Book Review: Do Hard Things
I have been thinking about doing book reviews here on my little blog and have, in fact, had this post half-composed for over two weeks.
I attend a book group once a month and it is one of my life's great joys. In addition to reading for book group I usually read one or two other books a month. While I'm certainly not a voracious reader or even an "adventurous" reader I do love books. And sometimes I think I might like to share them.
So if that's something you, my three readers, are interested in I think I'll do it.
I am going to start with Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris
Why did I read this book? I am nearly 20 years out from the teenage years and I didn't even love them when I was there. I don't work directly with teens and I don't have teenagers. Honestly, I don't know what initially drew my attention to this book but the concept caused me to place it on my wishlist months ago. Perhaps it was the challenge presented in the title. Or the bold black and white letters against the red background of the cover. Or the fact that Chuck Norris wrote the forward...or maybe not. But whatever the reason, I was surprised with the universal appeal (and even the necessity) of the message "Do Hard Things."
Could this describe you, at least at times? "Life gets boring, and we're not sure why. We know, or at least suspect, that there's a lot more we could do or be. But floating along, there's no way to be sure." (p91) Or what about this? "Have you ever felt like [this]? Ready and motivated to tackle something big and exciting but stuck against your will in a seemingly endless round of chores?" (p132) As a stay-at-home wife and mom, I know I've felt that way on occasion. Do you think it could be said of a man in mid-life crisis or a post-college-twenty-something feeling in limbo or any person facing joblessness? The messages and challenges presented by Brett and Alex Harris touched me at just the right spot in my heart. I believe they very accurately pinpointed and exposed the problem of low expectations on a societal as well as an individual level. Then, step by step, the authors were able to foster the yearning and inspiration for something better. Conviction leading to action.
Part of the reason I started my book reviews with Do Hard Things is because this is a hard thing for me. I could talk about books long into the night while sitting in a living room or a coffee shop, especially if brownies were involved. But writing about books is hard. I have to step outside my comfort zone. I have to share an opinion that may not be agreed with. And it will be in writing for all the world to read and re-read and even to print. What if I love a book that you hate? What if I am unnecessarily critical or overly sentimental? Here is a confession...about books and blogs and most everything in life: I don't want to be wrong. That is a multi-faceted problem, yet I don't want to be guilty of this: "[When we say] 'I'm just not a...' What we're really saying is that we don't want to do things that don't come easily or naturally. We don't want to break through our fears. And by our actions, we're also saying that God isn't good and powerful enough to help us do what we can't comfortably do on our own." (p71) Talk about conviction.
I marked up Do Hard Things from cover to cover, finding something applicable, motivating, true or convicting in every chapter. I want to buy it for every teenager I know and even some adults. The authors are teen themselves, but this book is not trite, simplistic or unusable to a larger audience. Nor is it a run-of-the-mill self-help book or another piece of pop psychology. Every concept is Biblically based and God motivated. "Doing hard things is how we exercise our bodies, our minds, and our faith." (p138) "We're asking you to throw yourself into doing [hard things] with a new level of passion because they are unique challenges God has prepared for you - because it's what you were made to do. We're asking you to live not your easiest life, but your best life according to God." (p60)
Now that's a message for everyone!
Have you read Do Hard Things? What did you think?
I attend a book group once a month and it is one of my life's great joys. In addition to reading for book group I usually read one or two other books a month. While I'm certainly not a voracious reader or even an "adventurous" reader I do love books. And sometimes I think I might like to share them.
So if that's something you, my three readers, are interested in I think I'll do it.
I am going to start with Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris
Why did I read this book? I am nearly 20 years out from the teenage years and I didn't even love them when I was there. I don't work directly with teens and I don't have teenagers. Honestly, I don't know what initially drew my attention to this book but the concept caused me to place it on my wishlist months ago. Perhaps it was the challenge presented in the title. Or the bold black and white letters against the red background of the cover. Or the fact that Chuck Norris wrote the forward...or maybe not. But whatever the reason, I was surprised with the universal appeal (and even the necessity) of the message "Do Hard Things."
Could this describe you, at least at times? "Life gets boring, and we're not sure why. We know, or at least suspect, that there's a lot more we could do or be. But floating along, there's no way to be sure." (p91) Or what about this? "Have you ever felt like [this]? Ready and motivated to tackle something big and exciting but stuck against your will in a seemingly endless round of chores?" (p132) As a stay-at-home wife and mom, I know I've felt that way on occasion. Do you think it could be said of a man in mid-life crisis or a post-college-twenty-something feeling in limbo or any person facing joblessness? The messages and challenges presented by Brett and Alex Harris touched me at just the right spot in my heart. I believe they very accurately pinpointed and exposed the problem of low expectations on a societal as well as an individual level. Then, step by step, the authors were able to foster the yearning and inspiration for something better. Conviction leading to action.
Part of the reason I started my book reviews with Do Hard Things is because this is a hard thing for me. I could talk about books long into the night while sitting in a living room or a coffee shop, especially if brownies were involved. But writing about books is hard. I have to step outside my comfort zone. I have to share an opinion that may not be agreed with. And it will be in writing for all the world to read and re-read and even to print. What if I love a book that you hate? What if I am unnecessarily critical or overly sentimental? Here is a confession...about books and blogs and most everything in life: I don't want to be wrong. That is a multi-faceted problem, yet I don't want to be guilty of this: "[When we say] 'I'm just not a...' What we're really saying is that we don't want to do things that don't come easily or naturally. We don't want to break through our fears. And by our actions, we're also saying that God isn't good and powerful enough to help us do what we can't comfortably do on our own." (p71) Talk about conviction.
I marked up Do Hard Things from cover to cover, finding something applicable, motivating, true or convicting in every chapter. I want to buy it for every teenager I know and even some adults. The authors are teen themselves, but this book is not trite, simplistic or unusable to a larger audience. Nor is it a run-of-the-mill self-help book or another piece of pop psychology. Every concept is Biblically based and God motivated. "Doing hard things is how we exercise our bodies, our minds, and our faith." (p138) "We're asking you to throw yourself into doing [hard things] with a new level of passion because they are unique challenges God has prepared for you - because it's what you were made to do. We're asking you to live not your easiest life, but your best life according to God." (p60)
Now that's a message for everyone!
Have you read Do Hard Things? What did you think?
Comments
Your book review was eloquent, articulate, and thoughtful. I agree with your previous commenter - you definitely have a knack for this.
And I just added that book to my "to-read" list. The message strikes me as being important (and one I would like to hear).
stephanie@metropolitanmama.net