There’s an overwhelming amount of chatter online about productivity – books, Instagram hacks, and endless YouTube videos. So when I first came across Ali Abdaal’s book, I wasn’t convinced it would offer anything new. But after reading it, I found that Abdaal curated a huge range of ideas on the topic and adds some great ideas of his own too.
I often find myself reading half a business book and then putting it back on the shelf, but I found this book practical, insightful, and packed with tips to make your work-life both more enjoyable and more productive.
As a former doctor, Ali Abdaal became fascinated with productivity and how to make the most of the hours in a day. His research and experimentation led him to break down his findings into three key sections in this book, with lots of practical tips under each: Energise, Unblock, Sustain.
Throughout the book, he covers everything from using playfulness to spark creativity to managing time effectively and overcoming procrastination. The book is filled with real-world examples, and I found his advice easy to follow and implement.
A Focus on Experimentation & Play
One of the standout aspects of Abdaal’s book is the emphasis on introducing playfulness into your everyday work. He includes plenty of small, actionable experiments you can implement right away, making the book feel practical rather than theoretical. Two of my favourite experiments included:
- Choose Your Character – framing your tasks as if you were a game character, or a character from your favourite book. This reminded me of De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats and something I’m keen to implement in my own work.
- Side Quests – introducing small ‘quests’ alongside your work to make your days more interesting and playful. Abdaal talks about treating this as if you were in a game; asking yourself what can be introduced to build skills or joy, without detracting from the main game – for example attending an interesting workshop whilst visiting a new city. I recently appeared on a podcast with The Joy of Indie Club talking all about side quests. You can find it here!
This playful approach is something I think is especially valuable for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
A Wide Range of Examples
Unlike many business books that hammer home a single core idea (like Start with Why by Simon Sinek or Atomic Habits by James Clear), Abdaal takes a broader approach. His book is packed with stories, studies, and different perspectives, making it easier to find something that resonates with your own work style.
Great Signposting & Further Reading
Abdaal’s extensive research really shows, and he shares his sources that add even more depth. Thanks to this book, I now have a whole new reading list, including works by Juliet Funt and Bill Burnett, among others!
The Structure Felt a Bit Scattered
At times, the book jumped between stories, examples, and structured experiments in a way that made it tricky to follow. I occasionally found myself wondering whether I was in the middle of an experiment or reading an unrelated anecdote. But honestly? That’s me being picky!
Some Guests on His Deep Dive Podcast
While I generally enjoy Abdaal’s podcast, I’ve noticed that some of his guests promote the whole “we all have the same 24 hours in a day” mantra, which I fundamentally disagree with.
Time isn’t distributed equally. Me ten years ago, working a corporate job with no children, had vastly different time constraints than me today, juggling two kids and my own business. Productivity advice should acknowledge these differences, and thankfully, Abdaal himself does – but not all of his podcast guests follow suit.
Absolutely. If you’re looking to overcome procrastination, inject more creativity into your work, or rethink time management, this book has plenty to offer. It’s full of ideas that can easily be adapted to running your own business.
I read the physical book and loved it, but I imagine it would work well as an audiobook too.
Yes. Unlike many online productivity gurus, Abdaal acknowledges that people have different amounts of time available which is a refreshing take in a world where 20-year-old fitness influencers keep insisting “we all have the same 24 hours.”.
To offer an alternative view, I recently attended the Being Freelance Book Club where reviews were mixed. Overall it was a positive reception, but some people felt that the book was just a collection you could find online, and perhaps for business owners within the first few years of their business.
However, I believe if you’re looking for a fun, actionable, and research-backed approach to productivity, this book is well worth your time.
