What On Earth Am I Here For Book Review

I have just finished reading Rick Warren’s What On Earth Am I Here For? I have not read his other book The Purpose Driven Life but I had heard good things about it. That is what inspired me to read this one.

I was a little disappointed in the book. I wasn’t expecting to have to read about 400 pages to get the answer and that was probably very naïve. Rick also suggests spreading your reading out over 40 days (biblical references to why 40 are in the book and also a contract you can sign). So this took me a lot longer to finish then I am used to.

The first 14 days were easy to read and digest. His ideas here made sense and I could relate them to my own life. After that, the days’ readings started to sound very “preachy” to me, almost like a daily lecture. He tells us that we have an assignment and that we need to accept that assignment from God. I agree with this but I don’t feel that for all of us that assignment means going out and giving testimony to others.

He also is very big on having a small group that you share your mission with and also doing a lot of journaling. He suggests writing down a “Life Purpose Statement” to help point you in the direction of your life. This idea I liked and could easily do with the help he gives in the book.

He has also added in some technology. At the end of every day’s reading there is also a link to a video message from Rick that goes along with the day’s theme.

If you want some very serious and heavy ideas for understanding your life’s purpose this book is for you. Personally, I would rather have had a little shorter guide with some humor and lightness.

(I was given this book to review by HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All opinions are my own.)