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How to Ditch the How-To: Embracing Grace in Place of Self-Improvement
How God’s grace provides what we need to learn, grow, and live life well.How can you live your best life, be your best self, achieve your personal goals, and make a lasting difference? There’s lots of advice out there, but does any of it work?
In her thirties, Tieler Giles moved to New York to build the life she dreamed of and become the person she wanted to one self-help strategy at a time. Several years later, exhausted, she discovered the gospel of grace in a powerful, new way.
In this book, she examines some of the ways in which our culture tells us to pursue happiness, power, identity, and love, and shows us how only God’s grace provides what we truly need to learn, grow, and live life well.
Whether you’re a Christian or exploring spirituality, get ready to discover how God has the power to renew our minds, heal our hearts and restore our souls.
In her thirties, Tieler Giles moved to New York to build the life she dreamed of and become the person she wanted to one self-help strategy at a time. Several years later, exhausted, she discovered the gospel of grace in a powerful, new way.
In this book, she examines some of the ways in which our culture tells us to pursue happiness, power, identity, and love, and shows us how only God’s grace provides what we truly need to learn, grow, and live life well.
Whether you’re a Christian or exploring spirituality, get ready to discover how God has the power to renew our minds, heal our hearts and restore our souls.
160 pages
Published December 1, 2024
6 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 1, 2024
“Abundant life is a life free from striving to be good enough, or have enough. A life where there is joy, peace, and satisfaction–not due to our external circumstances, but due to our satisfied souls.“
I love Tieler’s transparency in sharing her own life, stories, and experiences. The parallel to a “how-to” life is so relevant… even if you are not pursuing a “how-to”, the idea is all around us in culture. We are constantly told to be more or do more, and Tieler’s reminder is to just be connected who has already done all for you!
I love Tieler’s transparency in sharing her own life, stories, and experiences. The parallel to a “how-to” life is so relevant… even if you are not pursuing a “how-to”, the idea is all around us in culture. We are constantly told to be more or do more, and Tieler’s reminder is to just be connected who has already done all for you!
December 1, 2024
This is the book I didn’t realize I needed. It is written in such a real, personal way and applicable to anyone in any phase of life whether you are fully aware that you are putting hope in self-help or not. I’m so thankful for her vulnerability in sharing her journey.
“The trouble comes when we desire happiness more than God and don’t believe that happiness comes through God. When that happens, we can end up wandering away from God and what pleases him in favor of what is pleasing and desirable to us.”
“The trouble comes when we desire happiness more than God and don’t believe that happiness comes through God. When that happens, we can end up wandering away from God and what pleases him in favor of what is pleasing and desirable to us.”
November 4, 2024
“ Living and looking like Jesus is not the product of a carefully crafted to-do list, excellent time management skills or having the commitment levels of a marathoner in training. We grow, change, and become who God has called us to be by His power,not our own.”
Tieler walks through many popular self help how to’s. Many that she her self tried and always came to the conclusion that it was never enough.
I greatly appreciate her honesty and transparency through each experience. Even more so how she was able to flip it around and point us back to the one that can bring fulfillment, Jesus ⭐️
This was a very easy book to read and follow. A great book especially for new believers.
I want to thank the good book company for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Tieler walks through many popular self help how to’s. Many that she her self tried and always came to the conclusion that it was never enough.
I greatly appreciate her honesty and transparency through each experience. Even more so how she was able to flip it around and point us back to the one that can bring fulfillment, Jesus ⭐️
This was a very easy book to read and follow. A great book especially for new believers.
I want to thank the good book company for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up.
For many years, Tieler Giles believed that she was one step away from unlocking the life hack or principle that will change everything. She was willing to try any strategy that she thought would bring happiness and fulfillment, but nothing was ever enough. In this book, she shares her journey of leaving behind her obsession with self-help to dig into her relationship with God, where she found the grace and purpose that she always needed.
She encourages Christians and seekers alike to consider the wisdom that the Bible offers for life, in contrast to self-help principles that lack the same understanding of human nature, and which cannot offer true grace, salvation, or Spirit-empowered paths towards life change. Giles explains a Christian view of the world, shares personal anecdotes, and compares and contrasts typical self-help principles with teachings from the Bible. She also concludes each chapter with some paradigm shifts or action steps, along with a memory verse that people may find helpful for reinforcing these ideas.
Although I enjoyed this book, I found it disappointing that Giles did not provide guidance for how people can still read self-help books while being discerning. I understand why she left the self-help world behind after her unhealthy immersion in it, but for many Christians, secular self-help books can be a useful source of information about psychology, life management skills, and emotional healing. I think that this book would be even more helpful if Giles had laid out advice and ideas for how people can faithfully engage with some self-help resources while still being faithful to Scripture and weighing the truth of what they hear.
This is a great book for Christians and spiritual seekers who are interested in exploring grace-filled, realistic alternatives to self-help ideas. This author's perspective will resonate with other people who have pursued self-help principles and worn themselves out on endless striving, and I would especially recommend this to single, professional women, who will relate to Giles's life stage and many of her experiences.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
For many years, Tieler Giles believed that she was one step away from unlocking the life hack or principle that will change everything. She was willing to try any strategy that she thought would bring happiness and fulfillment, but nothing was ever enough. In this book, she shares her journey of leaving behind her obsession with self-help to dig into her relationship with God, where she found the grace and purpose that she always needed.
She encourages Christians and seekers alike to consider the wisdom that the Bible offers for life, in contrast to self-help principles that lack the same understanding of human nature, and which cannot offer true grace, salvation, or Spirit-empowered paths towards life change. Giles explains a Christian view of the world, shares personal anecdotes, and compares and contrasts typical self-help principles with teachings from the Bible. She also concludes each chapter with some paradigm shifts or action steps, along with a memory verse that people may find helpful for reinforcing these ideas.
Although I enjoyed this book, I found it disappointing that Giles did not provide guidance for how people can still read self-help books while being discerning. I understand why she left the self-help world behind after her unhealthy immersion in it, but for many Christians, secular self-help books can be a useful source of information about psychology, life management skills, and emotional healing. I think that this book would be even more helpful if Giles had laid out advice and ideas for how people can faithfully engage with some self-help resources while still being faithful to Scripture and weighing the truth of what they hear.
This is a great book for Christians and spiritual seekers who are interested in exploring grace-filled, realistic alternatives to self-help ideas. This author's perspective will resonate with other people who have pursued self-help principles and worn themselves out on endless striving, and I would especially recommend this to single, professional women, who will relate to Giles's life stage and many of her experiences.
I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
June 3, 2025
I appreciated how the author pointed out that the world's idea of happiness is not true happiness. This is a good book for new/baby believers and she delivers a great gospel presentation for those who do not know Christ.
January 6, 2025
I hadn’t thought of surrender being the opposite of striving. I like the truth Tieler gives us
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews