Smarter Faster Better

The Secrets of Being Productive

By: Charles Duhigg

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

In the international best seller The Power of Habit, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Charles Duhigg explained why we do what we do. In Smarter Faster Better, he applies the same relentless curiosity, rigorous reporting and rich storytelling to explain how we can get better at the things we do. The result is a groundbreaking exploration of the science of productivity.

A group of data scientists at Google embark on a four-year study of how the best teams function and find that how a group interacts is much more important than who is in the group.

A marine corps general, faced with low morale among recruits, reimagines boot camp - and discovers that instilling a 'bias toward action' can turn even the most directionless teenagers into self-motivating achievers.

The filmmakers behind Disney's Frozen are on the brink of catastrophe - until they shake up their team in just the right way, spurring a creative breakthrough that leads to one of the highest-grossing movies of all time.

What do these people have in common? They know that productivity relies on making certain choices. The way we frame our daily decisions; the big ambitions we embrace and the easy goals we ignore; the cultures we establish as leaders to drive innovation: these are the things that separate the merely busy from the genuinely productive.

At the core of Smarter Faster Better are eight key concepts - from motivation and goal setting to focus and decision making - that explain why some people and companies get so much done. Drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience, psychology and behavioural eco­nomics - as well as the experiences of CEOs, educational reformers, four-star generals, airplane pilots and Broadway songwriters - this painstakingly researched book explains that the most productive people, companies and organizations don't merely act differently.

They view the world, and their choices, in profoundly different ways.

©2016 Charles Duhigg ; 2016 Random House AudioBooks

On my 4th Repeat!

Charles Duhigg sews together ideas that build upon each other mixing real life applications with scientific theory. This has become my go to book when seeking productivity tips.

Very practical and engaging from the word Go.

I've listened to it for a second time. My first time listen proved that I was a different person compared to this second one. Looking forward to a third listen.

A lot of stories with some real gems

A nice book and some very good insights and practical approaches around work and productivity. But filled with too widely knit stories and sometined difficult to connect. Overall a gid book.

Great book with wonderful ideas. I recommend this book to anyone looking for ways to maximize productivity.

Brilliant all the way through

Amazing and truly engaging stories, helpful tips and brilliant overview of key concepts towards the end. Well narrated too.

Awesome Practical Insights

Loved the book. Kept making sure that everyday made time to listen to it. Narration was great.

Well Summed Up Principles

The book seems to sum up productivity and work principles. Perhaps nothing new, but all in one place with some captivating stories around it. I can only recommend.

Insightful

Great book and great Insights to daily tricks all ties in at the end loved it. Listening to a few chapters many times over

The power of the habit is much better

Some of the chapters is this book is somewhat boring. There is a lot of focus on team work.

Worth a read and needs a second read

This book is definitely worth a read, and may take a second and third read to fully embrace the tools and wisdom it contains.

For me, the last chapter should have been the first chapter, OR at the very least, the author should have offered the reader the option to first read the very last chapter and then start reading the book from the front.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, AND from the time to time the case studies were a bit drawn out. It would be an "even better if" if Duhigg could give very clear and specific tools and suggestions at the end of each chapter, as he did at the end of the book.

I love the personal style of Duhigg's writing and his passion for his subject matter is very admirable. The manner in which he shares his humanity so richly in the final chapter is wonderful. I am burning to read his next book.