Called Out

Called Out by Paula Faros offers a candid look at Paula's life and all that she did to improve her career on the View and as a reporter for ABC news. Paula shares her upbringing, including her parents turn to faith found in a church community, her journey to Cedarville University, and her climb as a top news reporter. Paula wanted to have it all no matter what the cost. Until. Paula finally realized there was a cost and shares her journey of faith and realizing what her calling really is. This book is insightful. It offers much wisdom to the reader, especially with Paula's driven attitude and quest for achievement. Perhaps it can be summed up on page 178. Paula writes, "I came to a simple conclusion: Something is fundamentally broken with our society when we care so much about success that we slam preschoolers with questions of vocation and fifth-graders are considering resume builders for college admissions." While this book is about Paula's Christian faith, she does try to include all faiths, maybe to a fault. I did enjoy this book and was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review.

I have long been a fan of Paula Faris, the ABC news reporter and former co-host of The View, but after reading this book I have tremendous admiration for Paula Faris, wife, mother, and daughter. This new book offers an inside look of both her personal and professional life and her realization that she needed to adjust her overwhelming work duties. I felt as if she was confiding in me personally about her hectic schedule, her concern about her marriage and her children, and her agony over her father's illness and death. I could almost hear her asking me "How do I step away from my dream jobs and risk losing the credibility and recognition that I've worked so hard to achieve? I found Faris's willingness to share her life and her journey of faith very inspiring and I believe that Called Out may help others as they consider their own life-changing decisions. I am retired but I found myself wondering about my own calling and this books closing paragraphs certainly gave me 'food for thought'. Faris reminds us that, at the end of our lives, we won't be asked if we were successful or made a lot of money. She suggests that God will ask us a simple question, "Did you know you were loved, and did you use your gifts to spread my love to the world around you?" She wants to be able to say "Yes" and I certainly want to be able to do the same! I thoroughly enjoyed Called Out and I recommend it to all who like reading memoirs and inspirational books. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. A positive review was not required and I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.