Didn't See It Coming

Cynicism. Compromise. Disconnection. Irrelevance. Pride. Burnout. Emptiness. All of these sound great, right? No, not really. None of us ever embark on a new job, new relationship, new endeavor of any kind thinking, hey, I can't wait until I get burned out at this job or feel disconnected from my spouse or just wonder, what the heck am I even contributing here. But it happens to us all at some point, and we usually don't see it until it whops us upside the head.

Didn't See It Coming by Carey Nieuwhof is a marvelous read, not only on how to spot the warning signs of these life issues, but also on how to overcome these challenges when they happen to you. As a pastor, he writes from a Christian perspective, and as a Christian, I value that point of view. However, if you aren't a Christian, you can still get a lot out of this book, because it's not a preachy, holier-than-thou, “just pray more and get right with God and you'll be okay” kind of book. Nieuwhof writes from his real-life experience and offers solid practical advice on surpassing these difficulties and thriving once you've worked your way through them. I appreciated his candor, as so often it seems like everyone wants to put only their best foot forward. He shares his real experiences so that we can learn from them.

I've seen the book mentioned as great for those in leadership roles, and it is. But it's also great for working parents, stay-at-home parents, young people looking to head off trouble before they fall into it, and basically anyone who interacts with other people in any capacity at all.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own, and I don't say good things about books I don't like.