Present over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living

Name: Present over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living
SKU: 47408
Availability: InStock

4.5 | 8,447 ratings

Price: 14.95

Last update: 01-03-2025

About this item

OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD!

New York Times bestselling author Shauna Niequist invites you to look at the landscape of your own life, consider how it might feel to leave behind the pressure to be perfect, and begin the practice of simply being present in the middle of the mess.

A few years ago, Shauna found herself exhausted and isolated, her soul and body sick. She was tired of being tired and burned out on busy. It seemed like almost everyone she talked to was in the same boat: longing for connection, meaning, and depth, but settling for busy.

But then something changed. She decided to trade the hustle and bustle for grace, love, stillness, and play, and it changed everything. Shauna offers an honest account of what led her to begin this journey and a compelling vision for an entirely new way to live: soaked in rest, silence, simplicity, prayer, and connection with the people who matter most to us.

As you witness Shauna's journey, you'll be inspired to embark on one of your own. She gives you the encouragement you need to:

Put an end to people-pleasing tendencies
Embrace moments of simplicity, quiet, and stillness
Accept that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy

Written in Shauna's warm and vulnerable style, this collection of essays focuses on the most important transformation in her life, and maybe yours too: leaving behind busyness and frantic living and rediscovering the person you were made to be. Present Over Perfect is a hand reaching out, pulling you free from the constant pressure to perform faster, push harder, and produce more while maintaining an exhausting image of perfection.

Join the over one million others who have already started walking this new path away from frantic pushing and proving and toward their true selves.

Books by Shauna Niequist

Scroll right to shop for books and studies by New York Times bestselling author Shauna Niequist.

Books

Visit the Store
Studies & More Books

Visit the Store
Who is Shauna Niequist?

Shauna Niequist is the New York Times best-selling author of seven books, including I Guess I Haven’t Learned that Yet and Present Over Perfect.

Where does she live?

Shauna and her husband, Aaron, and their sons, Henry and William, live in New York City.

What does Shauna enjoy?

Shauna is an avid reader and traveler, and a passionate gatherer of people, especially around the table.

Beci

Excellent Book

Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2024

This book was fantastic and really invoked some personal growth. I love the way she encourages the reader and is vulnerable through her own stories. Highly recommend.

LMS

Powerful and inspiring

Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2020

I can't tell you how many times this book came up as a recommendation. But I always bypassed it. But last night, I felt like I needed to read it. I truly believe that God will bring the right book at the right time. This book was that for me. I recently was asked "What is your identity tied to?" As I thought about it, I realized that, for most of my life, my identity has been tied to being seen as responsible and competent. This resulted in a lot of hiding, pretending, and people pleasing. I realized that somewhere along the way, I lost my true self. I wanted to be perfect. I pushed myself to the breaking point. But it was never enough. Things like self care wasn't even on my radar. I finally reached the point, where I said "I can't live like this anymore. Something has to change." I also realized that I hadn't thought about what I want out of life and for myself in a very long time. I articulated the problem, but finding a solution turned out to be difficult, and the way out elusive. Until I read this book. I devoured it in a single sitting. Shauna writes with such clarity. We share so many of the same struggles. She shares my passion for books and words. She wrote things that I've felt and thought for so long. This book cracked me wide open. Reading Shauna's journey gave me hope that I could have a different kind of life too. There is so much here to think and pray about. My process may be different than hers, but that's okay. But this book has given me a starting place. If you struggle with being overly responsible, overworked, and overcommitted, do yourself a favor and read this book. It will be like a balm for your soul. Another excellent book is Fiercehearted by Holley Gerth

Sarah

This book makes sense in Shauna's chronological journey. Let it be a part of yours.

Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2016

I have never written an Amazon review before, but Shauna has mentioned in a past book that she reads her Amazon reviews and I wanted to have some way to communicate my thoughts to her.

I found Shauna's book "Bittersweet" in a Barnes and Noble in the midst of dealing with a traumatic loss. Shauna's words pierced through my darkness and reminded me of the life in front of me. Her words helped me realize that it was my responsibility to keep making a beautiful life and to accept the gifts in front of me; that doing so didn't dishonor the pain or the loss, but would help me through it. I will be forever grateful for her vulnerability in writing this book.

After that, I went back and read Shauna's first book "Cold Tangerines." It's well written (she's a beautiful writer) but what impressed me most was the growth that had happened in Shauna in between the two books. "Bittersweet" is written by someone who has been tested by loss and questions and doubt. "Cold Tangerines" was sweet and had some inspiring passages, but its innocence is less relatable if you feel like life has tossed you around a little. Both books are authentic, though, because they are chronologically written.

That's why this book isn't totally a surprise to me. She writes in her first few books about the joy she finds in hospitality and hosting parties and feeding people and packing people and experiences into every corner of her life. I felt inspired, and tried to throw more parties and open up my home and infuse every moment of my life with joy, Shauna-style. Sure enough, it is fun--and yet it can easily result in exhaustion if your lifestyle has not been constructed with margin in mind. I appreciate Shauna's honesty and vulnerability to start a conversation about the reality of our human limitations, about identifying what drives us to push past them, and her willingness to share her realization that joy is actually not something that we have to "create" but something that we can find in our boring, quiet house, in the rhythms of our marriage, and in playing Legos with our kids--if we choose to look for it. While I agree with the reviewers who said this book got a little repetitive, I found myself copying multiple sections of her book into my journal to think and pray about. There is still plenty here.

I want to thank Shauna for continuing to share her authentic life with us. Her evolution from book to book reminds me that I am also growing, that the challenges and joy and even the boring days of the last decade of my life HAVE actually resulted in depth and growth and richness, and that I can choose to re-evaluate the directions of that growth and adjust as needed. It is courageous to put words to your present life and to share who you are NOW with others; this book inspires me to have more honest conversations about who I am and where I'm at now instead of waiting to get it all figured out. In the end, the best thing I can say about this book is that reading it forced me to acknowledge that every choice I'm making right now IS making something, and that I'm a little ambiguous about where those choices are taking me. I'm inspired to have more conversations, to do more thinking, and to pray more honestly (<--her thoughts on prayer were easily the best parts of the book) to try to figure it out. Thank you, Shauna, for sharing your journey, and for being a part of mine.

Jill R. Crawford

a wonderful reminder about what should be most important

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024

I really enjoyed this book and her gentle reminders about making ourselves a priority was something I needed to hear and know other women who need to be reminded as well.

Tarheel_81

Beauty in simplicity, value in less...a countercultural idea- Transformative!!

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2017

Excellent book, full of warmth, humor, great insight and plenty of food for thought. I had no problem 'relating' to the author though our lives are somewhat different. The points she makes can be applied to anyone. It has been a great challenge to slow down, be present, appreciate all the little, simple, ordinary things in life. It truly does help change your perspective. I find myself pausing now when my kids are talking to me, looking them in the eyes and enjoying their company (even if it is just for a couple of minutes) instead of the multitasking way I used to interact with them. I felt compelled to write a review after reading a few negatives, I am glad I went ahead and got the book anyway. It is transformative. Although I am not in the super frantic, proving stage of life that I was in a few years ago, I find she described that time of my life with extreme accuracy. Some friends and I meet in our kitchens to discuss each part of the book-it was a wonderful time to laugh, be silly, be present, remember the things that are truly important in life...the only things that matter at the end of a person's life-family, connection, God. Love changes everything and being intentional with your time says to others-you love them. I hope she writes another book. I will be first in line!

Best Sellers in

Ghosted: An American Story

4.7 578

22.04

Do It Anyway: Don't Give Up Before It Gets Good

4.6 87

15.75

Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace

4.6 25

17.05

Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms

4.8 2025

17.32

The Overcomers: God's Vision for You to Thrive in an Age of Anxiety and Outrage

5 43

19.68

Finding God's Will for Your Life: Discovering the Plans God Has for You

3.4 88

12.96

Discovering Daniel: Finding Our Hope in God’s Prophetic Plan Amid Global Chaos

5 1138

21.88

33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration

4.9 3566

17.46

Present over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living

About this item