Chasing Slow: Courage to Journey Off the Beaten Path

by Erin Loechner

Chasing Slow models HGTV star Erin Loechner's journey to help you break out of the faster-better-stronger trap and make small changes to refresh your perspective, renew your priorities, and shift your focus to what matters most. 

You're here, but you want to be there. So you spend your life narrowing this divide, and you call this your race, your journey, your path. You live your days tightening your boot straps, wiping the sweat from your brow, chasing undiscovered happiness just around the bend. And on and on you run. 

Viral sensation and HGTV.com star Erin Loechner knows about the chase. Before turning 30, she'd earned the title "The Nicest Girl Online" as she was praised for her authentic voice and effortless style. Her HGTV web show garnered over one million fans worldwide, and her client list includes Walt Disney World, IKEA, Martha Stewart and Home Depot. The New York Times applauded her, her friends and church admired her, and her husband and baby adored her. 

She had arrived at the ultimate destination. So why did she feel so lost? 

Through a series of steep climbs--her husband's brain tumor, bankruptcy, family loss, and public criticism--Erin learns just how much strength it takes to surrender it all, and to veer right into grace. In Chasing Slow, Erin upgrades her life through downsizing--her stuff, her obligations, her fears, her personal metric of "perfect." And ultimately, her invitation becomes to turn away from the fast and frenzy, and find freedom in a new-fashioned lifestyle defined by grace.

Life's answers are not always hidden where they seem. It's time to venture off the beaten path to see that we've already been given everything we need. We've already arrived. 

You see?

You'll see.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Self Help, Faith, Personal Development, Christian, Audiobook

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2017

About the author

A former art director/stylist in Los Angeles, Erin Loechner has been blogging and speaking for more than a decade. Her heartfelt writing and design work has been showcased in The New York Times, Lucky, Parenting, Dwell, Marie Claire, Elle Decor, Huffington Post, and a two-season HGTV.com web special, garnering over one million fans worldwide. She has spoken for and appeared in renowned international events for clients such as Walt Disney World, IKEA, Martha Stewart and Home Depot. Now nestled in a Midwestern town, Erin, her husband, and their toddler strive for less in most areas except three: joy, grace, and goat cheese.

Reviews

[LeAnn Locher · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book...I wish I had known there were going to be bible references and so much infusion of the writer's Christianity. Also, there was a large disconnect between the author's confessed consumerism and her movement towards buying from socially responsible companies. The constant references to shopping at Target were tiring, and made me wonder if there's a sponsorship there that I was paying to read about. Yuck. There's something off here that feels inauthentic.

[Olive · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unpopular review alert.

I hope her editor isn’t getting a raise anytime soon.

Whoever let her keep the lion metaphor throughout the entire book should be fired. Not only are almost all of the references to the lion inaccurate with a lion’s nature… the metaphor itself never comes full circle.

Speaking of metaphors… not everything is, or should be, a metaphor. The metaphors in this book felt creatively stretched and sounded like someone was pulling an all-nighter to get this book to the presses. Especially as it relates to the Christian/Bible references. (The Bible verses randomly thrown in left me feeling a bit of whiplash.)

Two big things that bothered me:



1. I felt like I was reading a book written by someone who hasn’t yet learned how to use her influence in a way that aligns with her proclaimed values. I like Erin as a blogger and, at the same time, I really didn’t like this book. Most of the time, the voice felt inauthentic and pretentious.

2. If I had to pinpoint the biggest thing that bothered me so much about this book it would be the pretense and the (very great) privilege from which she speaks. Maybe it’s the writing or maybe it’s me and how much I’ve changed over the years. Regardless, this made it hard for me to read. (Example: if the most humbling experience she’s had, to date, is living in her in-laws’ home as they regrouped and saved money to buy their fixer-upper… I just can’t relate to that at this point in my life. I’m sure that was a very real and humbling experience for her… I absolutely validate that it must have felt crippling to her at the time. At the same time, for me, it felt almost laughable and I felt myself WISHING that was my most humbling experience on this earth.)

However… this book was not without some small wins. The last half of the book was much better, for me. The lion references were fewer and there were some good quotables in there, no doubt. That said… I felt like the entire book could have been summed up in a really beautiful, well-designed quotable coffee table book.

And as far as that whole “courage to journey off the beaten path” subtitle?? Well, let’s just suffice to say that there wasn’t much in the way of that claim throughout the book. For me, it felt like a very typical/“beaten path” of tension for someone who promotes consumerism online for a living but values the ideals of “less” in real-time. I don’t know a single person in my circle of friends and family who doesn’t wrestle with the same tension… wanting both more and less, at the same time. Pursuing a minimalist lifestyle while also maintaining a quality of life to which they’re accustomed.

All in all, though… I think she just needs a better editor. I think she’s in a place of influence and a great editor would help her learn how to use her influence in a way that aligns with her proclaimed values.

**Will edit to include examples/references for my review.

[Glenn Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title was irresistible and was happy to promote this book up my reading shelf. This was the first time I'd come across Erin Loechner who is evidently famous in lots of places for her interior design (in the sense of homes, rather than souls. Though she's not bad on the interior design of souls either.). Here are the pluses and minuses for me:

The pluses:
* Beautifully designed and very often beautifully written
* A personal life-story, nevertheless it's crafted well enough to connect her story with ours and is stimulating and thought-provoking.
*It's an enjoyable, fresh, challenging read.

The minuses
*I found the beginning (?more about hope, ambition and dreams) more interesting than the latter half of the book (more about the challenges of rearing a toddler and for me a bit more been-there-done-that)
* It's about a blogger reflecting on her blogging life, which as a blog itself contained a lot of reflecting on life. Shades of someone looking at herself looking at herself looking at herself in two facing mirrors. In this sense, it's quite millennial in its enthusiastic self-analysis, but that's refreshing for a boomer like me.
* There are some lovely aphorisms in the book, but I got a little worn down by the sheer mass of cutesy one-sentence solutions by the end.

I certainly don't mean to be harsh. I liked this book, and its writer, a lot and will recommend it to others. Bit more cutting would have made the diamond shine brighter.

** I picked this book up for free as an Adavanced Review Copy. There was no obligation to write a review, still less a positive review, but it's a good book. **

[Jenny Kearl · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have not finished in a long time. Life is too short to waste on bad books. I got fourteen chapters in. It is rated with 4.15 stars, so I kept expecting it to get better - no. It is like reading someone's boring meandering thoughts with way too many references to a not very good analogy of a lion.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very uneven. Some of the points were very insightful, but mostly I felt that this book meandered around and ended without any clear direction or message. It seemed like two different books, since the beginning is focused on her husband's limited prognosis, but then it is not really mentioned at all in the second half. It seemed like that knowledge was going to shape how she tried to simplify her life or give direction for their choices. Instead I ended the book not really having an idea of why they did what they did, except that she had a gauzy, floaty feeling of ennui. The writing style was a bit to Ann Voskamp-y for me as well. Random receipes and "math lessons" were also kind of odd. I really wanted to like this book, but well, I wasn't that jazzed.

[Elise Cripe · Rating 5 out of 5]

erin has been one of my favorite online writers for a very long time. it was a joy to get to read her memoir. it's not about asking for more or living with less, instead it's about taking things a day at a time and getting to live fully as a contradiction.

[Rachel Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was such a disappointment. It was disjointed, confusing, condescending, and difficult to read. I do not recommend it.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio book. The narrator'a voice reminded me of an entitled, rich white girl from suburbia, but I decided to keep listening. When the content matched the voice, I stopped.

The descriptions in this story are placed at inappropriate times and very forced (almost like her editor said "build this component of the story out it needs some more meat" - and she jus adds fat instead of anything nutritious.) The slight sarcasm (which I typically enjoy) was not relatable to me at all - it was like an inside joke the audience is never let in on and at a very VERY superficial level.

This book is like a cupcake - light, dimwitty, and full of crap that isn't good for you but will fill you up and make you think you're full.

And finally: just...

Yuck!

[Emma Sea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loechner's writing is quite lovely, so it is a shame this was not my book. I am not one of Loechner's people:

"We quit our jobs, start new careers, cut our hair, welcome babies, buy juicers, switch schools, move to different houses, redecorate our kitchens, try acupuncture. We sign up for yoga. We diffuse lavender. We buy almond flour. We fluff our pillowcases, iron our blouses, send the kids to piano lessons."

I think Loechner would be good friends with Rachel Bertsche. I do not think they'd want to be friends with me.

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, but it just didn't do it for me. Based on the other reviews, I appear to be in the minority in my opinion. I enjoy Erin Loechner's blog and this read very much like her blog, but maybe a bit more "edited" and repetitive. And there were way more bible references than I expected. The book also felt overly stylized to me, which I guess is nice (it's a very pretty book), but at the same time it made it feel like an over styled Instagram account. It's a quick read, so if this book is on your must read list, don't let me dissuade you. Like this said earlier, I seem to be in the minority when it comes to this book.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read: February 2024
Rating: 5/5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes the writing felt a bit pretentious, as though Loechner was trying a little too hard to be a 'good' writer, but the underlying themes and messages were lovely and heartfelt. There was a lot here in that I could relate to, in particular when Loechner spoke about the struggles she felt between motherhood and work, and some of the issues she identified for herself.

Some of my favourite quotes:

"In my endless search for meaning I bought the lie that work - a title, a calling card, a byline, a corner office - offered usefulness. Purpose. A way to make a difference."

"But a lot of times it felt that life wasn't happening around me or with me, but was rather happening to me. It felt like life was something to figure out...an enigma to be solved...but the cards were simply not being dealt in my favour."

"As usual, the things that cause me worry are not the things that require worrying about."

"I have grown comfortable with a slower life, with flying just below the radar like a bird that has been set free. But flying just below the radar is tricky too, because every now and then you forget the reason you have taken this route. Every now and then you look up near the blinding sun to see a flock of geese who are flying higher, stronger, faster, and would you look at that confidence? That formation? That grace? It looks beautiful, doesn't it? It looks better. Doesn't it?"

"If I could not guarantee success at motherhood, I could guarantee success at work. I do not have to tell you then that my return to the world of more was fuelled not by my passion to work, but by my passion to avoid failure."

[Sara Budarz · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, no, no, no, no. There are so many things wrong with this book and the narrative, and I have to admit I wish I hadn't wasted this many hours reading it. So do yourself a favor, and skip it.

The level of consumerism and privilege in this book is staggering. There is so much shopping that seems to be mentioned for no reason. There are stories that are apparently about something else, but include the outfit she wore (like: The first time I went to X, I wore a pencil skirt and the pink blazer and the blah blah blah.) She tries to do a capsule wardrobe but gives up because she couldn't possibly wear the same dress two days in a row, and quotes a conversation with a friend, in which they wonder about how in the world somehow would dare go into public wearing the same dress in a week. THE SHAME! She makes these horribly demeaning statements like "Poor is shopping at Goodwill" and yet also pretends to support thrifting. The list of issues goes on and on.

I actually caught myself feeling both inadequate (why have I never realized I can't wear the same thing twice? Why have I never thought of looking to pinterest on how to style myself to look better? Why has my life never included the predicament of how to squeeze in a manicure before I have a photo shoot?) and overwhelmed just by reading about all of the effort that went into her quest to be perfect.

But I kept reading, because I am apparently long-suffering. But then I reached my breaking point. She goes to Ethiopia for a weekend. And apparently has a come-to-Jesus moment about privilege. And makes the most infuriating "We have all of this stuff, but aren't happy. But people there are poor, but they have joy and peace" statement. NOOOOOOO. You did not just say that. Really? People there are so happy and don't have wants? They are so fundamentally different than you are? As someone who works for an NGO that is in Ethiopia, let me just point out that humans have wants and needs, and this doesn't differ from continent to continent. And our horrible need to see them as poor-but-happy belittles their hardships and desires, and puts them into the category of 'other,' so very different and not at all equal. This narrative has to stop.

[Christina DeVane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting a lot from this book as I’m on my own journey of slowing down due to health concerns. However I was greatly disappointed in the lack of substance this book offered. The majority of the book is stories from the author’s life which I found uninspiring and non-relatable. Here’s just another blogger who made it big, then said yes to too many things and now has to write a book about not doing what they did. The author seemed to be searching for a purpose in life the entire book, and gave such advice as “oh, just go on that weekend getaway to Ecuador.”🙄
She had some good phrases here and there and could be funny at times.
But overall my slowing down and savoring life stems from my relationship with Jesus Christ. He alone can give the abundant, joyful life I crave. -Not fulfilling my own selfish desires.
Maybe you liked the book, but this was my honest review.☺️☺️

[Liaken · Rating 1 out of 5]

I heard the author speak on a podcast and enjoyed what she said very much, so I ordered her book though the library. As I tried to read it, I never could connect with her. She seemed to be in a strange place of flighty consumerism crossed with an almost sugary belief that God might fix things if she could just be the right person (I really cringed at the bit where she saw God's handwriting marking her down as not a good wife for some trivial reason).

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title intrigued me. Who doesn't want to take life a bit slower? As I began to read it became clear to me that the title also revealed the true nature of the book and why I felt exhausted at the end. Chasing Slow was so full of contradictions that it made my head spin. "Life is simple. But then life is NOT simple." Life is full of contractions, she continues. This is true, but I was hoping for resolution and clarity on the ambiguity that abounds around us and in us, not more exposure.

After the first part of the book I lost the flow of the book. It seemed more like a series of blog posts. She was constantly finding herself, just to lose herself again. I ached for her to find peace. I ached for her to find joy. One of the quotes she included at the beginning of a chapter actually said something like, "You will only find peace when you quit expecting peace." Really?

A number of disconnects for me: Christians who drink, do yoga and do meditation. One of the yoga sessions she wrote about was a mixed session with men and women. Men paired up with women to do some sort of exercise that seemed a bit too close up and personal. She used it as ,an example of strength and softness, but it was such a distracting example that I didn't want to get the point.

Loechner was very open and vulnerable about her marriage and how much she has learned through the years. That was excellent! But I cringed when she discussed the advice someone gave her about how people WILL fall out of love, but just not to do it at the same time. That sounded like terrible advice.

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of beautifying damaged pottery by gluing it back together with gold in the places of brokenness. It is embracing the imperfect in us. There is a lot to be said here. I was hoping she would talk about how God can use these places of brokenness for His glory. I was hoping she would go deeper. But alas she talked about a few things that could be considered imperfections, but not necessarily brokenness. When she, however, included smiling with spinach caught in her teeth as one such imperfection I did a double take.

There was troubling conversation she recorded near the end. She is lamenting with her friend over a bad week. She questions if she should even be writing about the things she writes about (slowness of life, organized life, minimalism) when many times she doesn't keep to those ideals. She asks, "Doesn't that sound like I am a hypocrite?" I wait for the words of wisdom her friend will share. This is her answer," Yes, it does. But so what?" That was not what I wanted to hear. How about, "Yes, it does! What are you planning on doing about it?"

It appears that transparency is very much in vogue today. Erin Loechner is very transparent. Writers want to let all their flaws show in the pursuit of authenticity. But sometimes what a writer thinks is authenticity is too much self-disclosure.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so, so, so wonderful. Beautifully designed, beautifully written, and so heartfelt.

Over the last couple of years, I've been feeling myself drawn to a slower, more intentional way of living, which is pretty much the opposite of what I'm naturally inclined to and how I've lived for pretty much all of my adult life. Erin's story was just another layer of encouragement to slow down, to choose life over stuff, to choose sanity or busy, to choose intentional over frazzled.

Just looking at the design of the book, it's beautifully done. The setting of the typography, the white space, the images, all of it is positively wonderful and makes you feel calm and relaxed, just like the words and the story. A friend told me she felt like it's the kind of book I would've written in its style/story and design and goodness, that was such a huge compliment.

Since reading this book, I've begun following Erin's blog, and she has very quickly become one of my favorite writers. The way she strings words together is so lovely and calming and I just adore it, but the thing that made me connect with this book more so than others about this general topic is that Erin struggles with anxiety. It played a big role in her life of busyness and also played a big role in her choosing to start living a slower, more intentional life. As someone who also deals with anxiety, it was wonderful to see her write about and process those things and there were so many moments where she articulated how certain things make me feel and yea...it was just wonderful to see that part of myself reflected back through the pages.

This one is for sure going to be a 2017 favorite and probably just a favorite favorite.

[Courtney Pankrat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book quite a bit but I sometimes had a really hard time relating to the author. She's much more into looks (of both people and things) than I am so I don't understand her struggle. She questions if her blog about consumerism is contributing to consumerism. Um. Yes... showing off your cool stuff is literally the point of your blog.
She also seems to need to learn the same lessons over and over and at the end, I don't get the impression that she's learned the lesson.
With all that being said though, there's a lot I really liked about this book.

[Ashley Coberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I liked the beginning better than the end. It’s hard to relate to her as she leads a life that is so full of consuming things- free or not from her blog. She ended the book and still seemed consumed- which I get that all change is really gradual and not necessarily an “I’ve arrived” but she seemed to say one thing and live another.

[Lekeshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Erin Loechner did an amazing job sharing her and her husband's journey to minimalism. I love how they gave up on the "American Dream" to discover their Dream. I have been questioning the American Dream for a while now and she put my thoughts into words that I have been afraid to utter. I also like how she made the point of mentioning that minimalism doesn't come easy. It's more than purge but a new state of mind. Exiting the rat race doesn't mean it goes away. You just have to remain in control of "your lion". This will be a book I want to share with both my children in their teens to help them see what adulthood looks like on both ends of the spectrum. Wish I had this growing up.

[Deirdre K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Erin's story, the beautiful design of the book itself, and how she never "arrived" at some destination where simplicity has been achieved. I appreciated how generously she showed that we are always self-correcting our course but that kindness, gratitude and awareness can make the detours enjoyable too. She includes my favorite story about the businessman and the fisherman, and the theory of the three buckets. Ultimately she returns to her refrain that all that remains is what we love.

[Melanie Mole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin Loechner wanted to slow down and get what should be a more attainable pace of life. She needed to do this not just for herself, but for those that she loved.

This is the true story of how, where, and why she chose to be courageous and 'journey off the beaten path'. To be different to what was expected of her. To rise above ridicule and, instead, listen to the lion within.

Being different is something which isn't always easy to be. But Erin had reasons for her decision to try.

What comes across loudly in this book is the little voice within Erin which questions, encourages, wishes and thrives through each part of her journey.

It is fascinating to see how we begin to question normal, everyday things when we start to look at them differently.

What is apparent too is that we can so easily begin to question our own abilities when we do things differently than other people we know. Why do they do it like this or like that? Am I then doing it wrongly? What will the consequences be?

Erin's story is remarkable in that she has to face life limiting illness to someone near to her, death in the family, birth, being declared bankrupt, moving several times, and much more along the way. Yet, still she never purges ahead in pursuit of a slower pace of life.

During this time she also turns down the chance of doing another TV programme to continue her pursuit of a slower life. This is a big decision, even more so because of the bankruptcy and the need to feel financially well.

This book is a great read. I hope that Erin Loechner writes more so that I can enjoy those too!

[Kayla Hollatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely came into my life at the right time. Parts 1 and 2 completely wrecked me with just about every page highlighted to some extent. Parts 3 and 4 weren't as relevant to me but I still really enjoyed this book. Already buying it for other friends and letting others borrow my copy which is the best testament to how good the book is.

[Janssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was maybe a little over-hyped for me, but it really was excellent. Very different from what I expected.

[Allison G. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even finish this book. Her writing is atrocious.

[Clarissa Unruh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is only 10 years so speaking of slow to the party …. I enjoyed Erin’s story. And beings her emails are one of my favorites it was interesting to read about her earlier years … all her thoughts on minimalism and consumerism still apply.
“The answer to a happy marriage is a the same as the answer to a happy life. It is simple and not at all simple. Give freely. “
“Grace is giving yourself a free pass and realizing it isn’t free at all. Grace is giving someone else a free pass and realizing God has already passed his along. To all of us.”
“Goodwill is not what we have been promised. What we have been promised is grace. “

[Jane Dugger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting ... I enjoyed hearing about Erin's growth and I love this from her website - I guess it's her motto/mission statement - "strive for less in most areas except three: joy, grace, and goat cheese". I can definitely get behind a mission statement like that! Although there would be an asterisk after cheese to really mean butter. Because if you haven't tried goat's butter - whoa Nelly - it's a.m.a.z.i.n.g!

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ironically...kinda slow...

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fitting book for the first day of the year. Chasing slow is still chasing, which the author points out. Lots of gems to think about when considering a minimalist lifestyle:

Until all that remains is what you love.

Is it vital or necessary or essential.

Here is the secret to subtraction.
It doesn’t matter what you remove. What matters is that you stop adding it back.

Who could have known that more would make us feel like less?

[Bailey Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this message by Erin! A beautiful book, captivating storytelling, all to put words to a struggle and craving so many of us have in the Internet frenzy and the age of more-is-better. The perfect first read for my year of simplifying.

*I received this book for free as part of the launch team.

[Olivia · Rating 1 out of 5]

The pretension, the badly disguised humble bragging, the piousness. I read this book hoping for authenticity and it was so disappointing. The carefully crafted photos jarred each time Erin attempted to be real. This is Instagram "real". She admits the crisp white immaculate house isn't real. That it's unattainable. Yet page 260? Her reading to her daughter in bed, full make up and hair done, immaculate white sheets reading about polar bears, just in case the perfectly white message wasn't rammed home enough. I read each new chapter hoping for a turning point. I hope she does one day find that courage to journey off the beaten track- it's quite the stretch to imagine she has ventured off the consumer tread mill in any way. She is part of the machine to encourage people to feel they need more. This book just didn't and couldn't ring true. Erin offers a LOT of advice and follows almost none of it. I hate to think of the pressure she is under to write this crap.