read this book !!

This book was a trip. I don't think I've underlined more things in a book in my life. There are some seriously impressive gems, quotes, and takes on life in here. I love the openness. The overall message was top tier - deeply agree. The becoming aware of reality was great. The first half of the book was definitely more interesting, insightful and impactful then the second half for me. Such a great overall message about how to show up in the world.

It was also... a lot. As an exvangelical, I can hear her pastor voice a lot in it and I gotta say, I did not enjoy that part. By this book she is apparently not a fundie anymore, but still believes in God and has no issue with using She for God. Which - awesome. Zero hate. But that pastor/leader, "I have these truths to impart upon you" aspect of her writing was the thing that stopped me from really loving the book. In fact I almost quit it because of it. I wouldn't go as far as saying it gets preachy, because that is too negative. But honestly, it does get too preachy at times. There's also very much that pastor-y tendency to be an authority on EVERYTHING and that definitely came through with the sheer amount of social and family and political subjects discussed. 

It also gets VERY repetitive on certain topics. And quite a bit of it, while I agree with the message, comes off as overly explaining herself while couching it in a teaching lesson for the reader which I am not a fan of. I don't often appreciate it when an author says "we" because it assumes so much and that was definitely a meh aspect of this book. Also, she is coined as a thought leader in biographies. Barf. 

I think that's the downfall of the book (in terms of my interest and ability to relate to it) - it was like the author couldn't decide if it was a memoir, a self help book, a call to action or a collection of blog posts. 

There's also this underlying irritation with how everything in her life has to be done "outloud", and later in the book she talks about how women have been taught to be modest and its BS - and I genuinely chuckled and thought "Huh. Maybe that's why it irritates me that she has to do things so outloud all the time". Which, kudos to the author. That actually delighted me. 

Anyway, very interesting read. I don't think I would seek out another book of hers, or follow her on any kinda social media, etc because thats all part and parcel of the shit that bothered me, but definitely some great take aways that I will be thinking about for awhile and I am glad I read it. 

A great piece of motivation and encouragement to look inward. I felt really inspired by some lines, and I picked up a new motto: “this is hard. we can do hard things.”