Review – The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley, WaterBrook. All of my opinions are my own!

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World by John Mark Comer
Published by Waterbrook Press on October 29, 2019
Genres: Christian, Nonfiction
Pages: 304
Length: 5 hours and 20 minutes
Source: NetGalley, WaterBrook
Goodreads

From the Publisher

"Who am I becoming?" That was the question nagging pastor and author John Mark Comer. Outwardly, he appeared successful. But inwardly, things weren't pretty. So he turned to a trusted mentor for guidance and heard these words:
"Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life." It wasn't the response he expected, but it was--and continues to be--the answer he needs. Too often we treat the symptoms of toxicity in our modern world instead of trying to pinpoint the cause. A growing number of voices are pointing at hurry, or busyness, as a root of much evil.
Within the pages of this book, you'll find a fascinating roadmap to staying emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.

My thoughts

Reading a book on eliminating hurry during quarantine was an interesting experiment. You'd think with the world slowed down, my heart would match its pace. As I read through John Mark Comer's The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, I realized how much busyness is a part of my lifestyle. That needs to change. I feel it in my soul.

This quote really struck me: "The mind is the portal to the soul, and what you fill your mind with will shape the trajectory of your character." Wow! Something is deeply wrong!

John Mark Comer is smart and sincere. He gently and humorously leads readers through a modern version of Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline. The footnotes are gold. I think I added 22 books to my "want to read" pile! He has read prolifically and he synthesizes what he's contemplated from those readings effortlessly.

I am going to go back and read this one slowly. This would be a great book to read through with friends. He also offers a free downloadable workbook with additional instructional videos to continue to guide you in thinking through these ideas. I know I'll be recommending it to everyone.