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rsr143's review
4.0
A collection of short (very short) aphorisms/essays on the culture behind Basecamp, the collaboration software company. It's a unique company, small (50-ish people), private (never taken VC funding, though Bezos is an investor) and has a remarkable focus on work/life balance. It's an easy to read and thought-provoking books, pushing against the #HUSTLE mentality of the tech work world. Reading this book might just inspire you to focus on quality over quantity, leave work on time and not stress so much about "big" decisions (are they really big anyway?).
allysonwbrunette's review
3.0
This was our work book club fall read. (Yes, I started a book club at work because I took a DNA test and turns out, I’m 100% that nerd). It’s a small group and it’s a new venture, but we get together once per quarter and read a book about work life balance, work efficiency or leadership. I’m hoping that it can spur conversation on organizational culture changes and encourage better practices. This book is written by one of Basecamp’s founders, Jason Fried, and highlights in an easy to read format the beliefs at the core of their organization. It basically knocks the “hustle and grind” mentality to the ground and applauds organizations (like Basecamp) that are intentional in creating a culture of ‘calm’. Their organization advocates for fewer distractions (like not leaving email or chat open at all times), encouraging people to say no, giving generous amounts of time off, endorsing employee health and wellbeing by paying for CSA shares and not having pointless meetings or ever having meetings in groups larger than three people. Many of the points of this book would be difficult to apply to working in the public sector, but it was refreshing to see that segments of the private sector are prioritizing their employees’ mental health and wellbeing.
poyzinivy's review
2.0
this is a "look at how great we are" and "we're not like other tech companies" book.
gordin's review
4.0
It's a valuable book that has some very good ideas, but seemed too superficial to me.
Some of its concepts ask for more theoretical development — like how venture capital and IPOs drive the culture to "craziness" and how can it be tackled at source.
In other places I missed more detailed examples of how these approaches are applied to messy real-life situations (there were some, but very few).
Still, it's a good book and it's coming from a very good place. Highly recommended to anyone who's into "business literature" or runs companies and teams!
Some of its concepts ask for more theoretical development — like how venture capital and IPOs drive the culture to "craziness" and how can it be tackled at source.
In other places I missed more detailed examples of how these approaches are applied to messy real-life situations (there were some, but very few).
Still, it's a good book and it's coming from a very good place. Highly recommended to anyone who's into "business literature" or runs companies and teams!
aspittel's review
4.0
I really like how committed the authors are to their ethical code. It's really awesome to see.
That being said, this feels really hype-based. I'd love to see more from their employees, especially ones who have left the company.
I also don't agree with all their standpoints, in fact their low-level of communication would leave me feeling isolated and unhappy most likely as an extrovert.
I love how they feature their values and care so much about their employees, but I wish the book went deeper into who their company doesn't work for, because I imagine that's a lot of people.
That being said, this feels really hype-based. I'd love to see more from their employees, especially ones who have left the company.
I also don't agree with all their standpoints, in fact their low-level of communication would leave me feeling isolated and unhappy most likely as an extrovert.
I love how they feature their values and care so much about their employees, but I wish the book went deeper into who their company doesn't work for, because I imagine that's a lot of people.
trib's review
5.0
Once more, Jason Fried and DHH drop a bucket of truth on the way too many of us spend our workdays - frantic, fraught, and overloaded.
They offer instead a view about how their company operates, and how you can shift the way your organisation works in order to achieve the "calm company" state they have espoused for many years.
Whether you read this to reassure yourself you're doing the right thing (or moving toward it), or as a wakeup call to yourself and your colleagues that the insanity of bad management, overwork, and toxic culture are going to inevitably bring you to your knees, it's probably the most important business book of 2018.
They offer instead a view about how their company operates, and how you can shift the way your organisation works in order to achieve the "calm company" state they have espoused for many years.
Whether you read this to reassure yourself you're doing the right thing (or moving toward it), or as a wakeup call to yourself and your colleagues that the insanity of bad management, overwork, and toxic culture are going to inevitably bring you to your knees, it's probably the most important business book of 2018.
sarahareinhard's review
4.0
Refreshing read in the space of business books that offer "secrets" to success that really aren't secret and aren't successful. Instead of that, you get a dose of what seems like common sense, respect for people, things you WANT to do, and advocating for the calm. What's not to love?