It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work

This book completely changed how I think about work and productivity. It challenges the idea that a busy, hectic workplace is necessary to get things done. The authors share practical tips for creating a calm, focused work environment that values balance and mental health. It’s an easy, engaging read with lots of actionable advice. Highly recommend for anyone feeling overwhelmed by work!

I really enjoyed reading all of Jason & David's books, and "It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work" is no exception. They do an exceptional job of taking ideas and distilling them down to their basic essence, and then describing them in a way that is easy to read, easy to understand, and exciting to think about. You can read this book in a single sitting, then come away feeling energized to put it all into practice at your own work.

In one sense, this book is a giant book of “DUH” • Employees should not be expected to work after work. 40 hours is plenty. • Team communication does not need an immediate response. • Less meetings • Equal pay for equal seniority. • Focus on process/gradual improvement vs. arbitrary goals • CEO’s should think through how a sudden idea or words can alter the course of company culture and how projects get done ...the list goes on But sadly, these “duhness” principles seem to be the exception in the working world. As an employee of a company who adopts a small share of their principles, I hope this book will serve as a symbol for change. My knee jerk reaction to this book was its mainly for CEOs, founders, and managers, those in positions of power, to implement the ideas in this book. While I think they do hold the greater share of responsibility to make the change, I believe it is a interdependent change on employer and employee. For employees, it's a call to analyze your own workplace habits and get better at drawing boundaries. Akin to how holding hidden expectations in a relationship will corrode the relationship if not communicated, acting as if your situation is futile without trying is the easy way out. Look I am scared here. Speaking up I risk being shut down or worse getting fired. However, I feel like it is the right thing to do. The challenge is communicating the ideas in this book so they will be listened to. Rome was not built in a day. And for those in positions of power, this book shows it does not have to be a trade off between accomplishing something great and having a life outside work. I get that this is an uphill battle as popular culture celebrates the grinders, hustlers...the blood sweat and tears that people wear as a badge of honor. As the book title suggest, there’s a calmer way. This book shows it can be YES AND, not EITHER/OR. Yes you can be effective at work, become rich, leave a dent in this universe AND have a life outside it. Your legacy can be you left a trail of happy, healthy humans who genuinely thought of you as a good boss or manager. You’re happier. They’re happier. You can see your family, friends, and so can they. That seems pretty good to me, even if you don’t accomplish your mission of saving the whales :) As a fan of Basecamp for sometime, many of these ideas you’ll find on their blog, however, the book feels different. From the choice on ordering how the ideas are presented, the illustrations, and just physical love for books...it’s different than the blog. If you’re hesitant because the blog is free, do yourself a favor and get the living, breathing thing. Having this book is a great reminder; a great reminder of the world I’d like to live in. A great reminder that there is a saner way to work.

"It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work" is a refreshing take on creating a calm, focused, and productive work environment. It challenges the chaotic hustle culture and offers practical advice for building a sustainable, stress-free workplace. The book is a page-turner and a quick read, with around 200 pages of simple yet effective insights. Its chapters are designed for bite-sized reading, making it easy to absorb the ideas at your own pace. A must-read for those seeking balance and effectiveness in their professional life. 9/10. Some standout quotes include: “Yes, the things you make are products (or services), but your company is the thing that makes those things. That’s why your company should be your best product.” “The best companies aren’t families. They’re supporters of families. Allies of families. They’re there to provide healthy, fulfilling work environments so that when workers shut their laptops at a reasonable hour, they’re the best husbands, wives, parents, siblings, and children they can be.”

I’ve been a fan of these guys for years and I’m also a Basecamp customer so I’ve been following their path for a while now and was excited to see Jason doing a Q&A at Laracon this year. Those are some of the reasons I jumped in to buy this book but that just got me interested. I thought the book itself was fantastic and that it lived up to the hype. Our culture says that we should do whatever it takes to succeed. Put in 80 hours if need be, work through the weekend, push through, hustle. Do it for the team, the family life can wait. Rightly so they call B.S. on this and give plenty of examples from their company and from many leaders in their respective fields. Here is one of my favorite quotes related to this from the book: "A great work ethic isn’t about working whenever you’re called upon. It’s about doing what you say you’re going to do, putting in a fair day’s work, respecting the work, respecting the customer, respecting coworkers, not wasting time, not creating unnecessary work for other people, and not being a bottleneck." As I flip back through my copy of the book, almost every page has a highlight or sentences underlined. So much of this hit home to me. Another one of my favorite quotes is related to how many companies claim “we are all a family”: "The best companies aren’t families. They’re supporters of families. Allies of families. They’re there to provide healthy, fulfilling work environments so that when workers shut their laptops at a reasonable hour, they’re the best husbands, wives, parents, siblings, and children they can be." Right now where I work employees just four people outside of the owners and it does feel like a family because we are close, but they 100% follow what the quote above points out and it’s amazing working for a place like that. In fact, much of what is outlined in the book my employer already does, to say I’m lucky in that regard is an understatement. It Doesn’t Have To Be Crazy At Work is set up in distinct sections with essay’s that support the overarching goal of the section. This allows the book to touch on many different areas of running a business but also makes it accessible to managers, and employees. All wound together in a book that can be read in a short time. Unlike most business books, they’ve left out the cruft and put all the focus on getting their points across as quickly and sufficiently as possible. It’s a five-star rating from me and you should buy a copy, read it, then give it to your boss or employees.

Good book and solid tips and reminders about life balance and setting and keeping boundaries. Focus on calm and no knee jerk reactions!

Very digestible book with quick simple descriptions that make it memorable. There are definitely applicable tips but the wisdom from this book is very specific to their ecosystem they have built.

As someone who has worked in software development for 15 years, I've had the experience of dealing with nearly every topic covered in this book. In times past when objecting to patterns of behaviour. management style, process, noise levels, etc, I was made to feel like I was wrong, anti-social, anti-team, or generally just being difficult, when my aim was to make work a better and more effective experience. Reading this book I was able to constantly nod along and say "YES! I've been saying this for years!". My failing was never putting it as articulately as in this book, nor feeling like I was in a position to effect change. Along the way I was constantly highlighting bits that really resonated with me or that I would use as reminders for how I want to effect change at work to be more effective and calm. The book itself is a joy to read as it's laid out in very small, concise, easily-digestible chapters. It doesn't drone on and bury you in explanation, examples, and irrelevant backstory as some books of this nature are wont to do. It gives you the point, a relevant example, caveats, and then lets you think for yourself on the merits of it. Perfect. Some of the stand-out topics for me, paraphrased: * Salary negotiations are a load of BS * Meetings, especially large ones, are an ineffective waste of time. Doubly-so if they have no agenda. * Unregulated open office plans are terrible. They invite distraction and hamper productivity. * "When someone takes your time, it doesn't cost them anything, but it costs you everything" * Keeping up with group chat, emails, other notifications, is a terrible way to spend your day and time * "Where you live has nothing to do with the quality of your work, and it's the quality of your work that we're paying you for" * Projects with inflexible scope and deadlines are a recipe for stress, dread, and missed expectations. * Perks designed to keep you at the office are evil. Better find a company that encourages you to have a life outside of work. All in all, great book. I'll be buying it as gifts for some office-bound friends and family.