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Exit the Cave
Redeem your story, redefine your creativity, and make a life that truly matters
Sometimes the greatest gift you can receive is for your life to fall apart. After years stuck in a painful cycle fueled by past abuse and ongoing addiction, actor, artist, and director Blaine Hogan finally hit rock bottom. No longer able to hide behind the veneer of success or find comfort in the shadows of compulsion, Blaine was forced to look at the story his life was telling and realize he'd lost the plot.
Desperate to find hope, he gave up a budding career and took a major life detour where he discovered that facing his past was the key to unlocking a new kind of creativity. In Exit the Cave , Blaine shares the stories that shaped him while exploring how our relationship to our past defines how we imagine the future and live in the present. Through powerful personal revelations, he invites you to take up the practices of radical imagination and real creativity so you can tell a better story with your life.
If you've ever been stuck, addicted, ashamed, discontented, or lost, take courage--a richer, more imaginative, and meaningful life is waiting for you just outside the cave.
"A tender but fierce story of survival, reckoning, and redemption. Blaine manages to somehow weave themes of acting, allegory, addiction, family, and faith into one beautifully written account of his own healing. This is the kind of story that will redeem you."-- Laura McKowen , bestselling author of We Are the Luckiest
"Blaine Hogan has inspired me for many years with his unique way of seeing the world. In this book you'll find a blast of inspiration and a trusty guide to help you exit the cave and enter a world that is real and beautiful and vital."-- Brad Montague , New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Circles All Around Us , Becoming Better Grownups , and Kid President's Guide to Being Awesome
Sometimes the greatest gift you can receive is for your life to fall apart. After years stuck in a painful cycle fueled by past abuse and ongoing addiction, actor, artist, and director Blaine Hogan finally hit rock bottom. No longer able to hide behind the veneer of success or find comfort in the shadows of compulsion, Blaine was forced to look at the story his life was telling and realize he'd lost the plot.
Desperate to find hope, he gave up a budding career and took a major life detour where he discovered that facing his past was the key to unlocking a new kind of creativity. In Exit the Cave , Blaine shares the stories that shaped him while exploring how our relationship to our past defines how we imagine the future and live in the present. Through powerful personal revelations, he invites you to take up the practices of radical imagination and real creativity so you can tell a better story with your life.
If you've ever been stuck, addicted, ashamed, discontented, or lost, take courage--a richer, more imaginative, and meaningful life is waiting for you just outside the cave.
"A tender but fierce story of survival, reckoning, and redemption. Blaine manages to somehow weave themes of acting, allegory, addiction, family, and faith into one beautifully written account of his own healing. This is the kind of story that will redeem you."-- Laura McKowen , bestselling author of We Are the Luckiest
"Blaine Hogan has inspired me for many years with his unique way of seeing the world. In this book you'll find a blast of inspiration and a trusty guide to help you exit the cave and enter a world that is real and beautiful and vital."-- Brad Montague , New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Circles All Around Us , Becoming Better Grownups , and Kid President's Guide to Being Awesome
- GenresPsychology
256 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2022
6 people are currently reading
1327 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 23, 2022
This moving memoir shows how one man left behind patterns of abuse and dysfunction to find life and healing on the other side. Although I had never heard of the author, this book caught my eye because of the title, which I recognized as a reference to Plato's cave analogy. I thought I would appreciate a take on trauma that used this as a lens, and I was absolutely right. I found this book incredibly thought-provoking and insightful, and instead of just relaying his trauma stories, Blaine Hogan shows how he was able to reshape them and change his understanding of the past by changing the stories he told himself about his experiences.
Hogan writes in an incredibly honest, raw way without being graphic, and his stories about his healing process will be relatable for many readers, regardless what specific things they have suffered from. I appreciate his honesty about his traumatic experiences, the ways that he acted out, and the many obstacles on the way to addiction recovery and trauma healing. The story of his transformation rings so much truer and more hopeful because he didn't hold back, and I appreciated his introspection and reflections about what it means to choose "radical imagination" towards a better life. There isn't much here about embracing creativity in a traditional sense, so someone who is looking for advice about leveraging their story into art will find that this book doesn't fully live up to the subtitle, but fellow creatives will relate to some of Hogan's experiences and way of seeing the world.
The chapters in this book are fairly short, sharing well-told stories that pack a punch. Near the beginning, I felt disoriented as he moved back and forth between different experiences from different times in his life, but as the book continued, the timeline became more linear. I found it interesting how this reflected his healing, as his story became more straightforward and less fractured. Overall, I am extremely impressed with Hogan's honesty, self-awareness, and ability to communicate difficult stories and profound truths about grace in such well-written prose.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Hogan writes in an incredibly honest, raw way without being graphic, and his stories about his healing process will be relatable for many readers, regardless what specific things they have suffered from. I appreciate his honesty about his traumatic experiences, the ways that he acted out, and the many obstacles on the way to addiction recovery and trauma healing. The story of his transformation rings so much truer and more hopeful because he didn't hold back, and I appreciated his introspection and reflections about what it means to choose "radical imagination" towards a better life. There isn't much here about embracing creativity in a traditional sense, so someone who is looking for advice about leveraging their story into art will find that this book doesn't fully live up to the subtitle, but fellow creatives will relate to some of Hogan's experiences and way of seeing the world.
The chapters in this book are fairly short, sharing well-told stories that pack a punch. Near the beginning, I felt disoriented as he moved back and forth between different experiences from different times in his life, but as the book continued, the timeline became more linear. I found it interesting how this reflected his healing, as his story became more straightforward and less fractured. Overall, I am extremely impressed with Hogan's honesty, self-awareness, and ability to communicate difficult stories and profound truths about grace in such well-written prose.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 4, 2024
I didn’t know who Blaine Hogan was when I started this book, until his introduction story from a conference he was the keynote speaker for in 2015. I remember clearly the message he gave at the SALT conference in Nashville 9 years ago, I remember being stirred to not white wash our stories of their brokenness, for it is against the backdrop of grit and pain that the beauty and power of the gospel shine clearest. This book is a personal extension of that message.
Taking his personal testimony, Plato’s allegory of the cave, the story of Hagar, and many more stories, Hogan tells his. He is an excellent storyteller and there is a building cadence to this book, revisiting different themes, questions, and stories while never stepping out of personal biography. He wrestles with how the way we view our past shapes how we anticipate the future, which changes how we live the present. Invites the reader into the questions “where have a come from?” And “where am I going?” and challenges them to share their story honestly with themselves and others so that God can really work in them and others. That the details we leave out are often the things that can resonate with others, after all “the universal is almost always found in the particular.”
The honesty in relation to his story is brutal, involving accounts of child sexual abuse, substance abuse, and spiritual abuse that were hard to hear. He is more artist and creative than scholar, and I didn’t agree with the way he handled parts of biblical stories, and he has a flare for the dramatic, but these are minute critiques to an otherwise stellar book.
Would recommend, and will probably read again.
Taking his personal testimony, Plato’s allegory of the cave, the story of Hagar, and many more stories, Hogan tells his. He is an excellent storyteller and there is a building cadence to this book, revisiting different themes, questions, and stories while never stepping out of personal biography. He wrestles with how the way we view our past shapes how we anticipate the future, which changes how we live the present. Invites the reader into the questions “where have a come from?” And “where am I going?” and challenges them to share their story honestly with themselves and others so that God can really work in them and others. That the details we leave out are often the things that can resonate with others, after all “the universal is almost always found in the particular.”
The honesty in relation to his story is brutal, involving accounts of child sexual abuse, substance abuse, and spiritual abuse that were hard to hear. He is more artist and creative than scholar, and I didn’t agree with the way he handled parts of biblical stories, and he has a flare for the dramatic, but these are minute critiques to an otherwise stellar book.
Would recommend, and will probably read again.
October 14, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. Blaine is an example of someone who does the full work to understand their own heart and healing. Truly raw, honest, and human. This book will impact lives and encourage people to dig into their past to learn who they are.
October 21, 2022
I sat down and read this book cover to cover in one sitting. I already knew some bits and pieces of Blaine’s story from hearing his storytelling from the stage and his instagram account, but this is an invitation right into the dark and often messy work that being a human in recovery and creating new patterns out of dysfunction is.
This memoir invites us in to the very hard work of not just acting our stories out but remembering them, examining them and finding both the tragedy and hope available in our own stories. Told with humor, stories from his real life and with a depth that goes way below the surface, this memoir fully held my attention.
This is an honest and vulnerable look at his life, full of insight, humor and storytelling that captivates. So grateful for Blaine not only doing the hard work but also sharing it all with us (the process, the difficulties and the hopefulness).
This memoir invites us in to the very hard work of not just acting our stories out but remembering them, examining them and finding both the tragedy and hope available in our own stories. Told with humor, stories from his real life and with a depth that goes way below the surface, this memoir fully held my attention.
This is an honest and vulnerable look at his life, full of insight, humor and storytelling that captivates. So grateful for Blaine not only doing the hard work but also sharing it all with us (the process, the difficulties and the hopefulness).
March 3, 2023
This book was not at all what I expected it to be, but that wasn't entirely a disappointment. Blaine's story was well-told and there was much to learn from it. However, I did spend the entire book trying to figure out how the subtitle fit and I never did find an answer. This book wasn't really about creativity and radical imagination as much as it was a pseudo-guide to unpacking and learning from past trauma. It's a great book for healing and growth, but it definitely isn't what the back cover describes it as.
That said, I also spent the whole book feeling like I was missing something. Blaine's thoughts felt disjointed and more like a series of stories strung together with a vague theme and sometimes forced life lessons than a coherent piece of writing. It was good, and I think there's still things to be learned from reading it, but it wasn't great or what I had expected it to be.
That said, I also spent the whole book feeling like I was missing something. Blaine's thoughts felt disjointed and more like a series of stories strung together with a vague theme and sometimes forced life lessons than a coherent piece of writing. It was good, and I think there's still things to be learned from reading it, but it wasn't great or what I had expected it to be.
January 27, 2023
Each of us has our own cave. It is a place where we could feel comfortable, relaxed, and honest with ourselves. For author Blaine Hogan, his cave is more than that. It is about him boldly taking a step out of the cave of addiction, depression, self-pity, and encountering health issues among his loved ones. He shares about past broken relationships, broken marriages, and emotional struggles. As an actor, he toggles from the highs of success to the lows of addiction. He shares his ups and downs through personal stories told with brutal honesty. Some of his most painful episodes were about the hurts he had inflicted on others and the resultant turmoil that tormented him emotionally and spiritually. He thought singing can help him feel better but any positive vibes didn't last. He shares about his constant travels because of his gigs. His search for peace continues with his foray into theological education in Seattle. While disappointed with the city and the school for various reasons, he soon finds inspiration in the stories of Hagar and Sarah. He would be challenged by two simple questions:
1) Where have you come from?
2) Where are you going?
These two questions would gradually help sprout other questions that not only probe his inner self and relationships but also his purpose in life. The bulk of this book deals with the way he answers these two questions. On the question of where he came from, Hogan shares honestly about his past, celebrating the highs as well as admitting the lows. The second question about where he is going deals with his desire to move forward from his checkered past. His journey in search of healing does not come easy. He summarizes his life with "four straight lines" or more specifically, our imperfect efforts to draw four perfectly straight lines. In a throwback to life in general, he shows us that we ought not be chained by our imperfections. Spirituality is essentially about not giving up in spite of our imperfect drawings of life. This is such a liberating thing to learn.
My Thoughts
==============
Hogan shows us that it is entirely possible, even liberating to just live and let live. Don't be too anxious about having the perfect results that many of us crave. As long as we are true to ourselves, and as long as we trust God to lead the way, we should always do our best and let God handle the rest. Why should anyone read this book? Let me give three reasons.
First, it is an honest assessment of how broken this world is. Christians are in the world but not of the world. It is not true that Christians no longer have any problems once they believe in Jesus. In fact, faith opens us up to courageously face up to our challenges in life. Hogan's stories can be a way to inspire us not to be bogged down by our past but to remember that in Christ, we are free to get up every time we fall. Second, this book reads like a memoir but is more like a collection of personal stories. This collection shows us the journey of a man in search of healing and meaning. If we are honest with ourselves, we all need to make such journeys too, albeit in different specifics. In fact, when we learn to tell our stories, we get a better sense of where we have gone and where we ought to be going. Hogan's journey through the two fundamental questions should inspire us to do the same. Finally, it is always a good thing to take stock of our lives through reflections and remembering of our past. That way, we learn from past mistakes. We remember the good and bad times. We do not forget the lessons learned. Failure is often thought to be the seed of success. Through that process, we become better people as we grow in wisdom. May this book inspire us in unique ways that speak to us.
Rating: 4 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Books and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
1) Where have you come from?
2) Where are you going?
These two questions would gradually help sprout other questions that not only probe his inner self and relationships but also his purpose in life. The bulk of this book deals with the way he answers these two questions. On the question of where he came from, Hogan shares honestly about his past, celebrating the highs as well as admitting the lows. The second question about where he is going deals with his desire to move forward from his checkered past. His journey in search of healing does not come easy. He summarizes his life with "four straight lines" or more specifically, our imperfect efforts to draw four perfectly straight lines. In a throwback to life in general, he shows us that we ought not be chained by our imperfections. Spirituality is essentially about not giving up in spite of our imperfect drawings of life. This is such a liberating thing to learn.
My Thoughts
==============
Hogan shows us that it is entirely possible, even liberating to just live and let live. Don't be too anxious about having the perfect results that many of us crave. As long as we are true to ourselves, and as long as we trust God to lead the way, we should always do our best and let God handle the rest. Why should anyone read this book? Let me give three reasons.
First, it is an honest assessment of how broken this world is. Christians are in the world but not of the world. It is not true that Christians no longer have any problems once they believe in Jesus. In fact, faith opens us up to courageously face up to our challenges in life. Hogan's stories can be a way to inspire us not to be bogged down by our past but to remember that in Christ, we are free to get up every time we fall. Second, this book reads like a memoir but is more like a collection of personal stories. This collection shows us the journey of a man in search of healing and meaning. If we are honest with ourselves, we all need to make such journeys too, albeit in different specifics. In fact, when we learn to tell our stories, we get a better sense of where we have gone and where we ought to be going. Hogan's journey through the two fundamental questions should inspire us to do the same. Finally, it is always a good thing to take stock of our lives through reflections and remembering of our past. That way, we learn from past mistakes. We remember the good and bad times. We do not forget the lessons learned. Failure is often thought to be the seed of success. Through that process, we become better people as we grow in wisdom. May this book inspire us in unique ways that speak to us.
Rating: 4 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Books and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
November 9, 2022
Here is a memoir for those of us who have ever been stuck, addicted, ashamed, discontented, or lost. Yep, I qualify. In this book, take courage as Blaine Hogan in humor and true emotion shares a life that can be richer, more whole, imaginative, and meaningful and it’s just, outside the cave.
Young Blaine was stuck in the painful cycle of past abuse and ongoing addiction, then as an actor and artist, he received, unknown to him at the time, a life changing gift… his life fell apart.
Hiding behind his success and what he perceived as comfort in his addiction he recognižes it no longer works for him. Realizing he hadn't lost God, rather he was the one who moved away and he lost his own self. .
Desperate, he gave up the career he was building and took a major life detour where he discovered that facing his past was the key to unlocking a new kind of true living.
In this exposed story of his young life, Blaine shares the stories that shaped him guided by God's greater story for living in a complicated world.
Through his own personal revelations and insightful gleanings, he invites you to take up some seemingly radical practices and some not so, and be creative so you can tell a better story with your own life.
I highly recommend this well written and very readable memoir where the author is willing to expose his personal transgressions and triumphs to help others. I found his story to be very applicable to my own life even though my situation is quite different in the details.
Young Blaine was stuck in the painful cycle of past abuse and ongoing addiction, then as an actor and artist, he received, unknown to him at the time, a life changing gift… his life fell apart.
Hiding behind his success and what he perceived as comfort in his addiction he recognižes it no longer works for him. Realizing he hadn't lost God, rather he was the one who moved away and he lost his own self. .
Desperate, he gave up the career he was building and took a major life detour where he discovered that facing his past was the key to unlocking a new kind of true living.
In this exposed story of his young life, Blaine shares the stories that shaped him guided by God's greater story for living in a complicated world.
Through his own personal revelations and insightful gleanings, he invites you to take up some seemingly radical practices and some not so, and be creative so you can tell a better story with your own life.
I highly recommend this well written and very readable memoir where the author is willing to expose his personal transgressions and triumphs to help others. I found his story to be very applicable to my own life even though my situation is quite different in the details.
May 30, 2023
Exit the Cave
Embracing a Life of Courage, Creativity, and Radical Imagination
by Blaine Hogan
Pub Date 08 Nov 2022
Baker Books
Christian
Baker Books and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of Exit the Cave for review:
Redefine your creativity, and create a life that matters:
Occasionally, the greatest gift you can receive is for your life to fall apart. Having spent years trapped in a painful cycle fueled by past abuse and ongoing addiction, actor, artist, and director Blaine Hogan finally reached his breaking point. When Blaine was unable to hide behind the veneer of success or find comfort in the shadows of compulsion, he was forced to examine the story his life was telling and realize he had lost his way.
Taking a major life detour in search of hope, he discovered that facing his past was the key to unlocking a new kind of creativity. In Exit the Cave, Blaine explores how our relationship with our past influences how we imagine the future and live in the present. The author invites you to take up the practices of radical imagination and real creativity so that you may be able to tell your life's story in a more meaningful way.
A richer, more imaginative, and meaningful life is waiting just outside the cave for anyone who has ever been stuck, addicted, ashamed, dissatisfied, or lost.
I give Exit the Cave five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
Embracing a Life of Courage, Creativity, and Radical Imagination
by Blaine Hogan
Pub Date 08 Nov 2022
Baker Books
Christian
Baker Books and Netgalley have provided me with a copy of Exit the Cave for review:
Redefine your creativity, and create a life that matters:
Occasionally, the greatest gift you can receive is for your life to fall apart. Having spent years trapped in a painful cycle fueled by past abuse and ongoing addiction, actor, artist, and director Blaine Hogan finally reached his breaking point. When Blaine was unable to hide behind the veneer of success or find comfort in the shadows of compulsion, he was forced to examine the story his life was telling and realize he had lost his way.
Taking a major life detour in search of hope, he discovered that facing his past was the key to unlocking a new kind of creativity. In Exit the Cave, Blaine explores how our relationship with our past influences how we imagine the future and live in the present. The author invites you to take up the practices of radical imagination and real creativity so that you may be able to tell your life's story in a more meaningful way.
A richer, more imaginative, and meaningful life is waiting just outside the cave for anyone who has ever been stuck, addicted, ashamed, dissatisfied, or lost.
I give Exit the Cave five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
July 15, 2024
As a literal former troglodyte, the title of this book caught my eye as soon as it was published. I was glad to finally have a chance to read it now. It’s well written and hard to put down. The author does a great job explaining the rich cave metaphor (based on Plato’s famous parable), and the way he tells his life story is powerful and moving - though I would have preferred it to be a bit more chronological in places. I appreciated the way he shows how healing and growth are both processes that are often very lengthy and involve input from many people.
I’m giving this book four stars instead of five because I was disappointed in the lack of a true gospel message. This is evident in many places but one that sticks out the most is where the author goes so far as to say that his father, who had actively resisted Christ’s forgiveness and grace up to the end of his life, was “finally at peace” after his death. Also, he says nothing about raising his daughters in a household of faith, but instead shares the humanistic mantras they have adopted as a family. This is their story, obviously, but I do feel like the lack of a true gospel focus is confusing and it will keep me from recommending the book. This is unfortunate because it had so much potential otherwise.
I’m giving this book four stars instead of five because I was disappointed in the lack of a true gospel message. This is evident in many places but one that sticks out the most is where the author goes so far as to say that his father, who had actively resisted Christ’s forgiveness and grace up to the end of his life, was “finally at peace” after his death. Also, he says nothing about raising his daughters in a household of faith, but instead shares the humanistic mantras they have adopted as a family. This is their story, obviously, but I do feel like the lack of a true gospel focus is confusing and it will keep me from recommending the book. This is unfortunate because it had so much potential otherwise.
November 7, 2022
P LA INEH was very interesting how he came to deal with his past. You had a very trouble in childhood. His father was an alcoholic and his mother said kills. He acted because it helped him cope with things but he could never get really close to people He had problems because you don't find out why in the book you're supposed as a point of the The pain is managed to suffer. He was molested as a boy with other boys. He also finds out his father was addicted to p*** which he started on that path as well. He read this book called the cave by Pluto and he could really relate to that because that's how it felt. He had trouble holding on to relationships. He then went to the church called Mars to Become a Person who Who leads in church. This place seemed like for 2 years merely helping dress his problems. He wasn't an actor as well but he wanted to give this up because he had very destructive pattern. He hoped this was good because he could travel around in 2 things. You had a girlfriend named Margaret but their relationship was sometimes very rocky. You find out how he hoped for all these problems and he came out ahead.
July 3, 2025
I first saw Blaine Hogan in the Fox show Prison Break. Years later I noticed he was roommates with a guy I followed online. Then I saw that he worked at a church that had a connection to my church. So I read his book.
I benefited from this book. I even took notes! I won’t share all of them but here are the highlights that I thought were noteworthy:
• An addiction doesn’t always cause obvious problems in your life. Instead it might be even worse: keeping you asleep from the life waiting for you.
• You always have a choice: keep doing the same old thing, or take a risk and break free. Sometimes life is especially prompting you to leave the old behind and begin the new.
• Dan Allender is quoted: "Maybe the highest mark of what it means to be a Christian is your willingness to blaspheme." Holy shit that’s good!
• If you don’t retell all your stories so they can be redeemed, you’ll never exit the cave.
• The greatest art project of your life might just be your actual life.
I benefited from this book. I even took notes! I won’t share all of them but here are the highlights that I thought were noteworthy:
• An addiction doesn’t always cause obvious problems in your life. Instead it might be even worse: keeping you asleep from the life waiting for you.
• You always have a choice: keep doing the same old thing, or take a risk and break free. Sometimes life is especially prompting you to leave the old behind and begin the new.
• Dan Allender is quoted: "Maybe the highest mark of what it means to be a Christian is your willingness to blaspheme." Holy shit that’s good!
• If you don’t retell all your stories so they can be redeemed, you’ll never exit the cave.
• The greatest art project of your life might just be your actual life.
March 4, 2023
Exit the Cave was exactly what I needed but I didn't know it when I first started reading, and to be honest, I wasn't sure at first where this book would take me. It turns out Blaine Hogan's story though not(really) similar to mine but enough to show me how I could apply what is in his story, and his trauma and see what God is attempting to do in mine.
It was refreshing to read what I would consider a book to be found in the self-help/psychology section not telling me what to do but simply laying out a story through the gift of storytelling. I largely avoid self-help books because not enough of the author's story is told for me to care, and to see through their story how I can adapt my own to make changes.
Exit the Cave was honest, raw, and thought-provoking and the best kind of self-help that I have read in years. Definitely recommended.
It was refreshing to read what I would consider a book to be found in the self-help/psychology section not telling me what to do but simply laying out a story through the gift of storytelling. I largely avoid self-help books because not enough of the author's story is told for me to care, and to see through their story how I can adapt my own to make changes.
Exit the Cave was honest, raw, and thought-provoking and the best kind of self-help that I have read in years. Definitely recommended.
November 7, 2022
I came to know of Blaine from a podcast interview on “The Place We Find Ourselves”. He talked about finding clarity and freedom within the specifics of our story—the painful parts, the places I had avoided eye-contact with for most of my life. But they were the keys to unlocking a radical imagination I didn’t know was possible. So when I discovered Blaine was writing a book about this, I knew it would feel like a map of sorts. Because in engaging the rawness and redemption of someone else’s story, there are nerve-hitting connection points that spark footpaths forward. Chapter by chapter I was riveted by the call-to-courage and could so viscerally sense how the truth really does have the power to set us free.
November 8, 2022
Beautiful book about the power of story to transform your life and the connection to creativity. Once I started, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. The author's vulnerability and honesty in telling his story will strike a chord both for those who are just beginning to allow their story to seep out and move towards healing and those who have worked through their story and are learning the work of creativity in the healing process. Phrases from this book have stayed with me in the months since I've read it, particularly as it relates to failure and courage. Highly recommend this book!
November 11, 2022
An Engaging Brutiful Tale of Courage & Hope
I was fortunate to read Blaine’s book prior to publishing and couldn’t have been more excited to see that it’s finally here. I bought two copies. One to keep, and one to give away. It is a rare gift to see a man step forward and tell his story of addiction, recovery, trauma and redemption. It has been taboo for so long for men to speak out about how they experience violation and harm; but here is Blaine, setting a much needed precedent that tells a tale of pain and redemption. We are in deep need of men as courageous as Blaine to step forward and share their story. Blaine is vulnerable, honest and engaging; and you will want to read it in one sitting and then read it again, more slowly, allowing yourself to ponder and possibly engage your own story. There is hope. There is life outside of the cave. Thank you, Blaine!
I was fortunate to read Blaine’s book prior to publishing and couldn’t have been more excited to see that it’s finally here. I bought two copies. One to keep, and one to give away. It is a rare gift to see a man step forward and tell his story of addiction, recovery, trauma and redemption. It has been taboo for so long for men to speak out about how they experience violation and harm; but here is Blaine, setting a much needed precedent that tells a tale of pain and redemption. We are in deep need of men as courageous as Blaine to step forward and share their story. Blaine is vulnerable, honest and engaging; and you will want to read it in one sitting and then read it again, more slowly, allowing yourself to ponder and possibly engage your own story. There is hope. There is life outside of the cave. Thank you, Blaine!
November 15, 2022
From the very beginning this book pulled me in! I laughed hysterically at the opening story of Blaine at a hotel and his pre-conference experience! Blaine bears his struggles throughout his life in a honest and courageous way! I love it that he come full circle at the end! Using the trauma of his life to help others Exit The Cave!
Whether you have experienced abuse or know someone who has this book helps to understand the murky waters of trauma and encourages the reader to make a difference!
One side note though is that there should be a trigger warning. I could definitely see how this might cause some struggles for those who have been experienced similar trauma!
Whether you have experienced abuse or know someone who has this book helps to understand the murky waters of trauma and encourages the reader to make a difference!
One side note though is that there should be a trigger warning. I could definitely see how this might cause some struggles for those who have been experienced similar trauma!
December 31, 2022
Three things that will stay with me--especially being someone who finds faith elusive:
1) ...if faith is the memory of the goodness of God in the past, then hope is the faith for the future.
2) The whole chapter "Love is a Net" about Blaine's trapeze lesson: When asking about the nets being replaced, he learned that they don't replace the nets entirely, but repair them immediately. "The places we do the repairs end up being the strongest."
3) And the last part of the family motto: "Hogans do it afraid." A good reminder for us all.
1) ...if faith is the memory of the goodness of God in the past, then hope is the faith for the future.
2) The whole chapter "Love is a Net" about Blaine's trapeze lesson: When asking about the nets being replaced, he learned that they don't replace the nets entirely, but repair them immediately. "The places we do the repairs end up being the strongest."
3) And the last part of the family motto: "Hogans do it afraid." A good reminder for us all.
November 8, 2022
A page turner with heart! This book walks you through Blaine's journey in a way that feels so personal, you will read the last page feeling like he's a friend. His honesty, humor, and insight will leave you considering the parts of your own story that shaped you. This is one of those books that fuels creativity and it is equal parts entertainment and self-care, perfect for the person who feels stuck and isn't quite sure why.
November 21, 2022
I was given a copy by NetGalley to give my honest review. This was a wonderful book. Entertainer Blaine Hogan's life was falling apart. So much so he hit rock bottom and everything was falling apart. His relationships, faith, career were all in trouble which left him floundering. However, he started to rebuild his life paying careful attention to the big picture. I became a rooting section for him as he pulled the reader into his life. A book of hope and inspiration with a comedic flair.
November 23, 2022
Gripping, inspiring, and well-written, Exit the Cave is surprisingly as much a ‘roadmap’ as a ‘memoir.’ Often raw and painfully vulnerable, Blaine manages to inject humor, tenacity, and hope in a way that pushes you toward curiosity about your own story -- with extra courage to take with you.
Bonus: The ‘family mottos’ near the end were worth the read alone for this dad. ;)
I am so thankful you wrote this, Blaine. Well done!
Bonus: The ‘family mottos’ near the end were worth the read alone for this dad. ;)
I am so thankful you wrote this, Blaine. Well done!
Read
December 27, 2022I didn't realize this was a memoir when I picked it up and I'm glad I didn't because I probably would've passed it up. The stories the author tells in this book are raw and painful at times but so infused with hope...a word he defines as "faith for the future." There was a lot of interesting insights and hard won wisdom, particularly for people with abuse or addiction in their past and/or for creatives who view life as a constant act of making and remaking.
October 31, 2022
In perfect timing of what our world needs, Blaine’s writing is authentically raw and vulnerable. I resonated with so much of his story, both personally and professionally. This book will open your eyes, so that you can see the world, and your own story, through a lens of grace and compassion. I’m grateful this book will soon be in the world.
February 16, 2023
Listened to author read on Audible. The author was a guest on a favored podcast, sharing some of the stories he shares in the book. I really enjoyed this book, bringing encouragement to those who need hope and courage in life, especially those who have deep hurts from childhood and bad life choices and/or addictions. Recommend.
December 26, 2022
Radically good
It's been a long while since a book has hit me so hard and shown me so much. Hogan is an incredible storyteller, a deep and poignant philosopher , and the story of his life will transform you.
It's been a long while since a book has hit me so hard and shown me so much. Hogan is an incredible storyteller, a deep and poignant philosopher , and the story of his life will transform you.
January 4, 2023
A compelling memoir. I benefited much from his insight to his past and his journey to healing. A wonderful and brave story to tell! I’m so glad he did! It provides courage for those to do the same.
January 5, 2023
Well-told memoir of a man who has done the deep work of navigating his story for the good.
March 2, 2023
Beautifully written, honest and vulnerable. Blains personal stories of struggle, trauma and healing are moving and reinforce the idea that the only way out is through. Very brave.
December 3, 2022
To get where you want to be, you have to go through it.
With some humor and deep soul searching, Blaine has shown you can get through horrible life experiences by facing them and moving forward.
With some humor and deep soul searching, Blaine has shown you can get through horrible life experiences by facing them and moving forward.
November 16, 2022
Finished within 24hours review to come soon… excuse me I’m sobbing.
Ok review time…
Blaine’s story will immediately grab your attention and leave you feeling like your cup has been filled. By sharing his own journey through the power of remembering and how it can help us move forward. Exit The Cave in three words…vulnerable, courageous & meaningful… this book took me by surprise and was so happy to have read it and honored to hear Blaine’s path to where he is now. Many memorable points but what I locked onto was the last few chapters where he shares about “Home Team” won my heart and gave me inspiration! I would devour another book on that topic!
You can’t help but be captivated by Blaine’s words!
Ok review time…
Blaine’s story will immediately grab your attention and leave you feeling like your cup has been filled. By sharing his own journey through the power of remembering and how it can help us move forward. Exit The Cave in three words…vulnerable, courageous & meaningful… this book took me by surprise and was so happy to have read it and honored to hear Blaine’s path to where he is now. Many memorable points but what I locked onto was the last few chapters where he shares about “Home Team” won my heart and gave me inspiration! I would devour another book on that topic!
You can’t help but be captivated by Blaine’s words!
December 13, 2022
I want to thank Blaine and his team for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I also want to thank NetGalley for the Kindle version of Exit The Cave.
I have followed Blaine's journey via social media for many years. From his time in Prison Break and other shows to his work as a creative director for one of the most influential churches in America, Blaine has been a long-distance roll model for the creative endeavors in my life.
This book was a beautiful and honest exploration of the power that our story can have on our lives and the lives of people who meet along the way. As a father, husband, church employee, and a follower of Jesus I felt known in a way that most writers could not describe. Blaine's honesty about his own pain and loss was an incredible canvas for a narrative that reaches far beyond his own experiences and into that place of radical transformation.
I found myself cheering for him and weeping with him. As I sat this book down (or really, I turned off my Kindle) I knew I would not soon forget what I just experienced. I have listened to numerous talks and monologues from Hogan over the years and this book felt like he was just speaking right to me.
If you work in any "creative" field, then you need to read this book. If you have trauma from your past (I think that includes pretty much everyone) then you need to read this book. Blaine pulls back the layers of perfectionism and performance that overshadow much of church culture and provides a refreshing drink from the well of grace.
I have followed Blaine's journey via social media for many years. From his time in Prison Break and other shows to his work as a creative director for one of the most influential churches in America, Blaine has been a long-distance roll model for the creative endeavors in my life.
This book was a beautiful and honest exploration of the power that our story can have on our lives and the lives of people who meet along the way. As a father, husband, church employee, and a follower of Jesus I felt known in a way that most writers could not describe. Blaine's honesty about his own pain and loss was an incredible canvas for a narrative that reaches far beyond his own experiences and into that place of radical transformation.
I found myself cheering for him and weeping with him. As I sat this book down (or really, I turned off my Kindle) I knew I would not soon forget what I just experienced. I have listened to numerous talks and monologues from Hogan over the years and this book felt like he was just speaking right to me.
If you work in any "creative" field, then you need to read this book. If you have trauma from your past (I think that includes pretty much everyone) then you need to read this book. Blaine pulls back the layers of perfectionism and performance that overshadow much of church culture and provides a refreshing drink from the well of grace.
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