caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
Good advice about balance and moderation that could have been conveyed in a long magazine article. Yet again, meditation is recommended as a way to stay sane...
piabo's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
So this book is good! It is very basic: we all know information in here: we all know that productivity and happiness at work will be higher if we take care of ourselves first.
This book just brings it all together with a bit of background information. I think books like this are great, and I think generally everyone who reads this does not lose anything, but rather gains a new perspective on their work and possibly motivation to change.
In short: sleep, move, eat, take breaks, reflect, and have integrity.
What I don't love about this book is how sometimes correlation is mistaken with causation. For example, it will say that people who sleep more are better leaders. I think the casual connection is logical, we all think that more sleep is beneficial. But this is a purely observational result and was not tested in a casual effect (RCT study!) and it gets more problematic when it comes to statements on eating habits, movement, or mental health practices.
Of course, the author might have better casual evidence and just not used it in text. There are a lot of sources at the end of the book! But all of them are further books, rather than peer-reviewed studies. So it is hard to check.
I know I have high standards for this book. My classmate is praising it so much, that I thought it will be perfect. But hey, I am still giving it 4 stars! It is good.
Another thing I did not love, is the general assumption. But to be fair, the premise of the book is pretty clear, I should not have picked this book up, if I did not want to hear about productivity and high-achievers only.
I just wonder where are consideration of privilege? What about people who can not easily make changes to their own habits or the company because of external factors. E.g. a lack of money, lack of influence due to belonging to a marginalized community. Why would the author not talk about sexual, racial, ableist discrimination at the work place and how that affects productivity and mental health. Why do we assume that people have nothing else going on in their lives but work and maybe family?
Again, there was more potential to this book.
This book just brings it all together with a bit of background information. I think books like this are great, and I think generally everyone who reads this does not lose anything, but rather gains a new perspective on their work and possibly motivation to change.
In short: sleep, move, eat, take breaks, reflect, and have integrity.
What I don't love about this book is how sometimes correlation is mistaken with causation. For example, it will say that people who sleep more are better leaders. I think the casual connection is logical, we all think that more sleep is beneficial. But this is a purely observational result and was not tested in a casual effect (RCT study!) and it gets more problematic when it comes to statements on eating habits, movement, or mental health practices.
Of course, the author might have better casual evidence and just not used it in text. There are a lot of sources at the end of the book! But all of them are further books, rather than peer-reviewed studies. So it is hard to check.
I know I have high standards for this book. My classmate is praising it so much, that I thought it will be perfect. But hey, I am still giving it 4 stars! It is good.
Another thing I did not love, is the general assumption. But to be fair, the premise of the book is pretty clear, I should not have picked this book up, if I did not want to hear about productivity and high-achievers only.
I just wonder where are consideration of privilege? What about people who can not easily make changes to their own habits or the company because of external factors. E.g. a lack of money, lack of influence due to belonging to a marginalized community. Why would the author not talk about sexual, racial, ableist discrimination at the work place and how that affects productivity and mental health. Why do we assume that people have nothing else going on in their lives but work and maybe family?
Again, there was more potential to this book.
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
3.0
I think my review should be taken with the caveat that I'm already very familiar with mindfulness, having learned about it in my personal life and brought it to work with me. I've also read lots of Daniel Pink's work on motivation. As a result, I didn't find much new or groundbreaking in this book. It was more of a summary of what I already try to do.
That said, there were some very good tidbits to put to work, like going out of my way to help my coworkers feel secure. And I could see it being completely revolutionary to business book readers who are less well-versed with the touchy-feely-softer stuff than I am.
I also really appreciated the summary of Big Ideas at the end as helpful refreshers that are easy to share.
Overall, a worthwhile read, and I think my rating would have been much higher three years ago.
That said, there were some very good tidbits to put to work, like going out of my way to help my coworkers feel secure. And I could see it being completely revolutionary to business book readers who are less well-versed with the touchy-feely-softer stuff than I am.
I also really appreciated the summary of Big Ideas at the end as helpful refreshers that are easy to share.
Overall, a worthwhile read, and I think my rating would have been much higher three years ago.
go_jan's review
4.0
This book gives great insight into what changes to everyday life can greatly improve work efficiency; the main one being taking time to renew your energy. Some of the ideas might be considered obvious, others counter-intuitive, but reading the anecdotes describing how such changes were implemented by companies and individuals is really inspiring.
I would suggest reading this book for your own benefit, then giving it to your manager to read and keep passing up the management ladder to improve the organisation as a whole.
I would suggest reading this book for your own benefit, then giving it to your manager to read and keep passing up the management ladder to improve the organisation as a whole.
essoen's review against another edition
3.0
Gave a lot of great insights, but for me it could've had less anecdotes and success stories, although I understand that it's there to convince people that the way we're working isn't working.
raviwarrier's review against another edition
3.0
"Take care of your body", "Eat, sleep, exercise and...", and there you've finished reading the book. I am disappointed because I went in thinking it was a "book of secrets" for working or managing better, but got a health coach on the other side instead.
Most might like it, but I didn't. The book's good and tips and guidance are great. It's just not for me (yet).
Most might like it, but I didn't. The book's good and tips and guidance are great. It's just not for me (yet).
wesbaker's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic book worth reading at least once—if not a few more times after that. Everyone can learn something from this book, whether it's learning how to use your emotions at work or figure out how to make yourself a bit more productive through rituals.
farbooksventure's review
4.0
In Be Excellent At Anything, Tony Schwartz along with Jean Gomes & Catherine McCarthy points out the flaw in our way of working. In this era of high demand, people often work like a machine until they absolutely burn out (physically and emotionally). This book argues about how people are not designed to work at high speeds, continuously, for long periods of time. Instead, people are designed to spending energy and renewing energy constantly in a span of the day. A concept that often forgets by most.
Formerly known as The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working this book describes the importance of fulfilment of four key sources of energy (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) in everyday life. The book also emphasizes how renewing energy constantly will make our effort in work are much effective than before. This book indeed offers a very interesting insight for me about how to utilize my energy optimally when working.
If you still not sure about what resolution to make this year, I think reading this can give you some ideas about what resolution to make for better a personal and work life (In my case, I decided to fix the chaos that is my sleeping schedule after reading this).
I also write an Indonesian review of this book in my blog
Also found Farah on Blogger | Instagram
Formerly known as The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working this book describes the importance of fulfilment of four key sources of energy (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) in everyday life. The book also emphasizes how renewing energy constantly will make our effort in work are much effective than before. This book indeed offers a very interesting insight for me about how to utilize my energy optimally when working.
If you still not sure about what resolution to make this year, I think reading this can give you some ideas about what resolution to make for better a personal and work life (In my case, I decided to fix the chaos that is my sleeping schedule after reading this).
I also write an Indonesian review of this book in my blog
Also found Farah on Blogger | Instagram
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