and kindness towards the poor are all components of the left-wing mentality, which are often flouted by the rigid right. Although extremely liberal in his political beliefs, anyone with an open mind can appreciate the intent of this devout Christian and leader of a spiritual movement. For some, the simplistic and often repetitive nature of the book may be a source of dissatisfaction. Wallis's arguments about fallacy and the cause of the recession are not revolutionary and are found in the writings of many other authors. The book's conclusion may also have suffered from a lack of effectiveness due to the construction of the preceding chapters. Yet its apparent excessive simplicity might actually be its greatest asset. No reader can dismiss the book as inaccessible. Furthermore, while it might be easy to dismiss the common sense of the book, even this supports Wallis' argument because it sheds light on the dire state of our nation and its illusory pursuit of external happiness. He reminds us that “simplification is not a commitment to abject poverty but a choice to live more fully” (Wallis 115). It opens the reader's eyes to facets of his modern existence that may have been ignored or gone unnoticed. The institutionalized greed, unchecked narcissism, and blatant consumerism that seem to be invisible pillars in the American quest for happiness are fully exposed in this book. It is precisely this characteristic that makes reading the book necessary if one wants to discover the reasons for their spiritual malaise and dissatisfaction despite the abundance of material objects and worldly achievements. The reverend alludes to countless biblical messages and stories in his argument for the moral restoration of the nation. The miracle in which Jesus fed a multitude of five thousand people with “seven loaves and a few small fish” reminded me, on a deep spiritual level, of the enduring power of a generous and trusting heart (Matthew 15:34, NLT ). Wallis explains how one individual had to give up his meager supply of food so that Jesus could accomplish his work. This gently invites the reader to examine their own relationship with possessions, and even necessities such as food, and the hoarding nature with which we selfishly cling to ours. In many cases, especially if we only have some for ourselves, we will save the portions while feeling like we are serving ourselves better. What Wallis is alluding to here without even saying it is that fulfillment, both physical and spiritual, comes to us when we are able to let go of what we think we need. It takes faith and a belief in something much bigger than ourselves. Even the most superficial reading of this story can..