New York Times bestselling author Jen Hatmaker, with cheeky candor and fearlessness, guides readers to a deep dive into how they are wired and provides them with the tools to walk in that identity with freedom and guts.Stuck in people-pleasing or fear, many women hide and pretend, then end up sidelined in their own lives. But what they want is to be brave, to claim every gift, dream, quirk, and … claim every gift, dream, quirk, and emotion inside, to stop performing and start living.
Beloved New York Times bestselling author Jen Hatmaker understands the struggle to find firm footing in a culture that operates from stereotypes and often unreachable expectations. In this new book, she offers women encouragement, challenge, and humor as she helps them identify everything that makes them tick and gain the confidence to live it all out. She leads them through five self-reflective categories–who I am, what I need, what I want, what I believe, and how I connect–and helps them:
- identify the exact ways they pretend, and learn instead how to be genuine at all times, in all ways, in all contexts;
- be empowered to say yes and no without guilt;
- learn to voice both their spiritual questions and convictions; and
- opt out of drama and into healthy adult relationships.
With wry humor, earnest passion, and been-there insight, Jen calls women to the life-giving freedom of leaning into the identity, convictions, and community they’ve been given.
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I have several of Hatmaker’s books, as well as a few from her husband, and in each of them I have found morsels of truth that I usually write down in my “Important Quote Book” for future reference. ( If you don’t have a tome like that full of powerful snippets of advice or wisdom, what are you waiting for? 🙂 )
In “Fierce, Free and Full of Fire,” Jen tackles many things–body image, spiritual lives, friendship, saying yes to too many things, parenting, marriage, women’s roles in society–but at the crux, the book is about taking ownership of our lives, accepting the challenges we can overcome with persistence and commitment. There is so much pressure on women that we either tamp down and ignore, accept or attempt to change ourselves to meet the expectations, usually causing us to wither under the stress of other people’s opinions. Hatmaker is here to give you the permission you need to let that go and embrace who God made you to be, without fear or hesitation.
There are too many quotes that I highlighted to share them all, but here’s a couple that stuck out to me:
“Love what you love in big, hungry, blazing ways.”
“Your voice matters. You are not powerless. You are not required to shape-shift for belonging; this is not a real rule and you don’t have to follow it.”
“Just as it is not your responsibility to explain your every step, it is also not your job to change someone’s mind. You get to be a thinking, reasonable, discerning woman who takes her faith seriously.”
This book will cause you to do some real work of your own–please understand that going in. Hatmaker’s trademark humor, along with her gut punch of honest words will hit you, whether you’re ready for it or not. So be prepared. Bring your Post-It tabs and your highlighters, your notebook and read with an open heart. And be here for what comes next.
Hatmaker also brings up a very good point–that while some chapters will “hit us right between the eyes,” others will not. The great thing about this book is that you can find at least one two or three chapters that will speak directly to you. You can glean a lot from “Firece, Free and Full of Fire,” regardless of where you find yourself right now.
I think this book would be amazing to do in a book club setting. Even if you and your bestie did this book together, you could each gain new insights from it. Well done, Jen!
This book came to me when I needed these words the most. I love how real Jen Hatmaker gets in her writing. Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire will ignite you to believing in yourself for who you are. It will remind you that who you are is important and pretending to be someone you think others want you to be is hurtful and not necessary.
I love how Jen Hatmaker breaks down the book into sections that really help you focus on the areas of your life when you are ready to dive in. I am able to go back and read sections when I need them in the moment too.
If you are ready to breathe deeper into who you are, stand tall and be your true self, this book is for you. If you are not sure what that means but it sounds interesting, please, this book is for you. If that doesn’t sound like you at all and maybe you are not sure what I am talking about, read a bit of it anyway.
This is the type of book I hope the girls growing to become women will not need and will ask their mothers and grandmothers, why such a book exists.
I listened to the audio of this book and have already ordered my physical copy for my second read which I plan to begin as soon as my copy arrives. Every single chapter, I’d find myself thinking I need to pause and write this down. Ohh, this is such good insight. I need to remember this part! Etc. I fully plan to read again to highlight and write tons of notes in the margins. Jen Hatmaker is such a fierce teacher of women! She’s a treasure and I’m sure glad that I found her several years ago.
Thanks to Nelson Books and NetGalley for a digital advance reader’s copy. All comments and opinions are my own.
This is the first Jen Hatmaker book I’ve read, and I had no preconceived ideas of who she is or her style. It wasn’t the book I was expecting, as I was hoping for a more contemplative and faith-based perspective. The title Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire totally describes Jen. If she was a friend of mine I think I could only take her in small doses. She is a strong-willed, opinionated, and intense person who has thought about serious issues and isn’t afraid to share what she thinks and tell you how she got there. This often humorous book is written for women, assuming readers are questioning similar areas (i.e. self-esteem, marriage, parenting, eating disorders, social justice, community, friendship) and covers these topics in a way to boost confidence and support personal growth. She does mention that not every topic will resonate with every reader, and I agree. Overall it’s a supportive read for those who are looking for a leader with a strong personality to encourage them to confidently step out in faith. Unfortunately there is less discussion of spiritual faith and more encouragement to have faith in yourself.
Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire mixes Jen Hatmaker’s personal story, spiritual thoughts, and self-improvement principles to empower women to live in freedom. Reading this book made me feel like the author was a friend I’d known for years. She’s funny, honest, and challenging. I didn’t agree with everything she said and I found the mild cussing to be mostly superfluous, but I did benefit from reading this book and I intend to reread it annually.
Truth lies at the core of everything in Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire. From this concept, comes the freedom and empowerment that Jen Hatmaker invites readers to push for. Whether the chapter addressed who I am, what I need, what I want, what I believe, or how I connect, some part of each anchored in the concept of truth, be it telling the truth, accepting the truth, or searching for the truth.
As I read Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire, I found that some chapters refreshed and affirmed my heart, some challenged previous thoughts, and some didn’t really apply to me. I Want This Dream and I Believe in Spiritual Curiosity ranked as my favorite chapters. I Want to Connect Without Drama was the most challenging as my dysfunctional family creates abundant drama. I recommend Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire by Jen Hatmaker.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
This book is uplifting, challenging and hilarious all in one. Parts of it are a call to action – I can do better at this or that. Others are a reminder – I am so lucky! And yet others are funny quips that let you know we are all in this together.
Jen’s insights and challenges to step outside my comfort zone have motivated me to be more authentic and transformative in the way I think about connecting with friends, coworkers and and even my own faith.
I love Jen’s references to books on similar topics – now I can go seek out her suggestions!
In this time of global uncertainty and forced isolation, I feel energized, hopeful and eager to affect change in my behaviors and attitudes! I hope to positively affect those around me.