A Selfie of One's Soul

 Book Review of  You Are What You Do  By Daniel Im    

 

This is a book about living in the new ‘normal’ economy.  The introduction clearly identifies the presence of this trend and how it works.  Call it “gigging, freelancing, contracting, side hustling,” Im presents his book as an aid to help readers bring the new normal into focus- to help us see the subversive ways it is trying to change the way we approach work, love, and life. (p 4)

                                                                                                                                                                  

The Gig Economy teaches us 7 lies which become the theme of the 7 chapters of the book. The lies, however, are not listed immediately which was unsettling for me as a reader. In a unique and creative manner, Im introduces each falsehood by describing the particular way it has affected our lifestyle. For example, when meeting someone we commonly ask, what do you do.  A question that often leads to deeper conversation.  But the new economy regards what we do as a statement of who we are.  So we look for a job that “satisfies an internal drive for meaning and an external drive for quality of life” to define ourselves.

The commonality of each lie is a self-centered outlook. Lies 2-7 are: you are what you experience, you are what you know, you are who you know, you are what you own, you are who you raise, you are your past. Pastor Im carefully prepares the reader in each case to recognize the lies by reviewing the current culture. His research is thorough, and his illustrations are apropos.

Each lie is uncovered, and appropriate Scripture is applied to counter it. The closing challenge is this. “How do you think your life would be different if you lived according to the way God sees you? What would change? (p 181)

You Are What You Do would be very useful as a young adult or high school Bible study.  It also provides direction for pastors and church leaders making their way through the rapidly changing and growing narcissistic culture.