In a case of Brilliant Metaphor, the author coins the phrase (and title) "information diet," comparing high-emotion, low-fact information (the kind poIn a case of Brilliant Metaphor, the author coins the phrase (and title) "information diet," comparing high-emotion, low-fact information (the kind popular on social media and partisan "news" outlets) to junk food.
In the same way that cheap and tasty (but unbalanced/non-nutritious) calories have displaced less processed foods and triggered an epidemic of obesity, the author explains, over-processed, easy-to-find infotainment has greatly contributed to our current social woes in what he calls "information obesity."
He then races from talking point to talking point, hastily sketching out a case to support his genuinely lovely metaphor without ever digging deep enough to actually make the case.
The painful thing is that I think he is right, but his lightweight, low-rigor approach only works when preaching to the choir.
It could work well as a quick starting guide for your own investigation into the points he raises, but functions more as a syllabus than a reference.
This book had a lot of promise but fails to execute...more
A very basic collection of tips to beat procrastination. Geared very much toward sales and "business" people. Nothing really groundbreaking.
I was intrA very basic collection of tips to beat procrastination. Geared very much toward sales and "business" people. Nothing really groundbreaking.
I was intrigued by how much the advice ran completely counter to much more valuable (to me) guide for professional creatives found in The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment's Notice. In contrast to that book's encouragement to respect your natural rhythms, take rest, and refill the well, Eat That Frog seemed more about ignoring your intuition and grinding away at thankless chores until you somehow "arrive" as a success.
Maybe that was the real problem for me. There was nothing here about enjoying the process, or the satisfaction of mastery. It was all about beating yourself into submission to win some external success, like a raise or a promotion.
Even when the author mentions the now basic idea of getting into flow (Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience) he completely misstates the entire concept, claiming that the trick to achieving it was to be work ever faster and somehow force your brain into some sort of mental hyperspeed, an idea that is found nowhere in CsÃkszentmihályi's book.
The more I remember about this book, the less I like it.
Bottom line: If you're looking for a short collection of oversimplified self-psychology hacks to help you climb the corporate ladder, that this might be the book for you.
If you're looking for anything deeper, keep moving. ...more
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