How to Human {A Book a Day 21}

Jeff and I are in the living room watching our local nightly news (not a nightly thing for us). We’re waiting on a specific report of a local event.

Here it comes. The TV screen splits between the news anchor and a new guy, the reporter in the field. We lean in to closer to hear the details.

But the reporter keeps bungling his words. Again and again. We wonder how he got this job. And how long he’ll keep it.

He stammers and starts over. But this is live TV. He can’t call for a repeat.

After an excruciating two minutes, the reporter gives his sign-off statement, “This is ___, reporting live for WAFF-48. Liz, back to you.”

But instead of the cameras switching back to the single screen of Liz at the anchor desk, they hesitate a second too long, still rolling on the reporter, too.

The reporter doesn’t realize his video and audio are still on live TV.

All the viewers watch as the reporter hangs his head and makes a face. We hear him as he visibly groans, “I messed up so much!“

And in that moment, instead of wanting this new guy to be fired for incompetence, I become his biggest fan. Why? Because I see myself in him. I see him as a fellow human being struggling to do a tough job. And I love him for it.

Forget professionalism. I want human.

As I work with my word of the year, Human, I’m seeing how the humanity in others makes me more happy to be a human myself.

This new book by Carlos Whittaker does this for me, too.

In How to Human: Three Ways to Share Life Beyond What Distracts, Divides, and Disconnects Us, Carlos Whittaker, an author, speaker, and social-media pro, reveals his own stories and advice on being human, seeing humans, and freeing humans. Although he writes from a Christian lens, his larger goal is to help all people everywhere become better at being a human.

“We are called as Christians and, dare I say, as humans to wake up every day with one goal: to love others ferociously. All others.”

When we learn to see the good in each other, treating other humans better, we become better humans ourselves.

“Let’s remind the world exactly how to do this. How to help. How to hope. How to human.”

(I also love in this book that Carlos uses human as a verb. Perfect.)

Watch this video of Carlos to get a taste of how he humans:
“How to help the black community in this moment… If you’re not black…“

You can also find Carlos Whittaker living life out loud on Instagram @LosWhit.

More Quotes from How to Human

“If we want to get back to being human, we must recover our compassion.”

~ * ~

“Being human means purposely bringing wonder into your God Speed life. . . . So, the task at hand is simple. Slow down. Wonder up. Be more like birds and you’ll be more human.”

~ * ~

“To see another human is not only for your benefit but for theirs. Almost all the ugliness that we encounter online can be boiled down to people wanting to be seen.”

~ * ~

“We need to see past who we think people are and into who they really are. That’s what Jesus did so well.”

~ * ~

“We’ve got to continue getting near to the people we are doubting or are doubting us. It’s the most human thing you can do.”

~ * ~

“What really matters most is also what is most simple: showing up and loving.”

What do you love about being human? Share in the comments.

My thanks to NetGalley + WaterBrook &
Multnomah for the review copy of this book

You are on Day #21 of the series, A Book a Day {Nonfiction Favorites}.

The Table of Contents for all 28 books is here, updated daily.

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“Beating Guns” {Book 20}

Next:
“Nonviolent Communication” {Book 22}

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