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Losers Like Us
In 2008, after seven years of preparation, Daniel Hochhalter permanently failed his PhD, leaving him with no refunds, no transferable credits, no recourse to appeal or try again, and no hope of gaining the qualifications needed for his desired career. Then he lost his job. Devastated and in crisis, with no Plan B and no clue how to redeem his future, he looked to the twelve disciples and discovered that—despite their gaping faults and sins—God still loved them and used them to change the world.
With fresh warmth and wisdom, ample hope and humor, Losers Like Us skillfully intertwines Dan’s own story with theirs to show how our worst mistakes and greatest failures bring us to a place of teachableness, egolessness, brokenness, and empathy—the very qualifications required to receive God’s love and grace, and to manifest his kingdom on earth.
With fresh warmth and wisdom, ample hope and humor, Losers Like Us skillfully intertwines Dan’s own story with theirs to show how our worst mistakes and greatest failures bring us to a place of teachableness, egolessness, brokenness, and empathy—the very qualifications required to receive God’s love and grace, and to manifest his kingdom on earth.
182 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2014
114 people are currently reading
619 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Hochhalter
2 books11 followersI reside in Helena, Montana, with my wife, and teach at Helena Christian School. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University and a Master of Divinity from George Fox Evangelical Seminary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 25, 2024
With humor, clarity, and extreme candor Daniel Hochhalter introduces us to the dark underbelly of all of our carefully constructed facades to reveal the inner loser we hide deep within. By exploring the faults and failures of each of Jesus' disciples (their loseriness), we find that we are in good company. I have not failed a PhD as Hochhalter did, but after reading each chapter I felt as though I should have received a consulting fee, or a royalty, or some kind of credit for the source material. I say this tongue-in-cheek of course, the point being that I could relate to so much of Daniel's experiences and feelings that I truly believe we are cut from the same cloth. We share the same loser DNA. You probably have it too. The good news that Hochhalter shares is not that we can necessarily overcome our loser status, but that God can use us in spite of it. There's hope! I highly recommend this book to every Christian, especially those who struggle with feeling that they don't measure up, probably never will measure up, and wonder how God can possibly use them in the mean time. An excellent read!
November 26, 2014
Honest, refreshing and encouraging, this book gives insight into the lives of the 12 men who Jesus chose as his closest followers. And to myself.
Daniel Hochhalter shares openly about his own life, in particular the moment when he failed at his life-long pursuit for a PhD. That humiliation drove him to the scriptures. What he found encouraged him that there is hope for someone who feels like a loser. Thankfully, he shared it in this book.
In "Losers Like Us," Hochhalter takes a chapter-by-chapter look at each of the 12 disciples. With entertaining writing rich with both detail and humor, he examines each man's particular traits and how we can relate to them.
I enjoyed this book first of all for how I was able to learn about the 12 disciples as individuals and identify with them as never before. Most of all, I appreciated Hochhalter's transparency.
I would not recommend this book for someone who has it all together, but if you've ever felt like a lost cause, I urge you to pick it up. Hochhalter acknowleges in the final that he doesn't have a direction for his career. I'm thankful that he answered the call to pen this book and it's pretty likely that more writing in his future.
Daniel Hochhalter shares openly about his own life, in particular the moment when he failed at his life-long pursuit for a PhD. That humiliation drove him to the scriptures. What he found encouraged him that there is hope for someone who feels like a loser. Thankfully, he shared it in this book.
In "Losers Like Us," Hochhalter takes a chapter-by-chapter look at each of the 12 disciples. With entertaining writing rich with both detail and humor, he examines each man's particular traits and how we can relate to them.
I enjoyed this book first of all for how I was able to learn about the 12 disciples as individuals and identify with them as never before. Most of all, I appreciated Hochhalter's transparency.
I would not recommend this book for someone who has it all together, but if you've ever felt like a lost cause, I urge you to pick it up. Hochhalter acknowleges in the final that he doesn't have a direction for his career. I'm thankful that he answered the call to pen this book and it's pretty likely that more writing in his future.
November 3, 2014
This is a book I really needed and that I will recommend to others. I started the book knowing it was for someone like me and finished it understanding that it is for anyone who is honest with themselves.
As other reviewers have stated, it is not a self-help book. That would, in fact, defeat the whole purpose. It is not about how not to be a loser, or how to no longer be a loser, or how to come back from being a loser. Dan's compelling story demonstrates how he came to realize that he was a loser, but it did not make him a loser, just as our stories do not. Some of us have to be transformed in our mind from the loser we think we are to the loser God wants us to be.
The author uses each of the twelve Apostles and one special guest character, showing how each was a loser in a different way and how we can understand ourselves and emulate them. It makes for as series of unique and edifying character studies.
As other reviewers have stated, it is not a self-help book. That would, in fact, defeat the whole purpose. It is not about how not to be a loser, or how to no longer be a loser, or how to come back from being a loser. Dan's compelling story demonstrates how he came to realize that he was a loser, but it did not make him a loser, just as our stories do not. Some of us have to be transformed in our mind from the loser we think we are to the loser God wants us to be.
The author uses each of the twelve Apostles and one special guest character, showing how each was a loser in a different way and how we can understand ourselves and emulate them. It makes for as series of unique and edifying character studies.
October 9, 2014
Character study
This book examines the faults of the 12 disciples, as a method to both discover our own flaws and also to show how Christ uses broken people in his work.
This book examines the faults of the 12 disciples, as a method to both discover our own flaws and also to show how Christ uses broken people in his work.
March 3, 2020
I REALLY liked this book. I love books that make you think, and this one does that, in spades. I learned a lot about the Disciples that I did not know, and frankly, never would have even thought to wonder about.
For example, why did Jesus select the people he did? What was it about their profession or their personality that drew Jesus to call them? And what does that say about us when we try to follow Him today?
There is a lot of really good stuff, here. Dan may be "a loser," but he is also a very good writer.
I highly recommend this book. I will be thinking about it, for quite a long time.
James
Merged review:
This is the second time I have read this book. I read it a few years ago and still think of it often. This time around, we used it as part of our Sunday School adult Bible class. I also recommended it to our Deacon, who used it as a small group study at two separate churches.
I think that this is a sacred work. It holds SO much wisdom and it forces you to examine SO many pre-conceived notions.
I STILL would like to see a sequel that deals with many of the REST of the Bible "superstars of loserdom." Maybe the author feels like he has covered that subject matter sufficiently. What he has tapped into is one of the key points about the Bible. As human beings, we are SO focused on ourselves and the things that are important to US, that we forget that the Bible and our Faith is God's story and not ours. We have what we have through grace. Even the things that occasionally break us. God either allows this to happen or causes it: (another discussion we had in class!). He does this not because He wants to cause us pain, but because it is necessary in order for us to realize what He wants us to experience.
This should be a must-read for Christians who want to understand and deepen their faith and trust in God.
A warning for those who are easily offended: the author uses "power words" to make profound points. Some people might consider this sacrilegious. He is distinguishing between how the "world" sees things from how God does. Hint: God's way is better. The author uses certain words to get your attention. He does this very well, in my opinion. If you are offended by what he says, then you are missing his point.
For example, why did Jesus select the people he did? What was it about their profession or their personality that drew Jesus to call them? And what does that say about us when we try to follow Him today?
There is a lot of really good stuff, here. Dan may be "a loser," but he is also a very good writer.
I highly recommend this book. I will be thinking about it, for quite a long time.
James
Merged review:
This is the second time I have read this book. I read it a few years ago and still think of it often. This time around, we used it as part of our Sunday School adult Bible class. I also recommended it to our Deacon, who used it as a small group study at two separate churches.
I think that this is a sacred work. It holds SO much wisdom and it forces you to examine SO many pre-conceived notions.
I STILL would like to see a sequel that deals with many of the REST of the Bible "superstars of loserdom." Maybe the author feels like he has covered that subject matter sufficiently. What he has tapped into is one of the key points about the Bible. As human beings, we are SO focused on ourselves and the things that are important to US, that we forget that the Bible and our Faith is God's story and not ours. We have what we have through grace. Even the things that occasionally break us. God either allows this to happen or causes it: (another discussion we had in class!). He does this not because He wants to cause us pain, but because it is necessary in order for us to realize what He wants us to experience.
This should be a must-read for Christians who want to understand and deepen their faith and trust in God.
A warning for those who are easily offended: the author uses "power words" to make profound points. Some people might consider this sacrilegious. He is distinguishing between how the "world" sees things from how God does. Hint: God's way is better. The author uses certain words to get your attention. He does this very well, in my opinion. If you are offended by what he says, then you are missing his point.
December 23, 2014
A refreshing book, written with great honesty and insight. I liked the fact that it does not try to "fix" us losers but allows us to really examine our hearts and our preconceived notions of ourselves and others. At the end of the day, we all have things that make us feel as if we haven't measured up to some standard because the truth of the matter is that no one ever does. That's where grace comes in. I am thankful for a God who loves me despite the fact that I can be very unlovable...and I will also continue to pray (and try to live out) the prayer, "not my will, but yours, oh God."
Everyone should read this book - it has a message that speaks to us all.
Everyone should read this book - it has a message that speaks to us all.
May 16, 2015
The author basically bares his soul while examining the undesirable qualities of each of the twelve original disciples of Jesus. Probably, everyone who reads this book will be able to identify with one of the profiles presented, at some level. It is a story and study that will encourage every reader.
Read
October 5, 2015One of THE best books I have ever read. Every Christian should read this to begin to understand what/who you are in light of the Disciples and in Jesus Christ. KUDOS to the greatest "loser" writer I have read in a long time!
March 10, 2015
What an interesting read. I began this book as a skeptic. I felt that I would not like the term 'loser' being applied to the disciples and myself. I did not feel that it would speak life into people's situations. Little did I know that the author would be audacious enough to apply the term to Jesus as well!
But I'm so glad he did.
Thankfully, he carefully defined what he meant by "loser" and explains how we all fit that label. He also explains that ultimately, if Jesus hadn't also fit that label, we would never be able to receive the comfort that he gives with the authority of having experienced the same hurts, betrayals and rejections that we also experience. We can relate to Him and know, without a doubt, He understands.
I appreciated the creative license he took to interpret the personalities of the some of the disciples. It helped me perceive them in ways I never thought of before. He slowed down the short references of them in the Gospels and helps to break those moments down to see them in less of a blur.
Still there were times in this book that the I still did not always care for the way the author framed his points. He has a scathing wit and sarcasm that delivered brutally honest thoughts that I easily understood and related to, even laugh out loud at, but I feel are perhaps a bit reckless in the delivery. ( I chalk this up to simple personality and writing style preference. Others may absolutely love this writing style.)
Ultimately, this book, especially in his chapter on Peter, gave me hope that in spite of my flaws, misunderstanding of who God is and weak efforts to love Him, Jesus still 1) wants a relationship with me and 2)will always pursue reconciliation me when I betray/fail him and 3) will let nothing separate me from Him while I am alive.
It was a reassurance of God's love and grace in different terms that finally hit me solidly in the chest that I can trust this idea I've been reading in the Bible for so many years.
I cannot agree to all the opinions, creative interpretations and style with which he made his points, but I give this book 4 stars because it still had a positive impact on me and I feel I can trust the Spirit to filter the truth that needs to be heard because there is indeed a message in this that needs to be heard.
But I'm so glad he did.
Thankfully, he carefully defined what he meant by "loser" and explains how we all fit that label. He also explains that ultimately, if Jesus hadn't also fit that label, we would never be able to receive the comfort that he gives with the authority of having experienced the same hurts, betrayals and rejections that we also experience. We can relate to Him and know, without a doubt, He understands.
I appreciated the creative license he took to interpret the personalities of the some of the disciples. It helped me perceive them in ways I never thought of before. He slowed down the short references of them in the Gospels and helps to break those moments down to see them in less of a blur.
Still there were times in this book that the I still did not always care for the way the author framed his points. He has a scathing wit and sarcasm that delivered brutally honest thoughts that I easily understood and related to, even laugh out loud at, but I feel are perhaps a bit reckless in the delivery. ( I chalk this up to simple personality and writing style preference. Others may absolutely love this writing style.)
Ultimately, this book, especially in his chapter on Peter, gave me hope that in spite of my flaws, misunderstanding of who God is and weak efforts to love Him, Jesus still 1) wants a relationship with me and 2)will always pursue reconciliation me when I betray/fail him and 3) will let nothing separate me from Him while I am alive.
It was a reassurance of God's love and grace in different terms that finally hit me solidly in the chest that I can trust this idea I've been reading in the Bible for so many years.
I cannot agree to all the opinions, creative interpretations and style with which he made his points, but I give this book 4 stars because it still had a positive impact on me and I feel I can trust the Spirit to filter the truth that needs to be heard because there is indeed a message in this that needs to be heard.
March 31, 2016
I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could. This will resonate with every Christian who has ever felt like a loser--and who hasn't? The author describes how each of the original 12 disciples were "losers" in some way or other. Yet Jesus chose them to be His closest confidants, to build His Kingdom. And He still uses "losers like us" today. God wants us broken and needy so we depend totally on Him. He wants us to be honest with Him and not try to make ourselves look better than we are.
Two things that especially struck me: 1)Judas betrayed Jesus once; Peter betrayed Him three times by denying that He even knew Him. Yet Judas ended his own life and will always be known as the betrayer while Peter became a great hero of the faith. The author suggests that the reason is that after the betrayal, Judas felt remorse and killed himself, but Peter--who is described in the book as a "big screw-up"--ran back to the resurrected Jesus for forgiveness. Would Jesus have forgiven Judas if Judas had gone to Him in repentance rather than taking matters into his own hands?
2) The final loser--the biggest loser of all--is Jesus. "His entire life is filled with scandal and suspicion. In the eyes of society, he is born a bastard and dies a criminal, and in between he is seen as everything from a rabble-rouser to a madman." "To be truly heard by the masses, Jesus had to insert himself into the gritty context of human life. He had to become one of us. He had to become a loser."
The book is Scriptural--where this author calls Jesus a "loser," Paul talks about Jesus emptying Himself--and it puts Biblical truth in the language and context of our lives today. Any Christian who has ever felt like a loser should read Losers Like Us.
Two things that especially struck me: 1)Judas betrayed Jesus once; Peter betrayed Him three times by denying that He even knew Him. Yet Judas ended his own life and will always be known as the betrayer while Peter became a great hero of the faith. The author suggests that the reason is that after the betrayal, Judas felt remorse and killed himself, but Peter--who is described in the book as a "big screw-up"--ran back to the resurrected Jesus for forgiveness. Would Jesus have forgiven Judas if Judas had gone to Him in repentance rather than taking matters into his own hands?
2) The final loser--the biggest loser of all--is Jesus. "His entire life is filled with scandal and suspicion. In the eyes of society, he is born a bastard and dies a criminal, and in between he is seen as everything from a rabble-rouser to a madman." "To be truly heard by the masses, Jesus had to insert himself into the gritty context of human life. He had to become one of us. He had to become a loser."
The book is Scriptural--where this author calls Jesus a "loser," Paul talks about Jesus emptying Himself--and it puts Biblical truth in the language and context of our lives today. Any Christian who has ever felt like a loser should read Losers Like Us.
February 3, 2015
The author Daniel Hochhalter, picked this title because as he was sitting across from two people who had just told him that all of his work for hi PHD was for not, it was not accepted. He had no plan B. he felt like a lot of people like a failure. How could I spend so much time and money and come away with nothing to show for it. How I am I going to look to my family and friends, to my place of employment, will I still have a job? He then goes through his failure or not by writing about how each one of the disciples had short comings or failures. He brings these out from stories from his past but also through scripture and brings to life each one and you begin to see that they had fear, doubt, and other human short comings and this was after being with Jesus. How does a Zealot, a tax collector, and fishermen all seem to live and work together? This is all something I had never thought about before. What were the disciple’s lives before and what about during or after Christ? Then of course how did they, like us overcome our own short comings that at times makes us feel like a loser. This is a fascinating book and one that I really enjoyed reading. Maybe if he had gotten his PHD he would not have written this book, so in the long run he is a winner and God had the plan b all the time. A great book. I got this book from net galley.
February 21, 2016
I needed to read this book. It is a really important read for those of us in an achievement and success oriented world (all of us). There are a few chapters that alone are worth the price of the book. Very good book. I'll be referring to insights in it for a long time, I'd imagine. And yes, I am a loser too.
January 22, 2016
Good and different perspective on the lives of the disciples, and Jesus, as losers! The author takes his own personal experience as a loser and applies the lives of those who followed Jesus to his own life. The author saw himself as a loser because he was denied his PhD after years of work. Great introspection. I had never thought of the lives of these men as deeply as this. Refreshing.
October 20, 2015
Wow! I found this book very inspirational and it was exactly what I needed. The best way I can summarize this book is to use Daniel Hochhalter's own words: "Let's face it, when we experience pain, we don't need to be preached at by people who 'have it all together'."
August 4, 2015
A must read
Truly an eye opener, that presents Jesus, the twelve disciples and some apostles in a manner that creates an unprecedented view and understanding. One that truly helped me.
Truly an eye opener, that presents Jesus, the twelve disciples and some apostles in a manner that creates an unprecedented view and understanding. One that truly helped me.
November 18, 2014
The author may have taken a few liberties with the disciples motives, but there is much to relate to and learn from in this book!
January 1, 2015
Really a wonderful book. Hochhalter incorporates biographies of the Apostles with his own experiences to produce a work that is personally honest, biblically informative and richly devotional.
July 20, 2019
This book is both humbling and encouraging. Losers Like Us is a unique view of the 12 Disciples and Jesus and about each one’s flaws and failures that should have prevented them from being chosen by Jesus but instead found them to be perfect candidates. The author also weaves in his excruciating experience of losing his doctorate degree. It brought to light some different ideas about who God chooses to call and work in. His answer is God calls losers.
He says, “...strips the disciples, and me, to what we really are: a bunch of awkward, messed-up, doubting people whom Jesus found worth dying for. Because Jesus didn’t die for the polished version of us—the version we try to present to the world; he died for the real version, the one we don’t want to see in the mirror.”
Overall, this book kept me thinking and I liked his overall idea that we are all a hot mess, but Jesus calls us to be His disciples anyway. He loves us before he cleans us up and does great works in us despite all our downfalls. Praise God for that!
He says, “...strips the disciples, and me, to what we really are: a bunch of awkward, messed-up, doubting people whom Jesus found worth dying for. Because Jesus didn’t die for the polished version of us—the version we try to present to the world; he died for the real version, the one we don’t want to see in the mirror.”
Overall, this book kept me thinking and I liked his overall idea that we are all a hot mess, but Jesus calls us to be His disciples anyway. He loves us before he cleans us up and does great works in us despite all our downfalls. Praise God for that!
July 4, 2017
Excellent Encouragement for the Down-Hearted
What a wonderful book! Once I realized I was depressed again, I knew I would be in it for the long haul. So I sought out books that could soothe my broken heart. I am so thankful to have come across this one!
More than any other book (aside from the Bible, of course) on the disciples of Christ, I learned the most from this one. I was uplifted by the author's willingness to make himself so open and vulnerable to his readers. I was instructed by viewpoints of the 12 disciples I had never before considered. I was comforted by the author's message of hope and the love Christ has for us.
One funny thing I should mention - when I told people the title of this book, they all got funny expressions on their faces. Some looked pained by my willingness to read such a book. So glad I did and will read it again. Thanks to the author for writing it!
What a wonderful book! Once I realized I was depressed again, I knew I would be in it for the long haul. So I sought out books that could soothe my broken heart. I am so thankful to have come across this one!
More than any other book (aside from the Bible, of course) on the disciples of Christ, I learned the most from this one. I was uplifted by the author's willingness to make himself so open and vulnerable to his readers. I was instructed by viewpoints of the 12 disciples I had never before considered. I was comforted by the author's message of hope and the love Christ has for us.
One funny thing I should mention - when I told people the title of this book, they all got funny expressions on their faces. Some looked pained by my willingness to read such a book. So glad I did and will read it again. Thanks to the author for writing it!
February 24, 2023
If it were titled “God Will Use Even You” or something similar, I might not be so harsh on it. I greatly appreciate the authors vulnerability and honesty. I also can’t believe how his PhD advisors had “prepared him for slaughter” (RE: the defense of his dissertation). That was awful and he received some terrible guidance, but overall there is just TOO MUCH conjecture and theorizing when it comes to the lives of the Disciples in this book, for me. Again, I found a lot of inspiration in his own testimony, but given the title of the book, the mark was missed in my opinion.
You can’t categorize “losers” as failures and then include Jesus in that characterization too. I was actually excited to stumble across this title. The concept behind it is very appealing to me, but it falls woefully short of connecting our failures and shortcomings to actual discipleship. A better resource for that would be Jared Wilson’s “The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together”.
You can’t categorize “losers” as failures and then include Jesus in that characterization too. I was actually excited to stumble across this title. The concept behind it is very appealing to me, but it falls woefully short of connecting our failures and shortcomings to actual discipleship. A better resource for that would be Jared Wilson’s “The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can’t Get Their Act Together”.
February 3, 2023
I had no idea or expectations about the content of this book. The title intrigued me and God has been stirring my heart about the idea of discipleship. Is there more to the faith journey than the need and tidy ideas and pictures of what it looks like? This book was a fresh challenge to those things and offered honest looks at those Jesus called and calls to follow Him. I found much value and hope by holding the 12 up to my face like a mirror. I pray that these views will free me false expectations the pretense of thinking more highly of myself than I ought. This read was time well spent.
March 17, 2025
This was a good look at the 12 disciples that Jesus called and how we can relate to them, flaws and all. A lot of times, we look to the apostles as larger than life heroes of the faith. After hitting rock bottom, the author looked at his own "loser" status a bit differently and found likenesses in the people Jesus considered his closest friends on earth. Giving each of the disciples a chapter on one of their character traits that we can all relate to, this was a new look at information I already knew from the Bible and summarized nicely both how much we need God's grace and how available it is to us. I enjoyed this non-fiction read.
December 7, 2016
Helpful personal story mixed with insights about the disciples
We are all losers if we would just recognize it. But this author experienced that in a profound way for himself and here shares hope for the rest of us. Not hope that we can become winners but hope that God will see us through and allow us to help other losers. It's a different perspective than most books but by sharing about the twelve disciples we see that it is authentic.
We are all losers if we would just recognize it. But this author experienced that in a profound way for himself and here shares hope for the rest of us. Not hope that we can become winners but hope that God will see us through and allow us to help other losers. It's a different perspective than most books but by sharing about the twelve disciples we see that it is authentic.
April 8, 2020
I should have known when the first line in the forward warned me not to put this book down. When someone says that, you think, they probably have good reason to know that readers might want to put it down. But did I listen? Nope. I kept reading. I thought it couldn’t get worse. But it did. There are so many reasons I rated this book with one star that I can’t even begin to list them all. I will just say that if it doesn't seem like your kind of book, then listen to your inner being.
August 19, 2020
I read this book with my church life group. I appreciate the insight and Hochhalter offers some great food for thought, but the pacing is slow and drudging. It takes him so long to get to the point in some of the chapters it’s hard to remain engaged. It’s worth it if you stick it out, but my concern is how easy it is to put this book down.
December 10, 2019
Relatable on every level
I laughed and cried on every page. The writing was so simple and understandable albeit thoroughly researched. I found the author’s personal experiences made the book relatable and page turning. I hope to read many more books from this author.
I laughed and cried on every page. The writing was so simple and understandable albeit thoroughly researched. I found the author’s personal experiences made the book relatable and page turning. I hope to read many more books from this author.
January 2, 2025
I deliberately took a long time to read this book. I helped me to see things differently that I had heretofore thought of as unsolvable. Such a wonderfully fantastic book. I have recommended it to at least a dozen people.
I will review this book annually.
I will review this book annually.
December 21, 2016
A creative and helpful response to failure and disappointment by turning to Scripture and studying the "failures" who Jesus chose as his first disciples.
May 15, 2017
Some good insights, but a lot of repetitious discussion about the author's failed PhD.
June 28, 2023
Great!!
If you feel like a loser, you are in good company. You must read this book. I highly recommend it.
If you feel like a loser, you are in good company. You must read this book. I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews