Product Description

A generation stands on the brink of a "rebelution."

A growing movement of young people is rebelling against the low expectations of today's culture by choosing to "do hard things" for the glory of God. And Alex and Brett Harris are leading the charge.

Do Hard Things is the Harris twins' revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential.

Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life. Then they map out five powerful ways teens can respond for personal and social change.

Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of an already-happening teen revolution challenges a generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #170 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-15
• Released on: 2008-04-15
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review
entPraise for
Do Hard Things
“Do Hard Things is an extraordinary book. In fact, I believe it will prove to be one of the most life-changing, family-changing, church-changing, and culture-changing books of this generation. I'd love for every teenager to read this book, but I'm just as eager for every parent, church leader, and educator to read it. If you do the hard thing of saying no to distractions and yes to this remarkable book, I guarantee you'll be richly rewarded.”
–Randy Alcorn, best-selling author of Heaven and The Treasure Principle

“Do Hard Things is easy to read, but it will challenge you to the core. It is inspiring, insightful, and practical. Parents, this book will get your teens into the right kind of trouble–the kind that comes when they dream, take risks for God, and dare to flout the status quo. Put it in their hands. Read it yourself. It's never too late to do hard things.”
–Joshua Harris, pastor, author, and older brother

“This book is a refreshing wake up call to our generation. We can do hard things; and give ourselves to something huge for the Kingdom of God!”
–Leeland Mooring, Grammy-nominated recording artist

“Alex and Brett Harris are two extraordinary young men with a revolutionary message. In a culture where laziness and ease is often the order of the day for teenagers, Do Hard Things presents a radical and provocative alternative. I heartily recommend this book.”
–R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Alex and Brett capture the passion and potential of our generation perfectly in this book. In Do Hard Things they encourage us to go above and beyond the status quo in everything from schoolwork to serving the poor. This is a truly unique and sorely needed book.”
–Zach Hunter, abolitionist and author of Be the Change, 16

“This book will create a distinct distaste in your soul for living an easy and comfortable life. I pray that God will use this book to inspire many young people (and old alike!) to do hard things by God's grace for the glory of His name.”
–C.J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries, author of Living the Cross-Centered Life and Humility: True Greatness

“Do Hard Things is exactly the message our generation needs to hear. This book challenges us to stop and recall the things God has put in our hearts to do and take time to do them now. Let’s address the low expectations and call our generation to rise up and see what the Lord can do when we do hard things.”
–BarlowGirl, recording artist

“This is an important book. And not just for those wanting to launch successfully into adulthood, but also for discontent twenty- and thirty-somethings who long to be catapulted into significance. The propositions in this book are neither wishful thinking about what could be nor a wistful reflection on how things used to be. The Harris brothers demonstrate with their lives and through the examples of countercultural, ‘dream-big’ teens around the world, that young adults can achieve great things and live rich, intentional, excellent, meaningful lives.”
–Ted Slater, editor of Boundless, Focus on the Family

“Alex and Brett Harris are leading the way for the fight to save their generation and in Do Hard Things they are beckoning others to join them. I pray that teenagers will listen to their cry and join them on the frontlines.”
–Ron Luce, founder of Teen Mania Ministries and author of Battle Cry for A Generation

“If you are a young person who wants to affect this world for Jesus Christ, read this book! I have watched Alex and Brett take on new and daunting endeavors with resolve and determination and, as a result, mature and develop into leaders for this generation and an example for all generations of reaching to fulfill your full potential in and for Christ.”
–Justice Tom Parker, ALABAMA SUPREME COURT

“Alex and Brett are the real deal and Do Hard Things is a real wake up call, not just for young people, but for all God's people. I can't recommend it highly enough.”
–Shannon Ethridge, best-selling author of Every Young Woman's Battle and Completely His

“Add years to your life! This book is a how-to guide for recovering the years 13 to 19. It's a good read–the trap of low expectations, the danger of leisure, surprising stories–this is stirring stuff! Do Hard Things is a winning combination of optimism and challenge.”
–Mark Dever, pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, and founder of 9Marks.org

“Do Hard Things is the textbook for anyone who works with teens; it’s a philosophical and foundational must-read.”
–Timothy Eldred, executive director of Christian Endeavor International

“As a university professor, I am well aware of the Gen Y propensity to demand more recognition for less effort and to associate self-esteem with mere being rather than for actual accomplishment. Do Hard Thing is a call to teenagers everywhere to channel their energy into world-changing activity with eternal significance. I highly recommend it.”
–Dr. Alex Chediak, associate professor of engineering, California Baptist University, author of With One Voice

“Our generation is filled with apathetic, complacent, and immature wimps. By contrast, Brett and Alex are leaders in our generation, and their message is that you can be too.”
–Hans Zeiger, author of Reagan's Children and Get Off My Honor



To read endorsements from real teens, parents, and youth workers, visit TheRebelution.com

About the Author
Alex and Brett Harris founded TheRebelution.com in August 2005 and today, at age nineteen, are some of the most popular teen writers on the web. The twins are frequent contributors to the webzine Boundless, serve as the main speakers for the Rebelution Tour conferences, and have been featured nationally on MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and The New York Times. Sons of homeschool pioneers Gregg and Sono Harris and younger brothers of best-selling author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye), Alex and Brett live with their family outside Portland, Oregon.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
What If…?
A Different Kind of Teen Book
Most people don’t expect you to understand what we’re going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don’t expect you to care. And even if you care, they don’t expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don’t expect it to last.

Well, we do.

This is a different kind of teen book. Check online or walk through your local bookstore. You’ll find plenty of books written by forty-somethings who, like, totally understand what it’s like being a teenager. You’ll find a lot of cheap, throwaway books for teens, because young people today aren’t supposed to care much about books, or see any reason to keep them around. And you’ll find a wide selection of teen books where you never have to read anything twice–because it’s been dumbed down. Like, just for you.

What you’re holding in your hands right now is a challenging, hardcover book for teens by two teens who believe our generation is ready for something different. Ready for something that doesn’t promise you a whole new life if you’ll just buy the right brand of jeans or use the right kind of deodorant. We believe our generation of young people is ready to rethink what teens are capable of, and what the teen years are all about. And we’ve noticed that once some wrong ideas are debunked and cleared away, our generation is quick to choose a better way, even if it’s also more difficult.

Our teen years have been different than most, even radically so. We’re 19-year-old twin brothers, born and raised in Oregon, taught at home by our parents, and striving to follow Christ while making more than our share of mistakes. Strangely enough, we’ve also served as interns at the Supreme Court of Alabama at 16, as grassroots directors for four statewide political campaigns at 17, and as authors of the most popular Christian teen blog on the web at 18. We’ve spoken to thousands of teens and parents at our conferences in the United States and internationally and reached millions online.

Some might think our experiences would make us unable to relate to the average teenager. But that doesn’t really bother us because we don’t believe average teenagers exist. We’ve witnessed the ideas in this book transform “normal” teens into world-changers, and we’ve seen small handfuls of teens just like you accomplish incredible things when they’re willing to break the mold of what society says their capable of.

So the story starts with us, but it’s really not about us. It’s about something God is doing in the hearts and minds of our generation. We call it a teenage rebellion against low expectations. It’s an exciting movement that is changing the attitudes and actions of teens around the world. And we want you to be part of it.

This book explores a few simple but far-reaching questions:
• Is it possible that even though many teens today have more freedom than any other generation in history, we’re actually missing out on some of the best years of our lives?
• Is it possible that everything our culture tells us about the purpose and potential of the teen years is a lie, and that we are its victims?
• Is it possible that our teen years actually represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accomplish something huge–both for ourselves and for our generation?
• And finally, what would our lives look like if we set out on a different path entirely–a path that required more effort but promised a lot more reward, and ultimately, a lot more fun?

We describe that alternative path with three simple words: Do Hard Things.

What We Don’t Mean
On the outskirts of a small town in Germany is the abbey of Dundelhoff. This small stone monastery is home to a particularly strict (and fictitious) sect of Dundress Monks who have each vowed to live a life of continual self-denial and discomfort.

Instead of wearing comfy t-shirts and well-worn jeans like most people, their clothing is either itchy shirts made from hair or painful chain mail worn directly over bare skin. Instead of a soft mattress, plush pillows, and warm blankets they choose to sleep on the cold stone floors of the abbey with not so much as a towel. You might remember reading somewhere that monks are fabulous cooks? Well, that might be true generally, but not about these monks. They eat colorless, tasteless sludge once a day. They drink only lukewarm water.

We could go on, but you get the picture. No matter what decision they face, Dundress Monks will always choose the more difficult option–the one that provides the least physical comfort, the least appeal, the least fun. Why? Because they believe that the more miserable they are, the holier they are; and the holier they are, the happier God is.

Which makes these miserable monks the poster boys for Do Hard Things. Right?

Wrong!

If you’re like most people, your first reaction to the idea of “do hard things” is something along the lines of, “Hard…,” you think nervously. “Guys, I might need to be somewhere else right about now.”

We understand your reaction. But we’re not undercover monks plotting to make your life miserable. We’re not recommending that you do just anything that’s hard. For example, we’re not telling you to rob a bank, jump off a cliff, climb Half Dome with your bare hands, or stand on your head for 24 hours straight. And we’re certainly not telling you to work harder so you can earn God’s favor.

But here’s what we are doing. We are challenging our peers to grab hold of a much better option than what the world is offering. It’s an option that has somehow gotten lost in our culture and most people don’t even know it. But we don’t just want to tell you, we want to show you. In the pages ahead you’re going to meet young people just like you who have rediscovered this better way–to reach higher, dream bigger, grow stronger, love and honor God, live with more joy–and quit wasting their lives.

That’s the short version of what we mean by doing hard things.

Don’t think of this book as a collection of nice opinions. Think of it more as an invitation to a revolution you don’t want to miss. In Do Hard Things, we not only say there is a better way to do the teen years, we show you how we and thousands of other teens are doing it right now–and how you can as well.

[Excerpt taken from Do Hard Things Manuscript - not final]

Customer Reviews

Young or Old..Join the Rebelution
This is a great book that really challenges the way you think and the way you live. This is a book that causes you to get up and do something. In a world of low expectations, I'm OK you're OK, whatever, I don't know I don't care, and endless mindnumbing entertainment with the click of a mouse.... this is indeed a refreshing book. Read it as a family or with 2 other friends and DO HARD THINGS together.

Excellent resource to challenge teens to greatness
We are using this book as our study guide with a group of 13-18 year olds. Written by teenagers, it addresses their thinking directly without pandering or talking over or down to them. The Study Guide, available for free on the website, had very good questions to lead small groups. The book and the study guide make very good base materials to lead small groups.

Help your kids start a Rebelution
I bought this book for my 15 year old grandson, and of course I previewed it to make sure I knew the book would be a positive influence. I can only say I wish I'd had this book to give to my son 25 years ago. Shoot! I wish someone had told me I COULD choose to do hard things that would set the precedent for my entire life.
The book is written (with help, I suspect-but maybe not) by teens for teens, but is not dumbed-down. I pray adults who see the enuii in our kids will use this book to encourage and help to inspire them to Do Hard Things. You can download the FREE (Did I say FREE??) study guide on the Rebelution website, and the blog gives me hope for the future leaders of this nation and this world. Do the Hard Thing--buy this for your teen and then encourage him/her to read it. Then give our kids the tools they need to practice and see the principles are true! They CAN do those things they never dreamed they could...