How to Ruin Your Life by 40

by Steve Farrar, Jeff Farrar

The choices we make when we are in our 20€™s follow us for the rest of our lives. Steve Farrar encourages men and women to make good choices so the repercussions of bad ones are not felt

Genres: Nonfiction, Read For School, Relationships

143 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

About the author

Steve Farrar is the founder of Men’s Leadership Ministries. He holds a Master’s degree from Western Seminary, and an earned doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary. Steve is the author of the best-selling book, Point Man: How a Man Can Lead His Family, God Built, Battle Ready, and True Courage. Steve Farrar resides in Texas with his family.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 13 and 16 year old daughters and we really enjoyed it. They were a bit young for the target audience of this book, but they got a lot out of it (and so did I, even though I’m already 40!) and we had some great discussions. I don’t agree with everything in it, but if you followed the advice in this book when you’re young, you will be in good shape at 40!

[Yudit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book a couple of times because I love it so much. The first time I read it was in high school and I felt that Farrar was talking to me with this book. His writing is down to earth, honest, and at times stern, but he truly seems to care about the reader. Farrar is a wise man and gives a lot of good advice that even past 40 would probably be helpful. I highly recommend this book to everybody.

[Jonathan Byrd]

Good book, all about finishing strong. It's a marathon not a sprint.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very deep at all, and I didn't like the way it was written :(

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. If you are looking for a great book to share with a youth group or young adult class, this is an excellent one to choose.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to other teenage Christians! I came into reading it with no exceptions and little else to read at the time, currently being at a place where I'm forced to move forward, this book contains advice I had to yet to hear. Though it was advice that thankfully went about discussing things that are crucial to know. On personal identity, being confident in one's self as a work of the Creator. On brazen honesty and the importance of accountability.

Farrar, being a pastor uses his experience leading his church and his experience as a father, but more apparent, was his experience as a new creation of Christ himself. I love love his style of writing! He was thorough, used scripture to back up what he said. He was genuinely funny and down to earth. There was no "I know all this because I'm a man," or, more alternately, "I know all this because I'm so much smarter than you and enlightened." Farrar was honest about his own faults, and it's because of that his experience and research really spoke out.
How to Ruin Your Life by 40 isn't as dreary or morose as one might imagine, but one of the most encouraging things I've ever read in which the author is undeniably passionate about helping young adults to not ruin their lives.

[Bling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good advice thanks.

[Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I read it:
The title peaked my interest as the book came up as a suggested book on amazon. Recently, I had been reading a good bit of the biblical books of proverbs and Ecclesiastes and this book seemed to fit in with this season. (And I need all the help I can get!)

What I liked about it:
Topics like the desparate need to sit yourself down and answer the question of God's purpose for your life; the importance of guarding your affections and ways to do that; having the goal of finishing strong and persevering; the reality of cause and effect and each decision has it's own ramifications good and/or bad; not neglecting the specific interests/passions/gifts God has given you; to never consider divorce an option; the counsel to ask yourself the question "what kind of marriage do I want to have and who do I want to be for my future spouse?" before asking "who am I going to marry?". All these and more, sprinkled with many examples of peoples lives, gave me great biblical counsel to dwell on.

Why I recommend it:
It's a quick read, enjoyable, and lots of good content. Also in a style that is enjoyable.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was going to pull this book from the curriculum, but decided to give it a try. While some of the topic are out of range for my 14yo, I think having them in her head will be good as she grows up. Maybe something will stick. 99% of the book I agreed with as a life view, and the parts I didn't I just left little sticky notes inside stating why I disagreed. Very conservative, but I don't think it is bad to read that side of things.

[Susan B · Rating 5 out of 5]

If only I'd read something like this when I was 20! Not that I ruined my life by the time I was 40, but there are definitely some decisions I'd have made differently.

I highly recommend this for those in their late teens or 20s. There are lots of mistakes you can avoid by following the wisdom in this book.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I am now well over 40, I was still able to find useful reminders in this book. The information contained herein is certainly of great value to folks in their twenties and to folks who mentor folks in their twenties.

[Khym]

heard good review from my partz...can't wait to read it.. i'm next in line

[Christy Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book for my high school son to read.

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit thin, but contained decent ideas.

[Kelsey Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great info and advice

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read with your children while they are in high school. A good book to give to graduating seniors.

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

this answers so many questions about midlife crisis

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, some of it was kinda self explanatory and i could have come up with the answer myself...but some of it was insightful and thought-provoking :)

[Acuteangle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to understand. Great read. Definitely a keeper.