Jolt!

Jolt! by Phil Cooke is a book about change. In today's society, change is more than inevitable; it is expected and it occurs quickly. This book was written to not just help us deal with change, but to encourage us to take ownership and jolt our own lives, rather than allowing others to do it for us. Jolt is broken into different sections to help us get ahead in a constantly changing world. Cooke intertwines practical advice for daily living, along with ways we can be better in our professional, personal, and spiritual lives.
Cooke proclaims in his book that it is more than a self-help book full of ideas and philosophical thoughts. This is not just a feel good book designed to make readers happy. Instead, Cooke breaks down practical topics into five categories. He gives us research to support his ideas, and he provides practical ways to apply them. For example, in one section he discusses jolting your creativity. He explains why people struggle in this area, but then he gives practical advice on ways to grow. He says you need to stop worrying about being wrong because creativity is about problem solving, not correct answers. Creativity involves action, so he discusses how to become better at brainstorming. He reminds readers that life is more exciting when you are creative.
The ideas Cooke discusses motivate you to become better and never stop learning. I personally enjoyed the quotes he uses to open each chapter. He integrates ideas from all areas of life.
Overall, this book is enjoyable and practical. It is well-written and easy to read. Most of the advice given is practical and can be practiced by anyone. Some of his ideas seem trite, such as saying life is a gift, or we need to live in the here and now, but they are true. He provides stories to help support these statements, but it is up to the reader to apply them, of course. I do wish his book had a more Christian focus within its applications. He does proclaim his Christianity, but he also makes it a point to state he does not wish to offend anyone and that these beliefs can be applied to any religion or belief system. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book and am sure I will reread chapters as needed to remind myself of Cooke's principles.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”