TL

The worst kind of idea book

Revisado: 03-11-24

I like Cal Newport so it pains me to write this, but he has produced one of my least enjoyed types of self development books: those obsessed with presenting their ideas in the form of myriad historical anecdotes and biographies about people who extolled the particular virtue being expressed by the author. There’s the presumption that there’s significant overlap between wanting to integrate an idea or framework into one’s life and hearing about, in painful detail, the lives other people who’ve used that framework. It’s like an attempt to mix the self development genre with historical nonfiction. I found this approach incredibly boring and pretentious. What’s worse, is that it came off as filler rather than valuable exposition.

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"You'll never be as good as them." -Jack Schwager

Revisado: 07-13-22

I absolutely despise when authors feel the need to tell you that you will never measure up to "person X." "Face it, pal, they're just better than you, they are more than you, and they always will be." I didn't buy your book for your assessments of who I am, and what I'm capable of. You don't even know me. Don't tell me what I can't do and what I can't be.

If you feel you'll never be as good as these men, or that these men are superior to you, and you are inferior to them, so be it. Knock yourself out. But don't put your weak, defeatist reality on me.

I'll NEVER buy another one of this guy's books.

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The power of this book is IMMENSE. One of a kind.

Revisado: 01-23-21

I own a ton of self-development books and books on performance. I can honestly say that this is the most powerful and moving among them. After picking my jaw up off the floor multiple times, I stopped listening and came here to write this review. This book in powerful in ways that have to be experienced firsthand, and it is amazing to get the feeling that the mind behind this book, has lived and practiced its contents to be able to write such a compelling and powerful guide as this one. Some books are meant to be read and appreciated. Others are meant to be lived. If you're the kind of person who realizes that there is more within you, a higher version of yourself, more potential that has thus far gone untapped, this is the right book. Thankfully it is not -- at all -- about "rah rah" platitudes or empty motivational boilerplate. It's a deep, thoughtful look at what superior performance is and how to live it. I was on the fence about whether to buy yet another book on performance, and I'm glad I did. This is a book that forces you to grow, expand, improve, and to think differently. Who knew that the self-development genre still had space within it for innovation and powerful and enlightening perspectives?

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The narration of this book is UNBEARABLE.

Revisado: 07-06-20

I don't know why this guy made the decision to talk as though he was a radio announcer from the 1950's doing a breakfast cereal commercial, but it RUINS the book. Utterly ruins it. I can't even make it past the narration to really get into the content. And shame on those around him for not sitting him down and letting him know that his cadence was terrible.

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Truisms sprinkled amidst filler

Revisado: 01-21-16

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

People who aren't particularly worried about their time and don't mind long, meandering, tangentially relevant anecdotes while trying to glean real value.

What could Shane Snow have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

There's just not enough usable content here. Having listened to several audiobooks recently, I see a disturbing trend requiring authors to pad their books, perhaps to meet some arbitrary length requirement at the behest of publishers. The anecdotes might be necessary if the concepts he was trying get across were complex or needed clarification through example, but they don't. The book should've been an hour in length, if that, based on the amount of actionable information in the book.

Which scene was your favorite?

No favorites.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Smartcuts?

All the unnecessary (and somewhat uninteresting) tales of surfers, and singers, and freedom fighters, might have been all right in a different book, but I was left wondering why they're here. Again, the concepts the book offers are straightforward. Would you need to hear a 15-20 minute tale of someone looking both ways before crossing the street, before buying into the notion that looking both ways before crossing is a good idea?

Any additional comments?

This book's poor signal to noise ratio makes it impossible to recommend.

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Avoid this book like the plague.

Revisado: 03-13-14

Would you try another book from Grant Cardone and/or Grant Cardone?

Absolutely not.

What was most disappointing about Grant Cardone’s story?

The book was a collection of empty platitudes. It became clear to me that this man was not interested in helping anyone, he was interested in writing a book and turning a profit. The emptiness of the philosophies and concepts therein is a testament to that. This book is nothing if not a collection of worthless and oversimplified ideas.

Would you be willing to try another one of Grant Cardone’s performances?

Never.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Anger and disappointment. I've read and listened to a ton of books in my time. But never have I had the experience of feeling absolutely duped and scammed by an author.

Any additional comments?

Audible would do the community here a service by removing this pablum.

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Avoid this version - terrible narration

Revisado: 09-11-12

Would you listen to As a Man Thinketh again? Why?

Yes, but not this version. As stated, the narrator is lousy.

What was one of the most memorable moments of As a Man Thinketh?

Enjoyed those moments that talked about a man's ability to shape himself according to his own visions of perfection.

Would you be willing to try another one of Jason McCoy’s performances?

In two words: hello no. This gentleman is in the wrong line of work. He should consider auto insurance commercial voiceovers if he's determined to do audiowork for pay.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Choice dictates all.

Any additional comments?

Regret that this narrator was able to so completely ruin this experience for me. I really must give credit to great narrators: their artistry is easy to take for granted until you hear a lousy one.

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Good content but the narrator sounds uninspired

Revisado: 10-20-09

Ironically, the book's author and narrator could've used a hell of a lot more motivation and expression during his reading of this book. That said, the material is solid, concise, and positive.

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Avoid this book

Revisado: 10-14-07

I will add to the choir of angry, puzzled listeners who spent money on this book. It is a waste of both time and money, and owes most of its profit to its title, I'm sure, since its contents don't merit the paper it's printed on.

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esto le resultó útil a 17 personas