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The Quiet Ambition: Scripture's Surprising Antidote to Our Restless Lives
Do you desire to do great things for God but feel like you're falling short?
Does your life feel small, filled with endless demands, seemingly insignificant work, mundane responsibilities, or challenging relationships? If your desire to make an impact for God's kingdom collides with the limits and disappointments of everyday life, it's easy to feel restless, resigned, and discouraged.
Scripture offers a better way. In one of Paul's letters, there's an unexpected, paradoxical "Make it your ambition to live quietly . . ."
In The Quiet Ambition, pastor and theologian Ryan P. Tinetti unpacks the rich spiritual wisdom of 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, showing how it can help you reimagine what following Jesus looks like. Tinetti explores four key postures for living out your Christian
Live quietly.Tend your own business.Work with your hands.Walk gracefully toward outsiders.This call to quiet ambition frees you to embrace God's presence in the small, ordinary moments of your life. By shifting your focus from self-aggrandizing desires and internalized pressure for spiritual achievement to faithful living in the everyday, you can experience real hope and discover what it truly means to live a life that counts.
Are you ready to reimagine what following Jesus looks like in your everyday life? Order your copy of A Quiet Ambition and start your journey today!
Does your life feel small, filled with endless demands, seemingly insignificant work, mundane responsibilities, or challenging relationships? If your desire to make an impact for God's kingdom collides with the limits and disappointments of everyday life, it's easy to feel restless, resigned, and discouraged.
Scripture offers a better way. In one of Paul's letters, there's an unexpected, paradoxical "Make it your ambition to live quietly . . ."
In The Quiet Ambition, pastor and theologian Ryan P. Tinetti unpacks the rich spiritual wisdom of 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, showing how it can help you reimagine what following Jesus looks like. Tinetti explores four key postures for living out your Christian
Live quietly.Tend your own business.Work with your hands.Walk gracefully toward outsiders.This call to quiet ambition frees you to embrace God's presence in the small, ordinary moments of your life. By shifting your focus from self-aggrandizing desires and internalized pressure for spiritual achievement to faithful living in the everyday, you can experience real hope and discover what it truly means to live a life that counts.
Are you ready to reimagine what following Jesus looks like in your everyday life? Order your copy of A Quiet Ambition and start your journey today!
224 pages, Hardcover
Published November 18, 2025
17 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 9, 2025
I squeezed into my seat and tried to make room for my longer-than-average legs on a recent flight to California. Here we go again, I sighed. Then I reached into my backpack, pulled out a new book by Ryan Tinetti, and opened to page one. The next thing I knew, our wheels were touching down!
That may have been the fastest 3+ hours of my life.
It’s dangerous to read a book like this one in public because you’re forced to stifle laughs or surreptitiously wipe away tears every few pages. One can easily appear an oddball to those who don’t realize what such books can do to us. Ryan’s captivating storytelling, scalpel-sharp diagnosis of our modern problems, and his moving portrait of divine love are impossible to read without emotions getting the best of us.
The Quiet Ambition is subtitled Scripture’s Surprising Antidote to Our Restless Lives. Talk about an accurate subtitle. Our “restless lives” are made restless by the siren call of selfish ambition and building personal Babel towers, shunning silence for nonstop noise, butting into God’s business instead of minding our own, looking down our noses at manual labor, and thinking we must radically change the world instead of faithfully serving in our little acre of the kingdom of God.
With both clarity and charity, Ryan demonstrates how each of us has been conned by these untruths.
The antidote to each of these is—surprise, surprise—listening to God instead of the latest cultural dogma or the hellish whisper from the ancient liar. Each chapter gives us generous quantities of this antidote, always calling us back to a quiet ambition, humble service, with our eyes locked on living by faith in Christ and in love toward our neighbor.
Almost two years ago, I read a chapter or two of this book when it was still in process. I knew then that I would like it. Reading the finished product, I absolutely love it.
Add this one to your shelf, your Christmas wish list, your church library. In theology and in writing style, The Quiet Ambition deserves nothing less than an A+ and a round of applause.
That may have been the fastest 3+ hours of my life.
It’s dangerous to read a book like this one in public because you’re forced to stifle laughs or surreptitiously wipe away tears every few pages. One can easily appear an oddball to those who don’t realize what such books can do to us. Ryan’s captivating storytelling, scalpel-sharp diagnosis of our modern problems, and his moving portrait of divine love are impossible to read without emotions getting the best of us.
The Quiet Ambition is subtitled Scripture’s Surprising Antidote to Our Restless Lives. Talk about an accurate subtitle. Our “restless lives” are made restless by the siren call of selfish ambition and building personal Babel towers, shunning silence for nonstop noise, butting into God’s business instead of minding our own, looking down our noses at manual labor, and thinking we must radically change the world instead of faithfully serving in our little acre of the kingdom of God.
With both clarity and charity, Ryan demonstrates how each of us has been conned by these untruths.
The antidote to each of these is—surprise, surprise—listening to God instead of the latest cultural dogma or the hellish whisper from the ancient liar. Each chapter gives us generous quantities of this antidote, always calling us back to a quiet ambition, humble service, with our eyes locked on living by faith in Christ and in love toward our neighbor.
Almost two years ago, I read a chapter or two of this book when it was still in process. I knew then that I would like it. Reading the finished product, I absolutely love it.
Add this one to your shelf, your Christmas wish list, your church library. In theology and in writing style, The Quiet Ambition deserves nothing less than an A+ and a round of applause.
November 20, 2025
It’s true, I have the same last name as the author. But, I genuinely love this book! Tinetti draws on his deep theological knowledge to show us how to find meaning and how we can apply scripture to our daily lives. It is presented in a way that is accessible, with clear direction and often with humor. This book is a treasure and I highly recommend it to all readers!
December 16, 2025
Review coming soon
December 11, 2025
A great read to help put the Christian life in perspective based on 1 Thessalonians 4:11. Tinetti's writing style is incredibly readable and entertaining. He weaves together quotes and insights from many of my favorite books, many I've now added to my reading list, and of course scripture to guide the reader to a graceful life filled with Christ. I definitely recommend reading this one for anyone who feels like they're spinning their wheels with too much to do in life.
December 30, 2025
"Jesus' message isn't that you need to go out and change the world in order to be reckoned faithful. His message is that genuine faithfulness means wisely stewarding whatever gifts you have, however meager they may seem, in order that by the influence of the Spirit you might move the ratchet of the kingdom one tick forward. And in the eyes of the Master, that quiet life of hope, the little labor of love carried out in faith is very large indeed." - Ryan P. Tinetti
This book is a good reminder that it's not only okay to live a quiet life, it's a command of scripture (1 These. 4:11). This goes against the popular mindset common among Westerners these days that bigger is better and that we need to and can change the world.
This book has a grounding effect, at least it did for me. It made me want to cease from striving and feeling the need that if I don't do something grand for God then it must be of little worth. Small potatoes and all that. But with Christ, small potatoes or five loaves and a fish is not an insignificant offering when put into His hands. The book was also encouraging to not lose heart when our ministry plans don't match our efforts or our experiences.
Here is another quote that stuck with me -
"I do not believe that I am the Christ, that I can solve the world's problems, that I must justify God to the world, that I have to sift the sinners from the saints, that I need to correct every incorrect opinion, that I must determine Heaven's guest list, and so on..." The bottom line is that with John the Baptist we embrace our creaturely limitations and let God be God for us."
This book is a good reminder that it's not only okay to live a quiet life, it's a command of scripture (1 These. 4:11). This goes against the popular mindset common among Westerners these days that bigger is better and that we need to and can change the world.
This book has a grounding effect, at least it did for me. It made me want to cease from striving and feeling the need that if I don't do something grand for God then it must be of little worth. Small potatoes and all that. But with Christ, small potatoes or five loaves and a fish is not an insignificant offering when put into His hands. The book was also encouraging to not lose heart when our ministry plans don't match our efforts or our experiences.
Here is another quote that stuck with me -
"I do not believe that I am the Christ, that I can solve the world's problems, that I must justify God to the world, that I have to sift the sinners from the saints, that I need to correct every incorrect opinion, that I must determine Heaven's guest list, and so on..." The bottom line is that with John the Baptist we embrace our creaturely limitations and let God be God for us."
October 31, 2025
Great title to read about living a quietly ambitious life for God without being restless because of emptiness that we often try to fill with busyness. Around 200 pages, the author addresses many points on the topic, including:
- Quietness signifies confidence in God instead of bringing attention to yourself.
- Importance of having margin in your life (take time to slow down to enjoy God, other people, nature, and life in general).
- Don't make God's business your business - stay in the lane God has given you!
- Do what God has called you to do and don't be a nosy busybody.
- What it means to "mind your own business".
Many other points are covered in this enlightening book. The title is easy to read, smoothly transitions from chapter to chapter, has a great notes section for further reading, written from a Christian perspective, and is a very timely read in today's world.
Highly recommended.
I was given a review copy by IVP in exchange for a fair review and appreciate the opportunity.
- Quietness signifies confidence in God instead of bringing attention to yourself.
- Importance of having margin in your life (take time to slow down to enjoy God, other people, nature, and life in general).
- Don't make God's business your business - stay in the lane God has given you!
- Do what God has called you to do and don't be a nosy busybody.
- What it means to "mind your own business".
Many other points are covered in this enlightening book. The title is easy to read, smoothly transitions from chapter to chapter, has a great notes section for further reading, written from a Christian perspective, and is a very timely read in today's world.
Highly recommended.
I was given a review copy by IVP in exchange for a fair review and appreciate the opportunity.
November 25, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book. It was an easy, light read, yet it still drove home its tenacious message about living quietly in a “go big” world. I know it will serve as a valuable resource for my own “little” life and my commitment to simple living.
December 29, 2025
I purchased it as a Christmas gift for my son; after inspection, I concluded I must read it before sending it off. It’s excellent! Mom-approved. Thanks :)
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