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To Hell with the Hustle

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This is your wake-up call to resist the Hustle culture and embrace the slowness of Jesus.


Our culture makes constant demands of us: Do more. Accomplish more. Buy more. Post more. Be more.

In following these demands, we have indeed become more: More anxious. More tired. More hurt. More depressed. More frantic.

What we are doing isn't working!

In a society where hustle is the expectation, busyness is the norm and information is king, we have forgotten the fundamentals that make us human, anchor our lives, and provide meaning.

Jefferson Bethke, New York Times bestselling author and popular YouTuber, has lived the hustle and knows we need to stop  doing  and start becoming.   

After reading this book, you will discover:


How to proactively set boundaries in your life
How to get comfortable with obscurity
The best way to push back against the demands of contemporary life
The importance of embracing silence and solitude
How to handle the stressors that life throws at us
To Hell With the Hustle  is for anyone who is


Feeling overwhelmed with the demands of work, family and community
Wanting to connect and spend time with their family.
Tired of being anxious, lonely, and burned out
Join Bethke as he discovers that the very things the world teaches us to avoid at all costs--silence, obscurity, solitude, and vulnerability--are the very things that can give us the meaning, and the richness we are truly looking for.

224 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2019

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Jefferson Bethke

38 books973 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 837 reviews
Profile Image for Redshirt Knitting.
67 reviews2 followers
December 31, 2019
Probably a great book for its target audience of religious people. No mention of the religious nature of the book on the cover... I would not have bought it if I had known.
Profile Image for Ashley.
252 reviews22 followers
January 5, 2024
Y'all have got to stop publishing these dudes' brainstorms like they're actual texts.
41 reviews1 follower
June 3, 2020
This book was one long opinion piece with little to no support whatsoever. When I read non-fiction books, I expect a premise supported by research, anecdotes and data. This guy just sort of rambles on about what he thinks of the world and how we should live in it, sprinkling in a few (and I mean very few) sources to support what he thinks. Some of the citations are to bible verses that he references when telling the reader how to live his or her life, so those don't really count.

The intention behind the book is good--to slow down, focus on what's important, stop letting work/technology/the rat race control how you spend your time and ultimately, your happiness. But I didn't need to read this book to think those things. In fact, one of the first articles he cites is from The Atlantic. It sparked my interest, so I looked it up. You could read that article and get the gist of this 184-page book. Save yourself the time. Here's the link: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/arc...

It's just sort of preachy. The author possesses no education or expertise that would make me rely on his words. That, combined with lack of research and support for his ideas, leaves me feeling like I read a cleaned-up version of his journal. Disappointing. It probably doesn't help that I read Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell earlier this month, and there's just no comparison. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
Profile Image for Lizz.
312 reviews2 followers
October 16, 2019
What an amazing book!! I truly couldn’t put it down. It absolutely changed my mindset, and it is one I will be coming back to over and over again to refer to as I learn to say ‘to hell with the hustle!’ Jeff Bethke is such a gifted author, and I believe speaks so much truth that our culture could learn from...that really truly has the ability to change our culture if practiced. I will be reading this one again and again...and am beginning to implement some of these things on my own life and my family’s life right away!
I received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher.
Profile Image for Kelly.
500 reviews
December 28, 2019
Culturally speaking, I believe this book is insightful and thought-provoking. Though the Western world glorifies fast pace, fame, and fortune, there is true fulfillment and flourishing in and through "boring" ordinariness, obscurity, and quiet obedience to Christ. As believers, we should seek to become more Christlike not only in heart and mind (attitude and actions), but also in pace and priorities (how we steward and spend our time), being conscious of and careful with our habits, values, and loves. Reading this book, some may wonder whether the Christian life is meant to be comfortable, simply slower and gentler than the cultural norm; and I for one also wonder to what extent the American church culture (and structure) plays into the "hustle" culture at large, at least for churchgoers. Nevertheless, this book's message will likely be a timely wake-up call for many and an encouraging reminder for others.

Personally, though I don't consider myself "overworked, overspent, and overconnected," I largely appreciated and enjoyed this book. There are many wise thoughts about habits and formation, being versus doing, slowing down, saying no, etc., as well as interesting nuggets from Scripture, the life of Jesus, Jewish culture, etc. But, especially toward the end, it seemed less compelling, less focused, and bogged down by historical and political tangents and commentary.
Profile Image for Amy Hageman.
340 reviews
March 6, 2020
This is a Christian book that focuses on how living a slower, more boring, quieter life can bring meaning, stillness, calmness, and anchor our lives. I did not agree with every principle, but absolutely love the overall message and advice - Make “no” your default. Build margin. Cultivate stillness and ritual. It’s a fast read and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a Christian perspective on reducing stress in your life.
Profile Image for Lizzy.
8 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! I read it before lockdown/corona etc. but it was such a book for this time! Very easy to read and poignant/practical advice on how to put God at the centre of our busy lives and appreciate the practices He has put in place for our benefit such as sabbath. Would definitely recommend, especially for this time!
Profile Image for Rebekah Barkman.
166 reviews11 followers
October 19, 2021
A message so pertinent to our busy culture, a message that would change much of our lives if we lived my it. So convicting, especially the part about taking an intentional Sabbath rest.

“You have to go at a pace that can be interrupted. That can be responsive to the moment in front of you. Because you can’t love someone when you are hustling. And you can’t love someone when you’re going fast. But when you say no to hustle? You can be stopped. You can step into the holy moment of grace. Jesus did it. He felt other people’s pain. He leaned into their space. He understood their hurt. He waited and didn’t hustle past. He loved.”
Profile Image for Dr. B.
174 reviews19 followers
July 27, 2021
This book had a good premise but failed to deliver.

I went into this book thinking it would be a thought-provoking read, needless to say, I was disappointed.

I will still recommend it as it might contain some interesting notions for other readers out there.

I would like to thank the Publishers, NetGalley, and the Author for sending me a copy of this book.
Profile Image for John.
866 reviews55 followers
February 28, 2020
Jefferson Bethke believes that we Americans have bought a lie: work has become where “we derive our ultimate value and meaning.” Work is the great American idol and we are its slaves. We celebrate those who hustle, who are grinders.

Bethke explains this kind of hustling: “When I say the word hustle in this book, I do not mean hustle as in working hard, diligently, and with focus (i.e., your coach telling you to hustle for the ball, which is a good thing!). I mean hustle as it has culturally been adapted to mean in our online conversational lexicon: a mind-set of do more, grind more, be more, accomplish more, #neversleep, and all that the word tends to tell us to do right now.” Bethke urges us to say To Hell with the Hustle.

All the while, the idol of hustle is chewing us up and spitting us out.
• 7 in 10 millennials would say they are currently experiencing some level of burnout.
• 54 percent of us (millennials) would say we are chronically lonely and say that we “always or sometimes feel that no one knows [us] well.”
• 30 percent of millennials and Gen Z currently say they experience disruptive anxiety or depression.

There has been a massive transformation in the nature of work over the past hundred years. “Derek Thompson noted one large change no one saw coming: how work itself and our view of it evolved. Work jumped from being a means of “material production” to being much more about ‘identity production.’ In other words, work used to be about making things. Then all of a sudden, work was about making us.”

Bethke believes there is a better way: Jesus’ way. He reminds us that, “Jesus was never in a hurry. Jesus was the fully human one. The prototype of all humanity. And I think we can pretty easily see that he was someone actively resisting cultural pressures, on many levels. Hustle isn’t him. And if hustle isn’t him, there’s only one other place it could come from. Hell. The curse. The source of death.”

Bethke believes that we’ve become goal-obsessed when we ought to be concerned about our formation. Formation is the result of habituated practices and the result isn’t tangible: it is the health of our soul. “Humans aren’t made,” Bethke asserts, “We are formed.” What that means is that Jesus isn’t just a repository of truth, a giver of goals, but rather that his way shows us how to be human. In Bethke’s words, “To follow Jesus we need to not just follow his teaching, but also follow his way. His process. His cadence. His demeanor. His spirit. His very essence.”

In the midst of wonderful technological innovation, from the light bulb to modern farming, to the internet, we have been promised health and happiness. But is that what we’ve received? Levels of depression have sky rocketed, our health has deteriorated. How much we sleep has shrunk.
We’ve tried to fix our souls with information and found information wanting. But information won’t fix us. We life in the age of information and of soul sickness: “Every two days we develop as much information as we did between the dawn of civilization and 2003.5”

Bethke takes us back to Augustine, who teaches us that, “We do not become just what we think. We become what we desire. We are not shaped by facts. We are shaped by what we love.” We change when what we love changes.

Christ’s final question to Peter, “Do you love me?” then, is the question.

On top of information, our world offers freedom. But freedom doesn’t free. Instead, it’s a cancer. When our freedom is not from or for Christ, it shackles us. Bethke asserts that “self-discovery in our culture is just another way to self-destruction.”

Many of these re-forming practices are revolutionary in today’s world. How do we incorporate silence and solitude into our lives in a world of constant noise? Bethke says, “Silence today is so rare, so undervalued, that it is an act of resistance.”

Do we trust God with our time? Do we trust God enough to stop being busy and rest? Have we given God space to speak to us? Do we dare risk the quiet and face boredom? Maybe that is the very thing God needs.

“America’s mantra is, ‘I produce, therefore I am.’” But God calls us to, like Mary, stop and sit at his feel. There is no better thing we could choose than this.

Bethke has taken his time digesting some heavy-duty thinkers: Augustine, Charles Smith, James KA Smith, and others, and has delivered them on the bottom shelf. Are you weary? I encourage you to pick up this book and consider why that might be. I have a few quibbles along the way: I think Bethke tends to have a vision with the individual and nuclear family inhabiting too much of the space and the church too little, and Bethke’s unusual life (he’s a writing and YouTuber) is probably hard for many of us to translate into our own lives. Bethke’s vision of what a godly life of formation looks like might look very different from yours, but overall his wisdom is helpful for everyone of us. We all ought to stop and consider what it looks like to care more about being formed into the image of Christ than

For more reviews see www.thebeehive.live.
Profile Image for Claire.
162 reviews13 followers
February 18, 2020
This was a very refreshing read, and one that I would easily pick up again. I love Bethke's discussion on formations vs. goal setting. "In general, goals are usually about a finish line. Something you can reach for and then be done once you've accomplished it... Formations aren't about doing something, but becoming someone." Bethke speaks to the modern culture and how "hustling" has become ingrained in us, and gives interesting examples of how these things are actually harming us. I did appreciate Bethke's careful approach to this topic; he doesn't bash a hurried life but states multiple times how it can have its place. Rather, he focuses on the effects and benefits of slowing down, gives practical examples of how to integrate this lifestyle, and how these things coincide with the life Christ has for us.
Profile Image for Jennie.
670 reviews2 followers
February 12, 2020
Too heavy handed on the God stuff for me. Pass
Profile Image for Oceana GottaReadEmAll.
781 reviews1,451 followers
May 7, 2021
I get it. It’s a good message. There were two solid nuggets I found in it about us and Jesus. I think I’ve heard the argument that North America lives too busy enough times that I didn’t find many new teachings here.
1 review2 followers
October 22, 2019
Do you ever feel like everywhere you go, you are in someone's way? Maybe you constantly feel like you are running late or feel overwhelmed by the crazy that is a our modern day lives. This book is a pleasant reminder that our hustle doesn't make us holy. One of my favorite quotes from the book is simply"Jesus was never in a hurry". Everywhere he went, he made time for himself and others around him. Bethke does an amazing job in this book of using stories, historical narratives and personal analysis to show why we should say "to hell with the hustle". And just like his other works, you can feel the passion jump off of every page. Many books want you to take a break. This is the only book I've read that actually forced me to do so. Buy it. Read it. Buy it for someone else. Buy it for your spouse. Buy it for your boss! This will change the way you look at your schedule, your life and your priorities forever. Thank you Jeff!!
77 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2023
I completely agree with the premise of this book and it did get me thinking about ways to cut down on a busy lifestyle and focus on boring but life-giving rhythms. However, I found myself rather annoyed through the whole book because of reasons explained below:

1. Tone. There is an oddly adversarial and preachy tone through the whole book. It comes across as a tipsy boomer at a bar ranting about “society these days”… but in fact is written by a guy in his early 30s which loses some credibility for me. I thought maybe the narrator was putting the wrong tone into the audio, but turns out the author narrated it. So I guess it’s supposed to be that way.

2. Organization. There was very little organization or progression of ideas. The book meandered across various, hardly related subjects that read more like a stream of consciousness rather than a structured way of reimagining our lives. For example, he randomly spends pages and pages talking about how African tribes have coming of age rituals and how we’ve lost that in society and now our teens are purposeless and spoiled. Like, ok I mostly agree but where did that come from and why did he start talking about it? He abruptly switches from that topic to talking about how we have too much noise in our lives (AC units, music, buses, bars) but never ties it all together or gives convincing arguments for why this is negative.

3. Writing. I’m sorry, but it’s just not very good writing. I found myself being frustrated by fake-deep phrases that are mostly fluff. He sounded like an instagram influencer while at the same time decrying instagram influencers. For example “[posting on social media] crosses wires and creates sparks, big sparks… but sparks usually indicate a bad connection” Wow. Deep. “Nowadays our rites of passage include giving teens a phone and car keys… which they only use to drive themselves away from the people who love them”. I distinctly thought that he sounded like an early 2000s spoken word guy who thinks he’s spitting bars and lo and behold he rose to fame with an early 2000s spoken word video. Go figure.

4. Evidence. I don’t need everything to be thoroughly research and data driven. But having some objective observations or support for your claims is really helpful. This book had hardly any of that which means it’s all based on opinion. (I.e. living in noisy environments is inherently bad for us). Which isn’t a bad thing, but the author doesn’t have much credibility to fall back on. If he was a 60 yo man talking about his life experience and observations that would be one thing. But instead he’s a 30 something dude who has life all figured out and now telling other people how to live. Eh. Pass.


Anyways. I’m kind of ranting now. I really wanted to like it and I’ve seen lots of friends posting about it so I was expecting more. Im just tired of young, hip, Christian men creating fake-deep content as if they have the answers to life that the rest of us are missing. I’d rather read a structured and well-researched practical application guide or else listen to elders who have lived a lot more life.
Profile Image for Liberty {SaltyBookSlinger}.
466 reviews53 followers
October 29, 2019
This is a timely reminder for us to slow the heck down!
Jefferson Bethke gently reminds us that Jesus lived a slow life, not a fast-paced, hectic, anxiety-inducing, noise polluted life. Jesus sought out solitude and quiet times for prayer and reflection. He wasn't afraid of what a quiet soul would reveal about him, or what crazy things His mind would think if He let it be still.
I especially appreciated the chapter on noise pollution, and what it's doing to our psyches.
This book is not just a call for us to slow down, it's the public outing of productivity as our new idol.
I could not agree more!
It is a faith-based book, but there's also a bunch of juicy science in here to prove the points, which is always fun!
Profile Image for Elisabeth Ensor.
733 reviews28 followers
April 3, 2020
What was ironic is that I listened to all the podcasts about this book before I read it! I really enjoyed the concepts of slowing down, which what I have done the last 4 years. I was challenged on my idea of Sabbath and love (the slow pace of about 3 miles an hour!) very encouraging information and I loved the way he explained why politics has become so polarizing and so important in our culture. And how social media has pulled out the worst in us! Since we are respsondint to technology and not a person, most of us have lost our empathy and kindness. I just got attacked yesterday on Instagram by a "friend" and this was never any more obvious in this day and age....
Profile Image for Alaina.
6,631 reviews214 followers
March 21, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Now I'm not one hundred percent super religious. Yet, I did like To Hell with the Hustle. I mean, I am Catholic but I'm never going to shove the bible quotes, or whatever else, down people's throats. Nor would I accept it from anyone else.

That being said, this book had some interesting points throughout it. However, I just wished the flow of the book was consistent throughout the entire thing. Especially since towards the end, I was just getting bored with everything. Maybe it's because it was just dumping so much information on me that I just couldn't appreciate it.

Profile Image for Ginger Newingham.
305 reviews15 followers
December 5, 2022
I always think a book on time management and pairing down is exceptionally important this time of year. Winter allows us to lean into a slower pace while also refocusing and realigning around Christmas.

The worst thing for this book was when I read “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” last year. Jefferson’s thoughts, ideas, and reflections are fine, but they weren’t earth shattering like John Mark’s were in my life one year ago. I guess that’s an encouragement for me though — we have not slipped back into the hustle we so ruthlessly had to eliminate last year. We continue to practice sabbath with some very distinct bench posts.

I guess we’ve already said “To hell with the hustle.”
Profile Image for Cathryn.
266 reviews11 followers
December 16, 2021
This was a good read with lots of researched, truthful points. It goes well with my focus for 2022 so I’m glad I had the chance to read it. I’m a burned out, middle-age woman, but I still feel the pull of the work/productivity-driven person. The book just reinforced my feeling of drowning in an information overload society. As a musical person I liked the part about dancing to my life rhythm and I appreciated he said it is hard work…because it is. I think a lot of things done today is out of the fear of responsibility or commitment. That’s so missing anymore in the workforce and other areas of life. I also agreed with his statement that we don’t have to do something spectacular for God. You know, he just wants us to be faithful in all things. The little things matter just as much if not more. I recommend this book to anyone needing encouragement or revelation in the midst of their hustle.
Profile Image for Layne Faust.
30 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2019
I loved reading this book, especially heading in to a new year. A message that is desperately needed in our tired, depressed, anxious culture. A great reminder that life as a faithful follower of Christ is going to look weird and different to the others.
Profile Image for Renée.
314 reviews
December 15, 2023
This book has a few good thoughts and ideas, but for the most part the claims are based on the author’s world and what works for him. I’m apparently a very different person. I agree with the end goals he wants to achieve: less hustle, less distraction, more rest, more focus on God, more connection to other people. But our views differ wildly on how to get there. A lot of his conclusions are based on his “best guess” and he says “I believe” a lot. I’m someone who needs a bit more reasoning, facts or Scripture backing up someone’s claims and opinions.

I much prefer the teachings of John Mark Comer on this subject, cause he does a better job of going back to the Bible and other solid research. He also does a better job of stepping out of the American cultural bubble.
Profile Image for Monika Zbínová.
412 reviews92 followers
December 12, 2021
6️⃣1️⃣. tohtoročná 📖 prečítaná ✔️ (61/53)
➡️ Jefferson Bethke: Do pekla so zhonom (⭐️⭐️⭐️)

⌛️ Kniha ma oslovila obálkou, až potom som zistila, že ju napísal chalanisko, ktorého poznám z evanjelizačných videí. O to viac ma zaujímalo, ako o téme premýšľať práve z pohľadu kresťana. Výsledok: nebolo to zlé, ale…
Jeff opisuje, čo pomohlo jemu, keď sa ocital na pokraji vyhorenia len preto, lebo žil typický (a už nie len americký) spôsob spoločnosťou oceňovaného vysokoproduktívneho života. Niektoré myšlienky boli fajn, niekde sa mi to zdalo ako skákanie z extrému do extrému. Pri čítaní som sa nemohla ubrániť dojmu, že tomu celému chýba akási väčšia životná múdrosť, a že ak by rovnakú knihu písal povedzme o 10 rokov neskôr, bola by úplne iná.
📚 Kúpite na Martinuse: https://bit.ly/dopeklasozhonom
Profile Image for Rachel Pedersen.
57 reviews
May 22, 2023
Just in the first few pages, I had starred and underlined so many things! Both relatable feelings and feeling called out. It was eye opening to learn how much information and noise we consume.

It was way more rooted in Christianity than I thought going in, which was great. I loved how he tied the Christmas season and Christmas to Sabbath. I had been focusing on Sabbath the last couple years, but got a little out of it and this pulled me back in to be more intentional with it.

This book gave me great things to think about.💛
July 20, 2023
Needed this at a time when I feel like I need more information to be “qualified.” Only .5% of all content is ever consumed…That’s freeing! Loved his thoughts on obscurity, normalcy, and the mundane being holy if it’s set apart for God. Honor God’s design, embrace limits, schedule time for interruptions and margin, and trust Him to do more with less.

RESIST the hustle and EMBRACE the slowness of Jesus to prioritize the most intimate people in my life.
Profile Image for Brooklyn.
71 reviews
December 18, 2020
Very timely and convicting book on the importance of slowing down and rest. I’ll probably use this book as a resource over and over again as I continue to learn the importance of sabbath.
Profile Image for Eli.
339 reviews119 followers
May 26, 2021
Interesante el concepto, poco profundo y muy enfocado en la cultura estadounidense. Es rápida la lectura, así que vale la pena por el tiempo invertido!
Profile Image for Cheryl Linebarger.
78 reviews6 followers
April 15, 2022
Excellent!!! The author’s take on how crazy and messed up we’ve become in today’s world is spot on, and he’ll consistently point you back to Jesus as you figure out how to overcome living your life “in an overworked, overspent, and over connected world”! His last chapter on tribalism is worth the price of the book.
Profile Image for Clara Arroyo.
6 reviews
January 30, 2024
This book’s message is very fitting for today! I appreciate a lot of Jefferson’s viewpoints on how our cultural hustle is depreciating our souls and looking at God’s original design as the antidote.
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