Deadly Viper Character Assassins
A book review of Deadly Viper Character Assassins by Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite.
Mike and Jud have crafted a well thought out Kung Fu Survivor’s Guide to help start a much needed conversation around the enemy. They’ve put a names to a set of faces and have done so in a really creative way. But the it is important to look past the beauty of this book to the deeper insight it provides.
The first thing you’ll notice is that this is one of the best designed books you will ever read. Mike Foster and his team at Plain Joe Studios bring an exception graphic design to the book so it feels much more like a coffee table book, although it’s very small (6×6) so it doesn’t look like one. It also has the feel of a comic book which makes it really interesting as well as insightful.
Mike and Jud introduce us to the seven Deadly Viper Character Assassins. Yes, the book title comes from Kill Bill but it provides a great framework for understanding the enemy. My one wish was that they had stayed within the Asian theme more with the names. It’s a great idea. But at one point they mention Jihadists, which is a great metaphor but different theme. The assassins are:
- The Assassin of Character Creep
- The Assassin of Zi Qi Qi Ren
- The Assassin of Amped Emotions
- The Assassin of the Headless Sprinting Chicken
- The Assassin of Boom Chicka Wah Wah
- The Bling Bling Assassin
- The High and Mighty Assassin
I really like what Mike and Jud have done. They taken serious issues that we’ve all dealt with and given a name to a face. They placed them in a context of an enemy who is deadset on killing us. Nice touch, because it really is that real. These are not always easy issues to talk about but the book provides a starting point and a reason for beginning the conversation. They invite the reader into radical integrity and radical grace.
Mike and Jud keep the book at a very practical level, which makes for a very quick read (about 3 hours). They also provide great interviews with some really interesting and influential people and how they deal with the issues of character. The book has the potential to be a great conversation starter, which is what I believe they are trying to accomplish. They also provide a DVD and study guide for leading conversation in groups. You can find more info here.
And to a certain extent the beauty of the book and Mike and Jud’s tone can be very misleading. It is entirely possible to see this book as a coffee table book, fluff or common sense wisdom from two guys who have been in the trenches. But to do so would be to really miss the nuggets in the book. They provide some deep insight into how to avoid character conflict.
One important point, which I wish they would have engaged more is the necessity for community and brotherhood that they have discovered and engaged together over time. It is very clear that they have reached a place of trust with each other. This is possible for everyone but rare in most men and hard to gt to. Getting to this place is central to success against the enemy and to a certain extent, step one in fighting the enemy.
It’s a great book to begin the conversation and hopefully lead to deeper conversation over time. Much love Mike and Jud for getting the conversation started in a cool way.
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