Review: Something's Not Right

Something's Not Right book cover on blue background

In the wake of horrific abuse taking place in evangelical churches and organizations, Christians and non-Christians alike have been victimized and abused by those in power. This heartbreaking and tragic scenario is unfortunately, not altogether uncommon. When news broke regarding Bill Hybels and Ravi Zacharias (and many others), one of the voices that spoke to these scandals was Wade Mullen. I appreciated his stance in that he was sensitive to the victims while being unrelentingly firm in how perpetrators should be treated. As a result, I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to read Something's Not Right: Decoding the Hidden Tactics of Abuse and Freeing Yourself from Its Power.

Book Synopsis

“Am I the only one who sees this―am I just imagining things? Is something wrong with me . . . or could this be abuse?”

Maybe you don’t know for sure: all you know is something feels off when you think about a certain relationship or interaction with an institution or organization. You feel alone and confused―but calling it “abuse” feels extreme and unsettling, a label for what happens to other people but not you. Yet you can’t shake the feeling: something’s not right.

In his debut book, researcher and advocate Wade Mullen introduces us to the groundbreaking world of impression management―the strategies that individuals and organizations utilize to gain power and cover up their wrongdoings. Mullen reveals a pattern that accompanies many types of abuse, almost as if abusers are somehow reading from the same playbook. If we can learn to decode these evil methods―if we can learn the language of abuse―we can help stop the cycle and make abusers less effective at accomplishing destruction in our lives.

Something’s Not Right will help you to identify and describe tactics that were previously unidentifiable and indescribable, and give you the language you need to move toward freedom and create a safer future for yourself and others.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

Something's Not Right is a deeply personal read that's troubling at the same time. Troubling in that if you have not experienced abuse at the hands of others, you likely know someone who has. At the same time, this book is a sad commentary on how many churches and Christian organizations have fallen into the trap of impression management over caring for the people that most need it. Wade Mullen's critical work spells out some of the ways that abusers seek to gain power over others or use their influence to stifle the voices of those they victimize. As the subtitle states, this book provides a framework in which to understand what is happening when abuse occurs, empowering survivors to name exactly what they have suffered.

In the context of both personal and organizational abuse, this book offers clarity and a way forward on a dark subject. What's most reassuring is the knowledge that survivors of abuse from Christian organizations are not alone. It's astounding how often we witness certain behaviours take place and not know what has contributed to it. Here, the author lifts the curtain and gives readers the opportunity to understand why it is that organizations will do everything they can to protect their reputation when this is what makes the abuse worse. On the topic of spiritual abuse, Wade Mullen offers hope to survivors while illuminating truth in such a way that it cannot be ignored. Christian organizations would do well to heed the warnings in this book and act now to prevent abuse from taking place lest it is too late and it impedes their Christian witness. If you're looking for a book that gives victims their voice back, this is it.