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Smarter Faster Better
Smarter Faster Better
Nov 26, 2024 6:37 PM

Author:Charles Duhigg

Smarter Faster Better

In his international bestseller The Power of Habit, Pulitzer Prize-winner Charles Duhigg explained why we do what we do. Now he applies the same relentless curiosity and masterful analysis to the question: how can each of us achieve more?

Drawing on the very latest findings in neuroscience, psychology and behavioural economics, he demonstrates the eight simple principles that govern productivity. He demonstrates how the most dynamic and effective people – from CEOs to film-makers to software entrepreneurs – deploy them. And he shows how you can, too.

‘Charles has some wonderful advice for increasing productivity . . . the tips he highlights have most definitely played a huge part in helping me to build the Virgin brand.’ Richard Branson

‘In Smarter Faster Better Duhigg finds provocative answers to a riddle of our age: how to become more productive (by two times, or even ten times) and less busy.’ Jim Collins

‘There are valuable lessons in Smarter Faster Better . . . I never felt like putting it down.’ Financial Times

Reviews

As he did in The Power of Habit, Duhigg melds cutting-edge science, deep reporting, and wide-ranging stories to give us a fuller, more human way of thinking about how productivity actually happens.

—— Susan Cain, author of QUIET

Duhigg uses engaging storytelling to highlight fascinating research and core principles that we can all learn and use in our daily lives. A masterful must-read for anyone who wants to get more (and more creative) stuff done.

—— David Allen, author of GETTING THINGS DONE

Duhigg has a gift for asking just the right question, and then igniting the same curiosity in the rest of us. In Smarter Faster Better he finds provocative answers to a riddle of our age.

—— Jim Collins, author of GOOD TO GREAT

There are valuable lessons in Smarter Faster Better . . . I never felt like putting it down.

—— Financial Times

Duhigg brings impressive reportorial and narrative skills to the project.

—— Spectator

Charles has some wonderful advice for increasing productivity … the tips he highlights have most definitely played a huge part in helping me to build the Virgin brand.

—— Richard Branson

Offers readers a glimpse into how the most productive people function … [Duhigg] distills all his research into eight key takeaways that anyone can use, at work and at home.

—— Business Books You Should Be Reading This Summer, World Economic Forum blog

Slick.

—— i

Very slick.

—— Evening Standard

Duhigg knows his stuff — the book is packed with an intimidating amount of knowledge and research … Duhigg takes our most subtle habits and breaks them down in a way that’s obvious and digestible

—— Life Hacker

[An] ideal book for someone who loves both stories and career-related self-improvement . . . An enjoyable and potentially very useful read.

—— Bookbag

A terrific read.

—— Money Life

A funny, readable book that makes you view your surroundings quite differently.

—— Jane Shilling , Daily Mail

Spellbinding… This is a very intelligent book, full of sharp insights and mordant wit... It is a quirky and cool book, with a sliver of ice at its heart... It is hard to imagine anyone could read this book without getting an occasional, vertiginous thrill.

—— David Runciman , Guardian

Like all great epics, Sapiens demanded a sequel. Homo Deus, in which that likely apocalyptic future is imagined in spooling detail, is that book. It is a highly seductive scenario planner for the numerous ways in which we might overreach ourselves.

—— Tim Adams , Observer

Homo Deus is a sweeping, apocalyptic history of the human race, which reads more like a TED-talk on acid.

—— Norman Lewis , Spiked

Harari is an intellectual magpie who has plucked theories and data from many disciplines - including philosophy, theology, computer science and biology - to produce a brilliantly original, thought-provoking and important study of where mankind is heading.

—— Saul David , Evening Standard

Like its predecessor, which sold in its millions, Homo Deus will have a world audience. Taking over where Sapiens left off, it looks forward to where history, ethics and gargantuan biotech investment might lead us - to the end, Harari thinks, of death, suffering and the very idea of being human.

—— James McConnachie , Sunday Times Culture

A remarkable book, full of insights and thoughtful reinterpretations of what we thought we knew about ourselves and our history... One measure of Harari’s achievement is that one has to look a long way back – to 1934, in fact, the year when Lewis Mumford’s Technics and Civilization was published – for a book with comparable ambition and scope.

—— John Naughton , Guardian

Harari is an exceptional writer, who seems to have been specially chosen by the muses as a conduit for the zeitgeist… Fascinating reading.

—— Stephen Cave , Times Literary Supplement

This provocative book analyses our present state – and makes startling predictions about the future.

—— Mail on Sunday

Sapiens was a paean to humanity’s powers of collective imagination…with darker notes on how these mega-stories might direct our new, transformative, information and biological technologies. “Is there anything more dangerous than dissatisfied and irresponsible gods who don’t know what they want?” was Harari’s closing line. Homo Deus tries to answer that question, with all the pedagogic and encyclopaedic brilliance of its predecessor.

—— New Scientist

An often thought-provoking and always elegantly written book.

—— Steven Poole , Spectator

Brilliant, mind-expanding…explores where Homo Sapiens might go from here, via his signature blend of science, history, philosophy and every discipline in between.

—— Bookseller

His reasoning is laid out with a lucidity that makes it a joy to read.

—— UK Press Syndication

Yuval Noah Harari is the most entertaining and thought-provoking writer of non-fiction at the moment. In Homo Deus he covers broad terrain, touching on everything from Zen Buddhism to the Second World War to how bats read the frequency of echoes, to explore the largest most difficult and sometimes frightening subject of all: our own future. As with Sapiens you finish the book feeling much wiser, but not having noticed any hard work along the way. I loved this book.

—— Matt Haig

Sapiens showed us where we came from. Homo Deus shows us where we’re going

—— Eastern Daily Press

Challenging, readable and thought-provoking… He has provided a smart look at what may be ahead for humanity.

—— Time

Exhilarating.

—— Nick Curtis , Evening Standard

Original, compelling, and provocative.

—— Gary Ogden , Shortlist

His exquisitely written, inspiring memoir is inevitably unfinished, but delivers the final word on dying with dignity.

—— Craig Brown , Mail on Sunday

Wrenching memoir…Moving, humble and impossible to ignore.

—— The Scotsman

An unforgettable reflection on the practice of medicine and the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.

—— Miss Dinky

An honest and eye-opening memoir.

—— Independent on Sunday

Deeply moving memoir… Lessons on life and how to cherish it.

—— Daily Mail

Immensely powerful and poignant.

—— Sunday Times

The best book I’ve read this year.

—— Ann Patchett , Guardian

Heart-breaking memoir.

—— Week

The effect of reading such clear-sighted and intelligent commentary on life and death is exhilarating… Astonishing and invigorating book... Rarely have words on both life and death made such an impact.

—— Stylist Magazine

A brilliant memoir.

—— Daily Telegraph

A sad but beautiful story… A remarkable book… A moving and thoughtful memoir of family, medicine and literature.

—— Anand Pillai , Asian Voice

Profoundly moving book… A life-affirming reflection on facing our mortality and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.

—— Dara Gantly , Irish Medical Times

[Kalanithi] wrote about practising medicine, about mortality, about finite time, with unfathomable tranquility and humour.

—— Radio Times

He writes with clarity, elegance, and honesty… When Breath Becomes Air is a deeply personal and moving book… Kalanithi died leaving the book unfinished. He left, though, his voice, speaking through this book about death and implicitly about life.

—— Frieda Klotz , Irish Independent

Writing isn't brain surgery, but it's rare when someone adept at the latter is also so accomplished at the former... A moving meditation on mortality by a gifted writer whose dual perspectives of physician and patient provide a singular clarity.

—— Kirkus Starred Review

An extraordinary voice… His account is matter-of-fact, never self-pitying and often funny.

—— Jennifer Rohn , Times Higher Education

Wrenching memoir… Moving, humble, and impossible to ignore.

—— UK Press Syndication

A sparely lyrical account of excruciated ambition… Fairly dotted with insights.

—— Iain Bamforth , Times Literary Supplement

In this slim but extraordinarily powerful memoir, Kalanithi grapples with the hardest questions with grace and courage... Lucid, humbling and heartbreaking.

—— Stephanie Cross , The Lady

Heart-wrenching memoir

—— Eastern Daily Press

When Breath Becomes Air is an eloquent evocation of a life defined by success and tragedy… Paul’s unravelling of unimaginable circumstances is terrifyingly real and heartbreakingly honest.

—— Lydia Yaritt , British Journal of General Practice

The line between life and death has never been explored quite so personally as in Paul Kalanithi’s wrenching memoir… The Final pages, from Paul and then Lucy, are moving, humble, and impossible to ignore’

—— Woman's Way

It’s elegantly constructed, as befits a man who had a lifelong passion for reading and writing, and heartbreakingly honest too, with unflinching reflections on all the beloved people he must leave behind, and all the things left undone’

—— Psychologies

Absolutely compelling… This is not a depressing book, but it will stay with you for a long time.

—— Stephen Meyler , RTE Guide

A true and heart-breaking tale.

—— Love it!

This dying doctor’s gripping memoir is a natural, honest, and unflinching account of his journey. Paul’s willingness to reflect and share and not avert his eyes from death, will undoubtedly inspire and comfort others who are ill or who experience loss. The final paragraph is directed towards his infant daughter and it is breathtakingly beautiful… one to recommend to anyone and everyone.

—— Joanne Booy , Nudge

Beautifully written… Healthcare professionals and civilians alike should find much that resonates here.

—— Lisa Berry , Cancer Nursing Practice

His book is suitable for, and deserves, a wide audience… Whilst this book is emotional and moving to read, it is beautifully written and many readers will find Paul's way of dealing with terminal illness inspirational. It is a book that I will go back to again and again for emotional support.

—— Macmillan

This is a tearjerker… Kalanithi was as skilled with words as he was with the knife.

—— Helen Davies , Sunday Times, Book of the Year

Kalanithi is warm and full of wit... His writing is seamless, poetic, beautiful and transfixing. His bravery is rather astonishing at times… He is a wonderful storyteller and dizzily sweeps you along.

—— Avpura Times

You’ll read this in one unforgettable afternoon.

—— A Little Bird

A gripping and emotionally charged account.

—— Today FM, Book of the Year

Poignant, honest, brave and yes, at times, incredibly raw… A beautiful and unforgettable book.

—— Heat

[A] beautiful memoir… Kalanithi’s eloquent and elegant writing is deeply affecting.

—— Daily Express, Book of the Year

[An] inspiring book.

—— Business Insider, Book of the Year

A thoughtful, deep and learned meditation on the meaning of life… The best book of the year

—— Sheer Luxe, Book of the Year

An emotional ride.

—— Julie Vuong , Running in Heels, Book of the Year

A book that leaves its reader full-hearted… moved and enriched by its humanity and accomplishment.

—— Lettie Kennedy , Observer

A fast read that won’t fail to move you.

—— I

John Updike said that every writer is simply unpacking their own bag, describing writing as a way to come to terms with one’s current and historical life experience. If that is the case Paul Kalanithi, in When Breath Becomes Air, is unpacking a very large bag indeed, and not just his own.

—— Paul D'Alton , Irish Examiner

When Breath Becomes Air is a life-affirming reflection on facing our mortality and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.

—— Mojo Mums

Far more than a beautifully written account of a life cut cruelly short: it is a meditation on living well.

—— Jane Shilling , Mail

[H]e writes with an eloquence that befits his love of the literary.

—— Brad Davies , i

An eloquent meditation on our mortality, the brain, the meaning of life, fatherhood and the doctor-patient relationship, this powerful, inspirational book should appeal to readers who are enjoying watching BBC2’s current Hospital series. I couldn’t put this profoundly moving memoir down – but it is not for the squeamish or faint-hearted, and may scare hypochondriacs.

—— Rebecca Wallersteiner , The Lady

It’s not just that Kalanathi has a remarkable story to tell. The way he tells it is phenomenal… This is a superbly written and must-read autobiography – beautiful, poignant and thought-provoking.

—— Sam Hailes , Christianity

He writes movingly about how to make sense of a life so suddenly interrupted and what makes life worth living even as it fades away. A beautiful book about the resilience of the human spirit.

—— Red

Kalanithi’s candid yet artistic prose, peppered with medical terminology, conveys his life beautifully. We are taken on a journey from the nostalgic memories of his childhood in Arizona to his final days in the hospital bed… he raw and emotional portrayal of his pain and their family’s grief is not an easy read, but a compelling one.

—— Angela Huang , Boar

A thoroughly enjoyable, epic read, When Breath Becomes Air should be at the top of everyone’s ‘to read’ list. Paul Kalanithi beautifully bridges the gaps between philosophy, science and literature in his memoir which depicts the reality of life lived in the face of death… Kalanithi writes sublimely, elegantly and honestly. His words are spun together as though with a golden thread, and all that he writes is from the heart. His admiration for the written word shines through and the mammoth task of composing his memoir, after receiving his diagnosis, is executed exquisitely… It is a novel filled with tenderness, heartbreak and bittersweet nostalgia. It is a novel containing power, strength and beauty. And it is a novel that will stay with you long after its cover has been closed.

—— Lauren Molyneux , Live

Informative, emotive, honest and a stark look at the path one takes when life pulls the rug out from under you.

—— Nudge

This book has stayed with me ever since I put it down. Absolutely extraordinary. This book is an example of how fragile and unfair life can be.

—— Molly Ellis

It was a really incredible read and I couldn’t recommend it more.

—— Ella Mills , Good Web Guide

As a book detailing the insight into our own mortality, and the dedication of medical professionals who place their lives on hold to learn their craft, it’s fascinating. His accounts of coming face to face with cadavers – "donors" – and performing autopsies, his experiences with patients as he gave good and bad news, his mistakes as a surgeon which caused irreparable damage coupled with his success as a physician are an incredible insight into his life’s work… A melancholic read that I’d recommend to all student nurses, and anyone interested in reading the final thoughts of a doomed surgeon.

—— Six Out of Ten

Poignant and life-affirming, it's a devastating must-read

—— Woman & Home

Beautifully written... utterly heartbreaking and yet somehow life-affirming

—— Mike Gayle, author of THE MUSEUM OF ORDINARY PEOPLE , Good Housekeeping

The writing is beautiful and the whole book feels like a wondrous gift

—— Good Housekeeping

At a time when the NHS and key workers are doing their utmost to make sure people are safe, this medical memoir is one that will make you realise how courageous and hard-working our medical staff really are... The moving and intimidate book brings readers on a valuable and gut-wrenching journey through the meaning of life, exposes universal truths surrounding terminal illnesses and highlights the fragile relationship between doctor and patient

—— Country and Townhouse
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