When I was sent Anne Jackson’s new book titled Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace, I was expecting something completely different than I got. I guess I hadn’t really read the books description.

I was expecting a book on how the church doesn’t talk about a lot of things that really should be talked about in the church. The book does address some of those issues. What I wasn’t expecting was the extremely open and honest life story of Anne Jackson.

When I picked it up, I planned on reading the first chapter before bed. I ended up reading over half of the book before bed. I finally had to force myself to put the book down and go to sleep since I had to be at work early the next morning. Luckily, I was able to finish reading the rest of it that day at work.

Anne shares stories of her battles and struggles, as well as the abuse she went through growing up. Most people would turn away from the church and God after the amount of abuse and heartache Anne received from the church, but not Anne. Instead, Anne has used her story to speak to and help others who have dealt with the same issues that she has.

I’d recommend that everyone should pickup a copy of this book when it comes out next week. You can purchase on Amazon here –> Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace.

Also make sure to follow Anne on her blog, Flower Dust.

Product Description Below

In May 2008, Anne Jackson asked a question on her blog, “What is one thing you feel you can’t say in church?”

The question came from Jackson’s experience of being afraid to reveal herself to other Christians. Broken and alone is exactly how she felt for years, a Southern Baptist pastor’s daughter struggling with an addiction to porn, sexual promiscuity, substance abuse, being the victim of sexual abuse by a youth pastor, and coping with depression.

Permission to Speak Freely is the unique project from author Anne Jackson, who is finished with keeping brokenness in the dark. Bringing to light the original intent of God’s sanctuary as a place of help and healing, Anne reveals that through confession, both to God and to others, we can live lives that are whole and healed.

Told with disarming transparency, Anne shares what led to her own addictions and the ensuing lifestyle that left her wounded and withdrawn, but ultimately rescued and redeemed. She includes dramatic stories of others who also learned to abandon their fear, pride, and masks; to identify their hurts; and to find the courage to speak freely.

Their confessions, submitted as mixed media pieces, photography, and sketches, were collected from people across the world, and are included throughout the book.

“Somebody is waiting on you to tell your story. To share how you’re being rescued. To share how scary it is, but how beautiful it is,” she says.

Yesterday I finished reading Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s new book Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose. I really enjoyed the book, but I am also kinda a nerd with business books on how companies were started, built, failed, etc. Two other favorites are Marriott’s The Spirit to Serve: Marriott’s Way and Southwest’s Nuts! Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success.

Tony starts his book from his family upbringing and onto his college years. Then building and selling his first business, LinkExchange for over $200 million dollars before starting Zappos.

The thing I like most about Delivering Happiness is Tony’s open and honest writing. He talks about when he was on course in his business but also when he was straying off course and away from what the business stood for. He also wasn’t afraid to put his time money and energy into something he believed in, even when others told him he shouldn’t. Any billion dollar business CEO who quotes Winnie-the-Pooh in their book gets a thumbs up from me.

Tony’s three rules for his speeches are:
1) Be passionate.
2) Tell personal stories.
3) Be real.
All three of which are shown in his writing as well.

Tony goes on to talk about happiness and what he thought would bring him happiness compared to what did bring him happiness. He states, “Most people go through their lives thinking, When I get ___, I will be happy, or When I achieve ___, I will be happy.” I think most people think that way, myself included. But Tony points out that research shows, the happiness you thought you would achieve ends up fading fairly quickly after achieving it.

To sum it all up, Zappos sounds like an amazing company to work for! Not just because their customer service is amazing, or because after they hire you, you are offered $2,000 to quit, or even because they were sold to Amazon for over a billion dollars. But you’ll have to get the book and see for yourself all the amazing reasons why Zappos would be a company I’d love to work for and you probably would too.