Anonymous

Tiny book, big insights

Reviewed: 10-22-22

This book is a lot like the habits it advocates: small, simple, non-intimidating, and easy to apply. And yet much like the results he promises, James Clear offers an outsized amount of payoff for your investment. The insights in this book are profound, actionable, and well presented. Other self help authors could learn from Clear’s no-nonsense approach. There is almost zero fluff, and yet it’s not an academic slog either. It reads smoothly, and the information is easy to understand and retain. In fact, if you forget some of the things you’ve learned, it’s such a well put together package that listening over and over is an option that demands little effort.
Furthermore, Clear roots his observations in psychological studies and real-world examples that lend credibility to his advice. The data makes many of his points nearly unarguable.

My only point of criticism would be that at times, the scientific certainty of his conclusions is somewhat overstated. A critical thinker will notice certain examples that seem overly simplistic in their application. After all, data can be ambiguous in many ways and anec dotes are even more questionable. This is a minor concern, because Clear is largely humble and well grounded in his claims. I have no doubt whatsoever that his advice, if heeded, will yield the promised results, and for such a brief and well done audio book, you will hardly find a better value for your money.

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6 people found this helpful

Inspiration for hungry souls

Reviewed: 10-20-22

Much of what is written in this book goes against the fitness and self-help trends of our day. You can’t find a website or about fitness and nutrition that isn’t infested with constant disclaimers and caveats warning you against overtraining, starvation, discouragement, etc. While these warnings are valid and important, they seem to be prioritized to an obnoxious degree. In a culture full of unhealthy, sedentary and lazy people, trying too hard is really not the main problem. There are many of us who already know not to overtrain, and have no desire to injure ourselves or crash-diet in unhealthy ways. Many of us do not need the constant maternal warnings - what we need is an occasional kick in the butt to drive us to pursue our highest potential. Safety is important - but so are excellence, sacrifice, and hard work!

David Goggins shares his journey from a 300 lb, mentally devastated young loser, to an astounding athlete and professional soldier, in his own raw and honest lingo. He admits that he made mistakes - he recognizes that some of his decisions to ignore injuries or commit to challenges without proper preparation were reckless and dumb. But the story of his survival and growth through those amazing feats of endurance illustrates a more important lesson: you are capable of accomplishing amazing things. Things you never thought possible! His story, and the interviews between chapters are a perfect source of inspiration for those of us who are seeking the next level. I for one am working hard to be a more disciplined, productive, and excellent human being, and whenever I feel myself dragging, this is one of the audio books I put on to remind myself why I started pursuing my goals in the first place.

Don’t listen to the prideful and small-minded mainstream voices that are encouraging you to “get your steps in” and “take the stairs.” Or do listen to them. That is good advice. But if you wanna push yourself to find out the boundaries of your incredible potential as a person, listen to Goggins and take the governor chip off your mind.

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Theology with heart

Reviewed: 09-03-21

This book may be the second most exciting work in my library, behind scripture itself. It is a thorough examination of the character of God that inspires me to worship more fervently and obey more passionately. Too often theology is slandered as dry, boring, or overly complex. God is indeed complex beyond measure, but when written about by an able communicator, there is nothing and no one more exhilarating for the mind to ponder. Tozer writes in plain enough vernacular to be accessible to any reader (listener) but he does not dumb down powerful ideas or speak too casually about beautiful, holy things. He strikes a remarkable balance in this book between systematic exposition and passionate eloquence. This is a book that will throw fuel on your fire for God and encourage deeper study, not for pride of knowledge, but for the earnest love of our Lord.

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