BOOK REVIEW: Godonomics by Chad Hovind

Godonomics by Chad Hovind is a unique book.  Hovind’s purpose in writing it is to call into question the economic practices of the United States in light of biblical financial principles.  I’ve read several books applying these principles to the individual, but not many that seek to “go national” with them.  To his credit, Hovind tries to stay bi-partisan in his comments, and he implicates Republican and Democrat alike in steering America toward financial ruin.  He’s right that this isn’t about political parties at all, but really about financial irresponsibility and a government overstepping its bounds.

The book is framed around what God would say to leading financial thinkers and practitioners, both living and deceased.  This varied group includes John Maynard Keyes, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Alan Greenspan, Jim Wallis, and Karl Marx.  It’s always a little dangerous putting words in the mouth of God unless you are directly quoting scripture, but Hovind stays true to the spirit of God’s Word for the most part.  Some readers may struggle with the idea that God is a whole-hearted endorser of free-market capitalism.  I know I personally struggled with this concept throughout the book.  While it’s true that socialism/Marxism places far too much stock in the basic goodness of man, doesn’t free-market capitalism do the same?  Do liberty and prosperity automatically equal generosity?  Hovind leaves this issue conspicuously unaddressed.

There are some great sections in this book.  Some of the stand-outs include a run-down of how Hoover broke the economy and FDR failed to save it, a very informative explanation of how devaluing the dollar is analogous to the command in the Old Testament to not use “dishonest scales,” and a darkly funny parable by Peter Schiff that shows how the US economy is now based primarily on consumption instead of production.

This parable touches on the secondary, message-behind-the-message of Godonomics—by the way, the title of this book grates on me for some reason I can’t put my finger on.  The primary message is that the government and people of the United States need to return to God’s principles of financial management before it’s too late.  The secondary message, and perhaps the more important lesson, is that we should be producers rather consumers.  Have we forgotten how to be a “productive member of society” because we are constantly being encouraged to be a “consuming member of society” in order to feed the beast of the broken global economy?  I think Hovind would say “yes,” and that is something we definitely agree on.  We also agree that God has the final word on the best way out of this mess.  Are we ready to listen?

Please Note: This book was gifted as a part of the Blogging for Books Reviewers Program in exchange for my unbiased review of this work. This has in no way influenced my opinion or review of this work.