Inspirational, gently Christian but equally available to believers and non-believers alike, this book is surely as intriguing as the author/motivational speaker must be in person. Nick Vujicic’s Life without Limits offers encouragement to readers who twist against the goads of a limited life, from the viewpoint of one whose life is lived without either limits or limbs. The cover picture, of a handsome happy young man, smiling, staring straight at the reader, certainly pulls you in. And it’s only after you’ve been pulled in that you realize what’s “wrong,” or what's missing (arms and legs). But by then you’re already turning the page and you’re hooked.
Nick Vujicic must surely have lived the ultimate in limited lives, carried from place to place, dressed by others, fed by others, trundled around like a doll… but he learned not only to be independent, but also how and when to choose dependence instead. In Life without Limits he offers examples from his own life and from people he’s spoken with to show how readers can choose to change their point of view, and practice unlimited life.
“When you give up on your dreams, you put God in a box,” says Nick in his introduction. But this isn’t a book about God. It’s not a book about blandly accepting the inevitable as just “Well, it must be God’s will.” It’s a book about changing the inevitable. If you’re a believer, it’s a book that will draw you closer to God, proving again and again that in a broken world or broken body, God has a plan for you. Even if you’re not a believer, Nick’s words might entice you with hope. But more than that, his actions and his lessons will propel you forward as surely as his “chicken drumstick” foot propels his truncated body in a swimming pool.
A lovely sense of humor pervades this book, almost inviting you to look more closely at the pictures—yes, it invited me; I searched for Nick on Youtube and Facebook too as soon as I finished reading! But there’s also a valuable serious side to the writing. Nick says, with absolute honesty, there are others in the world with far more problems than he. Then he proves it’s true. He says, with absolute honesty, that we can change our lives, then he proves that too. He confesses to his teenage depression and hopelessness,and proves there really was a way through.
Do you need to change your attitudes? Do you need to set new goals? Do you need more people skills (and just imagine how important such skills must be to someone without arms to defend himself or legs to flee!)? Do you want some practical steps to overcoming your limits? This book has it all in an easy-to-read package, with repetition where it’s needed, a convincing feel of listening to a great speaker, a genuine call to motivate you, and an honest humanity and faith… plus pictures, plus stories, plus laugh-out-loud ridiculous zany fun! Yes, Nick Vujicic really does live and love his life without limits and he’s somebody well worth meeting!
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review, and I count myself ridiculously lucky!