The Common Rule

On the go. Always connected. Days full of activity. This has become the norm, but is it what we need? Is there a better way? After experiencing severe anxiety, Justin Whitmel Earley found out that there is, and he shares what he'd learned in The Common Rule.

Whether we realize it or not, habits play a big part of how we spend our day. Many times, we don't even realize that we have a habit of doing something. Earley presents a set of daily and weekly habits that he has used to get more freedom from hectic days. The habits include prayer 3 times a day, one meal a day with others, an open conversation with a friend, a sabbath day, and several others. None of them are overly hard, except for having to change what you're currently doing. Earley advises to start with ones that you can do, and not worry if you can't work on them all at the same time.

The book is easy to read and follow. He admits where he has messed up, both before the changes and after. He shares the struggles and victories. The writing style is like he sharing with you during a one-on-one conversation. There were habits that I had already started working on from my own experiences, but there were several that I will need to work towards. This is a good book for anyone that is feeling bogged down with the fast pace of life.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Common Rule is a great new way to re evaluate your schedule. There are many useful suggestions in the book, and it is meant to be worked through slowly, not rushed. So man things grab and pull for our attention, and the author breaks daily routines down into manageable chunks that everyone can handle.

Great resource for time management, encouragement and self evaluation. We must get back to placing the important things first and then assigning responsibilities afterwards. Useful tool for those who want to feel less stressed, more organized and want to increase the productivity of their lives, both while working and while enjoying rest.

I appreciate the opportunity to read early. Thank you to #NetGalley for the chance. All opinions are my own and I chose to review.

All I can say is that this book needs to come out asap so I can buy it for my family.

The author presents the daily/weekly habits that he has employed to turn his life around. The chapters and habits are very well thought out and biblically grounded. It was a pleasure to read and employ the teachings of this book and I would consider this one of the most important practical books that is coming out.

I was a little leery of this book based on the title. After all, rules are all around us and I don't know that I want more rules. But then I read "the word rule is used because it comes from the Latin word regula, a word associated with a bar or trellis, the woodwork on which a plant grows." And "a rule of life is much less about obeying rules than it is about finding purpose."

Yes, I could use a framework, or trellis, to help my life find purpose. This book does a great job providing "keystone habits," or habits that will help other good habits and routines fall into place. I like both the daily and weekly focuses.

One thing I very much appreciated about The Common Rule is the lack of guilt. In a book full of ways to create life-giving habits, there is no shame or guilt for the current way of living. Instead, the book is full of hope for a better tomorrow.

Often, I feel like a pile of vining peas—unsupported and reaching out for the next thing. The trellis of The Common Rule is a welcome support. I'm ready to cling to routines that will be keystone habits—preparing each day (and week) to be full of goodness, love, and fulfilled life.

I reserve 5-star reviews for books I will/have read over and over or for those I will recommend to friends and clients. This book, and the simple framework it provides, has the power to transform lives. The Common Rule earns a 5-star review!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The Common Rule is a practical introduction to forming spiritual disciplines. Justin Whitmel Earley has taken time honored practices and given them a modern makeover. Being a lawyer, this book is written in a concise and logical way, with very specific applications. The rules are described as a “trellis” which is a useful way of viewing spiritual habits. The book also provides plenty of scope for further reflection and reading around the topics discussed.

I appreciated how humble and honest the author is, writing about his flaws and stumbles in a way that gave a warm, encouraging tone instead of what could easily be a condemning, preachy kind of book. The ideas in the book have been tested. Although the author appreciates the irony of providing online resources and social media backup, the website is also worth a visit.

I particularly enjoyed the discussion about beauty and failure, and grace in the Sabbath. I would recommend this book to any Christ follower looking to deepen their relationship with God.

One of the best non-fiction books I’ve read this year is The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction. I was immediately drawn to the idea of simplifying life and reprioritizing my day in a way that I can feel good about. I was sold on the idea. How about the actual execution of it? Was The Common Rule going to present a solution to today’s hurried lifestyle that I can easily implement into my work and family routines?

Yes!

I could easily relate to the author. Justin Whitmel Earley desired to serve God and his fellow man, and at the same time was driven in both his law career and his family life. That drive led him to an anxiety-filled breakdown. He knew that there had to be a better way. This system of habits was born out of that experience.

To call it a system might make it sound stiffening. It is actually something very freeing. Throughout the book, I continued to see that this is really a set of habits combined with grace, rather than legalistic rules. Over and over the author recommends that the reader decides for themselves just how to form these habits.  He offers a variety of ways that people from different walks of life can use The Common Rule. For example, a corporate CEO might want to use a creative endeavor as a way to relax on their day of rest. A creative person like me would have to find something different since creativity is my work.

As the author moves from one habit to the next, he weaves his experiences into the text. This makes reading the book feel more like a conversation with a friend who is sharing their wisdom. He also shares resources that back up his ideas in the footnotes.

One of the most helpful resources is The Common Rule website. https://www.thecommonrule.org/. There, you can watch a video of the author explaining how he decided to write The Common Rule. You can also download a study guide that includes a great visual depiction of the habits.

I am always trying to bring a measure of sanity into my crazy busy life. The habits outlined in The Common Rule are the perfect way to do that. If you are interested in more peace of mind and a well prioritized week, I highly recommend The Common Rule. It is currently available for preorder and will be released February 19, 2019.

About the Author of The Common Rule:
Justin Whitmel Earley (JD, Georgetown University) is the creator of The Common Rule, a program of habits designed to form us in the love of God and neighbor. He is also a mergers and acquisitions lawyer in Richmond, Virginia. Justin previously spent several years in China as the founder and general editor of The Urbanity Project and as the director of Thought and Culture Shapers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community through arts. He and his wife, Lauren, have four sons and live in Richmond, Virginia.

The Common Rule is currently available for preorder and will be released February 19, 2019.

I received an ARC of The Common Rule, in exchange for my honest review

Excellent resource for busy professionals who want to incorporate Christian spiritual practices into their daily lives. Written by a lawyer, this book gives real world tips on how to reign in social media use, block out the constant noise of the media, and keep yourself well-grounded and sane. Highly recommended.

I’ve been looking forward to The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose For An Age of Distraction since I first heard about it a few months ago. It didn’t disappoint. After suffering a health crisis from living and working a overpacked, chaotic schedule with little sleep, Earley realized he needed to make a serious change for the sake of his health and his relationships. Earley, working with his wife and friends, established a set of practical habits around the ideas of loving God and loving neighbor.

Earley writes:

It’s utterly important to learn the right theological truths about God and neighbor, but it’s equally necessary to put that theology into practice via a rule of life... Only when your habits are constructed to match your worldview do you become someone who doesn’t just know about God and neighbor but someone who actually loves God and neighbor.

The Common Rule is a set of four daily habits and four weekly habits. I would call many of these habits spiritual disciplines, which has always been a topic that interests me, but I realize that phrase may feel stuffy for many. Earley defines habits as “a behavior that occurs automatically, over and over, and often unconsciously.” He goes on to quote a study by Duke University that found that as much as 40 percent of our daily actions are not conscious choices, but habits.

The problem is that means many of the important things in our daily lives are happening unconsciously. And if you aren’t choosing your habits, someone or something else is. Earley writes:

We have a common problem. By ignoring the ways habits shape us, we’ve assimilated to an invisible rule of life: the American rule of life. This rigorous program of habits forms us in all the anxiety, depression, consumerism, injustice, and vanity that are so typical in the contemporary American life.

Of course, the other problem is many of us don’t want to choose our habits. Choosing means we have to slow down and face our thoughts. It means we have to sometimes stop striving and sit in silence. That terrifies us. Let’s be honest. Most of us want to stay so busy that we don’t have time to think or sleep, because that would mean we have to admit to ourselves that we are finite. We justify it by telling ourselves we’re “called” or saying there’s just too much to do.

Earley writes, “Our habits often obscure what we’re really worshiping, but that doesn’t mean we’re not worshiping something. The question is, what are we worshiping?” Earley quotes James K. A. Smith who writes that worship forms us and formation is worship. “As the psalmist put it, those who make and trust in idols will become like them (Psalm 31:6). So we become our habits.” Our habits are daily liturgies of worship. Are we worshiping ourselves or our creator?

The Common Rule is not just theoretical. It is an incredibly practical book, perhaps more so than many of the Christian living books I’ve read. Earley clearly walks through each habit and gives a wealth of practical suggestions to get started. He even gives adjustments to the Common Rule for people in various phases of life and occupations. His website is also extremely helpful. If you’re looking to start the new year by making some important changes to your daily life, I recommend checking out The Common Rule. You can get a copy here.

Excellent. This book is life changing. The author’s voice is clear, relatable, and honest. He says it like it is but doesn’t let the reader use anything as an excuse. Points are supported with the Bible, his personal experience, other authorities in the field, etc. This is a book I will purchase and refer back to often; it will remain on my most impactful book list for sure! I can’t wait to see what God does as I implement the habits outlined in this book. This book isn’t just another self-help book. Take time and read it and let the change in habit change your life.
I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley. This has in no way influenced my review. All thoughts are my own.

This book came along at a critical time. I've been feeling the tugging of the Spirit to spend more time in the Word, praying and in community with my sisters-in-Christ. What I realized is that "wanting" is not enough. It requires a steadfast plan and discipline. I find it strange how it's the obvious solution in every other area of our lives, but when it comes to our spirituality and following The Way of Jesus we somehow how believe it shouldn't require any effort on our part. That any effort is moving into the realm of legalism. Legalism is a heart posture people, as is a desire to follow the Way of Jesus. If that's your desire. This is your book. There are so many nuggets here to get started without feeling overwhelmed.

I've recently launched a Christian women's community and my heart has been for spiritual formation and growth. I'm looking forward to introducing this book to them. I believe even the "busiest" mom will be able to make this the center of her life and work everything else around it and find peace in this hurried culture.

Many readers who have encountered Earley's website on The Common Rule may wonder why they need to read the book when the information is available online for free. There are several reasons the book by Justin Whitmel Earley is an important investment. I personally found that the website provides the just the basic what of Earley's habits. However, his book does a marvelous job of fleshing out the why behind the daily and weekly habits as well as how to incorporate the habits into your life. The chapter on each habit provides some background information on why the habit is important both from a research standpoint and via stories from Earley's own experiences.. Earley does not sugar coat his experiences but honestly shares how these habits became a core part of his life and what his life was like before he developed this rule of life. Earley then provides suggestions on making the habit a part of your life including examples on various ways the habit could be implemented. Several books are also listed for further reading. Earley also provides several suggestions to help various individuals such as parents, full time workers, and creatives can implement the rule and suggestions for how small groups may utilize the rule together.

In summary, The Common Rule is an interesting mix of part Christian spiritual disciplines/self-help and part spiritual memoir.. Individuals or small groups who desire to add structure to their lives will find this a helpful book to do so.

Other than the Bible, this could very well be the most important non-fiction book you read this year! I have already begun a list of people that I want to gift this book to, not because I think they or their lives need to be “fixed,” but because I believe they too will relish the truths between its covers. Justin Earley offers new perspectives on the role of habits in our lives, and demonstrates ways in which we can become intentional in how they help form us in a way that helps us to live out Romans 12:2.

I don't review non-fiction books nearly as often as fiction, but having watched and listened to the author on a YouTube video after reading a description of this book, I knew that I had to read and review it. Earley is quite open about his struggles and failures, not claiming that developing these habits will bring about perfection, but rather comparing them to building a trellis on which our lives may be trained to grow upward rather than sprawling outward in ways we weren't meant to, twisting into something that slowly dies and hurts those growing around us. It is a book about thriving in a culture that is pervaded with distractions.

I am grateful to have received a copy of The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose in an Age of Distraction from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

My review of the incredibly helpful, practice and life-shifting book, “The Common Rule” by Justin Whitmel Earley.

I want to say this from the outset: The Common Rule is a hard book to review. Not because it’s bad; it’s well written, it’s fun, I learned a lot, and I think this is a paradigm- and practice-shifting book. This book is hard to review because the book itself doesn’t seem to be the most important thing: the most important thing about the book is the way that your life changes after reading it and implementing the practices.

Goals of the Book: Life is pretty hectic, right? And I think sometimes we forget how busy we are. We don’t notice the spiritual practices that we have neglected nor the unhealthy practices that we have picked up instead. Author Justin Earley, opening himself up to be vulnerable with his readers, confesses the ways that he has fallen into these bad habits. His aim, in response to what has helped him, is to share some practices with us to dislodge our secular liturgies and to reorient our lives toward a healthy walk with God. “The Common Rule offers four daily and four weekly habits, designed to help us create new routines and transform frazzled days into lives of love for God and neighbor. Justin Earley provides concrete, doable practices, such as a daily hour of phoneless presence or a weekly conversation with a friend.”


Why Should We Care?: Well, unfortunately, most Americans don’t really read their Bibles much, despite saying that they are fairly fond of it. And now, an average American adult spends half of their day in front of a screen. Are these correlated? Maybe, maybe not – I’m not a statistician, nor am I really able to speak beyond anecdotal evidence. But I think we can all admit that we would like to read the Bible more. A lot of time, we don’t read the Bible because of sin or distance from God. But how many times do we want to read the Bible, but pick up a cell phone instead? How many hours did we binge on King of the Hill this weekend rather than reading more Isaiah? (If that one sounded too specific, it’s because I was calling myself out.)

This book is a welcome break from the fast paced, break-neck pace of modern society. We increasingly pray and read the Bible less; what’s keeping us going to church? If we get so wrapped up in the cultural liturgy and neglect our Christian practices, how will we operate as lights to the world? Earley hopes to help give us some of our time and life back in the book, and we should all be grateful for it.

Book’s Strengths and Weaknesses: I think the biggest strength of this book comes from Justin’s openness. Each chapter contains engaging stories wherein Justin tells us about how he learned the lesson of the chapter. For example, one of the practices is reading Scripture before picking up your phone. This seems like a great idea, but Justin recounts how badly he was doing with this for a long time. He then uses his life as an example of what happens when you take up this practice and how it shifts your mind and your whole day. Books like this can get really heavy-handed and legalistic if not written well, or if it sounds like it’s coming “from above” rather than coming from someone who also had to learn the practice. I am thankful for his honesty, and this honesty helped me get on board with more of the practices.


I also appreciated Earley’s focus on the communal aspects of these practices. I made a comment on Twitter the other day to the effect that Protestant Lent usually suffers because we choose what to fast and fast on our own. Earley reminds us that the life of the Church is the best accountability structure for these practices, and calls us back to our lives together.

Finally, I appreciated how ordinary these practices are. None of these require extra skills, super smarts, or a ton of resources. Some call us to not pick up our phone right away, or spend less free time in front of a screen. This means that a lot of people will benefit from these practices, whether you implement one or two. As time moves on, and I continue to practice some of these rules, I’ll update the blog and let everyone know how it’s going.

Though, a note to my specific audience: this book is not written from a Reformed perspective. I know that it will be easy to call this book legalistic with how little (relatively) discussion centers on God’s grace in our Christian practices. I still urge you to give the book a chance and try to implement these practices within a Reformed theology of works and disciplines.

You can find out more information about the book from the publisher, IVP, here. You can, and I highly recommend doing so, order the book here! I am reviewing a copy of this book from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to give a good review, just an honest one. But I will be purchasing a hard copy for myself.

The Common Rule is a gift to a modern church that has sometimes let the practices of spiritual disciplines slip by the wayside because they are too "antiquated". Justin does a fantastic job of clearly outlining a "rule of life" for us, consisting of four daily and four weekly habits. The habits are a challenge to our digitally focused world and include things like limiting media consumption to four hours a week. He talks about the importance of relying on God for this and knowing that failure is okay. I recommend this book to those that have been struggling with the addiction we are all too ashamed to admit we have - to the digital world.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, this review expresses my personal opinion.

When I start reading this book I could relate to what he mentioned, that lack of connectivity and how sadly our life goes around technology. I the beginning I was a bit overwhelming, In my head, I was trying to understand all the habits and how to put them correctly on practice. But then I realize that is actually more simple and easy that it seems, they are four daily habits: Kneeling prayer, which I must say I've tried this habit since I read it a couple of weeks ago and I will say I was never a kneeling girl but Is true there is a difference when you kneel and surrender yourself and your day in prayer. One meal with another, I've tried this one also with my family. Is not the same to eat alone, that when you have the opportunity to share the table, what he said in his book is true we were meant to share. One hour phone off, I haven't tried this habit yet. But I plan to, I think that without seeing it our life is dictated by our phone. So this could be a challenge, but I necessary one. And finally scripture before phone, I was confronted by this because I was checking my email, social media before I had my time with God while reading the bible. I won't lie and say I'm practicing this all the time, is a work in progress.


The weekly habits, wow those will get you into another level of deepness. The conversation with a friend is great and at the same time is not easy. You need to open and be open to let others in. Is a choice, and one I believe will make your life more fullest. Curate media, this habit is a good one. We surround it with social media. And if we are careful we will become someone else in order to have more likes. I like how he doesn't say: Social media is all wrong for you, no. He says curate it, like art. This habit takes you to see how long and how you been using social media. Fast, I never actually like to fast while growing up I remember making up excuses for not doing it. Is interesting what he say that fasting makes us see our imperfections and get us closer to God, I decide to fast one day at the week and to see how my dependence stretch more. And finally sabbath, the importance of rest. Is so true and so sad what he says regarding this habit. Many times rest it's seen like something awful, and he remains us that we are just a body and rest is not optional it's necessary.

Why I think this is a good book:

Justin Whitmel Earley brings an honest reflection of his own life and how these habits make a difference, not only on his life; but also his family and friends. I believe that these habits can be a blessing for anyone who tries them. And like he mention on his books, on his website https://www.thecommonrule.org/ we also find helpful information to follow this habits.

Truly grateful for the opportunity of reading an ARC of this book.

I loved this book which has been in my to read pile for much too long. I was introduced to the idea of "rule of life" by a mentor in university but with busyness and so many other concepts thrown my way, it had slipped to the wayside. This book introduced a rule of life for 21st century living - and was full of great theology but also very practical and applicable habits and suggestions. This book was convicting and powerful and I'm looking forward to implementing its suggestions for habit into my every day life.