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destiny_hisey's review
2.0
The premise of this book was good, but something was missing for me. I bought it when it was on sale and stopped and started it for nearly a year. I finally picked it back up last month and committed to reading this time or truly abandoning it. I managed to complete the book, but I don't think I'm the target audience for this book.
I appreciate the honesty that Shauna gave us. I understand how easy it is to allow our life to get out of control and need to reign it back in and focus on what's truly important to us. The book read as more of a memoir to me and provided little in the way of challenging me or asking me to consider my life.
I think someone who has created a frantic busy life might get something more out of this book. Perhaps if the reader sees themselves in Shauna's shoes they will more easily reflect on their life and be able to discern the changes they need to make to build the life they want.
I appreciate the honesty that Shauna gave us. I understand how easy it is to allow our life to get out of control and need to reign it back in and focus on what's truly important to us. The book read as more of a memoir to me and provided little in the way of challenging me or asking me to consider my life.
I think someone who has created a frantic busy life might get something more out of this book. Perhaps if the reader sees themselves in Shauna's shoes they will more easily reflect on their life and be able to discern the changes they need to make to build the life they want.
mollygoods's review
3.0
Read the book not this study guide but book didn't come up in the search. Not a bad book but some similar threads that are a bit too repetitive presently.
weewaw2020's review
4.0
Although there was nothing new or unknown in this book, there were many great reminders and tips of how to be more present which as a perfectionistic worrier who dwells on everything is quite a feat!
I really enjoyed Shauna’s chatty writing style and how she wrote so openly and honestly as it made the book really easy to read and get into. I also really like short chapters, which this book has, so that’s another ‘point’ for that.
I really enjoyed Shauna’s chatty writing style and how she wrote so openly and honestly as it made the book really easy to read and get into. I also really like short chapters, which this book has, so that’s another ‘point’ for that.
deecreatenola's review
3.0
I listened to the audio version of this book.
Admittedly, I didn't really know of Shauna Niequist before reading this book so I had no idea she was a Christian author from a high-profile Christian family. Therefore a lot of the Christian undertones were not something I had anticipated, and that wasn't something I was looking for. That said, it's not a bad book and there are some passages that spoke to me amidst a lot of repetition. I think the book could've been cut in half and still said the same thing. I think the author sensed a progression in her story that maybe is as recognizable from the outside. Basically, she is saying not to seek your validation externally. For her, it's Jesus who gives her unconditional validation.
As a working parent I appreciate the stress she was under when she began this journey. But I also see a tremendous amount of privilege. She was stressed because she was booking hundreds of speaking engagements because people wanted to hear her speak. Challenging, yes, but self-managed. She did have to get over own idea of what success meant, what she wanted her life to look like. But in the meantime, she had her family vacation house to go to. She didn't have the kind of job that only gave her two weeks vacation. She could spend a month by the water thinking about her life. That's extreme privilege. Even after making this decision, she's still in existential pain in Hawaii. Now, anyone can feel deep inner anguish, whether you are poor or a millionaire. But in Hawaii with your family?
Still and all, I liked Shauna. I think she'd be a nice friend or neighbor. The kind who over thinks everything, but a nice person. I wish her well and will keep hoping for the Present Over Perfect: Agnostic Style book from someone else. The irony is that I suspect this book put her more in demand. I hope she uses the knowledge she's gained to keep it manageable for her as she enjoys her quiet cup of coffee in her not-as-clean house.
I feel like I sound bitter. Jealous might be more like it. I'd love to dial it back. Work 20 hours instead of 40. Spend quality time with my child instead of hustling to keep food on the table. Or think about my life on a beach for a month. Maybe when I figure it out, I'll have Shauna narrate my audio book. She does have a great voice for radio - very soothing and calm, ideal for her story.
Admittedly, I didn't really know of Shauna Niequist before reading this book so I had no idea she was a Christian author from a high-profile Christian family. Therefore a lot of the Christian undertones were not something I had anticipated, and that wasn't something I was looking for. That said, it's not a bad book and there are some passages that spoke to me amidst a lot of repetition. I think the book could've been cut in half and still said the same thing. I think the author sensed a progression in her story that maybe is as recognizable from the outside. Basically, she is saying not to seek your validation externally. For her, it's Jesus who gives her unconditional validation.
As a working parent I appreciate the stress she was under when she began this journey. But I also see a tremendous amount of privilege. She was stressed because she was booking hundreds of speaking engagements because people wanted to hear her speak. Challenging, yes, but self-managed. She did have to get over own idea of what success meant, what she wanted her life to look like. But in the meantime, she had her family vacation house to go to. She didn't have the kind of job that only gave her two weeks vacation. She could spend a month by the water thinking about her life. That's extreme privilege. Even after making this decision, she's still in existential pain in Hawaii. Now, anyone can feel deep inner anguish, whether you are poor or a millionaire. But in Hawaii with your family?
Still and all, I liked Shauna. I think she'd be a nice friend or neighbor. The kind who over thinks everything, but a nice person. I wish her well and will keep hoping for the Present Over Perfect: Agnostic Style book from someone else. The irony is that I suspect this book put her more in demand. I hope she uses the knowledge she's gained to keep it manageable for her as she enjoys her quiet cup of coffee in her not-as-clean house.
I feel like I sound bitter. Jealous might be more like it. I'd love to dial it back. Work 20 hours instead of 40. Spend quality time with my child instead of hustling to keep food on the table. Or think about my life on a beach for a month. Maybe when I figure it out, I'll have Shauna narrate my audio book. She does have a great voice for radio - very soothing and calm, ideal for her story.
emilymorgan02's review
4.0
Some great ideas here, about how to live a slower pace of life. I especially liked the idea of taking the feeling of vacation home with you...creating a soul-filling environment wherever you are.
briawnah's review
3.0
This book had great promise. But so much of what the author spends time grappling with didn’t resonate with me. I felt like I was waiting for the book to really start and then it was over.
benrogerswpg's review
3.0
Great! Enjoyed it a lot.
Shauna's writing was very reminiscent of Rachel Held Evans, and I liked it a lot. Lots of personal stories and moments.
I do have to be honest though, unlike a Held Evans book, this book was very much geared towards mothers. This led it to not resonate as well with me. But still it had done great bits in it.
This was a great book for me though, as my focus lately is to strike a better work-life balance.
3.6/5
Shauna's writing was very reminiscent of Rachel Held Evans, and I liked it a lot. Lots of personal stories and moments.
I do have to be honest though, unlike a Held Evans book, this book was very much geared towards mothers. This led it to not resonate as well with me. But still it had done great bits in it.
This was a great book for me though, as my focus lately is to strike a better work-life balance.
3.6/5
ob_ledbetter's review
4.0
With the idea of making space for grace taking center stage on my heart (and bookshelf) recently, I couldn't pass up Shauna's book based on the title alone. I loved the style of her rambled memoir/ self-help mashup. I know that others have commented that they didn't like her meandering thought process, but I actually felt that it cemented the ideas of slow grace she discusses.
It's a great book for slow mornings and big cups of coffee, best consumed a few chapters at a time and allowed to ruminate. Only downside is that I was hoping this would be a bit more discussion friendly for a small group, but it seems to work better for introspection than intense discussion. I can also see how this book is aimed at "achiever" personalities, and it might not resonate with people outside of that circle. Overall, well worth the time for anyone who tends to focus on results instead of the journey.
It's a great book for slow mornings and big cups of coffee, best consumed a few chapters at a time and allowed to ruminate. Only downside is that I was hoping this would be a bit more discussion friendly for a small group, but it seems to work better for introspection than intense discussion. I can also see how this book is aimed at "achiever" personalities, and it might not resonate with people outside of that circle. Overall, well worth the time for anyone who tends to focus on results instead of the journey.
mikaelap23's review against another edition
4.0
Struggling to rate this book but would probably place it somewhere around 4 stars. I really enjoyed the premise of it and found that it helped me shift my awareness to mindfulness and contentment in my every day life. I wish the author had dug a little further in some sections but overall really enjoyed reading about this topic and her personal experience with it
mamakayb's review against another edition
4.0
Inspiring read
In a world that pushes us to do more, be better and keep pushing Shauna Niequist encourages us to take a breath and be present in this moment.
In a world that pushes us to do more, be better and keep pushing Shauna Niequist encourages us to take a breath and be present in this moment.