Book Review: ReWork

Evaluating ReWork as a traditional book would be a mistake, because it’s not like regular books. Technically, it’s 273 pages, but there’s realistically only about 70 pages of real content.  At first glance, that may be alarming, but the level of quality in the limited words in this book make it all worthwhile.  The immense buzz in the startup community is well deserved. This book is a game changer.

The best way to describe this book is to compare it to a presentation.  Specifically, this is like a Dharmesh Shah-style presentation. If you’re not familiar with Dharmesh’s style (which while not invented by him, he seems to be extremely gifted at it), it’s basically a form where you use images and as few words as possible on your powerpoint slide and then you give an anecdote or specific point through your words (see an example here). I’ve written about this presentation type before, so if you need more background, look here.

There’s something to be said for this simplicity.  There is not a single word wasted in this book.  At one point in ReWork, Fried even admits that they cut more than half of the content from the original draft of the book. We all benefit for this.  In just a few pages per “section” (which is opened with a Dharmesh style image and a few words), Fried is able to hammer home sage advice and share relevant anecdotes that every business and aspiring “startuper” should take to heart (they think the word “entrepreneur” is abused, overused and in desperate need of replacement…and they propose the new word “startuper”).  

From hiring to team management, idea generation to philosophies on customer interaction, there’s a little for everyone regardless of business stage or size.  These sections are clearly broken up and can be easily consumed in little time; in just 4 days of subway travel I made it through the entire book. 

At the core of ReWork is the desire to push for entrepreneurs to stop thinking about billion dollar companies and start thinking about how to build a profitable business right now.  Just like that philosophy cuts through all the BS of VC investments, market caps and valuation pipe dreams, ReWork brings you only the best for you and your company in this quick read. 

Are you a Startuper?
 

If you have any other questions, send me an email or post a comment.
Ashkan

Ashkan[at]greenhornconnect[dot]com

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