March 26, 2010 41 Comments

Rework – Video Book Review

As a kind of pep talk meets recipe book, Rework (amazon affiliate link) by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson is a pretty decent read. It’s a bunch of advice from their experience running 37Signals, a small software shop based in Chicago (I believe). I found a few ideas that will help my business, and I have a few notes from it that will keep me thinking in the right direction. That said, here’s a video of my thoughts:

Direct link to the video

The book’s worth a read, though you’ll likely pass it on to a friend when you’re done (that’s not a bad thing, but some books are keepers and others are interesting and share-worthy). Here’s more:

People always ask which camera I used to shoot my video. I use the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 (that’s a review of the camera).

Related posts:

  1. Little BIG Things – Tom Peters – Video Book Review
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  3. Linchpin by Seth Godin – Video Book Review
  4. Drive – Video Book Review
  5. Crush It – A Video Book Review

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  • alexasamuels

    Chris, surprised at your tepid review. I really loved Rework and won't be letting it out of my sight soon. Funny how you mentioned the part about meetings – I've read that chapter aloud to a few appreciative ears.

    Wouldn't it be great to hear stories about the impact implementing suggestions from the book has on other people's workplaces….

  • http://www.twitter.com/danieldecker Daniel Decker

    I just finished it myself and enjoyed it. To me, it's like a manifesto for getting stuff done and not having to play by many of the pre-conceived rules of business past. A new world, new ways to get things done and you can succeed by staying lean (small in infrastructure and overhead).

  • David Siteman Garland

    Chris – Nice timing :) I had David on the show this week (via Skype) and we chatted about Rework and the concepts in it. I read it cover to cover and I enjoyed it as it definitely made me think (bad for my complexion, just kidding). I certainly agree with many of their experiences including meetings are toxic, you shouldn't compare to “needle in the haystack” companies like Google and more. I like the random hotel setting, haha.

  • TRImagination

    Hey Chris,

    I found some really great things in that book. Alot of what they have to say in Rework http://tinyurl.com/reworkIt (my aff link on ur blog =P ) is exactly what they've said for years on their blog and in Getting Started.

    We've recently started implementing a couple of the ideas (emulate drug dealers, quick wins and make tiny decision) in our company. This has really helped us focus and get momentum.

    I think overall, anyone that builds a company needs to be passionate about their products and what their company is doing. The stuff that 37signals can't be replicated by everyone, but I think that everyone can grab at least a few things from this book.

    For me personally, I really found “Don't be a hero & Throw less at a problem” really applicable and I'm working on that.

    Cheers!

  • AdrienneC2

    Good Morning Brogan –

    THX for sharing your thoughts on this book. . .

    When the advice of “emulate drug dealers” came up I couldn't help but think of the FREAKONOMICS analysis of why drug dealers still live with their mommas in the projects (because they are the low-level players in pyramid scheme that they are part of).

    Nonetheless, I'm a firm believer that there are lessons for me and my business in many unexpected places. . .

    Additionally, as I tell my kids: if my lesson book is built strictly on the Harvard MBA crowd I'd be running the same tired plays as everyone else (moves as anticipated as a quarterback sack planned against the Patriots during their “fun-with-video-cameras” era!)

  • http://www.workathomeprofiles.com/ greg cryns

    “Meetings are not all they are cracked up to be” – FINALLY someone said it. ;)

    Compared to movie reviews, I get the feeling you are saying to wait for the DVD and not see it in the movie houses.

  • http://twitter.com/chrisgarrett Chris Garrett

    Seems an ideal companion to your big assed hotel room – I enjoy a good, quick pep talk book when traveling – my mind seems more accepting and open to that kind of thing when I am not thinking about “must do today” stuff.

  • Doug

    Anyone reading this on a Kindle? Since Chris said there are a lot of pictures in the book, I wonder how the Kindle experience is.

  • http://noahfleming.com/ Noah Fleming

    The Kindle experience of the book is great. The pictures render very well.

  • Doug

    Thanks!

  • http://noahfleming.com/ Noah Fleming

    FYI I'm also pretty sure they just posted a link to all the drawings on Flickr.

    Enjoy the book. It's a really fun read.

    N

  • http://twitter.com/AJBombers AJ Bombers

    Chris, thanks for the review.
    Definitely some nuggets in this one and and agreed that it's a good share for someone who might be feeling a bit stuck lately as it's a quick read. However, I must point out that the fabulous sketches and illustrations were done by our very own Mike Rohde @rohdesign of Milwaukee, WI. Kudos to the authors and a special thanks to Mike for some fantastic artwork.

  • http://www.mindadventure.com/ rob white

    'Thinking in the right direction' … that's what living successfully is all about, Chris. I like that you use that phrase to encourage others to think like that. The best way to dissolve self-contradictions (when it comes to progressing toward one's aspirations), is to think in that direction. Guess what? Just doing 'that' will attracts all kinds of answers (that you are currently seeking to solve your problems).
    rob mindadventure.com

  • http://inthebellyofthefailwhale.com Rob Gokee

    My favorite part is when you wiped the sleep out of your eye;)

    Thanks for the review, I was looking at this book last week in the Kindle store, and your mention of the book being a “pep talk” might be enough to push me over and buy it.

  • Stephen Nold

    Chris,
    It was all the Hyatt Regency O'Hare that got you the 'ridiculously big' room…I asked them to put you in a closet.

    Thanks for the laughs and advice – everyone is still buzzing about the conference and I have way too many emails praising your presentation. Enjoy the family time.

  • http://felipecerda.com Felipe Cerda

    I'm waiting for this book! I bought it on Amazon about 2 weeks ago and I'm waiting… (in Chile)

  • http://nathanhangen.com/blog Nathan Hangen

    haha, love the thumbnail. Perfect expression :D

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    I enjoy this good and quick pep talk book and my mind seems more accepting and open to that kind of thing when I am not thinking about must do today stuff and i can do well on that day.Good job Chris!

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  • http://ItStartsWith.Us Nate St. Pierre

    If you're done with your copy, you think I could borrow it for a quick read? We'll chat about it at lunch on Tuesday. Now I gotta go look up @rohdesign. :)

  • michaelbigger

    Agreed! It looks great on Kindle. I really enjoyed this book. I deviate with Chris in the sense that I intend to go back to this book often…All these things I have to unlearned from my MBA lessons.

  • Barry Siff

    Chris … nothing to do with the book; but, once again, you have inspired my mind with ideas, after watching such an effective way of doing something like a book review. Learning every day … key.

  • http://mrtunes.ca/blog Elliott Fienberg

    nice review. i'm pretty sure you pronounce it “freed” :)

    anyways i liked the book, i found something that you are alluding to here which is, it kind of lacks a bit of “meat”. the pictures are nice but combined with the layout of the text, you flip through it so fast that you kind of expected to walk away with a lot more concrete info.

    i know that it's not good to make a book that rambles, but for what these guys have accomplished i think they could've added some more detail in their writing, especially since they might have a lot of 1st hand experiences that back up these theories they present.

    lastly, you do the video review thing perfectly – you got the point across quickly and it's over in 2 minutes. people complain that youtube caps off videos at 10 minutes but i personally can't watch many things over 5.

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  • annawoods04

    Rework is a nice one, i liked reading it. In my case its completely different, i like to read books fist rather than waiting for its review. I tried it for few times but when i wait for the review i don't find reading the books that interesting and feel boring because we already know about the thing as its gonna be interesting or boring and at least an overview that how the story is gonna be. Here i liked this book, its awesome,I mean, it's not just that content is great, but it's a bunch of 4-8 paragraph essays so you can pick it up and put it down any time you want. Share that Will you pay such price for improving your business and getting more clients & audience? I did, and it was great deal for me.

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  • http://www.slymarketing.com Jens P. Berget

    Interesting. After watching your review I just added it to my Barnes and Noble wishlist. I've read “Crush it!” and really enjoyed it, so if it's anything like that, I have to read it.

    Thanks.

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    Actually read this one back to back with Crush It in audiobook form. I was really interested going into it, but it seemed to lose steam on the second listen through and lead to a few discussions with my office's animator, who's started his web comic/3D project out of the two books' inspiration. So in that regard, I mark both as successes.

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    Interesting. After watching your review I just added it to my Barnes and Noble wishlist. I've read “Crush it!” and really enjoyed it, so if it's anything like that, I have to read it.

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