ARISE AND WALK

A spiritually infused self-help book focuses on changing course in finances and life.

“Too often,” Adams writes in this series opener, “as humans, when we get sidelined by life, we fail to reposition and fail to make plans to move into our next level of life.” The author writes that this reality became vivid to her at the onset of the worst of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, when all of life’s usual patterns were upended and people were faced with a choice: stagnate or pivot. Adams draws on her own experiences along these lines. In 2003, she writes, she decided that she needed new goals, a new career, and new relationships. In the process, she learned some fundamental principles about pursuing new visions, challenging old fears, and owning new objectives. The work’s title obviously hints at the author’s personal Christian faith, which she frequently references in these pages. But this guide does not advocate a “let go and let God” approach. Adams lays out many clear and practical suggestions for managing money (controlling impulses; following a budget) and finding and seizing opportunities. All of this is presented very genially, although there are a few impediments. The author tends to write in one-sentence paragraphs, which gives the narrative a droning quality. And some of the book’s sentiments feel overly simplistic. “In life,” goes one such passage, “it is entirely possible to check all the right boxes and still be faced with an unwanted career or life outcome.” A tighter edit would likely fix such things. In the meantime, Adams’ irrepressible optimism and compassionate Christianity will encourage many of her readers to find the bravery and resolve they need to alter the course of their lives.

An appealing but basic guide to embracing much-needed changes in life.