One Sentence Summary
Jen Hatmaker’s “For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards” gives a practical and encouraging framework to resist the pressures and demands of an ever-growing to-do list, helping readers step back and choose joy.
Book Genre
Non-fiction, self-help, inspirational
Main Topic of the Book
The book is about resisting the pressures and demands of an ever-growing to-do list and filled with practical, heart-focused advice, so that the readers can step back, choose joy and live a full and meaningful life.
Key Ideas
- Cultivating contentment through acceptance and embracing imperfection in life.
- Letting go of comparison, competition, bitterness, and fear.
- Families as the foundation of life and an environment in which children can thrive.
- Creating an honest and generous society alive with purpose.
- Living with balance, empathy, gratitude, vulnerability, and resilience.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
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Part One: Joy – This section explores the idea of finding joy in the midst of life’s highs and lows, and offers hands-on strategies to choose joy.
Part Two: Home – In this part of the book, Hatmaker discusses the power of relationships and how to create a peaceful, supportive home where everyone can thrive.
Part Three: Heart – In this part, the author addresses matters of the heart, including self-love, comparison, empathy, and community. She also talks about hard things like the joy of suffering, letting go of bitterness, and overcoming fear.
Part Four: Soul – In this part, Hatmaker dives into spiritual matters, such as grace, prayer, and faith, offering both practical and spiritual guidance to aid readers in cultivating spiritual lives and staying meaningful.
Part Five: Life – This final part of the book focuses on living a life of grace and meaning, offering advice on creating a balanced life, finding purpose and living with a sense of contentment.
Key Takeaways
- Joy is a choice we can make even when life is difficult.
- Comparison and competition drain the joy from our lives.
- Faith is not easy but can provide solace and meaning.
- Never put your worth into someone else’s hands.
- Creating a balance between home, hobbies, work, and relationships is important.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Jen Hatmaker is an author of 14 books, speaker, philanthropist and pastor’s wife from Austin, Texas. She has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The View, and has been featured in major publications. Jen is also the founder and creative director of the Legacy Collective, a non-profit that focuses on reducing poverty, empowering women, and bringing hope and transformation to the world.
Target Audience
This book is suitable for a broad range of readers – from stay-at-home mothers, to single professionals, to ministers, to business owners. This book is ultimately for anyone who is craving a life of abundance, joy and purpose amidst the demands of modern life.
Publisher and First Publication Date
This book was published by Thomas Nelson on October 6, 2015.