Product Description

In 2007, "Do Nothing to Change Your Life" encouraged us to nurture our inner slob. Now "Do Nothing...Christmas is Coming" turns to what, for many, is the busiest time of year. For every day of Advent, Stephen Cottrell provides short, practical steps to help us slow down, take time out - and enjoy Christmas without piling on the pressure. This eye-catching book is perfect if you need to slow down over Advent - or as a gift for someone who needs an injection of calm!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64701 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

About the Author
Stephen Cottrell is the Bishop of Reading. As well as the bestselling Do Nothing to Change Your Life, he has also written or contributed to the following other titles for Church House Publishing: * Reflections for Daily Prayer * the Emmaus discipleship course * Travelling Well * Praying through Life.

Customer Reviews

take a deep breath, and gain some perspective
I read Bishop of Reading Stephen Cottrell's little book 'Do Nothing to Change Your Life' a while back, and for his latest book he has applied his laid back philosophy to the monster of the consumerist Christmas.

'Do Nothing - Christmas is Coming' is "an advent calendar with a difference", a series of reflections for each day of advent. Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, but in reality often becomes a time when "all the conflicting demands and expectations that we experience every day in our dispersed and fragmented lives seem at their worst", as Cottrell says. What we need is to take a deep breath, and gain some perspective.

The reflections here address topics such as debt, in-laws, Christmas card lists, Santa, all in a low-key, humorous and accessible way. Cottrell invites us to be more outward looking, more relaxed about our expectations, and pinpoints the ironies of the season: "odd, when the Christmas story is about God coming to earth to pay our debts, to show us how to live, to show us what being human could look like, that we respond by running up more debt." He does all this with a gentle approach to spirituality, making the book accessible to both Christians and non-Christians.

Excellent help in de-stressing and refocusing Christmas
This is (hurrah!) an advent calendar for grown-ups so it's best to buy/give before December if possible. If you are looking for a way of making Christmas less hectic and more meaningful, this little book is the one to pick. For each day of December there are two sparsely filled pages of thoughts, quotes and suggestions to shake out the stresses and refill advent with the peace, hope and joy our Christmas card greetings promise. It's designed to be given as a gift - blurb on the back says "the kids are opening their chocolate calendars and I've just got this poxy book" - and would be ideal as one.

The best way to get ready for Christmas
This book is amazing. Its so easy to get strung up by all the must-do things associated with Christmas that really don't matter. This book takes you to the heart of Christmas and sets you free to celebrate the birth of Jesus without the unnecessary packaging. There are 2 pages to read each day, a bit like an Advent calendar, each presenting different ideas and suggestions for action - go for a long walk, give to charity etc etc. Try it and see what a difference it makes.