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Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It

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Find and Reach Your Biggest Dreams

Bob Goff, the New York Times bestselling author of Love Does and Everybody, Always, is on a mission to help people recapture the version of their lives they dreamed about before fear started calling the shots. He wants them to dream big.

In his revelatory yet utterly practical new book, Bob takes you on a life-proven journey to rediscover your dreams and turn them into reality. Based on his enormously popular Dream Big workshop, Bob draws on a lifetime of living and dreaming large to help you reach your larger-than-life dreams. In Dream Big he shows how to


• learn to define clearly your dreams for yourself,
• identify the obstacles holding you back,
• come up with a specific plan for reaching goals, and
• develop the tools that will help you act on the plan.

Dream Big is the only book you need to uncover the wild and exciting dream for your life you’ve hidden from yourself--and help you take the steps necessary to achieve it.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 2020

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About the author

Bob Goff

86 books2,573 followers
Bob Goff is the founder of Restore International, a non-profit fighting injustices committed against children in Uganda and India. Bob shares leadership in a Washington law firm, Goff & DeWalt, and he serves as the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Uganda to the United States. He is adjunct professor at Pepperdine Law School and Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. Bob lives in San Diego with Sweet Maria and ratdog.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 816 reviews
Profile Image for Josh Olds.
1,012 reviews92 followers
June 22, 2020
A week after I signed up to be on the Dream Big launch team, my wife and I quit our jobs and moved across the country to pursue an adventure. Her job would allow her to take short-term contracts—three to six months—in various cities and we were going to travel the country for a couple of years. It’s been our big dream for a couple of years and had been interrupted by the surprise adoption of our daughter.

Less money.
Less stability.
More uncertainty.
More adventure.

We are just trusting in God that he’s led us on the right path. And while we’re still sure that he has, it’s been a rocky start. More than once, just a few weeks in, we were already moving on to Plans B & C—plans that didn’t exist until Plan A started to falter. It seemed like our big dream had gone bust.

It was into that uncertainty that I carved out a couple of hours with a Dream Big digital copy and a physical notebook and immersed myself in the infectious joy and overwhelming (in a good way!) positively of Bob Goff. It may have saved us.

When I reemerged a couple of hours later, it was with a few pages of somewhat-legible scrawl and a renewed sense of purpose and vision. My absurd expectations are exactly that—but also what I need to expect. We aren’t wrong for exploring the opportunities of Plans B & C; sometimes God has to take you on a detour to get you on the correct path. Setbacks are to be expected. They help you learn and grow. Don’t be afraid to quit. Let it go. Don’t be afraid to start. Take it up. I could summarize it all in this quote:

What I’ve discovered is that comfortable people don’t need Jesus and don’t chase their ambitions—desperate people do. If we’re going to get after our ambitions, God doesn’t want us living right in the middle of comfortable anymore. He wants us living on the edge of yikes.

Reading Dream Big is an exhilarating, humbling, terrifying, encouraging experience. Bob Goff is…well, I don’t think there’s really anyone else like him. In so many people, his persona would come across as put-on or fake, but Bob exudes a genuineness and seriousness that compels you to live life the way he does. Right on the edge of yikes.

And you know what, I think I can handle the edge of yikes if I know I’ve got people like Bob right there with me. So be careful. Dream Big will drag you right into launch mode. This is the fire that’s going to cause all those bubbling hopes and dreams to boil over. And it’ll be messy. And it’ll be frustrating. And it’ll be the best thing you’ve ever done.

Out of Dream Big, I made three commitments:

One: I’ve written a novella called The Magic, The Music, and the Dance. I’m going to publish it on Kindle in the month of July. I had announced that I was going to publish it some time back, but I’d started to back off on it, thinking it wasn’t good enough. Nope. I’m doing it. Final edits and formatting this next weekend and then preparing it for a July release.

Two: Write 1,000 words a day. This is something that Bob Goff explicitly mentions in Dream Big. Every book he’s written has been the result of 1,000 words a day. I can do that. I have so many half-started projects to finish.

Three: I’m launching a church. Not your typical church, and not intended to be a replacement for physical gatherings, but a virtual church experience. I’m a pastor currently without a congregation and I’ve spoken to so many who don’t currently feel safe at church—whether it’s due to the COVID-19 pandemic or from local churches that have left them with spiritual wounds. The church is people, after all, and some of my best friendships and most life-altering conversations have been experienced through the Internet. It’s called Church of the Wanderers, meant for all those who see themselves untethered from a national or denominational identity. It’s going to be an experience.

That’s what Dream Big did to me. Bob Goff dug up some of my old dreams, brushed them off, and told me to finish them. He encouraged me in disciplines I knew I should have been following, but hadn’t. And he launched me into a dream that I didn’t know I had but that God has fully-formed in my prayer time this past week. Dream Big is dangerous. Read it at your own risk.
Profile Image for Mr. Armstrong.
325 reviews8 followers
June 27, 2020
I love Bob, and getting to spend time with him in a new book is a treat and frankly has been good for my mental, emotional, and spiritual health - all of which are strained and suffering in these dangerous days.

Still, I can't shake the feeling that Dream Big is the result of it "being time" for the next book, so Bob just did the best he could considering. The results feel rushed, vague, stories are not deeply relevant, analogies can demand a leap in logic. Yet occassionally, as he always does, Bob nails it.
Profile Image for Lindsey Gandhi.
598 reviews243 followers
March 20, 2022
I was first introduced to Bob Goff years ago when someone at church was raving about how good his book Love Does was. He then went on to say how Bob put his cell number in the back of the book and he called it to see if it was real. It was and he spoke to Bob himself. I thought, how crazy is an author to give out his cell number for anyone to call. I need to check his books out!! And I have never been disappointed in any of his books. His books are just as authentic and genuine as he is. He sincerely wants to help you become the best version of yourself.

Everyone has a dream and it’s never too late to go after those dreams. Your brokenness can ultimately lead you to a personal freedom. Dream Big helps you figure out where you are and plot a path for that course going forward. All while reminding you that God loves you, believes in you and won’t give up on you even if you have on yourself. Even if God is no big deal for you, your life is a big deal to Him. When reading Bob Goff’s books, it will feel just like you are having a conversation with him. There is a lot of wisdom and good advice in his books, especially this one. If you are ready to Dream Big, to see what more you can get out of your life, pick this book up. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

My thanks to Bob Goff, the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for abigailscupoftea.
212 reviews1,879 followers
May 18, 2021
Bob has such a heart for helping people and that shines through the pages of this book. He is quirky, kind, and genuine, and he has quickly become a new favorite author of mine. This book is so encouraging and has very practical steps for following your dreams, and for helping others follow their dreams too. ☁️

I really love the reflection questions and action ideas at the end of the book! It’s such a great way to slow down and to get to know yourself on a deeper level. 💛
Profile Image for Jonathan.
926 reviews10 followers
November 30, 2020
4/10

“This is not a self-help book” – Every self help book.

Goff is incredibly encouraging, and quite possibly sincere, despite seeming over the top, and unnecessarily whimsical. The main complaint that I have is the absence of Christ in a book purported to be by a strong Christian. The issue I see is this, and “Dream”, no matter how “Big” is ultimately entirely baseless unless its foundation is Christ. Goff knows this, so its astounding to me how he leaves it out. He instead tells his audience to focus on their what their ambition is, their true one, and then pursue it with confidence, and a lack of fear of the consequences. None of this is terrible advice by any means, and for many it might be life changing. The majority of the book is Goff elucidating this truth through examples from his life. He’s a gifted author, and most of the book is genuinely enjoyable. I really do believe I have a lot to learn from Goff about the confidence to be who I was made to be, and to wholeheartedly pursue my desires. The issue of course is that “Every desire mans heart conceives of is always only evil” Genesis 6:5. Better advice then Goff’s would be to change our desires to be in line with God’s, only then will we be sure that they will happen. Goff misses this entirely. What is left then is an enjoyable book, well written, but lacking the depth that could have made it great.
Profile Image for Vickie.
1,951 reviews59 followers
August 19, 2020
This is one of the best books that I have read for encouragement, no matter what stage of life you are in. With his signature anecdotes and humor, Bob Goff encourages people to use where you are now as a launching pad for where you really want to be. The book is filled with quotable insight and wisdom about how to go about figuring out what direction to go in and how to get where you want to go. I enjoyed the personal anecdotes and the view into the author’s own life and his struggles. I especially enjoyed how he made it a point to say that he just walked away from a successful law practice in order to concentrate on helping others, particularly the young children in Uganda. What a beautiful picture of what a Christian should do, if they can! This book would make a great gift for graduates, for those who find themselves unemployed and looking for the next thing and for those who just need encouragement to move forward out of the hole that we have dug ourselves into. I highly recommend this book to those who want to think positively about the future!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Books via a giveaway on Goodreads. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Profile Image for Jessica.
912 reviews105 followers
July 28, 2020
Wowsers. I think I highlighted half of this book. That's how good it was. So good that I both listened to the audiobook AND read the ebook. This guy has so much audacity, but not so much that he annoys me. (I'm looking at you, Gary V.) No, Bob Goff has the kind of audacity that is contagious. The kind that makes you want to run after the biggest ambitions that you've had, make them happen, and reach for the stars...or further. Not in an unrealistic way. Actually, he does a fabulous job of laying out the realities of going after your ambitions. The failures. The setbacks. The climbing toward the big ones that seem outright impossible but layering some of the smaller ambitions out like stairs to climb up so that the big ambitions come within reach.
I have read a lot of book about dreaming big, visions boards, goal setting.....and I have enjoyed many of them. But this one just seems real. It seems so realistic and so relatable...even though he is an ex-lawyer who seems to have done just about everything there is to do. Still relatable.
That speaks to just how real this guy comes across. Just how conversationally he talks and writes. I have already started taking action on some of the many highlightable portions of this book. In fact, it's made me rethink so many of my ideas and ambitions that my head is bursting...but in fact, so is my heart.
Can you tell how much I loved this book?
No, okay....
Just kidding, I'm sure you can.
The thing is, I've read other Bob Goff books and just felt kind of meh about them. So much so that I almost didn't read this one. But I'm so glad that I did. And I have a sneaking suspicion that I will go back to it over and over again.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
5,754 reviews217 followers
June 12, 2020
I did like this book. I found Mr. Goff's writing and the way he talked to be soothing and easy going. It was like listening to a friend talk. Which made reading this book enjoyable.

Although, I do get the points that Bob made were great. I did feel like there were some repetitiveness throughout this book. Which made the book feel that much shorter and this book was already a short book. Yet, the advice that Bob gives and the situations that he gives examples of are relatable. Any reader who reads this book will be able to take away from this book. They can use and apply these tips in their lives.
Profile Image for Emma.
26 reviews
April 24, 2021
HIGHLY recommend. This book challenged me and inspired me all in the same breath. The journal questions correlate with the chapters and are so helpful. Bob Goff has handcrafted yet another amazing book. I think this one is my favorite!
Profile Image for Lauren Swigger.
19 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2022
To my friends reading this review: “Guys look I finally read a book!!!”

I love Bob Goff! He is an amazing storyteller and I love all of this analogies, this book taught me a lot and I can’t wait to go through the journal prompts at the end and continue my self growth journey!
Profile Image for Julia Pentz.
34 reviews2 followers
July 22, 2023
I will always love Bob Goff and his books. This book was great for understanding setbacks and learning how to live your life as it was intended: fully and without fear :)
Profile Image for Rachel Acalinei.
69 reviews4 followers
September 22, 2021
Get ready, get set, dream big!!
This probably falls into the category of my new top 5 favorite books!
It's entertaining and inspiring, educational and transformational, && the author is just hilarious and so radical!

Bob Goff writes with so much passion and love for Jesus, the excitement for life just oozes into every word and bounces off every page, through Bob's enthusiastic style. He weaves encouragement through his storytelling, and reminds us it's okay to fail along the way, and learning from mistakes is where we find grace.

Dream Big challenges you to reflect on three important questions – “Know what you want, why you want it, and what you’re going to do about it.”
Profile Image for Momma Leighellen’s Book Nook.
913 reviews274 followers
June 28, 2020
Dream Big by Bob Goff is the perfect book to help you take that next step to not only pursuing your dreams, but to make a difference in this world. He reminds us that life isn’t just about making money but making life matter. And that our brokenness can be the path to others healing.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵.”⁣

I love Bob Goff! His book Love Does was life giving for me at a crucial time in my journey. It’s a book I always give to grads & newlyweds & anyone that asks. I’ve been to his school in Uganda & seen first hand all the ways he lives out his mission of loving others with no agenda. This is a man who’s actions match his word. Now I may need to start giving out this book instead. ⁣

Dream Big provides practical applications & strategies for living life “𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴”. It’s for those not only seeking a plan for their life but a purpose. He does this though his casual style of conversational storytelling and in small, succinct chapters. Reading this book feels like going to coffee with a favorite Uncle! Each chapter is short but filled with inspiring and practical wisdom to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and DO something with your faith. But not just anything, something BIG. Something that helps others.⁣


Bob Goff is passionate about life and he wants to push others to want to live a bigger, more meaningful life. He believes that we need to engage with people – ALL people, people with different views and values and backgrounds – by loving them well. And that our ambitions should make a difference in the world. ⁣

WHAT TO EXPECT
⁣ “𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸.” ⁣

In Dream Big he shares how to:⁣

• define your dreams & ambitions⁣
• identify whats holding you back⁣
• come up plan to move forward⁣
• develop tools to take action⁣


I love that in 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘉𝘪𝘨 Bob stresses the importance of listening. To look for hope in the middle of chaos. He encourages us to always be learning, always be asking, and trying to make life better. When you continue to be a student you can always grow. And he wants us to be brave! We aren’t called to a life that is safe and we are meant to intercede on behalf of those without a voice. ⁣

This is such a timely book as we all seek ways to live differently & amplify the voices around us.

Profile Image for Celina.
24 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2020
Hard to really find the words to describe how incredible this book is. I feel like I’ve just finished having a heart to heart conversation about ambition, dreams and desires with someone I’ve known all my life. Those people are rare in life and even more rare for that to be expressed through a book. Would highly recommend for anyone, at any point in their life. So much to consider and so much more to do!
Profile Image for Carolyn.
676 reviews
Read
January 12, 2021
We listened to Goff's first 2 books as a family and loved them. This one seemed like it was aimed more toward someone who has a dream they've never had the courage to act upon. It reminded me a lot of Jon Acuff's books. Which are great! But didn't feel relevant to our lives right now, as we feel like we are where God has called us to be, so we don't really need a shove in a new direction.
Profile Image for Dawson Cole.
94 reviews2 followers
July 2, 2020
Sweet Bob. A very typical-bob-goff account of his amazing experiences and accomplishments. Never overflowing with substance, but how could you hate him?
Profile Image for Lisa Brewer.
103 reviews2 followers
May 10, 2021
After reading Love Does and Everybody, Always it was a no-brainer to pick up Dream Big. Bob Goff is a lot of fun to read. His anecdotes resonate with me. I like a guy who publishes his cell number and actually answers it himself. (Yes, he really does! I invited him to Carolina Bible Camp.)
This was a worthy read because I learned a number of new things. Read it yourself and see what you can learn.
Positive bias toward Bob because he is an attorney and he teaches at Pepperdine.
Profile Image for Aistė Šopa.
Author 3 books34 followers
April 7, 2023
Man atrodo aš visas Bobo Goffo knygas vertinsiu penkiom žvaigždutėm. Nors kai kurios istorijos per knygas kartojasi, bet autorius jas pateikia taip, kad kiekvieną kartą išgirsti (mano atveju taip, nes klausiau audio) kažką naujo ir vėl būni įkvėptas. Šioje knygoje Bobas ragina svajoti ir siekti savo svajonių, bei duoda praktinių patarimų kaip tai daryti. Nebuvo kažkas nauja man pačiai asmeniškai, bet "Dream Big" rekomenduoju visiem, kas dar visų savo svajonių nepasiekė, taip pat tiem, kurie tokių niekad neturėjo, arba jos buvo "nugesintos". Patikėkit, perskaitę pakilsit!
Profile Image for Brynn Petermann.
54 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2021
DISCLAIMER: I listened to this on audible which I highly recommend because Bob Goff is a character and will make you laugh as he tells his stories.

My biggest takeaway from this book is to chase your community before you chase your calling. You need people around you before you launch into something challenging.
Author 2 books2 followers
August 17, 2020
I love Bob’s whimsical style. There are stories mixed in that make me laugh, yet the content was helpful and gives me a path.
Profile Image for Amy.
227 reviews19 followers
December 31, 2020
Nate got this for me as gift. He wanted me to take time to recognize my dreams and commit to them. Lots of take aways. I’ll probably need to reread at some point!
Profile Image for Katie Norris.
135 reviews3 followers
June 26, 2022
The best way to consume a Bob Goff book is by listening to him narrate the audiobook. He always has the best stories and is one of those people where I’m surprised they’re still alive. This book was very encouraging and inspiring. Bob is the perfect example of someone dreaming big.
Profile Image for Ann Venkat.
53 reviews23 followers
November 27, 2020
At first, the book felt a bit too long and I felt like skipping over to the "good parts". However, I am glad I stuck it out - in fact, the author urges readers not to do this! The rest of the book contains excellent, practical advice. Anyone who feels frustrated with life and unable to capitalize on their full potential will love this book! If you want to pivot careers, or just find your calling but are scared of risks, this book is a great find; you will find great actionable advice.
Profile Image for Carter Hemphill.
400 reviews5 followers
March 6, 2021
I can imagine that the reviews will depend on whether you were on the same wavelength as the author. I started this a few months ago and was quite taken in the first few chapters with the author's clever stories and how he weaved them into his main points. When I restarted the book again this weekend, I had a different reaction. He includes a lot of pithy motivational thoughts in encouraging people to "dream big." I would have preferred a strong Christian focus since except for a few chapters, much of it could apply to a secular self-help book. I appreciated that he focused on having ambitions that are not self-centered, although I think he could have placed more of a priority on that since it would be possible to use the book to pursue selfish aims. The questions in the back of the book are useful for thinking about the main concepts, but it is a rather shallow book that while motivating, seems geared towards extroverts who thrive on social engagement and risk-taking. While the author does not want people to compare their goals with others, it's tempting to try to emulate the author in his behavior and approach to life that could be equally as inauthentic. So, overall, I enjoyed the stories and appreciated the motivation, without doing the self-examination (just as the questions in the back of the book), it is easily forgettable.
Profile Image for Luke Paul.
79 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2020
We are all passionate about something. We all have dreams and aspirations. But maybe long ago, or even in the recent past, the dreams and goals you’ve longed to achieve have been put on the back burner or have even been forgotten about.

In Bob Goff’s “Dream Big”, he encourages the reader to identify forgotten dreams and aspirations and gives tools to attain them.

Bob poses three questions: Who are you? Where are you? And what do you want? While reading and thinking on these questions, I quickly realized there is so much more to understand about what I first thought of as simple questions.

The book challenged me to identify and truly understand my purpose and meaning in life. Throughout the book, Bob provides tools to overcome the challenges and fears that could be holding people back from achieving their dreams.

“Dream Big” is just as heart warming and encouraging as Bob Goff’s other books. Bob will help you identify old dreams and encourage you to go out and fulfill them. So no matter how big or small your dream is, this book will reignite your passion to accomplish what you dream to achieve.

*I received an advance copy of the book to review from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.*
Profile Image for Jena Addison.
19 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2021
I really love Bob and loved both Love Does and Everybody, Always. Bob’s life stories and anecdotes are truly remarkable and a testament to his unfailing commitment to put his passion for and availability to people first. There were several stories and points in this book that I really adored. Still, this book feels like it missed the mark; like his publisher was pressuring him for another book and that it would be best if it was born out of his popular Dream Big conference framework. I felt like the book was extremely repetitive (“If you really want to get after your ambitions...” seems to be on every page) and that so much of the writing was just bumper sticker language. It seemed like even Bob himself did not really buy in or have a lot of faith in this book from the very beginning where he seemingly advises the reader to “take from it what you can.” Still, I love Bob and applaud his efforts; I would love to meet him someday.
15 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2022
Good concept in theory but relies on religion and trusting in God to do the right thing for you, not very useful
Displaying 1 - 30 of 816 reviews

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