Stuck by Rufus - A Book Review

Stuck:

Why We Can’t (or Won’t) Move On

by Anneli Rufus

Reviewed by

In Stuck, Anneli Rufus explores the intriguing problem of our tendency to get stuck in many areas of our life. Whether it’s being trapped in the wrong relationship, career, or town, or simply struggling with stubborn habits, many of us find ourselves immobilized. Rufus combines interviews, personal anecdotes, and cultural criticism to explore the dreams we hold dear and the road to achieving them.

When faced with the possibility of change, our minds play tricks on us. We convince ourselves that we “can’t make it” or that it’s “not worth the effort.” In a time of unprecedented freedom and opportunity, why do so many feel powerless and unsure? Rufus uncovers a complex web of potential causes, from fear and denial to societal messages that reinforce our helplessness.

The book also shares stories of those who have broken free and those who have decided that where they are is best. What appears as a rut to one person might be true absorption in a topic, relationship, career, pursuit, or place to another. Rufus challenges us to examine our motivations and consider whether we’re truly stuck or simply committed.

Rufus is a skilled writer so it’s easy reading.

Reference

Rufus, A. (2008). Stuck: Why We Can’t (or Won’t) Move On. New York, NY: MJF

Available on AMAZON

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is www.suttong.com

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on AMAZON or GOOGLE STORE

Follow on FACEBOOK Geoff W. Sutton

X @Geoff.W.Sutton

You can read many published articles at no charge:

Academia Geoff W Sutton ResearchGate Geoffrey W Sutton

Comments

The Great Sex Rescue – Challenging Harmful Evangelical Messages

The Great Sex Rescue – Challenging Harmful Evangelical Messages By Sheila Wray Gregoire, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach, & Joanna Sawatsky Reviewed by Geoffrey W. Sutton Review Summary The Great Sex Rescue is an evangelical Christian approach that challenges messages in several other Christian sex books, which do not focus on the sexual pleasure of women. In addition, the three writers challenge messages that emphasize dutiful wives meeting their husband’s sex needs regardless of how she feels or what aspects of a sexual experience would bring her more wholistic pleasure. T he authors offer a more woman-friendly interpretation of biblical texts that have been interpreted in unfriendly ways. More troubling are Christian sexual activity messages that may encourage men to simply use their wives for their pleasure or even abuse them. After explaining their concerns, the authors offer suggestions for better sex including addressing medical p...

Rape as Power: Revisiting Susan Brownmiller’s Against Our Will in Historical and Cultural Context

Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape by Susan Brownmiller Reviewed by Geoffrey W. Sutton Abstract Susan Brownmiller’s Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape (2013), originally published in 1975, reframed rape as a political act of power and control rather than an isolated crime of passion. Drawing on history, law, warfare, slavery, racial politics, prisons, and cultural and victim narratives, Brownmiller argued that rape functions as a conscious tool of domination. This review summarizes her central arguments, highlights the book’s historical and cultural significance, and provides a historical framework against which we can measure progress or the lack thereof (Sutton, 2025, October 1). Keywords: rape, feminism, sexual violence, power, gender, survivor advocacy CITE THIS REVIEW Sutton, G. W. (2025, October 1). Rape as Power: Revisiting Susan Brownmiller’s Against Our Will in Historical and Cultural Context....

Reconsidering Missionary Childhoods: A Critical Engagement with Fletcher’s The Missionary Kids

The Missionary Kids By Holly Berkley Fletcher Reviewed By Geoffrey W. Sutton The Missionary Kids Abstract In The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism (2025), Holly Berkley Fletcher combines memoir, oral history, and historical analysis to examine the lived realities of missionary children (MKs). Drawing on her upbringing in Kenya and interviews with other MKs, Fletcher challenges romanticized portrayals of missionary life by exposing the cultural dislocation, spiritual neglect, and emotional burdens often carried by children in missionary families. The book is structured around four parts: the myth of parents as martyrs, the imposed nature of missionary “calling,” the spiritual neglect of MKs in boarding schools, and the collective testimony of resilience and loss. Fletcher’s dual perspective as both historian and former CIA analyst enriches her critique of evangelical institutions and their impact on children. This work contributes to schola...

Interdisciplinary Book Reviews

Search This Blog