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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
A book that made me think at times, resonated at times, challenged my beliefs at times and other times made me just go through.
Some very powerful thoughts that resonated, clicked, made me pause and reflect.
Am glad I read it. One big thing missing is naval refers to failures but author never mentions his even in passing .
I would love to re read portions of this book.
Some hard truths said as they are .
Go for it .
Some very powerful thoughts that resonated, clicked, made me pause and reflect.
Am glad I read it. One big thing missing is naval refers to failures but author never mentions his even in passing .
I would love to re read portions of this book.
Some hard truths said as they are .
Go for it .
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I was stuck halfway for a long time, finally decided to finish this one.
Not bad but not great either.
I was confused between 2 or 3 stars. Giving 3 stars for the effort it must have taken to combine the information available on various platforms by Naval.
The book won’t teach you much, but will remind you of the things you already know and should be reminded of. One up side is you get book recommendations at the end of the book.
Not bad but not great either.
I was confused between 2 or 3 stars. Giving 3 stars for the effort it must have taken to combine the information available on various platforms by Naval.
The book won’t teach you much, but will remind you of the things you already know and should be reminded of. One up side is you get book recommendations at the end of the book.
informative
medium-paced
Unoriginal. Same as every other “self-help” book on how to be a success and get rich. Super western, capitalist take, but I have a feeling the author thinks he’s still different/better than that because of his immigrant background. Overall nothing new learned and super redundant. Any other book in this genre would give you the same info.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Source material for improvement
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
It's for the heart and mind. I often find myself coming back to Naval's wisdom.
inspiring
medium-paced
When it comes to self-help books, I'm always cautious about picking one. I choose one only when there is a specific purpose or need to read about the subject it covers. Another reason to pick a self-help book is if I believe it stands out from the rest and doesn’t simply repackage known wisdom in a new wrapper.
The Almanac met both criteria. Another factor that strongly worked in its favor was: Naval Ravikant- the persona. After listening to his podcasts and reading about him, I found his perspectives to be unconventional, which resonated with me.
The Good:
True to his reputation and my expectations, Naval didn’t disappoint in the first part of the book, titled Wealth.
This section is filled with nuggets of wisdom on wealth-building, running businesses, developing a personal brand, and much more—valuable insights for those looking to improve their career and financial outlook.
Some key highlights:
1. Specific Knowledge – Develop a skill set that is unique to you. Someone will hire you to achieve something significant with your expertise, and you’ll be part of something bigger.
2. The Art of Leveraging – Naval explains three types of leverage to build wealth, but the most impactful is through code and media, which allows you to make money even while you sleep. Read on to learn more.
3. Play Long-Term Games – Be part of businesses that focus on long-term value.
4. Reputation is Your Personal Brand – Build accountability, develop good judgment, and get paid for these qualities.
5. What It Really Means to Be Lucky – A fresh perspective on luck and "being lucky".
6. Some Familiar Ideas – Topics like focus and making work feel like play are covered, but these aren’t new to readers familiar with self-help books.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
This mostly lies in the second part of the book, titled Happiness.
Naval Ravikant makes certain recommendations on food and diet. At one point, he advised avoiding everything invented in the last 200 years. I doubt if it's possible for himself to follow this, given where he lives and the privileges he enjoys.
Another instance is when he says something to the effect of: "Remember, I’m just a poor boy from India with humble beginnings... If I can do it, anybody can." I understand the intent to inspire, but this feels like an overused script, doesn’t it? It may resonate well with Western readers who have a limited understanding of poverty in India. However, as an Indian reader, I found it questionable. A child whose parents separate and who moves with their mother to the USA still has certain advantages that many "poor" people here do not. (Of course, we only know a fraction of anyone’s life from the public domain, and I’ll be happy to be proven wrong here. If so, due apologies to Mr. Naval Ravikant.)
In the Wealth section (and parts of Happiness), Naval presents himself as a rationalist. However, he eventually resorts to the cliché: "I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual." Spirituality often leaves room for irrationality. While I agree with his advocacy for yoga and meditation—both of which have proven benefits—I would have preferred if he framed them as tools for mental health and well-being rather than labeling them as “spirituality.”
The Best Takeaway:
The biggest and best part of the book for me was the bonus section, where Naval recommends books to read. These are excellent selections, and I’ve added many of them to my TBR list.
Final Thoughts:
Ultimately, The Almanac served its purpose. I gained valuable insights that I plan to implement in my professional life.
A big thank you to Eric Jorgenson for his painstaking efforts in compiling this wealth of knowledge, and to Mr. Naval Ravikant for his selfless gesture of making this book freely available online.
The Almanac met both criteria. Another factor that strongly worked in its favor was: Naval Ravikant- the persona. After listening to his podcasts and reading about him, I found his perspectives to be unconventional, which resonated with me.
The Good:
True to his reputation and my expectations, Naval didn’t disappoint in the first part of the book, titled Wealth.
This section is filled with nuggets of wisdom on wealth-building, running businesses, developing a personal brand, and much more—valuable insights for those looking to improve their career and financial outlook.
Some key highlights:
1. Specific Knowledge – Develop a skill set that is unique to you. Someone will hire you to achieve something significant with your expertise, and you’ll be part of something bigger.
2. The Art of Leveraging – Naval explains three types of leverage to build wealth, but the most impactful is through code and media, which allows you to make money even while you sleep. Read on to learn more.
3. Play Long-Term Games – Be part of businesses that focus on long-term value.
4. Reputation is Your Personal Brand – Build accountability, develop good judgment, and get paid for these qualities.
5. What It Really Means to Be Lucky – A fresh perspective on luck and "being lucky".
6. Some Familiar Ideas – Topics like focus and making work feel like play are covered, but these aren’t new to readers familiar with self-help books.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
This mostly lies in the second part of the book, titled Happiness.
Naval Ravikant makes certain recommendations on food and diet. At one point, he advised avoiding everything invented in the last 200 years. I doubt if it's possible for himself to follow this, given where he lives and the privileges he enjoys.
Another instance is when he says something to the effect of: "Remember, I’m just a poor boy from India with humble beginnings... If I can do it, anybody can." I understand the intent to inspire, but this feels like an overused script, doesn’t it? It may resonate well with Western readers who have a limited understanding of poverty in India. However, as an Indian reader, I found it questionable. A child whose parents separate and who moves with their mother to the USA still has certain advantages that many "poor" people here do not. (Of course, we only know a fraction of anyone’s life from the public domain, and I’ll be happy to be proven wrong here. If so, due apologies to Mr. Naval Ravikant.)
In the Wealth section (and parts of Happiness), Naval presents himself as a rationalist. However, he eventually resorts to the cliché: "I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual." Spirituality often leaves room for irrationality. While I agree with his advocacy for yoga and meditation—both of which have proven benefits—I would have preferred if he framed them as tools for mental health and well-being rather than labeling them as “spirituality.”
The Best Takeaway:
The biggest and best part of the book for me was the bonus section, where Naval recommends books to read. These are excellent selections, and I’ve added many of them to my TBR list.
Final Thoughts:
Ultimately, The Almanac served its purpose. I gained valuable insights that I plan to implement in my professional life.
A big thank you to Eric Jorgenson for his painstaking efforts in compiling this wealth of knowledge, and to Mr. Naval Ravikant for his selfless gesture of making this book freely available online.
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
It is general advices you hear at your indian household. I asked my bookstore guy to suggest me something psychological/philosophical which i can start reading. Turns out it have some good advice but many times it sounds too much like those small short video on social media which doesn't come with action plans.