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How to Be Better at Almost Everything: Learn Anything Quickly, Stack Your Skills, Dominate
"Business expert Pat Flynn lays out the benefits of being a 'generalist,' or someone highly skilled in many trades, which is a better path to success than striving to be the best at a single skill"
229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
February 19, 2019
In the beginning, the book offered some advice that I found basic but useful - par for the course for a book of this type. The author interjected the right amount of humour, with only some of it being cringey "dad jokes", and he's a good speaker which helped immensely. Keep that "in the beginning" in mind, because I'll be getting back to it.
Content-wise, the first half was essentially a collection of the author's musings and interests, loosely structured into a "system" for improving your life. Basically just the author's thoughts on meditation/prayer (good), yoga (bad because it lets demons into your body), logic (good), making your bed (good) and faith (super good). Most of this is presented in a completely shallow way. For example, the segments on meditation don't tell you how to meditate, only that you should, and the segments on logic similarly provide only a few pointers but don't get into what makes a good argument.
Tonally, the first half was all over the place. It went from folksy, g-rated wisdom about being a generalist vs. specialist, would slam the shifter and start carrying on about how the literal devil makes you resist writing your sc-ifi novel about a sex-robot uprising, and then drop a joke about premature ejaculation. It honestly felt at times like the author had found God half-way through writing, but didn't want to go back and edit anything for consistency.
I'm not religious, but the author clearly is and interjects this throughout the book. Initially, I didn't have an issue with it - it's helpful to know where an author is coming from, and I don't need to agree with everything in the book to get value out of it.
However, about halfway through the religious interjections went from a background hum to a full sermon delivered by a sidewalk preacher with a megaphone. There's a section on the importance of faith where the author goes on a long meander about good and evil, which reaches its nadir when he talks about how kids with cancer are a good thing because they make people nicer to each other. Really? God gives kids cancer so people will be nicer to their parents and feel better about themselves because they aren't dying in agonizing pain? Great, I'm sure those kids and their parents will appreciate being used as a prop in other people's uplifting life lessons.
This was the point where I decided I needed to see other books.
I flipped through the reviews for this book on Audible and Amazon, of which there seemed to be a curiously high number (and virtually all of the reviewers giving a perfect 5-stars), and the heavy-handed religious messaging isn't mentioned once.
Content-wise, the first half was essentially a collection of the author's musings and interests, loosely structured into a "system" for improving your life. Basically just the author's thoughts on meditation/prayer (good), yoga (bad because it lets demons into your body), logic (good), making your bed (good) and faith (super good). Most of this is presented in a completely shallow way. For example, the segments on meditation don't tell you how to meditate, only that you should, and the segments on logic similarly provide only a few pointers but don't get into what makes a good argument.
Tonally, the first half was all over the place. It went from folksy, g-rated wisdom about being a generalist vs. specialist, would slam the shifter and start carrying on about how the literal devil makes you resist writing your sc-ifi novel about a sex-robot uprising, and then drop a joke about premature ejaculation. It honestly felt at times like the author had found God half-way through writing, but didn't want to go back and edit anything for consistency.
I'm not religious, but the author clearly is and interjects this throughout the book. Initially, I didn't have an issue with it - it's helpful to know where an author is coming from, and I don't need to agree with everything in the book to get value out of it.
However, about halfway through the religious interjections went from a background hum to a full sermon delivered by a sidewalk preacher with a megaphone. There's a section on the importance of faith where the author goes on a long meander about good and evil, which reaches its nadir when he talks about how kids with cancer are a good thing because they make people nicer to each other. Really? God gives kids cancer so people will be nicer to their parents and feel better about themselves because they aren't dying in agonizing pain? Great, I'm sure those kids and their parents will appreciate being used as a prop in other people's uplifting life lessons.
This was the point where I decided I needed to see other books.
I flipped through the reviews for this book on Audible and Amazon, of which there seemed to be a curiously high number (and virtually all of the reviewers giving a perfect 5-stars), and the heavy-handed religious messaging isn't mentioned once.
December 3, 2020
This is another self-help book disguised as a memoir. While I got the main point of what the author was trying to say in the first quarter of the book, I tried to keep on trucking through the rest. I couldn't. I liked the actual methodology he talked about, but so much of this book is filler. It would have been better had it been shorter. I could have done without the whole devil makes you do bad things bit as well. I mean, believe what you like, but that's not exactly why someone would pick this up. So, as per the suggestion of the author, I got about 80% through this book before I decided that was enough. Read the first quarter and you can get what you need from it. A lot of the filler is the author overexplaining (verging on the edge of condescending). Using the same handful of analogies over and over which is an attempt at consistency, but instead turns into mundane redundancy. I hate to leave such a negative review because I DID like the main point he was trying to make. He just...could have made that point so much better.
January 5, 2022
Worst book I've read in a while. The book started with a couple of interesting ideas then declined rapidly into fluff, irrelevance and poorly constructed lessons on the authors value systems.
April 10, 2021
Enjoyable and quick treatise on why being a generalist is perhaps more valuable than being a specialist, the only exception being that if you’re particularly and especially talented at something. I’m biased though, since I consider myself a generalist and already practice a number of the principles and tips that the author espouses. I also agree with the book that oftentimes, people get caught up in wanting to do or master something for the wrong reasons, that they think specialization will bring glory and/or money, but this is categorically untrue for 99% of the things that 99% of people do. Some Buddhist tenets are also in here, particularly where happiness comes from discipline and finding purpose. Short enough read that I can recommend it to anyone who might be searching to release themselves from anything they might be doing that isn’t bringing them at least a modicum of contentment.
October 2, 2020
หนังสือจะชี้ให้เห็นความสำคัญของการเป็นคนเก่งกว้างหรือมีทักษะในหลา� � ด้าน มากกว่าการที่จะเก่งลึกเจาะจงไปแค่เรื่องใดเรื่องหนึ่ง
ดูเหมือนต้นฉบับจะไม่ได้ใช้คำว่าเก่งแบบเป็� เป็ดไม่เกี่ยวอะไรทั้งสิ้� และฉบับภาษาไทยใช้คำว่าเป็ดดูความหมายจะคลาดเคลื่อนในแง่นี้ไป ถ้านิยามว่าเป็� คือทำได้ทุกอย่างแต่ไม่เก่งสักอย่า� แต่หนังสือพูดถึงการพัฒนาทักษะให้ 'เก่�' ในหลาย � อย่างมากกว่า
แต่การใช� 'เป็�' ก็ดึงดูดความน่าสนใจได้ดีนะ อย่างน้อยผมก็ซื้ออ่านเพราะเป็ดมีผ้าคลุมสี่แดงในรู�
ในเชิงคอนเซ็ปต์ว่าคนเราสมัยนี้ต้องมีทักษะหลาย � ด้าน เรื่องนี้ผมว่าดีแล้� แต่ในส่วนการพัฒนาทักษะหลาย � ด้านนั้น ลองมองหาเล่มอื่นอ่านดีกว่�
ดูเหมือนต้นฉบับจะไม่ได้ใช้คำว่าเก่งแบบเป็� เป็ดไม่เกี่ยวอะไรทั้งสิ้� และฉบับภาษาไทยใช้คำว่าเป็ดดูความหมายจะคลาดเคลื่อนในแง่นี้ไป ถ้านิยามว่าเป็� คือทำได้ทุกอย่างแต่ไม่เก่งสักอย่า� แต่หนังสือพูดถึงการพัฒนาทักษะให้ 'เก่�' ในหลาย � อย่างมากกว่า
แต่การใช� 'เป็�' ก็ดึงดูดความน่าสนใจได้ดีนะ อย่างน้อยผมก็ซื้ออ่านเพราะเป็ดมีผ้าคลุมสี่แดงในรู�
ในเชิงคอนเซ็ปต์ว่าคนเราสมัยนี้ต้องมีทักษะหลาย � ด้าน เรื่องนี้ผมว่าดีแล้� แต่ในส่วนการพัฒนาทักษะหลาย � ด้านนั้น ลองมองหาเล่มอื่นอ่านดีกว่�
October 3, 2020
I really enjoyed this book despite the seeming bombastic title. A title that would normally keep me away.
I read this book because of the author's podcast and appearances on another podcast I listen to. He describes himself as a generalist and mostly this book talks about how you can do the same.
I really like the idea of skill stacking and how you can go about getting better at different skill sets. I also like the idea of shifting gears to concentrate on one skill and then switching back.
This is engagingly written and often funny. What I appreciated was that it did include motivational speaker glibness. The process is not described as easy or "this simple trick". Hard work is involved in developing these skill sets and you need to identify what you should be working on. A good amount of information is given on how to conceptualize this process.
From his life, he describes that as a teenager he was spending most of his time specialing in guitar playing and skills like sweep-picking. Looking back he realized it would have been better off to spend some of that time in related skills such as singing, composition, recording, etc. That total specialization on a technique was not equipping him for a career as a musician. It was one of his guitar teachers that helped him towards being a generalist.
Usually "Jack of all trades and master of none" is used as a slur. We live in a society of various specialists and the idea of being anything short of a master of a particular field is a failure.
I found this book to be very practical in just thinking about this process and where you want to concentrate effort on what you want to achieve. I found his examples very good and of course what he has achieved in his own life shows how this approach has a lot of merits.
I read this book because of the author's podcast and appearances on another podcast I listen to. He describes himself as a generalist and mostly this book talks about how you can do the same.
I really like the idea of skill stacking and how you can go about getting better at different skill sets. I also like the idea of shifting gears to concentrate on one skill and then switching back.
This is engagingly written and often funny. What I appreciated was that it did include motivational speaker glibness. The process is not described as easy or "this simple trick". Hard work is involved in developing these skill sets and you need to identify what you should be working on. A good amount of information is given on how to conceptualize this process.
From his life, he describes that as a teenager he was spending most of his time specialing in guitar playing and skills like sweep-picking. Looking back he realized it would have been better off to spend some of that time in related skills such as singing, composition, recording, etc. That total specialization on a technique was not equipping him for a career as a musician. It was one of his guitar teachers that helped him towards being a generalist.
Usually "Jack of all trades and master of none" is used as a slur. We live in a society of various specialists and the idea of being anything short of a master of a particular field is a failure.
I found this book to be very practical in just thinking about this process and where you want to concentrate effort on what you want to achieve. I found his examples very good and of course what he has achieved in his own life shows how this approach has a lot of merits.
December 21, 2018
[Make sure and listen to the podcast episode with Pat, and don't forget to scroll down for details on how to WIN a copy of the book!]
Pat Flynn is one of the most interesting people I've ever met, and that fact alone is sufficient proof of the potency of his philosophy–after all, such a response is exactly what one would expect from a person pursuing a lifestyle of generalism.
So what is generalism? It's the idea that you should develop a wide variety of skills–not expert-level, but somewhere in the range of proficient to great–and combine them into something unique to the world. Generalism is better understood as a contrast to its opposite approach: specialization. According to Flynn, you should NOT focus on being the world's best guitarist, weight lifter, accountant, mechanic, or whatever your chosen discipline is. The main problem with specializing is that it sets you up for failure, since success at specialization relies upon comparison to others, and success is either impossible to achieve or, once achieved, extremely difficult to maintain. Specialists, writes Flynn, have “built unhappiness into the system.�
On the other hand, with generalism you are free to pursue many different skills to a point of basic proficiency (or even greatness), without your success depending on comparison to others. You can pursue skills for their own sake, of course (maybe you simply enjoy playing piano but have no need to be the best at it), but the real power comes with “skill stacking”–combining multiple skills into something unique, valuable, and monetizable.
Pat dives deeply into his 5 Key Principles of Generalism:
1. Skill Stacking > Specialization
2. Short-Term Specialization | “Good generalists are really just short-term specialists in the sense that they focus on one or two things at a time.�
3. The Rule of 80 Percent | If 100% is perfection, the greatest in the world, then don't ever attempt to develop a skill beyond 80%.
4. Integration > Isolation | “Practice only the things you need to get good at, as they pertain to the task at hand.�
5. Repetition and Resistance | Practice, and “find ways to make it harder on yourself.�
“Skills in combination are more powerful than individual skills by themselves, even if they aren't as fully developed.�
~ Pat Flynn
There is a lot here, and Pat's funny and whimsical personality shines through his writing. He really does want to help get you started on the road to success. Peppered throughout the book are some helpful and practical guides: a one-page program for developing physical preparedness, a checklist for practicing daily discipline, a cheat sheet for maintaining focus and meditation, and a one-page spiritual practice plan.
In How To Be Better At (Almost) Everything, Pat Flynn has delivered a philosophically rigorous (yet utterly readable) and intensely practical exhortation to generalize rather than specialize, and I found it enriching, stimulating, challenging and convincing.
Make sure and listen to my conversation with Pat on the podcast! Plus, enter to win a FREE copy at
Pat Flynn is one of the most interesting people I've ever met, and that fact alone is sufficient proof of the potency of his philosophy–after all, such a response is exactly what one would expect from a person pursuing a lifestyle of generalism.
So what is generalism? It's the idea that you should develop a wide variety of skills–not expert-level, but somewhere in the range of proficient to great–and combine them into something unique to the world. Generalism is better understood as a contrast to its opposite approach: specialization. According to Flynn, you should NOT focus on being the world's best guitarist, weight lifter, accountant, mechanic, or whatever your chosen discipline is. The main problem with specializing is that it sets you up for failure, since success at specialization relies upon comparison to others, and success is either impossible to achieve or, once achieved, extremely difficult to maintain. Specialists, writes Flynn, have “built unhappiness into the system.�
On the other hand, with generalism you are free to pursue many different skills to a point of basic proficiency (or even greatness), without your success depending on comparison to others. You can pursue skills for their own sake, of course (maybe you simply enjoy playing piano but have no need to be the best at it), but the real power comes with “skill stacking”–combining multiple skills into something unique, valuable, and monetizable.
Pat dives deeply into his 5 Key Principles of Generalism:
1. Skill Stacking > Specialization
2. Short-Term Specialization | “Good generalists are really just short-term specialists in the sense that they focus on one or two things at a time.�
3. The Rule of 80 Percent | If 100% is perfection, the greatest in the world, then don't ever attempt to develop a skill beyond 80%.
4. Integration > Isolation | “Practice only the things you need to get good at, as they pertain to the task at hand.�
5. Repetition and Resistance | Practice, and “find ways to make it harder on yourself.�
“Skills in combination are more powerful than individual skills by themselves, even if they aren't as fully developed.�
~ Pat Flynn
There is a lot here, and Pat's funny and whimsical personality shines through his writing. He really does want to help get you started on the road to success. Peppered throughout the book are some helpful and practical guides: a one-page program for developing physical preparedness, a checklist for practicing daily discipline, a cheat sheet for maintaining focus and meditation, and a one-page spiritual practice plan.
In How To Be Better At (Almost) Everything, Pat Flynn has delivered a philosophically rigorous (yet utterly readable) and intensely practical exhortation to generalize rather than specialize, and I found it enriching, stimulating, challenging and convincing.
Make sure and listen to my conversation with Pat on the podcast! Plus, enter to win a FREE copy at
January 14, 2019
Read all my reviews at
The first thing I noticed about Pat Flynn’s style of writing was that it was very casual. He would throw in a bit of humor here and there and that was what made this book easy to relate to. The idea behind generalism is not a new one but one that is rarely written about in a good self-help book. This is the whole premise behind //How To Be Better At Almost Everything//. As Pat Flynn describes it, this book is about “becoming good or great at many things and at least fairly competent at (almost) everything else, and then learning to combine abilities to form a competitive advantage while at the same time finding total and complete fulfillment in life.� He does a great job of explaining why this method works and gives solid examples of successful people of today and the past who have used this method to become the top performer in their game. What Pat said in this book really resonated with me and at times I thought he was actually talking directly to me. As a young child, my mom told me I wasn’t good at just one thing, that I was mediocre. As I grew up I realized this wasn’t a bad thing. I knew a lot about a lot and became better at the things I liked and as an adult, outsourced the things I didn’t really care about. This is what generalism is all about. Taking all of the different skills, all the life lessons, all the mistakes made, and putting them all together to make one big, happy life for yourself. As a personal trainer, I also connected with the fact that Pat is a fitness guru and many of his examples were fitness-related. I guess you could say he was speaking my language. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get ahead in their game and really figure out how to reach their goals without wasting any more precious time. This book is not like other self-help books.
The first thing I noticed about Pat Flynn’s style of writing was that it was very casual. He would throw in a bit of humor here and there and that was what made this book easy to relate to. The idea behind generalism is not a new one but one that is rarely written about in a good self-help book. This is the whole premise behind //How To Be Better At Almost Everything//. As Pat Flynn describes it, this book is about “becoming good or great at many things and at least fairly competent at (almost) everything else, and then learning to combine abilities to form a competitive advantage while at the same time finding total and complete fulfillment in life.� He does a great job of explaining why this method works and gives solid examples of successful people of today and the past who have used this method to become the top performer in their game. What Pat said in this book really resonated with me and at times I thought he was actually talking directly to me. As a young child, my mom told me I wasn’t good at just one thing, that I was mediocre. As I grew up I realized this wasn’t a bad thing. I knew a lot about a lot and became better at the things I liked and as an adult, outsourced the things I didn’t really care about. This is what generalism is all about. Taking all of the different skills, all the life lessons, all the mistakes made, and putting them all together to make one big, happy life for yourself. As a personal trainer, I also connected with the fact that Pat is a fitness guru and many of his examples were fitness-related. I guess you could say he was speaking my language. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get ahead in their game and really figure out how to reach their goals without wasting any more precious time. This book is not like other self-help books.
October 2, 2022
Wow that was weird.
It started off real good explaining how being a generalist is better than specialization. The jack of all trades master of none approach was quite interesting... for about 3 chapters.
Then the author started to repeat himself to the point of insanity. I don't need half a dozen similar examples to know why discipline is good. I understood it with the first one. Stop please.
But it gets worse
Then the author for some reason begins arguing on why faith in God is an important skill(yes skill) to have. How it is absolutely necessary if one wants to live a happy and fulfilling life. He even went on to say "Faith is above reason".
Nothing is funnier than people arguing and "reasoning" that the abandonment of "reason" itself in belief of something supernatural is a good thing.
And after that the book turns into a directionless rant where out of context topics fly faster than one could even point out. No structure whatsoever.
The first few chapters could've been and should've been condensed into a single chapter in some other book. They still were useful but man this thing felt like a poorly scripted podcast episode than a well researched and written book.
It started off real good explaining how being a generalist is better than specialization. The jack of all trades master of none approach was quite interesting... for about 3 chapters.
Then the author started to repeat himself to the point of insanity. I don't need half a dozen similar examples to know why discipline is good. I understood it with the first one. Stop please.
But it gets worse
Then the author for some reason begins arguing on why faith in God is an important skill(yes skill) to have. How it is absolutely necessary if one wants to live a happy and fulfilling life. He even went on to say "Faith is above reason".
Nothing is funnier than people arguing and "reasoning" that the abandonment of "reason" itself in belief of something supernatural is a good thing.
And after that the book turns into a directionless rant where out of context topics fly faster than one could even point out. No structure whatsoever.
The first few chapters could've been and should've been condensed into a single chapter in some other book. They still were useful but man this thing felt like a poorly scripted podcast episode than a well researched and written book.
March 22, 2022
While I am sure Pat Flynn has many talents being short & concise in relaying information is NOT 1 of his stacked talents. Had I not been listening to this 300 page yarn I wouldn't have made it past the first 50. He says You do not have to be 100% superstar but pushes many mediocre skills are just as good. I say skip this & develop another "Talent or Skill" would be time better spent. Just Because You can write a book doesn't mean you should!
August 25, 2020
Cracker of a book. Loved it. It simplifies a whole lot about; how to go about gaining new skills. Very simple rules that Pat has mentioned, he also goes on to elaborately explain each of the below rules.
1. Skill Stacking.
2. Short term specialization.
3. 80 % rule
4. Integration
5. Repetition and Resistance
He also takes about Meta skills, which are highly needed to survive in this world and to make a sense of what is happening around us, these meta skills can also be applied to learning any new skill that we choose to.
1. Discipline
2. Focus
3. Logic
4. Persuasion
5. Faith
The best part of the book is where Pat is just about starting and says 'Freedom for excellence, this is the freedom that comes from restriction'. Which basically means, one needs to know what to give up and restrict ourselves from enjoying to achieve what we want to excel at. Any further and i will end up reproducing parts of the book, which is not desirable. You should just go and read this book, read this book if you are lost as to how to go about gathering new skills in life to sustain. Happy reading.
1. Skill Stacking.
2. Short term specialization.
3. 80 % rule
4. Integration
5. Repetition and Resistance
He also takes about Meta skills, which are highly needed to survive in this world and to make a sense of what is happening around us, these meta skills can also be applied to learning any new skill that we choose to.
1. Discipline
2. Focus
3. Logic
4. Persuasion
5. Faith
The best part of the book is where Pat is just about starting and says 'Freedom for excellence, this is the freedom that comes from restriction'. Which basically means, one needs to know what to give up and restrict ourselves from enjoying to achieve what we want to excel at. Any further and i will end up reproducing parts of the book, which is not desirable. You should just go and read this book, read this book if you are lost as to how to go about gathering new skills in life to sustain. Happy reading.
July 4, 2021
Excellent book on progressing on any goal you may have.
I have heard many of the arguments Pat Flynn makes here, but I still appreciated hearing them again. He combines a ton of different books on the topic to make something wildly useful and concise. To be fair, Pat Flynn also adds angles and anecdotes I haven't heard before in this sphere, which makes the book more unique.
The only thing that confused me was how Scott Adams wasn't referenced. It sounds like many of the concepts were borrowed and refined from Scott Adams's methods. Perhaps they're both using a common source I'm unaware of, which I would love to hear about.
Either way, it doesn't really matter. The book complements other books well and adds its own contribution. It's well worth the time investment required to finish it.
I have heard many of the arguments Pat Flynn makes here, but I still appreciated hearing them again. He combines a ton of different books on the topic to make something wildly useful and concise. To be fair, Pat Flynn also adds angles and anecdotes I haven't heard before in this sphere, which makes the book more unique.
The only thing that confused me was how Scott Adams wasn't referenced. It sounds like many of the concepts were borrowed and refined from Scott Adams's methods. Perhaps they're both using a common source I'm unaware of, which I would love to hear about.
Either way, it doesn't really matter. The book complements other books well and adds its own contribution. It's well worth the time investment required to finish it.
January 14, 2019
A lot of us would want to be known as someone who’s truly great at one thing. But because of some reason or another, most of us don’t really get to achieve that level of greatness. Author Pat Flynn, in his book “How to Be Better at Almost Everything,� shares his secrets to learning, how to combine interests, so we could be better than most people in any field.
As a generalist myself, I appreciate his insights. Having many interests, I know I can’t be “the best� at one thing, but I’d like to be good at many things. In this fast-paced, constantly changing, technology-centric world we live in, it pays to be a multi-skilled generalist.
Flynn’s thoughts on skill stacking, repetition and resistance are valuable in today’s world.
Advanced reading copy from Netgalley.com
As a generalist myself, I appreciate his insights. Having many interests, I know I can’t be “the best� at one thing, but I’d like to be good at many things. In this fast-paced, constantly changing, technology-centric world we live in, it pays to be a multi-skilled generalist.
Flynn’s thoughts on skill stacking, repetition and resistance are valuable in today’s world.
Advanced reading copy from Netgalley.com
March 28, 2022
Decent book. It confirms the idea that “a jack of all trades is a master of none but often times better than a master of one.� He writes about how being a “generalist� is more valuable than being a specialist. He expands on the idea of being well-rounded. The title is a little high-browy, but I enjoy his writing style and how he talks directly at you.
September 28, 2019
The worst book I read in years. Some good Ideas in the beginning don’t make a good book. Poor jokes, poor writing skills, maybe the author should have specialized a little more in his writing skills. Profiles in Generalism is the worst chapter - what a waste of time.
May 4, 2021
I finished the audio book for Pat Flynn's How to be Better at (almost) Everything.
I always enjoy a good self improvement book. This was a quick and easy read full of solid advice. I'm definitely going to put these tips into practice in my own life
I always enjoy a good self improvement book. This was a quick and easy read full of solid advice. I'm definitely going to put these tips into practice in my own life
May 25, 2021
The idea of generalism is very convincing, I get many aha-moments while reading the book, and it challenged very well my ideas on the supremacy of specialism. The jokes are not good though and the author has to make a revisited edition with fewer of these jokes
June 10, 2019
As someone that has read a lot about "being the best at what you do" books, this was a new approach to being proficient at something without having to be the best. I didn't know it was sort of a way of life called Generalism but I enjoyed reading about it.
Pat Flynn has a very friendly way of telling his story in this book. It was like listening to a friend talk to you about his life experiences and giving you advice on what worked for him. I'm aware that not everything he said it's applicable to me, for example, but it was nice hearing what he had to say.
While reading this book you have to keep an open mind because it goes against most of the things we are taught since childhood. My parents, for example, taught me to give my 100% into everything I did but Pat says to only "perfected" or give it 80%. He heavily relies on the 80/20 rule.
As a blogger I can personally see where he's coming from. You can't give your 100% to everything all the time, but you can give it your 80%. In my particular case, I found out that this rule is applicable and reliable.
Some moments when he used the Generalism and didn't say it wasn't for everyone, is the reason why my review is not a 5 star one. You can generalize your advice all you want but make room for people that don't agree with you. There were few of these moments but they bugged me.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I got the audible version. He narrates and the whole book is 4 hrs and 23 mins long but I'm giving it a go and I liked it better than the written version.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Pat Flynn has a very friendly way of telling his story in this book. It was like listening to a friend talk to you about his life experiences and giving you advice on what worked for him. I'm aware that not everything he said it's applicable to me, for example, but it was nice hearing what he had to say.
While reading this book you have to keep an open mind because it goes against most of the things we are taught since childhood. My parents, for example, taught me to give my 100% into everything I did but Pat says to only "perfected" or give it 80%. He heavily relies on the 80/20 rule.
As a blogger I can personally see where he's coming from. You can't give your 100% to everything all the time, but you can give it your 80%. In my particular case, I found out that this rule is applicable and reliable.
Some moments when he used the Generalism and didn't say it wasn't for everyone, is the reason why my review is not a 5 star one. You can generalize your advice all you want but make room for people that don't agree with you. There were few of these moments but they bugged me.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I got the audible version. He narrates and the whole book is 4 hrs and 23 mins long but I'm giving it a go and I liked it better than the written version.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
February 11, 2022
I chose this audiobook, because, well, it was short and the title was intriguing enough.
My expectations were low, but I found a lot of useful "hands-on" tips on how to develop yourself and grow. So the book was short and sweet but managed to pack quite a nice batch of tips on how to well.. be better :D
This book gave me hope that I'm not hopeless :)
My expectations were low, but I found a lot of useful "hands-on" tips on how to develop yourself and grow. So the book was short and sweet but managed to pack quite a nice batch of tips on how to well.. be better :D
This book gave me hope that I'm not hopeless :)
May 27, 2019
Great book on the concept of generalism. Most books I read or podcasts I listen to tell me to maximize the skill I'm best at and forsake all others. This book takes a different stance and is more applicable to the problems I face on a day-to-day basis. I look forward Pat's future projects!
March 29, 2020
Good book. Loved the concept of aiming to achieve 80% learning and not trying to be best
May 5, 2019
I picked this book up at the library thinking it was the other famous Pat Flynn. I’m glad I did pick it up though because it gave me something different to consider - being a generalist over a specialist. But it was one of those “long blog post� books - just a few key messages to takeaway. Didn’t need to read the whole book. It was really written for teenage boys, not me.
December 7, 2021
Yeah, I just can't do self help anymore. This was....fine. I'm sure a lot of people would get more out of it than I did at this particular time in my life.
March 21, 2022
(my notes)
Why is Skill stacking is better than specialisation?
Generalism improves creativity.
Guitarist who is really good mostly just appeals to other guitarists, the masses don't care about the extreme shows of talent. A combination of playing instruments relatively well, making melodies, writing lyrics, etc. Leads to a beloved artist more than just becoming great at guitar.
For some people specialization is important, for those with the genetic stage to built something rare on, like Kobe Bryant. Generalism is best for most people, it relies on nothing rare, you can be just you and be successful. Furthermore, the majority of people have a spectrum of interests and passions, by becoming decent at a bunch of expressions, you become a more whole expression of yourself. You have invested equally into a bunch of skill points.
Specialization can make you sick of whatever it is you're spending all your energy on. Generalism keeps your interest in each topic/activity alive and fresh.
Self-improvement is about creating things that people enjoy and benefit from, and the act of creating those things should make you into someone you enjoy being with, and that others enjoy being with.
I'm only free to express myself as a musician if I learn to play an instrument. But I can only learn an instrument if I am willing to follow a set of rules and practice habits, it's only by limiting my freedom in one dimension, that I gain it in another. One must give up being able to not practice, or the freedom to practice however they want, to gain being able to practice in a structured and effective manner.
Shoot term specialisation is okay. Learning something is harder than maintaining.
Five principles
Skill stacking - producer, guitar player, bass, piano, marketer
Short-term specialisation -
The rule of 80%
Integration over isolation - don't learn every chord for the guitar, just learn the chords you need for the song your trying to learn. Isolation is necessary sometimes, but only for things that will be integrated later. What you learn should be tied to a greater project or purpose.
Repetition & Resistance
Challenge but successful. Do reps at the things you want to improve.
Discipline - discipline makes you more you. It makes you more defined. Eg. Follow your passions, cultivate the ability to express yourself more truly, give example of how much discipline an animal has not to eat food, hardly knows the future exists, humans figured out storing food, planting seeds, reading books instead of always worrying about survival etc. .. another thing here, you must have your body believe survival is established in order to effectively do tasks that require discipline. Anxiety makes you think your survival is inhibited, which causes survival responses, blood floe away from brain, food cravings, compulsively. Meditation keeps you feeling calm and safe which is the ideal state for learning and creating.
...
Small acts of discipline each day reprogram the mind. "To evoke the muse, you must prove you're ready for what she gives you". To be ready, show up for yourself each day. Discipline creates confidence, and then the confidence gives you motivation and more discipline because you become excited about what you're capable of.
...
Important part about discipline - track and monitor everything. Record your workouts, record your practice sessions, practising a handstand? Video the progression
Logic - learn how to learn. Without logic, we're lost. With it, we're found. Save time by thinking right. Meditation helps critical thinking.
Faith - what stops us from going the wrong way. Keeps us going.
If you want to start making money off something you're interested in, give free value for a good while. Eg. Someone wanted their music to get popular, so they started a youtube channel where they made guitar tutorials, built an audience, and then had that leverage.
Avoid falling into the illusion of progression in regard to learning. Don't just keep learning and keep hoarding information continually without acting or integrating. Read enough, then act.
Why is Skill stacking is better than specialisation?
Generalism improves creativity.
Guitarist who is really good mostly just appeals to other guitarists, the masses don't care about the extreme shows of talent. A combination of playing instruments relatively well, making melodies, writing lyrics, etc. Leads to a beloved artist more than just becoming great at guitar.
For some people specialization is important, for those with the genetic stage to built something rare on, like Kobe Bryant. Generalism is best for most people, it relies on nothing rare, you can be just you and be successful. Furthermore, the majority of people have a spectrum of interests and passions, by becoming decent at a bunch of expressions, you become a more whole expression of yourself. You have invested equally into a bunch of skill points.
Specialization can make you sick of whatever it is you're spending all your energy on. Generalism keeps your interest in each topic/activity alive and fresh.
Self-improvement is about creating things that people enjoy and benefit from, and the act of creating those things should make you into someone you enjoy being with, and that others enjoy being with.
I'm only free to express myself as a musician if I learn to play an instrument. But I can only learn an instrument if I am willing to follow a set of rules and practice habits, it's only by limiting my freedom in one dimension, that I gain it in another. One must give up being able to not practice, or the freedom to practice however they want, to gain being able to practice in a structured and effective manner.
Shoot term specialisation is okay. Learning something is harder than maintaining.
Five principles
Skill stacking - producer, guitar player, bass, piano, marketer
Short-term specialisation -
The rule of 80%
Integration over isolation - don't learn every chord for the guitar, just learn the chords you need for the song your trying to learn. Isolation is necessary sometimes, but only for things that will be integrated later. What you learn should be tied to a greater project or purpose.
Repetition & Resistance
Challenge but successful. Do reps at the things you want to improve.
Discipline - discipline makes you more you. It makes you more defined. Eg. Follow your passions, cultivate the ability to express yourself more truly, give example of how much discipline an animal has not to eat food, hardly knows the future exists, humans figured out storing food, planting seeds, reading books instead of always worrying about survival etc. .. another thing here, you must have your body believe survival is established in order to effectively do tasks that require discipline. Anxiety makes you think your survival is inhibited, which causes survival responses, blood floe away from brain, food cravings, compulsively. Meditation keeps you feeling calm and safe which is the ideal state for learning and creating.
...
Small acts of discipline each day reprogram the mind. "To evoke the muse, you must prove you're ready for what she gives you". To be ready, show up for yourself each day. Discipline creates confidence, and then the confidence gives you motivation and more discipline because you become excited about what you're capable of.
...
Important part about discipline - track and monitor everything. Record your workouts, record your practice sessions, practising a handstand? Video the progression
Logic - learn how to learn. Without logic, we're lost. With it, we're found. Save time by thinking right. Meditation helps critical thinking.
Faith - what stops us from going the wrong way. Keeps us going.
If you want to start making money off something you're interested in, give free value for a good while. Eg. Someone wanted their music to get popular, so they started a youtube channel where they made guitar tutorials, built an audience, and then had that leverage.
Avoid falling into the illusion of progression in regard to learning. Don't just keep learning and keep hoarding information continually without acting or integrating. Read enough, then act.
May 23, 2023
He gets the point and the audiobook is fairly entertaining as he is a witty writer. More so an analysis than a how to. There was a how to portion in it that goes over skills everyone should learn to be a productive member of society.
He has a great philosophy, was worth my time.
He has a great philosophy, was worth my time.
January 28, 2019
I've followed Pat as a fitness coach for a while now and I have now found that I love his writing style. He makes it seem like you're having a conversation and he makes a lot of sense talking about why it's better to be a generalist rather than a specialist. Most of us will never be the "best" at one thing, but if we can learn to be good at a lot of things, we can combine those into something unique and fun. I would highly recommend this book, especially to aspiring business owners.
February 22, 2022
2.5/5 stars!
"Faith is not just about what you believe but also to the kind of person you become because of that belief."
This book contains: faith, workouts, guitar, religion, specialization and generalization.
This was another case of I-like-the-title-so-let’s-read-it. Do you know the famous quote “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one�? This is exactly what’s behind this book and I strongly agree: it is better to be good at a lot of things than the best at a single thing.
I was excited to read this book and it started out on the right foot for me. I was interested to see how the author would develop this topic and his perspective. At the end� it didn’t work out for me.
One of the biggest reasons why I didn’t like this book is that it feels more like a memoir other than a self-development book. It’s very focused on the author, his experiences and interests. This means there is a lot about playing the guitar, working out and faith/religion. It’s not a practical book where there’s tips and/or directions, only a few pointers on why you should do certain things. Also, it gets very repetitive at times.
The humor was a little cringey - and I don’t mean dad joke kind of cringey - and unnecessary at times, but I appreciate the author’s effort to try and make the book more pleasant.
I’m also not sure what I feel about the use of religion here. I personally don’t mind the issue but I can see how this can be a no-go for some readers because it gets a little too preachy.
At the end of the day, did I learn anything from this book? I� don’t know? If I did, it was definitely not in the conventional way. I like to read other people’s lives and experiences, so I guess I took more from this book in a memoir kind of way other than self-development.
Long story short: the main idea was underdeveloped, there was a lot of filler and the good/evil preaching session was probably unnecessary for this particular audience. Not the worst book I have ever had, but it was all over the place and I didn't take much from it.
|
"Faith is not just about what you believe but also to the kind of person you become because of that belief."
This book contains: faith, workouts, guitar, religion, specialization and generalization.
This was another case of I-like-the-title-so-let’s-read-it. Do you know the famous quote “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one�? This is exactly what’s behind this book and I strongly agree: it is better to be good at a lot of things than the best at a single thing.
I was excited to read this book and it started out on the right foot for me. I was interested to see how the author would develop this topic and his perspective. At the end� it didn’t work out for me.
One of the biggest reasons why I didn’t like this book is that it feels more like a memoir other than a self-development book. It’s very focused on the author, his experiences and interests. This means there is a lot about playing the guitar, working out and faith/religion. It’s not a practical book where there’s tips and/or directions, only a few pointers on why you should do certain things. Also, it gets very repetitive at times.
The humor was a little cringey - and I don’t mean dad joke kind of cringey - and unnecessary at times, but I appreciate the author’s effort to try and make the book more pleasant.
I’m also not sure what I feel about the use of religion here. I personally don’t mind the issue but I can see how this can be a no-go for some readers because it gets a little too preachy.
At the end of the day, did I learn anything from this book? I� don’t know? If I did, it was definitely not in the conventional way. I like to read other people’s lives and experiences, so I guess I took more from this book in a memoir kind of way other than self-development.
Long story short: the main idea was underdeveloped, there was a lot of filler and the good/evil preaching session was probably unnecessary for this particular audience. Not the worst book I have ever had, but it was all over the place and I didn't take much from it.
|
November 25, 2023
It's a remarkably horrible read, deserving no more than 1 out of 5 stars. "How to be better at (almost) everything" starts off with promise, offering basic but useful advice with a sprinkle of humor. The author's initial musings on various topics like meditation, yoga, and logic, though shallowly presented, provide a glimpse of an intriguing 'system' for life improvement. However, this semblance of value quickly dissipates.
The book's tone is wildly inconsistent, oscillating between folksy wisdom and bizarre rants about the devil influencing sci-fi novel writing. The author’s religious views, initially a subtle undertone, escalate into aggressive sermonizing. Particularly distasteful is a section suggesting children with cancer serve as tools for societal kindness—a notion as offensive as it is bizarre.
The author's approach to being a generalist, initially an interesting concept, is lost in repetitive and redundant explanations, reducing the book's effectiveness to near zero. The argument that faith is a necessary 'skill' for a fulfilling life, pitched with the assertion that it supersedes reason, further alienates rational readers.
As the book progresses, it morphs into a directionless rant, lacking structure and coherence. The writing style is often rambling and condescending, with a peculiar homage to Donald Trump's persuasion tactics and an odd fixation on the devil's influence on concentration.
Ultimately, the book could have been condensed into a short blog post or infographic, as the majority of it is filler material. The initial good ideas are overwhelmed by poor jokes, lackluster writing, and a baffling mix of half-baked worldviews. It's a disappointing journey from a promising start to a chaotic and unstructured end, making it one of the worst reads in recent years.
The book's tone is wildly inconsistent, oscillating between folksy wisdom and bizarre rants about the devil influencing sci-fi novel writing. The author’s religious views, initially a subtle undertone, escalate into aggressive sermonizing. Particularly distasteful is a section suggesting children with cancer serve as tools for societal kindness—a notion as offensive as it is bizarre.
The author's approach to being a generalist, initially an interesting concept, is lost in repetitive and redundant explanations, reducing the book's effectiveness to near zero. The argument that faith is a necessary 'skill' for a fulfilling life, pitched with the assertion that it supersedes reason, further alienates rational readers.
As the book progresses, it morphs into a directionless rant, lacking structure and coherence. The writing style is often rambling and condescending, with a peculiar homage to Donald Trump's persuasion tactics and an odd fixation on the devil's influence on concentration.
Ultimately, the book could have been condensed into a short blog post or infographic, as the majority of it is filler material. The initial good ideas are overwhelmed by poor jokes, lackluster writing, and a baffling mix of half-baked worldviews. It's a disappointing journey from a promising start to a chaotic and unstructured end, making it one of the worst reads in recent years.
April 10, 2025
Lugesin Eesti keeles.
Palju oli sama mõtte kordamist, poindist oli arusaada rmt alguses. Lisaks tõi autor palju samas valdkonnas olevaid näiteid, kirjutamine, mediteerimine, trenni tegemine, usk ja kitarr. Näited oleks võinud olla mitmekesisemad.
Kasulikku, mida kõrva taha panna:
Õnn on oskus, äri on oskus.
Arenda disipliini öelda “ei� kõigele, mis sind oma elu eesmärgist eemale kisub.
Ole piisavalt hea erinevates vajalikes oskustes ja seejärel kombineerima neid omavahel ainulaadsel ja kasulikul viisil. Generalistid omandavad kõik vajalikud oskused, et olla täiesti iseseisvalt edukad. See on vabaduse saladus.
Igale ettevõtjale olulised oskused on tähelepanu äratamine, müük ja klientide hoidmine. Iga oskus, mis ei aita nendele eesmärkidele kaasa, jäta kõrvale.
Tee 1.asjast hommikul distsipliini toetav tegevus, nt trenn, külm dušš või meditatsioon. Et see oleks sinu päeva algus, et käima lükata.
Suurim erinevus võitjate ja kaotajate vahel: võitjad teavad, kuidas hoida oma tagumikku paigal, kui on aeg kirjutada või minna jõusaali. Kaotajad lükkavad asju edasi, nad lasevad end muudest asjadest häirida, nad lõpetavad enne kui töö on tehtud. Miksi olemasolu hoiab su tagumiku toolil või veab sind jõusaali.
Kõik algab meie mõtetest.
Pühenda vähemalt 1h oskusele, millele lühiajaliselt spetsialiseerud.
Minimalism - vähima tegemine jõudmaks punktist A punkti B. Keegi, kes seisab tõhususe (õigete asjade tegemine) ja efektiivsuse (asjade õigesti tegemine) ristteel. Minimalistina sead endale kindlad ja kiireloomulised tähtajad, ei anna rohkem aega kui vaja või isegi dramaatiliselt vähem. Mida sa teeksid kui sul oleks vaid 1h, et end generalistina arendada?
Palju oli sama mõtte kordamist, poindist oli arusaada rmt alguses. Lisaks tõi autor palju samas valdkonnas olevaid näiteid, kirjutamine, mediteerimine, trenni tegemine, usk ja kitarr. Näited oleks võinud olla mitmekesisemad.
Kasulikku, mida kõrva taha panna:
Õnn on oskus, äri on oskus.
Arenda disipliini öelda “ei� kõigele, mis sind oma elu eesmärgist eemale kisub.
Ole piisavalt hea erinevates vajalikes oskustes ja seejärel kombineerima neid omavahel ainulaadsel ja kasulikul viisil. Generalistid omandavad kõik vajalikud oskused, et olla täiesti iseseisvalt edukad. See on vabaduse saladus.
Igale ettevõtjale olulised oskused on tähelepanu äratamine, müük ja klientide hoidmine. Iga oskus, mis ei aita nendele eesmärkidele kaasa, jäta kõrvale.
Tee 1.asjast hommikul distsipliini toetav tegevus, nt trenn, külm dušš või meditatsioon. Et see oleks sinu päeva algus, et käima lükata.
Suurim erinevus võitjate ja kaotajate vahel: võitjad teavad, kuidas hoida oma tagumikku paigal, kui on aeg kirjutada või minna jõusaali. Kaotajad lükkavad asju edasi, nad lasevad end muudest asjadest häirida, nad lõpetavad enne kui töö on tehtud. Miksi olemasolu hoiab su tagumiku toolil või veab sind jõusaali.
Kõik algab meie mõtetest.
Pühenda vähemalt 1h oskusele, millele lühiajaliselt spetsialiseerud.
Minimalism - vähima tegemine jõudmaks punktist A punkti B. Keegi, kes seisab tõhususe (õigete asjade tegemine) ja efektiivsuse (asjade õigesti tegemine) ristteel. Minimalistina sead endale kindlad ja kiireloomulised tähtajad, ei anna rohkem aega kui vaja või isegi dramaatiliselt vähem. Mida sa teeksid kui sul oleks vaid 1h, et end generalistina arendada?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2019
Much of modern thinking is based on the fact that in order to succeed we must specialize; and the more we specialize the more we will know and the more success we will have. But is this true?
The last years of my life I have lived the opposite, I used to read only one topic, today I try to read all kinds of topics. And I've seen the most creative people with those who combine knowledge from multiple areas of knowledge. Would it be better to be a generalist or a specialist?
A book that speaks of goodness will be a generalist: "How to Be Better at Almost Everything Learn Anything Quickly, Stack Your Skills, Dominate" by Pat Flynn.
Many times trying to specialize in something to "be the best" takes us out of the market makes us be appreciated by a few "specialists." Perhaps for some professions it is very good, but in life even the expert doctor needs to exercise, develop as a person, take care of his family and do many other things that only devote himself to his profession.
Pat tells us that it is better to learn from many things. Yes, try to be good but never exceed 80% of the level in any kind of thing.
For certain jobs, as a general manager of a company, and for many positions of responsibility, I think it is the way to have a balanced life and knowledge that allow to attack all kinds of problems from many points of view.
The last years of my life I have lived the opposite, I used to read only one topic, today I try to read all kinds of topics. And I've seen the most creative people with those who combine knowledge from multiple areas of knowledge. Would it be better to be a generalist or a specialist?
A book that speaks of goodness will be a generalist: "How to Be Better at Almost Everything Learn Anything Quickly, Stack Your Skills, Dominate" by Pat Flynn.
Many times trying to specialize in something to "be the best" takes us out of the market makes us be appreciated by a few "specialists." Perhaps for some professions it is very good, but in life even the expert doctor needs to exercise, develop as a person, take care of his family and do many other things that only devote himself to his profession.
Pat tells us that it is better to learn from many things. Yes, try to be good but never exceed 80% of the level in any kind of thing.
For certain jobs, as a general manager of a company, and for many positions of responsibility, I think it is the way to have a balanced life and knowledge that allow to attack all kinds of problems from many points of view.
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