Title: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life
Author: Donald Miller
First published April 15, 2009
255 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780785213062 (ISBN10: 0785213066)
Rating: 4.13
Overview
Get ready for a journey of self-discovery and personal growth in Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned About Living a Better Story. After the success of his memoir, Miller found himself at a loss for what to do next.
That is, until he was approached by two movie producers who wanted to turn his book into a film. As they worked on the screenplay, Miller realized his life was lacking direction and purpose.
Determined to make changes, he began to edit his life as if he were a character in a movie. In this thought-provoking and inspiring book, Miller shares the lessons he learned and the transformations he made.
Join him on this journey to discover how you too can live a better story.
About the Author
Donald Miller is an author based in Portland, Oregon who has made a name for himself in the literary world. He was born in Houston, Texas, and left home at the age of twenty-one to travel the country.
While in Portland, he took classes at Reed College and later wrote his first book, Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance, which was published by Harvest House Publishers in 2000.
Two years later, he wrote Blue Like Jazz, which slowly became a New York Times Bestseller. In 2004, he released Searching for God Knows What, a book that explores how the Gospel of Jesus explains the human personality, and has since become required reading at numerous colleges across the country.
He followed this up with Through Painted Deserts in 2005, which tells the story of a road trip he took across America with a friend, and To Own A Dragon in 2006, which reflects on growing up without a father. This book also reflects his interest in mentoring fatherless young men, as he founded The Mentoring Project, formerly known as the Belmont Foundation, a non-profit organization that partners with local churches to provide mentorship for these young men.
Don has teamed up with Steve Taylor and Ben Pearson to write the screenplay for Blue Like Jazz, which was filmed in Portland in the spring of 2008 and released thereafter. He is also a sought-after speaker, having delivered lectures at various events, including the Women of Faith Conference, the Veritas Forum at Harvard University, and the Veritas Forum at Cal Poly.
In 2008, he was even asked to deliver the closing prayer at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
Don’s next book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, humorously and tenderly chronicles Don’s experience with filmmakers as they edit his life for the screen, hoping to make it less boring. The book challenges readers to reconsider what they strive for in life and shows how to get a second chance at life the first time around.
In addition to his writing, Don is also the founder of The Belmont Foundation, a non-profit organization that partners with local churches to mentor fatherless young men.
Editoral Review
Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life is a memoir/self-help book that explores the human experience and how we can find meaning in our lives. Miller is a New York Times bestselling author known for his witty and introspective writing style, and he brings those same qualities to this book.
The book revolves around Miller’s journey to create a movie script based on his life, which forces him to confront the choices he made and the person he has become. As he delves into his past, Miller reflects on the themes of his life and asks himself important questions about identity, purpose, and fulfillment.
The memoir is divided into chapters that explore different aspects of Miller’s life, from his childhood to his adulthood. Along the way, he shares personal stories and insights that provide valuable lessons for readers.
Miller’s writing is engaging and accessible, and readers will find themselves relating to his relatable anecdotes and humor. One of the strengths of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years is Miller’s ability to weave together personal narrative with larger themes that resonate with readers on a universal level.
He addresses the challenges and ambiguities of the human experience with honesty and nuance, and his writing is both compassionate and insightful. Another strength of the book is its emphasis on personal growth and transformation.
Miller encourages readers to think deeply about their own lives and the stories they tell themselves, and he provides practical tools for creating a more fulfilling and purposeful life. One potential weakness of the book is that it can sometimes feel disjointed, with Miller jumping from one topic to another without clear transitions.
Additionally, some readers may find the self-help elements of the book to be overly simplistic or clichéd. Overall, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years is an inspiring and thought-provoking book that will appeal to readers looking for a meaningful and engaging memoir/self-help hybrid.
While it may not be for everyone, those who connect with Miller’s writing will find a valuable resource for personal growth and introspection. Rating: 4/5
