Shauna Niequist - Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living

I begged Shauna for this manuscript a year ago while it was half-baked. When I finally received it, I read it from cover to cover in one sitting, then sat down at my laptop and wrote four emails bowing out of engagements that no longer fit my life, made two hard phone calls, and gave an end date to two other commitments. Present Over Perfect loaned me the courage, integrity, and permission Id been waiting for. I will go to the grave thankful for this message. It has changed my life.

Jennifer Hatmaker, author of For the Love and 7

Most of the teachers Ive had didnt think they were teaching me anything; they just thought we were friends. Shauna is that kind of friend, and this is that kind of book. As you turn these pages, youll be reminded about what you have loved, where youve found your joy, and perhaps what youve misplaced along the way. Most of all, youll be guided into an honest conversation about your faith and where you want to go with it.

Bob Goff, author of Love Does

I cried tears of relief while inhaling Present Over Perfect. I cried because Id completely forgotten that I dont have to earn worthiness, hustle for love, or fight to belong. Shaunas wordsequal parts elegant and urgentinvited me to remember that my worthiness, belonging, and beloved-ness are birthrights. I cant think of a more important, more desperately needed invitation.

Glennon Doyle Melton, author of Love Warrior and the New York Times bestseller Carry On, Warrior, founder of Momastery and Together Rising

Ive watched Shauna walk this journey away from proving and pushing toward connection and grace, and as a friend, Im proud of her. As a reader, Im thankful to have these pages as an inspiration and guide. For all of us who yearn for meaningful, connected lives but find ourselves sometimes settling for busy, her words are the push weve been waiting for.

Donald Miller,New York Times bestselling author of Scary Close and Blue Like Jazz

Shauna awakens our desire to not miss our lives. Because that pursuit costs us our distracting habits, we need motivation beyond disciplines and rules. We have to want to really live and be with our people and enjoy this gift of a life that God has given us. Shaunas life makes me not want to miss mine, and her words here will make you not want to miss yours.

Jennie Allen, founder and visionary of IF:Gathering, author of Anything and Restless

We live in a society that can easily have us running in circles if we arent careful. And this can result in having a life full of things we actually never intended to sign up for. Shauna helps us take a step back and reset our minds and souls. In these pages you will find wisdom and encouragement to see past temporal success and accolades to experience the deeper, more connected and truly enjoyable life. After all, it is the power of connection with others that helps us thrive in every sense of the word.

Dr. Henry Cloud,New York Times bestselling author of Boundaries and The Power of the Other

I have already read this book seven times. Its about pursuing the present over the perfectbut it is nonetheless a nearly perfect thing, a nearly perfect book. Shauna speaks exactly to my condition.

Lauren Winner, author of Girl Meets God, Still, and Wearing God

With graceful confession, Shauna has created a memoir of her hearta racing, fragmented heart that is becoming a contented, loved, and present heart. Reading this book heartened me for her, for her family, for her church, and for her generation. Shauna summons each of us to resist being sucked into the fast-paced draft of saying Yes and offers us a better way: the way of presence, the way of saying No. But this No is a Yes to something far better.

Scot McKnight, author of A Fellowship of Differents and The Blue Parakeet

ZONDERVAN

Present Over Perfect

Copyright 2016 by Shauna Niequist

ISBN 978-0-310-34299-1 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-310-34671-5 (international trade paper edition)

ISBN 978-0-310-35176-4 (signature edition)

ISBN 978-0-310-34832-0 (audio)

ISBN 978-0-310-34304-2 (ebook)

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Scripture quotations marked The Message are taken from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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Published in association with ChristopherFerebee.com, attorney and literary agent.

Cover design: Curt Diepenhorst

Cover photo: Aaron Niequist

Author photo: Sarah Carter

Interior design: Kait Lamphere

First printing June 2016

For my boys
Aaron, I love how God made you passionate,
incredibly loving & fearless.
Henry, I love how God made you
wildly creative, brave & kind.
and Mac, I love how God made you exuberant,
affectionate & truly delightful.