I found The Let Them Theory to be a surprisingly practical book. Robbins tackles something most of us quietly battle: living with a fear mindset about what other people will think of us. That fear doesn’t stay abstract; it leaks into our closest relationships, especially family.
One thing I appreciated was how she handled the topic of family dynamics. She described it in terms of frames of reference: the idea that those closest to us often have the biggest stake in our decisions precisely because they love us. Their pushing, as she puts it, is usually motivated by love. That’s an insight that’s easy to miss in the heat of real conversations.
I didn’t find that she oversimplified human relationships. In fact, she offered grounded, personal observations and then reinforced them with some solid psychological ideas. Contrary to what some Christians assume, I think there can be real value in reading observation-based writers who aren’t believers. They notice patterns in human behavior just as accurately as anyone else can; they just interpret them differently.
Philosophically, Robbins leans on stoicism and borrows a little from Buddhism. That’s worth noting, but I didn’t find those elements intrusive or dominant. There’s a touch of language I could have done without, but overall, the book was readable, relatable, and useful.
Make no mistake: I found it to be genuinely helpful, and I plan to try some of the practical things she suggests. At a personal level, it’s a good reminder to stay grounded and not waste energy trying to control what others think or do.
As far as ministry use goes, I wouldn’t call this a ministry resource. It’s incomplete. While it offers a healthy personal boundary principle (learning to release control) it leaves out the biblical side of discipleship. In ministry, we’re not called to simply “let them” and walk away; we’re also called to shepherd, teach, and bear one another’s burdens. So while the book provides helpful personal insights, it can’t stand alone as a guide for Christian leadership.
I'm glad I read it. It was a net positive.
Verdict: Helpful for personal growth; not recommended as a ministry resource by itself.
0 comments