In their first book, Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations, twin authors Alex and Brett Harris set out to prove to teens (and the world) that being exceptional doesn't have an age requirement. The book called teens to a life of high expectations NOW. Too often, they say, teens are not expected to do anything or be anything and they live down to those expectations. The book is revolutionary and timely. In this follow-up, the Ross twins - younger brothers of Joshua Harris of
Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters
fame - provide real world examples of how to do those hard things, providing testimonials and giving ideas on how each teen reader - really, any reader - can find their God given purpose. It is exceptional that these two brothers have not only become best selling authors, but also speakers through their Rebelution tours, which serve to set out the high expectation cry for teens and their parents and ministry leaders everywhere. As I wrote that sentence I had to fight to not show my bias proving that I too have low expectations for teens and am therefor part of the problem. Why shouldn't teens be authors and speakers? Is it really more beneficial for a teen to read a book written by older people? (The same people that admit that they don't understand teens?) Is it odd that teens who have a message should share that message with other teens? Women's ministers are generally women, right? Married Couple counselors are generally married successfully. Low expectations for teens abound.
As such, I cannot recommend this book (and their previous book) more highly. The church must find a way to break the cycle of low expectations - ministers and parents and teens. The book is easy to read, full of interesting stories and more importantly, full of information on how to do hard things. This book is the first step to a life of significance.
