'25 SUMMER READING LIST, #24 - "YOU'RE NOT ENOUGH (AND THAT'S OKAY) BY ALLIE BETH STUCKEY

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a T-shirt that read, "Repeat until you believe this is true: 'You are enough.'" Sorry, but believing something is true isn't always the same as something being true, and repeating a lie doesn't stop it from being a lie.

In "You're Not Enough (and That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love," Allie Beth Stuckey deals with five lies common in today's society:

1. "You are enough."
2. "You determine your truth."
3. "You're perfect the way you are."
4. "You're entitled to your dreams."
5. "You can't love others until you love yourself."

As Christians, we need to realize that for salvation, we are absolutely NOT enough; we're sinners, and without Christ we can do nothing (John 15:4-6).

 

BOOK REVIEW - "TOXIC EMPATHY: HOW THE PROGRESSIVES EXPLOIT CHRISTIAN COMPASSION" BY ALLIE BETH STUCKEY

Is empathy something that is always beneficial? Or can it become an enabler for those who desire tolerance... for themselves, not for those who disagree? Is it possible that those to the left politically are using Christians' desire to care for others to convince us that what God considers evil isn't really evil?

"Toxic Empathy: How the Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion" is the second book by Allie Beth Stuckey, who previously wrote "You're Not Enough (And That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self Love." Both are books that look at lies exalted in modern culture.

The artist in me loves the structure of these books. They both have a pastel colored cover with black and white lettering (the font style is different). Each book deals with five lies that fit the theme of the respective book. 

"Toxic Empathy" deals with these five mantras:

1. "Abortion is healthcare,"
2. "Trans Women are Women,"
3. "Love is Love,"
4. "No Human is Illegal," and 
5. "Social Justice is Justice."

Each chapter starts out with a story that appears to defend the chapter's title. Stuckey then looks more closely and analyzes the world view and what Biblical truth says on the subject. 

I recommend this book. It was well put together and short enough to be a comfortable read.

 

BOOK REVIEW - "YOU'RE NOT ENOUGH (AND THAT'S OKAY): ESCAPING THE TOXIC CULTURE OF SELF-LOVE" BY ALLIE BETH STUCKEY

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I've always dreamed of being the starting center for an NBA team - being 65 years old, 5'6", and having no shooting skills shouldn't keep me from that dream, right? You're not going to tell me I can't fulfill my dream, are you? I mean, that could damage my self-esteem! 

Journalist/Podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey's debut book, "You're not enough (and that's okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self Love" addresses five thoughts she considers lies:

1. "You are enough."
2. "You  determine your truth."
3. "You're perfect the way you are."
4. "You're entitled to your dreams."
5. "You can't love others until you love yourself."

By the way, am I the only one who notices each of those things start with one's self, not with God? They also all sound good to the ear, encouraging self-sufficency, self-determination, self-esteem, and other things like selfishness? But what if we approach it as what does the Bible say, we say that Jesus teaches following Him includes denying self (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23) and hating your family and your own life in contrast to loving Him (Luke 14:26)? 

My impression is the intended audience are young women, and I don't fit that group either gender wise or age wise. However, it resonated with the self-centered view of the world and looking at my own experience. No, I never dreamed of being an NBA starting center. However, I did have dreams of having a novel published. I also remember talking to a promoter of a self-publishing group who in her pitch made the following arguments: 

1. "I wrote it, so it deserves to be published." (I've written two novels, and the first definitely did not deserve to be published.)
2. "If I sign up with the self-publishers, I get 100% of what my books sell." (Actually, not true - I pay them before the book is published, not afterwards as I would with traditional publishing.)

You notice that the emphasis on both arguments? And this was with a self-publisher of Christian books, but no mention on if God wanted the book published.

Allie points out in dealing with the last one that the Biblical command to love one another as we love ourselves is not a command to love ourselves but assumes we love ourselves. After all, we eat what we enjoy instead of what makes our stomachs curl, unless it is non-appetizing healthy food to make ourselves better. After all, there is plenty of middle ground between self-loving and self-loathing.

If I had a daughter between 12 and 42 (any older than this and she'd be at the time of writing too old to be my daughter), I would purchase this book for them, encourage them to read it, and suggest she and her mother have conversations about the things dealt with in this book. (I would have that conversation with my son if I had a son between that age. And it will be 13 years at least before I have a child within that range.) I highly appreciate and recommend this book.