Customer Reviews

So Long, Status Quo: What I Learned from Women Who Changed the World

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A delightful peek into the accomplishments of some famous and lesser known women in history. But more, it's a challenge to impact history ourselves, and not stand idle while needs are as close as the person next door. Each chapter concludes with suggestions how each of us can change the world, especially helpful for those who want to do something but don't know where to start. Flory's style is a blend of intelligence and humor, honesty and humility that allows the reader to feel as if they've been alongside Flory in her activities, and compels the reader to look for ways we can do the same in our world.

This book is one that will always be on my shelf. A great read, I will probably read it again once I need a refresher. I love reading about the women who made a difference and how we can bring that greatness into our own lives if we choose to make a difference in the world. This quote sums up the book: "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

Susy Flory is one talented and ambitious lady. I read the book looking for a little enjoyment, and some education about women I've long admired such as Eleanor Roosevelt. The author's style brings you right into the pages (and nearly into her living room!) with its warmth and its conversational tone. While I was busy reading the author's innermost thoughts about her own life and the lives of these remarkable women, a funny thing happened. It changed me. The author's courage and audacity at honestly evaluating her own life and choices forced me to do the same. I realized that there is so much more that I can do in this life and I have already made changes to do so. I didn't plan to have this book change my life, but it did. I highly recommend this to anyone, but most especially women. Give it to a mother, sister, daughter, wife, friend, or coworker. Every woman on my Christmas list will be getting this book from me come December! Readers are sure to be moved by these stories of remarkable women, and challenged to become remarkable themselves. I can't wait to see what Susy Flory writes next!

"So Long, Status Quo" is the kind of book that you should buy for birthday presents for people you know, give as Secret Sister gifts, Mother's Day presents, graduation gifts and pretty much any excuse you can think of to pass this book onto a girl/woman in your life that needs a little encouragement. I personally have already recommended it to the homeschool moms I know to use in school (and just found out that Suzy has put together a reader's guide to use with the book that makes a great educational enrichment) and loaned my copy to my mom. She in turn has started recommending it to ladies at our church.

Here is the set-up of the book...
It starts with a little peek into Suzy's personal life that reveals some area of her life that she is lacking in or needs work on (an overflow of material items or lack of sympathy for the children of the world) and then she delves into the biography of a woman that made an impact in that particular area. Following the biography she then figures out a way to make that relevant to her life and somehow implements it. She rounds out the chapter with some ideas for how you can do something in that area of your life.
This is a great book that kept me absolutely captivated the entire way through and while I normally plow through non-fiction at a slow pace - I breezed right through this book because I just loved it.

So Long Status Quo by Suzy Flory is an intriguing book about getting out of your comfort zone and moving into the Spirit. I tend to read a lot of inspirational books, but I can only think of a handful that have actually changed my life in a real way and left lasting change. Flory was much like that, comfortable in her life, happy with her family and career, and enjoying all that she had. Admittedly, that's a feeling many people are never able to achieve, but she realized that contentment wasn't enough; she wanted more, to be more. She sought out biographies about famous (and some not-so-famous) women who had a single definable characteristic: faith, devotion, humility, etc and then set out to emulate that trait in a small way. After reading about Mother Teresa's vow of poverty, Flory fasted for 24 hours just to get a taste of going without. Eleanor Roosevelt sent her to Cuba, and Harriet Tubman to sell her jewelry for wells in Darfur! Each woman Flory writes about did something amazing and awe-inspiring with their life, and while most of us are incapable of that kind of world impact, as Mother Teresa said: We feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. At the end of each chapter Flory offers suggestions for readers to stretch their own limits and become more than who they are. This would be perfect for book groups; I wish I had one to read it with!

I had no expectations of this book when I first picked it up and started reading it. But the further in I got, the more I realized that this would make a fantastic addition to our homeschool curriculum. So Long Status Quo What I Learned from Women Who Changed the World is about nine women who have lived during different time periods. Susy Flory, humorously but also introspectively begins each chapter with her own thoughts and experiences, then flows into the historical story of a woman who changed the world. The women written about are Harriet Tubman, Perpetua, Mother Theresa, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mary Magdalene, Rosie the Riveter (as a group of women during WWII), Elizabeth Fry, Queen Elizabeth I and Jane Austen.

As for using it in our homeschool, my daughter has been using a book/text on Famous Men of Modern Times (review to come soon), and while she enjoyed learning about these historical figures, asked why women are so neglected when learning about history. This book fell into our hands at just the right time (coincidence, I don't think so), and I read her the chapter on Rosie the Riveter, which peeked her interested since she had seen the poster prints before and had no idea what they were in reference to. Next year we will definitely be integrating this into our Social Studies lessons to learn more about Famous Women of Modern Times using the brand new So Long Status Quo reader's guide, just posted on the website at www.susyflory.com.

"...each of these amazing women profiled in this book was honest, transparent, vulnerable and afraid. At the same time, these women who changed the world were bold, passionate, empathetic, and fearless. They were paradoxical these women, because they were real."(p. 139)

So Long Status Quo is a book unassuming in appearance but powerful in content!! I almost rushed past this jewel in my to be read pile, and I'm so thankful I didn't miss it!! Susy Flory uses the life achievements of some very well-known women and makes a practical application of their inspiring actions in her own life. Talk about amazing results!
Harriet Tubman, Perpetua, Mother Teresa, Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary Magdelene are only a few women who saw a need and met that need the best way they were able. Their selflessness changed many lives and set an example that we can still follow today.

Susy Flory begins each chapter with insight from her own personal experience then goes on to briefly outline the powerful lifework of a woman in history. She then puts hands and feet to their inspiration and actually goes out and follows in their footsteps - helping the poor, witnessing to the pagan, reaching out to children and practicing self-denial to name a few. What she learns changes her worldview dramatically and in very surprising and powerful ways. She then ends each chapter with suggestions for others use so they can experience some of these same life-changing activities.

I learned a lot that I either didn't know or had intellectually misplaced about a lot of women in history as well as God's power to use every one of us to reach out and make a powerful difference in the lives of others. For me, volunteering at our local women's rehab facility has been life-altering. Loving the unlovable, sharing Christ with the lost...those are the things that make life worth living!! Way to go, Susy for encouraging every woman to become a useful vessel in God's kingdom!

Susy Flory admits that she was once more interested in a life of comfort and ease than service and significance. But she had the courage to change. In SO LONG STATUS QUO, Susy introduces readers to nine world-changing women who inspired her to examine her own life and begin to live differently. She reveals how the average North American woman can move out of her comfort zone taking small, practical steps toward creating an extraordinary life enriched by service and sacrifice. Easy to read, this honest book will challenge and inspire you.

Sharon L. Fawcett, author of Hope for Wholeness: The Spiritual Path to Freedom from Depression

This book was a joy to read. It was inspiring to learn more details about the exciting lives of women in our history, and gain wisdom from their adventures. It was then taken a step further by providing the reader with a real-life model of what can be learned from their example. The author demonstrates how she was inspired to make a difference, but shares suggestions of how every individual can impact our society by making a change. In these times we all get bogged down and busy with our lives. It was encouraging to be reminded to step back and examine our daily schedule. I felt challenged to get off my comfy computer chair and start thinking about how I could change the status quo for myself and my family. A must read for everyone.

Reading of Susy Flory's adventures in "So Long, Status Quo" reminded me of the story telling technique of Joseph Stowell accompanied by the insights and spiritual applications of Max Lucado. However, Susy maintains a writing style distinctly her own. Funny, entertaining, and transparent.

The subtitle of her book states: "What I learned from Women Who Changed the World." Susy talks about the way she was challenged through the hardships and obstacles each of the nine women profiled in the book met a need specific in their day, world, and unique talents, concerns,and station in life.

Flory writes to inspire the reader to probe deeper into spiritual truths as well as to interact with others about issues of faith. I, personally, identified with the account of Elizabeth Fry. Elizabeth, a Quaker, became burdened for and involved with women in prison. Her humble, sacrifice, and persistent efforts came to the attention of those in government and ultimately resulted in impacting prison reform which has continued to influence conditions in the prison systems of today. The Lord used her story to nudge me to follow her example. I am asking Him to make clear a plan for me to become more directly involved in ministry to the incarcerated, the underprivileged, the poor, and the needy.

Each chapter tells of the heroism of one woman, who singularly led in an effort to impact and make changes in their world. Flory shares an example from her life in which she attempted to emulate a similar service or experience that took her out of her comfort zone, impacted her life, and met the needs of others.

Susie writes with candor, making herself vulnerable. Her writing is motivating, transcending, and demonstrates a disciplined approach to the craft of writing.

Although, "So Long, Status Quo" is primarily a book written for and about women, the challenge and inspiration is not limited by gender or age. Anyone can adapt the lessons Susie learned. These lessons can be adjusted to fit our circumstances, locale, and individual gifts. Flory invites the reader to step out in a new adventure, drawing on the indwelling power of Christ to change the world.