Book Review: Do Hard Things
My latest read was Do Hard Things: A teenage rebellion against low expectations by Alex and Brett Harris. The authors are twin brothers, currently 19 years old. The book grew out of concepts they began to explore on their blog, www.TheRebelution.com, four years ago. Their main point is that adolescence--the teenage years--is the time when people are best equipped to dream big and then follow through on their dreams by doing Hard Things. It's true that some of their phrasings sound socially reactionary--such as their almost wistful tone when discussing the young teenagers of a century ago who rose to the occasion of supporting their siblings after tragedy. But it's hard to think the authors' hearts are in the wrong place because of their intense hopefulness and confidence. I think they're right that teenagers are capable of great things--maybe even greater things than the average adult. And I agree with them that meaningful, hard work confers self-esteem and a sense of significance. (Really? It's hard to feel that your life is meaningful when you've spent your entire life since the age of 6 as an unpaid pencil-pusher in a government institution.)
My favorite parts of this book were the stories about historical (and current!) teens who have done things we don't consider possible at their age. One example is George Washington, at the age of 17 (not yet an adult), having a full-time job working for the government as the supervisor of a county department. ("But he was George Washington!" you say.) Did you know there are currently two different 18-year-old MAYORS in this country? (And not of small places, either.)
My big take-away is that it's GOOD for adolescents to be prepared and raised to do Hard Things. Hard Things aren't just dreams that a few special teens will have and even fewer will achieve. Being a published author at 14, or choosing to get married and have kids and support them at 17, or running your own non-profit organization at 19--which you started at 15 and now you manage a staff--are not things that are just accessible to children of the wealthy, nor are they always the result of parents doing things FOR their children. If there is any real justification for creating "adolescence" as a phase of life and subjecting young people to it, this is it: while you are living at home, without the obligations of a family and a career but with all the mental, emotional, and moral equipment of an adult, you have the time, the energy, the will, and the financial flexibility to literally change the world. And you should.
Reading this book makes me want to do Hard Things. More importantly, it makes me want to raise my kids in such a way that they will want to do Hard Things and be able to do them. This book is full of hope about what could happen if we stop infantilizing our adolescents and stop being afraid of their sometimes explosive drive. This book is written for teenagers. But I'm glad I read it at 28 years old. Honestly, I think every parent should read it.
My favorite parts of this book were the stories about historical (and current!) teens who have done things we don't consider possible at their age. One example is George Washington, at the age of 17 (not yet an adult), having a full-time job working for the government as the supervisor of a county department. ("But he was George Washington!" you say.) Did you know there are currently two different 18-year-old MAYORS in this country? (And not of small places, either.)
My big take-away is that it's GOOD for adolescents to be prepared and raised to do Hard Things. Hard Things aren't just dreams that a few special teens will have and even fewer will achieve. Being a published author at 14, or choosing to get married and have kids and support them at 17, or running your own non-profit organization at 19--which you started at 15 and now you manage a staff--are not things that are just accessible to children of the wealthy, nor are they always the result of parents doing things FOR their children. If there is any real justification for creating "adolescence" as a phase of life and subjecting young people to it, this is it: while you are living at home, without the obligations of a family and a career but with all the mental, emotional, and moral equipment of an adult, you have the time, the energy, the will, and the financial flexibility to literally change the world. And you should.
Reading this book makes me want to do Hard Things. More importantly, it makes me want to raise my kids in such a way that they will want to do Hard Things and be able to do them. This book is full of hope about what could happen if we stop infantilizing our adolescents and stop being afraid of their sometimes explosive drive. This book is written for teenagers. But I'm glad I read it at 28 years old. Honestly, I think every parent should read it.