Navigating Route 20-Something: A Lifemap for the Road Ahead

When I first heard of this book to help folks through their twenties, I was keen to read it. I may be 29 and thus almost beyond its scope, but I've recently begun to reflect on my own lessons learned. So I was interested to see what Erin had to say. It's true: I turned around one day and found I'm an adult, without really knowing how it happened. This book points out some of the steps along the journey. The book is not arranged in chapters, but in signposts - twenty of them, how appropriate :) Each one outlines a tool for the young adult's growing-up kit. Some clicked with me more than others, and I suspect every reader will have a different "aha" moment. Topics include: who's driving your life; be teachable; interruptions are the stuff of life; chase your dreams, but be prepared for a long run; dealing with your own hangups; optimism; know when to take a rest; live for the moment. An overall thee runs through this book like a red thread: getting used to who you are, and making the most of it. We're not perfect, but we can accept it and live the fullest kind of life once we are at ease with our own quirks and needs. I also particularly liked the extra lists at the back: a hundred random tips for living abundantly; things I wish I'd done sooner; things I wish I'd figured out sooner, and so on. Again, not everyone will identify 100% with Erin's personal desires, but these extensive lists will have something for everyone, and certainly provide plenty of food for thought. Would my life have been any different if I'd read this book as I entered my twenties, rather than at the decade's end? Perhaps. In any case I'm sure it would have shed some light on the chaotic processes of growing up. Yet even now at this "late" stage of my twenties, it has provided some truly useful wisdom and stimulated further thought for the journey. Grace Bridges Faith Awakened

Erin Marshall's book, Navigating Route 20 Something, is the proverbial breath of fresh air. In simple, relatable, and conversational language she manages to impart a great deal of theological wisdom. Reading her book is like sitting down with an older and wiser sister, maybe a youngish "fun" aunt, while she shares what she has learned about patience, envy, dreams, true love, and more. And that's just the beginning. Each chapter closes with thought-provoking questions that guide the readers to explore their own reactions to, and understanding of, scripture. The book closes with quick-reference scripture for a variety of topics, including faith, fear, past and future. The lists on living abundantly and things Marshall wishes she had done sooner are priceless. If there's a group of 20-something (or 30-something, or 40 something, or...you get the point) women who are looking for a good book club choice - I highly recommend this book. The people who do read it will find their lives enriched for having done so.

This book really speaks to 20 somethings and where they're at. Each chapter had me nodding my head and giving internal "amens!" Lots of things jumped out at me and really spoke to my heart. You'll want a pen nearby so you can underline all the powerful lines. Really enjoyed this book.