I Did a New Thing: 30 Days to Living Free

by Tabitha Brown

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business) presents an inspirational guide for encouraging positive changes in your life—one day and one challenge at a time.

I did a new thing today!

Years ago, Tabitha Brown started a 30-day personal challenge that she called “I Did a New Thing!” The challenge was simple. Every day she would do something she’d never done before. Sometimes it was something small like trying a new food. Other times, she’d step it up a bit and speak to someone she’d never spoken to before. Still other times, she’d do the hard thing—facing a fear that she had, like having that tough conversation with a friend. No matter what it was, the point was that she was going to take a leap of faith and watch God open up a new lane for her.

One of the “new things” she tried was a vegan challenge. She’d been struggling with illness for nearly a year and was desperately searching for healing. She challenged herself to eat vegan every day for thirty days, and six years later, her life has never been the same—all because she decided to do a new thing.

In I Did a New Thing, Tab shares her own stories and those of others, alongside gentle guidance and encouragement to create these incredible changes for yourself and see what good can come from them. Whether that means having the hard conversation or trying for a promotion or simply wearing something different or doing something kind for someone else, Tab has a plan for Try one new thing, every single day, for thirty days. You don’t have to wait until Monday or the beginning of a new month or year to get started. There’s no set time and place or any extra preparation required. All you have to do is show up for yourself. And that can start right now.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Memoir, Humor, African American, Inspirational

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 30, 2024

Reviews

[Kaya W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I read it straight through and now I'm going back to do the 30 day challenge. Good book Mrs. Tab!

[Queen Rosalind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this woman! She is a PHENOMENAL WOMAN! I can not wait to meet her in person. I feel so connected with her and things are placed into perspective when she speaks on a topic. She is so genuine and brave! Her voice is soothing! The content of this book will change your world, if you allow it. Before reading this book or any of her books, open your mind and heart first. You will receive your message!!!!

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could listen to Tab all day! This was such an uplifting read that both entertained and inspired me to try something new, and reminded me that sometimes it’s OK to let things go. I loved the personal stories that Tab shares, as well as the reflections on everything from giving vegan recipes a try to conquering that voice that refuses get outside your comfort zone and add one new thing to your life.

Part memoir, part self-help, Tabitha has such a gift of encouragement that feels like talking to a friend, and I’m inspired to try something new this year.

I listened to the audiobook format and loved it!

*many thanks to Libro.fm and S&S audio for the gifted ALC

[Just A Girl With Spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I was exhausted with putting this mask on everyday and trying to be someone else. And I realized also that I’m not honoring God when I’m trying to be something other than what He created.”


It’s always a pleasure to listen to Tab. This book was so encouraging and sparked so many ideas!! It’s about Facing our fears and insecurities and doing something new no matter how small. I highly recommend the audiobook. It felt like Auntie Tab was in the room with me talking to me. Highly recommend!

[Faloni © · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empowering, raw, unforgettable life lessons. ✅

[debbicat *made of stardust* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tab is such a cheerleader! I needed this book in my life right now. 30 days of trying new things...I think I will! I listened to the entire book which is read by the author. I love it. Felt like I was just sitting and listening to a good friend share the good stuff...the secret to happiness and joy. She speaks very candidly. I ordered a hard copy after getting about 75% thru the audio. I will definitely be trying some of the suggestions in the book.

Highly recommended!

[(Adri)ana | TenPieceLemonPepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love Tab. i really do. what an an incredible gem of a person with a beautiful spirit. she really deserves all of the success and every good thing that comes her way. forever rooting for her.

[Laura Steinhaus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should have been a blog post. The first 20% of it was enjoyable, listening to Tab share the idea of doing a new thing every day and some examples and suggestions of new things. Cute concept! The rest of the book was more of the same, and by the end it just felt like a narcissistic list of unrelatable accomplishments and a lot of unqualified preaching about how we should live our lives.

[Angela DeMaio · Rating 4 out of 5]

tabitha's energy is perfection. a quick fun audiobook!

thank you libro fm for my copy!

[Basic B's Guide · Rating 4 out of 5]

We learn so much about ourselves when we try new things. Brown reminds us to let go of our anxieties that are holding us back and trust in ourselves. Step outside our comfort zone with small and big things.

[maddi1134 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not sure what compelled me to pick this up. It was basically just a book bragging about all the new things the author tried as a privileged influencer.

[Sheontra Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed and looked forward every day to the 30-day challenge of doing something new!

[Samira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I only finished this book because I like Tabitha Brown. It's not great in audio. I think I needed to read over 30 days

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wenn man nur 10% davon schaffst, ist man schon einen großen Schritt weiter!

[Hali]

Thanks Libro for this ALC! This book is out Jan 29th! Part memoir, part self help - this is a wonderfully positive and light book with MANY ideas for trying new things and how to get started with making change in your life. This is a good book to check out if you want a bit of a challenge to get you going on a journey of self reflection and change. However, I wasn’t aware (and this is totally on me) of how religious it would be. There was a lot of discussion of god and purpose and prayer and obedience that wasn’t ideal for me personally. But I was still able to get a lot out of this aside from that. Also, Brown often talks about herself in third person, which is just another personal issue. Anyhoo, I’d recommend if this sounds up your alley as it is worth the quick read.

[ladybreww · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Tab. Another delightful reading by one of my favorite inspirational thinkers. I absolutely love her outtake on life. It's like listening to your favorite aunt give you advice and calm you down. I loved hearing her journey and will always read what she writes.

Thank you LibroFM!

[Sherie P · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoy self-improvement books, and was anticipating a fun inspiring listen. I have no idea who Tab is, but you would think she’s Oprah level famous by the way she rambles through the whole book about her amazing accomplishments and good deeds. I’ve finished 27 books since I started this one 3 1/2 months ago, and just resorted to slowly working my way through this one while looking for the next one. Other turnoffs were her referring to herself in third person throughout the book, the ebonic (AAVE) narration, and the narcissistic “TSA- Tab’s service announcement” & the “Tab’s new thing catalog” at the end of every chapter. Felt like I was reading her autobiography.

[Sonia With an I · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audio for this is incredible. Tab spreading love and encouraging! It’s made more for daily practice but even listening to it from beginning to in was inspiring.

[tre be · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The child in us is always free. It’s the adult in us who gets tainted by the world. We’re taught that we’re not enough, or we embrace our fear in doubt, but talking to our younger selves can help us remember who we really are.”

Tabitha Brown does it again with another colorful, uplifting book to get us revved up and feeling good. This was a super quick, straightforward nonfiction! I loved it and found it to be just what I needed to get me motivated to make big life changes.

Facing fears, and breaking up the mundane is one of the biggest focuses of my therapy sessions and what I’ve learned is that it’s not about doing 1 or 2 really big, radical changes; it’s about the small day to day changes that build up and have the most impact over time!

This book gave me several great ideas of positive new things I can try to shake up my life. My daughter said she wants to join me on the challenge so we’ve already got our list of things to try and we’re excited to document our journey!!

Tabitha Brown narrated the story and did an incredible job. Her gentle, kind voice makes me feel like I’m getting a huge hug with loving encouragement and assurance. Thanks @libro.fm for this advanced listener copy!

Quick, lively, positive & will leave you inspired for something new! I highly recommend if you want to shake up your life and try some new things!

[Kaitlyn (ktxx22) Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely book, with some potentially really valuable advice especially for folks who struggle with living authentically or with trying new things. I know it will shock no one that I enjoy trying new things frequently, foods, recipes, ways to get home, book genres, etc. and I also believe that being myself 10000% of the time is the real pathway to my joyful existence. So for those reasons I don’t really find this an actionable book for me, but I did have a good time reading this book.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book to start off the new year with! Tabitha Brown is as always positive, bubbly, and motivating in this book all about getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things for 30 days.

Full of ideas, prompts, and anecdotes, this encouraging guide will inspire readers to face a fear, go on an adventure, or just try a new dish.

Fans of Shonda Rhimes “The Year of Yes” will enjoy this offering from Mrs. Tab!

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Optimistic & personal

Tabitha is such a ball of sunshine, especially listening to the audio as she goes through her 30 new things and how they changed her.

For those taking on the challenge of 30 days of new things, there’s a lot open to interpretation on what new thing to try for each chapter relevant to you, but she gives anecdotes and ideas so it’s not as overwhelming.

I think this book is suited for a specific audience who want to incorporate newness in their lives through optimistic encouragement and faith.
This approach doesn’t work for everyone. Personally, it was not as impactful just because I already am inclined to seek out newness at the moment. I could see it being more helpful to someone else and it was encouraging to hear her story.

[Leigh Scarcella · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounding up because I love Tab! She's just so sweet and genuine. I liked her suggestions at the end/beginning of chapters of things you could try as a new thing. However some of her main chapters with new thing examples felt out of touch. I'm glad to have seen her during the book tour and the book came with our ticket which was very nice!

[Danielle LaTulippe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s good to hear about changes that someone else puts forth. Listening to this book pushed me to tell a little old lady who was eating alone, and reminded me of my late grandmother, that I loved her bright and bold tiger sweater. Seeing her smile and light up at such a small thing I would have otherwise kept to myself was a great feeling. I can’t wait to try more new things.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired. I use to scroll on from Tab in videos, merch, books everything. For some reason I felt like she was being a character for the internets lol I know crazy. This book was encouraging. I see how this challenge helped her to become the person she is now. Something I need to help me get on up out of this comfort zone. (Audio book read by her)

[Heather Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tabitha Brown’s book in Tabitha Brown’s voice. Using much of the same language as social media followers will find familiar, Tab walks the reader through at least 30 ways to do some new things in life.

[Nicolette Leon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Auntie Tab and her beautiful spirit! I didn’t do this as a challenge, I loved it too much and just listened to it in a few days but in April I’d really like to try it. Gracias por tu luz y por enseñar a tantos cómo vivir libre.

[Megan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know this woman but I’m shook by her enthusiasm for being alive. I don’t think everything that she’s learned and is sharing is necessarily prescriptive (she’s on her own healing journey) but a lot of it is still really good! I’m going to be pondering on this book for a while.

[Ruby Melendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did a new thing! I wrote my 1st review here.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book and will recommend it to everyone. It’s important to try new things and reading this books helped me to be more mindful of those new things are and how I can continue trying new things. Peace Love & Happiness -Ruby

[Karen Ashmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tabitha Brown helps you open your mind and expand your universe by encouraging you to try doing a new thing every day for 30 days. She did it herself and gives examples like. Eat something you have never eaten, try a new hairstyle, take Pilates, learn a new word, try a new sport, create a painting, start a new family tradition, take an elder on a date. Lots of ideas that will help you become a more caring, interesting and holistic person.