Book: Shiny Things

Shiny Things is by two Moms, Amanda Bacon and Anne-Renee Gumley. 


About the book:

Are you addicted to distraction? 

It’s no secret that technology is driving us to distraction. But it’s not just our smart phones and smart homes to blame for the loss of our ability to concentrate. Ask any mom. Whether it’s one phone call, one child hollering, one email about an online sale, one text from a friend, a mom’s attention is being pulled in so many directions she can barely finish a sentence, let alone carry out an entire conversation. And that doesn’t even begin to address all the other good things that might be distracting Mom. 

“The desire to see what’s going on in the world and communicate is strong, so our phones are probably the most powerful distraction we face in our days,” authors Amanda Bacon and Anne-Renee Gumley say. “We don’t want to throw away the years we have with our children, pursuing temporary pleasures and chasing worthless desires.”

With ten children between them, Bacon and Gumley teamed up to write Shiny Things as a resource for moms of children of all ages. “We do not have this down; that’s why we’re writing this book. We need this message,” the authors said. “We want change in our lives so much that we’re willing to bare our souls and carve a path we can all walk down together toward victory over distractedness.” 

New York Times bestselling author and founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries Lysa TerKeurst says, “This practical, godly wisdom will meet you right where you are while pointing you back to Jesus Himself.” 

For readers whose highest priorities are honoring God and loving their families, but sometimes need help keeping their priorities in line, Shiny Things will help them: 

• identify the threat of distractions so they can learn to live with intention
• resist the pull to be interrupted by non-essentials and focus on God and their priority people
• purpose to live free from distraction with hearts turned Godward in all they do

It’s never too late to take hold of what’s most important. Today’s a great day to start.

Amanda Bacon lives in North Carolina with her husband, Jeremy, and their eight children. She works for Proverbs 31 Ministries and loves encouraging women with biblical truth and authenticity. When she isn’t driving carpool or feeding people, you can find her writing, reading, or wandering outdoors.

Anne-Renee Gumley and her husband, Andrew, live in Alaska, with their two ministries, with time reserved for bike rides, breakfast foods, and bonfires. She loves words—especially the mom related ones.

My thoughts:
Wow what an excellent read! I will be recommending this to my Mom friends. It has really made me think about distractions in my own life.

There is much to like about this book. I like that the chapters are quick reads. Each one is about 4-5 pages which make it convenient to read in one setting. It is divided into ten parts each with four chapters each. The parts end with an overview of things to remember. I was able to read through it fairly quickly.  

We all have distractions in our lives. This book addresses those distractions and how to handle them. It is practical and easy to read. Moms will be able to relate to the stories and feelings shared in the pages of this excellent book. I appreciate the authors don’t claim to be experts on getting rid of distractions and having this mastered in their own lives. They said this book is for them too.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes:
“But too often our goals become our gods, and their distraction becomes our way of life.”

"Sadly, sometimes we've been at this comparison game for so long that we're no longer sure what we personally like or feel or want."

Visit the book website here.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.  Thank you.  

Have a day of blessings!   
   Bethany