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1st out of 168 books
—
90 voters
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations
by
Alex Harris (Goodreads Author),
Brett Harris
Most people don't expect you to understand what we're going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don't expect you to care. And even if you care, they don't expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don't expect it to last. We do. – Alex and Brett
A generation stands on the brink of a "rebelution"
Do Hard Things is t...more
A generation stands on the brink of a "rebelution"
Do Hard Things is t...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
April 15th 2008
by Multnomah Books
(first published 2008)
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Be prepared when approaching this book: it will encourage you to do exactly what it proposes in the title. It is filled with solid direction on approaching and pursuing accomplishing great things for God. Rather than just pointing at the author's lives of how they did "hard things", they pull out examples of teens all over the world accomplishing hard things both big and small. It leaves me wondering how might God stretch me, in what ways can I search out a challenge to leave His mark.
I would st...more
I would st...more
Jun 30, 2008
Rachel
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
both teens AND parents
Shelves:
for-fun
this book was very encouraging and motivational. Alex and Brett are great writers, and the message they're sending is one that every teen should hear.
Jul 27, 2008
Katie Wornson
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
teenagers everywhere
Recommended to Katie by:
christianbook.com
Shelves:
loved-it,
nonfiction
Okay, I've re-written my review AGAIN. You know how sometimes you get a wake-up call, just when you desperately need it? Well, to put it simply, the first time I read this book (via audiobook), I realized how bad things had gotten for me. I really wasn't trying anymore. And this wake-up call, in the form of a little red book, was not only timely but very, very needed. I firmly believe that this should be required reading for anyone who wants to be a radical for Jesus. Because the ideas expressed...more
This is a great book. Although I'm in my mid-twenties I was challenged and encouraged by the things laid out before me. I've never been one to shy away from doing and living something hard, but this gave me an added boost to tackle the things that God has put before me today and seek Him for greater things that He might have in store for the future.
May 01, 2008
Caiti
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone who's serious about living a meaningful life
This is such a great book for teens, and everyone else, really.
It encourages youth yo step above average, to live against complacency, and strive to achieve great things for God. It's very convicting, very enthusiastic, and encouraging.
It encourages youth yo step above average, to live against complacency, and strive to achieve great things for God. It's very convicting, very enthusiastic, and encouraging.
This book is a great read, both for parents of preteens and teens, and people of any age wondering what next steps they could take in their life. I read it as much with an eye towards my own future as that of my sons. The teen authors challenge the current concept of teens as young people who are self-absorbed, saying that if they are that way, it's because we expect them to be. (Reminds me of the quote I've had forever on my refrigerator: "If you treat a man as he is, he will remain as he is; i...more
1 like · like · see review
This is a book that you should not breeze through. I read Do Hard Things while I was reading random other books unrelated to it and I believe that may have been the best way to go at it. You see, while reading the book, you must have time to pause and reflect. I read this book in about a month and a half (thanks to library renewal), but of course you don't have to take that long. I'm just trying to say that this book COULD be read in one sitting but the longer you take to read through it, the mo...more
1 like · like · see review
This is a fabulous book not only for teens but adults as well. Do Hard Things is so well written, I'm amazed (not to mention impressed) that it was penned by two eloquent young adults. It's clear to me that the authors have a great amount of insight and wisdom from personal experience that they have brought to the table with this book. Everyone wants their teens to do great things. So why not get a copy of this book for your church's youth group and start a rebelution at your church?
I loved the...more
I loved the...more
1 like · like · see review
One of those books aimed at teenagers but galvanizes all of us used to mediocrity, suburbanized self-catering, and this generally increasing sedentary mode of life. I felt inspired to rethink the low expectations that characterizes how our society views both teenagers and the average citizen. The Harris brothers and the many examples they pulled strike me as very ordinary people who've done extraordinary things. But it doesn't cause me to shake my head incredulously saying, "Man, how did they do...more
This is a great book for teenagers, yes. BUT I would submit it is a great book for any grown up and particularly any grown up that interacts with kids. The authors point out rather comprehensively that we have created a society that expects way too little of our youth. That is in part due to grown ups who are lowering the bar {ouch}. While many may shy away from "Tiger Mom" type parenting, this book encourages all of us to push ourselves beyond what is expected. Consider the following about comp...more
1 like · like · see review
May 07, 2013
Renna Dallas
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
outread-aubrey-challenge
This book was absolutely amazing. I plan on re-reading it; but I've finished it through once and it has already changed my outlook and views on a lot of different things in my life.
Reading "Do Hard Things" has helped me to realize that I'm going nowhere fast in life, and most of the things I'm doing aren't for the glory of God. They could be, but they're not; at least not in the way I'm going about them. This book has challenged and encouraged me to change things, to turn my life around.
I stron...more
Reading "Do Hard Things" has helped me to realize that I'm going nowhere fast in life, and most of the things I'm doing aren't for the glory of God. They could be, but they're not; at least not in the way I'm going about them. This book has challenged and encouraged me to change things, to turn my life around.
I stron...more
Frankly, I was afraid that this book was going to be a rerun of all the material on the authors' website. That would have been OK, but I would have been a little disappointed. Thankfully that wasn't the case. Some of it was very familiar, but quite a bit was not. It wasn't a giant rehash.
Overall, it was good stuff, very challenging. I think the book will appeal to a wide variety of people because of all the diverse examples cited in the book. And although the book is specifically addressed to t...more
Overall, it was good stuff, very challenging. I think the book will appeal to a wide variety of people because of all the diverse examples cited in the book. And although the book is specifically addressed to t...more
This book is very inspirational. Even though it's written for and by teens, I think most adults could benefit from this book too. The world would be a lot better if we all lived to do hard things for Christ.
To me this book was very helpful. It taught me to do something more with my life and make a difference in others. Do Hard Things is about twin teenagers, Alex and Brett Harris, who did different things with their lives and changed other for the better. It doesn't matter how young or smart you are you can always make a difference. Throughout the book the twins met and told stories about people and talking about how those people made a difference in others lives. This book was written by teenagers...more
Do Hard Things is an extraordinary book. In fact, I believe it will prove to be one of the most life-changing, family-changing, church-changing and culture-changing books of this generation.
I know and respect the authors and their family. Alex and Brett Harris are the real deal, Christ-centered young men of character and vision, committed to serving Jesus with humility and excellence. In this God-anointed book, they communicate an exciting and paradigm-shifting vision for teenagers, emphasizing...more
I know and respect the authors and their family. Alex and Brett Harris are the real deal, Christ-centered young men of character and vision, committed to serving Jesus with humility and excellence. In this God-anointed book, they communicate an exciting and paradigm-shifting vision for teenagers, emphasizing...more
This book was Amazing, with a capital 'A.' The best way to sum up my thoughts on this book? "If I were a millionaire, I'd buy every teenager I know a copy of Do Hard Things by the Harris twins." I'm totally serious. I'd buy it for my teen brother if I didn't already have a Christmas present for him.
The writing style was perfect for this book. It was open, honest, and real. Unlike most teen-written books, it was consistent. Unlike most teen-aimed books, it wasn't 'dumbed down.' While it was an ea...more
The writing style was perfect for this book. It was open, honest, and real. Unlike most teen-written books, it was consistent. Unlike most teen-aimed books, it wasn't 'dumbed down.' While it was an ea...more
Dec 30, 2011
Nina
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Nina by:
Maxine
Shelves:
non-fiction,
young-adult
This book was given to me by a good friend of mine for Christmas. She said that it really inspired her and hoped that it would do the same for me. After reading, I can say that the problem that this book presented is true. Today, there is less to nothing expected from teenagers. That is why nobody tries to do anything. I never thought of that before. This was a real eye-opener for me. I hope that I'll be able to strengthen my relationship with God and build my own character along the way.
The Reb...more
The Reb...more
If you want to change the world, if you want to be a prayer warrior, and if you want to fully Glorify God, read this book. This book will transform you’re whole philosophy of serving God. This book will also challenge you to Serve God with all of your strength. Today the average teen is doing nothing. Is there a point in their lives? No. We need a change. ARE you being that average teen? Is there a point in your life? Are you striving to glorify God in EVERY area of life. By doing nothing (like...more
I had this on my desk for a long time, almost didn't open it. It had cliche written all over it: written by teens for teens (16 years old when they wrote it, how about that), younger twin brothers of no less than I Kissed Dating Goodbye's Joshua Harris, and they're cute too! This was going to be another of those cheesy lightweight books by some popular folks who think they have something to say.
But it turns out Alex and Brett Harris do have something to say. And they're saying it pretty darn wel...more
But it turns out Alex and Brett Harris do have something to say. And they're saying it pretty darn wel...more
Written by two teens, this book truly lives up to the blurb on the back and the promise to be different than all the other books written for teens lining the bookshelves. The way the book is set up is simple; Part 1 Rethinking the Teen Years explains The Myth of Adolescence, how it effects us, and the Rebelution, which is a teenage rebellion against low expectations. Part 2 Five Kinds of Hard discusses five hard steps to take you out of your comfort zone, go beyond what’s expected, do things too...more
Do hard things. In some cases, you can judge a book by its cover.
Shaking us awake from a culturally (and somewhat self)-induced slumber, Alex and Brett Harris take us on a trip of sorts - a trip to discover that the teenage years are more than potato chips, couches, and plasma televisions.
They are the years of preparation.
However, surrounded as we are by a culture that expects teens to be irresponsible, disrespectful, and lazy, we've fallen prey to those misconceptions. We've lost a true underst...more
Shaking us awake from a culturally (and somewhat self)-induced slumber, Alex and Brett Harris take us on a trip of sorts - a trip to discover that the teenage years are more than potato chips, couches, and plasma televisions.
They are the years of preparation.
However, surrounded as we are by a culture that expects teens to be irresponsible, disrespectful, and lazy, we've fallen prey to those misconceptions. We've lost a true underst...more
This is THE book for teens to begin to understand ideas that matter about life right now.
After reading this book, I am convinced that the source of teen angst is in many cases boredom, lack of challenge, and lack of responsibility. Words like "challenge" and "responsibility" don't sound like fun ideas to the average teen, but that is only if we all agree to accept the particular definitions of these words that society imagines in regard to teens.
Written by well-mentored teens for teens, this bo...more
After reading this book, I am convinced that the source of teen angst is in many cases boredom, lack of challenge, and lack of responsibility. Words like "challenge" and "responsibility" don't sound like fun ideas to the average teen, but that is only if we all agree to accept the particular definitions of these words that society imagines in regard to teens.
Written by well-mentored teens for teens, this bo...more
Alex and Brett Harris have a message for their generation:
"Most People don’t expect you to understand what we’re going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don’t expect you to care. And eve if you care, they don’t expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don’t expect it to last. We do."
Their powerful message is captured in these words and put succinctly in the title: Do Hard Things. They are spreading the message of “A teenage rebellio...more
"Most People don’t expect you to understand what we’re going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don’t expect you to care. And eve if you care, they don’t expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don’t expect it to last. We do."
Their powerful message is captured in these words and put succinctly in the title: Do Hard Things. They are spreading the message of “A teenage rebellio...more
I listened to "Do Hard Things" and when I was finished I thought: check, I've done a hard thing. Not that it was terrible, but it was pretty preachy and slightly sanctimonious. The idea was good, but the tone was so "aren't we great and don't you wish you could be like us," that it made it difficult to listen to.
As I said, it has a good premise. Who doesn't think that teenagers need to work harder and have more expectations of themselves. I'll be the first to admit that most of the time, I don'...more
As I said, it has a good premise. Who doesn't think that teenagers need to work harder and have more expectations of themselves. I'll be the first to admit that most of the time, I don'...more
4 likes · like · see review
I opened this book with a lot of reservation. Being the jaded, read-it-all, know-it-all college student who just left what seemed to be the Harris' overly focused audience (by turning 20), I wasn't sure how much I could get out of this book.
While I still think their focus might have been somewhat limiting, this apathy of low expectation seems to be infecting our entire populace, I can also see why the deliberate focus on teens shines an even stronger light on an even darker blind spot for a lot...more
While I still think their focus might have been somewhat limiting, this apathy of low expectation seems to be infecting our entire populace, I can also see why the deliberate focus on teens shines an even stronger light on an even darker blind spot for a lot...more
Beginning with a history that reminds readers that the useless age of waiting for adulthood we call the teen years is in fact a recent construction, this book aims to get young adults to kick-start their lives by challenging themselves. They then provide an outline of 5 categories of hard things, and I found this particularly useful because, while it stimulates readers to push themselves in multiple categories, it also points out that there aren't a set of tasks to check off on your way to growi...more
This book is a very different book than what I was used to reading when first picked up. I, for some reason, felt drawn to it. I ordered it from Amazon and was absolutely blown away by all the wisdom and truth God revealed to me in this book. I can only wish that it was written earlier in my teen years, so I hadn't wasted a second of it. I was incredibly challenged by this book. It showed me I was entirely too capable of doing hard things in His will, and that He had/has plans for me bigger than...more
AMAZING!
I could simply leave my review at that - "Amazing!" - because that is the best word I have to sum this book up. But for the sake of getting more people to read this book I will try to give a review.
First I want to say that this book, while written for teens, is good for anyone to read. I highly recommend that parents read this book.
The theme is rebeling against low expectations and doing hard things rather than settle for status quo. I liked the practical application such as:
Three Strate...more
I could simply leave my review at that - "Amazing!" - because that is the best word I have to sum this book up. But for the sake of getting more people to read this book I will try to give a review.
First I want to say that this book, while written for teens, is good for anyone to read. I highly recommend that parents read this book.
The theme is rebeling against low expectations and doing hard things rather than settle for status quo. I liked the practical application such as:
Three Strate...more
I feel I may have been too critical while reading this book, because I expected more. I liked the idea of the book, and it had some really good and challenging parts. I especially liked the part on complacency. However, I felt as if I was listening more to a motivational speaker than anything else. I just wish it would have been MORE gospel-centered and talked more about how the Gospel gives us the power to change. I'm a lazy person, telling me to "do things" isn't going to change my lazy attitu...more
When I started this book, it was just one of those things my mom was making me read. But, then I got into it and I was like, "This book is speaking to me." Because this is what I want to do with my life.
When I read the part that said they had an internship at the court when they were 17, I was amazed. And then I remembered. This is what they're trying to tell me. I shouldn't be gazing at their accomplishments in awe, I should be striving to do challenging things as well.
When I read the part that said they had an internship at the court when they were 17, I was amazed. And then I remembered. This is what they're trying to tell me. I shouldn't be gazing at their accomplishments in awe, I should be striving to do challenging things as well.
1 like · like · see review
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“Courage is not the absence of fear. It is rather not letting your fear control your actions”
—
21 people liked it
“What is possible when a generation stops assuming that someone else will take care of the brokenness in the world - or that someone else will capitalize on current opportunities - and realizes that they are called to take action?”
—
2 people liked it
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Apr 16, 2009 12:35pm