Rework

Jason Fried

Book Reviews

Andrew Wilkinson: "One of my most recommended business books"

Seth Godin: "This book will make you uncomfortable. Depending on what you do all day, it might make you extremely uncomfortable. That's a very good thing, because you deserve it. We all do.

Jason and David have broken all the rules and won. Again and again they've demonstrated that the regular way isn't necessarily the right way. They just don't say it, they do it. And they do it better than just about anyone has any right to expect.

This book is short, fast, sharp and ready to make a difference. It takes no prisoners, spares no quarter, and gives you no place to hide, all at the same time.

There, my review is almost as long as the first chapter of the book. I can't imagine what possible excuse you can dream up for not buying this book for every single person you work with, right now."

Mark Cuban: “If given a choice between investing in someone who has read REWORK or has an MBA, I’m investing in REWORK every time.

A must read for every entrepreneur.”

Shane Parrish: "This book showed me that I wasn’t alone or crazy. Other people think about the workplace like I do too."

Tony Hsieh: “The wisdom in these pages is edgy yet simple, straightforward, and proven. Read this book multiple times to help give you the courage you need to get out there and make something great.”

Jeff Bezos: “Unperturbed by conventional wisdom, Jason and David start fresh and rewrite the rules of business. Their approach turns out to be as successful as it is counter-intuitive.”

Tim Ferriss: "I encourage people to think of [Rework] as an Elements of Style for building profitable businesses in a web-savvy world.

Each chapter is 2-5 pages long and delivers their tactics and principles fat-free, without fluff. Just like their business models."

Book Synopsis

"Rework" by Jason Fried is a refreshingly unconventional business book that challenges the traditional notions of work, productivity, and success. Packed with insightful advice and practical tips, it provides a guide to help entrepreneurs and professionals rethink their approach to work and achieve more with less.

Fried and his co-author David Heinemeier Hansson, the founders of tech company Basecamp, present a collection of short, punchy chapters that dissect common business myths and offer alternative strategies for achieving success. They encourage readers to question established norms, think critically, and embrace simplicity.

The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on what truly matters and avoiding unnecessary complexity. It advocates for quick decision-making, highlighting the benefits of taking action instead of getting stuck in endless planning. Fried and Hansson argue that speed and efficiency are key to staying ahead in the fast-paced business world.

They challenge the notion of "workaholism" and advocate for a healthy work-life balance. They argue that productivity is not measured by the number of hours worked but by the quality of output. They propose ways to manage interruptions effectively, eliminate distractions, and create a work environment that promotes productivity.

"Rework" also encourages the idea of saying "no" to unnecessary commitments and projects. It encourages readers to focus on their core strengths and interests, and to avoid spreading themselves too thin. The authors stress the importance of embracing constraints and making the most out of limited resources.

Throughout the book, Fried and Hansson emphasize the value of simplicity, directness, and authenticity in business communication. They provide tips on effective writing, meeting management, and teamwork. They challenge the notion of consensus-driven decision-making and instead advocate for a more decentralized and autonomous approach.

"Rework" is a thought-provoking and practical guide that challenges established norms and provides actionable advice for success in the business world. It encourages readers to rethink their approach to work, embrace simplicity, and focus on what truly matters.

Explore More Books

See All
Euclid's Elements
The Case Against Sugar
Fables
Flowers for Algernon
For The Love Of Physics
The Humane Economy
Memoirs
The Great Mental Models
Think and Grow Rich
History Has Begun
The Story of Civilization: Rousseau and Revolution
The Social Animal
The Worlds I See
Mismatch
The E-Myth Revisited
Citizen Coke
Last Chance to See
The World Without Us
A Confederacy of Dunces
It's Not How Good You Are - It's How Good You Want To Be
Pre-Suasion
The Art of Stillness
What We Owe the Future
Maverick
Letters to a Young Poet
You
Black Box Thinking
Being Nixon
The Black Book of Communism
In Patagonia
Deep Learning
Economics in One Lesson
Monetizing Innovation
Deep Learning
The Dream of Reason
Why Minsky Matters
Everything All At Once
Gay Like Me
Benjamin Franklin
Why Information Grows
The Sympathizer
Home Game
Dancing In The Glory Of Monsters
Go To
The Water Dancer
The Myth of the Strong Leader
Where Do School Funds Go?
So Good They Can't Ignore You
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Best Evidence
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Gang Leader for a Day
Gridiron Genius
T
Who Am I
Shook One
Letters of Note
Algorithms to Live By
The Psychology of Money
The Quest for El Cid
This Explains Everything
Spain in Our Hearts
Night Sky with Exit Wounds
Apollo's Arrow
Bitcoin
Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It
The Great Revolt
Unstoppable Prosperity
A Pattern Language
Red Star Over The Pacific
Collected Fictions
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
Life After Power
Who Is Michael Ovitz
On Immunity
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
Let Your Life Speak
The End of Power
Secrets of Closing the Sale
Lincoln In The Bardo
Chaos
Well
How to Teach Your Baby Math
Dead Wake
What Technology Wants
A Universe From Nothing
Fall of Constantinople
Simple Rules
The New Jim Crow
A Very Expensive Poison
Never Eat Alone
Hold 'em Poker
Born To Run
Devouring Freedom
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The War of Art
René Girard's Mimetic Theory
Radical Son
How To Be a No Limit Person
On Drugs