In true Mark Batterson fashion, the book explores both scripture and countless other physiological aspects of the Great Commandment. While the book isn’t as intense as his other two, Primal encourages us to go back rather than forward. It’s a call to return to God and love Him with our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

As I read Primal two words came to mind, “reverse engineering”.

I couldn’t help but think that his books are really out of order. I saw Primal as a book meant to be read first as it explores where our passion should come from. Mark is tormented by the statement, “Our heart should break for the things that break God’s heart.” What a gut wrenching statement that is long overdue in the realm of ministry leaders. Probably one of the most shocking statements made in the entire book is the self confession that Mark has taken a deep look inside and concluded that he was becoming a “professionally paid Christian”. Ouch! I love raw unfiltered truth. It’s a magnet to me. As soon as this statement was made I was hooked into a reading frenzy.

As I continued to read, I am always in awe of Marks unique ability to see the supernatural in the natural. He does a great job showcasing the glory of God in the most unforeseen things. There are times where it is a bit excessive to my personal taste, but I am fully aware that he is a pastor and that pastor’s tend to be redundant. So I shrug it off and continue to explore the pages with wild excitement because I know the author is a lion chaser. Lion chasers are adventurers. They blaze new trails and take giant risk. Such was this book. It is a call backwards to a place of reverence, a place of holiness and purity. It is the call back to the basics, something my generation and today’s “conference leading pastors” need to take a look at.

Primal is excellent read and worth every penny. It is an investment of eternal proportions and worthy of sitting on anyone’s bookshelf. If you’ve never read a book by Mark Batterson, pick this one up first. Then read Wild Goose Chase and last In A Pit with A Lion On A Snowy Day. It makes more sense.

Primal makes you discover what is most important. It’s a return to the basics. It’s a return to what is most important. Wild Goose Chase motivates you to come of out the cage of what has been holding you back. In a Pit with A Lion On A Snowy Day challenges you to live out your calling and have the courage enough to boldly go where you faith leads you.