Steve McQueen : The Salvation of an American Icon (Hardcover)

I'm a Christian woman so I enjoy reading about lost souls finding Christ. Especially a man that became the top movie star of his day but found that it still left him unsatisfied with life. Hard for us simple folk to imagine. The book is as much about the author's journey researching for the book as it is about Steve McQueen's tragic childhood, rise to mega stardom, fall and rise again, daredevil way, substance abuse, womanizing, adultery, divorces, quest for inner peace, finding it then a tragic and confusing diagnosis. If you enjoy biographies and testimonies then this book might be for you. I was never a big McQueen fan. I bought into the popular cultures description of him as an abusive husband. I was not going to root for a man that hits a woman. But aren't we all worthy of a second, third and fourth chance? I'm thankful that God's mercies are new every morning. The writer paints a picture of McQueen as a hard living, sometimes obnoxious character that went after what he wanted with gusto and got it. But life at the top wasn't enough to soothe his wounded soul. The author takes his time getting around to discussing Steve so I was a bit annoyed by that at first but it all started to come together as he describes the similarities of his upbringing to McQueen's. There are many parallels between the two. I enjoyed reading this book. It made me laugh, cringe, and actually cry (a tiny bit). It's a book about victory over adversity, looking for gratification and validation in all the wrong things, climbing to the mountain top and finding that there's nothing there but ourselves and the baggage we carried with us. It has a heart wrenching yet beautiful ending that made me reach for a box of tissues. I have a deep respect for Mr McQueen now, God rest his soul. He was a very complex human being from beginning to end. I still don't think he was the greatest actor however. I've watched a couple of his films since reading the book and I felt his performances weren't as up to the same quality as his costars. He actually looked uncomfortable at times and even awkward at others. He seems to have captured his audiences hearts because of his "every mans" persona or "champion of the underdog" appeal. He was a true man's man but had a tender side that craved acceptance. His meteoric rise to fame was most likely a search for approval, acceptance and love. All the things that a walk with our Lord and Savior gives us when we accept His offer of eternal life with Him in heaven. Where we go after this life is the million dollar question whether we want to acknowledge it or not. I'm glad that I know where I am going when I leave this world. Into the arms of a perfect, loving God that never leaves us and always forgives those that ask for it. He never really sees us as sinners. Confessing is for us and our transformation. To release us from the guilt that we place upon ourselves out of ignorance of His perfect love for us. It's a quick read and good in terms of spiritual journeys. Is it a great book? No, but I found myself rooting for Steve McQueen in the end and was sorry when the ride was over.