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A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life
Full of beautiful, heart-wrenching, and hilarious stories, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years details one man's opportunity to edit his life as if he were a character in a movie.
Years after writing his best-selling memoir, Donald Miller went into a funk and spent months sleeping in and avoiding his publisher. One story had ended, and Don was unsure how to start another.
But he gets rescued by two movie producers who want to make a movie based on his memoir. When they start fictionalizing Don's life for film--changing a meandering memoir into a structured narrative--the real-life Don starts a journey to edit his actual life into a better story. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years details that journey and challenges readers to reconsider what they strive for in life. It shows how to get a second chance at life the first time around.
255 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2009
About the author
Donald Miller
177 books2,423 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Donald Miller grew up in Houston, Texas. Leaving home at the age of twenty-one, he traveled across the country until he ran out of money in Portland, Oregon, where he lives today.
Harvest House Publishers released his first book, Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance, in 2000. Two years later, after having audited classes at Portland’s Reed College, Don wrote Blue Like Jazz, which would slowly become a New York Times Bestseller.
In 2004 Don released Searching for God Knows What a book about how the Gospel of Jesus explains the human personality. Searching has become required reading at numerous colleges across the country. In 2005 he released Through Painted Deserts the story of he and a friends road trip across the country. In 2006, he added another book, To Own A Dragon, which offered Miller's reflections on growing up without a father. This book reflected an interest already present in Donald's life, as he founded the The Mentoring Project (formerly the Belmont Foundation)–a non-profit that partners with local churches to mentor fatherless young men.
Don has teamed up with Steve Taylor and Ben Pearson to write the screenplay for Blue Like Jazz which will be filmed in Portland in the spring of 2008 and released thereafter.
Don is the founder of The Belmont Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation which partners with working to recruit ten-thousand mentors through one-thousand churches as an answer to the crisis of fatherlessness in America.
A sought-after speaker, Don has delivered lectures to a wide-range of audiences including the Women of Faith Conference, the Veritas Forum at Harvard University and the Veritas Forum at Cal Poly. In 2008, Don was asked to deliver the closing prayer on Monday night at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
Don’s next book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years humorously and tenderly chronicles Don’s experience with filmmakers as they edit his life for the screen, hoping to make it less boring. When they start fictionalizing Don’s life for film–changing a meandering memoir into a structured narrative–the real-life Don starts a journey to edit his actual life into a better story. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years details that journey and challenges readers to reconsider what they strive for in life. It shows how to get a second chance at life the first time around.
Donald Miller grew up in Houston, Texas. Leaving home at the age of twenty-one, he traveled across the country until he ran out of money in Portland, Oregon, where he lives today.
Harvest House Publishers released his first book, Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance, in 2000. Two years later, after having audited classes at Portland’s Reed College, Don wrote Blue Like Jazz, which would slowly become a New York Times Bestseller.
In 2004 Don released Searching for God Knows What a book about how the Gospel of Jesus explains the human personality. Searching has become required reading at numerous colleges across the country. In 2005 he released Through Painted Deserts the story of he and a friends road trip across the country. In 2006, he added another book, To Own A Dragon, which offered Miller's reflections on growing up without a father. This book reflected an interest already present in Donald's life, as he founded the The Mentoring Project (formerly the Belmont Foundation)–a non-profit that partners with local churches to mentor fatherless young men.
Don has teamed up with Steve Taylor and Ben Pearson to write the screenplay for Blue Like Jazz which will be filmed in Portland in the spring of 2008 and released thereafter.
Don is the founder of The Belmont Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation which partners with working to recruit ten-thousand mentors through one-thousand churches as an answer to the crisis of fatherlessness in America.
A sought-after speaker, Don has delivered lectures to a wide-range of audiences including the Women of Faith Conference, the Veritas Forum at Harvard University and the Veritas Forum at Cal Poly. In 2008, Don was asked to deliver the closing prayer on Monday night at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
Don’s next book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years humorously and tenderly chronicles Don’s experience with filmmakers as they edit his life for the screen, hoping to make it less boring. When they start fictionalizing Don’s life for film–changing a meandering memoir into a structured narrative–the real-life Don starts a journey to edit his actual life into a better story. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years details that journey and challenges readers to reconsider what they strive for in life. It shows how to get a second chance at life the first time around.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,720 reviews
July 10, 2010
I have a love/hate relationship with this book. At times, he had me frustrated with his writing about himself, and sometimes he hooked me with how he applied his stories to the point of the book. The 4 stars is an average: 5 stars for the point of the book (Life is a story, what kind of story are you living?). It really got me thinking and I have probably thought about this book everyday since I read it at some point or other. But, I gave it a 3 for the rambletastic ridiculousness of his stories all about himself.
It is worth the read. My wife is reading it now. I especially liked the story about the family that realized that the story their family was living wasn't as excited as the life of rebellion their daughter was experimenting with. So they did something drastic. You have to read it to find out what...
It is worth the read. My wife is reading it now. I especially liked the story about the family that realized that the story their family was living wasn't as excited as the life of rebellion their daughter was experimenting with. So they did something drastic. You have to read it to find out what...
June 3, 2011
The main way A Million Miles in Thousand Years struck me was the way Donald Miller danced around this idea that many of us are waiting to act the lead role of our own stories. Literally, sitting at home, smoking a cigarette, hoping our agent will call. We want God to write some heroic scenes where we get to rescue the girl, make a million, kiss the girl, save the bus full of kids from the upcoming cliff while we’re on the phone making a few more million, and then relax on a tropical island (which we own) drinking Mai-Tai’s. That’s the story we want delivered to us. We want God to call us and say “Shower and shave! I’ve just written the story you were born to play.”
And then, when seemingly God forgets our number. Or when we starting living out our day-to-day where all the heroic scenes are apparently re-written with 50 unbearable pages about going to the office and drinking bitter coffee. Or falling in love with someone who seems quite content in loving someone else. Well then we become angry and start eating more Hagen-Daaz. And why shouldn’t we? Because either:
A. God is a terrible storyteller.
Or
B. God is a sick, twisted being who gets his kicks out of watching us suffer.
He’s either incompetent or cruel and sometimes we think it’s a little of both – so we lose hope.
However, in Donald Miller’s profound and poetic way A Million Miles in a Thousand Years shows us that God doesn’t want us to be just actors in our own life, hanging out in our trailers smoking a cigarette waiting for Him to write a scene worth our time. No, God wants writing partners. He wants us to pull up a chair, a cup of coffee, and create with him. He wants us to stay up until 3 am going through the painful, laborious, exhilarating process of working with him on our own life script.
Sure sometimes the story might take on a life of it’s own, but ultimately he wants us to ask and wrestle with the question that is the driving force behind every great story – what does this character really want? What do I really want? Seems a simple enough question, but I know its not having wrestled with that question for five years in my own literal story Are You My Life?: Searching for Self, Faith, and a Freaking Job!
God wants us to banter back and forth with him, dream the next plot line – heck, even argue with him about what should happen next because we’re so passionate about the story we are writing together. So are we going to watch our own lives with a bag of popcorn and then complain when the lights go out because the end didn’t turn out like we thought it should? Or are we going to help write the dang thing?
Life will ultimately be much more freeing to us and to those around if we pull up a chair to that blank page and ask, “All right, so what needs to happen next?”
And then, when seemingly God forgets our number. Or when we starting living out our day-to-day where all the heroic scenes are apparently re-written with 50 unbearable pages about going to the office and drinking bitter coffee. Or falling in love with someone who seems quite content in loving someone else. Well then we become angry and start eating more Hagen-Daaz. And why shouldn’t we? Because either:
A. God is a terrible storyteller.
Or
B. God is a sick, twisted being who gets his kicks out of watching us suffer.
He’s either incompetent or cruel and sometimes we think it’s a little of both – so we lose hope.
However, in Donald Miller’s profound and poetic way A Million Miles in a Thousand Years shows us that God doesn’t want us to be just actors in our own life, hanging out in our trailers smoking a cigarette waiting for Him to write a scene worth our time. No, God wants writing partners. He wants us to pull up a chair, a cup of coffee, and create with him. He wants us to stay up until 3 am going through the painful, laborious, exhilarating process of working with him on our own life script.
Sure sometimes the story might take on a life of it’s own, but ultimately he wants us to ask and wrestle with the question that is the driving force behind every great story – what does this character really want? What do I really want? Seems a simple enough question, but I know its not having wrestled with that question for five years in my own literal story Are You My Life?: Searching for Self, Faith, and a Freaking Job!
God wants us to banter back and forth with him, dream the next plot line – heck, even argue with him about what should happen next because we’re so passionate about the story we are writing together. So are we going to watch our own lives with a bag of popcorn and then complain when the lights go out because the end didn’t turn out like we thought it should? Or are we going to help write the dang thing?
Life will ultimately be much more freeing to us and to those around if we pull up a chair to that blank page and ask, “All right, so what needs to happen next?”
January 28, 2012
After getting past the first 8 chapters, "A Million Miles" started getting very thought provoking and I was quite challenged by some of the ideas that Miller shares. The idea of creating a story, taking the skills and abilities that God has given you and doing something with them, rather than waiting for something to happen to you, has struck a chord.
As a caveat, that there are Rob Bell-esque tones in here, and I disagree with some of the theology that Miller spouts throughout the book. However, you don't throw the baby out with the bathwater and I have read this book much as I would any secular story - testing everything against the Truth of Scripture and using discernment. In the end, I came away with several good lessons and lots to think about.
As a caveat, that there are Rob Bell-esque tones in here, and I disagree with some of the theology that Miller spouts throughout the book. However, you don't throw the baby out with the bathwater and I have read this book much as I would any secular story - testing everything against the Truth of Scripture and using discernment. In the end, I came away with several good lessons and lots to think about.
May 14, 2012
Quotes from the book...
"People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen. But joy costs pain."
"fear isn’t only a guide to keep us safe; it’s also a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life."
"It made me wonder if the reasons our lives seem so muddled is because we keep walking into scenes in which we, along with the people around us, have no clear idea what we want."
"God wants us to create beautiful stories, and whatever it is that isn’t God wants us to create meaningless stories, teaching the people around us that life just isn’t worth living."
"Most Americans aren’t living very good stories. It’s not our fault, I don’t think. We are suckered into it. We are brainwashed, I think."
"Advertising does exactly this. We watch a commercial advertising a new Volvo, and suddenly we feel our life isn’t as content as it once was. Our life doesn’t have the new Volvo in it. And the commercial convinces us we will only be content if we have a car with forty-seven airbags. And so we begin our story of buying a Volvo, only to repeat the story with a new weed eater and then a new home stereo. And this can go on for a lifetime. When the credits roll, we wonder what we did with our lives, and what was the meaning."
"The ambitions we have will become the stories we live. If you want to know what a person’s story is about, just ask them what they want. If we don’t want anything, we are living boring stories, and if we want a Roomba vaccum cleaner, we are living stupid stories. If it won’t work in a story, it won’t work in life."
"when something hard happens to you, you have two choices in how to deal with it. You can either get bitter, or better. I chose to get better. It’s made all the difference."
"I realized how much of our lives are spent trying to avoid conflict. Half the commercials on television are selling us something that will make life easier. Part of me wonders if our stories aren’t being stolen by the easy life."
"every conflict, no matter how hard, comes back to bless the protagonist if he will face his fate with courage. There is no conflict man can endure that will not produce a blessing."
"When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are. And when you stop expecting material possessions to complete you, you’d be surprised at how much pleasure you get in material possessions. And when you stop expecting God to end all your troubles, you’d be surprised how much you like spending time with God."
"It wasn’t necessary to win for the story to be great, it was only necessary to sacrifice everything."
"People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen. But joy costs pain."
"fear isn’t only a guide to keep us safe; it’s also a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life."
"It made me wonder if the reasons our lives seem so muddled is because we keep walking into scenes in which we, along with the people around us, have no clear idea what we want."
"God wants us to create beautiful stories, and whatever it is that isn’t God wants us to create meaningless stories, teaching the people around us that life just isn’t worth living."
"Most Americans aren’t living very good stories. It’s not our fault, I don’t think. We are suckered into it. We are brainwashed, I think."
"Advertising does exactly this. We watch a commercial advertising a new Volvo, and suddenly we feel our life isn’t as content as it once was. Our life doesn’t have the new Volvo in it. And the commercial convinces us we will only be content if we have a car with forty-seven airbags. And so we begin our story of buying a Volvo, only to repeat the story with a new weed eater and then a new home stereo. And this can go on for a lifetime. When the credits roll, we wonder what we did with our lives, and what was the meaning."
"The ambitions we have will become the stories we live. If you want to know what a person’s story is about, just ask them what they want. If we don’t want anything, we are living boring stories, and if we want a Roomba vaccum cleaner, we are living stupid stories. If it won’t work in a story, it won’t work in life."
"when something hard happens to you, you have two choices in how to deal with it. You can either get bitter, or better. I chose to get better. It’s made all the difference."
"I realized how much of our lives are spent trying to avoid conflict. Half the commercials on television are selling us something that will make life easier. Part of me wonders if our stories aren’t being stolen by the easy life."
"every conflict, no matter how hard, comes back to bless the protagonist if he will face his fate with courage. There is no conflict man can endure that will not produce a blessing."
"When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are. And when you stop expecting material possessions to complete you, you’d be surprised at how much pleasure you get in material possessions. And when you stop expecting God to end all your troubles, you’d be surprised how much you like spending time with God."
"It wasn’t necessary to win for the story to be great, it was only necessary to sacrifice everything."
October 31, 2011
I loved this book.I listened to the author reading,audio version, which I highly recommend. He has a wonderful conversational style of writing. I liked his honesty. He shares stories from his life freely, sharing both his good and bad choices through both humorous as well as serious stories. Some of the stories caused me to belly laugh and others, like the death of his friend's wife made me sob. He shares about his father leaving when he was a child and about his finding his father later as an adult. He writes about how our lives are stories and that we need to think of them this way so that we make our lives truly good stories. He has definately inspired me to make sure that my life is a "good story." I feel more ready to go out and try something crazy now...well maybe not too crazy?
August 6, 2012
I've stumbled upon several blogs all having to do with improving quality of life by being unconventional. While reading the Blog of Impossible Things, I came across this book. With the magic of e-books, I had the book in my hands and read by the end of the evening. I laughed out loud at the first page and cried at the last. What an unique approach to living a meaningful life...from the book: "I wondered if life could be lived more like a good story in the first place. I wondered if a person could plan a story for his life and live it intentionally." And, the main point of the book: "A character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it is the basic structure of a good story." There is much humor, introspection, reflection, implementation of ideas in this book. And, Miller has some pretty amazing friends...the story of Bob Goff is wonderful in itself. Miller includes God and his religious views in the book. It is not preachy or pushy, it is just part of who he is.
And one more quote: "It's true what Steven Pressfield says: there is a force resisting the beautiful things in the world and too many of us are giving in. The world needs for us to have courage, Robert McKee says at the end of his book. The world needs for us to write something better."
I told a friend of mine about the book over dinner and she said that she felt her life was a good story. I was happy for her and truthfully, jealous. Then she laughed and said maybe it was just the wine. :)
I recommend this book and would love to discuss with anyone who reads it!
And one more quote: "It's true what Steven Pressfield says: there is a force resisting the beautiful things in the world and too many of us are giving in. The world needs for us to have courage, Robert McKee says at the end of his book. The world needs for us to write something better."
I told a friend of mine about the book over dinner and she said that she felt her life was a good story. I was happy for her and truthfully, jealous. Then she laughed and said maybe it was just the wine. :)
I recommend this book and would love to discuss with anyone who reads it!
November 2, 2009
A few years ago, Don Miller was a promising young writer with a unique voice and some things to say. And then he had to go and become a conference speaker.
I don't blame him; there's a lot of money in speaking at conferences, and not that much in writing a book every 3 years, even if you have one on the New York Times bestseller list. Writers make pretty good conference speakers, but conference speaking ruins pretty good writers.
Conference speakers have to tell a joke, or say something cute, or do a little dance every five minutes to keep the attention of their audience, who has just travelled 400 miles and doesn't know yet where their hotel room is or if there's going to be a vegetarian option for dinner. But a writer who tells a joke or says something cute every second paragraph gets old fast. And Miller has that problem - in spakes in "A Million Miles."
It's not that the jokes aren't funny, or cute, or whatever, it's that you want a more consistent voice, more finely crafted prose, out of a writer.
I don't blame him; there's a lot of money in speaking at conferences, and not that much in writing a book every 3 years, even if you have one on the New York Times bestseller list. Writers make pretty good conference speakers, but conference speaking ruins pretty good writers.
Conference speakers have to tell a joke, or say something cute, or do a little dance every five minutes to keep the attention of their audience, who has just travelled 400 miles and doesn't know yet where their hotel room is or if there's going to be a vegetarian option for dinner. But a writer who tells a joke or says something cute every second paragraph gets old fast. And Miller has that problem - in spakes in "A Million Miles."
It's not that the jokes aren't funny, or cute, or whatever, it's that you want a more consistent voice, more finely crafted prose, out of a writer.
March 29, 2019
1st read 9-2014. Reread 3-2019.
January 25, 2010
I read Blue Like Jazz, Miller’s first and wildly successful memoir, in what seems now another life and another frame of mind. But Donald Miller is travelling with me in a freakish parallel universe. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years tracks Miller learning to view his life through a camera lens. This hook, life as a story, snagged my inner writer, pulling me through the book as Miller sharpens his point.
The book begins as Miller is approached to edit Blue Like Jazz into a movie script, turning his (mainly internal) meanderings into events that happen to a character named Don. As a writer myself, complete with an overactive inner monologue, I appreciated the irony of Miller reshaping his memoir to translate onscreen. Reconstructing his quiet, emotional growth into visible activity seems daunting. Yet realizing that movie moments are made when the character is doing something, not when he’s thinking, leads to Miller’s extraordinary personal growth in A Million Miles.
As he begins to edit, Miller posits, “My entire life had been designed to make myself more comfortable, to insulate myself from the interruption of my daydreams.” Instead of continuing that story, Miller swaps it for a new one, testing out action/adventure to start (he climbs the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu while struggling with weight issues), then drama (his first serious relationship), and finally mellowing into an arthouse flick (he bikes across the country with a group of misfits) to wrap.
A Million Miles is about the transition from an easy acceptance of life to scaring yourself out of complacency. Miller’s memorable characters — particularly the vivid Bob Goff — imbue his stories with clarity and an honest, translucent feel that let readers embrace the end lesson.
If most of life is forgettable, it follows that what we’ll recall — easiest or most or fondly — are the absurd moments, the unscripted. Miller’s voice has matured, maybe with age, maybe just with the change in story. His weaving, multi-layered tales build a message powerful in its simplicity: Self-editing is within our power.
This review, and more like it, on my blog at www.christinereads.com.
The book begins as Miller is approached to edit Blue Like Jazz into a movie script, turning his (mainly internal) meanderings into events that happen to a character named Don. As a writer myself, complete with an overactive inner monologue, I appreciated the irony of Miller reshaping his memoir to translate onscreen. Reconstructing his quiet, emotional growth into visible activity seems daunting. Yet realizing that movie moments are made when the character is doing something, not when he’s thinking, leads to Miller’s extraordinary personal growth in A Million Miles.
As he begins to edit, Miller posits, “My entire life had been designed to make myself more comfortable, to insulate myself from the interruption of my daydreams.” Instead of continuing that story, Miller swaps it for a new one, testing out action/adventure to start (he climbs the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu while struggling with weight issues), then drama (his first serious relationship), and finally mellowing into an arthouse flick (he bikes across the country with a group of misfits) to wrap.
A Million Miles is about the transition from an easy acceptance of life to scaring yourself out of complacency. Miller’s memorable characters — particularly the vivid Bob Goff — imbue his stories with clarity and an honest, translucent feel that let readers embrace the end lesson.
If most of life is forgettable, it follows that what we’ll recall — easiest or most or fondly — are the absurd moments, the unscripted. Miller’s voice has matured, maybe with age, maybe just with the change in story. His weaving, multi-layered tales build a message powerful in its simplicity: Self-editing is within our power.
This review, and more like it, on my blog at www.christinereads.com.
November 30, 2020
3.5 stars. Miller's conversational style makes this read smoothly, and he is charming company while he asks interesting questions and uses interesting vocabulary to discuss his ideas. And hey, I'm a sucker for things that explore the concept of how our narratives shape our sense of identity. The subject matter has been approached by many others, and I don't think he adds anything particularly new to the canon, hence rounding down, but the journey was enjoyable.
That said, I have to credit this book for giving me an epiphany. The anecdote about about his friend taking action to give his struggling teenage daughter a better narrative (I don't want to spoil it, because it was my favorite part of the book) made me think about my own pandemic parenting. I have one child that has really been discouraged about pandemic life. I've basically gone on parenting steroids to try and fill his need gaps from what he lost (Lots of outdoor adventure, sometimes with socially distanced friends! Homeschooling he enjoys because distance ed was so awful for him! Dropping my free-wheeling hippy ways and doing one of those awful rainbow routine schedules because this child needs structure!), but he still feels like this year has been a dumpster fire. I've realized that while I have been giving him the building blocks of a good story, I have not actually been giving him the narrative to see who he is in this different context. I am trying to be more careful to offer him a narrative during this of who he is (while letting him define himself, which doesn't have an easy answer) - to tell him that he will be able to tell his children stories about how despite the fact a pandemic took away experiences that mattered to him, and it didn't feel great, it didn't stop him from having great adventures, serving others, and learning fascinating things. Maybe it will stick? But I want to give him opportunities to see his life through different lenses, and I want to be more conscious about narrating that to him.
That said, I have to credit this book for giving me an epiphany. The anecdote about about his friend taking action to give his struggling teenage daughter a better narrative (I don't want to spoil it, because it was my favorite part of the book) made me think about my own pandemic parenting. I have one child that has really been discouraged about pandemic life. I've basically gone on parenting steroids to try and fill his need gaps from what he lost (Lots of outdoor adventure, sometimes with socially distanced friends! Homeschooling he enjoys because distance ed was so awful for him! Dropping my free-wheeling hippy ways and doing one of those awful rainbow routine schedules because this child needs structure!), but he still feels like this year has been a dumpster fire. I've realized that while I have been giving him the building blocks of a good story, I have not actually been giving him the narrative to see who he is in this different context. I am trying to be more careful to offer him a narrative during this of who he is (while letting him define himself, which doesn't have an easy answer) - to tell him that he will be able to tell his children stories about how despite the fact a pandemic took away experiences that mattered to him, and it didn't feel great, it didn't stop him from having great adventures, serving others, and learning fascinating things. Maybe it will stick? But I want to give him opportunities to see his life through different lenses, and I want to be more conscious about narrating that to him.
October 7, 2022
This book had some really good lines about the nature of story and about life. Unfortunately, and I don't know how to articulate this in a more polite way, but the author just came across like an idiot constantly. I say this with no malice. Some people are not smart. The author was determined to make himself seem like one of said people.
I'm unsure if it was a narrative decision in order to have information relayed to the audience feel as if he was learning at the same time, or if Miller was just honest about how he was a man in his forties who knew absolutely nothing. It felt like every chapter he had to have basic things explained to him. He says he spends most of his time going to movies and then does not understand the most basic, no-shit things about them. He actually calls a scriptwriter back to have him explain to him the concept that "story needs conflict" again because he didn't fully understand it the first time it was explained to him. Dude, it's your book - just pretend you already knew some stuff. Leave this part out.
Anyway, I skimmed the back half of this book because I was secretly afraid if I read a book about an idiot too closely that I would also become an idiot. Jury's still out.
4/10
I'm unsure if it was a narrative decision in order to have information relayed to the audience feel as if he was learning at the same time, or if Miller was just honest about how he was a man in his forties who knew absolutely nothing. It felt like every chapter he had to have basic things explained to him. He says he spends most of his time going to movies and then does not understand the most basic, no-shit things about them. He actually calls a scriptwriter back to have him explain to him the concept that "story needs conflict" again because he didn't fully understand it the first time it was explained to him. Dude, it's your book - just pretend you already knew some stuff. Leave this part out.
Anyway, I skimmed the back half of this book because I was secretly afraid if I read a book about an idiot too closely that I would also become an idiot. Jury's still out.
4/10
October 27, 2010
free preview copy from Thomas Nelson publishers. I was so excited when I heard Donald Miller had a new book out, and even more excited when I got the news I was getting a free copy. then I got the book and read it. Oh bummer.
The book isn't bad, persay. it's just not life altering for me. Maybe it's one of those subtle books, that I'll find I keep remembering and thinking about later. But it definitely didn't strike me as I was reading it. I felt more like, okay, I'm going to listen to more about how he sat down and had a beer with someone, or how he sat and thought. It just felt like a lot of the book was unnecessary info, that dragged it down so much that I barely noticed when he got to the point about our lives being like stories. It was a little like feeling like I was trapped listening to a friend drone on about boring parts of their life, hoping that they get to their point sooner rather than later.
It's an interesting concept, that our lives are like stories. I never thought about it before, and I'll admit it occasionally comes to mind now, wondering what I'm consciously doing with my life, what my plans are turning me into. I just think the concept could have been delivered in a better, more engaging way.
I was also disappointed at how little his faith seemed to figure into his discussion. I couldn't, in honesty, include this in my Christian book category. It was more like secular self help, in which the author happens to be Christian.
**************************************************
note--a year later I was going through my shelves, glanced at this book and though "huh, Donald Miller. I can't remember what it was about, even though I know I read it. I think I'll go check my goodreads review." then I do that, and see my comment about how maybe I'll remember this book later. Negatory. have not thought about this even once that I can remember. and the concept isn't that original by now, with others who've done a better job making us be intentional about our lives and the story we're creating.
The book isn't bad, persay. it's just not life altering for me. Maybe it's one of those subtle books, that I'll find I keep remembering and thinking about later. But it definitely didn't strike me as I was reading it. I felt more like, okay, I'm going to listen to more about how he sat down and had a beer with someone, or how he sat and thought. It just felt like a lot of the book was unnecessary info, that dragged it down so much that I barely noticed when he got to the point about our lives being like stories. It was a little like feeling like I was trapped listening to a friend drone on about boring parts of their life, hoping that they get to their point sooner rather than later.
It's an interesting concept, that our lives are like stories. I never thought about it before, and I'll admit it occasionally comes to mind now, wondering what I'm consciously doing with my life, what my plans are turning me into. I just think the concept could have been delivered in a better, more engaging way.
I was also disappointed at how little his faith seemed to figure into his discussion. I couldn't, in honesty, include this in my Christian book category. It was more like secular self help, in which the author happens to be Christian.
**************************************************
note--a year later I was going through my shelves, glanced at this book and though "huh, Donald Miller. I can't remember what it was about, even though I know I read it. I think I'll go check my goodreads review." then I do that, and see my comment about how maybe I'll remember this book later. Negatory. have not thought about this even once that I can remember. and the concept isn't that original by now, with others who've done a better job making us be intentional about our lives and the story we're creating.
Read
February 12, 2018Donald Miller was in a funk. He had written a bestseller, and was now a much sought after speaker. He was accomplished. But for some reason, all of his success didn't bring the climatic ending that he was hoping for. He felt lost. Then he received a call from two men who wanted to turn his book, Blue Like Jazz, into a movie. Miller was unsure of how to turn his book, part memoir and part collection of essays, into a movie. So the two men came to visit him, and teach him about story.
From there Miller uses the elements of story to describe how people can paint a different picture of their life. Miller realizes that the majority of his life has been spent watching stories and making them up. He decides that he will turn his life into a story worth watching, rather than spending his time making up fictional stories.
Miller once again muses on his life, faith, and the human condition, all the while telling the story of his move from writing stories to living them. When he learns that characters are their actions, he resolves to do things with more meaning. He hikes in the Andes, asks out a girl he likes, and eventually meets his father for the first time ever. The comparisons he makes between stories and real life are phenomenal. I found myself reading through certain sections over and over, trying to grasp the depth of the prose. Some of his thoughts that are complex, taking a while to jog their way through your mind; others are simple and profound in their brevity.
For those that have read Miller's previous books, a couple of things will be familiar: his dry sense of humor and superb writing are prevalent throughout the book. What is new is hope. Miller no longer writes like a person wandering through his journey in life honestly searching for answers. He now writes like a person wandering through his journey in life honestly searching for answers, full of hope that one day they will be answered.
From there Miller uses the elements of story to describe how people can paint a different picture of their life. Miller realizes that the majority of his life has been spent watching stories and making them up. He decides that he will turn his life into a story worth watching, rather than spending his time making up fictional stories.
Miller once again muses on his life, faith, and the human condition, all the while telling the story of his move from writing stories to living them. When he learns that characters are their actions, he resolves to do things with more meaning. He hikes in the Andes, asks out a girl he likes, and eventually meets his father for the first time ever. The comparisons he makes between stories and real life are phenomenal. I found myself reading through certain sections over and over, trying to grasp the depth of the prose. Some of his thoughts that are complex, taking a while to jog their way through your mind; others are simple and profound in their brevity.
For those that have read Miller's previous books, a couple of things will be familiar: his dry sense of humor and superb writing are prevalent throughout the book. What is new is hope. Miller no longer writes like a person wandering through his journey in life honestly searching for answers. He now writes like a person wandering through his journey in life honestly searching for answers, full of hope that one day they will be answered.
January 13, 2022
Just because anyone can write down their thoughts into a book and publish it, doesn’t mean that they necessarily should. And for a story about “how to tell a better story”, Don Miller is the worst story teller I have come across in a decade. His writing is so scattered, you start the book on one plot and end it on another. If I took a shot every time Miller said “really” to describe something, I might’ve actually enjoyed reading this book. If I were his editor (or his AP Lang teacher) I would give him a thesaurus for Christmas.
To give Miller credit, however, there’s a couple wonderful thought-provoking stories that I truly enjoyed, and I will reflect on for a long time after finishing this book. I sincerely wish Miller had written a biography about his friend Bob, who sounds like the most kind-hearted, generous man who is filled with such captivating childlike wonder. I want to know more about Bob and everything he’s accomplished!! Just knowing about Bob’s existence is the ONLY reason I’m giving this review two stars instead of one. Instead, Miller physically made me cringe by giving us an insight to how shallow his mind is towards other people, especially women.
For instance:
“I don’t want to date a bunch of beautiful women, because the pretty ones can be annoying. They stamp their feet and clench their fists because they can’t have whatever the equivalent of a pony happens to be.”
… (90 pages later)
“It occurred to me I was thirty-six and unable to navigate a serious relationship… another thought came that said I would be living the rest of my life alone because I was unlovable… before this I couldn’t understand why a person would commit suicide… I clasped my hand over my heart and rolled onto the floor and cried out to God a lamenting demand that he would come and save me from the sorrow that, for the immensity of it, I could only attribute to him in the first place”
Save yourself. Don’t read this awful awful book. Don Miller do better.
To give Miller credit, however, there’s a couple wonderful thought-provoking stories that I truly enjoyed, and I will reflect on for a long time after finishing this book. I sincerely wish Miller had written a biography about his friend Bob, who sounds like the most kind-hearted, generous man who is filled with such captivating childlike wonder. I want to know more about Bob and everything he’s accomplished!! Just knowing about Bob’s existence is the ONLY reason I’m giving this review two stars instead of one. Instead, Miller physically made me cringe by giving us an insight to how shallow his mind is towards other people, especially women.
For instance:
“I don’t want to date a bunch of beautiful women, because the pretty ones can be annoying. They stamp their feet and clench their fists because they can’t have whatever the equivalent of a pony happens to be.”
… (90 pages later)
“It occurred to me I was thirty-six and unable to navigate a serious relationship… another thought came that said I would be living the rest of my life alone because I was unlovable… before this I couldn’t understand why a person would commit suicide… I clasped my hand over my heart and rolled onto the floor and cried out to God a lamenting demand that he would come and save me from the sorrow that, for the immensity of it, I could only attribute to him in the first place”
Save yourself. Don’t read this awful awful book. Don Miller do better.
February 6, 2011
"Nobody cries at the end of a movie about a guy who wants a Volvo."
That single insight, from the first page of the book, effectively distills the wisdom of 288 pages down into one sentence.
In A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller writes of how collaborating on a screenplay based on his life transformed his perspective on life, and then transformed the living of his life. As he thought on the fictional story of his life, he began to see his real life as a story, and that, as the saying goes, is what made all the difference.
He thought about the elements of a good story-- conflict, sacrifice, character transformation, and realized that the "elements that made a story meaningful were the same that made a life meaningful." And as he was rewriting the fictional story of his life, he realized that his own life was his to write, by intentionally living out what a good story would be.
Miller writes in his honest and open style about both his failings and his victories in this memoir, and there is much to be appreciated and pondered over here. I underlined dozens of sentences like the ones above, sentences that ought to be deeply worked down into the soul.
Don's story is a good story, but it isn't a great story. Where it falls short of greatness is that Christ is not at its center. Yes, as far as I know Don is a Christian, but his story as chronicled in the book is one that anyone with any belief in God could undertake. I believe that every truly great life story involves the glory of Christ and His Kingdom at the center of it all-- the inciting incident, the conflict, the transformation, the climax-- Christ must be seen as behind all, before all, the center of all, and the purpose of it all. I'd like to hear more of the story of Christ in the story of Don next time around.
That single insight, from the first page of the book, effectively distills the wisdom of 288 pages down into one sentence.
In A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller writes of how collaborating on a screenplay based on his life transformed his perspective on life, and then transformed the living of his life. As he thought on the fictional story of his life, he began to see his real life as a story, and that, as the saying goes, is what made all the difference.
He thought about the elements of a good story-- conflict, sacrifice, character transformation, and realized that the "elements that made a story meaningful were the same that made a life meaningful." And as he was rewriting the fictional story of his life, he realized that his own life was his to write, by intentionally living out what a good story would be.
Miller writes in his honest and open style about both his failings and his victories in this memoir, and there is much to be appreciated and pondered over here. I underlined dozens of sentences like the ones above, sentences that ought to be deeply worked down into the soul.
Don's story is a good story, but it isn't a great story. Where it falls short of greatness is that Christ is not at its center. Yes, as far as I know Don is a Christian, but his story as chronicled in the book is one that anyone with any belief in God could undertake. I believe that every truly great life story involves the glory of Christ and His Kingdom at the center of it all-- the inciting incident, the conflict, the transformation, the climax-- Christ must be seen as behind all, before all, the center of all, and the purpose of it all. I'd like to hear more of the story of Christ in the story of Don next time around.
December 21, 2017
Really 4.5 stars.
From a few people that I follow - this book has been highly recommended. I checked it out at the library once and just never even got out of ten pages. But then the recommendation rolled around again and it was strong enough that I thought I would try it. I found it on audio and for probably the first hour or so I thought, "why in the crap is this book so highly recommended?" but the further along I got the further along I loved it. I love the idea to consider about "what makes a good story?" and "what story do I want for my life?" This really has made me think so much about where I am headed, how I want my children to remember me, how I want to spend my time, what story I want to create for my marriage, my career, etc. It's not that you have to have amazing things happen to you to have an amazing story - instead - you just have to choose what story you want and be willing to "save the cat" and go through the difficult/uncomfortableness to get the story you want to have remembered. Highly recommend. In fact, please read this so that I can talk to you about it. Pretty please.
From a few people that I follow - this book has been highly recommended. I checked it out at the library once and just never even got out of ten pages. But then the recommendation rolled around again and it was strong enough that I thought I would try it. I found it on audio and for probably the first hour or so I thought, "why in the crap is this book so highly recommended?" but the further along I got the further along I loved it. I love the idea to consider about "what makes a good story?" and "what story do I want for my life?" This really has made me think so much about where I am headed, how I want my children to remember me, how I want to spend my time, what story I want to create for my marriage, my career, etc. It's not that you have to have amazing things happen to you to have an amazing story - instead - you just have to choose what story you want and be willing to "save the cat" and go through the difficult/uncomfortableness to get the story you want to have remembered. Highly recommend. In fact, please read this so that I can talk to you about it. Pretty please.
September 25, 2014
WOW! If five stars and that exclamation didn't tell it, this was a great book. Donald Miller manages to tell us a lot about our story through his story, especially because he is so honest about his own flaws that have persisted or have even been magnified through his previous success. He is one. He is candid. He is able to maintain a tone that makes the reader believe he is "just talking", all the while choosing figurative language that is so perfect that he must have come through dozens of other options before selecting the phrase.
Most motivational speaking put on paper would be terrible, but because Miller puts such thought into his craft I can hardly imagine a book outside of the Bible itself that is better able to combine challenge and encouragement.
Most motivational speaking put on paper would be terrible, but because Miller puts such thought into his craft I can hardly imagine a book outside of the Bible itself that is better able to combine challenge and encouragement.
March 15, 2020
I loved this book. I think this is my first Don Miller book. I enjoyed the unassuming style. I loved it not because of beautiful prose - although there is that. But because for me, Don is so relatable. I felt his journey of self discovery and learning about story was exactly what I needed, right now. This simple story gave me hope that I can take responsibility to be a good character in an interesting story. My story. Something of a revelation to me when I am asking questions about the meaning of my life and the presence of God.
March 28, 2024
This book is knocking my socks off. I bought it three days ago and am almost done. I am rethinking my whole life.
2nd time: some people have comfort foods. I have comfort books. This book both offers a hug when in pain, and kicks your *ss to inspire you to move forward. ILY forever Don.
2nd time: some people have comfort foods. I have comfort books. This book both offers a hug when in pain, and kicks your *ss to inspire you to move forward. ILY forever Don.
September 10, 2016
It took me almost half the book to get into it but it had so many gems in it! It gave me a lot to think about. I love how he compares God to "the writer that isn't me".
July 24, 2019
This book had gotten rave reviews from my book club, but I was still kind of hesitant when it finally came up in my queue. Oh my goodness I should have bought this one on Audible when it was first recommended to me. It really resonated with me. Short, and funny, and self deprecating, I really liked the idea of making our lives an epic story. I liked the idea that Jesus Christ --or God --or whomever you believe in, wants us to put our heads down and do something meaningful with our lives -- not just sit around meditating on the meaning. I am a very practical person, and honestly have a hard time when even people in my church say things that sound like Christ is a product to make our daily lives shiny (which the author touches on). Life is hard, and we have to slog through the middle of it, and God is there weeping with us. I'm not capturing the essence of the book though (pulling people in a kayak behind a truck in the snow?? funny stuff in here too!). I am buying it and sharing with my family.
Read
September 28, 2022The last chapter stretched my world view. Basically, it said, "Enjoy life right now to distract yourself from deeper questions that have no real answers." I had usually viewed this approach as shallow and hedonistic. While I still disagree with him, there is validity in his challenge, which is reminiscent of Ecclesiastes. Because I tend to dwell too much in the deeper questions, it was a good reminder. We should live in the present and enjoy life to the fullest.
October 4, 2021
Oh man, I loved this book. It took me a few chapters to understand the flow of the book and what it was really about, but once I was there, I was locked in. There were multiple times when I began to cry at the beauty of the stories Don told. There is something so beautiful and true and lovely about creating a story that matters, and not just one to trudge through. I’m encouraged by this book!
December 18, 2023
Very much enjoyed the messages in this book. I really enjoyed reading Kaylee’s annotated version because i loved what she underlined and wrote. I learned more about story building in this book and some new ways to think about the challenges that life presents us with.
January 16, 2024
haven’t read a donald miller book that i didn’t like:))
December 10, 2012
Donald Miller is a one-of-a-kind writer. His talent is a rare gift. He is one of the few that can tell a story about himself and get out of his own way.
In "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years," he explores what makes a story great. The big question the book asks is, "Can my life be a great story?"
Miller writes, "…the elements that made a story meaningful [are] the same that made a life meaningful."
A good story has a protagonist – the good guy. That's the person in the story you love or want to be. The protagonist has to have an ambition, he has to want something and be willing to overcome conflict – even death – to get it.
"The thing about death is it reminds you the story we are telling has finality," Miller says.
A good story has an inciting incident. Something has to happen to motivate the protagonist to do something big enough to make him change. Something has to force him to change because no one takes that kind of action on his own.
The elements of storytelling became meaningful for Miller when he and some Nashville movie writers took on the project of creating a screenplay based on his New York Times bestseller, "Blue Like Jazz." It turned out that Miller's actual life wasn't interesting enough for a movie. A fictional version of Miller had to be cast as the hero. This was a tough pill for Miller to swallow. He wanted his life to be more than fiction.
A good story begins with who you are.
"I wondered whether a person could plan a story for his life and live it intentionally," Miller writes.
"If I have a hope, it's that God sat over the dark nothing and wrote you and me, specifically, into the story, and put us in with the sunset and the rainstorm as though to say, 'Enjoy your place in my story. The beauty of it means you matter, and you can create within it even as I have created you.'"
Miller says that we love stories for more than just Culture.
"It's the thing that empties like a stomach and needs to be filled again," he writes.
Miller's book is laugh-out-loud funny but forces reflection and prayer. It challenged me to be a more godly man, a more godly character in my own story.
It dared me to take the long route rather than always choosing the short-cut. The destination is more highly valued when the journey isn't a piece of cake.
I'm reminded of the verse in James that says, "Count it all joy when you suffer various trials."
A great story has trials. This is a part of life. God is teaching me something. And the book moved me to tears.
"A good storyteller doesn't just tell a better story, though. He invites other people into the story with him, giving them a better story too," Miller says.
I was sad to finish this book; I wanted it to keep going. If you only read one book this year, read "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years." I'll definitely read it again. Maybe I'll listen to the audio version next.
http://goodnewsfl.org/christian-news/...
In "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years," he explores what makes a story great. The big question the book asks is, "Can my life be a great story?"
Miller writes, "…the elements that made a story meaningful [are] the same that made a life meaningful."
A good story has a protagonist – the good guy. That's the person in the story you love or want to be. The protagonist has to have an ambition, he has to want something and be willing to overcome conflict – even death – to get it.
"The thing about death is it reminds you the story we are telling has finality," Miller says.
A good story has an inciting incident. Something has to happen to motivate the protagonist to do something big enough to make him change. Something has to force him to change because no one takes that kind of action on his own.
The elements of storytelling became meaningful for Miller when he and some Nashville movie writers took on the project of creating a screenplay based on his New York Times bestseller, "Blue Like Jazz." It turned out that Miller's actual life wasn't interesting enough for a movie. A fictional version of Miller had to be cast as the hero. This was a tough pill for Miller to swallow. He wanted his life to be more than fiction.
A good story begins with who you are.
"I wondered whether a person could plan a story for his life and live it intentionally," Miller writes.
"If I have a hope, it's that God sat over the dark nothing and wrote you and me, specifically, into the story, and put us in with the sunset and the rainstorm as though to say, 'Enjoy your place in my story. The beauty of it means you matter, and you can create within it even as I have created you.'"
Miller says that we love stories for more than just Culture.
"It's the thing that empties like a stomach and needs to be filled again," he writes.
Miller's book is laugh-out-loud funny but forces reflection and prayer. It challenged me to be a more godly man, a more godly character in my own story.
It dared me to take the long route rather than always choosing the short-cut. The destination is more highly valued when the journey isn't a piece of cake.
I'm reminded of the verse in James that says, "Count it all joy when you suffer various trials."
A great story has trials. This is a part of life. God is teaching me something. And the book moved me to tears.
"A good storyteller doesn't just tell a better story, though. He invites other people into the story with him, giving them a better story too," Miller says.
I was sad to finish this book; I wanted it to keep going. If you only read one book this year, read "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years." I'll definitely read it again. Maybe I'll listen to the audio version next.
http://goodnewsfl.org/christian-news/...
September 22, 2022
ماستربييس، الكتاب بيتكلم عن كاتب ألف سيرته الذاتية وبعد ما نشرها جاله مخرج عايز يعمل قصة حياته فيلم. بس عشان القصة تتعمل فيلم لازم يغيروا ويزودوا شوية حاجات عشان طبعًا السينما مختلفة عن الواقع الممل الرتيب بتاعنا. ومن هنا وهو بيعدل في الكتاب/سيناريو الفيلم، بيبدأ يستغل الفرصة ويصلح حياته في الواقع ويحاول يخليها انترستنج زي الفيلم على قد ما يقدر.
المهم في أول رحلته خالص (تاني شابتر تقريبًا) اكتشف حاجة غريبة اوي، وهي إنه مش المين كاركتر أو الشخصية الرئيسية لحياته، بالعكس هو عايش عشان يرضي ناس تانية زي اهله ومديره في الشغل والكتكوتة اللي مصاحبها .. فازاي يبقى عايش حياته هو وبيكتب قصة حياته هو، وفي نفس الوقت مش هو الشخصية الرئيسية فيها!
وده خلاني قعدت افكر كام جانب في حياتي أنا مش فيه الشخصية الرئيسية، وكام مرة سمحت لحد ياخد مني دور البطولة قي قصتي، وازاي قعدت فترات ابص لنفسي من خلال مواقف ناس تانية عملوها معايا، واتصرف في حياتي وفقًا لكلام ناس تانية اللي قالوه .. في حين إن دي قصتي أنا، الفيلم بتاعي أنا، إزاي تبقى قصتي وأنا فيها شخصية ثانوية!
“Somehow we realize that great stories are told in conflict, but we are unwilling to embrace the potential greatness of the story we are actually in”
الجزء الأجمل في الكتاب بالنسبالي كان والمؤلف بيحاول يستنبط يعني إيه قصة، والمفهوم المبسط لقصة هي عبارة عن بطل عايز يوصل لحاجة معينة وفي اثناء رحلته للوصول لهدفه بيحاول يتخطى عوائق بتمنع الوصول (نفس مفهوم الجيمز بالمناسبة).
وكل ما العوائق بتكون اصعب كل ما القصة بتلمس الجمهور أكتر ويبقوا متعلقين باحداثها أكتر وفضولهم يفضل مشدود للنهاية عشان يجاوبوا على أهم سؤال في القصة: يا ترى البطل هيوصل لهدفه ولا لأ؟
ده المفهوم المبسط للقصة، وطبعاً في قصص اعقد واعمق البطل لازم يتغير في خلال رحلته دي، ساعات بيغير هدفه في النص، وساعات بعد ما يوصل لهدفه يكتشف ان ده مكنش اللي هو عايزه او اللي محتاجه، وساعات بيكون الهدف نفسه مش الهدف الحقيقي قد ما الهدف الحقيقي هو إن البطل ذات نفسه بتغير وينضج وشخصيته تتطور.
قيس على الكلام ده كل القصص والافلام اللي تعرفها من أول قصة آدم وحواء لحد قصة فيلم طير انت.. اللي الكاتب بيحاول يعمله بقى هو انه يطبق معرفته بالقصص الى معرفته بالحياة نفسها.
يعني بنفس المنطق لو كل ما الصعوبات اللي بيتعرض لها البطل تزيد كل ما قوة القصة تزيد، فكذلك كل ما الصعوبات اللي بتتعرضلها في حياتك تزيد كل ما المفروض قيمة الحاجات اللي بتحاول توصلها تزيد في عينيك، وده مش هيحصل غير لما تنمي مهارة انك تطلع برا القصة بتاعتك وتشوفها من بعيد كقصة انت فيها شخصية رئيسية بتحصلك احداث هدفها تنمي شخصيتك مش تضعفها.
وعشان كده الكاتب بيرد على الناس اللي بتقعد تقول ليه كده يارب وازاي تعمل فيا كده انا عمري ما أذيت حد، وبيقول انك لو عرفت تبص للحياة نفسها كقصة، ساعتها بدل ما هتقول إن الاله غير عادل هتكتشف إن الاله بارع في صنع القصص ذات القيمة والمعنى لشخصياته.
“We think God is unjust, rather than a master storyteller”
المهم في أول رحلته خالص (تاني شابتر تقريبًا) اكتشف حاجة غريبة اوي، وهي إنه مش المين كاركتر أو الشخصية الرئيسية لحياته، بالعكس هو عايش عشان يرضي ناس تانية زي اهله ومديره في الشغل والكتكوتة اللي مصاحبها .. فازاي يبقى عايش حياته هو وبيكتب قصة حياته هو، وفي نفس الوقت مش هو الشخصية الرئيسية فيها!
وده خلاني قعدت افكر كام جانب في حياتي أنا مش فيه الشخصية الرئيسية، وكام مرة سمحت لحد ياخد مني دور البطولة قي قصتي، وازاي قعدت فترات ابص لنفسي من خلال مواقف ناس تانية عملوها معايا، واتصرف في حياتي وفقًا لكلام ناس تانية اللي قالوه .. في حين إن دي قصتي أنا، الفيلم بتاعي أنا، إزاي تبقى قصتي وأنا فيها شخصية ثانوية!
“Somehow we realize that great stories are told in conflict, but we are unwilling to embrace the potential greatness of the story we are actually in”
الجزء الأجمل في الكتاب بالنسبالي كان والمؤلف بيحاول يستنبط يعني إيه قصة، والمفهوم المبسط لقصة هي عبارة عن بطل عايز يوصل لحاجة معينة وفي اثناء رحلته للوصول لهدفه بيحاول يتخطى عوائق بتمنع الوصول (نفس مفهوم الجيمز بالمناسبة).
وكل ما العوائق بتكون اصعب كل ما القصة بتلمس الجمهور أكتر ويبقوا متعلقين باحداثها أكتر وفضولهم يفضل مشدود للنهاية عشان يجاوبوا على أهم سؤال في القصة: يا ترى البطل هيوصل لهدفه ولا لأ؟
ده المفهوم المبسط للقصة، وطبعاً في قصص اعقد واعمق البطل لازم يتغير في خلال رحلته دي، ساعات بيغير هدفه في النص، وساعات بعد ما يوصل لهدفه يكتشف ان ده مكنش اللي هو عايزه او اللي محتاجه، وساعات بيكون الهدف نفسه مش الهدف الحقيقي قد ما الهدف الحقيقي هو إن البطل ذات نفسه بتغير وينضج وشخصيته تتطور.
قيس على الكلام ده كل القصص والافلام اللي تعرفها من أول قصة آدم وحواء لحد قصة فيلم طير انت.. اللي الكاتب بيحاول يعمله بقى هو انه يطبق معرفته بالقصص الى معرفته بالحياة نفسها.
يعني بنفس المنطق لو كل ما الصعوبات اللي بيتعرض لها البطل تزيد كل ما قوة القصة تزيد، فكذلك كل ما الصعوبات اللي بتتعرضلها في حياتك تزيد كل ما المفروض قيمة الحاجات اللي بتحاول توصلها تزيد في عينيك، وده مش هيحصل غير لما تنمي مهارة انك تطلع برا القصة بتاعتك وتشوفها من بعيد كقصة انت فيها شخصية رئيسية بتحصلك احداث هدفها تنمي شخصيتك مش تضعفها.
وعشان كده الكاتب بيرد على الناس اللي بتقعد تقول ليه كده يارب وازاي تعمل فيا كده انا عمري ما أذيت حد، وبيقول انك لو عرفت تبص للحياة نفسها كقصة، ساعتها بدل ما هتقول إن الاله غير عادل هتكتشف إن الاله بارع في صنع القصص ذات القيمة والمعنى لشخصياته.
“We think God is unjust, rather than a master storyteller”
March 23, 2014
Readers who bought this also bought, 'Your Best Life Now' by Joel Oesteen
PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. I would not recommend this to anyone. I loved his book "Blue Like Jazz" in high-school, but this latest from Donald Miller does not match up. Donald Miller concludes life is NOT ultimately fulfilled by 'glorifying God' or doing good things, but rather living a life worth living. A life full of risk, adventure, and ANYTHING out of the ordinary and out of your comfort zone. I'm feel sorry that the author really doesn't find fulfillment in Jesus and making him famous. I love myself a good adventure, but I know that really travel, risk, and relationships are all vanity if they aren't pointing to eternity! Vanity.
PROS
-A needed kick in the pants for 'comfortable' Christians afraid to interact with the world. Risk is right!
-It's good to analyze your life and seize the day. Carpe Diem is a great principal for the Christian on a mission.
CONS
-When reading a 'Christian' book instructing you on how to live your life, you had better expect a TON of scripture. I don't believe this book as a single piece of scripture in it...
-FULL OF FLUFF, stories, description of scenery and feelings, and personal opinions. A lot of narrative. This made the book drawn out and didn't seem to have direction. I was always wondering, "Where is this going?".
-Not everyone must live a life of adventure to find fulfillment. For instance, a mother seeking to glorify God by taking care of her family and raising her kids might not be worth writing a New York Times best-seller. But a life like that makes her fulfilled and happy. It glorifies God as well. If you don't believe me, just read it in the scriptures. But again, there is no reference to scriptures in this book...
-YOLO. Not the greatest advice from a worldly point of view.
PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. I would not recommend this to anyone. I loved his book "Blue Like Jazz" in high-school, but this latest from Donald Miller does not match up. Donald Miller concludes life is NOT ultimately fulfilled by 'glorifying God' or doing good things, but rather living a life worth living. A life full of risk, adventure, and ANYTHING out of the ordinary and out of your comfort zone. I'm feel sorry that the author really doesn't find fulfillment in Jesus and making him famous. I love myself a good adventure, but I know that really travel, risk, and relationships are all vanity if they aren't pointing to eternity! Vanity.
PROS
-A needed kick in the pants for 'comfortable' Christians afraid to interact with the world. Risk is right!
-It's good to analyze your life and seize the day. Carpe Diem is a great principal for the Christian on a mission.
CONS
-When reading a 'Christian' book instructing you on how to live your life, you had better expect a TON of scripture. I don't believe this book as a single piece of scripture in it...
-FULL OF FLUFF, stories, description of scenery and feelings, and personal opinions. A lot of narrative. This made the book drawn out and didn't seem to have direction. I was always wondering, "Where is this going?".
-Not everyone must live a life of adventure to find fulfillment. For instance, a mother seeking to glorify God by taking care of her family and raising her kids might not be worth writing a New York Times best-seller. But a life like that makes her fulfilled and happy. It glorifies God as well. If you don't believe me, just read it in the scriptures. But again, there is no reference to scriptures in this book...
-YOLO. Not the greatest advice from a worldly point of view.
March 5, 2010
I began reading A Million Miles in a Thousand Years two months ago. After the first couple chapters, I thought "This is just Donald Miller, desperate for another hit book, riding the tails of what made Blue Like Jazz work." It wasn't long until I discovered he was on to something much bigger than in his first book.
Miller discusses in depth the elements of story and how they apply not only to movie scripts and novels, but to each individual's life. The principal is quite interesting in itself and any number of authors of inspirational self-help books could have written on the topic. Miller decided to live it though, and that makes the difference between A Million Miles and Blue Like Jazz.
The result is an inspiring, convicting, and ultimately hope filled message delivered in Miller's trademark witty and honest fashion. It is a wonderful blend of Blue Like Jazz's self-deprecating humor and To Own A Dragon's serious message of growing up fatherless. Ultimately, it leaves the reader wanting to go out and live a better story, not for themselves, but for anyone who wants to join them.
Miller discusses in depth the elements of story and how they apply not only to movie scripts and novels, but to each individual's life. The principal is quite interesting in itself and any number of authors of inspirational self-help books could have written on the topic. Miller decided to live it though, and that makes the difference between A Million Miles and Blue Like Jazz.
The result is an inspiring, convicting, and ultimately hope filled message delivered in Miller's trademark witty and honest fashion. It is a wonderful blend of Blue Like Jazz's self-deprecating humor and To Own A Dragon's serious message of growing up fatherless. Ultimately, it leaves the reader wanting to go out and live a better story, not for themselves, but for anyone who wants to join them.
February 18, 2022
A very inspiring outlook on life. Not much else.
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