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Hinge Moments: Making the Most of Life's Transitions

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In life we have moments in time in which we have an opportunity before us to make a change or to respond to a situation. According to Michael Lindsay, president of Gordon College, what follows these instances will depend intrinsically on the decisions we make and the actions we take. These are what he calls "hinge moments"―opportunities to open (or close) doors to various pathways of our lives. Lindsay maintains that getting these moments right can change our lives for the better, and getting them wrong can pose problems for years to come: "Some transitions have a disproportionate impact on our happiness, our contribution to society, and our family's well-being." In these pages Lindsay shares faith-based stories of success and failure from his ten-year study of 550 PLATINUM leaders. He has charted seven phases of transition, providing both practical and spiritual insights for making the most of each stage. In uncertain and tumultuous times, there is no better advantage than wisdom gained early.

176 pages, Hardcover

Published April 27, 2021

25 people are currently reading
272 people want to read

About the author

D. Michael Lindsay

6 books3 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Jesse Cook.
23 reviews2 followers
July 17, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I worked through this book and how much I was able to take away from it. Lindsay provides a refreshingly humble approach to life’s transitions and acknowledges that those can sometimes be our own choices but in many cases are out of our control and are causes of our environment. He equally acknowledges joyful transitions of new homes and growing families, as well as hard transitions like job losses and family loss. His honest evaluation is coupled with his continual reminder to trust in God and while it may be a hinge moment for us, God is directing our paths (Proverbs 3).

Most of Lindsay’s examples come from a corporate and business setting. As someone not in those fields, I had to think critically on how each example fits to my own professional position. Those is the corporate sector would easily connect with Lindsay’s writing and examples.
Profile Image for G. Salter.
Author 4 books31 followers
April 25, 2021
I went into this book figuring it would try to give a lot of sunny, optimistic thoughts about "calling," and found it actually gave the subject of change and how do we find new direction a lot more thought than expected. Very informative, honest about the struggle that goes along with change and yet is necessary for that change.
Profile Image for Rachel Bill.
94 reviews
January 24, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book while I was literally
In the middle of a huge transition (on the plane, on a five hour bus ride to our new home in Honduras, etc.) It was very helpful, and I also appreciate His Christian worldview.
Profile Image for Tyler J McDonald.
36 reviews
November 22, 2021
I thought the book was really good. It was a wonderful commentary on how to approach transition moments in life and how to allow them to transform your character and virtue. I did find sections to be enlightening but fairly repetitive as it seemed to sometimes be muddied with lots of anecdotes. Overall, a good read.
Profile Image for Grace Tews.
34 reviews
August 16, 2025
I think this book would have been more impactful to me if I read it the summer before college. He makes a lot of great points, but nothing felt extremely profound. I also felt like the first 3 chapters could have been a short lecture—I’m not sure their length was warranted.

Again, not a bad book, just might have been more applicable in a different season.
490 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2024
Lots of useful information, I liked the faith perspective, and I liked the framework for transitions. Good mix of story, psychology, faith, and philosophy.
Profile Image for Lauren Tingle.
88 reviews9 followers
December 22, 2024
Loved this book. Would recommend to anyone about to go through, in, or just past a major transition in life (a move, a job change, college, anything!). It’s like Malcolm Gladwell (fun pop culture and psychological studies) meets Christian perspectives (lots tied to scripture and biblical narratives). Framework gave a timeline of the stages of transition which I had never even considered but were super helpful to put words to. Would make a great gift to anyone going through or thinking about a transition. I read the hard copy, and Curtis listened for free on Audible.
Profile Image for Nitoy Gonzales.
447 reviews19 followers
April 23, 2021
Changes is inevitable! We have mix feelings when changes come to our door. We anticipate it. We want it. We get off guard with it. What ever those we feel when seasons of change comes, definitively we wont be the same. However, we can navigate through it and save us some pain.

My first dip in this new book by D. Michael Lindsay, I was not sure what I’m reading when I was confronted with Lindsay’s PLATINUM Leaders. I was a bit puzzled by it till he mentioned it was discussed in his previous book. It’s a leadership book. So the inevitable question came to mind: Is this a leadership or Christian living book? As the book unfolds, it does sometimes go to those leadership territories since Lindsay lifts up lessons from key leaders he met and interviewed. It also touches vocation which will take one of the stages of change. But it shifts back to what you want it to be: a book for ordinary Christians who wants to make much of opportunities that will alter their lives. In short, Lindsay try to balance these territories but somehow dwells often on leadership. However, it’s still ok for me.

Hinge Moments tackles the different stages of change or hinge moments. These stages are discernment, anticipation, intersection, landing, integration, inspiration and realization. I like the metaphor of the door and the design of the book that looks like a door is commendable. It adds a constant reminder to the reader as he goes along the book.

Hinge Moments is straight forward with less illustrations, stories, stats or data to make a point to bog you down. Practical without being pushy for you to try. Biblical but it doesn’t stuff you too much Bible verses. The book flows smoothly and littered with nuggets of truth everywhere. Stories from leaders of different industries (some are Christians) will help drive the point of every stages of transition. It will aspire you to anticipate those changes as you find that you’re not alone as you walk with your own hinge moments. Everything in this book is almost quotable.

Lindsay knows the in and outs of what he wrote here. The wisdom that doesn’t give you information overload. Insights that are spot on and relatable. He still maintain that amount of stories and research up to the middle part of the book. But just when you thought you want to put it down then comes some great stuff from this experienced leader. That’s why you might say that Gordon College made a right choice in picking Lindsay as their president.

I like this steady stream of stories, data and research as I reach the end of this book. Just the right amount. Then Lindsay will convey a wisdom and practical discussion. If you notice he tell few of his personal stories for illustration in this book. However, he save it for the last two chapters where he tells about the story of his daughter and his story with Gordon College that will show his vulnerable side as a leader. It will tug your heart. Lindsay’s vulnerability adds a touch of humbleness and makes you want to follow this authors example in facing hinge moments.

Hinge Moments digs on understanding transitions and did the job superbly. Lindsay with his wisdom and biblical insight got transitions cornered and nowhere to go. So be confident to pick up this book in what ever stage of change you are in and you’ll be equipped to face these challenges. Highly recommended!

My verdict:

5 out of 5

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Profile Image for Brian Virtue.
158 reviews1 follower
July 17, 2022
Good stuff on transition, but probably more focused on preparing people for what is ahead. I think a lot seems to be focused for people in college or their twenties. He describes multiple types of hinge moments - ones you choose, ones you don't choose but can be managed to some degree or prepared for, and then "the house is flooded at 2am" type of transitions. I don't think there's much in this book for that latter example - either practically or spiritually. But can be a helpful thing for someone who is young and sees a transition on the horizon. Felt like the book straddled the practical preparation side and the spiritual/meaning side and didn't fully go all in on either one to the degree that would have been potentially more powerful. But some helpful things.
Profile Image for Josh Olds.
1,012 reviews111 followers
May 30, 2021
Hinge Moments. They’re the key points of opportunity that change our lives—whether we realize it or not. Some hinge moments we see coming years in advance. As a youth pastor, I helped students navigate one of the biggest but most predictable hinge moments in their lives: high school graduation. Other moments only become obvious in hindsight, like a job change. Some blindside us, maybe an illness or the death of a family member. Hinge Moments can have a long-lasting effect on our lives. Speaking from his own life and from a ten-year study of 550 PLATINUM leaders, D. Michael Lindsay pinpoints seven different phases of transition, helping readers prepare for and work through moments of change.

Lindsay’s writing is compact, to the point, and effective. He writes with the mind of a sociologist but the heart of a storyteller. Sometimes when I read books like this, the research gets out in front of the narrative. The stories read like bland vignettes adapted from an academic journal. Not so here. Hinge Moments weaves in a solid, sociologically sure background amid its anecdotal evidence. Lindsay understands that its stories of success that provide encouragement to continue on.

The seven stages Lindsay identifies are:

1. Discernment
2. Anticipation
3. Intersection
4. Landing
5. Integration
6. Inspiration
7. Realization

He then writes a chapter on each, clearly defining its part in the overall journey and offering practical and spiritual tips for navigating the challenges of that stage. It seems obvious, but I’m very glad that Lindsay writes about the dip in confidence that comes with actually making a big change. Confidence is middling when making a big decision. Confidence wanes when actually going through the transition and establishing the “new normal.” It only begins to rise once there’s a new sense of security and safety. Even the very best transitions in our lives cause us to freak out a little bit and wonder if we’ve done it right. Just giving voice to that making Hinge Moments a comforting presence to those going through change.

One of the scariest things about transitions is the lack of stability. Hinge Moments is a reminder that stability is still there, that these seven stages are pretty uniform, and offers concrete and practical advice throughout. While these changes are adaptable to a vast array of hinge moments in life, the one that Lindsay most often focuses on is a transition in the workplace. The chapter “The Welcome Mat” is probably most indicative of this, as Lindsay offers several suggestions on settling into a new job, giving advice that’s particularly helpful if this is one’s first job out of university.

I don’t know that anything Michael says is revolutionary, but it’s tried, true, and comforting. Maybe it’s just that having been through a lot of hinge moments, I had enough practical experience to see quite easily that he’d charted my own path not even having known it. Whether you’re looking for the next job change in life, contemplating retirement, or even wanting to encourage a young person who’s about to graduate.
Profile Image for Mechthild.
389 reviews7 followers
August 31, 2021
A help for the transitions in your life
D. Michael Lindsay presents his book "Hinge Moments. Making the Most of Life's Transitions" which was published by InterVarsity Press. She uses the picture of going through a door for his seven chapters: 1) Approaching the Doors in Our Lives, 2) Standing Outside, 3) Straddling the Threshold, 4) The Welcome Mat, 5) The Deadbolt, 6) The Hinge, and 7) Passages. He starts the chapters with a bible verse or a quote from another author. Lindsay defines hinge moments as "opportunities to open (or to close) doors to various pathways of our lives. Such moments are axial by nature, representing a fixed time, place, or event with consequences for the rest of our days. Getting them right can change our lives for the better. Getting them wrong can pose problems for years to come. Each of us is given a finite number of these hinge moments in life" (p. 3/4). Furthermore, Lindsay states: "The challenge with life is that we have to live it moving forward, but we really only understand it looking back. Every day offers the promise of preparing us to best respond to the next hinge moment of our lives" (p. 7). I appreciate very much that Lindsay shows how hinge moments define us and explains the stages of transition. He presents seven stages: 1) Discernment, 2) Anticipation, 3) Intersection, 4) Landing, 5) Integration, 6) Inspiration, and 7) Realization. He uses the book to walk readers through this seven stages using stories of people who have navigated them and offers suggestions how they can make the most of each stage that God brings them through (p. 14).
The book is presented with a great design and graphics. Lindsay also includes his own personal experience (e.g., p. 147-150). One has to note that he used US-American data and background to write his book and that the examples from the lives of others are mainly from US-Americans. Nevertheless, I am recommending this book to readers who face their own hinge moments and want help with dealing with them. The notes ate the end of the book can help with further study and research.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#HingeMoments #InterVarsityPress #IVPress #NetGalley
4 reviews
April 27, 2021
Having benefited from Michael Lindsay’s previous writing and speaking on leadership, I eagerly anticipated the release of this book, especially in light of an anticipated “hinge moment” of my own. I was not disappointed. Lindsay winsomely weaves stories of leaders from his past research, college students and others he has known, sociological research, classical thought, Christian faith, and his own experience to consider the process of life transitions. He crafts a seven-stage scheme for understanding life transition, distinguishing between change and transitions that encompass change. His stories make the stages compelling and relatable for anyone facing change whether voluntary or imposed. He helps the reader understand the nature of each stage and provides practical advice for navigating each. Lindsay also discusses how to be prepared for transitions one might face making the book relevant to readers even if they are not amid their own changes. Hinge Moments provided me a profitable way to think about my own transition away from longtime leadership role and further affirmed my decisions. Lindsay also strengthened my faith in God’s role and leading in my life. I highly recommend Hinge Moments to those experiencing or anticipating life change or those who simply want to be prepared.
209 reviews5 followers
July 21, 2021
This is an excellent book on transitions and might be my favorite book so far this year. Have things changed in your life recently? Are you in the midst of transition or have new circumstances on your horizon? I recommend Hinge Moments. It’s a quick read packed with encouragement, testimonials, practical tips, and wisdom.

After the Introduction, the author walks through each of the 7 stages in any transition. They are:
1. Approaching the Doors in our Lives: Considering a Change
2. Standing Outside: Why Change Hurts Your Head
3. Straddling the Threshold: The Space Between Spaces
4. The Welcome Mat: Landing in Your New Space
5. The Deadbolt: Earning the Key Through Trust
6. The Hinge: The Virtue of Affixed Flexibility
7. Passages: Growing Through Major Life Changes

After discussing each of these stages, there’s a conclusion and afterward that leave the reader inspired and ready to take the next step.

At the end of the book are questions for discussion and reflection that would make this book a good option for a book club or small group setting.

My favorite parts of the book were the personal stories interwoven throughout the chapters. I find it inspiring and motivational to read of personal triumph, overcoming a failure, making the most of an opportunity, and spiritual growth through a setback.
Profile Image for Dennis Ticen.
72 reviews10 followers
April 27, 2021
I did not know what to expect from this book but was hooked from the introduction. The author discusses the difference between change and transition. That is an important (and helpful) part of the narrative of this book. He then proceeds to discuss the seven “hinge points,” on which everything turns as we make transitions: discernment, anticipation, intersection, landing, integration, inspiration and realization. At each, point he is careful to connect the one currently under discussion to the others, something I appreciated. I also appreciated that he tells a lot of stories about significant leaders who have experienced these hinge points. He also pairs these stories with examples from Scripture. As a United Methodist pastor who has been through many transitions in my ministry, I appreciated the wisdom shared here. Actually, I wish I had been able to read this book about 30 years ago! This will be an enormously helpful resource for leaders going forward and should be beneficial in both churches and businesses. Highly recommended!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I was provided an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
1 review1 follower
April 28, 2021
"As we pass over thresholds from one season of life into the next, we can feel like Janus [Roman god of beginnings, transitions, and endings], with one face looking in each direction yet fully attentive to neither." This is just one of the relatable ideas shared in Lindsay's book along with practical advice for navigating each phase of transition. While I am not in the midst of transition, I have been encouraged by the text to prepare myself for when I might be and will certainly be sharing the book with my students who are heading off to college soon as well as friends approaching marriage or retirement.
Profile Image for Jeannine.
785 reviews10 followers
March 15, 2021
Hinge Moments by D. Michael Lindsey
This is a genre I really enjoy reading and I love the idea of making the most of what can appear to be difficult times. Although the author doesn’t make this a purely biblical or spiritual book this is certainly true for someone who trusts in God. It’s about a mind change or change in perspective. Some of the material isn’t new to readers of this genre but the author shares some stories close to his own heart. It is good but not the most inspiring or powerful book on the topic.
#HingeMoments #NetGalley
2 reviews
April 28, 2021
We all face transitions in life. Some are expected and some are a surprise. Hinge Moments is a thoughtful, personal, research-based guide to dealing with hinge moments – transition points in life. Michael Lindsay’s research on top level leaders, his personal experiences, and his deep understanding of biblical wisdom flow through the book. The many anecdotes from people you would like to meet (and he has) make the book hard to put down. This book has practical wisdom for college students to senior c-suite executives. I highly recommend it.
81 reviews4 followers
January 12, 2024
I received this book as a gift from my Alma Mater where Dr. Lindsay is now the President (this happened after he wrote the book). The book is an easy read with several interesting stories from his many interviews with prominent leaders. It would be useful as a gift to a recent college graduate or anyone starting their business career. I would categorize it more as a business book than a “self help” or “spiritual insight” book although it includes lessons from both categories. I recommend the book.
104 reviews
March 23, 2023
Hinge Moments can be a good resource to anyone in the midst of life’s transitions. I do believe that much of the content was overly simplistic and perhaps even unhelpful at times. That said, transitions are hard and every single resource can make a difference in how one handles such transitions. I definitely recommend this book to readers, but want to set expectations that it’s likely not going to be a life changing book that’ll solve all of your transition questions.
Profile Image for Michael Summers.
161 reviews5 followers
August 17, 2021
I wish this book had been available for me to read forty years ago. I have had several "hinge moments" in my life, but knowing the principles would have made the experience of the first less stressful, and better prepared me for the subsequent ones.
Profile Image for Andrew Wolgemuth.
814 reviews80 followers
September 20, 2021
Lindsay provides solid guidance and wisdom for, as the book's subtitle states, "making the most of life's transitions." At points the "hinge moments" angle feels like too much of a catch-all, but that's not to say that what's being shared isn't right and good.
10 reviews
Read
February 15, 2025
This is one of those books that gives generic advice you can find anywhere but leaves you feeling more motivated than before. It didn't come across as cliche and the author came across as trustworthy. I'm glad I read it.
Profile Image for Ivan.
754 reviews116 followers
February 1, 2021
Invaluable wisdom for the transitions in our lives.
Profile Image for Daniel Smith.
37 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2021
Some chapters were incredible! But a few others were very meh.
Profile Image for Luke.
17 reviews
March 26, 2023
I’d love to read this with a high school student. I think I would’ve benefitted from it greatly then, but still got some good things out of it now.
Profile Image for Harry.
64 reviews
April 24, 2023
A very helpful framework for planning and navigating life's transitions with a biblical worldview.
108 reviews3 followers
July 19, 2023
This was okay. A little fluffy. Might have been more valuable at an earlier point in my life.
Profile Image for Ryzah J.
114 reviews
March 11, 2024
🌟3.5

A faith-based approach to the major transitions in life, or preparing for them. A pretty good book!
Profile Image for Miles Larson.
54 reviews2 followers
December 16, 2024
If I were 18 it may be a helpful read. I think it could have been a 10 page article, explaining the little graph thing, and accomplished as much.
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