Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness

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If I had known this was written by a pair of nineteen year olds, I probably wouldn't have bothered reading it. It's so rare for young writers to produce a good book - usually they end up being cheesy, immature, or inexperienced. They show the importance of wide reading to see what is going on in the world and what we can do about it. Do Hard Things is the textbook for anyone who works with teens; it’s a philosophical and foundational must-read.” Alex and Brett capture the passion and potential of our generation perfectly in this book. In Do Hard Thingsthey encourage us to go above and beyond the status quo in everything from schoolwork to serving the poor. This is a truly unique and sorely needed book.”

Adult expectations for youth are too low. And these twins are out to raise them. Don’t adapt to the low cultural expectations for youth. Set high ones. Youth can become examples for adults. Think that way. Dream that way. Or as the Harris brothers would say, ‘Rebel against low expectations.’” I love the way it is written. It is crystal clear, to the point, interesting, funny, challenging, encouraging, and an easy read.” The message of Do Hard Things is going to awaken the dreams and passions of thousands of young people all over the world. How do I know this? This radical, yet relatively simple idea, has changed my life." Do you want to learn how to be tough and resilient in the face of hard things? Do you want to discover the surprising science and psychology behind what it means to be truly tough? If so, you might want to read this book review of Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness by Steve Magness. I'm not discrediting them for trying, but take a look at Eragon and Throne of Glass. Those books aren't exactly high quality material and the authors, who were fifteen and sixteen when they started writing them, have improved so much over the years.Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life. Then they map out five powerful ways teens can respond for personal and social change. Do Hard Things is an incredibly deep and completely new approach that examines why and how people overcome the toughest situations. Explaining different stories in a very entertaining lecture for the readers, Steve Magness, one of the most recognized authors and thinkers in sports science, gives us a master class on how to develop resilience and skills to perform at our best in difficult situations." Alex and Brett are the real deal and Do Hard Things is a real wake up call, not just for young people, but for all God’s people. I can’t recommend it highly enough.” They are not telling you to make life uncomfortable for the sake of it, doing pointless hard things just because they're hard. Instead, they counter the myth of adolescence as a time to 'goof off'. Teen years, they say, are not a vacation from responsibility, but a training ground of future leaders who dare to be responsible now.

Steve delivers a critical message for our current age of posing and performance: real toughness is not about callous bravado, but instead about the ability to navigate difficulty with grace and an unwavering focus on what matters." Acting tough and being tough are two different things. Moving away from flawed notions of toughness and instead listening to your body, your emotions, and your inner voice will allow you to develop the lasting resilience to overcome even the most daunting challenges.Somewhat ironically, teaching, parenting, or coaching for this version of “toughness” creates fragile and dependent individuals. What does a child who was taught to follow the rules unquestioningly out of fear do when a parent isn’t there to dictate his behavior? What does an adult who was taught to rely on fear for motivation do when left to her own devices in the real world? What does a football player who learns to push himself only when a coach is screaming in his face do when it’s him alone on the field?"