Title: Welcome to Adulting: Navigating Faith, Friendship, Finances, and the Future
Author: Jonathan Pokluda
Series: N/A
Genre: Christian Living/Young Adult
Publishing Date: September 4, 2018
About the Book:
Every day, another Millennial becomes an adult. For many young people, the transition is a bumpy one, fraught with opportunities to make mistakes and bad choices. The clear expectations they had at home or in school are gone, and they may feel unprepared to face what comes next.
But sometimes we make it harder than it has to be. Combining entertaining stories from his own experience, insights from the Bible, and compelling evidence from research, “JP” Pokluda lays out a roadmap for how to navigate life as an adult, addressing topics like
– friendships and dating
– career and money management
– interpersonal conflict
– controlling anxiety
– recovering from addiction
– and discovering your purpose on this earth
Anyone struggling to find a footing in the world of adult life will welcome this witty, non-patronizing guide.
My Review:
If I’m just being honest I really struggled reading through this one. I am aware that I am different than many in my generation, and I didn’t really get anything out of it for myself. When I picked up this book I thought it was going to be about “responsible” adults needing to make tough decisions in life and learning how to balance it all. Instead it was more about the “irresponsible” people who really need to suck it up and grow up on multiple levels. Unfortunately the audience that really needs to read this book is also the least likely to pick it up.
Throughout the book I had mixed emotions on different chapters. Some were helpful, some were frustrating, others I struggled (or didn’t) get through. I especially did not appreciate the chapter that discussed anxiety. I will not go into full detail on how I feel about it, but it’s obvious the author is writing about something he doesn’t know or understand. If someone deals with anxiety it’s not just an emotion, and it’s not just that they aren’t trusting God. It’s also not as simple as labeling it as sin. Sharing this type of mindset causes more harm than good. Sometimes anxiety is a physical attack where the person doesn’t even know what they are anxious about. The inexplicable is frustrating. Then to tell a person that they are sinning because they are not trusting God in their situation… how is that if they don’t even know what they are anxious over? Now don’t get me wrong, there are times where anxiety CAN be a sin issue, but until someone fully understands what it feels like to deal with it and how it is not only a mental but physical problem, then their judgement is unfair and ignorant.
I really hate giving negative reviews for books because I know so much of the author’s time and heart goes into writing. I also know that you can’t love every book you pick up. Unfortunately this was one I really had a hard time getting through.
*I received a copy of this book from the Baker Books Publishing. I was not required to give a positive review. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
This book reminds me of a pamphlet we have at school. It’s titled, “Are you an Underachiever?” I laugh every time I see it because the underachiever is never going to read it. Lol!
Lol! It’s sad but true!
Thank you for your helpful review! I was actually going to start reading this book today, but now I think I’ll plan on skipping some of the less helpful chapters, especially the one on anxiety. Are there any other chapters you would recommend skipping? Are there any chapters you found to be helpful?
I felt like the money and community chapters were the most helpful
Good to know. I’ll be sure to give those chapters a read.