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How I Discovered AMMIATY

Just like the book in my first book review, Show Your Work by Austin Kleon, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years comes from book recommendations from the Productivity YouTuber, Ali Abdaal. It was specifically mentioned that this book made him cry, and I knew what my next read would be: no ordinary book could make Ali Abdaal cry.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

The book narrates a semi-autobiographical account of Donald Miller, the author, who has, in the story, published a book about his life, based on which some movie-makers approach him, requesting that they wanted to make a film on his life. When the painful process begins, it upturns Don's life as he realises his life is "boring". When Don expresses dissatisfaction at the idea of "editing" his life to the scriptwriter, the following is what the dialog goes like:

“You think they might be bored if we just show my life the way it is,” I clarified. I guess I was asking for reassurance that my life was okay. “I think they’d stab each other in the necks with drinking straws,” Steve said. “Nothing against your book. It’s a fine book,” he added after I’d sat silent for a moment.

The book traces the journey of Donald as he attempts to overhaul his life and live as a better character, being part of a better story written by God. AMMIATY contains some of my all-time favorite paragraphs and quotes.

Immediate Thoughts/Life Lessons Learned

1. I should frequently ask myself: is the story I'm trying to create the one I'll be happy to tell God when we are sitting to talk after my passing away? Do I have parts I'll fondly tell him? Is it long enough — long, that is, not in length but in essence?
2. If I am a character in a story of a great Storyteller Creator, should I show resistance when He tries to put me through difficulties so that I can be part of a better story?
3. If I believe God is a great storyteller, should I let him write my story, or add my efforts in that direction?