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The Lost Art of True Beauty

March 24, 2010 by Lisa

Clearly Leslie Ludy doesn’t care about being culturally relevant. Her book, The Lost Art of True Beauty: The Set-Apart Girl’s Guide to Feminine Grace is a clarion call for young women to return to virtue, manners, and modesty. Not exactly the kind of headlines you see in most publications geared toward teenaged girls and young women today. In fact, it seems to me, a casual observer but an observer nonetheless, that Ludy is correct in her observation that many young women today are surrounded by “peers who [applaud] self-obsessed, arrogant, sexually aggressive young women.” Where are the women who possess genuine grace, poise, elegance and charm? Are these lost virtues? Is true beauty a lost art?

According to Ludy, no, it is not. In fact, we must recapture the definition of true beauty and how we find it. Ludy tells her own story of figuring out what it means to be truly beautiful and many of her struggles with insecurity and self esteem echoed my own and probably yours as well. What I appreciated most about The Lost Art of True Beauty is Ludy’s vision of true beauty as God intended it to be:

When Christ overtakes a woman’s life and transforms her from the inside out, she becomes truly feminine–a picture of elegance, grace, and loveliness blended with sacrificial selfless devotion to her King. She becomes a true lady, carrying herself with poise and confidence, yet deflecting all attention away from herself and toward Jesus Christ. She is enchantingly mysterious, holding her inner life sacred and guarding her heart with quiet tenacity.

Told you it was counter cultural. Yet, this kind of true beauty is not something we summon through our own efforts:

Any human beauty, any human value that we might within ourselves is just a filthy rag compared to th elimitless beauty and glory of Jesus Christ. Christ’s beauty is perfect. And, in spite of what we deserve, He desires to adorn us with His spectacular glory. It is not our unique beauty that must shine for this world to see. It is not our own beauty that we must discover and embrace–it is His.

After casting the vision of God’s pattern for feminine loveliness, Ludy explores topics such as dress and manners, hospitality and selflessness. True, Ludy writes with an elevated sense of the romantic, yet it seems to work and serves to inspire her readers to the pursuit of feminine grace and dignity. Ludy gives much practical advice without advocating a rigid sense of do’s and don’t’s, something that would be easy to do given the topic. In fact, as a non-romantic, some of her suggestions seemed a little, well, over the top. Perfumed stationery? Really? I mean, don’t get me wrong, that’s great for her but I’m thinking my femininity is still virtuous even in the use of email and texts…

I liked this book and really my only quibble is with Ludy’s continued references to her other books. Such allusions surely represent a passion for her message but still it felt at times like an infomercial of sorts. All in all, The Lost Art of True Beauty carries an important and critical message to today’s young women and I recommend it to any woman eager to reflect Christ in all things and pursue the kind of femininity that is radically different from that of the world.

Thanks to the publisher Harvest House, we have 3 copies to give away (U.S. residents only). Leave a comment if you’d like to win, and we’ll announce the winners on the 3/31 giveaway review post.

The winners of last week’s giveaways are

  • Her Mother’s Hope: #61 Sheri
  • Thomas and the Runaway Kite DVD:#51 – Jennifer M
  • The Secret Lives of Princesses puzzle cards pack: Amber, liz colman, katklaw777, stephanie rutledge, amy, Rebecca, Mattie Cradduck, Bambi M., Melissa Painter, and Maja Meza
  • Teacher Tales: Rita, cris, and Kirsten T.
  • Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes…. Lisa would like to thank Harvest House publishers for providing a review copy of this book.

Filed Under: Christian, Fashion/Beauty, High School, Lisa, Non-Fiction, Women's Interest Tagged With: clarion call, feminine grace, Harvest House, human beauty, leslie ludy, selfless devotion, teenaged girls

« What’s on Your Nightstand — March
Songbird Under a German Moon »

Comments

  1. Heather says

    March 24, 2010 at 3:17 am

    It sounds like a book that I would be interested in reading. Please enter me to win. Thank you.

  2. Laura says

    March 24, 2010 at 7:36 am

    Definitely interested in winning this.

  3. Julia says

    March 24, 2010 at 8:30 am

    This book sounds like it would be helpful to read with my daughter.

    julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

  4. Annette W says

    March 24, 2010 at 8:43 am

    This sounds like an excellent and much needed book.

  5. Melissa says

    March 24, 2010 at 8:56 am

    I know I can’t win this one, but I REALLY want to read it! I love her books.

  6. Jen Thomas says

    March 24, 2010 at 9:28 am

    Sounds like a great book I’d love to give a daughter (too bad I only have sons!)

  7. Lauren says

    March 24, 2010 at 10:16 am

    This sounds wonderful! (Not commenting to win, of course)

  8. Happy says

    March 24, 2010 at 10:52 am

    I would love to win this book! It sounds refreshing and terrific!

  9. Michele Anne says

    March 24, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    Would like to win this one….sign me up

  10. Benita G. says

    March 24, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    Count me in. I’d love to win.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

  11. Linda Kish says

    March 24, 2010 at 9:56 pm

    I would love to read this book.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  12. Linda Kish says

    March 24, 2010 at 9:56 pm

    subscriber

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  13. Page Turner (Heather) says

    March 24, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    This would be a great resource as my daughter grows older. Please enter me.

  14. Lindsey says

    March 25, 2010 at 12:59 am

    Wow, this sounds like a really wonderful book – I really enjoyed reading your review and appreciate the quotes as well. 🙂 I would be so happy to win a copy!

    Thanks so much,

    Lindsey

  15. debi says

    March 25, 2010 at 2:04 pm

    I’d love this.

  16. deb says

    March 25, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    I’d love this.

  17. whimzie says

    March 25, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    Sounds like a great book!

  18. Rita says

    March 25, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    I would LOVE to give this to my 18 year-old granddaughter.
    Thank you!

  19. Mya Brooks says

    March 26, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    This books sounds awesome for me!

  20. shannon Baas says

    March 26, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    Looks like an interesting book.

  21. Diane Baum says

    March 26, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    Sounds and looks like an interesting read

  22. Kerrie Mayans says

    March 27, 2010 at 6:29 am

    I love to read and am interested in reading this!

  23. cass says

    March 27, 2010 at 6:54 am

    I’d like to win this for my sister Christine, thanks!
    wombatspurple at yahoo dot com

  24. hopeinbrazil says

    March 27, 2010 at 9:07 am

    Thanks for bringing this book to my attention. I’ve long bemoaned the loss of true femininity in our culture. I often wonder if there are any true “ladies” left. No need to enter me to win this. I just wanted to make a comment.

  25. Jenn S. says

    March 27, 2010 at 9:42 am

    Sounds like something I would enjoy. Thanks for the chance!

  26. Jennifer Short says

    March 27, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    I LOVE Leslie Ludy’s books! Please enter me!

  27. karenk says

    March 28, 2010 at 11:36 am

    would enjoy reading this book…thanks for the opportunity 🙂

  28. REBECCA says

    March 28, 2010 at 1:50 pm

    sounds like something I would like to read

  29. Beth C says

    March 28, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    Please enter me. Thanks!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

  30. Melissa B. says

    March 28, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    I would love to read this book.

  31. Angela Winesburg says

    March 28, 2010 at 11:57 pm

    I’d love to read this, thanks for the chance!

  32. Marc says

    March 29, 2010 at 10:25 am

    Would certainly give this one to my wife!

  33. Kayla says

    March 29, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    Sounds like a good book

  34. Erika says

    March 29, 2010 at 8:23 pm

    I would love this book! Hope I win 🙂

  35. Ed Nemmers says

    March 29, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    Happy Spring and Happy Monday!

  36. MaryAnne says

    March 29, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    I absolutely agree with her…PLEASE enter me in this giveaway, I would love to read more

  37. Madeline says

    March 30, 2010 at 10:37 am

    I would love to win; I think my mom might enjoy reading it too.
    Thanks for having this giveaway!

  38. Susan Smith says

    March 30, 2010 at 11:50 am

    Sounds like a good book

  39. Gabriel S-J. says

    March 30, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    Great read, great contest!

  40. kathy pease says

    March 30, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    Thank you for the Great giveaway please count me in 🙂

  41. Gianna says

    March 30, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    Please enter me 🙂

  42. christa marteny says

    March 30, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    sounds like a great book

  43. Lily Kwan says

    March 30, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

  44. Maja Meza says

    March 30, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    i would like to read it

  45. prizehound7 says

    March 30, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    I would love to win this book, “The Lost Art of True Beauty”.

  46. Veronica Garrett says

    March 30, 2010 at 9:33 pm

    It sounds great. I would love to win it for my daughter.

  47. Brenda Hine says

    March 20, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    I have a teenage daughter and could definately use this book. Please enter me for this drawing.

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