Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them

Normal? Who’s normal? Not you, that’s for sure! No one you’ve ever met, either. None of us are normal according to God’s definition, and the closer we get to each other, the plainer that becomes. Yet for all our quirks, sins, and jagged edges, we need each other. Community is more than just a word—it is one of our most fundamental requirements. So how do flawed, abnormal people such as ourselves master the forces that can drive us apart and come together in the life-changing relationships God designed us for? In Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them, teacher and bestselling author John Ortberg zooms in on the things that make community tick. You’ll get a thought-provoking look at God’s heart, at others, and at show more yourself. Even better, you’ll gain wisdom and tools for drawing closer to others in powerful, impactful ways. With humor, insight, and a gift for storytelling, Ortberg shows how community pays tremendous dividends in happiness, health, support, and growth. It’s where all of us weird, unwieldy people encounter God’s love in tangible ways and discover the transforming power of being loved, accepted, and valued just the way we are. show less

The first section of the book unpacks what the author means by ‘normal’ (I prefer the word 'healthy'), and how far from this we all are; the second section is about getting closer to other people. There are chapters about empathy, authenticity and acceptance, with some self-deprecating anecdotes and general commentary written in a light but thought-provoking vein.

The final section is about building stronger relationships in general, including an excellent chapter on forgiveness. There are some very thought-provoking comments about what forgiving really means. Throughout the book, where relevant, Gospel stories are unpacked, using modern language and analogies to demonstrate how Jesus handled relationships and closeness.

Written for show more Christians, assuming a general understanding of the Bible. I would recommend this strongly to anyone with that background, particularly those who are feeling bruised or ignored by other believers.

Latest longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/08/everybodys-normal-john-ortberg.html show less

Mixed feelings about this one. The basic concept behind the book is sound: we are all flawed, we must accept that in each other, and point ourselves towards God. It had a few profound spots, but mostly didn't seem like enough material for a book.

Love it! This book's title made me laugh. There are places in the book that did as well, but the real treat is the wonderful wisdom and insight the author brings to the page. I found myself highlighting passages and wanting to read them aloud to someone!

Easy to read, upbeat and humorous. Worked well for a small group setting. Although not terribly profound there were parts that sparked introspection.

Read a wonderful excerpt from this book... truths ring out in every sentence.. I've never read John Ortberg, but I think I might look at his other books..

Here's a bit of what I read:

"We are tempted to live under the illusion that somewhere out there are people who are normal...When we enter relationships with the illusion that people are normal, we resist the truth that they are not. We enter an endless attempt to fix them, control them, or pretend that they are what they’re not.
..Everybody’s Weird (yup)..Because we know in our hearts that this is not the way we’re supposed to be, we try to hide our weirdness. Every one of us pretends to be healthier and kinder than we really are; we all engage in what might be called “depravity show more management.”

I can't wait to read more... show less

Very good insight as to how to make your relationships (all kinds) more meaningful.