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974 reviews for:
Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living
Shauna Niequist
3.69 AVERAGE
974 reviews for:
Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living
Shauna Niequist
3.69 AVERAGE
I loved “bittersweet” but this book was so repetitive and just didn’t hit the mark for me. Shauna talks about burn out and not focusing on her family- but it’s the same message over and over. I wander if maybe it’s because I’m not in that season of life to truly connect with the message? Or maybe the message is something I just didn’t resonate with.
Some good nuggets, some beautiful and poetic writing, but not super practical, and very, very repetitive. Definitely more memoir than self-help.
This is one of those books that I might reread once a year! Some great things to process as we strive to be present in our lives vs trying to live a perfect life.
Well, as a not-very-religious person and a not-yet-a-mom person I guess I wasn't aware that Niequist is a religious author... so I wasn't quite prepared for how religious and parenting-centric it was. That was definitely my misunderstanding. However, I enjoyed some nuggets of wisdom that she imparted, for sure-- about truly listening to your body and your needs, saying no, and letting go a bit. I guess my big issue with this book that many others have mentioned is how insanely privileged she sounds when she writes. The luxury of being able to "escape" to a lake house for a whole MONTH of every year is certainly something aspirational for many of us, but not realistic. It just seemed like she had this perfect relationship with her husband, adorable/healthy/happy children, and perfect home life-- and her big struggle was teaching herself was to say no to things that would pull her away from that perfect home life. I guess it rang a bit shallow to me. Don't get me wrong-- I'm thrilled for her! I just think she could have acknowledged somewhere a bit better how fortunate she is, and how privileged she is to be ABLE to say no to opportunities, especially those financial in nature.
I love Shauna's writing and feel like I'm sitting at her dining room table just chatting and hearing her life story. I'm grateful for her honesty and vulnerability in navigating a life of faith separate from her parents, but still embracing the core of it. I highlighted a lot in this book.
"This book is for everyone," she started the book, "whether you're faithful/religious or not."
Yeah, okay. Except this book is specifically and totally designed for head over heels, totally obsessed, church fanatics. The kind that go to church more than once a week and spend their time busy-bodying over congregation matters. The kind that get ordained so they can marry their college friends. The kind that pray for you in a way that feels just as insulting as sweet. Those Christians only will connect with this book.
What she was trying to say was... fine. Simplify your life. Stop prioritizing work over family and friends. Stop putting your needs last on the list of priorities. Don't lose your happiness in your attempts to stay productive.
But it really came across as an attempt to justify her leaving her career behind to be a stay at home mom. Which is fine! But I don't think you need to write a book about it. In the end, this book kind of could have been summed up in a pinterest account with boards about simple living, capsule wardrobes, lake house designs, and dinner party ideas.
On the up side, this book makes me totally believe I can write a motivational book that will sell fairly well. If this has sold a lot of copies, I think I can top that.
Yeah, okay. Except this book is specifically and totally designed for head over heels, totally obsessed, church fanatics. The kind that go to church more than once a week and spend their time busy-bodying over congregation matters. The kind that get ordained so they can marry their college friends. The kind that pray for you in a way that feels just as insulting as sweet. Those Christians only will connect with this book.
What she was trying to say was... fine. Simplify your life. Stop prioritizing work over family and friends. Stop putting your needs last on the list of priorities. Don't lose your happiness in your attempts to stay productive.
But it really came across as an attempt to justify her leaving her career behind to be a stay at home mom. Which is fine! But I don't think you need to write a book about it. In the end, this book kind of could have been summed up in a pinterest account with boards about simple living, capsule wardrobes, lake house designs, and dinner party ideas.
On the up side, this book makes me totally believe I can write a motivational book that will sell fairly well. If this has sold a lot of copies, I think I can top that.
I love the premise of the book. She is definitely a great writer. The truths that she spoke are simple. But it's so good hearing it from another mom. There were a lot of short stories, but they fed into her point. It was a quick read, you just need to stick with it.
Such a good book. So needed for my life right now. So really good I’m going to go buy my own copy so I can underline all the great ideas/quotes/lines.
I read a lot of self-help, which overlaps sometimes with memoir, philosophy, and corporate managerial dribble. Occasionally these genres overlap with Christianity and I try to keep an open mind and take what I can just as I do for books on Buddhism and other religions. This book was more memoir than self-help and if you are not Christian, this book was both transparent and tolerable in that regard (I hate when a book springs it on you). Some other reviews complain that this book is not fundamentalist, and in fact the author reflects on her experience pulling from multiple Judeo-Christian sects and I found that quite likeable.
I felt myself relating to much of the author's struggles (specifically perfectionism). I found a lot of the statements she made did resonate pretty profoundly when I think about my life right now as a working mom. It's always nice to feel heard and I did not expect to find that in this book. But I didn't find the advice particularly revolutionary or practical - probably because I'm not religious, but also because it doesn't account for situations where putting boundaries in place is impossible or not without severe consequences.
I felt myself relating to much of the author's struggles (specifically perfectionism). I found a lot of the statements she made did resonate pretty profoundly when I think about my life right now as a working mom. It's always nice to feel heard and I did not expect to find that in this book. But I didn't find the advice particularly revolutionary or practical - probably because I'm not religious, but also because it doesn't account for situations where putting boundaries in place is impossible or not without severe consequences.