This is his first book in a series on the 'heros' from the Bible. His enthusiasm for the subject, his passionate and witty style of writing are very much an asset. Almost everyone will have heard of David - mostly in Sunday School stories of David & Goliath. What some people will not know is the heart of the man. The things which drove him and made him into the hero - and the things which caused him to go so far from the God he served.

The author brings out every aspect of David's character and life in an easy to read and enjoyable account of his life. The man 'after God's own heart' can be seen as passionate, although not always in the correct way. The chosen of God, although not always working in harmony with his God. Poet, lover, friend and above all else, human.

Mr Swindoll does not paint a rose-tinted picture of David, but lets us know exactly how he was, what drove him and how he reacted in differing circumstances. A man of passion who mainly did The Lord's bidding, but sometimes who would act first and think later. All of this is brought out in thought provovking, clear and at times, witty writing.

For a man who lived in a different time and a different place, we see that people - in all walks of life - have not changed all that much. People are still passionate, loving, hating and oft-times act first then says sorry afterwards. This is the case whether they be kings and queens or humble, poor folk like me.

So, this is warts and all account of one of the most famous characters of Scripture. It points out where David got it right and where he got it worng - sometime spectacularly in both cases.

It's interesting to note that David's is the line that Christ Jesus chose to come from. As the old hymn says, "David's son and David's Lord."

Ultimately there is a lot of David in many of us. It's whether we choose to let it out and work in the right way that matters, in every aspect of our life.