Gradually Then Suddenly by Mark Batterson Book Review

About the Book:

True success doesn’t happen overnight. The New York Times bestselling author of Win the Day reveals a life-changing truth about achievement: God is building you up steadily so you’re ready for overnight success.

“How did you go bankrupt?” asked a character in Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. The reply? “Two ways . . . gradually then suddenly.”

In this illuminating book, Mark Batterson reveals that every area of life—from personal growth to professional development to spiritual transformation—follows this same pattern. What we perceive as sudden success is the result of little decisions compounding over time.

Gradually Then Suddenly will help you
• cultivate cathedral thinking—adopt a long-term perspective that changes your daily decisions and life trajectory
• leverage the compound effect—discover how courageous decisions and consistent routines domino into life-changing results
• harness the power of persistence—commit yourself to the long game, and the impossible becomes possible
• curate core convictions—discover how to defy peer pressure, popular opinion, and political correctness by defining your deepest convictions

Drawing from compelling biblical examples, fascinating historical stories, and hard-won leadership insights, Batterson demonstrates that God uses long obedience in the same direction to prepare us for sudden moments of major progress.

For anyone feeling stuck in the “gradually” phase, this book is a beacon of hope. If you do the right things day in and day out, God is going to show up and show off His faithfulness—not just for you but for generations to come.

My Review:

This is another seriously encouraging book from Batterson. As is his custom, he tells many stories of people who made a decision and then kept at it. Each one had a long vision, seeing their long obedience suddenly come to the desired result. Long obedience leads to a long legacy. There are no shortcuts, however. You must practice so God can put you in the game.

Batterson reminds us, “If you do little things like they're big things, God has a way of doing big things like they're little things.” (loc 2285/4318) Little acts of obedience to God's call can ultimately change the world. He gives many encouraging stories from history illustrating his gradually to suddenly concept. Some of them show influence in following generations. “You never know who your obedience will impact.” (loc 2953/4318)

This is a good book for people who desire the encouragement to make a decision and stick with it, to make a difference in life and to leave a long legacy. You will read of many who have done so and you will receive much encouragement.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Mark Batterson is the lead visionary of National Community Church in Washington, DC. One church with a network of churches, National owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the DC Dream Center, the Culture House, and the Capital Turnaround. Mark holds a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five books, including A Million Little Miracles, Win the Day, The Circle Maker, and Chase the Lion. He has also authored the children’s books The Best Worst Day Ever and God Speaks in Whispers with his daughter, Summer Batterson Dailey. Mark and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Multnomah, 288 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)