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Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book About A (Really) Big Problem (2013)

by Kevin DeYoung(Favorite Author)

4.06 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1433533383 (ISBN13: 9781433533389)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Crossway

review 1: Kevin DeYoung does a good job of addressing the issue of busyness in American culture. This is not a book about better planning or even about doing less (being busy isn't inherently a bad thing!) but rather a sober examination of the busy mindset we can get caught up in. It discusses the spiritual dangers associated with busyness, diagnoses of common problem areas, and a practical starting point for handling the problem (make time with God a #1 priority).The writing is very accessible. Not everything in this book will apply to everyone - for example, I don't have kids yet (thank God?), the subject of a whole chapter. But most things will apply to just about anyone, including the myriad forms of pride associated with busyness, improper prioritizing for overall effectiveness... more, lack of rhythm between work and rest, and the addictive and numbing nature of technology.The author makes a point of not making the suggestions in this book a prescription, and asserting that the book was written as much for him as anyone else. The suggestions are not the meat. Nevertheless, I found myself thinking about ways I could actively confront my own busyness that wasn't even suggested by the book. By pointing out the problems, the book leads the reader to his own solutions. This is a very helpful and pertinent book for our busy, busy culture.
review 2: The first 75 pages of this book were not engaging but I kept reading because it was short. Chapter 7 (11 pages) about screen time and social media felt like the first chapter he finally had something to say. Chapter 8 on rhythm, not-so-much-routine, was a little stronger writing as well. Mostly I didn't connect with this book. Maybe part of my problem is that I think of busy as engaged in life, but I don't share the author's viewpoint which seems to be that busy always means overworked and/or over-stressed. less

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