I finally decided to pick up Dave Hollis' book, Get Out Of Your Own Way: A skeptics guide to growth and fulfillment. Having read both of Rachel Hollis's two self-help books (Girl, Wash Your Face, and Girl, Stop Apologizing), I was eager to see how her husband's would measure up. If you have questions or are curious about Get Out Of Your Own Way, this blog post is for you.
What is Get Out Of Your Own Way about?
The book is about Dave's experience going from being doubtful of personal growth and development to diving in full force. The chapters highlight his skepticism, stories of his shortcomings, and resulting growth, as well as his advice for others stuck in similar circumstances and mindsets.
Is it similar to Rachel's Books?
Yes, they are quite similar. Dave's book follows the same format that Rachel's books do. Every chapter in Get Out Of Your Own Way is devoted to a limiting belief or lie Dave held, keeping him from growth and fulfillment. In Rachel's books, each chapter was dedicated to a lie she was telling herself (Girl, Wash Your Face), or the excuse that she was making (Girl, Stop Apologizing). The two authors also have similar advice and strategies. You can see that a lot of what Dave has learned stemmed from watching his wife go through her growth journey. In comparison, I found Rachel's Girl, Stop apologizing to be more a more tactical guide, showcasing specific tools she had created (with the exception of Dave's last chapter).
Did I find it helpful?
Yes. There is plenty of valuable lessons and takeaways throughout. The greatest moments were the ones when Dave was most vulnerable and honest. Those are the bits when I really dug in as a reader and got behind what he was saying. Many of Dave's lessons are regularly discussed in other Hollis content as well, such as their podcasts, blog posts, and live events. If you are an active member of their community, you may find things familiar or repetitive. This is not always a bad thing though, sometimes we need to hear things more than once for them to sink in.
One of the most helpful aspects of this book was all the other recommendations sprinkled within it. I now have a list of content to delve into that will further my learning experience.
Is it an easy read?
I found the content very accessible and straightforward. It is a relatively short read, making it a great starting point if you are dipping your toes into self-help. You can recognize by the way Dave explains himself and personal growth that he had skeptics of the genre in mind when he wrote the book.
What rating did I give the book, and why?
I gave it a rating of 3.5-stars. I enjoyed the book and hearing from the perspective of someone starting their personal development journey, like myself. I have tremendous respect for Dave Hollis, his ability to show vulnerability, discuss masculinity, and lead in the personal growth arena. That being said, his book didn't set my heart on fire the way Rachel's did. The fact that I am not male likely has a large part to play in this. I cannot relate in the same way I can to Rachel's experience, but that does not mean this book can't do that for someone else.
I hope this breakdown of Get Out Of Your Own Way has been helpful and answered some of your questions about Dave and his new book. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is starting their own growth journey, a fan of the Hollis' other content and tools, or looking for more resources and direction. I couldn't have picked it up at a more meaningful time, than during the COVID-19 pandemic when I have been hungry for more motivating and inspiring content than ever before.
Stay safe & happy reading.
Yours Literarily,
Lauren.
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