Increasingly, conversations about American culture seem to turn on the hinge of entitlement, or as Dr. Townsend describes in his soon-to-be-classic: “Entitlement is ‘an attitude of being special; an attitude of being owed, of deserving something; a refusal to accept responsibility; a denial of one’s impact on others.”

Townsend takes on this entitlement attitude by describing it in great detail—and pointing out that every person has some sense of entitlement in his or her life—that this attitude carries over into many aspects of our society, including corporate America with unmotivated employees, parents with self-centered children, dating relationships destroyed by me attitudes, leaders who want special treatment based on position, marriages destroyed by narcissism, ministries led by prima-donna pastors, professionals who wander from job to job looking for a company that will appreciate them.

How might this culture of entitlement carry over into ministry? The ways or many! What church leaders—particularly those who work alongside younger adults—will gain from this book is legion. Pastors, youth leaders in particular, will gain insights and skills that can help those trapped in entitlement attitudes and outlooks. While this is a heady book filled with psychological and relational points, it is easy to read and very much a practical, step-by-step guide that can help leaders, parents, executives and educators chart a course of progress for those trapped in the entitlement mindset.

What makes this book all the more sobering is that Townsend shares personal reflections and real-life stories designed to bring the points from theory to practice. Additionally, what makes The Entitlement Cure so effective is that the practicum elements do not slouch toward cynicism or anger—two common responses that can turn cure to outrage. Rather, the cures found in these pages are built on empathy, compassion, leadership, patience and clearly defined outcomes.

The Entitlement Cure, however, is not just for leaders and parents, but offers an array of spot-on techniques and steps that church leaders can take to change themselves, their organizations, and their people for the service of humanity.