Scan barcode
lydiawesome's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars really. Some good nuggets, but not really cohesive.... There was both too many ideas and yet not enough content. I'm imagining his publishers were pushing for a book and Rob sat down one weekend and popped this out. It's fine... But not his usual great stuff.
philippakmoore's review against another edition
3.0
A pleasant and interesting read - if you've read a few "how to create a great life" books, none of it will be new to you, and perhaps that's the idea :) A few elements of Bell's style jarred for me, but I still managed to read it one day, so it's definitely very readable. I appreciated the overall message, with the clue being in the title, that being present and alive to right here, right now, the moment you're living in and person you currently are (instead of thinking "when I'm thinner/married/have a better job I'll be happy") is ultimately the key to the life you want, and to being more content, positive and productive. If you need a reminder of that, you could do worse than read this book.
davidrallenjr's review against another edition
4.0
Again, a good read...but ends his book on "how to be here" by essentially saying #yolo and fails to present hardly any arc whatsoever.
wkmcconnell's review against another edition
5.0
I was initially going to give this book 3-4 stars. It's consistent with Rob Bell's other books, a similar writing style. Plain and clear, communicating ideas in new ways. There wasn't anything new or revolutionary to me, or so I thought. After I finished it I started thinking about what a gift my life is. My simple, ordinary life is beautiful and rich, and I want to share it with others and help others to see the same thing in their own beautiful lives. So though I don't think it was the best written book I've read, it achieved the desired effect. five stars :)
myshell28's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn’t relate to the book. While he kept repeating “how to be here” I found my mind wandering and an inability to be present with the book.
katyrochelle's review against another edition
2.0
Simple read about creativity and being in the present moment. Bell's advice takes the approach of a stream of consciousness writing, dishing out lots of bite-sized sentences of wisdom that breaks down the easy process of following what you love to do. However, halfway through this book, I couldn't help but feel like the author gave up on a bigger theme of what he was aiming for. Every page or so is a nugget of inspiration, but having not been familiar with any of his other works or his service as a pastor, I don't know if this captures his passion for what he loves to do. It starts out as a book about creativity, and then starts repeating itself or going off into loose tangents about maintaining a life in general if you've reached one of the epiphanies he's offered, and then finishes out of nowhere.
As simple as the book is, it falls into some traps of the self-help genre. Bell's tone often comes across as 'it's so easy, if you do it, you'll be happy/more creative/etc.'. And I find these kinds of 'self-help' books a tad alienating because they take on the persona of being so positive that they aren't really relateable. And instead of expressing true examples of challenges that people have faced, his are quite cliche: "someone can be so rich and have the world at their disposal but are miserable" vs "someone who can barely make ends meet are so happy because they're creative and have nothing to lose". Those two different lifestyles lie at opposite ends of the spectrum and may not be applicable to the average person reading it. I liked the simplistic nature of the book, and found some helpful ideas, but overall, it's just okay.
As simple as the book is, it falls into some traps of the self-help genre. Bell's tone often comes across as 'it's so easy, if you do it, you'll be happy/more creative/etc.'. And I find these kinds of 'self-help' books a tad alienating because they take on the persona of being so positive that they aren't really relateable. And instead of expressing true examples of challenges that people have faced, his are quite cliche: "someone can be so rich and have the world at their disposal but are miserable" vs "someone who can barely make ends meet are so happy because they're creative and have nothing to lose". Those two different lifestyles lie at opposite ends of the spectrum and may not be applicable to the average person reading it. I liked the simplistic nature of the book, and found some helpful ideas, but overall, it's just okay.
ally2008's review against another edition
2.0
Was expecting something a little deeper. This book was very surface level and didn't really have anything new to offer. It was a quick audio book, and a positive message but not what I expected from Bell.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
“Do you see your life as something you create?
Or do you see your life as something that is happening to you?
The blinking line raises a compelling question:
What are we here for?” p. 8
Rob Bell came to my attention when he published Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived . Although Bell comes from a different strain of Christianity, I liked Love Wins. It fits my theology. I believe that Jesus of Nazareth came to tell us about God’s love and that any Christian message that does not include love for all is not Christian.
So I also had no problems with Bell’s message in the second book I read by him, What We Talk About When We Talk About God . He has moved in his theology to what I interpret is a more loving view of God’s relationship with humans. However, after that I lost track of Bell.
His latest book came to my attention thanks to his publisher and Edelweiss. I was browsing the list of books that will be published this spring and this title jumped out at me. I am so glad I got to encounter Bell again.
If you are willing to include doubt in your faith life, Bell is a good writer to visit with. He is willing to admit that he doesn't have the final word. This book would be especially helpful if you are considering your life path and what God might have in store for you. I am guessing this may become a popular graduation gift.
Thanks for Edelweiss and Harper for letting me read this pre-publication edition.
Other books that helped me see my faith in new ways:
Disquiet Time: Rants and Reflections on the Good Book by the Skeptical, the Faithful, and a Few Scoundrels
Holy Stuff of Life: Stories, Poems, and Prayers about Human Things
House of Prayer No 2: A Writer’s Journey Home
Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women
Or do you see your life as something that is happening to you?
The blinking line raises a compelling question:
What are we here for?” p. 8
Rob Bell came to my attention when he published Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived . Although Bell comes from a different strain of Christianity, I liked Love Wins. It fits my theology. I believe that Jesus of Nazareth came to tell us about God’s love and that any Christian message that does not include love for all is not Christian.
So I also had no problems with Bell’s message in the second book I read by him, What We Talk About When We Talk About God . He has moved in his theology to what I interpret is a more loving view of God’s relationship with humans. However, after that I lost track of Bell.
His latest book came to my attention thanks to his publisher and Edelweiss. I was browsing the list of books that will be published this spring and this title jumped out at me. I am so glad I got to encounter Bell again.
If you are willing to include doubt in your faith life, Bell is a good writer to visit with. He is willing to admit that he doesn't have the final word. This book would be especially helpful if you are considering your life path and what God might have in store for you. I am guessing this may become a popular graduation gift.
Thanks for Edelweiss and Harper for letting me read this pre-publication edition.
Other books that helped me see my faith in new ways:
Disquiet Time: Rants and Reflections on the Good Book by the Skeptical, the Faithful, and a Few Scoundrels
Holy Stuff of Life: Stories, Poems, and Prayers about Human Things
House of Prayer No 2: A Writer’s Journey Home
Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women