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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
funny
informative
fast-paced
Entertaining and easy to read, but I felt there was maybe a bit too much repetition from Rework and Remote.
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
This book is a collection of very short, digestible essays on various topics surrounding running a company, working at a company, and communication methods at work.
I feel like no one out there can read this book without thinking “Wow, I really want to work at Basecamp.” They’re doing things that SO FEW other companies are doing, and they’re things that make so much sense. Taking everyone out of the constant stream of communication and giving them time for deep work. Instead of motivating your employees to work harder, give them benefits that encourage them to stay healthy and happy (which results in better work). Hire well, and don’t grow so fast that you can’t sustain it.
Almost every chapter had that bittersweet feel of “why can’t my current company do things like this?” And the whole thing is this really beautiful treasure trove of inspiration for anyone looking to leverage change at their workplaces. Some of the concepts FOR SURE can’t be implemented without the full approval and buy-in of all the higher ups. Which is where the bittersweet-ness comes in, if you aren’t one of those higher ups yourself. But for someone like me, it really helps me figure out what should be on my wish list, the next time I’m looking for a job. And it helps me understand my current position better, to know what I have the power to influence the company in the direction of and to know what’s never going to change.
I hope that business owners read this book, and feel inspired to follow Basecamp’s example. They’re refreshingly transparent about things on their blog, and if something isn’t working for them they change it. So I’m eager to keep reading books by them, to keep watching their blog, and keep learning about what companies who actually care about their employees’ happiness are capable of achieving in the future. If you’re an employee and not a business owner, this is still well worth your time and attention. Capitalism has led to some poor habits, and situations that take advantage of the average worker, and this book feels like the start of turning the tide. Back to when your job could just be your job, where you put in your time and effort and then didn’t have to worry about things outside of work, because you were paid enough and your company didn’t ask for more than you could give while still staying healthy. I hope everyone reads this book.
This and other reviews by me can be found at www.annaimber.com
I feel like no one out there can read this book without thinking “Wow, I really want to work at Basecamp.” They’re doing things that SO FEW other companies are doing, and they’re things that make so much sense. Taking everyone out of the constant stream of communication and giving them time for deep work. Instead of motivating your employees to work harder, give them benefits that encourage them to stay healthy and happy (which results in better work). Hire well, and don’t grow so fast that you can’t sustain it.
Almost every chapter had that bittersweet feel of “why can’t my current company do things like this?” And the whole thing is this really beautiful treasure trove of inspiration for anyone looking to leverage change at their workplaces. Some of the concepts FOR SURE can’t be implemented without the full approval and buy-in of all the higher ups. Which is where the bittersweet-ness comes in, if you aren’t one of those higher ups yourself. But for someone like me, it really helps me figure out what should be on my wish list, the next time I’m looking for a job. And it helps me understand my current position better, to know what I have the power to influence the company in the direction of and to know what’s never going to change.
I hope that business owners read this book, and feel inspired to follow Basecamp’s example. They’re refreshingly transparent about things on their blog, and if something isn’t working for them they change it. So I’m eager to keep reading books by them, to keep watching their blog, and keep learning about what companies who actually care about their employees’ happiness are capable of achieving in the future. If you’re an employee and not a business owner, this is still well worth your time and attention. Capitalism has led to some poor habits, and situations that take advantage of the average worker, and this book feels like the start of turning the tide. Back to when your job could just be your job, where you put in your time and effort and then didn’t have to worry about things outside of work, because you were paid enough and your company didn’t ask for more than you could give while still staying healthy. I hope everyone reads this book.
This and other reviews by me can be found at www.annaimber.com
If you ever read the Basecamp blog or follow Jason + DHH on Twitter, you probably won’t find much new stuff in this book. As usual, it’s a great marketing piece for their company, and a lot of the ideas challenge and provoke standard practices.
Unfortunately, the ideas aren’t given much room to be expanded and explored further, and they all come in rapid-fire succession chapter after chapter. It’s also extremely light on implementation and how readers might go about adopting the ideas.
Unfortunately, the ideas aren’t given much room to be expanded and explored further, and they all come in rapid-fire succession chapter after chapter. It’s also extremely light on implementation and how readers might go about adopting the ideas.
I hated the first section on ambition (call me crazy, but I think people should want to change the world), but the rest of the book was filled with thought provoking nuggets. Quick read and straight to the point.
DNF. Very similar to Rework. Should be a list of principles or medium posts. I agree with the concepts, but the delivery is lack luster.
Fresh ideas, and explained in such a way that I now think Basecamp is pretty self-righteous.
Library Rules
Imagine if office spaces were like the great libraries. Quiet and almost demanded focus. Would you get more done at work? It’s ideas like this that Jason and DHH use to really hit home their point and make us realize we’ve let work get out of control. There are some great “ah ha” moments in this book similar to the other books in their series. Good read!
Imagine if office spaces were like the great libraries. Quiet and almost demanded focus. Would you get more done at work? It’s ideas like this that Jason and DHH use to really hit home their point and make us realize we’ve let work get out of control. There are some great “ah ha” moments in this book similar to the other books in their series. Good read!