12 Steps to Greatness

It’s rare to find a Christian audiobook that doesn’t waste your time with warm-up anecdotes or meandering theology, and *12 Steps to Greatness* nails the efficiency. Andrew J. Sholl’s narration is the star here—his voice carries the gravitas of a pastor who’s also a down-to-earth friend, never slipping into the saccharine preacher cadence that makes so many spiritual audiobooks grating. He strikes a perfect balance between urgency (“*You* can do this”) and relatability (“I’ve been there too”), which keeps the pacing tight without feeling rushed. That said, I’ll admit the brevity cuts both ways: a few of Payne’s steps feel underdeveloped, like he’s racing to meet a word-count quota rather than diving deeper. For example, Step 8 on “serving with joy” is glossed over in under two minutes, which left me wanting more examples or contrasting scenarios. The production is clean, with no distracting breaths or mics—just Sholl’s voice and the occasional subtle background hum that fades into the background. If you’re a Christian who’s craved a straightforward, no-nonsense guide to growing in faith without wading through heavy-handed doctrine or filler words, this is the audiobook for you. But if you’re someone who prefers immersive storytelling or extended reflections, you might leave wanting more substance.