Preview
  • Start, Stay, or Leave

  • The Art of Decision Making
  • By: Trey Gowdy
  • Narrated by: Trey Gowdy
  • Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (377 ratings)

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Start, Stay, or Leave

By: Trey Gowdy
Narrated by: Trey Gowdy
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Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The Fox News host and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Doesn’t Hurt to Ask shares his trusted framework for decision making, telling the story of his life through the choices he’s made using this revolutionary method.

“The best guide I’ve read to help people analyze, make, and own their decisions . . . Make a great decision and read this book.”—Dana Perino, Fox News anchor and host, former White House press secretary

In life, moments arise when you have to decide your next move. When choosing whether to accept a new job, purchase a house, attend a school, or start a relationship, how do you settle on which direction to take? Trey Gowdy has found that most consequential decisions boil down to three simple options: start, stay, or leave.

Gowdy first developed this decision-making tool in the courtroom during a federal murder trial, and it has guided his life ever since. The practical framework has helped him decide where to raise his family, when to leave his dream job, whether to run for Congress, and when to step away from political life.

Over the years, Gowdy has made some great decisions and some lousy ones (and he admits to both). In Start, Stay, or Leave, he shares his hard-earned wisdom. Filled with surprising insights and questions, this personal playbook teaches you how to:

  • Craft your unique vision of success
  • Consult your dreams with wisdom (and know when to revise them)
  • Assess the price worth paying to achieve your goals
  • Balance logic, emotion, and fear when facing a new challenge
  • Take the right advice, from the right people (and block out everyone else)
  • Chart the course of your life with the end goal in mind

Listening to Start, Stay, or Leave is like sitting on the back porch of a farmhouse chatting with a wise friend. Filled with humor, heartbreak, practical advice, and a lifetime’s worth of storytelling, this book will teach you how to approach trajectory-changing decisions with confidence and the knowledge that, whatever happens, you’ve made the best choice you could.

©2023 Trey Gowdy (P)2023 Random House Audio
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Critic reviews

“Life is a decision-making experience, and in Start, Stay, or Leave, Trey Gowdy provides the best guide I’ve read to help people analyze, make, and own their decisions. Gowdy encourages his readers to embrace the experience of deciding what’s best for them, on their terms, and not according to anyone else’s expectations. This is a book many of us wish we would have had when we were younger; however, we are grateful to have it now. Make a great decision and read this book.”—Dana Perino, Fox News anchor and host, former White House press secretary

“This book stands out for one reason: Trey Gowdy’s advice is easy to remember. Nobody needs more help than I do, and as a self-appointed expert in self-help, I know that advice must stick. Want proof? I made a huge life decision while reading Start, Stay, or Leave. My timing was perfect and money followed. While Gowdy doesn’t deserve a cut of the money, he deserves credit. Weaving in colorful personal stories that make you laugh (mostly at Trey), this book will help you learn a simple plan: Aim toward meaning, find your mantra, prepare for the worst, listen to others’ opinions, and then decide for yourself.”—Jesse Watters, co-host of Fox’s The Five, host of Jesse Watters Primetime

“A good life is often and rightly defined by the choices we make. In Start, Stay, or Leave, Trey Gowdy has written a powerfully and elegantly worded letter about why it’s important to pursue the choices we make in life with love, vigor, and an open mind—and to do so without judgment, a hard heart, or resentment. Read this book.”—Harold Ford, Jr., former U.S. representative (D-TN) and co-host of The Five

What listeners say about Start, Stay, or Leave

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Amazing!

First of all, to be clear, I am a Trey Gowdy fan through and through. I loved every word of this book because he just makes sense! And, admittedly, his love and adoration for his wife wherever he can squeeze it in makes me like him that much more! I watch him every Sunday night on Fox, and I listen to his podcasts on Thursdays. The only thing he could do better is be on 5 days (or more!) a week!

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Excellent!!!

Excellent guide to decision making. Unbiased, serious, light, funny. Enjoyable to listen to the author. Excellent!

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worthwhile book

i’ve enjoyed watching Trey Gowdy over the years on TV as he clarified his opinion and others actions, this book is a very interesting book to get to know him and how he arrives at his conclusions. Start,stay or leave. yes start by reading the book,stay long enough to learn the information you never knew
and leave with new perspective,

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Trey Gowdy

This is by far the most insightful book I have ever read. I must and will read it again. I wish I could sit down with Mr. Howdy and discuss this book and the impact it has had on my life.

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Humble advice from a proud man

The ability to weave a story into life nurturing stories was truly evident in this book. Trey gave us enough details to understand his course corrections in life, without malice toward others. Thank you for enriching my daily commute with your words.

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Impactful

Great perspectives and applicable experiences provided for a great listen and read. Highly recommend to anyone currently at a crossroads.

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Good stories and great information

This book was enjoyable to listen to. Stories were funny, insightful, and relatable. Highly recommend

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Good Work Author!

A genuine reflection of the results of one person's decisions throughout his life. Thank you!

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Loved it!

This was a great book. Thank you Trey! I hated to see you leave Congress but this book explains why. It truly is a swap. Thank you for your service!

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Could not stop listening

Must be read by all, even those approaching the “period”. Read it to understand. Wow? Wow! Wow…

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