Start, Stay, or Leave

The Art of Decision Making

By: Trey Gowdy

Narrated by: Trey Gowdy

Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The Fox News host and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Doesn’t Hurt to Ask shares his trusted framework for decision making, telling the story of his life through the choices he’s made using this revolutionary method.

“The best guide I’ve read to help people analyze, make, and own their decisions . . . Make a great decision and read this book.”—Dana Perino, Fox News anchor and host, former White House press secretary

In life, moments arise when you have to decide your next move. When choosing whether to accept a new job, purchase a house, attend a school, or start a relationship, how do you settle on which direction to take? Trey Gowdy has found that most consequential decisions boil down to three simple options: start, stay, or leave.

Gowdy first developed this decision-making tool in the courtroom during a federal murder trial, and it has guided his life ever since. The practical framework has helped him decide where to raise his family, when to leave his dream job, whether to run for Congress, and when to step away from political life.

Over the years, Gowdy has made some great decisions and some lousy ones (and he admits to both). In Start, Stay, or Leave, he shares his hard-earned wisdom. Filled with surprising insights and questions, this personal playbook teaches you how to:

• Craft your unique vision of success
• Consult your dreams with wisdom (and know when to revise them)
• Assess the price worth paying to achieve your goals
• Balance logic, emotion, and fear when facing a new challenge
• Take the right advice, from the right people (and block out everyone else)
• Chart the course of your life with the end goal in mind

Listening to Start, Stay, or Leave is like sitting on the back porch of a farmhouse chatting with a wise friend. Filled with humor, heartbreak, practical advice, and a lifetime’s worth of storytelling, this book will teach you how to approach trajectory-changing decisions with confidence and the knowledge that, whatever happens, you’ve made the best choice you could.

©2023 Trey Gowdy (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Life is a decision-making experience, and in Start, Stay, or Leave, Trey Gowdy provides the best guide I’ve read to help people analyze, make, and own their decisions. Gowdy encourages his readers to embrace the experience of deciding what’s best for them, on their terms, and not according to anyone else’s expectations. This is a book many of us wish we would have had when we were younger; however, we are grateful to have it now. Make a great decision and read this book.”—Dana Perino, Fox News anchor and host, former White House press secretary

“This book stands out for one reason: Trey Gowdy’s advice is easy to remember. Nobody needs more help than I do, and as a self-appointed expert in self-help, I know that advice must stick. Want proof? I made a huge life decision while reading Start, Stay, or Leave. My timing was perfect and money followed. While Gowdy doesn’t deserve a cut of the money, he deserves credit. Weaving in colorful personal stories that make you laugh (mostly at Trey), this book will help you learn a simple plan: Aim toward meaning, find your mantra, prepare for the worst, listen to others’ opinions, and then decide for yourself.”—Jesse Watters, co-host of Fox’s The Five, host of Jesse Watters Primetime

“A good life is often and rightly defined by the choices we make. In Start, Stay, or Leave, Trey Gowdy has written a powerfully and elegantly worded letter about why it’s important to pursue the choices we make in life with love, vigor, and an open mind—and to do so without judgment, a hard heart, or resentment. Read this book.”—Harold Ford, Jr., former U.S. representative (D-TN) and co-host of The Five

Great introspective book for mid-life!

2022 was a very hard year for me - a nexus of my life, including turning 50. This book was PERFECT! It set the framework for me to analyze the mental, emotional, and spiritual trials I’m going through. I have read hundreds of books through Audible and never written a review. This book impacted me so greatly that I had to write my first-ever review on it. Thank you, Trey Gowdy! You’ve definitely helped me!

Trey did a good job of making his case.

Trey held a life of decisions and it led him to places many don’t go, it also gave him memories that he might wish he never knew, but his choices placed him on a trajectory and he flew the arc of his career well. He made me wish I’d done something with my life, but he was aware that fear chooses your decisions for you.

Excellent Book!

I loved how he drew from his own personal stories & felt he had much appreciated wisdom that too many people in this day and age do not have.

Excellent

I'll listen to this many times, it was life changing. I bought the hard copy as well as audio. I need to take notes.

Well done!

I have listened to this book 2X back to back and will purchase a hard copy for my library.
Thank you!!

Freeing insight

So much insight into the life and success of this fascinating man and the decisions he has made. Gives you permission to do what’s best for “your closing argument”, which in turn can benefit the world you live in. Being a good human is about being a good Stewart of the opportunities you find yourself with and not waisting energy on one’s that are not yours. Start well, and don’t let fear of failure get in the way. Stay when you should and how to reason through that decision. Finally, my hardest decision, when to leave.

Very insightful

After reading and then rereading it, I send a copy to each of my 5 adult children. Wish I had this when younger.

Something for everyone

So many good qualities and considerations throughout, there’s something for everyone to learn or reinforce for life’s decisions and journey. Thank you Mr Gowdy

I wish someone gave me this advice long ago!

A must read for those starting a new chapter in their lives, staying on with it, and stopping and seeking a new chapter in your life and knowing the wisdom of those decisions. Plan on gifting a copy to someone you care about!

Must read

A must read for people of any age. We all have decisions to make in our lives. Trey gives guidelines on how to & then advise on how to deal with consequences of bad or good decisions. I love hearing the personal stories behind his decisions.