book review: The Principle of the Path

It’s deceptively simple.

Truly, there is nothing in Andy Stanley’s book, The Principle of the Path, that you don’t already know, or that you wouldn’t figure out if you put your mind to it.

But, therein lies the rub…very few of us stop and actually think about this simple life principle.

In a nutshell, this ultra simple yet grossly overlooked principle states this: the path you are on determines where you are going.

Geographically, no one would argue with this point. If you want to go to New York City, heading west from Chicago isn’t going to get you there. If you want to go to Paris, hopping on a plane to Tokyo is not part of the plan.

Yet, when it comes to our lives, we ignore, or are blissfully unaware of the impact that our daily decisions have on our ultimate goals. The path leading to financial security is not strewn with credit card debt. If a healthy marriage is the goal, then ’innocently’ flirting with a single co-worker is nowhere on the map. To get that diploma, waiting until the night before the final to start studying isn’t the way to go.

While the basic premise of The Principle of the Path is simple, the message is vital. Stanley’s book is a reminder and a wake up call to all who have fallen asleep at the steering wheel of life.

I wish I had read it years ago.