I have never been more called out by a book and honestly, I'm glad. If I could describe my experience reading this book, it was like the world around me was shouting with music, ads, sirens, and worries, and once I sat to read I suddenly had the world's best noise-cancelling headphones to help me analyze and refocus.

I absolutely loved The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and look forward to re-reading it. John Mark Comer's writing style personable and feels like you're sitting down and having a conversation with a good friend. Mark Comer is well-read and uses a lot of quotes and ideas from authors outside of the Bible to support his discussion on Biblical rest. This book is enjoyable, eye-opening, and one that can be revisited over and over. It is not a step-by-step guide on eliminating hurry, but rather an invitation to take a look at our lives and analyze what we are hurrying towards, why, what could true rest look like, and how can we start implementing it into our lives. It looks different for every one but most importantly is centered on Christ.

I will recommend this book to anyone I can.

John Mark Comer’s The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is a convicting and engaging response to one of the great spiritual challenges of our time: the constant pressure to be busy, productive, and available. Comer shows how this lifestyle is not only exhausting but deeply incompatible with genuine discipleship. He draws readers back to the example of Jesus, who moved slowly, lived simply, and made space for prayer, silence, and meaningful presence.

Much of what Comer offers—such as Sabbath rest, silence, simplicity, and spiritual discipline—echoes timeless truths also found in the Catholic tradition. His practical suggestions can help readers build healthier rhythms and recover a sense of interior stillness. However, for Catholics, the heart of spiritual renewal lies not just in habits but in the grace of the sacraments.

What’s missing in Comer’s otherwise valuable message is the centrality of the Eucharist. As Catholics, we know that true rest and transformation are found above all in the Holy Mass, where we encounter Christ in the most profound way. Regular reception of Holy Communion, faithful participation in the liturgical life of the Church, and time spent in Eucharistic Adoration offer a depth of communion with God that goes beyond lifestyle change—they bring us into living contact with the source of peace Himself.

This book is a helpful and thought-provoking read, especially in its critique of digital distraction and modern restlessness. While it doesn’t reflect the fullness of Catholic spirituality, it opens a door to deeper reflection. Read with discernment, it can inspire a renewed desire not just to slow down, but to be truly still before the Lord who is present in the Eucharist.

Overall a good call to slow down in life, spent more genuine time with Jesus and learn from him.


*Thank you NetGalley for providing a free e-copy for an honest review.

Yes, yes, yes. I think I will read this every year. Did I agree with every point he made? Of course not. But did it cause me to slow down and find God? Yes.

This is a peace-filled, gut-wrenching read. (How can those two describe the same book?)

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I read this a second time and it is still just as important. In a world that glorifies busy-ness, this is a fresh reminder. God doesn’t ask us to stay as busy as possible. In fact, God intentionally implements recurring reminders to slow down. We are finite. We can only handle so much. By stuffing our schedules so full that we need to speed to every appointment, we lose ourselves, our families, and God. I will read this every year before we begin our summer to remind myself that rest is necessary. It is important enough to carve out on the calendar. It is Holy.

Read this book on your own. Then read it with your spouse, your small group, your neighborhood, your pastor, and anyone else who is willing. The discussions will be rich and fruitful.

As a mom with 5 little boys, this was the book I needed! In this world and the non stop hurry that we live in, this was such a great reminder of the importance we need to stop and allow God to take control of every single area of our life . We think that we have already given everything to him, but this book stepped on all 10 toes! My MOST favorite part is the fact that there is many many scriptures that are listed and brought into it. This will stick with me for all of my years. This is an unforgettable read.

My faith-sharing group recently recommended this book to me as a must-read and I am glad I grabbed a copy. I definitely encourage others to pick up a copy to soak up the wisdom offered in this book.

In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry John Michael Comer begins by defining the problem that we all know exists: we all live in a constant state of hurry and rush, simply getting from one thing to another without ever truly entering into the beauty of the life we are living. What is truly refreshing about this book is his proposal that we do not have to live this way. Unlike many who lament the way we live but shrug their shoulders saying “well, that’s just modern life” Comer actually presents us with a reasonable solution. And that solution is following JESUS: it is as simple as it is revolutionary!

Throughout the book, Comer presents many suggestions for how to live an un-hurried life, but my very favorite part of the book is when he gives 20 rules/spiritual disciplines for living an un-hurried life. They are not easy, but I have been able to incorporate some of them into my life and I have found greater peace with many of them!

Comer writes this book as a faithful, observant, Protestant Christian and as a Catholic, I would like to add that many Catholic practices such as prayerful reception of the Holy Eucharist, time spent in Adoration, and prayerful recitation of the Rosary—just to name a few—are wonderful practices that help us to also live out this call to radically follow Jesus and live an un-hurried life.

Many thanks to John Mark Comer, Waterbrook & Multnomah, and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are offered freely and are entirely my own.

The message I need to hear. The message we need to hear. I'm in a hurry. You're in a hurry. We're all in a hurry. The easier our lives become, the more will fill them with worldly pursuits. God wants our time and time spent with God is our only way to a relationship with him that will truly impact our lives. Comer's message is inspiring and relevant. Let's flow down and find God in the moment.

"The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" is a balm for any Christian person who feels spread thin in the world of BUSY and MORE. John Mark Comer dives into the biblical definition of rest, the importance of rest to the Father and Savior, and practical advice on how to rest ourselves. Comer's book is not merely an invitation to rest but a larger call to action - to abandon the world every Sabbath in favor of being filled by the Word, by the Spirit, by the Lord.

A very accessible book with a solid argument for why we need to eliminate hurry from our lives to improve our spiritual wellbeing. And there are practical steps for beginning to eliminate hurry. The style was easy to read and conversational. I really enjoyed it.

By far my favorite book this year! This book is a combination Atomic Habits, Comfort Crisis, and Essentialism but from a biblical perspective. I so needed this book! In a world where everyone and everything is done in a hurry, Comer makes the case that a slower pace can lead to a simpler life...and who doesn't want that? Full of great stories from his life and from the Bible, I marked this book up more than most I've read...this will be one I come back to yearly.

You should read this book if you feel overwhelmed by the constant busyness of life. In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, we are reminded that God never intended for us to live under such pressure. Through the example of Jesus, it shows how to slow down, make time for stillness and prayer, and be truly present. This book offers a practical, inspiring guide to living with peace, purpose, and a deeper connection to God. It’s a reminder that slowing down allows God to move, speak, and guide us in ways we might otherwise miss.

My God winks:
“My agenda for our time together is simple: to pass on some of the best things I’ve learned from sitting at the feet of the master.”

“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

“Corrie ten Boom once said that if the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy. There’s truth in that. Both sin and busyness have the exact same effect—they cut off your connection to God, to other people, and even to your own soul.”

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer is a refreshing and convicting exploration of the modern epidemic of busyness. With a blend of pastoral wisdom, biblical insights, and personal anecdotes, Comer invites readers to reflect on their pace of life and offers practical steps toward living more intentionally.

The book’s central premise is rooted in the words of Jesus: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Comer argues that our addiction to hurry keeps us from experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised. His diagnosis of our hurried culture is sharp and painfully relatable, touching on technology, workaholism, and the way our fast-paced lives erode our relationships with God, others, and ourselves.

What sets this book apart is its accessibility. Comer writes with humility and vulnerability, making it easy to connect with his journey of slowing down. The practices he suggests—Sabbath, simplicity, solitude, and silence—are timeless yet urgently needed in today’s world. His approach isn’t about adding more to your to-do list but about subtraction: clearing space for what truly matters.

While some readers might find the pace of the book a bit repetitive, the repetition serves to hammer home the urgency of the message. This isn’t just a book to read; it’s a manifesto to live by.

Overall, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is both deeply spiritual and immensely practical. It challenges the reader to step off the treadmill of busyness and embrace a slower, more meaningful way of life. Highly recommended for anyone feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or longing for a deeper connection with God and their purpose.

I love John Mark Comer’s writing because he always is so articulate and introspective. This book didn’t disappoint!
We as a culture are so used to getting everything immediately that we never try to slow down. It’s all about how quickly we can get to the next best thing.
I loved how Comer encourages us to challenge that and instead slow down.
I’ve already suggested this to so many people!

An excellent perspective on how to Biblically slow down as Jesus calls us to do, despite the counter-cultural approach to our pace of life. Great stories and practical application points to incorporate. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Such a timely book! I truly believe for us to apprentice to Jesus today, we must adhere to what Comer lays out in this book. We are unconsciously making ourselves unavailable to God by not fighting against a culture that tells us we must pay attention to the tyranny of the urgent. Jesus has a much better life available for us than what we have been settling for. This book also feels like a prequel to "Practicing The Way." I would recommend both to all apprentices of Jesus.

his book was AMAZING. I will be rereading and annotating this, then probably rereading it again. Eliminating hurry is such an important, yet frowned upon concept. It’s one of the best ways to live like Jesus that most modern day Christians (and people in general) utterly fail at. John Michael Comer likely solved the secret to pure contentment with this read. It’s such simple, yet difficult, concept to grasp. JMC helps you to take the steps you need to remove the rush from your life.

I was gifted an ARC from NetGalley, but all opinions expressed are my own.

This book is amazing, it I so good to be reminded to slow down, will definitely be reading this again in the future when I need another reminder.

I love this book so much that it is one I read over and over. Comer's advice is a contrast to our go, go, go society, and a literal breath of fresh air. If I could give this book ten stars, I would.

One of the absolute best books out there on Christian spirituality and how to clear out space in your life that you didn't know you had. Genuinely life-changing.

(I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

I've been hearing about this one for years, but hadn't picked it up because I didn't think I'd get much from it (I feel like we're pretty good about saying no to things and intentionally choosing a slower pace of life for our family most of the time). I understand the hype around it and found it to be a valuable read despite not finding it as life changing as many who recommended it to me.

In many ways, I found this book to be approachable -- particularly his casual writing that is easy to understand which includes lots of practical application. Yet many of his application ideas come from a place of immense privilege and I didn't feel like that was properly addressed. And while it felt like there were lots of practical application ideas, it also felt like it was missing some depth and substance.

In the end, I feel like there were plenty of nuggets of wisdom to chew on and many practical takeaways to consider that I'd definitely recommend this book!

✨Book Review✨

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer

📖 This is a Non-Fiction book that is about exactly what it sounds like - slowing down and eliminating hurry from life. The book gives both practical and biblical ideas for spending more time truly scaling back and incorporating true rest into your life. John Mark Comer is relatable and speaks as a peer, while also being an expert in the subject of what hurry is and how to feel less busy.

📚 As someone who tends to wear busy as a badge of honor this book was a reality check over and over again. John Mark Comer challenged me to explore whether accomplishing “one more thing” is really what I crave and if cramming my schedule full is truly serving me. He (re)introduces the idea of spiritual disciplines and explores why they are necessary for all. He cites experts but also shares his own stories. There are practical tips that are guilt and shame free.

🌟 I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for guidance in “unhurrying” their life. The book does have a biblical basis, so you should take that into consideration. While being faced with accountability was uncomfortable at times, being reminded that I am able to choose how I spend my time was worthwhile.

I got to buddy read this with my FIL which made it extra special!

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