Before You Climb Any Higher: Valley Wisdom for Mountain Dreams Paperback – February 18, 2025

Before You Climb Any Higher by Jonathan McReynolds is simple, straight forward, transparent, and well written. It's replete with examples and stories that make it a very enjoyable read. It is notable that Mr. McReynolds was courageous to open up about his struggles as his climbed the mountain of success. Even more notable, is that he tells of how he had to climb back down the mountain and head into the valley so that he could reconnect with his true identity- son of God. This book made me laugh, cry, ponder, and pray. I would have loved for the book to be longer! Nevertheless, it's going to help a lot of people. Currently I'm re-reading and taking notes. Congratulations on your well-written work, Mr. Mcreynolds! Y'all, get the book. 🥰

Great read! This book is so necessary it’s so profound. Please grab your copy now it will bless you. This man is prolific! Truly a jewel to us all! Thank you Lord for sharing your son with us we are blessed all the more because of him. This is definitely one of my favorite books! Great job Jon! : ) 4.3.25

I absolutely loved this book! It took me on an emotional journey—funny, captivating, and filled with profound wisdom. This book is a message straight from the heart of God. It emphasizes how God's people are meant to live from the valley, and why that’s actually the best place to be. Do yourself a favor and get this book to fully understand the depth of what that means!

🎶 “Climb every mountain… till you find your dreams” 🎶 We are told from very early in life to climb the highest heights, and chase our dreams, but hardly anyone ever talks about the nightmares we might find on the mountains we successfully climb. In this raw, engaging, transparent, funny, story-like autobiography, Jonathan, who has climbed some of the highest heights, tells it all. He dissects the nuances of what his climb has been like. He masterfully explores the textures of his mind and heart before, during and after the climb. He ruthlessly but compassionately analyzes the pathology of certain dynamics, mindsets and beliefs that drove him up the mountain higher than he needed to go, and made him stay on such a lifeless place longer than he needed to. He shares the consequences of his climb, the cost. He explains his lonely space in a way that helps us see ourselves right there with him on our own mountains. He helps us see ourselves, and then provides practical ways for us to come back down into the valley where there’s community and everything we need. He encourages us to find out who we are there down in the valley, to see that we are enough before any accolades, enough as just son or daughter of the Most High God. And that “just” son or daughter is actually superior to any other titles we don via our climb. Jonathan shows us how to climb again in a way that is not as life-threatening next time around. Climb your mountain, yes, but live in your valley.I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially to big dreamers, high-achievers, top- performers, first-generation wonders and people who want to change the world. I think this is the next book you should read before you climb any higher on the mountain of your dreams ❤️ See you at the top, or at the bottom. Stay safe out there.- Nmeli Anene

I really enjoyed reading this book!This book was a timely and sobering look into the realities of success and the importance of relying on God to sustain us, not our motivation to achieve certain accomplishments, have certain positions, etc.With vulnerable anecdotes and relevant scriputural references, McReynolds illustrates the importance in delighting in our identities as children of God instead of letting our identities be so wrapped up in things like achievements, our egos, the desire for gratification and the need to constantly be working.It may take some time to implement the things he highlighted in this book, it gave me some things to think about I would definitely recommend this book.

This not just an amazing book but it is a blessing. A shift takes place to the inner man after reading this book. I obtained this read a time in my life where I had become stagnant. What's next, what do I do know? The people around me were taken back at my complacent response to my present circumstances. However, this Grammy Award winning Artist, Mr. Johnathan McReynolds, who is known for his gift of singing and songwriter is now exposed as a gifted and talented author to me. He takes us on a journey of ascending and descending our mountains of purpose. He gives us tools that he had to learn as he embarked his. Tools that aides us on a successful climb. He deals with achieving/conquering the mountain in a spiritual and healthy manner. He focuses the pros and cons of the mountain of purpose, how ones identity is the key component. You must remember that "you are a child of God first" the calling is second and that will never change.

Very good read! Inspirational to be a human with humility and love being the major focus, not titles and temporary glorification of how much we can get, do and be. Highly recommend!

Just when you think you have the remedy to “success and generational wealth” you realize that the path to get there is not in your effort to reach higher or the moments that take your breath away. That short breath is because you’ve been on the mountain too long confusing lack for abundance; restlessness for grind. But not so thanks to Jonathan. He invites us to the playground we once loved; the dolls we once gave an identity, and the untainted image of ourselves before we ever knew blemished exist. Innocence as a child of God. Pure innocence. It’s truly a book that you’ll have to put down, think, and come back to because of conviction. Great read; especially when you can remember the first time you had to find your way back down the mountain.