The tag line for this book is “How do to more of what matters to you” and it’s focus is on the idea that the secret to productivity is joy and not discipline. The author is YouTuber Dr Ali Abdaal, who is a medical doctor, entrepreneur and productivity expert, and the book reflects his journey from being a self disciplined, self starter to burnout and his journey into studies on productivity that are more wholesome and focused on creating meaning, not just constantly hitting those goals. The book ties in to more recent ideas about challenging the idea that suffering is normal or that working hard constantly is noble, which is a notion that I second.

We open with Abdaal telling us his story of finding himself graduated from med school and on the ER ward, and just struggling to keep his head above water. His response is to get super focused, work harder and try to be more productive, which has always worked for him before, but this time something is different. The harder he pushes himself, the less well he does and the more burnt out he feels, so he went back to the drawing board, and he started to find evidence that made him realise that being present, bringing a little joy and passion to his work again was the key thing. And he also found that the research shows that finding your joy in any situation or work is the true way to be productive.

This one is a pretty quick read really. It has big font, illustrations and diagrams, lots of headings and little sections, which serve to make the book one that you can make little short forays into and then go away and think about or apply. It makes for a pleasant read. It’s broken into three sections: energise, unblock and sustain, with each focusing on these aspects of productivity. The book also has little personal experiments that you can try and see which works for you. (These last were not present in the ARC of this book, so I cannot comment on them but I do like the inclusion of these in the book) The idea is to give you not just the evidence of the ideas presented but also a toolkit for moving forward and changing your own approach.

The idea that joy or good feeling is more motivating than criticism or bad feeling is not new. I remember Jack Canfield and Julia Cameron of The Artist’s Way, as two examples, talking about this decades ago, but I think this understanding is starting to gain traction with a burnt out populace, and in that sense, I think this is a good book. If you haven’t read deeply into books on productivity and personal growth before, then this book is a great, concise introduction to these ideas and as the author is referencing others, you can find new directions to go in here, if you want to read more.

If this subject is not new to you, if you’ve read other books on self help, psychology or motivation, I think there may not be anything new here for you, and that’s the downside of this book. The writing is good and the points are well made, but the whole can feel like pop psych 101 if this isn’t new ground for you. If you read this subject matter a lot, this isn’t for you. But I think this is a valuable set of ideas that the author is bringing forward, and if you were brought up to be strict with yourself rather than nurturing or if you’re looking for an entry into the subject, this is a great start.

Personally, in my own life, I bring a sense of play and fun wherever I can and it makes all the difference. I am lit up by what I do, and it keeps me motivated and on track in life, hitting my goals. I know that optimism helps you heal faster and see opportunities and solutions, so this book was one where I was nodding along with the author a lot as I was reading.

Read It If: the subject is new to you and you want to learn better ways to be on track and stay motivated and productive. For those who read on the subject already, this one may be too entry level for you.

With thanks to Celadon for the copy of this book for review.

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