Handoff: The Only Way to Win the Race of Life

by Jeff Myers

Within two hours of opening this powerful little hardcover book, you'll know exactly how to put the signature on your legacy. Handoff is an easy-to-read guide that inspires current leaders to play their part in successfully passing the baton of godly faithfulness to the next generation. Written with a deep understanding of human tendencies and fears, Handoff uses humorous and poignant stories and practical strategies to help you invest in the next generation in a natural and stress-free way.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Family, Christianity, Leadership

170 pages, Hardcover

First published April 3, 2008

About the author

Over the last 20 years Dr. Jeff Myers has become one of America’s most respected authorities on youth leadership development and has equipped thousands of people to champion the Christian worldview.

Reviews

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff Myers looked at his life and realized that he was 'rounding the last curve in the track. The next generation glances our way, hand outstretched, poised to burst into the sprint of life. Will we make the pass?'

After reviewing the facts, he came to the conclusion that the baton is not being passed on to the next generation. He realized that the only question history would ask of him was, 'What are you passing on?' Handoff was the result - to show how to pass the baton to the next generation.

Throughout a series of short chapters, Dr. Myers clearly details the ins and outs of building trust, sharing, passing on information, and having an influence on the upcoming generation. This short book will inspire, encourage, and give just the right amount of detail (balanced with stories and Bible verses) to get you, the reader, into the driver's seat to pass along your expertise to the young people of today.

Dr. Myers comes from a Christian worldview, so the majority of the information presented reflects that fact. The book is not particularly preachy though, and is very helpful to anyone wanting to encourage those coming up behind them.

[Tawnya Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to help me with growing my child and children I encounter in Scouts. I did not really realize it was written when I was a young adult. It explained some of how I have felt as a grownup raising my children. Which is that my hand-off from my baby boomer elders was lackluster. Since becoming a parent I look for ways to help my children grow with the idea that I will not always be here to guide them. Meaning I want them to be comfortable and prepared with adulthood.

[Bill Stutzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, compact book with bite-sized chapters and food for thought. I read this across several months in 2-3 different settings, so I might have a higher rating or more memorable take if I were to read it again. It seemed stronger when I picked it up in the last stretch. I put this in the family of books on leadership, growth, goal-setting, and faithful living.

[Darin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Myers' text is a mixed bag which really depends on what you want. If you're looking for a book that has some good ideas on how to mentor and encourage teenagers, there's a lot of good things in here. The author has a good grasp of the current "unique" (?) problems of indifference, detachment, and hyper-entertainment of today's teenagers, and adequately demonstrates the value of spending real time and effort to mentor kids rather than just telling them what to do. The concrete steps are relatively simple to use and keep in mind, and the book itself is fairly precise.

However, if you were drawn to this book in terms of what it *claims* to be--a Christian approach to mentoring--you're going to be disappointed. Most of the Christian content of the text is simply self-help and self-improvement rather than Christian. There are numerous flaws in both the Christian theological basics such as a misunderstanding of blessing, sin, and the state of the fallen Christian, and much of what Myers encourages has little if anything to do with God's power and work. He also tends to lean on gimmicky alliteration and language which actually clouds the message he's trying to communicate rather than making it memorable.

So if you're prepared enough to take what is good from this text and discard the rest, there are some good ideas here. If you get swept away in the theological failings of the book, it's not worth your time. It's really up to you.

[Natalie Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years, I have read several books by Jeff Myers and listened to him speak numerous times. His style is very personable, and he is full of both inspiration and practical application. This is one of those small-sized books that should not be read through quickly. One needs time to ponder and process the information presented, to answer the questions that are asked, and to utilize the wisdom gleaned from Dr. Myers’ years of experience to develop more effective strategies for reaching the next generation. This is a fabulous and much-needed book for anyone who works with families, children, or young adults. I love books like this that have me scribbling in the margins, asking questions, penning related thoughts, and writing ideas for personal application.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge advocate of communication and one-on-one interaction and it was nice to read a book which conveys strong arguments for both. I would have enjoyed this book more if it were not so brief and compact, but it is a good foundation with lots of ideas on where to go once you've caught the vision, and encouragement for those who may have already tripped up on their own journey that it is never too late.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myers writes like he speaks - passionately thoughtful to the point of contagious. He combines timeless truths rarely spoken with today's research about how we serve and help our children and each other.