I wrote this book because I feel that Young Adult non-fiction has become monotonous, recycled, and boring. My first book, "Building Unstoppable Self-Confidence for Teens," was written over the course of years after touring the country with my band, managing a restaurant for 10 years, and then having three kids of my own. I wrote that book for my kids when they were to come of age because I had such a hard time in middle/high school. I think young people are way more capable than adults give them credit for. In this new book, I made it a goal not to re-hash another typical "life skills for teens" book. It is profoundly inspired, with some pretty big wisdom. In fact, one chapter is secretly for parents, too, as it pushes the boundaries of spirit and mindset. I have a purpose in writing for young people, and I hope you get that after reading some of my work!
I wrote this book because I feel that Young Adult non-fiction has become monotonous, recycled, and boring. My first book, "Building Unstoppable Self-Confidence for Teens," was written over the course of years after touring the country with my band, managing a restaurant for 10 years, and then having three kids of my own. I wrote that book for my kids when they were to come of age because I had such a hard time in middle/high school. I think young people are way more capable than adults give them credit for. In this new book, I made it a goal not to re-hash another typical "life skills for teens" book. It is profoundly inspired, with some pretty big wisdom. In fact, one chapter is secretly for parents, too, as it pushes the boundaries of spirit and mindset. I have a purpose in writing for young people, and I hope you get that after reading some of my work!
hack (hak)
verb
1. to cough roughly or harshly.
“The patient with emphysema is hacking all day.”
Oops, wait a minute...
Ok – here we go:
hack (hak)
noun
1. a good solution or piece of advice; a strategy or technique for managing one's time or activities more efficiently.
Much better! The goal of this book is straightforward (and it’s not about coughing). It’s to help you manage your adolescent years more effectively so that you don’t just survive but thrive as an adult. In other words, we'll be "hacking" or "efficiently managing" the high school experience for the benefit of the future.
I use the term “high school” loosely. For much of the following advice, “where” or “how” you do your schooling shouldn’t really matter. What matters is being able to enter adulthood easily and on your terms. What matters is owning your life instead of IT owning YOU.
That, in my opinion, is “adulting.” For what it’s worth, I’m 41 years old at the time of writing this, yet I have the heart of an 18-year-old. Adulting shouldn’t make you lose your spark, curiosity, or sense of adventure. It shouldn't make you boring - or bored. Growing up can be tricky - it can turn us into a shell of what we once loved about ourselves if we let it.
This book aims to bridge the gap between “young adult” and “adult.” An alternate title (although less catchy) might be “Start Mastering Your Life Early On.” I believe teens are capable of MUCH more than they’re often given credit for. Curriculums teach many of the “hows,” but what about the “whys”? The whys are where the power lies. Therefore, you’re about to read some things you will not be taught in school! It would be my honor to help you grab life by the horns, and I’d love to help you learn how to do that in easy, manageable ways - before the stresses pile up and things become more difficult to change.
Speaking of the title - don’t be misled by it. This is not a collection of recycled, worn-out cliches. No, this is a compilation of work that was deeply researched and profoundly inspired (it does get pretty deep). It's a resource you can read linearly or bounce around with as sections become relevant to your life.
You may notice a few things as you read:
1) There’s a wide range of hacks. You’ll discover some game-changing advice that I personally swear by and some fun little tricks that are easy to implement. There is also everything in between, in one big melting pot. This passion project was written whimsically - I had a lot of fun with it! And if some hacks seem a little more evident than others, know they’re in here for a reason.
2) There is no “fat” in this book. In other words, you won’t have to do much digging to get to the gold. Although there are stories, they are only meant to drive home points and allow you to internalize the techniques. A ton of helpful information is coming your way, so don’t feel pressured to remember it all – that’s why it’s written down!
3) Finally, each hack is numbered, making it super simple to jot down the ones you might want to revisit – because some might resonate with you right now, while others may align better down the road.
And now for our feature presentation!
I hope you benefit from each nugget of wisdom for many years to come.
You’re about to read some things you will not be taught in school! It would be my honor to help you grab life by the horns, and I’d love to help you learn how to do that in easy, manageable ways - before the stresses pile up and things become more difficult to change.
There are forever claims that certain life skills should be taught in school and no matter how often the curriculum changes, some topics just don’t make the cut. 88 Life-Changing High School Hacks (A Sur-Thrival Guide™): Optimize the Teen Years, Upgrade Your Life Skills FAST, and Master Adulting Before You Graduate by Derek T Freeman is a passionate insight into some key life lessons to be learned sooner rather than later if one is to survive and thrive as an adult. A quick scan of the contents might have you scratching your head and wondering if some of the items really are essential ‘hacks’. They are! Although the content list looks a little messy in its alignment, the key takeaway from it is to take note of the sections, and more importantly, hack numbers you’ll want to return to again and again.
The book comprises 8 easily identifiable sections. Each starts with a quote that seems loosely related, until Freeman breaks it down, resulting in an aha! moment. Just these introductory segments alone are enough to trust in what the author has to purport. Quotes are dotted throughout the book to break up the longer sections and further exemplify the topic too. As for the actual hacks, each of them is numbered to make it easy to pinpoint and return to. Over the course of the book, you’ll read snippets of advice on how to handle your money, health, relationship, general approach to school/work, and then some, which to many will seem like common sense, but it’s good to remember that sense isn’t always common. For many this book will be a treasure.
Although marketed as a book for high schoolers, do not less this fool you. There are lessons in here that would suit mature middle schoolers, as well as adults that are yet to sharpen these tools that should be in everyone’s toolbox. Evidenced with experience, told with logic, and sprinkled with occasional humor, the book reads like a wise old self’s letter to their younger self (minus the top and tail, but with lots of love and care sprinkled throughout). The conversational air makes for very light reading, and the overall language is easy to digest. This is probably why you can tolerate the couple of shoutouts to read the rest of the series, write a review, and generally just be thankful to Freeman.
This is a book you’ll carry with you a while before you pass it on to share the knowledge with someone else who needs a helping hand in getting ahead.