Scan barcode
Reviews
Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff
dragonflymorning's review against another edition
5.0
Bob Goff always inspires me with his stories and simple faith in action. The message is clear: Love everybody, always. But it isn’t as simple to DO. Bob offers examples from his life of simple ways to by the love of Jesus and some not so simple ways he’s had to grow in this practice. The last few chapters were my favorite so if the first don’t appeal to you, power through.
kcsu's review against another edition
3.0
I love the message of the book. Instead of one cohesive thought, it had more of a Chicken Soup style for each chapter that finally got pieced together as a whole at the end of the book. The meaning of the cover art makes me happy.
mikef77's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
lchelle_bester's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
dullshimmer's review against another edition
3.0
I have such mixed feelings on Bob Goff. I feel like he does a great job of taking ideas that Christians have somehow strayed from over the years and putting it in a simple way. His first book is the idea that Love Does and here it is the idea of Everyone Always, or more specifically Love Everyone Always. These messages are needed in the Christianity of today, which seems more happy to dislike, demonize, or just outright hate anyone who disagrees with people's positions. We need to love everyone and not just in a saying it, but in ways that are tangible. I have no problems with the basic message, the problem comes with the packaging.
The elephant in the room here is that Bob Goff doesn't live the life of the majority of people. All of his stories are over the top and only available to people who have a lot of money, energy, and free time. This was a complaint I had of the first book and that continues here. When you're talking about your private plane, even if it is a bit of a older model, then you've really lost the majority of people.
I don't ascribe malice to Bob Goff here, I think that's the life he has and he tells his story which is filled with generosity and love. That's not a bad thing, but in my opinion he fails to bring things down to the every day. The closest he comes is probably the bucket idea that he presents. He struggles with patience, so he carries a bucket with him to remind him to fill his bucket with patience. It's a bit odd, but I do see that as a somewhat practical idea. You probably wouldn't even have to use a bucket, but some other reminder of what you're trying to focus on.
The other thing that set this book back for me was that it wasn't really all that different than his first book. This is basically Love Does 2: Love Everyone, Always. As a sequel it just treads too much of the same ground, with probably the best story of the book being about the witch doctors and things like that, but that was probably less than a fourth of the book. While it is powerful, I'm not sure it really makes the whole book work.
I feel like I would love to meet Bob Goff and hear him tell his stories. He's got great stories and he seems like a fun, loving, and generous guy. I don't fault him for anything like that. I think his messages of love being an action and that we need to act on for everyone is one we as Christians really need to hear and put into action. Goff's life is just so out there from the normal person that I really struggle to feel like he is helpful in figuring out how to do that. His stories are so big that it can leave the life that many of our leaving seem small and insignificant in comparison, and I don't find that particularly helpful.
The elephant in the room here is that Bob Goff doesn't live the life of the majority of people. All of his stories are over the top and only available to people who have a lot of money, energy, and free time. This was a complaint I had of the first book and that continues here. When you're talking about your private plane, even if it is a bit of a older model, then you've really lost the majority of people.
I don't ascribe malice to Bob Goff here, I think that's the life he has and he tells his story which is filled with generosity and love. That's not a bad thing, but in my opinion he fails to bring things down to the every day. The closest he comes is probably the bucket idea that he presents. He struggles with patience, so he carries a bucket with him to remind him to fill his bucket with patience. It's a bit odd, but I do see that as a somewhat practical idea. You probably wouldn't even have to use a bucket, but some other reminder of what you're trying to focus on.
The other thing that set this book back for me was that it wasn't really all that different than his first book. This is basically Love Does 2: Love Everyone, Always. As a sequel it just treads too much of the same ground, with probably the best story of the book being about the witch doctors and things like that, but that was probably less than a fourth of the book. While it is powerful, I'm not sure it really makes the whole book work.
I feel like I would love to meet Bob Goff and hear him tell his stories. He's got great stories and he seems like a fun, loving, and generous guy. I don't fault him for anything like that. I think his messages of love being an action and that we need to act on for everyone is one we as Christians really need to hear and put into action. Goff's life is just so out there from the normal person that I really struggle to feel like he is helpful in figuring out how to do that. His stories are so big that it can leave the life that many of our leaving seem small and insignificant in comparison, and I don't find that particularly helpful.
jfedosa's review against another edition
4.0
For most of the book, each chapter represents a new person or a new story from the life of the author. While some chapters fall flat on their power to inspire, other chapters, especially near the end of the book, leave the reader wonderfully encouraged to make a difference by loving others.
Many chapters stand alone and tell their own story, but the last few chapters work together to tell the author’s experience in Uganda with the chief justice, witch doctors, and orphaned children. This section is by itself worth the price of admission.
It was emotionally moving to hear the author’s experiences with love, compassion, justice, redemption, and the most difficult expression of love- forgiveness.
Many chapters stand alone and tell their own story, but the last few chapters work together to tell the author’s experience in Uganda with the chief justice, witch doctors, and orphaned children. This section is by itself worth the price of admission.
It was emotionally moving to hear the author’s experiences with love, compassion, justice, redemption, and the most difficult expression of love- forgiveness.
brokawkristi's review against another edition
4.0
I laughed out loud and cried big tears and felt a lot of feelings and I want Bob Goff to adopt me please.
savannahhemnes's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars. I enjoyed this book, which is no surprise to me because I really enjoy hearing Bob Goff speak. This was my first book of his to read, and I'd really love to read more of his work. I think I would have given 5 stars if we got as much depth to each story (even if it meant less stories) as we did in the final few chapters of the book. I laughed, I cried, I was comforted, and I was challenged. Worth a read!