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980 reviews for:
Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living
Shauna Niequist
3.69 AVERAGE
980 reviews for:
Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living
Shauna Niequist
3.69 AVERAGE
This book is beautifully written and many sentences and paragraphs stopped me in my tracks. Her wisdom to slow down and stop sacrificing ourselves on the altar of productivity is excellent advice. I’m not sure how to do that though. It’s not meant as a how to book, yet I found myself saying—good for you, but with 3 kids and a full time job I’m not sure how to do that.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
I felt like I was listening (audiobook) to the author's personal journal. This book probably means more to people who were already fans of her work and knew her life when she was hustling and rushing and crazy busy. I understand her intent to share that we need to slow down and focus on what is most important. Read by the author, as it should have been given the style. I've finished the book and I'm still not sure it if was about telling her usual audience why she isn't prolific anymore, or if she was encouraging others to slow down.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
reflective
medium-paced
I wanted to like this book more. I agree with the premise and occasionally the author would say something that was interesting or relatable, but ultimately I felt that the book fell flat. It was too surficial -- I would have like more depth about the before, during, and after process. Instead, it felt trite -- a big jump in mindset that magically just worked and now it's all better. Part of this might be that the religion aspect didn't speak to me, but the best inspirational authors (Brene Brown, Anne Lamotte) are able to really dig into the stories so that you really feel it and can relate even if you haven't lived their exact experience. Niequist had many relatable points but I felt like she was telling me what I already know and saying "just do it". Disappointed.
I enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book. The writing was good and I felt like the themes of the essays resonated with me, a fellow woman-in-midlife. I jotted notes on my phone:
~being busy is a drug
~we should be vulnerable in prayer (vinegar before oil)
~perfect is plastic; present is homemade and loved and real
~from the outside, people may think we only live in the shallow end -- but nobody lives in the shallow end
But by the last third, it felt kind of repetitive and recycled and so much like so many other books I'd read before (Katrina Kenison's Mitten Strings for God, or Jen Hatmaker's 7, or Alexandra Kuykendall's Loving My Actual Life) (I should mention that I didn't really love any of those; I ought to remember that for the future). And I felt like she was scraping together the last chapters out of everything's she'd already said. Was she even saying anything anymore? Be whimsical and fun! Be still! Be present! Be forgiving of yourself because you won't be able to be whimsical and still and present all the time, at the same time! (Though, in her defense, I guess life is a little like this.)
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if she'd just written a shorter book. Or maybe I should have paced through it; it might have been better a chapter at a time instead of in my ears on audio.
~being busy is a drug
~we should be vulnerable in prayer (vinegar before oil)
~perfect is plastic; present is homemade and loved and real
~from the outside, people may think we only live in the shallow end -- but nobody lives in the shallow end
But by the last third, it felt kind of repetitive and recycled and so much like so many other books I'd read before (Katrina Kenison's Mitten Strings for God, or Jen Hatmaker's 7, or Alexandra Kuykendall's Loving My Actual Life) (I should mention that I didn't really love any of those; I ought to remember that for the future). And I felt like she was scraping together the last chapters out of everything's she'd already said. Was she even saying anything anymore? Be whimsical and fun! Be still! Be present! Be forgiving of yourself because you won't be able to be whimsical and still and present all the time, at the same time! (Though, in her defense, I guess life is a little like this.)
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if she'd just written a shorter book. Or maybe I should have paced through it; it might have been better a chapter at a time instead of in my ears on audio.
I perhaps should’ve done a little Googling on the author before diving into this one. I read the summary and thought this would be a refreshing read to kick off the year, to ground me, to remember not to get caught up in the busy of life. I did not realize that this was going to be grounded in a spiritual aspect and her relationship with Jesus… so color me surprised when she started talking about the power of prayer and seeing the face of Jesus. I continued reading, however.
This is much better read as a memoir than an instruction for life — whether you’re religious or not - and Shauna often reiterates the lessons she has learned so it does feel repetitive. There are some interesting perspectives: about how you can think about your circles of who you’re willing to disappoint (those closest to you you want to rarely disappoint, those least familiar to you you are more willing to disappoint), because you’re ALWAYS going to disappoint someone; and also about the power of saying “yes” and “no” which honestly reminded me of Shonda Rhimes’ memoir (although hers focused on the “yes!”).
Overall, this book wasn’t for me, and it could’ve used some more focus if it was really meant as an instructional guide… and honestly, the power of prayer is not going to help me center MY life, personally. It’s not going to make my work slow down. Or help me prioritize. Or help me figure out who is most important when God is not my center. But again, that’s because I’m not the intended audience. And also because, so many of us don’t have the luxury of saying no because we’re not at the top of our success. We need the money, we’re still building our lives, unlike Shauna and her husband who already have a vacation home and established careers and two kids.
This is much better read as a memoir than an instruction for life — whether you’re religious or not - and Shauna often reiterates the lessons she has learned so it does feel repetitive. There are some interesting perspectives: about how you can think about your circles of who you’re willing to disappoint (those closest to you you want to rarely disappoint, those least familiar to you you are more willing to disappoint), because you’re ALWAYS going to disappoint someone; and also about the power of saying “yes” and “no” which honestly reminded me of Shonda Rhimes’ memoir (although hers focused on the “yes!”).
Overall, this book wasn’t for me, and it could’ve used some more focus if it was really meant as an instructional guide… and honestly, the power of prayer is not going to help me center MY life, personally. It’s not going to make my work slow down. Or help me prioritize. Or help me figure out who is most important when God is not my center. But again, that’s because I’m not the intended audience. And also because, so many of us don’t have the luxury of saying no because we’re not at the top of our success. We need the money, we’re still building our lives, unlike Shauna and her husband who already have a vacation home and established careers and two kids.
Read this for book club.
Wasn't really into it. At all.
Wasn't really into it. At all.
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced