So Good They Can't Ignore You

I've never really considered several of the things outlined in the book and I found it interesting and easy to read. Having come from a pure follow your passion to find happiness and meaning background it is really great to see some contrast and important ideas to think about when trying to decide wha work to do.

This book was just what I needed. When you graduate from university you really expect that once you start working you are going to be this hugely important person at the office. The reality is that your not and this book points out why ... It is because you haven't amassed the career capital with which you can add significant value. Honestly this book is just what I needed and I will definitely approach my work differently and think deeply about how I can apply the four rules prescribed here.

I really enjoyed this book. I first purchased it from Audible, but I picked up the Kindle version as well for easy reference. I had felt myself slipping into a mindset were I felt entitled to success, and was getting more and more frustrated at work when I actually had to "do stuff" because others couldn't figure something out. I realized after reading that this was a good thing, as I was valuable and am now motivated to implement my own system of deliberate practice so that I can become more valuable to my current and future employers.

Biased by "Deep Work" because I think the author grew a lot between the 2 books. I read this one first and think it is well worth 10 fold the price. It hits on why you should be damn good at your job and why it makes sense to build up career capitol. If you are entering the workforce or new to it, it is a must read!

I like the fundamental arguments of this book. I agree that 'follow your passion' is bad general advice. And I believe that that becoming very good at something valuable will help you get a satisfying job.

That said.

The book reads like a padded TV show. It seems that more pages are filled summarizing and introducing than actually arguing. I read it in one sitting, and the repetition became vary irritating very quickly. It's a short book, it should have been shorter.

There is also very little evidence presented. The anecdotes are interesting... and anecdotal. I agreed with the argument, but that is because I already agreed it with. However, even if the evidence is weak, it can be enjoyable to have your preconceptions reaffirmed, and the book does serve as a little kick-up-the-butt to keep trying to improve.

Sometimes I stumble on a book that makes us think, recap our life and understand the inner working of my choices. Cal Newport's book : So Good they can't ignore You - is one of such books.
The central argument of the book is that pursuing the job of our passion is the wrong approach to our careers. Working hard pursuing being good on what you do creates a virtuous cycle that boosts the joy and fuels the real passions. We are so immersed with messages stating that we must pursue our passions unbeknownst that is the verge for great frustration. As Newport cleverly writes, Steve Jobs has his share to fuel the credo in his famous Stanford speech in spite that earlier his life he would prefer his real passion - becoming a Zen monk.
I intend to send as a gift to my loved daughter that is starting her career . I always advised about her choices with: choose whatever you wish, just be very good at what you do. Now I can have a comprehensive framework to work with.

A different approach to the ever lasting follow your passion motto. After years of questioning my professional career and even thinking of starting from scratch, this book really helped me to understand that I was missing the point and letting myself being influenced by Steve Jobs style speeches that only foster frustration.

Many books have been written on the topic of career advice, discovering your strengths, and pursuing your passions. Most I've found inspiring, but not so helpful in thinking about what to do next. This book is different; it is one of the most insightful, actionable, and useful books on the subject. The advice offered flies in the face of just about every other book you'll read on the topic, and that is what makes it so valuable.

This book does an excellent job of challenging the notion that there is a perfect job for all of us just waiting to be found. True reward can be found in challenging ourself to be the best at whatever task we may even be moderately interested in pursuing. Great examples including a look at the author's own journey.

There is a cultural obsession nowadays with the "do what you love, follow your passion" mindset. The author does a great job to contradict this phylosophy, and go back to the basics, which is to work right, a mindset that has probably been successful throughout the history of humankind. Excellent read.

"...start focusing instead on saying something people really care about -- which is where your energy should be if you want to succeed."

If you enjoy this book, then also check out Linchpin by Seth Godin.

"...start focusing instead on saying something people really care about -- which is where your energy should be if you want to succeed."

If you enjoy this book, then also check out Linchpin by Seth Godin.

I really enjoyed this book. It pulls together axioms such as work hard, work smart, to formulas to both find and define your own success. I bought this book for my children so that it would ease their worries about career paths and refocus their efforts to put one hundred percent into whatever they do. It is a very good book as it make a wonderful case for excellence!

Nice book. It cahllenges some basic assumptions we've taken for granted over the years. While reflecting on some of the successful people I've known, I find that the rules in this book holds true most of the time. I recommend it to anyone who seriously wants to succeee in the workplace and in any endeavor.

It's easy to get overwhelmed by what other people are doing and accomplishing and feel like I'm not doing enough, fast enough, good enough. This book really helped me remember to put the focus on what I do, why I do it, and to just keep doing it. I have recommended this book and loaned it to several friends who I know could benefit from this same message.

I found the case studies meaningful and thought provoking.

Easy to read and appreciate. It will be useful to get more statistics on the alternative passion hypothesis to make it more compelling.

Get this for every young person in HS or college. They NEED to hear this message its the best source of information on the subject and is 100% accurate. I buy one fo every HS grad and college grad I know.

Having a career today can look like a disorienting soup of turns and missteps. In this book, the author brings real rigor to looking at why that is. In the process he's clarified for me what to focus on next and how to value my career so far. Trailblazers and drones alike will love this book.

Some very strong concepts here that everyone should apply to their modus operandi - although I felt examples could be more rich or detailed, and the people in them somewhat generic. The fact that there is no extensive "how to apply this" is by itself a positive in my opinion - you have to reflect and choose how this works for you instead of following a "life cookbook".

This book is very well written and contains a huge amount of practical advice on how to craft a fulfilling career.

The main premise of the book is that follow your passions and the money will follow is bad career advice. The problem is that often things that you are passionate about are not in high demand. Cal instead suggests that you should focus on developing a rare and valuable skill. Only then will you have the opportunity to construct a career that gives you autonomy, a sense of mission, and good compensation.

The book is mainly written as a series of case studies interspersed with Cal's analysis of what is working and what is not. At various points Cal introduces a new law to highlight an important point. For example, he writes about 'The Law of Remarkability' which says, "For a mission-driven project to succeed, it should be remarkable in two different ways. First, it must compel people who encounter it to remark about it to others. Second, it must be launched in a venue that supports such remarking."

If you are currently strategizing about your career then this book may well add clarity to your thoughts. It's a quick read and it's controversial advice is certainly thought provoking.

"Discover your passion" and "find what you love" are common suggestions that may stifle personal growth by provoking the thought that there are greener pastures. These suggestions are easier said than done. People face significant obstacles in matching up with their dream jobs when they have no commensurate value to offer in return.

Solution? Acquire rare and valuable skills and become indispensable.

Cal Newport offers a more practical and focused approach to finding work you love. This book is perfect for high-achievers who haven't seen positive results from following conventional wisdom. The craftsman mindset, as described in this book, will guide you along a different path. One that I hope will save me time and spare me considerable job-related insecurities.

I really enjoyed this book, despite its best efforts.

It's written like a boilerplate business non-fiction. Every chapter opens with an anecdote and continues with a lesson from the anecdote. It has 4 rules that you can easily remember. All the stuff that every business non-fiction book does.

Nevertheless, the ideas in the book are incredibly interesting. This is the book I'd give to all the people out there who are unsure what they want to do as a living, who are unhappy with their jobs and who are hopelessly searching for a passion which they can monetize so they can live they life that they think they're supposed to have. "Work on your skills" is much better way to live for most people than "go find your passion and then you'll know what to do for the rest of your life."

Its about time someone wrote a book that removes the need to magically know what your passion is before you've learnt anything about the world. Best book I have ever read involving career success and personal growth. All the anxiety I had over not knowing my so called "passion" is gone. Now I know what I have to do.

Great concept, but a little repetitive. Could have been more succinct and used more examples that were not in the entertainment industry. I feel that performing and loving being a great performer is different than loving work and being so great at your job and unable to be ignored.
Still worth the read though.

I waited with much anticipation for this book after recently finishing Newport's "How to be a High School Superstar." "So Good They Can't Ignore You" is a solid exploration of the specific components that make one a better performer and includes some examples of how to develop those areas.

Newport's greatest strength is delivering on every question and anticipated skepticism his implied audience has about every step of his argument. Newport fleshes out each theory he provides in extremely clear detail, and then goes on to address every conceivable concern a reader might have about each area. The first obvious skepticism he has to answer for is "does passion matter" in the quest for meaningful work -- he does this by providing clear counter-examples from real-life statistics about how many successful people do not arrive at meaningful work by following a passion. I appreciate the lengths to which he explores the implications of both 1) pursuing passion and 2) arriving at a passion through hard work.

The biggest and most profound takeaway I learned from the book is the notion of deliberate practice, and what exercises separate deliberate practice from "mindless" practice, of a skill you are trying to develop. This has already affected how I approach writing, and has given me insight into why learning a variety of languages (for which I was already employing this technique, but hadn't named it) have been so effective. Narrowing down deliberate practice and exploring how it applies to sciences, math, art is by far the most compelling point of the book.

Admittedly, there is one area of the book that fell short for me, but not enough to take down the star-level of my review, which I believe the book has earned. This is the concept of mission statements. While I like the idea in theory, I think it's much more applicable to the sciences and technology than some pursuits like writing and liberal arts. I have 12+ years of skill-building in those areas, but don't see as many opportunities for the "purple cow" phenomenon of finding a remarkable idea that will innovate the field or the world. In this respect, I wish Newport had discussed in more detail how the "purple cow" and cutting edge innovations applies to the humanities, especially those which are as specific as medieval poetry, for example. The closest approximation I see is via the early example of the television screenwriter whose job is to do a better job writing tv scripts than most everyone else. But what would his mission statement be? His deliberate practice makes sense, but I have a difficult time connecting the mission statement concept to his work. More guidance in this area would be welcome.

Overall an outstanding book and one I have already sent as gifts to some friends.

Perhaps this book dosen't get readers go deep into academic litreature to prove its point, but I think thats on purpose. The people buying this book are not academics (mostly), but are more diverse, and would be much more intrigued by anecdotes than dry academic talk.
Its interesting to see some negative reviews claiming this dosen't help the "average" person, only the elite. It's like people claiming that their mediocre, and want to stay there. Have ambition!

This book contains the best job advice I have ever heard. I share these concepts with everyone I know. If I could I would gift this book to every friend and relative as they exit High School or College. I really appreciate Cal's very organized style. The book is a great one to breeze through once and then re-read to make sure you get the concepts set in your mind well. It was worth the purchase to have this one on my shelf.

I happen to like Cal Newport's writing style. Unlike most of american self-help writers, Newport's clear, concise, economic and interesting. He really is making points and offering sensible advice. I also happen to agree with him. This book deals with two opposing ideas about how to proceed in life and career. Newport argues that nearly any occupation becomes meaningful once one gains enough expertise. This is in direct opposition to the ideology of how one should first find one's passion and then locate a job accordingly. Since recognising or even having a passion is notoriously really hard, Newport's argument and this book should be a relieving for many people who, for example, feel ashamed for being content without passionate interest in work.

The basis of the book is interesting because it takes a realistic approach to finding one's career (instead of blindly following passion). The examples provided to back to rules are more fun than necessarily informative to read about. I never had an enlightening moment that I was hoping for. At the end of the day, it's a self help book were the author tells his own story in order to validate his theory.

It looked interesting by its name and because I'm not a fan of the "passion theory" as well. But it seems to me very superficial in its way of analize things and also because his theory seems to work well if you had a succesful graduation and origin story to tell. I wonder how this book will look for people living in developing countries where no passion is allowed in most of cases and no training is possible because lack of local opportunities. How can we live in a "skill training fashion" if you have no money or teachers prepared for? How can we chose our better practices job if there is no job? I will wait for the Latin or African version of the story, because many of the heroes outside didn't where created in California, Boston or NYC. But I need to agree that if you're so good nobody will ignore you.

This is possibly the most important book I've read in the last ten years. It put into clear, emphatic words something I've sensed for a while but had trouble putting my finger on. In an (American) culture that pushes self-actualization and following one's passion, Cal Newport steps out to illustrate that this is completely wrong-headed: that finding pleasure in one's work is a matter of what you put into it (in the form of skill and experience), and *not* what you hope to take out of it.

I've felt my own career stagnating for two or three years, and this book explained why: I'm not learning, I'm not stretching, I'm not focusing on growing my own value (which is something I can do outside of work even if, for whatever reason, I can't do it at work).

I've quit coasting.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a lot of programming exercises in new languages to get back to.

UPDATED REVIEW: Since I finish everything i start, I had to finish this book. And I have to say it gets better. Would I recommend as an absolute must read? Definitely not. But if you have access to the book and have time, read it. Maybe will be more inspired than I am, but there are a few good points.
OLD REVIEW: It's just ok. When i want to invest my time in books like this, I want for it to be hard to put down. With this book I struggle to be excited and engaged. I read it on my lunch break and I find it hard to complete. I find the content to be redundant and not inspiring. This is a book for old school parents who want to hand it to their graduating kids. Just work work work, don't follow your dreams. Work hard, so you become good at it. For a professional adult, it's just a waste of time. Maybe I am just at different point in life at the moment, the more I try to finish this book, the more I hate it.

I'm in my forties and have enjoyed success throughout my career and enjoy my work in a corporate job. When I was younger I read many of the 'follow your passion' career advice books. I have never been able to reconcile that advice with the success and autonomy that I enjoy today in my job because the early parts of my career were exactly as the author describes in this book.

This is the first time I've come across this concept of disproving the 'follow your passion' advice and I will be passing it along to my son who is starting college this year.

This book debunks the new-age mantra which preaches that the universe will reward all who "corageoualy pursue their passion" with their just rewards...a notion more likely to lead to frustration and failure!

My reason for awarding the book with four stars has to do with the dry, academic style of writing, wherein the author's points are constantly summarized throughout every chapter, which to me, proves to be tiring. In spite of this, I highly recommend this book!

Me gustó el libro, porque tiene muchos conceptos importantes que se aplican en la vida diaria, y dentro de todo pude rescatar que la pasión sólo existe después que construyes conocimientos que la gente está dispuesta a pagar

The concept of career capital is something that's overlooked by many people in their quest to find happiness in their work. This book shows that the better you get at something specific, the happier you'll be doing that work. E

I think overall the advice given is sound, and is much more practical than the superficial "follow your passion" advice so popular now. The difference being that Newport's advice requires work, and is more likely to lead to better outcomes. The book seems to put into words some things I have been doing, and others that are novel to me.
I have a few criticisms of different statements that I think are incorrect, for example, when mentioning Ryan, who went into farming, Newport says Ryan threw away his degree. Nothing could be farther from the truth. His degree is in agriculture, which is very relevant to being a farmer.
Newport describes one woman's steps as being tentative - pursuing an MD and PhD at the same time is certainly not tentative.
The book itself could be much shorter, much of the last chapter reiterates things said in the rest of the book. As well, there are redundant biographies of the people interviewed, and the glossary doesn't seem necessary. These things seem to have been added to get past the 200 page mark.
There seem to be some leaps of logic here and there that I'm sure logicians and philosophers can dissect better than I, but overall, I would recommend this book. Especially to doe-eyed millennials that want to quit productive jobs on a whim and bake cupcakes or the like.

There's only about three books that I can genuinely say changed my life. But this is one of them.

Stop looking for your passion. STOP. I know it sounds crazy but this book explains why in a well researched and conversational tone.