Marcia Nelson reviews Joel's "Become A Better You" for the Washington Post. It's not entirely clear whether she approves or disapproves of the book ... but she certainly does seem peeved that you can buy the darn thing so easily. Does that really qualify as a book review? ... or the musings of a fellow author that wishes they had a fraction of the platform?

The critiques - such as they are - are subtle and somewhat forgiving. But there's a note at the conclusion that seems to underscore much of what I find at fault with the way Joel is perceived by some:

But with a basic grounding in scripture and a lot of TV know-how (acquired over 17 years of producing the televised sermons of his father, John Osteen), a preacher's kid who inherited a congregation now holds the keys to America's self-help impulse.

To clarify for some, Joel Osteen did not happen to inherit a church with 45,000 walking in the door. He inherited one with something closer to 6-8,000 ... many, I'm sure, skeptical that the kid could have held even that sized church together upon Pastor John's passing. It should certainly be recognized by at least a few more folks that the church grew under Joel's leadership. Even at the old location, new services had to be added.

The problem isn't so much a mere historical accuracy ... it's the perception that Joel has somehow lucked into whatever good fortune he might have found. Including the veiled perception that he somehow inherited a church with 45,000 in attendance. Nevermind that such a church simply didn't exist on these shores prior to the turn of the century.