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shanzberg's review against another edition
2.0
ugh. i wanted to like this and get something out of it, but it was not great. i was expected research-based, anecdotes, etc., and instead, it was seth godin's ramblings about art and giving it away and blah blah blah. it also struck me as having a very upper-middle class/affluent edge, even though he did try to make the case that even janitors can be linchpins. the sentiment is nice, but it's not reality. clunky at times, there were some interesting ideas, but i think this was also written for an older generation. a lot of the ideas struck me as what my generation has been trained to think about, but always good reminders. disappointing read, with some good tidbits.
jdintr's review against another edition
3.0
This was a frustrating but ultimately rewarding book for me.
Godin's shtick is re-imagining business-ese, the "lynchpin" (TM) in the title is an example of his approach. The challenge, comes, though, in chapters where monikers add to monikers and the reader can't follow Godin's argument--if there ever is one.
For example, the chapter "Becoming the Linchipin" seems to have a pretty forthright aim: leading the reader to build the skills that the book is about. Yet Godin hops around from anecdote to anecdote, moniker to moniker, and completely loses the point. To "linchpin" he adds terms like "emotional labor," and "leverage," which of course leads to "linchpin leverage" (TM) and continues on to a trichotomy (?) of the terms fearless, reckless and feckless.
Every blog-sized anecdote unwinds counter-intuitive observations, but they pile upon each other so much that the point is lost. I found myself underlining key ideas, then immediately realizing how ridiculous they were, as on page 53, when, after underlining, "it's the art and the insight and the bravery of value creation that are rewarded," I wrote in the margin, "BS, but looks so good on the page."
Of course, anyone who has five or more years of real-world experience knows that "linchpins" are appreciated, at times, but they are never valued and seldom, if ever, rewarded. At some point, most "linchpins" realize they are nothing more than cogs--often after they ask for higher pay or more responsibility in the organization. Perhaps Godin's book could be given along with a Timex watch as a going away present for those who have learned just how "indispensable" they actually were.
With that said, I did find actionable ideas from Godin's book, and I feel that--while it won't help me in my full-time job one whit--it did encourage me to pursue freelance projects that might eventually produce the rewards that being indispensable in any organization will not.
That's why I'm sticking with three stars for this uneven book.
Godin's shtick is re-imagining business-ese, the "lynchpin" (TM) in the title is an example of his approach. The challenge, comes, though, in chapters where monikers add to monikers and the reader can't follow Godin's argument--if there ever is one.
For example, the chapter "Becoming the Linchipin" seems to have a pretty forthright aim: leading the reader to build the skills that the book is about. Yet Godin hops around from anecdote to anecdote, moniker to moniker, and completely loses the point. To "linchpin" he adds terms like "emotional labor," and "leverage," which of course leads to "linchpin leverage" (TM) and continues on to a trichotomy (?) of the terms fearless, reckless and feckless.
Every blog-sized anecdote unwinds counter-intuitive observations, but they pile upon each other so much that the point is lost. I found myself underlining key ideas, then immediately realizing how ridiculous they were, as on page 53, when, after underlining, "it's the art and the insight and the bravery of value creation that are rewarded," I wrote in the margin, "BS, but looks so good on the page."
Of course, anyone who has five or more years of real-world experience knows that "linchpins" are appreciated, at times, but they are never valued and seldom, if ever, rewarded. At some point, most "linchpins" realize they are nothing more than cogs--often after they ask for higher pay or more responsibility in the organization. Perhaps Godin's book could be given along with a Timex watch as a going away present for those who have learned just how "indispensable" they actually were.
With that said, I did find actionable ideas from Godin's book, and I feel that--while it won't help me in my full-time job one whit--it did encourage me to pursue freelance projects that might eventually produce the rewards that being indispensable in any organization will not.
That's why I'm sticking with three stars for this uneven book.
naida_'s review against another edition
5.0
What I wouldn't say about this book is that it's "well written". It's often repetitive, the structure was on occasion difficult to grasp, and more than once I wished I had an outline to remind myself which section I was on.
Still, in my opinion it deserves five stars (or even more) simply because of the importance of the message it's conveying. Reading it made me think about a lot of people and their potential (including myself), and that's reason enough to believe the author is onto something.
Still, in my opinion it deserves five stars (or even more) simply because of the importance of the message it's conveying. Reading it made me think about a lot of people and their potential (including myself), and that's reason enough to believe the author is onto something.
deeparcher's review against another edition
5.0
Read this book. Yes, you. Make arrangements right now to borrow, buy or just read the entire thing huddled up in the bookstore. You owe it to yourself and everyone else to read this one.
qkjgrubb's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first Seth Godin book and it will not be my last. I can certainly see why he is so popular. I agree with most of his points and left the book very excited about my own decisions to do my art and change the world, giving generously and conquering the lizard brain. Toward the end, it seems he got a little repetitive and in some cases his anecdotes and his points were a bit of a incongruous match, but that's easy to forgive because of his passion. I can't wait to go back through it. I read a copy from my local library and made a pencil mark in the margin every where I found a good quote to use. I promise I'll erase it when I'm done.
drewhawkins's review against another edition
4.0
Seth Godin is a great read almost anytime. Advice on how to not become an "interchangeable part" at work.
moniponijabloni's review against another edition
2.0
This is my second Seth Godin book and I continue to be disappointed.
I bought this book because I agree with its message and I wanted to get some insight on *how* one becomes a truly indispensable person.
What I got was a collection of affirmations, basically. Very nice and all, but with little to no substance.
Read this it you have a very traditional mindset and want to change it. Don't read this if you already agree with the message and want something valuable.
I bought this book because I agree with its message and I wanted to get some insight on *how* one becomes a truly indispensable person.
What I got was a collection of affirmations, basically. Very nice and all, but with little to no substance.
Read this it you have a very traditional mindset and want to change it. Don't read this if you already agree with the message and want something valuable.
davemmett's review against another edition
5.0
This book is definitely one of the best I've read this year. I really enjoy Seth's perspective that anyone can be an artist if they give generously to others, and pave their own way in the world instead of just following the map that's been laid before them. I'm not particularly interested in being an 'artist' in the traditional definition, but using Seth's definition, it's the sort of thing all of us aspire to; to help others, to be memorable, to make a difference in the world.
If nothing else, I'd recommend reading the chapter called "The Resistance", which is about the half-metaphor, half-science concept of the lizard brain - the part of our brain that tells us we can't be remarkable, that wants us to blend into the crowd, and wants us to be safe. I'm finding that now whenever I say to myself that I shouldn't do something because it might be difficult or put myself out there, I'm calling out the lizard brain in my head and then going for it. Or at least, I'm doing a few more things that I might have otherwise not done.
If nothing else, I'd recommend reading the chapter called "The Resistance", which is about the half-metaphor, half-science concept of the lizard brain - the part of our brain that tells us we can't be remarkable, that wants us to blend into the crowd, and wants us to be safe. I'm finding that now whenever I say to myself that I shouldn't do something because it might be difficult or put myself out there, I'm calling out the lizard brain in my head and then going for it. Or at least, I'm doing a few more things that I might have otherwise not done.