Missions Resources - Bibliography
Do Hard Things
Authors: Alex and Brett Harris
ISBN: 978-1601421128
Publisher: Multnomah Books
Number of pages: 256
Type of cover: Hard Cover
Summary:
A “rebelution” is defined as a “teenage rebellion against low expectations of an ungodly culture.” Though thousands are using this term every day, you won’t find it in Webster’s Dictionary. Not yet, at least.
Where you will find it is in Alex and Brett Harris’ book Do Hard Things. In this short, three-part read, the 19-year-old twin brothers from Oregon (and younger siblings to Christian author Joshua Harris) call their peers to step above the low expectations set for their generation. As hosts of the most popular teen blog on the web at age 16, and two of the youngest Supreme Court interns, the Harris brothers have been models for their own movement.
But the book, they claim, is not about them.
Instead, it is about repurposing the teenage years as a launch into adulthood, rather than a procrastination period. Alex and Brett present a novel question: “Is it possible that what our culture says about the purpose and potential of teen years is a lie and that we are its victims?”
The Xbox-playing, car-borrowing and web-surfing teens are the exact victims the Harris brothers are talking about. In twelve brief chapters, the authors prove that a higher standard is not only possible, but necessary.
Through thorough research, the rebelution leaders reveal that the consumer-heavy age group known as “teenagers” is no more than 70 years old. Prior to child labor laws, young people were expected to make a quick, responsible conversion to adulthood. Without challenging this law, the brothers uncover the cheap excuse it provides to drop the ball of maturity entirely.
Using examples of friends, converted rebelutionaries and history’s young leaders (like Clara Barton and William Wilberforce), the authors set out to minimize the number of “kidults” and break the "Myth of Adolescence" (teenage complacency). This includes shy 17-year-old Heidi who Alex and Brett mistook for her 24-year-old sister and assigned her to large campaigning tasks that she left her comfort zone to complete.
In separate how-to chapters, the authors explain “why a comfort zone is actually a miserable place, and what you can do to break yours.” They also dedicate chapters to collaboration (admitting when you can’t do hard things alone), doing small hard things (without the immediate results) and taking a stand.
Do Hard Things is a short, easy read that is not over-simplified. More than a how-to guide, it is a noble call to practical godliness for an audience wider than just teenagers.
“All of us have the tendency to emphasize our strong points and then use them as an excuse to neglect our weaker points,” write the Harris brothers, whose stories also extend to older generations with testimonies like that of a 40-year-old convicted of his underachieving at one of their seminars.
With its clear illustrations, inspiring examples and gutsy content, Do Hard Things is an incredibly empowering tool in any hand that has neglected the hard thing.
“A ‘do hard things’ mentality reminds us that all effort – even failed effort – builds muscle" – muscle that would otherwise be atrophied if it weren't for two rebelutionary boot camp leaders who readers will long be indebted to.
by Shannon Whiting
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