7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

By: Jen Hatmaker

Narrated by: Rebecca Gallagher

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Do you feel trapped in the machine of excess? Jen Hatmaker was. Her friends were. And some might say that our culture is. Jen once considered herself unmotivated by the lure of prosperity, but upon being called "rich" by an undeniably poor child, evidence to the contrary mounted, and a social experiment turned spiritual journey was born. 7 is the true story of how Jen took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence.

Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress. Jen and her family would spend 30 days on each topic, boiling it down to the number seven. Only eat seven foods, wear seven articles of clothing, and spend money in seven places. Eliminate use of seven media types, give away seven things each day for one month, adopt seven green habits, and observe "seven sacred pauses".

So, what's the payoff from living a deeply reduced life? It's the discovery of a greatly increased God - a call toward Christlike simplicity and generosity that transcends a social experiment to become a radically better existence. 7 is funny, raw, and not a guilt trip in the making, so come along and consider what Jesus' version of rich, blessed, and generous might look like in your life.

©2012 Jen Hatmaker (P)2012 Oasis Audio Ltd

I love the candid "voice" the author has.

If you could sum up 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess in three words, what would they be?

Inspirational, Motivational, and I can't narrow it down to three words! Jenn lovingly takes us on her journey of self-evaluation and testing, and she provides enough knowledge behind her decision making to give her reader a beginning knowledge base about each topic. She is candid in her struggles, and that inspires me to join her in evaluation of my lifestyle and in decreasing Self so that Christ can increase within me.

EXCELLENT

LOVED IT BUT LACKS A PRACTICAL APPLICATION . MAYBE A HOW TO IF WE PERSONALLY WANT TO TRY DOING 7 OURSELVES

love it!

I love the fresh, honest and insightful life stories! thank you Jen and family. Will be reading again!

Inspiring

Each section in 7 is totally relatable to anyone living in today’s busy lifestyle. Trying desperately to fill the empty parts of our lives with stuff. Already thinking and moving toward scaling back the empty things and turning my focus on more important fulfilling and yes totally spiritual things I found this book encouraging for anyone - young, old, with families or without to separate from what the world is telling us to finding our own truth.

One of the best books of all time!

What an incredible ride! This book is phenomenal. The narrator is amazing and gets every word and inflection right.
This is a great lesson on excess and the book really made me think about how I live day to day. Do we really need to buy new things? Or do we just want them?
It made me think about others and the need to be a good neighbor.
This should be in every book club and given away as gifts.

Great book

Loved listening to this book. Gave me a lot of great ideas, and reminded me of important biblical principals.
I would recommend this book!

So needed, so wonderful.

If everyone could hear this book... and I mean really hear it, the world would be a better place. I have been doing some intentional reduction of my own and felt so so seen hearing the reactions Jen got. I’m so thankful for this book and for the season of life I found myself in while reading it. Wowie wow.

inspirational

so inspiring, I looked for a local community garden program. I always love Jen Hatmaker!

Gods Child

Funny and TRUTH with real world adventure. The narration captured me and keep me focused.

mediocre.

I really disliked the person reading this. it's hard to over perky or over folksy Jen Hatmaker, but she managed. There was a couple spots that seemed outright racist in their rendering. Not seeing the print, I'm not sure how it was written, but I think it would have been safer to steer away from racial stereotypes.

the book was not Jen's best project. I liked the premise but it's kinda exhausting listening to how hard it is for rich people to live like the rest of us.