Things Are Better Than I Think-When I Eat The Frog
Eat That Frog: 21 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time is a book by Brian Tracy and has become a resource for business managers and academics alike. [1} Doctor Clark mentioned this concept, “Eat the Frog” last semester during a zoom call; this jumped out at me as I have used this principle this last year in training business managers. I often consider what it would mean for me to “Eat the Frog” especially when I have a lot to accomplish. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and writing the blog post on Tempered Resilience by Tod Bolsinger but this was the last book of the fall 2022 semester and I was challenged to write with passion, having other papers to complete. [2] I am tackling the last book assigned for this semester (spring 2023): Factfulness by Hans Rosling now.[3] I consider this blog post to be a “frog leg”…crunch, crunch.
In reading Factfulness, I did not take a cover-to-cover approach but read several chapters in the middle. My book is dog eared from pages 177 to 241. I began to run into different ideas that the author presented which gave me some reason to question the premise of the book. I began to question: “Where is this author coming from?” On the inside of the back cover, I discovered that Hans Rosling was a medical doctor and a professor of international health. In this blog I will cite a couple examples where I agree with the author and a couple of examples of where I disagree and why.
As I read Factfulness I began to consider what Rosling was attempting to present in his book and tried to keep my personal bias on the shelf. How might I take in one hand, Rosling’s ideas about facts and how this might inform us to believe that “things are better than I think” with my Biblical worldview and the wisdom from Tonette’s quote (from her most recent blog) about George Mueller who “came to prize the Bible alone as his standard of judgment”.[4] I wanted to apply the balance that Scott Fitzgerald states:
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.” [5]
Agree with the author
In chapter nine, the author argues that people have a blame instinct and specifically addresses the tendency to blame others for not providing enough research or blaming the media for its deception. The author addresses systemic problems such as extreme poverty and climate change and due to these global issues,singling out people or institutions to blame is not wise. Rosling states: “the problem is that when we identify the bad guy, we are done thinking. And it’s almost always more complicated than that.”[6] Solving global problems must honor open dialogue and finding various routes for resolution.
The author credits the Industrial Revolution for providing the technology that was needed to create products and appliances which assist daily living. [7] Rosling shares how his family worked long and hard to purchase a dishwasher and his grandmother was in awe of this machine which freed her time to do other leisurely activities. Innovative ideas have improved the quality of life for many and have made things better.
Disagree with the author
The author makes his position clear on abortion. He states: “A woman’s right to an abortion is supported by just about everyone in Sweden today. Strong support for women’s rights in general has become part of our culture.” [8] He supports his view by giving this personal example, “At the university (1960’s) we ran a secret fund to pay for women to travel abroad to get safe abortions.” [9] The author is proposing that supporting abortion is why I should think things are better in the world? This does not hold to my Biblical worldview. Psalm 139 affirms that a baby in the womb is a creation of God. vv 14-16 As long as children are being aborted, I am unable to affirm that things are better in the world.
Rosling goes to great lengths to help his readers be encouraged with the state of the world and it’s affairs but at the end of his book states boldly:
“The Five Global Risks We Should Worry About: The five that concern me most are the risks of global pandemic, financial collapse, world war, climate change, and extreme poverty. Why is it these problems that cause me most concern? Because they are quite likely to happen.” [10]
I have a problem with this for several reasons. I believed that the author’s intent in his book was to settle fears and concerns of the readers by educating and presenting facts but then turns around and states that ”we should worry?” We may enter World War III tomorrow but Matthew 24:6 states, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” It is not wise to live with a heightened sense of fear and anxiety. Philippians 4:6 states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
I hope the Church and humanitarian efforts will continue to address extreme poverty and I believe it should be an ongoing attempt to feed those who are hungry. I am curious how I am to evaluate these objectives considering Deuteronomy 15:11: “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” The author believes that “this next generation has the unique opportunity to complete the job: pick up the baton, cross the line, and raise its hands in triumph,” in ending extreme poverty. [11] Is the victory in the hands of humanity or is it in the hands of the Lord Almighty who says: “ Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.” Is. 14:24 How things are accomplished is up to God “since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come? Ecc. 8:7
I agree with Tod Bolsinger when he states how leaders are to make a change in this world: “The practice for addressing the uncomfortable and brutal reality of the suffering of our neighbors and the pain of our friends without losing hope means bringing God– with the same brutal honesty– into our experiences.” [12] I believe not only in what is factual, but also in life-giving Truth. Sometimes truth is painful and our hope needs to be placed in the hands of Christ, the Savior of the world.
[1] Brian Tracy, Eat that Frog, 2017
[2] Tod Bolsinger, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change, 2020
[3] Hans Rosling, Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World-and Why Things are Better Than You Think, 2018
[4] Tonnete’s blog February 2, 2023, [10]
[5] Austin Kleon, Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative In Good Times and Bad, 2019, p.130
[6] Hans Rosling, Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World-and Why Things are Better Than You Think, 2018, p.221.
[7] Ibid. p.219
[8] Ibid. p.177
[9] Ibid. p.177
[10] Ibid. p.237
[11] Ibid. p.241
[12] Tod Bolsinger, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change, 2020, p.156
About the Author
Kristy Newport
5 responses to “Things Are Better Than I Think-When I Eat The Frog”
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Hi Kristy,
Great job critically engaging with Rosling’s content. I am thrilled you pulled in the Fitzgerald quote about holding opposing truths in tension with each other. Isn’t this what us as doctoral students are being trained to do?
Here’s a tension I am having with your post. It has do to with your content around alleviating poverty, in which you write:
“I hope the Church and humanitarian efforts will continue to address extreme poverty and I believe it should be an ongoing attempt to feed those who are hungry. I am curious how I am to evaluate these objectives considering Deuteronomy 15:11…”
The tension we need to manage is recognizing the work of poverty alleviation is never-ending work, and yet being motivated to work as if we can actually alleviate poverty. And I believe this is work that God wants us to carry out. Too often, us Christians have focused on the Gospel being about getting people to Heaven (an aspect of the Gospel, but not the summation of the Gospel) at the expense of working towards making “on earth as it is in heaven” a reality. I believe that we, by God’s grace and in partnership with His Spirit, alleviate poverty before Christ returns. But maybe Christ will return before that happens. Who knows?!
David
Thank you for reading my blog!
I believe we are in cahoots- 100%
I agree with living within the tension you are stating.
Please note that I included the entire verse
Deuteronomy 15:11: “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” The second part of this verse is as important as the first.
You quote Matthew 6: 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
and look at the next verse….Matthew 6:11 states Give us today our daily bread. How do we get our daily bread- (meeting spiritual and physical needs?) from the Giver. The Lords prayer is instructive. Individually we need to go to God and ask….give us today our daily bread. I am curious what world poverty/hunger would look like if every individual would seek God in this way. Would God not throw open the flood gates of heaven?
In addition to what I have shared above, I would state that I am aware that these verses are to portray the Body of Christ as we are his ‘hands and feet’. The Church needs to be this… 100%… operative now:
Romans 7:4 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the Body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit.
Ephesians 1:11 In Him we were chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.
I agree with you:
“I believe that we, by God’s grace and in partnership with His Spirit, alleviate poverty before Christ returns.”
Have you heard of the organization She is Safe? It has been an honor for me to partner with this ministry in assisting women from India, equipping them with small business loans. These courageous women are making steps out of poverty, getting education for their children, and role modeling to their husbands how to operate a business. It’s rewarding work.
I am curious how Beaverton 4Square (your church) is addressing world hunger and poverty?
I think another question here is:
How can we maintain a sense of peace and trust in God despite the risks of global pandemic, financial collapse, world war, climate change, and extreme poverty?
We know that we can trust and pray. How can we instill that faith in others? Lead by example?
I think another question here is:
How can we maintain a sense of peace and trust in God despite the risks of global pandemic, financial collapse, world war, climate change, and extreme poverty?
We know that we can trust and pray. How can we instill that faith in others? Lead by example?
Alana,
Great question!!
I look forward to reading your post on this book!
I hope you answer these questions
This verse is coming to my mind-
Be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary…. 1 Peter 3:8-9
They will know us by our love.