Books in Review: To Hell with the Hustle

​It has surprisingly taken me over 5 years to get around to reading this book. I’ve been a fan of Jeff since he shared his spoken word poetry on YouTube and had followed most of his earlier books, especially It’s Not What You Think and Love that Lasts (both of which I was on the launch team for). However, the timing of this launch prevented me from getting involved and it took a while to get a copy and even longer to get around to reading it. But when I did, I was not disappointed. While the title admittedly made me a little hesitant, I found this book to be just as inspiring as the other books I’ve read by Jeff. The contents of this book are still incredibly relevant in our overconnected world, and I highly recommend this book ~ Bethel

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Our world is more connected than any generation before. Between the internet, social media, cell phones that are the equivalent of super computers in our pockets, and even smart appliances, we have more knowledge and technology at our fingertips than ever before. However, we are also more disconnected and unsettled than any generation in history. Between a mental health crisis and the rising number of broken and dysfunctional relationships in our world, most of us are running on empty, attempting to fill the emptiness with busyness and work. Yet, none of this is solving the problem. It makes us ask the question: is there a way to reconnect and recharge in our overconnected and overdemanding world?

​In his book To Hell with the Hustle, bestselling author Jefferson Bethke walks readers through what it means to recharge and reprioritize in our overconnected world. Through personal stories, relevant research, and powerful insights, Jeff lays out the reasons why being overconnected and participating in the race to work as hard as possible for as long as possible is negatively impacting us as individuals as our world as a whole. Instead, we can choose to change our pace and prioritize what really matters. He challenges his readers to consider his family philosophy of setting “formations” for himself and his family instead of setting goals and to learn how to respond to invitations with “no” as a default so that family and authentic relationships are prioritized. We are also encouraged to establish a Sabbath, a day once a week set aside to rest and truly recharge. Through it all, you will be inspired to rethink the way that you use your time and your family’s time. This is a great book for anyone that wants to learn the right way to slow down and refocus on what matters most. Get your copy today!

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Teen Rating. While none of the content of this book is inappropriate for a teenager, this book is really speaking to adults, and more specifically parents. Some younger teens might have a hard time applying some of the principles in this book for that reason. I would recommend it for those 17 and older.

Singles-Friendly Rating. While most of the illustrations are relevant to singles, Jeff does refer to his family and family plans a lot. Some singles may have a hard time getting past this.

Personal Rating. I have two minor criticisms of this book. First, the title contains a usage of a word that could be perceived as swearing. While its usage is technically correct and appropriate, it was still close enough to inappropriate that it made me a little uncomfortable and could be off-putting. Second, while I appreciated the chapter that talked about Sabbath, he also had a whole chapter about Sabbath in his book It’s Not What You Think. While the contents of these chapters were different and relevant to each respective book, some aspects could also be considered redundant, such as having a full chapter in two separate books dedicated to the same topic. Aside from these minor issues, I enjoyed this book very much, as I have enjoyed all the books I’ve read by Jeff.

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Interested in purchasing this title? If you purchase it from Amazon using the link below, Abiding Grace Ministries will receive a small commission from the purchase at no cost to you.

Purchase To Hell with the Hustle: https://amzn.to/41v5bOK

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To read my reviews of Jeff's book It's Not What You Think, click here
To read my review of Jeff's book Jesus>Religion, click here
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