Do Not Be True to Yourself: Countercultural Advice for the Rest of Your Life

We gave these books to our college graduates this year. We didn't have any high school graduates, but they may receive them next year. The book is bookended with the Gospel and in the middle there is a great explanation and application of both Joshua 24 and Psalm 1.

DeYoung has once again distilled a current and perpetual issue into a small, readable, yet crucial book. Two things strike the reader (at least): 1. He counters the far too common claim in the world that we must be true to ourselves (self-actualization) or to march to the beat of our own drummer. He shows rather that one cannot find himself by the inner focus, finding one’s own truth, but rather looking outside of himself generally, and specifically at Jesus. 2. He clarifies the issue of what saving faith really looks like. Too many believe many of the right doctrines about Jesus, but do not really love him. And that is a key fallacy that populates the true church with those who only think that they are saved, but whose hearts neither desire Christ nor are they therefore dedicated to him. As a result too many self-proclaimed believers fall out of love with Jesus, not realizing that in many, if not most cases, they never were saved. This was written with graduates in mind, but as DeYoung says, it certainly applies across the board. As a pastor of many years, I was blessed and challenged by it.

This is a great counter-culture book. Young people get fed a lot of lies about their life and how to be happy. There’s a bit more truth and reality in this book than in your average commencement address.

This was great - I am 40, and i enjoyed it and gleaned lots of great nuggets. I plan to have all my children read it. Its very digestible and easy to read.

We bought three of these books to give to high school graduates. I read it first before giving it. I was initially surprised at how small the book is, both in size and length. It’s full of good DeYoung moments, though. Honestly, I felt it to be a bit confusing at times, like the author was stretching to make the chapters fit together. Nevertheless, I think there’s still a good amount of value in this book that will help young people beginning their adult lives, so I gladly recommend it.

While introducing his book, Deyoung explains that the content is rooted in the addresses he has offered at various commencement services. The tone, style, and content reflect those beginnings. He quickly acknowledges what most readers may suspect, that saying “Do Not Be True to Yourself” is a statement that is “little” hyperbolic and destined for nuance. (p.2) In essence, he says, “You should not be true to yourself unless you have died to your old self and your new self is raised with Christ.” As the book progresses, he devotes a chapter to choosing who you will serve followed by another that challenges college students, in particular, as they choose what type of life they will live in college. In particular, he challenges students to find a church home when beginning the next phase of life. In the final chapters, he challenges graduates to consider the ways they might choose to live and finally to actively chose to believe in Jesus. Theologically, I felt like Deyoung handled scripture well. The only interpretations that give me pause come toward the end of the book, when dealing with Mark 12:28-34 around page 45. This passage is a favorite of mine, and I believe it teaches us much about the heart of God. While point to love God and love others is found on the scribe’s tongue in response to Jesus in Mark, Jesus says the same elsewhere in scripture. This is an important statement about who we are called to be and not merely a footnote in a call to accept Christ. However, Deyoung seems more interested in emphasizing that the Scribe is not quite there than in emphasizing that he’s on the right track, as I believe Jesus does. The interpretation isn’t entirely wrong, and he does credit the importance of loving God and others, but I think the way it is done distracts from the main point. I think he similarly distracts from the main point with Mark 10 when the rich young ruler falls short because of his attachment to wealth. He says it is, “not a story about being willing to give up everything for Jesus,” but “a story about the failure of law keeping as a way to eternal life.” (p. 55) I would submit that the story can be about both. In both cases, I think DeYoung loses some of the strength and core message by emphasizing decision instead of discipleship rather than decision as part of discipleship. It’s probably also worth mentioning in our polarized culture that DeYoung subtly alludes to issues of sexuality early in the book and in the suggested reading list at the end. He also includes a suggested reading that refers to Christian liberalism as an altogether different religion. If you have conservative leanings, this may be a great fit for you, but if you have liberal leanings, you should be aware of these subtle inclusions. Overall, I think this is a good book and particularly helpful for graduates. The content is good some sticks to information that is somewhat foundational for Christians. It is a book someone might gift a grad who has been raised as a Christian who might be prone to drift. While it is not quite what I expected from the title, I do think the title is fitting. I probably wouldn’t gift this book or take time to read it outside a graduation-like life transition.

"Do not Be True to Yourself" is counterintuitive to today's culture. At only 66 pages, it is an easy read and a gentle reminder that we need to seek God, not our own truth.

This is a go-to gift for graduates. It would benefit others too, but it’s great for grads. DeYoung is outstanding and this volume is an excellent reflection of his work.

It is an honest look at how we must live our lives to the praise of God. We must be an example for our children and others in how we walk in faith.

Great book for a young person or someone starting out in their faith - and provides some good teaching for anyone however long they’ve been saved.

A series of graduation speeches by Kevin de Young, always interesting to read. Some parts are more applicable to an American audience but the general advice is solid and Biblical.

Great for giving to students graduating from High School, or giving to those about to be Baptised, or Confirmed, or Married… Short. Clear. Challenging.