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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
I think 2.5 stars. I didn't like it as much as The Power of Habit, and it seemed strangely organized to me. But I was interested in the parts about focus and creating mental maps.
Overall, a semi-organized book of too many half-given tips.
The book felt reminiscent of reading a buzz-feed article.
20 ways to improve productivity!
Follow with a slide of random pictures that make you feel productive but in reality you've wasted another 10 minutes looking at another slide show that isn't going to cause any real change.
I don't mean to be scathing, this book just didn't do it for me.
It gets two stars because the stories were interesting.
The book felt reminiscent of reading a buzz-feed article.
20 ways to improve productivity!
Follow with a slide of random pictures that make you feel productive but in reality you've wasted another 10 minutes looking at another slide show that isn't going to cause any real change.
I don't mean to be scathing, this book just didn't do it for me.
It gets two stars because the stories were interesting.
Interesting anecdotes, backstories, and information. This is a book I need to go back to review and process my notes/highlights on though ... because I made a lot of them. Great information on the processes and ideas that it takes to make yourself "better".
I actually quit listening to this book half way through. Besides another book that I wanted to read coming in, I had lost interest after the first four chapters.
Happy I read it, also taking notes this time. Duhigg knows how to mix together science and anecdotes (The Power of Habit is still my favourite in the genre) I got a lot of ideas for productivity from it, key things I remember:
*psychological safety matters most in a productive group
*having an opportunity to make choices strengthens locus of control, fosters motivation
*you have to interact with data yourself to make it meaningful
Would recommend to anyone, it's not very long and the stories are interesting.
PS! If you are one of the two people besides me who haven't seen Frozen then don't despair, the film will be thoroughly spoiled in the book :D
*psychological safety matters most in a productive group
*having an opportunity to make choices strengthens locus of control, fosters motivation
*you have to interact with data yourself to make it meaningful
Would recommend to anyone, it's not very long and the stories are interesting.
PS! If you are one of the two people besides me who haven't seen Frozen then don't despair, the film will be thoroughly spoiled in the book :D
There were a few chapters that I found really interesting and educational, the appendix is great and helpful. That said there's a bunch of chapters that just didn't really feel like they helped me learn anything. Oddly enough I feel like if you read the Elena Ferrante Neapolitan Novels you'll learn many of the same insights on creativity there. I think maybe I need to read his first book instead, or maybe the Checklist Manifesto, to get a book that's more instructive.
Entertaining audiobook to listen to on a long drive, but didn't really get any new information out of this. 90% of the examples cited were case studies I've come across before, and any actionable advice is buried within the examples. I enjoyed it, but I don't feel like I learned anything new, or will feel the need to return to this book.
I read Duhigg's previous book, The Power of Habit, and found it fresh and thought-provoking. I expected more of the same from this one.
Unfortunately, this feels a lot more like a retread of some b-school case studies. Toyota's factory successes, Annie Duke's poker strategies, GE's smart goals, data-driven but hands-on education reforms... most of these are fairly well-known stories. The only major examples that were unfamiliar to me were the conflicting airplane emergency stories (one that crashed horrifically for no good reason, and one that one that landed miraculously despite mechanical failures). But they are used to illustrate the importance of mental modeling and avoiding tunnel vision, which are hardly new concepts.
All in all, some helpful reminders and good examples, but for anyone who's done any reading about corporate culture and experimental business models, there's not much to get excited about.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, this feels a lot more like a retread of some b-school case studies. Toyota's factory successes, Annie Duke's poker strategies, GE's smart goals, data-driven but hands-on education reforms... most of these are fairly well-known stories. The only major examples that were unfamiliar to me were the conflicting airplane emergency stories (one that crashed horrifically for no good reason, and one that one that landed miraculously despite mechanical failures). But they are used to illustrate the importance of mental modeling and avoiding tunnel vision, which are hardly new concepts.
All in all, some helpful reminders and good examples, but for anyone who's done any reading about corporate culture and experimental business models, there's not much to get excited about.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.