Reviews

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin

thomas_v's review against another edition

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3.25

No ground breaking ideas in this one. The whole message here is to realize you possess unique gifts, and to share those in a world that no longer relies on menial labor, but requires art from linchpins. 

hallie07's review

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reflective slow-paced

3.0

nimzimma's review against another edition

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informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Interesting ideas about the importance of creativity and empathy in making someone indispensable. Also how to manage a project, e.g. thrashing early and making sure you ship.

theincrediblesulk's review against another edition

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4.0

I think my favourite thing about the book was how positively self-affirming it is. Its very easy to read, and perhaps easier to miss the point entirely. Its not going to teach you to become a linchpin, but the idea is more to shape your perspective in a way that makes you realize what YOU could be doing better, or how to become indispensable in your own way. In the end, its more a method of broadening your world view, than a DIY or self help.

The effort you put in to actually bring about change after reading this book is what will make it useful, and you indispensable. You can read it and forget its contents, or you can keep investing yourself and see where it takes you.

ciaomara's review against another edition

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3.0

The central argument can be boiled down to “the more you act like a robot at work, the easier you make it for them to replace you with a robot.”

As compelling as this is, it needs a clearer structure, more than anecdotal evidence, and a greater understanding of the fact that the playing field is never level.

narulakartik's review against another edition

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4.0

Adds to the Adam Grant's Give and Take that the givers outcast takers and matchers. Give more in everything you do-in your job, in your interactions. Everything is an art, create and find new and better ways of doing whatever you do, starting from the smallest of your tasks. And if you do that, you will become indispensable, terribly hard to replace in your organization.

akmargie's review against another edition

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3.0

So Seth...I understand by using terms like lizard brain and the resistance you want to take complex concepts and simplify them to be understood easier. But you realize that I just kept thinking about Terminator and zoo animals.
Good ideas but also rather too simplified. It's a call to action that doesn't outline much action. It also borders on self-help at times and comes off preachy. I also feel like even though this was written 2010, there was alot that I already knew.

mantaq10's review against another edition

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4.0

One of the better books by Godin. Still based on an elemental notion, this time on Linchpins and why to become one. Too bad there is no clear map for being one, which the author also articulated. Examples are timely and precise and the entire notion of being indispensable as compared to being a comoditty forms the crux of the book.

darthing's review against another edition

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1.0

Nice idea .. But only read the first 100 pages .. The remaining 136 pages were rambling and kind of a waste of time .. For me, at least, because I ended up skimming through them ..

johannrichard's review against another edition

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4.0

There's quite a number of takeaways from this book. As others pointed out, the idea of “shipping” is probably the most actionable one. Equally insightful, however, is the link he makes to “The Dip” and the importance of knowing when to quit. I would even go as far as to say “The Dip” is an extra chapter fitting in where Seth Godin mentions it the first time.

What's maybe a little bit disturbing (at least for the Introverts among the readers) is Seth Godin's strong focus on “Linchpins must be extraverts.” that can be felt here and there. My take on that, however, is that it's not actually “Extraversion” as such, but the capability of connecting to people. Something Introverts can excel at as well; alas, in slightly different but as effective ways than Extraverts.

Like all great books, “Linchpin” asks more questions than it provides answers. And if there are answers, they're not easy ones.