I’ve been taking some time this Summer to read Joanne Kraft’s Just Too Busy: Taking your Family on a Radical Sabbatical and it has given me quite a perspective on things. When I was approached to do this book review I jumped at the chance. One of things that drive me insane is the constant chatter of, “I’m too busy”, along with the fact that we seem to over schedule our lives and our childrens lives. So, what does happen when a family chooses to take an entire year off from any extra curricular activities? It seems to me that is when people learn how to live.
About the Book:
Just Too Busy is the story of the Kraft Family’s head-on collision with busyness and the twelve month experiment that changed their lives. When their children could recite the dollar value meals at McDonald’s faster than their time-tables, Joanne and Paul Kraft knew something was very wrong. So, instead of continuing their busyness habit and fitting more into their schedules, they took a year off from all extracurricular activities and learned how to be a family again.
My Review:
I wish I wrote this book. Although it wouldn’t be as powerful because my kids are younger and I already limit the outside activities we do. This is a powerful book that should be read by anyone that feels as if their life is constantly on the go with hauling children around from activity to activity. It offers also the childrens perspective on the sabbatical and what they felt moving through the process. There is quite a bit to reflect on regarding your own life while reading this book. The writing was fresh and funny. It was an enjoyable read.The author also touches on other subjects such, television viewing and spending more quality family time together.
Now, here is what I didn’t like about the book. Not a big deal here, but I thought the entire book would be a story about this families year together and it’s not. Their year off is covered, but the book mostly focuses on lessons they learned and gives advice on what to look for in your own life. While, it’s still good reading it was not what I had expected and kind of felt a bit random at times. I also was surprised at the amount of christian references in the book. This book uses the God alot and while I’m a big fan of God some people can be turned off my the heavy use of Christian references. No where on the back cover is religion mentioned, so I find that a bit deceptive for someone that might not want that perspective.
Overall: I enjoyed it and think it’s worth a read! I learned many valuable lessons and was given a few good ideas to try on my own.
Just Too Busy: Taking your Family on a Radical Sabbatical available at Amazon.com