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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
A mixed bag. When Tracy sticks to defining the nature of self-discipline and the character qualities one needs to cultivate, the results are very inspiring. He has a no-nonsense approach that's not overbearing. However, if you're not like Tracy, that is: white, male, straight, able-bodied, and so on, the strategies he advocates may only take you so far. Tracy is of the mind that anyone can do anything so long as you're willing to put in the effort, and that any limits that may exist to hold you back are of your own making. While I generally agree with that, if you've ever experienced sexism, ableism, racism, etc, you know that there are very real barriers to success that are often out of your control. If your boss is racist and you're a person of color, you may never get a promotion despite putting in all the hard work that Tracy advocates. I suppose if you were to bring this to the author's attention, he might advise quitting and going to work for some other company. In this economy, where a lot of people feel lucky enough just to have a steady job, period, that's too high a risk. Also, if you have a family and you're the primary caretaker (even if you split the duties evenly!), the sheer amount of time Tracy advocates you devote to pursuing success is completely out of the question.
Some of the strategies presented in this book are only applicable if you work in the business sector. Tracy assumes, too, that your personal definition of success means making as much money as possible, and unfettered greed is presented almost as a virtue. Or, at the very least, it's not an objectionable quality.
Oh, and something else that struck me as completely disingenuous: Tracy claims that anyone in a high position of authority and power earned that spot because of their impeccable work ethic and integrity and that fakes and the corrupt will naturally be ousted as the frauds they are in short order. Peruse any news source and you'll see this simply isn't the case. Look around, we don't live in a meritocracy.
I did like that Tracy encourages readers to keep learning and growing in their field, whatever it may be. This is sound advice regardless of one's career.
Overall, the book has some highlights, but the majority of the content will be only be relevant (without modification) to a small few, and those few will be among the most privileged.
Some of the strategies presented in this book are only applicable if you work in the business sector. Tracy assumes, too, that your personal definition of success means making as much money as possible, and unfettered greed is presented almost as a virtue. Or, at the very least, it's not an objectionable quality.
Oh, and something else that struck me as completely disingenuous: Tracy claims that anyone in a high position of authority and power earned that spot because of their impeccable work ethic and integrity and that fakes and the corrupt will naturally be ousted as the frauds they are in short order. Peruse any news source and you'll see this simply isn't the case. Look around, we don't live in a meritocracy.
I did like that Tracy encourages readers to keep learning and growing in their field, whatever it may be. This is sound advice regardless of one's career.
Overall, the book has some highlights, but the majority of the content will be only be relevant (without modification) to a small few, and those few will be among the most privileged.
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
I mined a lot of rich information in this book. It was motivational and broke down approaches to self-discipline in easy to manage bites. There was a whole section on sales that wasn’t relevant to me and some outdated ideas about marriage but I skipped through parts of those sections.
Overall the message works, but there are a few things that are either antiquated or just plain wrong.
informative
medium-paced
Required for work. Absolutely terrible. All he talks about is money. Everyone wants to be rich, money in the bank is how you define success, etc. I don't agree at all and his attitude is so irritating all I got was angry from reading this.
In my opinion, the ideas put forth in this book are outdated and run in contradiction to many workplace ethics that exist in 2022. At least in my industry, it is no longer glamorous to be the martyr to working 40+ hours a week. The people who can get the most quality work done in 40 hours a week are what are sought after. Companies are starting to place emphasis on a work/life balance. This book doesn't encourage that. I feel like this book was written by an old white man for other old white men. I don't recommend it, especially for anyone born after 1990.
If there's one thing you should take away from No Excuses it's the key to success is doing the things you know need to be done, even when you don't want to.
It's a simple idea but the willpower and self-discipline needed to implement it is not easy to come by.
I wish this book had more on developing the habits necessary to strengthen that self-discipline. But overall this book is a good kick in the pants and a reminder that your success is mostly a result of consistent focused action towards achieving your goals.
It's a simple idea but the willpower and self-discipline needed to implement it is not easy to come by.
I wish this book had more on developing the habits necessary to strengthen that self-discipline. But overall this book is a good kick in the pants and a reminder that your success is mostly a result of consistent focused action towards achieving your goals.
informative
slow-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I set a goal for 2022 that I would read one non-fiction and one self-help book every month. This book has brought into light that I set that goal because I like torture and am a masochist.
The first section of the book was horrible. Not because of writing of anything but because I seriously couldn't force myself to read it. This is the part I'm talking about when I say torture because thats what it was for me. Took me around 2ish weeks to read it, while the other two took me only a couple days. No idea why, my brain just went no whenever I said read.
The second section was better. The second part was written for people in their 30s that realize they need to get their life together and need help doing that- which is good but none of it applied to me. But I forced myself to read it incase something was useful for everyday life or for future use. Not for me but could be for someone else.
Third part actually did apply to me and it was easy to read. Flew through it.
There's only one hugely badly thing this whole book that I disagree with some much I want that internet to know about it- victim blaming. There is a real difference between being a victim of something and feeling self-pity for that. There's a section jn the book where is discusses this and stop thinking of yourself as the victim. I dont know if Mr. Brain thought of serious crimes when writing that but you are the victim. But don't pity yourself for that.
Overall I didn't enjoy reading it very much but the information it gives you is valuable, so if you too are a masochist and want to learn more about self-discipline, may I suggest thus book.
The first section of the book was horrible. Not because of writing of anything but because I seriously couldn't force myself to read it. This is the part I'm talking about when I say torture because thats what it was for me. Took me around 2ish weeks to read it, while the other two took me only a couple days. No idea why, my brain just went no whenever I said read.
The second section was better. The second part was written for people in their 30s that realize they need to get their life together and need help doing that- which is good but none of it applied to me. But I forced myself to read it incase something was useful for everyday life or for future use. Not for me but could be for someone else.
Third part actually did apply to me and it was easy to read. Flew through it.
There's only one hugely badly thing this whole book that I disagree with some much I want that internet to know about it- victim blaming. There is a real difference between being a victim of something and feeling self-pity for that. There's a section jn the book where is discusses this and stop thinking of yourself as the victim. I dont know if Mr. Brain thought of serious crimes when writing that but you are the victim. But don't pity yourself for that.
Overall I didn't enjoy reading it very much but the information it gives you is valuable, so if you too are a masochist and want to learn more about self-discipline, may I suggest thus book.