The Noticer

Book Description: Orange Beach, Alabama is a simple town filled with simple people. But like all humans on the planet, the good folks of Orange Beach have their share of problems - marriages teetering on the brink of divorce, young adults giving up on life, business people on the verge of bankruptcy, as well as the many other obstacles that life seems to dish out to the masses.

Fortunately, when things look the darkest - a mysterious man named Jones has a miraculous way of showing up. An elderly man with white hair, of indiscriminate age and race, wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt and leather flip flops carrying a battered old suitcase, Jones is a unique soul. Communicating what he calls "a little perspective," Jones explains that he has been given a gift of noticing things that others miss. "Your time on this earth is a gift to be used wisely," he says. "Don't squander your words or your thoughts. Consider even the simplest action you take, for your lives matter beyond measure…and they matter forever."

Jones speaks to that part in everyone that is yearning to understand why things happen and what we can do about it.


In Review: Everyone gets stuck in a rut. Most times those ruts are temporary, but sometimes, you just keep spinning your wheels until you can't see out of the rut you are in. The author of this book, Andy Andrews, thought there was no better way than to start with his own rut experience. Homeless, living under a pier, working odd jobs, Andy had no idea that his life was going to be changed drastically when Jones noticed him. Today, because of being noticed by Jones, he is a nationally bestselling author and speaker.

My love language is words of affirmation so reading Jones' encouraging words on each page was like being noticed. His advice is practical and often times familiar such as when he explains the love languages a slightly different, but very familiar way. I think if I had any complaint about this book that would be it. Jones words were familiar because you will probably remember them from other books such as Gary Smalley's Five Love Languages and John Ortberg's When The Game Is Over It All Goes Back in the Box. However, Andy doesn't give any credit to these books anywhere in his book. I thought that was a little thoughtless on his part.


Andy has started The Noticer Project. This project is meant to help you identify (or notice) the five people in your life who mean so much to you. Those who have been so influential. Step outside your busy schedules and avoid waiting until a wedding, graduation or even a funeral to take notice of the special, influential people in our lives . . .do it now!

The Noticer Project also has a group on Facebook and you can even follow the project on Twitter.