Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into your Comfortable Life
Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into your Comfortable Life book cover

Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into your Comfortable Life

Paperback – August 1, 2012

Price
$10.92
Format
Paperback
Pages
176
Publisher
Moody Publishers
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0802404923
Dimensions
5.25 x 0.38 x 8 inches
Weight
6.4 ounces

Description

In His upside-down Kingdom, God promises we can actually find our life by giving it away to others. What is your God-given passion for serving?xa0What is outside of you and bigger than you that demands your time, talent and treasure? I encourage you to ponder that as you read Jeff’s thoughts in Wrecked .xa0The result will be life changing … and you may be surprised to discover that the life changed could be yours.— Dr. Wess Stafford , President and CEO, Compassion International The dissatisfaction we feel has a surprising remedy, and this beautiful book tells us what it is: we need to change, and we need to be broken. The lessons of Wrecked will lead you through the wilderness.— Chris Guillebeau , Author, The $100 Startup A stunning debut, this book—admittedly—wrecked me. In Wrecked , Jeff Goins held nothing back, using his poetic writing and passion for change-making to call me to action in my own life. He'll do the same for you.— Claire Díaz-Ortiz , Social Innovation, Twitter, Inc. It’s been said, "The true Gospel comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable." Jeff reminds us that Jesus not only came to heal broken hearts—but also to shatter the status quo. Let his book be an invitation to say ‘yes’ to Jesus and then do something daring with your life. May it help you become a holy nonconformist to all the patterns of this world that are out of sync with the upside-down Kingdom of God. May it give you the courage to join the revolutionary work of Jesus, loving people back to life and building a new world in the shell of the old one.— Shane Claiborne , author, activist, and lover of Jesus, www.facebook.com/ShaneClaiborne Although Jeff Goins writes of his experience working with missionaries and ministry, this is truly a guide to growing up and committing to a worthy cause. Yes, young people will find this book immensely practical and helpful, but so will anyone of any age who wants to do work that matters. Perhaps you are like me, at the stage of life where you wonder if you are chasing air and evaluating your overall purpose and impact—this book is also for you. Get Wrecked and walk away changed.— Carrie Wilkerson , Author, The Barefoot Executive, Host of BarefootExecutive.TV Jeff Goins wrote my favorite kind of book. First he lived it, then he wrote it. The result is a book that everyone who has ever wondered "Is there more to life than this?" should read.— Jon Acuff , Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job Jeff Goins has written an inspiring, instructive, exciting, forceful call for young people. I'd love to give it to almost every twenty-something I know.— Shauna Niequist , author of Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet , www.shaunaniequist.com . There is a life that most of us dream of living. Chances are you won't drift into that life. But there are some clear choices you can make along the way to set yourself up to receive all that God has for you. Jeff does a masterful job of gracefully yet purposely helping us take the steps of faith so many of us need to take.— Pete Wilson , Pastor of Cross Point Church, Author of Plan B and Empty Promises With Wrecked , Jeff Goins goes way beyond a simple call to action. He gives you a manifesto for getting off the sidelines and living the kind of life you've only dreamed about. Be warned— Wrecked will change you! This is one of the best books I've read in a long time.— Mark Lee , Guitarist and founding member of Third Day Jeff Goins is a precise and passionate speaker which is also true of his writing. No unnecessary verbiage—to the point truth that will change our lives. I like that...I like that a lot.— Patsy Clairmont , Author, Stained Glass Hearts Jeff Goins has written a clear-eyed book about the grit and glory of growing up and choosing commitment over complacency. His perspective is refreshing and at times hard to hear, but it brims with practical wisdom for those who yearn to serve a purpose larger than themselves.— Ian Morgan Cron , Author, Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me: a Memoir…of Sorts Wrecked is a book you should be deliciously afraid to read because it's content will collide into your conscience and derail your future into a life more meaningful than the one you've lived before.— Sarah Cunningham , Author, Idea Junkie, and Blogger who tries to bring people together around good things. www.sarahcunningham.org Wrecked fulfills two rare deliverables: it messes with you (in a good way), and introduces you to the fantastic writing of a new author you'll certainly be hearing more from.— Mark Oestreicher , Partner, The Youth Cartel I've read Jeff's writing for years, and I can tell you: What he talks about, he lives. As someone who has given his life to helping the least and less-fortunate, he shares his heart-rending experiences and struggles in a voice that resonates. Read this book, but be warned: You won't finish it the same way you started it.— Anne Jackson , Speaker and Author, Mad Church Disease and Permission to Speak Freely I loved this book. The stories filled me with a desire to be more, risk more, and live more. Who would have guessed that being wrecked is really the beginning to living? If you want to live, get Wrecked — read it, then do it!— Ken Davis , Author, Fully Alive , Speaker, and Communications Trainer Wrecked reminded me of my own times of beautiful wrecking, and it wooed me once again toward a sacrificial, joyful life. The stories, the writing, the theology all beckoned me to live intentionally, work hard, and obey Jesus afresh.— Mary DeMuth , Author, Everything: What You Gain and What You Give to Become Like Jesus If you're someone who is groping in the dark without purpose or inspiration, Wrecked just might be the flashlight you need, enabling you to see the next step in the journey.— Frank Viola , Author, From Eternity to Here and Jesus Manifesto , www.frankviola.org Jeff has the rare gift of moving hearts. You'll find encouragement, be inspired to step out of your comfort zone, and live with purpose. Enjoy the journey.— Alli Worthington , Founder of Picha Global and BlissDom My dreams and goals have all been sideswiped by something much greater than I could muster up in my dream machine of a brain. So many times we chase and run after a dream and dodge the very things that will get us closer to the dream if we would only allow them to. Jeff has taken stories in this book and wrapped practical advice on what to do when life hits the fan. We think it's over. But it’s only just beginning...— Carlos Whittaker , Blogger, Musician, & Creative Coach In Wrecked , Jeff Goins emerges as a noteworthy and influential voice for this generation. As great writers do, he frames the pain that accompanies compassion with words and stories I won’t soon forget. Reader beware: change is coming and Jeff Goins holds the megaphone.— Emily P. Freeman , Author, Grace for the Good Girl Everything Jeff Goins writes is purposeful, fervent, and full of humanity. The stories and ideas in this book will break you, shape you, and ultimately fill you.— Matthew Paul Turner , Author, Churched and Hear No Evil If you're looking to be stirred towards something more, encouraged toward your true calling, and challenged to act accordingly, even when it's hard, read Wrecked and join the adventure of a lifetime!— Cheri Keaggy , Dove Award-winning Singer/Songwriter, Speaker, Blogger Wrecked is a creative mix of wit, transparency, and courageous thinking that will catch you off guard and lead you on an unexpected exploration into your own soul and calling. Open this book if you dare to live life to the fullest.— Charles Lee , CEO of Ideation, & Author, Good Idea. Now What? The compassion Christ calls us to can sometimes break us in ways that completely wreck our former way of living in our comfortable little worlds. Goins challenges readers to live life not only on purpose but with purpose—remembering that none of us gets a second chance at life. If you are ready to make a difference—a real, raw, life-altering difference in the world—then Wrecked is a must-read.— Lorie Newman , Speaker, Orphan Advocate, and Author, A Cup of Cold Water in His Name: 60 Ways to Care for the Needy Jeff Goins is one of the freshest writers coming on the scene today. He not only brings a raw, authentic perspective to the issues we struggle with most but also a surprising wisdom that is far beyond his years. Wrecked is a must-read because if you haven't been, you will be. And this book is for such a time as this.— Ben Arment , Creator of STORY and Dream Year Vulnerable and gritty, Wrecked is going to dig into your heart and change you. You will be compelled to live.— Sarah Mae , Author, Desperate In a world that teaches us to spend our lives building hollow monuments to our comfort and success, the message of Wrecked rings true: we must allow our monuments to be knocked down in order to make way for something that will endure. Wrecked is a guide down a beautiful, broken road, and I'm grateful for it.— Scott McClellan , Director of Echo Hub and Echo Conference Wrecked is one of those books that had me continually saying ‘yes’ under my breath. Jeff is a great writer whose engaging storytelling resonated deeply with me at every turn of the page. He was able to put in 150 pages the transformational journey we all wrestle with early in life. As a therapist and pastor, this is exactly the type of book I can’t wait to put in the hands of the people I counsel and minister to.— Rhett Smith , Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Author, The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good? This life we live isn’t meant to be comfortable and easy. We’ll all experience and encounter situations that will challenge us to look at the world differently. How we respond will determine the kind of impact we leave. Wrecked will inspire anyone who desires to do more with their life.— Crystal Renaud , Author, Dirty Girls Come Clean In our story-centered culture we've learned that personal growth often comes through pain, struggle, and conflict, but we're still drawn to comfort over calamity. Through his own story of being wrecked, Jeff Goins leads us into a calling of giving our lives away for the sake of God being able to use us for His glory. Wrecked is the challenging book needed for upcoming generations looking to find their place in our world.— Tyler Braun , Author, Why Holiness Matters—We've Lost Our Way But We Can Find It Again Through the years, I've mentored many young men, but few of them have taken direction like Jeff Goins. His maturity and commitment are exemplary; he is years ahead of his peers. The writing in this book reflects that — a heart of humility and passion and a life that lives it.— Seth Barnes , Executive Director, Adventures in Missions We’re all creatures of habit. We want life to go as planned. Predictable. Neat. Tidy. If that’s what you really want, put this book down and walk away. Because Jeff's powerful stories and profound insights will scrape the scales from your eyes and shift your focus outward to a suffering world. The grip on your perfect personal reality will slip, because Wrecked will inject it with awareness, compassion, and room for others. Prepare to have your heart dislocated—for the better.— Tor Constantino , Author, A Question of Faith , Founder, www.thedailyretort.com “I better warn you. This book is not going to leave you alone. It hasn't left me alone, even when I wished it would. Jeff writes true things, with heart and integrity, and that's what gets under my skin and into my soul and makes everything get all, well, wrecked. This is the kind of book that people remember reading because it coincides with making big choices. Bravo to Jeff for living it first and then writing it well.”— Annie Downs , Author, Perfectly Unique , and Writer at www.AnnieBlogs.com Wrecked is not your typical book about brokenness. Jeff's writing is deep and poignant. He has written a guide to the life most of us are too timid to live—the one in between the thrills and adventures. This book will force you to think differently; it did for me.— Chad Jarnagin , Songwriter, Artist Through brilliant storytelling, Jeff captures the heart and soul of those who will not be satisfied with watching others help others. They want to make their days count. In the pages of Wrecked , I found a new identity for myself. I want to be wrecked. When you read this book, you will, too.— Ron Edmondson , Pastor, Leadership Consultant, and Blogger What Jeff talks about in Wrecked is more than mere theory. As a twenty-something who has dedicated his life to serving a purpose bigger than himself, he shares the greatest opportunity his generation faces: the opportunity to make a difference. This is a book written from the trenches, and is real and relevant to the real world.— Wayne Elsey , Founder of Soles4Souls, Head Coach of Wayne Elsey Enterprises This book will cause you to take a long overdue look in the mirror. Mired in complacency? Prone to selfish behavior? Yeah, me neither—or so I thought until I read Wrecked . Jeff Goins will equip you with the practical steps needed to do something about it. If you're ready to be challenged, read it now. If you're comfortable where you are, read it anyway.— Jeff Brown , Award-winning Broadcaster For some of us, we try so hard to avoid pain in our lives that we avoid making the right choices. We choose to reject God’s guidance because we value how we feel more than we value the Jeff Goins is a writer, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur with a reputation for challenging the status quo. He is the best-selling author of five books including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don't Starve . His award-winning blog Goinswriter.com is visited by millions of people every year, and his work has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Psychology Today, Business Insider, Time, and many others. Through his online courses, events, and coaching programs, he helps thousands of creatives succeed every year. A father of two and a guacamole aficionado, Jeff lives just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

Features & Highlights

  • What happens when a broken world slams into your comfortable life?
  • Wrecked
  • is about the life we are afraid to live. It’s about radical sacrifice and selfless service—how we find purpose in the midst of pain. It's a look at how we discover fulfillment in the least likely of places. It's about living like we mean it. It’s a guide to growing up and giving your life away, helping you live in the tension between the next adventure and the daily mundane.
  • This book is for us—a generation intent on pursuing our life's work in a way that leaves us without regrets.
  • Author Jeff Goins shares his own experience of struggling as a missionary and twentysomething who understands the call to live radically while dealing with the everyday responsibilities of life.
  • Wrecked
  • is a manifesto for a generation dissatisfied with the status quo and wanting to make a difference.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(90)
★★★★
25%
(75)
★★★
15%
(45)
★★
7%
(21)
23%
(69)

Most Helpful Reviews

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this weird, messy mix of risk and commitment

Wrecked is a book about the life we're afraid to live--one full of radical sacrifice and selfless service. It's a look at how we discover fulfillment in the least likely of places.

There have been a number of books written in recent years that inspire and challenge people (Christians specifically) to get out of their comfort zone and live a life of risk and sacrifice - the barbarian way by Erwin McManus, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, Radical by David Platt come to mind. I believe we have an epidemic of safe, comfortable "Christians" in the U.S. So, even if Wrecked offered nothing new, I would enjoy it, appreciate it and recommend it.

But Jeff Goins does provide a unique, insightful perspective through Wrecked.

Jeff has lived his own adventures - doing some of his undergrad work in Spain, touring as guitarist in a band, hanging out with some homeless people in Nashville, and creating a popular blog. But he's also married, works a "regular job," and has a new baby.

While many "get out of your comfort zone books" have been all about not settling, in Wrecked, Jeff not only challenges readers to "get wrecked" by serving others and experiencing firsthand the challenges of those who live in poverty, but he addresses the challenge unique to this Millennial Generation of "getting wrecked" through commitment.

It's this weird, messy mix of risk and commitment from a 20-something millennial writer who understands both which makes Wrecked a good book that will challenge you.
4 people found this helpful
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More than simply taking the high road.

I enjoy many books but there are only a few I wish I had written myself. This is one of those books.

Jeff Goins does an excellent job describing what it is to experience the big picture.

This book helps us...

1. see beyond our own wants and desires with humility.

2. pick apart the miasma of emotions and excuses we use to assuage guilt and fear.

3. recognize the importance of developing useful habits in our youth. So that we may (hopefully) find ourselves in a good position to be of help to others, in later years.

4. see that while we are only a small part of the solution, we are still valuable parts of the solution.

5. discern when to let go and when to persevere.

As a teenager, I knew I wanted to make a difference in the world but it wasn't until my late twenties, that I experienced a life-changing crisis. Jeff Goins' book, Wrecked, is the first book I've read that truly illustrates the many facets of incorporating a life we're called to live into the life we have to live. This is a faith-based book and I appreciated that aspect of the book, too. Having said that, I believe the book is essentially based off basic universal principals of goodwill, benevolence, compassion and kindness toward humanity. I would feel comfortable giving this book to someone without religious beliefs or those who differ from mine.

I'm a single mother of 5 and volunteer in my community to minister to abused women and children. I've struggled with balance in juggling the demands of meeting many needs and the frustration of feeling it is all but a drop in the bucket. I'm always hesitant to say any one book, class or seminar is "life-changing." I will say this book has taught me practical lessons. I took away valuable eye-opening information that I can apply today.

Having experienced a crisis myself, I believe I could identify with the author through the entire book. I don't know how easily it would be for someone who hasn't been "wrecked" or for someone who has been complacent all their life? Personally, I think many people want to do more and do not for one reason or another. This book helps the reader understand and sort out some of that confusion.

I enjoy giving books as gifts and this will be the book of my choice this holiday season.

Thank you, Jeff Goins.
3 people found this helpful
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Ever lost your life so someone else could be more fully alive?

Book Review- Wrecked by Jeff Goins

There are two dimensions to our current world- those who have and those who have not. Jeff Goins' Wrecked turns the social stratosphere inside-out and reminds people of the calling to social justice that we all hear, but only sometimes heed.

Throughout the book, Goins weaves a plethora of personal experiences into a beautiful array of truth. In this intimate testimony, he relates stories (personal and those of close friends), statistics, and Christian principles to the heart of those who seek to loose their lives in service to others.

This is not an easy task. According to Goins, "Our culture is so individualistic and wired for success that we often miss the point of life. We think it's about self-actualization, about becoming the best version of ourselves. It's not. It's about losing ourselves." In a western world that holds self-actualization as subjective and personal, Goins goes the other way and argues that the only way to be truly alive is to live uncomfortably in the giving of our selves to cure the ills of the world.

His experience as a long-term and short-term missionary gives him credibility that few are able to attain. Having demonstrated self-sacrifice on such a high level, the reader hears an honest voice in Goins, a unique soul amongst the selfishness that so many of us refuse to abandon. As a result, his spiritual maturity provides us with sound advice on how to deal with life before, during and after we have been "wrecked" by the world of service.

It is important to note that this book primarily targets a privileged socioeconomic audience. It calls them to use their time, talent and treasure to help those who are most in need.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has worked for social justice. As a former missionary and current non-prophet employee, I would especially recommend it to study abroad students, Peace Corps and AmeriCorps Volunteers, and anyone involved in local or international missions.
3 people found this helpful
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A simple but profound classic

Simple things are often the most profound, and this little book is no exception. With story-telling ability of Andy Andrews, and each tale couched in unswerving honesty and humility, Goins has penned a remarkable resource.

I found myself saying, "Yes! Yes!" chapter after chapter, and writing down memorable quotes to share. Wrecked is phenomenally moving and affirming.

A personal-journey handbook to a deep maturity that walks the talk, Wrecked should have a place on the shelf of every person desiring to truly live their faith as well as every discipler, apprenticeship/life-counselor, missionary and short-term mission candidate.

Wrecked will be my gift of choice this year to the leaders in my life, that they may see how they had a part in my being profoundly wrecked, and in turn, have an opportunity to share this potential classic with others seeking a deeply satisfying life-experience.
3 people found this helpful
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Get Wrecked

Are you comfortable? If you have traveled on a plane at some point a flight attendant may ask this question. Why? Why is being comfortable so important?

In his book Wrecked, Jeff Goins shares stories of how his life was altered--wrecked--by the world around him. Seeing other people suffering, hurting, needy, and desperate caused him to reflect on his own life, his worldview, and his calling.

This was not an easy book to read as it challenged me to live outside myself and not become self-absorbed. I was spurred to live for more than just me and make a differnce in the lives of others. I was wrecked reading this book and I am sure others will as well.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
2 people found this helpful
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Truthful, Inspiring and Motivating

I love Jeff and his down-to-earth perspective on topics and challenges that creatives face each day. His writing has truly resonated with me and provided the clarity and inspiration needed to keep taking steps forward. Definitely a valuable ready!
2 people found this helpful
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Truthful, Inspiring and Motivating

I love Jeff and his down-to-earth perspective on topics and challenges that creatives face each day. His writing has truly resonated with me and provided the clarity and inspiration needed to keep taking steps forward. Definitely a valuable ready!
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Truthful, Inspiring and Motivating

I love Jeff and his down-to-earth perspective on topics and challenges that creatives face each day. His writing has truly resonated with me and provided the clarity and inspiration needed to keep taking steps forward. Definitely a valuable ready!
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Nice Premise

"Wrecked" offers an escape from the emptiness of our technology-filled lives: volunteering. This is a nice premise - not only does the volunteer become more worldly and less selfish, but the organization/person receiving the volunteer work benefits as well. This book might make a good gift for a high school graduate as it is directed to twenty-somethings.

The book, however, verges on preachy by assuming that the reader has less experience than the author; in writing a book, it might be better to acknowledge different experiences instead as some readers, especially those older than the twenty-somethings, may feel off-put by the tone. That being said, it's worth reading once, because the Jeff Goins's heart is absolutely in the right place.

Somehow, I got my hands on this book without realizing it would have religious overtones - most of Goins's blog posts don't reference religion. As an agnostic/mostly secular person, I nonetheless found myself agreeing with a lot of what Goins said about volunteering: you don't need religious tendencies to appreciate the author's message or the impact of volunteering.
2 people found this helpful
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I've been wrecked. Have you?

Highly recommend being wrecked. I've been wrecked since March 11, 1987. It's a day I will never forget. How about you? Explore Jeff's book to find out what being wrecked means and consider being wrecked yourself. One of my favorite quotes is on page 143 when a German professor tells Jeff that the habits he forms here will be with you for the rest of your life. This is so true! I've seen it over and over again in my life and those around me. Great stories. Deep thoughts. Practical wisdom throughout.
2 people found this helpful