The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: This book is a refreshing surge of truth and wisdom, full of profound teachings from a heart posture of love for those of us suffering from modern day hyper-culture. Thank you for the great read, John Mark Comer. I would highly recommend to others to read this book: To slowly and fully read this book. After the first chapter, I was confronted with so many modern day realities that have become the new daily norms. Those of course brought forth personal conviction and a new hope for the change that would be to come! It was hard to believe that the entire book would be so filling - BUT IT WAS. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry makes an articulate yet simple stride to sober today’s society to the truth. The truth that the generalized hurried, stressed out, and “got no time” culture we’ve created, is bringing us death. Not life. JMC leads a church that I regularly visit. I do not come because I have an overflowing abundance of time and want to go to church twice on Sundays. No, I go because everytime I attend Bridgetown Church, I am filled with deeper insight into God’s word and such joy and peace! Why joy and peace you may ask? Because our God is a God of JOY and PEACE. When you get to know him and his truths are spoken to us and over our life we begin to know our Father and find joy, rest, and many other fruits in him. JMC and his pastoral team are doing something beautifully radical in today’s society - Choosing Jesus’ rhythm over today’s western hyper obsessed, and greed driven culture. I began reading this book during a month of my life that I felt like I was spiritually under warfare and was having a hard time not just spiritually, but also emotionally and physically. I began reading the Ruthless Elimination of Hurry because I have read all of JMC’s books and I trust that his writings would be only an encouragement for me. This book is full of life giving knowledge that he has collected through his discipline to the way, reading other authors, historical and present, that too were trying to practice the way, and oh yeah - where they got it all - Jesus, the man teaching us all the way! This read was a leveling reminder of my discipleship to Jesus and how to step back into his beautifully easy rhythm that is, no doubt, in opposition to the rhythm of current society, social media, and today’s lure of entertainment. I am twisting and turning my way back into the path God has laid so lovingly before us to stride beside him. & just like that! I am back to the fruit of the spirit spilling joy and love out of me! I cried once in this novel. As I read the last three pages. Please listen why - Because JMC so graciously and intentionally laid in front of us Jesus’ teachings in a language we all follow, a way to heal our souls, bring families back together, unite friendships, & ultimately live life to the fullest. I was filled with a passionate excitement to again believe that WE CAN live in the way of Jesus, walking in his slow and easy footsteps. In my opinion, this is John Mark Comer’s best novel yet. I feel as though we have a modern day apostle helping us to disciple under Jesus. Ready and willing to teach those who choose to listen and leading the masses into the loving way of Jesus. I bought this book for myself. & then I bought a couple for a couple close friends. I imagine I will continue as I see the need in many struggling in a chaotic and over crammed life. This is a refreshing reminder to step back into the path less traveled. I encourage you to read it and see what kind of fruit these practices can bear in your life.

The message and encouragement in these pages are for a thoughtful read and read-again. It has helped me understand and pursue an unhurried being, care for my soul enriching my relationwith with God, others and myself. Hint: It's not about time management or eliminating calendar commitments; can be but it's more than that, it is care of one's soul before God. This book has focused me .... as I said, it's a read and listen once twice thrice kind of book. Much to savor.

In his compelling book, "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry," John Mark Comer presents a powerful case for slowing down and embracing spiritual disciplines as a means to access the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. As a fellow Jesus follower, I found Comer's insights to be both convicting and inspiring, urging me to reevaluate my own priorities and pursue a deeper connection with God. One of the book's central themes is the idea that spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting require great intentionality and commitment, but they also unlock a source of power that is otherwise inaccessible to us. Comer argues that by creating space for these practices in our lives, we open ourselves up to the work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live with greater purpose, peace, and spiritual vitality. This message struck a chord with me, as I have often struggled to maintain a consistent rhythm of spiritual disciplines amidst the demands of my roles as a CEO, dad, and technology enthusiast. Comer's words serve as a timely reminder that neglecting these practices can lead to a sense of disconnection from God and a lack of spiritual power in our lives. As I reflected on the book's content, I was reminded of Jesus' teaching that some demons can only be cast out through prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). While Comer does not specifically reference this passage, I believe it affirms the book's underlying premise—that there is real spiritual power to be found in the disciplines of prayer and fasting, power that enables us to overcome the challenges and obstacles we face in our lives. "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" is more than just a call to slow down; it is an invitation to pursue a life of deep intimacy with God and to experience the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. For anyone who has ever felt too busy to prioritize their spiritual growth, this book offers a compelling vision of what is possible when we ruthlessly eliminate hurry and make space for the things that truly matter. If you are looking for a book that will challenge you to reconsider your priorities, deepen your faith, and experience the power of spiritual discipline in new ways, "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" is a must-read. Comer's insights and practical guidance will help you cultivate a life marked by greater purpose, peace, and spiritual vitality. Sources

I very much liked the message of this book. I didn’t like the execution of providing the message very much. There were good and bad things about both the message and execution, but good ones carried much more weight. But, I will traditionally start from some… CONS 1. Jokes. That’s the minor CON. Some of them were really lame. Dry like a desert. But some of them cracked me up too. I guess, you cannot win them all, right? But there is an underlying issue here too. Check out CON #3. 2. Overly Spiritual. That’s nitpicking, I know. This is a book written by a pastor for Christians. It should be spiritual and it serves this crowd. However, I hate the fact that people who need this message the most, luke-warmed Christians and secular people, will miss out on this. The ruthless elimination of hurry helps you become a better human being, not just a better Christian. I’m a Christian, and I always try to mix both spiritual and secular tips in my texts, so the majority of the population will not be left out. On the other hand, I guess none of this makes deep sense if there is not a loving God who knows what’s good and bad for us. You can go through the motions, but if you don’t see the meaning, will you even bother to go through the motions? As I said, pure nitpicking. 3. Language, Please! But I fully agree with the current top review of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry on Amazon: the language is dumbed down and this does the book a great disservice. Seriously, I love self-published books for the personal tone and personal stories. But if the personal tone becomes a colloquial one, especially tackling such a serious subject matter… Ouch. That severely spoiled my reading experience. Still, I highlighted a lot of passages and devoured the book. It taught me something. It reinforced or articulated a lot of what I already knew. But the sour taste remained. Definitely, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is not a perfect book. But it is a very good one. Here comes the plenty of… PROS 1. The Origin Story. For me, it set the stage for the whole book. But the advice from Comer’s mentor, repeated word by word, when asked about spiritual progress? Plus, John’s struggles with keeping his sanity in the hurry of the everyday life made the whole book relatable for me. It was a perfect way to start the book. Big kudos for that. 2. Sabbath. I’m a guy who has been practicing Sabbath for 25 years (since I was 17 years old). I never grasped completely where it comes from. I was simply obedient. Not zealous; my line of work (IT support of 24/7 systems) demanded attending some emergencies and scheduled maintenance on Sundays. But I always had the gut feeling it’s extremely important to stick to the Sabbath practice. Even during my university studies, I must have been really pressed (the final attempt to pass an exam) to study on Sunday. When I had the chance to stray away from the projects that needed occasional work on Sundays, I jumped on it. However, only by reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry did I realize what Sabbath really provides: the Sabbath — just like an animal or a human being — has the life-giving capacity to procreate.” I knew the Ten Commandments by heart, but the Catholic version of the Sabbath commandment (in teaching, not in the Bible) is severely abbreviated: Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. I never paid attention to the whole placement of the commandment. What penetrated my awareness was probably quoting the percentages: If you were to configure Ten Commandments as a pie chart, this one would take up over 30 percent of the pie.” I’m a numbers freak. I know what they mean, like normal people know what words mean. The third commandment is utterly important. The author’s line of reasoning convinced me completely. I was ready to accept that the Sabbath is life-giving. 3. The Message. Like most people nowadays, I stuffed way too many tasks into my days. Almost exactly two years ago, a friend challenged me to dedicate half an hour a day for physical activity. I had to force myself to carve out those 30 minutes a day. It helped me immensely in keeping a sane mind among the multitude of things I do on a daily basis (writing, coaching, a day job, book advertising business, three masterminds, etc.). It saved my mind when I was in the thick of the COVID-induced brain fog for three months. Also, around the same time I started tracking my work time. I had been working 4–6 hours a day (apart from Sundays, of course). And my income didn’t fluctuate much. Creating time for walks and bike rides also created a mind space for me. I think this is a good illustration of what eliminating hurry out of your life does. Comparing to most corporate workers, I work at a leisurely pace. And I’m making more money than my director in PwC who has 60+ people under her chain of command. I’m talking money here because that’s the main illusion in hurry’s favor — that by doing more and faster you can have more. Yes, you can, but it’s not a guarantee. You can have “much” by working 4–6 hours a day. That’s just tackling the carnal part of things. When it comes to the spiritual realm, hurry gives zero return. In fact, it’s a hurdle. I pray, meditate, read and journal for about two hours a day, and I’ve been doing that for years. This is the sole reason I could hustle for years and didn’t ever burn out. There were a few occasions where I was close to a breakdown, but I always had space in my days reserved for God and relationships; that saved me. Oh, and I didn’t just survive. I made a lot of progress. And that’s my point. You don’t need to hurry up to grow. You need to slow down. Comer articulates it aptly in his book. 4. 20 Practices to Slow Down. That was the best part of the book, in my opinion, because it was the most practical. I’m a down-to-earth kind of person. Deep philosophical ruminations are fine and good, but if they don’t translate into concrete daily actions, I just don’t hold them in high esteem. The practices John enumerated are clear, precise and taken from his experience. You can take them and apply immediately. And they are so challenging! Seriously, remember this comes from a guy who spends over 2.5 hours a day on intentional slowing down. I’m on the same page as the author, yet I found most of those disciplines extremely challenging. Also, several of them apply directly to mobile phones. I thought I made a good job of using my smartphone as a tool, but reading through those tips, my complacency evaporated. Anyway, I think this one chapter is worth the book’s price. 5. Deep and Profound. Despite “dumbing down” the language, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is still a very deep book. And from time to time, some sentence would hit me like a ton of bricks. A few reflections: It’s wise to regularly deny ourselves from getting what we want, whether through a practice as intense as fasting or as minor as picking the longest checkout line. That way, when somebody else denies us from getting what we want, we don’t respond with anger.” Well, John is more of a saint than me. Too often, I do respond with anger. But he is right that asceticism builds barriers between the impulse and the automatic reactions. I’ve never thought of my ascetic practices that way, but I agree 100% with the above passage. We achieve inner peace when our schedules are aligned with our values.” Well said, indeed! We regret doing things or not doing them exactly because they are out of sync with our values. I like cleaning a kitchen from time to time to express my love for my wife. But I cannot fully replace her in this task because then I would scramble to find time for writing. Putting bread on the table is as important as cleaning, and it is my task in our household. When I regret that I binge-watched a TV series or YT channel, it’s because I didn’t align my actions with my values. Now, I seriously think I should have a closer look at my schedule and determine what’s aligned with my values in it and what is not. Life is right under our noses, waiting to be enjoyed.” Hurry literally robs me of my life. If I don’t take time to enjoy my life, but chase the next shiny object, how would I ever enjoy my life? Pausing the race is a necessary prerequisite for enjoyment. SUMMARY The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is not perfect. It’s too often snarky and ironic. Yet, it’s profound and mmarydeep at the same time. Writing a book with all of those characteristics is an art I appreciate. The ‘youth’ language and lame jokes spoiled my reading experience a bit, but just a bit. The Bible analysis? Superb. I’ve been studying the Bible for decades, and still I learned something new. The how-to of slowing down the modern life? Superb. Challenging even for a guy like me who uses the technology as a tool, not an entertainment. Overall impression? Superb. Read this book.

I could not recommend this book more! I was feeling a little spiritually disconnected and just busy and overstimulated (like all of us!) and this book helped give some practical advice, scriptural knowledge, and direction that I needed. After reading it, I went and bought a journal version of the KJ New Testament, so that I could read the gospels to learn more about the way of Jesus - as discussed in the book. Whether you are religious or not, I think there are great lessons to learn from who Jesus was as a person and his example and message. John is an easy author to read - he comes across very personable and relatable. I got this book in a hardcover version (It has no dust jacket which felt a little strange but oh well). Would reccomend!

This book is so good! It’s like I was reading the words that my soul feels in so many ways. It has practical ways to slow life down and remain focused on Jesus, but never feels as if it’s coming at you in a self-righteous manner. The author’s openness to sharing through examples in his own life is helpful and his sense of humor is awesome.

So I Read the Book By “read” I mean I listened to it on Audible. It’s the only way I read these days because I hurry through one book to listen to the next. When I realized John Mark Comer, the author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, narrated the book, it felt as if he spoke directly to me. I liked this book so much that I then bought the hardcover and companion workbook to focus more on the gems that dripped from his lips. Is It Enough to Make Me Change? We’ll see, but in the afterglow of this book, I had the courage to ask my editor for an extension on a book deadline. I needed to slow down and do it well. To my surprise, she emailed a couple of days later and suggested a longer extension than usual! I can’t describe the load of anxiety she lifted off my shoulders. But more things than writing deadlines must also change. Hurry has become such a part of me. Eliminating it felt like an insurmountable wall. I had to ask hard questions like: Do I continue with social media posts or focus completely on newsletters and blogs to reach the readers I’ve come to love? How much time do I spend watching Netflix, playing online Freecell, and chasing clickbait to its useless end? I’m Still Pondering Those Questions and Others I haven’t yet started working through the hardcover book and workbook, but I suspect I’ll find practical, life-changing direction from my God as I work WITH HIM to apply the truths of His messenger. Final Thoughts Purchase this book ONLY if you’re ready to BE changed. Yes, Comer suggests we make changes to our life, schedule, and perspective, but this book is about more than human effort to change. It’s about being quiet and unhurried before the Lord and allowing Him to change our hearts—from the inside out. Only then can our efforts become lasting changes for our good and His glory.

I love this book! I love the author’s conversational approach, I felt more as if I was meeting a friend for coffee than trying to assimilate important truths, which happened anyway. Strong encouragement to take a different path with many real life examples that I found touching and familiar. I will read this again, and am very tempted to send it to at least one dear friend!