The Final Summit- Andy Andrews
The Final Summit by Andy Andrews
Published by Thomas Nelson
Date Published: April 12, 2011
Summary (taken from Amazon.com page):
David Ponder is back. This time the fate of mankind is in his hands.
This is mankind's last chance. Centuries of greed, pride, and hate have sent humanity hurtling toward disaster, and far from its original purpose. There is only one solution that can reset the compass and right the ship, and it consists of only two words.
With time running out, it is up to David Ponder and a cast of history's best and brightest minds to uncover this solution before it is too late. The catch? They are allowed only five tries to discover the answer.
Readers first encountered David Ponder in The Traveler's Gift. Now, in The Final Summit, Andrews combines a riveting narrative with astounding history in order to show us the one thing we must do when we don't know what to do.
Many years have passed since David Ponder discovered the Seven Decisions during a divine journey through time. Now 74 years old, Ponder has lost the one thing that mattered to him most: his wife, Ellen. Despite his personal and professional success, he now sits alone at the top of his 55-story high-rise contemplating the unthinkable, just as he did 28 years ago.
However, just as things are looking their darkest, Ponder is informed through divine channels that he is needed now more than ever. Together, with the help of hundreds of his fellow Travelers, from Winston Churchill to George Washington Carver to Joan of Arc, he must work to discover the one solution that will save humanity. Time is running out, and the final summit of Travelers must work quickly to avoid dire consequences.
The Final Summit explores the historically proven principles that have guided our greatest leaders for centuries, and how we might restore these principles in our own lives...before it's too late.
Whew that was a long summary. You know, perhaps it is just my opinion, but when it requires 4 paragraphs to explain a book- perhaps that is not a good sign. I have to say- this book has great intentions. It was a great premise. A man- who was able to travel time and meet every influential person that ever lived? Man, wouldn't I love to be that person. And to top it off- the main character and all of these historical figures have to work together to save mankind? That is the makings of a fantastic book.
On a side note- I LOVED the Heart Mender. It is probably on my list of top 50 favorite books. It was satisfying, historically accurate, and just a surprisingly good read. I am pretty sure that this what The Final Summit was missing- heart. How could I root for a cast of characters that were completely full of themselves. They all semmed to have wonderfully inflated egos... seems odd and wrong.
I do have to say, this book had one of the most incredibly dissappointing endings I have read for awhile. I literally tossed the book when I was done I was so incredibly frustrated. (Nevermind the fact that this book comes off sounding like some sort of new age self help book).
If you are a fan of historical drama or time travel- without all of those emotional scenes- then perhaps this book is for you. Me? I still seem to be in a book slump.
