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Young and Beardless: The Search for God, Purpose, and a Meaningful Life

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John Luke Robertson may be young and beardless, but he has a lot to say about growing up and discovering your purpose.

John Luke Robertson, the oldest son of Willie and Korie Robertson and brother of Dancing with the Stars sensation Sadie Robertson, shares his story of what it's like to grow up as a Robertson and all the fun and craziness that entails, as well as what he has learned as he has stepped out into his own unique experiences. He also shares what it's like to navigate the walk from boyhood to becoming a man. Topics in this book include friendship, kindness, dreaming big, embracing your God-given uniqueness, taking chances, and choosing mentors.

John Luke speaks frequently on dreams (how to build a dream for your life), schemes (how to plan for your dream to come true), and building teams (choosing the people around you who will become a team that helps make your dream come true through their support, honesty, and care). He will incorporate these important guidelines into the book, ultimately helping young people learn how to find and pursue a clear-cut purpose in their lives.

Teens and young adults will enjoy reading his story, and they will benefit by reading Robertson's wisdom and perspective on how to grow up and live out your purpose. And, with the Robertsons, this book is sure to be fun!

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2016

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184 people want to read

About the author

John Luke Robertson

8 books140 followers

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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Fuzaila.
252 reviews380 followers
September 20, 2018
I haven't heard of Duck Dynasty or Robertson's family before I read this book. But John Luke's book on family, life and faith is raw and on point. It is filled with slight humor, inspiring messages and challenging questions to ask oneself. I was never inspired by a self-help book but this book changed my entire perception on them. Even more, I'm a Muslim by faith and I still enjoyed this book! That alone speaks volumes about this genius work. I highly recommend you read this one instead of all the other books on 'how to be successful'. I'm pretty sure it would be way more worth your time.
Profile Image for Cassidy Burdge.
1 review12 followers
June 25, 2016

John Luke Robertson has written an amazing book that has changed my life!

John Luke is the part of the Duck Dynasty family and a firm follower of Christ. I have not met the Robertson family but I have kept up with them through there show and social media. They are an inspiring family and challenge those around them to live boldly for Christ. When I first heard about John Luke's book, I was so excited! I could not wait to read it.

In John Luke's works, Young & Beardless is about " The search for God, purpose, and a meaningful life." John Luke has put words to inspiration. He explanations what it takes to live a "good story" and how to have a risk-taking, adventurous life.

John Luke takes his past and his friend's pasts and has created a piece that teaches it's readers how to take risks and lay it all on the line for God.

One thing that hit home for me was a line from the chapter titled, "Risking (it all)" .

"If you want more faith, do more stuff"- Bob Goff
John Luke has some crazy adventures that he describes in his book. He takes the quote above and actually lives it out! His authenticity, in addition to his amazing writing ability and deep understanding of God's will for his life, is truly inspiring to me.

Young & Beardless was truly inspiring and challenging. I will be referring back to this book in the future. One thing in particular that I enjoyed, were the questions at the end of each chapter. These questions challenged you to take a step back and examine your lifestyle.

Coming from my deep love for writing and literature, I LOVED his bright idea to start each chapter off with an inspiring quote and to end each chapter with a book recommendation. Because of John Luke's innovation, I now have a list of twelve more books to read!

Without a shadow of doubt, I would recommend this book to any person. There is no age limit to John Luke's inspiration and Biblical truths. Any person, Believer or Nonbeliever, can learn something from Young & Beardless.

Thank you, John Luke, for writing a book that has changed my life!

XOXO, The Christian Prepster
Profile Image for Mazzou B.
609 reviews23 followers
June 13, 2016
Since I first discovered the Roberston family, I have greatly enjoyed and been blessed by reading their autobiographies. I was excited when I saw this newest book from the amazing Duck Dynasty family...this one by John Luke! At first it might seem unnecessary for me, a young woman in my 20s to be reading this book. But I was blessed and invigorated by it, and am happy to recommend it to every young guy I know! And yes, it is a great book for girls too. I was impressed by John Luke's sincerity, openness and faith in God. Not to mention his purpose in life. It is absolutely encouraging to see young people following God and going forward in life as John Luke is doing. A good thing also about this slim paperback book are the study questions at the end of each chapter.
I know people will love reading this book; thankfully I'm including guys- I can assure you that boys will be able to relate to and learn from John Luke!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Nathan Albright.
4,488 reviews163 followers
June 26, 2016
[Note: This book was provided free of charge by BookLook/Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for an honest review.]

This book, for some, might seem easy to dismiss as a memoir from a young person whose fame and cultural importance comes from a quirky reality television show [1]. It might be easy to look at the memoir of a young man barely in his twenties as being callow and a cash grab, because of his background and the merchantile empire of the Duck Dynasty. Such a view would be deeply mistaken, though, as this book is an enjoyable and fascinating memoir of a young man who has a lot to offer in his honesty and candor, in his love of reading and observing people, and in the fact that this book serves as a good example and inspiration for the teens and young adults whom this book is directed to. As the author shares his Twitter and Instagram feeds with his readers, the world that the author lives in, where Ben Rector sings the wedding song, and where one is called to go to Uganda or San Francisco on a whim to help with various social causes, is one that the author wishes to share not to provoke envy but to encourage people to get involved as they can in their own lives with the problems around them.

This short memoir, of about 200 pages, consists of introductory material that discusses the author's family and personality as told by his wife, and twelve chapters (and a conclusion) that are divided into three sections. The first section deals with the identity of the author, which chapters on knowing oneself, dreaming big, writing his story, and connecting with friends. The second chapter looks at our destination as believers, responding to the call, staying curious, and rebelling against the norms of a corrupt society. The third part examines what the author is doing, in terms of risking everything, shining now in the lives of those we are around, failing and getting back up, going on a journey, loving everyone, and appreciating the vision of what God has planned. This book, with its frequent references to the books that others have written, fits well within a socially responsible view of how Christians are to act with concern for the lives of others around us, especially those who are broken and exploited, and the author is candid about his own less successful moments and struggles and with the pressure that occurs when one grows up under the harsh spotlight of contemporary fame.

Despite the fact that the author is not necessarily well versed in biblical law, thinking, to give one example, that there is nothing biblically wrong with tattoos [2], this book is one that has a lot to offer. The author shows a love for his own family and the people around him, shows himself not to be a child of privilege but one who is grateful and appreciative of the way in which he has been given a spotlight to shine and the chance to live God's ways as he understands them and set a godly example for others, and to use his fame and well-being to help make the world around him a better place also. The book is full of sincere honesty, a love of books (every chapter contains material for journaling and reflection on the part of the reader as well as excerpts from other books that are well worth reading), and nearly every page of the book shines with the author's vibrant personality. This is a book that makes you feel as if you would want to be the author's friend, to buy a snow-cone from, and sit and talk to about God and about life. Such a book, and such an author, are to be treasured and appreciated.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

Or, see other reality television books:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

[2] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...
Profile Image for Jalynn Patterson.
2,217 reviews39 followers
June 1, 2016
About the Book:

John Luke Robertson may be young and beardless, but he has a lot to say about growing up and discovering your purpose.


John Luke Robertson, the oldest son of Willie and Korie Robertson and brother of Dancing with the Stars sensation Sadie Robertson, shares his story of what it’s like to grow up as a Robertson and all the fun and craziness that entails, as well as what he has learned as he has stepped out into his own unique experiences. He also shares what it’s like to navigate the walk from boyhood to becoming a man. Topics in this book include friendship, kindness, dreaming big, embracing your God-given uniqueness, taking chances, and choosing mentors.


John Luke speaks frequently on dreams (how to build a dream for your life), schemes (how to plan for your dream to come true), and building teams (choosing the people around you who will become a team that helps make your dream come true through their support, honesty, and care). He will incorporate these important guidelines into the book, ultimately helping young people learn how to find and pursue a clear-cut purpose in their lives.


Teens and young adults will enjoy reading his story, and they will benefit by reading Robertson’s wisdom and perspective on how to grow up and live out your purpose. And, with the Robertsons, this book is sure to be fun!



My Review:

Watching Duck Dynasty all this time, I never really connected with John Luke, that much. I thought that he seemed like a nice young man, just like the rest of his family. I was glad when I was able to review his book though because it gave me chance to get more familiar with him. He seems even nicer than I had imagined. He is a boy that has a true heart for God and it really shows through his writing.


His book, Young&Beardless: The Search for God, Purpose, and a Meaningful Life is a great book for a teenage boy. It is a book that shows them that there is more to this life than they could possibly imagine. And most importantly they need to keep searching until they find the one true love that can fill up all the holes in their life. A great book!


**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author.
Profile Image for Autumn Curry.
114 reviews47 followers
September 1, 2016
I was curious to learn more about John Luke Robertson and thought the book was a thoughtfully written Christian self-help book for teenagers. John Luke organized the book by quotes and book suggestions he has and then shares experiences he has had that have solidified these points. Each chapter is ended with a series of questions for you to think about and apply to your own life. I found many of the questions for me ended up relating to: how are you using your God-given talents and are you getting the most out of your life? I found John Luke very candid about life experiences, I enjoyed learning about how he and his wife met, and it was interesting to learn more about family from behind the scenes. I think this would be a great book for a youth group to study, but I found the book very rambly and kind of disorganized. I think John Luke's book writing will definitely be improve as he ages and I'm happy there are positive role models for youth.
Profile Image for Sarah.
958 reviews33 followers
June 13, 2016
John Luke in "Young & Beardless" is very open about his faith, which is awesome. I love how he is intentional about living life in such a way that pleases God. He is an encouragement to young people and those further in the race following God. I love how he is a dreamer, curious and even hilarous in this book, but most of all having a heart set on God. I think this book is perfect for young men, especially in their twenties or even those in their teens. I really enjoyed getting to learn more about John Luke and loved how at the end of each chapter he had questions to "Think About it." Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me a complimentary copy for review. I was not compensated for a positive review.
Profile Image for Macie.
21 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2016
I love how John Luke gives book recommendations at the end of each chapter. Not only does he give you a book recommendation, but he tells you exactly why he recommends it, and what each book has taught him.

John Luke makes the reader feel as if the are actually having a face to face conversation with him. John Luke has encouraged me to try new things and to start a journal. I am now reading Love Does by Bob Goff because of John Luke's recommendation.
Profile Image for Karen.
430 reviews29 followers
June 9, 2016
Wow. I received this book expecting a book fit for teens. While teens can get so much from this book, adults can also benefit from the wise words on these pages. So much inspiration and Godly love. A must-read for all ages. *I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I
Profile Image for Maddie Dumas.
Author 1 book4 followers
July 4, 2016
Great message- obviously speaking with the words God has given him. A little immature in the writing, but the book is also geared toward a younger audience. I'd recommend it to a friend, and it made me inspect my life and how I'm choosing to live it for God.
Profile Image for Tara.
45 reviews
August 29, 2016
While I think John Luke delivers a great message, this book was geared for a younger audience. I recommend this book for teens or a parent with a teen boy at home.
20 reviews
Read
July 2, 2016
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this and how many good life tips it gives. I recommend it, especially to young adults.
Profile Image for Hope Elias.
237 reviews1 follower
September 3, 2023
This was such an encouraging read! I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about this book. It was so very uplifting. I’d definitely recommend this book to all teens and young adults.
I love the Robertson family and all they do for the kingdom of God. I had no idea John Luke even wrote a book until I saw it at the Duck Commander shop a couple months ago. I’m glad I got it and saw what John Luke had to say ☺️
I appreciated all of John Luke’s book recommendations. It felt like a book of book recs which I love. I went ahead and made a list of all the books he mentioned. Note that not all of these he necessarily recommended but he did mention something about each of these books:
1. Mere Christianity - CS Lewis
2. Infernal Devices Trilogy - Cassandra Clare
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens - Sean Covey
4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
5. Crazy Love - Francis Chan
6. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
7. Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller
8. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years - Donald Miller
9. East of Eden - John Steinbeck
10. Good to Great in God’s Eyes - Chip Ingram
11. Never Let Go - Mac Owen
12. Love Does - Bob Goff
13. Outliers - Malcom Gladwell
14. Do Hard Things - Alex and Brett Harris
15. Jesus Wants to Save Christians - Rob Bell
16. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone - JK Rowling
17. Born to Run - Christopher Mcdougall
18. Oh, the Places You’ll Go - Dr Seuss
19. Unleash - Perry Noble
20. The 4-Hour Body -
21. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain
22. The New Rules for Love, Sex, and Dating - Andy Stanley
23. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
24. Pilgrim’s Progress - John Bunyan
25. The Meaning of Marriage - Tim Keller
Profile Image for Vonda.
149 reviews6 followers
September 30, 2019
I like the Robertson family. I like that they live out their faith so boldly and do not compromise. I like that fame hasn’t seemed to go to their heads. I think Willie and Corrie have done a wonderful job raising their kids. Have you heard Sadie preach?!?

John Luke has definitely followed in his father’s, uncles’, and grandfather’s footsteps, being his one of a kind self. He admits he is awkward, but embraces his uniqueness with confidence. All the Robertsons seem to enjoy blazing their own trail and John Luke is no exception. In the book he tells about several of his hair brained ideas and how he went ahead and made them happen. For example, inviting friends over to play in their muddy pond area, trying a new sleep schedule experiment where he slept 20 minutes every 4 hours around the clock, meeting Bob Goff and taking a trip to Africa with him, and hopping on a plane to go try to meet Francis Chan when Francis wasn’t even aware he was coming. It seems the Robertsons aren’t afraid to try anything.

I’m sure most readers will enjoy John Luke’s stories. What I’m not sure readers will enjoy is that he repeated a lot of information from various books he had read. So in that regard, he was just restating someone else’s material. I think some will find that a bit dry. I was never bored with the material, but I did feel like there wasn’t a lot of substance. I would’ve never guessed he is such a reader.

This book will appeal more to a younger audience than an older audience.

I received an ARC copy from net galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
10 reviews
October 9, 2017
'' I am not saying that I have this all together, that I have t made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward- to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not coming back.'' - Philippians 3:12-14. (pg. 69) "Young and beardless" is about John Luke (a 21 year old) and his adventures through is crazy life that had taken place during his teen years when he was filming the show "Duck Dynasty". John is a evangelist that travels around the world to tell people about God. In page 104 in ''Young and beardless" it states "I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship''- Louisa May Scott. I would recommend this book to a friend because it is full of adventures and a good laugh altogether. You can't keep your nose out of this book and it feels like your right there with them. 10/10
Profile Image for Alyssa.
435 reviews8 followers
January 9, 2018
Young and Beardless is an interesting book that I think all teens/young adults should read. This is basically a self help book on how to realize and then live out your dreams. These steps are well thought through, backed up by scripture and other books John Luke has read, and easy to follow.
I learned a lot about John Luke from this book. I have watched the popular TV show, but John Luke wasn’t a real significant person on the show. His story wasn’t really shown, except in his wedding episode. I learned that he loves to read, how he met his wife, and that even though he did a lot of his growing up on TV, he is basically just like any other teenager. This is what makes his book so easy to relate to.
I would recommend this book to anyone in their teens or early adulthood, especially if you are still trying to figure your life out.

*I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.*
Profile Image for Sammy Ochoa .
25 reviews
July 8, 2018
I didn't know what to expect from John Luke's book since it was written by a boy, I thought it would geared more towards boys but boy, was I wrong. John Luke has such a way with words and he's so inspiring for how young he is. I was so surprised at what John Luke had to say because him and his sister, Sadie don't get much air time on their families show, Duck Dynasty but I think they totally should have. Almost every page in my copy is highlighted. It was a truly awesome book. Only complaint I have? This is his only book!
Profile Image for Danielle Wood.
1,464 reviews9 followers
September 8, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I never know John Luke was such a good writer! I could really relate to him and I’m about 10 years older. I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to share it with my kids!
Profile Image for London Baker.
Author 2 books7 followers
April 2, 2023
(4.5/5)
This was a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. John Luke’s story was relatable and helpful. I would encourage anyone searching for something more with God to read this book.

Overall a great read.
Profile Image for Denise.
392 reviews2 followers
March 22, 2017
I love the faith of the Robertson family. I have read most of their books. While Young & Beardless was another story I enjoyed, it probably is better suited for young men. John Luke recommends about ten other books to read, one of which I bought and am enjoying too.
1,382 reviews14 followers
December 29, 2016
Well-written in the point of view of John Luke stories of his family and his own personal walk with God.
6 reviews1 follower
Read
April 19, 2017
Take a minute to imagine what it would be like to have a reality television show about your family while still trying to live up to the best values of your christian life. John Luke Robertson, author of Young and Beardless, takes you on this journey while sharing his own stories, stories of others, and many other things. The theme of this book is find your own purpose, while the the point of view is first person.

The point of view in the book, Young and Beardless was first person. This gave the reader more detail, as the author was the first person narrator. John Luke shares some funny stories during this book about his childhood. These stories have detail added to them that only a first person author can add. He also talks about dreams quite frequently. The point he is trying to get across is for people to go after their dreams and have God help them achieve their dreams, but he also shares stories about his dreams and how his faith helped him during this. These stories are ones that can be relatable to some readers. Overall, the point of view adds a lot to this book and makes it seem more relatable.

The theme in this book is find your purpose. Throughout everything in this book, there is one message the author is trying to get across, find your purpose. At points in the story, John Luke talks about team building. During these parts, he is encouraging the readers to find their purpose on a team, no matter what type of team it is. He wants the reader to figure out what their God given talents are and put them to use. At another point in the book, the author is writing about a person’s God given uniqueness. He wants everyone to find what they have and how they can put it to use. The theme adds a lot to the story because it can help a reader figure more out about themself as they are reading it.

As any reader can see, because John Luke told the book as first person, a lot of details were added, which lead to the theme. Two man in points that were emphasized in this book were point of view and theme. These two things made the book more detailed, and gave the book more dimension. This book could make any reader feel closer to God, and make them feel better about their Godly purpose. If you are looking for a book to read, please read Young and Beardless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Miss Kristine.
309 reviews5 followers
Read
September 14, 2018
Book review originally posted on my blog at misskristinesreviews.com

Thoughts: This book has been on my TBR for a while now. I finally got my hands on it from the library.

But Young and Beardless is not one I could just read straight through. This is a book to "sip" on. A splash of positivity.

Be ready to add more books to your TBR while you read this one. I have a good handful of reads I added to my list from his recommendations sprinkled throughout.

Like I said, I didn't finish the whole book because I had to return it to the library but I will have to pick it up again.

Still love the whole Duck Dynasty family. Add this one to your pile.

Where to purchase: Amazon • Target • Barnes and Noble


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