Review of Rework

I wrote a quick post earlier in the week about a book I purchased called Rework. I finished the book in about a-day-and-a-half (it’s not incredibly long, which is one of its strengths) and thought I would give you a quick review of it.

If I was restricted to one word to describe Rework I would use ‘indispensable’. It was a shot of ice cold water on a steaming hot day. Hats off to Jason Fried and David Heinemeier (from 37signals) for writing such a book and for having the moxie to publish it. It is simple yet exceptional. Blunt yet important.

Each chapter of the book delivers a punch to “the norm” and gives you reason to believe that we all just keep perpetuating the same old mistakes that may have been the way business was done in the twentieth century but is not something you want to emulate in the twenty-first century.

The strongest message I got from this book was:

Don’t over think or create complicated plans – just do. Start whatever it is you are working on and get it out there. You can fix it up as you go. Which goes hand-in-hand with one of my favourite quotes: “Let go of perfection, and just do”.

The best thing about this book is that it has been written from pure experience. The authors have lived and are living what’s in the book. They are, in deed, living proof of what they are espousing.

If you are thinking about starting a business (even a one-man outfit at home), just about to start a business, or already running a business, this book is a must-read.