Humble Roots

Over the years I have read quite a few books on the subject of humility. To be frank, this is an area in which I need all the help I can get (and I am quite certain that I am not alone in this need). As I read the latest, Hannah Anderson’s Humble Roots, a thought occurred to me: All of the others have been written by men. I don’t mean to read any particular significance into this observation, but did find myself especially challenged and refreshed to read one that comes from a different perspective—a female perspective. This is just one of the many reasons I found Humble Roots a tremendously enjoyable read.The book’s starting point is anxiety, being overwhelmed, feeling “heavy laden.” “For years,” she says, “I’ve heard that the solution to such stress comes from setting up boundaries, finding ways to be more productive, cultivating gratitude, and scheduling ‘me-time.’ For years, I’ve believed that finding rest comes from both simultaneously learning to let go and keeping your act together. For years, I’ve thought that my sense of peace depends entirely on me.” But then she found herself pondering Jesus as he presents himself in Matthew 11:28, a Savior who is gentle and lowly in heart and who offers rest for our souls. Pondering this, she realized that the better antidote for anxiety and being overwhelmed is humility. “The goal of Humble Roots is to understand how pride manifests itself in anxiety and restlessness, and how humility frees us from the cycle of stress, performance, and competition.”She explores theological truths and does it by considering the natural world. “We’ll explore the theological truths of incarnation, creaturehood, physical embodiment, and human limitation; and we’ll do this by considering the natural world around us, by lifting our eyes to the hills, the fields, and the heavens. But we’ll also consider more practical questions about how humility informs our daily choices—ones that generally take place in less idyllic settings. We’ll see how humility—how knowing ourselves as creatures—also helps us see the extent of our pride in our everyday choices, from how we use social media to how we give and receive compliments. But more than simply point out where we fail, humility also provides a way forward.”Through eleven chapters she explores humility from its various angles. She looks at failure, rest, humanity, emotions, weakness, death, and more. She looks at the pride that so often fills our hearts and consumes our lives. She shows that humility is “not simply a disposition or set of phrases. Humility is accurately understanding ourselves and our place in the world. Humility is knowing where we came from and who our people are. Humility is understanding what without God we are nothing. Without His care, without His provision, with His love, we would still be dust.”Let me point out three of the book’s most appealing strengths.First, Humble Roots is relentlessly biblical. Anderson simply teaches what the Bible teaches about humility. Every chapter goes deep into a text or series of texts and shows how they call us to pursue humility by pursing Christ, to “celebrate the goodness of our physical bodies, to embrace the complexity of our emotions, and to own our unique gifts without guilt or feeling like an imposter.” In other words, she calls us to flourish as human beings made in God’s image.Second, Humble Roots is well-written. Anderson is a skilled writer and her book is a joy to read. It is a great length in an era in which far too many books are just a little too long and it is beautifully integrated with her own life and experiences. This gives it an enjoyable authenticity and a “rootsy” feel. Each chapter is structured around something she has experienced in the natural world and this serves as a helpful and interesting “hook” to hold the book together.Third, Humble Roots is practical. It is practical without being trite. Those who read the book will know about humility, to be sure, but they will also have ideas about what humility actually looks like in real life. They will receive wisdom on how to actually be humble.I read Humble Roots because I had heard so many people praise it. I was delighted to find it is worthy of the recognition and worthy of both time and attention. It is a book I enjoyed thoroughly and recommend heartily.

Humble Roots is theologically rich, convicting, encouraging, and well-written. It was convicting in that it analyzes our sinful tendency to be so consumed with ourselves and our own pride that we find ourselves tired and weary. Anderson skillfully connects pride and a lack of humility with our anxious thoughts, weariness, and lack of rest. While we may recognize that we are lacking in rest and consumed with anxiety, we may never have connected this problem with a lack of humility. In this respect, Humble Roots is a unique read. As Anderson points out, so often the answer to a lack of rest is to create our own self improvement plan, set up more boundaries, and create more to do lists. However, cultivating humility in our lives is rarely on the list of solutions. The desire to cultivate humility itself goes against our pride and our desire to fix ourselves rather then lean on our Creator to sustain and sanctify us. This perspective makes the book Christ exalting in that I am left with the conclusion that my lack of rest is indeed not to be conquered by self improvement, but on my heart being willing to be cast to Christ, hidden in Him, trusting in His plan for my life.The lessons of this book are essential to faithfully following Christ. I suspect that there is not a Christian who at some level cannot relate to the struggle Anderson outlines. I read this book as a married, forty something woman who just sent her first born off to college. I shared it with a college age young lady. It was surprising how much we both related to the message of the book despite being in very different life stages.While this book was so helpful in diagnosing my own sinful tendencies and offering practical gospel saturated solutions, it was also very pleasant to read. In the opening pages, Anderson describes struggling to fall asleep because of anxious thoughts, while watching her husband slumber away in contented sleep. I was completely drawn in by her description of the scene. I am an English teacher of high school students and actually read an excerpt from the book to my writing class as an example of how to write captivating prose. Throughout the book, she weaves nature and gardening imagery into each chapter opening to illustrate her points. While this approach could feel falsely contrived and cumbersome, instead it is beautifully woven into the theme of her chapters. I am not from an agricultural background, but I greatly enjoyed the imagery and found that it added to my understanding.In conclusion, I cannot recommend this book enough. Like her previous book Made for More, it was a slow read for me. I underlined a lot, reread sections, and found myself wanting to discuss the contents with my husband and other Christian women pursuing Christ. It was worth the time and effort. I am sure I will be rereading Humble Roots in the years to come as the lessons continue to impact my walk with Christ.Kate Harmon

Hannah Anderson is a humble seed-sower. Framing each of her chapters with natural and personal stories, she weaves lessons about life, identity, and faith. “…pride manifests itself in anxiety and restlessness,” she writes, “…humility frees us from the cycle of stress, performance, and competition.” On our own, we wither on the vine; if we break ground and return to our roots—humble ourselves as He did—we will find peace in Him. Humility is all gift; humility is thankfulness.

This is such a great book! I went through it with a Bible study group, and it was so nice to break it down and have discussions around what we were reading!

I have Hannah Anderson's other book 'All that is good' that i recommend too.Humble roots- She unpacks biblical scripture in such a powerful way, that is tangible and real. I have absorbed and learn so much. 'Humble roots' is great for getting grounded in who we are in Christ. Look out for her other book 'Made for more'.

Hannah is very simplistic yet profound in her botanical ways to help us discover pearls of humility. This book is soul refreshing and through those truths which convicted me deeply, has brought me in a season of rest in God. Long may it continue.

Hannah Anderson’s book is tenaciously biblical while exploring humility through our physical bodies, emotions, and the natural world. Anderson reminded me afresh how pride is conquered through the recognition of our dependence on God, our need for a Saviour, and the sustaining power of the Spirit without any of whom we would be dust. These ‘roots’ were complimented with frequent practical examples of what humility looks like in real life. Highly recommended.

Great book! Will get more books from this author