Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life and map a clear trajectory for long-term fulfillment and eternal impact. Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes and stories of teens in action.

Most people don't expect you to understand what we're going to tell you in this book. And even if you understand, they don't expect you to care. And even if you care, they don't expect you to do anything about it. And even if you do something about it, they don't expect it to last. We do. – Alex and Brett

A generation stands on the brink of a "rebelution"

A growing movement of young people is rebelling against the low expectations of today's culture by choosing to "do hard things" for the glory of God.  And Alex and Brett Harris are leading the charge.

Do Hard Things is the Harris twins' revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential.

Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life.  Then they map out five powerful ways teens can respond for personal and social change.

Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of an already-happening teen revolution challenges a generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today.

Alex and Brett Harris founded TheRebelution.com in August 2005 and today, at age twenty, are among the most popular teen writers on the Web. Bestselling authors of Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations, the twins have been featured nationally by CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and The New York Times. They regularly speak to audiences of thousands as the main speakers for The Rebelution Tour, an annual series of one-day conferences for teens, parents, and youth workers.

Sons of homeschool pioneers Gregg and Sono Harris and younger brothers of best-selling author and pastor Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye), the Northwest-based brothers are currently attending Patrick Henry College in Virginia.

As a young man, I discovered the power of doing hard things. Abject poverty, a father’s alcoholism and desertion of our family, and my own shyness were a few of the obstacles I faced and overcame growing up. My mother always told me, “God has a plan for your life.” And she’s right. Each of us is called to reach for greatness. There really is a hero in all of us. We’ve all been designed by God to be a blessing to many—a hero to some. But there’s only one way to get there—it’s described by the title of this book: Do Hard Things.

Today we live in a culture that promotes comfort, not challenges. Everything is about finding ways to escape hardship, avoid pain, and dodge duty. In the past, young people were expected to make significant contributions to society. Today, our culture expects very little from teens—not much more than staying in school and doing a few chores. A sad consequence of such low expectations is that life-changing lessons go unlearned. To whom can we turn to motivate a new generation of giants? I’ve found the answer. Alex and Brett Harris and their book, Do Hard Things.

I know the twins personally and can vouch for their integrity and wisdom. I’ve seen their passion to raise up a new generation of tough-spirited young people. They are amazing young men, uniquely qualified to inspire others to reach for great things.

One of my life’s principles is to develop myself to the maximum of my potential in all ways and to help others do the same. Brett and Alex come straight from the same mold, but with an even greater potential to reach young people around the world.

Their book is far more than a typical how-to book. From an insightful historical overview of the teen years to personal plans for helping teens hurdle tough obstacles, the authors sound a battle cry to raise the cultural bar on teenage potential and to challenge young people to reach for their Godgiven best.

Do Hard Things will help recruit, develop, and deploy a new generation of young culture warriors. With God’s help, the book you’re holding will usher in an era in which it can once again be said of our youth, “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (1 John 2:14).

Start reading now. Then do hard things!
—Chuck Norris

Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris is a wonderful wake-up call for today’s youth. Beginning with the “myth of adolescence”, the Harris brothers reveal that it is only in recent days (the term “teenager was coined in 1941 in Reader’s Digest) that the youth of our culture has been allowed to act and think as children.

It is the premise of this book that our young adults (teens) have the capacity to do great things- even hard things, given the proper motivation, resources, and adult expectations. The brothers go on to cite teens in their “Rebelution” who, bucking the current childlike-adult trend, have purposed to Do Hard Things to make a difference in their world.

The Harris are unashamedly Christian, and this book is peppered with Scripture quotes that confirm their stance. However, even the non-Christian teen would benefit from their motivational challenge to reach their God-given potential. At the closing of the book, the brothers lay out the Gospel message and invite readers to believe on Jesus, who has done the ultimate Hard Thing: Dying in our place that we might be saved. It was a beautiful ending to a very inspirational book.

As a parent of a son who is on the edge of adolescence, I found this book to be inspiring, challenging, and a call to raise my expectations for my kids to step out and Do Hard Things. -- Tracey Bonsell, www.christianbookpreviews.com

Praise for Do Hard Things

"Do Hard Things is an extraordinary book. In fact, I believe it will prove to be one of the most life-changing, family-changing, church-changing, and culture-changing books of this generation. I'd love for every teenager to read this book, but I'm just as eager for every parent, church leader, and educator to read it."
– Randy Alcorn, best-selling author of Heaven and The Treasure Principle

"This book is one I would recommend to any of my friends, teen or not. If it doesn't help you, you are lying."
– Carter B., age 14, North Carolina

"Do Hard Things is so important. It is challenging teenagers to rebel against the low expectations placed on them. And the voices that are asking teens to rise to meet this challenge are voices from their own generation. That thrills me."
– Chuck Colson, best-selling author of How Now Shall We Live?

"I love the way it is written. It is crystal clear, to the point, interesting, funny, challenging, encouraging, and an easy read."
– Lisa R., age 15, Australia

"Adult expectations for youth are too low. And these twins are out to raise them. Don't adapt to the low cultural expectations for youth. Set high ones. Youth can become examples for adults. Think that way. Dream that way. Or as the Harris brothers would say, ’Rebel against low expectations.’"
– John Piper, best-selling author of Don’t Waste Your Life

"The message of Do Hard Things is going to awaken the dreams and passions of thousands of young people all over the world. How do I know this? This radical, yet relatively simple idea, has changed my life."
– Erika H., age 18, Michigan

"In a culture where laziness and ease is often the order of the day for teenagers, Do Hard Things presents a radical and provocative alternative. I heartily recommend this book."
– R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"This book has totally changed the way I think. I recommend it to any and every teen who has a desire to turn their life around and make a difference."
– Ashley W., age 13, Georgia

"Alex and Brett capture the passion and potential of our generation perfectly in this book. In Do Hard Thingsthey encourage us to go above and beyond the status quo in everything from schoolwork to serving the poor. This is a truly unique and sorely needed book."
– Zach Hunter, author of Be the Change and Generation Change

"This book is amazing. It changes your whole way of thinking. I believe that every single teen needs to buy a copy of this book. Thanks, Alex and Brett for challenging us!"
– Stacie L., age 15, Kentucky

"This is an important book. And not just for those wanting to launch successfully into adulthood, but also for discontent twenty- and thirty-somethings who long to be catapulted into significance."
– Ted Slater, editor of Boundless, Focus on the Family

"I'm not exactly a teenager anymore. But as I was reading I began to see how this can apply to anyone. It's never too late to start. I absolutely cannot wait to suggest this book to the 'kidults' in my life."
– Matt R., age 26, Georgia

"Alex and Brett are the real deal and Do Hard Things is a real wake up call, not just for young people, but for all God's people. I can't recommend it highly enough."
– Shannon Ethridge, best-selling author of the Every Woman's Battle series

"This book is a wake up call to a generation that is down in the dumps. It's like a coach screaming from the sidelines, ’You can do it!!!’. I'd recommend it to anyone, young or old."
– Douglas A., age 17, England

"Do Hard Things is the textbook for anyone who works with teens; it’s a philosophical and foundational must-read."
– Timothy Eldred, executive director of Christian Endeavor International

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