A great read! My church based a Sunday morning study off this book and watched John Mark Comer's video study on RightNowMedia. It was so good that I decided to read the whole book as well and I'm so glad I did! I like JMC's writing style a lot, it feels very genuine. A very culturally relevant book and one that every twenty/thirty-something year old should read! Highly recommend!

Enjoyable, easy to read, yet so informative. John Mark Comer does his best to explain the peace of God that we can get from slowing down and stepping away from the rat race of societal pressures to truely experience the life that God intends for us. When we slow down and stay focused on God, rather than the next TV show, our relentless cell phone notifications, the next promotion, more money, etc, we can live lives that reflect the joy we experience through our Savior. Getting bogged down by life and it's burdens is not what we are intended for, rather to live lives that reflect Jesus when he says to bring your burdens to him and he will give you rest. Many of those burdens were not meant for us to carry and by letting them go, no only can we unburden ourselves, but also lead others in the way of simplicity in Jesus. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the message it conveys and plan to buy a copy for myself to reread on a regular basis. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved this book. I read a lot of books about minimalism, and I read a lot about living more like Jesus, and so I was a big fan of combining the two.

Let's just start with the writing style. John Mark Comer writes very similarly to how I talk/think, and so I am fully convinced that we would be instant friends if we were ever to meet in person. He is so sarcastic, and reading this book made him a real person. It was so relatable, but bigger than that, it was enjoyable, because it felt like having a conversation with a friend.

Moving on to the content. I loved how he frames the Christian life as being apprentices to Jesus, and then went on to pull out details of Jesus' life that so often get missed or overlooked as he convinces readers why we all need to slow down. He goes on to offer tips and guidelines for how to help achieve this elimination of hurry, but does so in a way that is so relatable and doesn't feel judgy or condescending at all. I also loved how much of a human he is. So often Christian pastors/authors can come across as next-level Christians who only ever talk or think about Jesus, but Comer talks openly about his struggles, his love for The West Wing, enjoying a glass of wine, and other completely normal human things.

Overall, while not everything in this book was something I could implement (my job literally requires me to keep my notifications on), I am thoroughly on board with eliminating some of the hurry in my life, and Sundays are now fully protected to be a Sabbath.

“The Hebrew word Shabbat means ‘to stop.’ But it can also be translated ‘to delight.’ It has this dual idea of stopping and also of joying in God and our lives in his world. The Sabbath is an entire day set aside to follow God’s example, to stop and delight.”

Some books change your life; some books change how you see life. ‘The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry,’ might have done both. Comer helps us reimagine our everyday life along the lines of perhaps the most overlooked of the ten commandments; “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Turns out, there is a rhyme to the reason and Comer powerfully unveils how our cultural epidemic of hurry, is hurting us, and the world around us with truly massive ramifications.

John Mark Comer has a way of writing that just feeds the soul and this book was no exception; whether you prefer audiobooks, ebooks, or paperbacks, find a copy and read it. Reread it. Let this book transform your life and let your life transform the world. One sabbath, at a time.

I have really enjoyed working through this book! There was much that I am challenged by and have been given a lot to think about. I highly recommend this book for literally everyone. The epidemic of hurriedness doesn't discriminate against any particular group but ensnares all people in its life-sucking grip. At our church we've even begun incorporating this into our discipleship resources that we will walk with people through. HIGHLY recommend this read!

Easily one of the most impactful books I've read in quite awhile. I already know that I'll be re-reading this. I took a bit of a break from it, but I wish I hadn't. I wish I had just read it through and gotten the concepts down so that I could go back through them and apply them practically to my life. I just downloaded the workbook that goes along with it (johnmarkcomer.com/howtounhurry) and I'm excited to apply these concepts to my life. I need it. We all do.

I needed the message of this book. I often try to do more and not rest enough. I have been caught up in the busyness of life. What a needed message for us all in these times!

I appreciated this book's focused simplicity - we need not be so busy and the way of Jesus invites us into a better, healthier, and more human way of living. The book is practical and pointed - an invitation to change!

Do you want to find a way to deal with the struggle of Hurry?
Pastor and author John Mark Comer presents his book "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. How to Sty emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World" published by WaterBrook & Multnomah. The title of the book is based on a conversation John Ortberg had with Dallas Willard when Ortberg was in the danger of "getting sucked into the vortex of megachurch insanity (in: "Hurry: the great enemy of spiritual life"). The book starts with a prologue, two parts (The Problem / The Solution), an intermission, a third part which is the majority of the book (Four practices for unhurrying your life - Silence and solitude, Sabbath, Simplicity, and Slowing) and ends with an epilogue. Comer asks a simple question in regard to technology: "What is all this distraction, addiction, and pace of life doing to our souls?" (in: "A brief history of speed").
Comer included many practical tips for readers to work on the elimination of hurry. E.g., in the chapter on "Slowing" he takes some rules from driving and other areas of life in order to show readers how they can slow down. He writes: "Here are a few ideas to gamify driving into the spiritual discipline of slowing: 1) Drive the speed limit, Get into the slow lane, 3) Come to a full stop at stop signs, 4) Don't text and drive, 5) Show up ten minutes early for an appointment, sans phone, 7) Turn your smartphone into a dumbphone, 10) Keep your phone off until after your morning quiet time, or 15) Walk slower".
This was the second book by Comer which I read (after "God has a name") and I really appreciate it. The book is personal and based on Comer's research. He also quotes from other personalities (e.g., Corrie ten Boom, Ronald Rolheiser, John Ortberg, Eugene Peterson). The book also offers notes for reference and further study at its end. Comer offers exercises for readers who want to applied the learned to their lives through a workbook and videos that are available through a link in the book. At the end of the Prologue he clearly states for whom the book is and I highly recommend it to these readers: "Above all, if your time has come and you’re ready to go on a counterintuitive and very countercultural journey to explore your soul in the reality of the kingdom… Then enjoy the read. This book isn’t long or hard to understand. But we have secrets to tell…"
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheRuthlessEliminationOfHurry #NetGalley

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer is a rich guide, filled with personality and humor. Instead of feeling like Comer is condemning me for not being there yet, it read as an encouragement, an invitation to join him in these practices, as Comer once was stretched and stressed and overwhelmed and has now found a welcome balance.

Whether influenced by my time of life or the pandemic, this book resonated with me. Comer offers recommendations for how to resist the culture's pull for more, for busyness. Through discussing four practices (silence and solitude; sabbath; simplicity; slowing), Comer offers a rich read that had me marking up the pages. Practical suggestions that challenge and convict me had me pausing and reflecting.

One intentional act I instituted recently was to give up showers as much as possible, replacing them with bathing. I draw a piping hot bath, disconnect from doom scrolling, temporarily withdraw from my family, and take a book or magazine with me. I have determined this is a valuable, worthy indulgence, meaningful for my mental health. With the summer ahead, I have intentionally orchestrated a light work schedule, so as to allow wide swaths of time that have not yet been earmarked. I see value in the opportunity to slow down, to be more present in the moment, to delight in time outdoors. While I didn't necessarily take those steps as a direct correlation to this book, this book helps provide support for the pause, for the quieting from the daily rush, for allowing me to acknowledge how this has been a taxing season and how such a practice, of living an unhurried life, can reap dividends. I highly recommend this book for those who are feeling like it's all too much and are seeking ways to be revived and restored.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is a must read! I loved this book and it’s simplicity but much needed message. It’s written in a way that draws you in, informs, and encourages you. If you have read other books on time management, phone usage, and the pace of life, you might have felt condemned and overwhelmed after you finished. I loved that John Mark Comer’s book leaves you feeling renewed in your love for Jesus and looking at the big picture of your life. I highly recommend this book!

Something with a foreword by John Ortberg catches my eye as I enjoyed his "If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat" (2001).

Part one: The problem
Part two: The solution
Intermission: Wait, what are the spiritual disciplines again?
Part three: Four practices for unhurrying your life
Epilogue: A quiet life

A short workbook with exercises to get you started on each of the four practices is available at johnmarkcomer.com/howtounhurry

The Notes at the end are fairly humorous.

I really enjoy John Mark Comer and his book Garden City and was excited when I received this book for review. I enjoyed this book and the way the author takes us through his own struggle of eliminating hurry in his life and establishing rhythms. I felt that some of his ideas on how to implement sabbath in today's society was well thought out and challenging. I think if you are struggling with establishing those habits in your own life, you will feel challenged. If you have already made those things habits, I think you will feel this book is slightly redundant

Thank you to Netgalley and Waterbrook & Multnomah for a copy for my unbiased review

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer is a book making a case against hurry and hustle and the hectic pace of life these days. Instead, this book promotes the slow, simple way of life -- and it looks to Jesus on how to do this, as well as some personal recommendations and ideas from John Mark Comer. This is one of the best books I read this year, and I will be implementing some of the suggested practices into my life right away.

This is a very timely book. and one that which everyone I have spoken to about, has been hugely impacted by. John Mark Comer tackles societies mantra of always having to be in a hurry, and successful, and materialistic, with this book that takes us back to some strong biblical principles of slowing down, taking a sabbath, and living a truly counter cultural life. It isn't an easy read, because it will change you and challenge you, but it is an essential read.

This book will speak to the souls of the anxious, worried, restless, and often frustrated readers and give them hope and solution.

Incredibly needed and incredibly helpful. This takes a lot of useful literature both past and contemporary and not only puts a cohesive, pastoral perspective to it, but does so in a beautiful and compelling way. I can't wait to see what Comer writes next.

BOOK REVIEW - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- This book was so timely for me. I loved the vulnerability, the clarity and the depth! I also enjoyed the companion podcast. Great writing, clear messaging and applicable to life made a great combination for this book to be a win for me!

This book came highly recommended from one of my favorite podcasters and she did not lead me astray. A great book especially right now in this current pandemic when things are just starting to reopen and people are starting to reconsider normal.

John Mark Comer came to a point in his life when he realised that the way he was living, always being in a hurry, was not healthy. He decided he didn’t want to live that way any longer and so chose to do something about it. This book is a result of the changes he made. In his book, he passes on things he has learned from spending time alone with Jesus.

In Part 1, Comer considers ‘The Problem’.

Comer writes that Jesus wants to grow love, joy and peace in our lives and that all three are incompatible with hurry.

He writes that in our lives of hurry, we are, even if we do not realise it, losing our souls. We live without a sense of God’s presence with us because our attention is taken up with such things as our phones and our to-do lists. God is present but because our attention is taken up with other things, we are not aware of him.

In Part 2, Comer looks at ‘The Solution’.

The solution to our over-busy lives is not more time. If we had more time, we would just end up filling it up with more. The solution is “to slow down and simplify our lives around what really matters.”

Comer takes us back to the Bible to consider the teachings of Jesus and how it is possible for us to live in today’s fast-paced world as Jesus’ apprentices. He explains if we were to model our lives on Jesus, we would recover our souls.

In Part 3, Comer looks at Four Practices (habits, or disciplines) for Unhurrying Your Life.

• Silence and Solitude.
Silence is both external and internal. Solitude is alone time with God and with our soul. Comer helpfully explains what happens if we don’t practice this soul habit taught by Jesus and also the blessing to us when we do practice this discipline.

• Sabbath
Comer writes how Sabbath is more than one day a week but is actually a way of being in the world. Observing a weekly Sabbath enables us to live in this world for the whole week. I found it a challenging section and there are definitely some suggestions I want to put into practice.

• Simplicity
In this section, Comer shares his top twelve principles for practising simplicity.

• Slowing
Comer writes if we can slow down our body and mind, we can slow down our souls too. He gives some examples of how to practice the spiritual discipline of slowing.

Some of the ideas here and in other parts of his book I really like and want to put into practice. For me, now is a great time to do so, whilst we are still living restricted lives due to Covid-19. If I can practice them now, I can form some healthy habits ready for when life returns to some kind of normality and continue on with them for the rest of my life.

If you are tired with the way you are living, feeling hurried and overwhelmed, then this book is for you. It will show you there is a different, better way to live, one which is better for our Christian walk, for our emotional, physical and spiritual health and for our relationships with others.

Cromer writes from a Biblical perspective, drawing on the life and teaching of Jesus. I found his writing to be clear and easy to understand. There is plenty to think about, plenty to be challenged by and various practical suggestions to try.