Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer World

Reviewed by:

G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Title:

Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer World

Author:

Jeff Haanen

Publisher:

InterVarsity Press

http://InterVarsity Press

Publication Date:

December 19, 2023

Format:

Paperback

Length:

208 pages

OVERVIEW

So much has been said about overwork. Inside and outside the church, stories proliferate about people trying to work well but struggling with exhaustion, poor boundaries, and other issues. But how do we handle this problem? Is it possible to have a theology of work? Jeff Haanen believes it is. He uses his research from the Denver Institute for Faith and Work and his conversations with entrepreneurs across the nation to outline three things we all need to know about work.

• Disintegration (why it happens, why looking inward is necessary to face it)
• Reintegration (healthy habits giving a better vision than our current dysfunctional vision of work)
• Change (how we can truly be effective at applying new habits and vision)

More than anything else, what stands out about this book is that Haanen is honest about the good and the bad of work. The book structure may not be new. There are plenty of books that discuss working well. But very few of them are written by people willing to share their struggles as well their successes, and admit that some struggles are ongoing. Haanen does not brood on his mistakes, but he is up front about them and shows humbly what he learned in each situation. That gives the entire book a different flavor from the usual self-help manual.

Yes, there are similar books out there. Haanen talks a lot about boundaries, spiritual intimacy, and humility—concepts writers like John Mark Comer (The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry) have discussed. Haanen also talks a lot about vulnerability—drawing on the work of Christian mental health experts like Curt Thompson (The Soul of Shame). These techniques put Haanen in what we might call the “new honesty generation” of Christian leaders: leaders who don’t try to sound like business professionals. Leaders who are willing to admit that having a good sales pitch and looking invulnerable is not enough. As Haanen writes in part 1, a Christian theology of work isn’t about “impact, success, or even a way to advance the gospel in the world—it’s about who we’re becoming in the process of our working lives.”

But not every writer embracing new discussions about vulnerability and mindfulness writes frankly about how challenging it is. Haanen straight out tells readers in one chapter that this process is not easy. He even tells them that reading a book about work will not be enough—not by itself. Having a healthy community is key to making substantial life changes.

This approach may sound stark, but Haanen never sounds like a drill sergeant or a cynic. He sounds sober-minded. He gives good advice, but it is honest advice delivered with a minimum of spin. His solutions are hard-won but clear and time-tested.

Far better than readers expect, and far more life-giving than many books twice its length.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5 stars):

5 stars

Suggested Audience:

Christians interested in building a vision for work that they can truly practice, delivered with a minimum of sales jargon.

Christian Impact:

Haanen refuses to tell readers they can figure out how to work right and live right on their own. He shows how important an intimate walk with God is for either of those things. In doing so, he gives what Scotty Smith would call “disruptive grace”: surprising but life-giving advice that breaks our preconceptions and frees us to live better.

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