Life has never been simple, but in recent years many people have felt more overwhelmed than ever. We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions steps into this cultural moment as a lifeline. Written by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle, this book transforms the spirit of their popular podcast into a written guide—a source of companionship and clarity for anyone facing questions they thought were too heavy to ask.
With its immediate bestseller status and glowing reception, the book has quickly become a cornerstone of the 2025 self-help and personal growth genre. But it is more than just a trend—it’s a collection of raw, meaningful reflections on what it means to be human.
Shop We Can Do Hard Things book
Why This Book Was Written
The authors themselves were in crisis. Glennon Doyle was reckoning with her anorexia diagnosis. Amanda Doyle was navigating breast cancer. Abby Wambach was facing personal grief after the loss of her brother. Each of them needed tools and perspectives to survive life’s hardest seasons. They turned to their own conversations, to the wisdom of their podcast community, and to interviews with dozens of “wayfinders”—experts, leaders, and everyday heroes—to create something they wished had existed when they needed it most.
This honesty about origin sets the tone: We Can Do Hard Things is not theory—it’s survival wisdom written in real time.
The Framework: Twenty Essential Questions
The book is structured around twenty universal questions that almost everyone has asked at some point:
- How do I survive loss?
- How do I feel better right now?
- How do I forgive when I can’t forget?
- How do I make peace with my body?
- How do I find joy again?
By breaking life down into these approachable yet profound questions, the authors make the book both practical and intimate. Readers can jump to the question that resonates most with their current struggle, or they can read it cover-to-cover as a guided journey.
Shop We Can Do Hard Things book
The Power of Asking Questions
A core message of the book is that the quality of our lives often depends on the questions we dare to ask. Too often, society pressures us to have ready answers. This book flips that narrative. It argues that asking openly—“How do I keep going?” or “What if I don’t have it figured out?”—is itself an act of strength.
Blending Story and Wisdom
One reason the book resonates so strongly is the way it mixes personal stories with collective wisdom. Each chapter includes anecdotes from the authors’ own lives alongside insights from experts and fellow travelers. This approach keeps the book from feeling abstract. It’s not a textbook on resilience—it’s a conversation around the kitchen table, with room for both tears and laughter.
About the Authors
Glennon Doyle
Known for her memoirs Untamed and Love Warrior, Glennon Doyle brings radical honesty and poetic language to the project. She shares openly about recovery, relationships, and the struggle to accept oneself fully.
Abby Wambach
A two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion, Abby contributes lessons from sports, leadership, and personal transformation. Her voice adds both resilience and a grounding sense of practicality.
Amanda Doyle
A lawyer, activist, and the strategic mind behind many of the team’s ventures, Amanda balances the book with rational clarity and accessible frameworks. Her perspective helps bridge personal emotion with actionable advice.
Together, the three voices create a chorus—sometimes messy, always real, and deeply relatable.
Shop We Can Do Hard Things book
Major Themes
1. Resilience in the Face of Hardship
The book emphasizes that resilience is not about pretending things are fine but about continuing forward in honesty.
2. Belonging and Connection
Loneliness is one of the silent epidemics of our time. The authors argue that belonging is created by sharing our authentic selves, not by conforming.
3. The Body and Healing
Glennon speaks powerfully about learning to live at peace with her body after years of conflict. These reflections will resonate with anyone who has struggled with self-image.
4. Forgiveness and Freedom
The book frames forgiveness not as excusing harm but as releasing ourselves from the weight of bitterness.
5. Joy as Resistance
Perhaps one of the most hopeful themes is that joy is an act of rebellion in a world that often feels heavy. Choosing to embrace gladness is itself a form of strength.
Why Readers Connect So Deeply
Readers describe this book as comforting, validating, and transformative. Its conversational tone makes them feel less alone, while its structure provides practical ways to navigate complex emotions. For many, the book functions like therapy in print—an affirmation that being human is messy, but survivable.
Shop We Can Do Hard Things book
Reception and Bestseller Status
Upon release, We Can Do Hard Things shot to the top of bestseller lists. Critics have praised its accessibility and emotional intelligence, while readers highlight its usefulness in everyday life. Unlike some self-help titles that focus on grand reinventions, this book acknowledges the small, daily acts of bravery that shape a meaningful life.
Why It Feels Different from Other Self-Help Books
- Three Voices, Not One – The interplay between the authors creates balance. Where one voice is raw, another is grounding, and another is practical.
- Community-Based – It grows from a podcast and community of millions, ensuring a wide range of perspectives.
- Honesty Over Perfection – It doesn’t pretend life is easy. Instead, it validates difficulty and emphasizes moving through it.
Practical Applications
The book isn’t just for reading—it’s for living. Here are ways readers are applying its lessons:
- Daily Journaling: Using the 20 questions as prompts for reflection.
- Group Study: Discussing chapters with friends or book clubs.
- Crisis Coping: Turning to specific sections when life feels overwhelming.
- Parenting and Relationships: Using insights to improve communication and empathy.
Why It Matters Now
The timing of this release is key. In an age of burnout, uncertainty, and widespread grief, many people feel adrift. We Can Do Hard Things meets this moment with a combination of grace and grit. It says: you’re not weak for struggling. You’re human. And together, we can endure.
Shop We Can Do Hard Things book
The Emotional Tone
The writing is warm and invitational, but also urgent. It acknowledges pain directly, never dismissing it, but always pointing toward possibility. Readers describe feeling like they’re being spoken to by a trusted friend who won’t lie to them—but won’t abandon them, either.
Who Should Read This Book
- Those in Transition: People facing divorce, illness, career change, or loss.
- Podcast Listeners: Fans of We Can Do Hard Things will find familiar rhythms.
- Self-Help Skeptics: Readers tired of quick fixes will appreciate its honesty.
- Book Clubs: The question-driven format is perfect for discussion.
Strengths of the Book
- Grounded in lived experience.
- Offers both reflection and action.
- Voices are vulnerable, yet authoritative.
- Rich with relatable, everyday wisdom.
- Highly re-readable—each chapter resonates differently depending on when you pick it up.
A Few Limitations
Some may find the pacing slow or the repeated revisiting of themes too cyclical. But this mirrors real life—grief, joy, forgiveness, and healing are rarely linear. What feels repetitive to some may feel reassuring to others.
Shop We Can Do Hard Things book
Lasting Legacy
Many readers predict that We Can Do Hard Things will become a staple in personal libraries, much like Untamed did a few years earlier. Its mix of timely relevance and timeless wisdom ensures it will be recommended, gifted, and quoted for years to come.
Final Thoughts
We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions is not just a book—it’s a companion for the messy, beautiful, difficult work of living. It validates struggle, uplifts resilience, and reminds us that while life will always bring hard things, we are not meant to face them alone.
This is the book you keep on your nightstand, return to during your hardest hours, and share with those you love most.
Shop We Can Do Hard Things book
FAQ
- What is the central idea of the book?
That life’s hardest challenges can be endured when faced with honesty, community, and courage. - How is it organized?
It’s structured around 20 big life questions, each answered through stories and insights. - Who are the authors?
Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle—writers, activists, and podcasters. - Is it related to the podcast?
Yes, it expands on themes from the “We Can Do Hard Things” podcast but can be read independently. - What makes it unique?
Its multiple voices, question-centered framework, and refusal to sugarcoat hardship. - What topics does it cover?
Grief, forgiveness, joy, belonging, body image, resilience, and more. - Is it suitable for book clubs?
Absolutely—its questions naturally spark discussion. - Why did it become a bestseller?
Because it’s raw, relatable, and deeply needed in a world searching for hope and clarity.
