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Do Less, Achieve More: Discover the Hidden Powers Giving In
For anyone tired of chasing ever–elusive desires, of doing more only to find that more needs doing, and of making more money only to need more money, best–selling author Chin–Ning Chu shows you that life was meant to be easy, if you know the secrets. From the best–selling author of The Working Woman's Art of War, comes an important and timely book about the side of success that most don't know about 注e power of selective yielding, of surrendering to a successful destiny, and of getting what you want by not wanting it too much. Using Carl Jung's famous parable of the rainmaker as a framework, Chin–Ning Chu explains universal truths about the nature of effort, success, willpower, detachment, "creating luck," and more. Illustrating the four "secrets of the rainmaker" with rich anecdotes from history, personal experience, and popular culture, Ching–Ning explains how to create success by attaining inner harmony, how to partner effort with ease, how to make peace with time, and how to stop reacting and start restfully controlling the events of your life.
203 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
21 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Chin-Ning Chu
28books50followersChin-Ning Chu was born in mainland China, grew up in Taiwan, and emigrated to the United States in 1969.
Chin-Ning Chu is a descendant of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
In 1987 Chu represented the Governor of the state of Oregon - in establishing a cooperative development project with Fujian Province of People's Republic of China.
Chu ran businesses in Antioch, California. She was the president of the Strategic Learning Institute, president of Asian Marketing Consultants, Inc. and chairperson of NeuroScience Industries, Inc.
She advised executives and multinational corporations around the world and is considered an authority on understanding the Asian business psyche.
Chu also conducted workshops and lectures in personal development,[4] peak performance strategy,[5] Asian negotiation tactics, leadership, cross-cultural training and spirituality.[6]
Chu's books have been used as textbooks at universities.
Chu's work was well regarded by global media, including USA Today, The Washington Post, SUCCESS Magazine, Asia Inc, The Asia Wall Street Journal, United Kingdom's Financial Times, China's People Daily, Australia's Financial Review and CNN. She was featured in cover stories by People Magazine, Vogue, Bazaar, Marie Claire, Elle, People's Daily of China to publications and television shows from Peru to Malaysia.
She was honored as "Woman of the Year" by the international organization, Women of the World.
Chu was named among the all-time Success Writers by Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
Chin-Ning Chu is a descendant of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
In 1987 Chu represented the Governor of the state of Oregon - in establishing a cooperative development project with Fujian Province of People's Republic of China.
Chu ran businesses in Antioch, California. She was the president of the Strategic Learning Institute, president of Asian Marketing Consultants, Inc. and chairperson of NeuroScience Industries, Inc.
She advised executives and multinational corporations around the world and is considered an authority on understanding the Asian business psyche.
Chu also conducted workshops and lectures in personal development,[4] peak performance strategy,[5] Asian negotiation tactics, leadership, cross-cultural training and spirituality.[6]
Chu's books have been used as textbooks at universities.
Chu's work was well regarded by global media, including USA Today, The Washington Post, SUCCESS Magazine, Asia Inc, The Asia Wall Street Journal, United Kingdom's Financial Times, China's People Daily, Australia's Financial Review and CNN. She was featured in cover stories by People Magazine, Vogue, Bazaar, Marie Claire, Elle, People's Daily of China to publications and television shows from Peru to Malaysia.
She was honored as "Woman of the Year" by the international organization, Women of the World.
Chu was named among the all-time Success Writers by Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 4, 2016
I loved-- and I mean LOVED Thick Face, Black Heart-- and that is the ONLY reason why I am giving this book a 3 stars and not 4 starts. I liked this book, it's one of the good books I read this year, but it is no where close to the first book I read of Chin Ning Chu. I will still read the Asian Mind Game because this is a good book, there is hardly any doubts there.
March 4, 2012
What an awesome book. This is one I read over and over again. So much so I kept getting fined for returning it overdue to the library and finally got my own copy for Christmas.
Whenever I feel like I am beating my head against a brick wall this is the book I pull out. It helps put everything in perspective.
Whenever I feel like I am beating my head against a brick wall this is the book I pull out. It helps put everything in perspective.
August 29, 2018
A quick skim with some good nuggets, but most of it felt familiar or didn't resonate. To be fair, Chu was working and writing in this space long before a lot of the other people I read, so it may be that so much seemed "obvious" because she's been successful in getting her message out.
The one part that really made me bristle was the sometimes absurd levels of privilege that underlies much of what she says. Why, yes, I think sitting in my designated meditation room in silk pajamas *would be* lovely. But come on. Then again, maybe I just don't have the right "money mindset" that she references in the section prior.
The one part that really made me bristle was the sometimes absurd levels of privilege that underlies much of what she says. Why, yes, I think sitting in my designated meditation room in silk pajamas *would be* lovely. But come on. Then again, maybe I just don't have the right "money mindset" that she references in the section prior.
March 11, 2023
Làm ít được nhiều - Chin Ning Chu
1/ Không cần phải t� ra cần cù đ� gây ấn tượng với bất kì ai
2/ Hài lòng là cảm thấy vui sướng với kết qu� tích cực của bản thân đã đạt được.
3/ Nóng giận là lời cảnh báo nhắc nh� chúng ta cần điều chỉnh lại cuộc sống bản thân.
4/ Càng lo lắng v� s� sống sót của mình, bạn càng có xu hướng mắc nhiều lỗi lầm hơn
5/ Nếu biết mình sắp chết, bạn s� không bận tâm lắm đến việc tồn tại.
6/ Cảm xúc độc hại: tham vọng, nóng giận, s� hãi, tham lam
7/ Những người d� phản ứng luôn b� kiểm soát bởi những người hay yếu t� kích thích h� hành động đáp lại.
8/ Một s� kĩ thuật của luật hấp dẫn.
1/ Không cần phải t� ra cần cù đ� gây ấn tượng với bất kì ai
2/ Hài lòng là cảm thấy vui sướng với kết qu� tích cực của bản thân đã đạt được.
3/ Nóng giận là lời cảnh báo nhắc nh� chúng ta cần điều chỉnh lại cuộc sống bản thân.
4/ Càng lo lắng v� s� sống sót của mình, bạn càng có xu hướng mắc nhiều lỗi lầm hơn
5/ Nếu biết mình sắp chết, bạn s� không bận tâm lắm đến việc tồn tại.
6/ Cảm xúc độc hại: tham vọng, nóng giận, s� hãi, tham lam
7/ Những người d� phản ứng luôn b� kiểm soát bởi những người hay yếu t� kích thích h� hành động đáp lại.
8/ Một s� kĩ thuật của luật hấp dẫn.
February 7, 2018
As we need them, this is a good reminder on how to stay balanced in life. The first part of the book held my interest and I even shared some quotes from the first half. The second half was ok; though it may have just been my state of mind when reading. I enjoyed the examples or things to think of that the author provided while explaining her theories. It was interesting. Not for everyone but it was good all the same.
March 25, 2023
Mình đọc cuốn này vì biết tới cuốn "Mặt dày tâm đen". Nội dung xuyên suốt cuốn sách cũng ổn (không hay lắm), nhìn chung nói v� niềm tin và th� lỏng cơ th� và tâm trí trong lúc làm một việc gì đó cho tới cùng - một cách không căng thẳng - và hiệu qu�. Và niềm tin và một đấng tối cao nơi niềm tin của bạn được bảo v� và giúp sức đ� đạt tới thành công. Có vài ví d� hơi lan man và không thuyết phục. Mình thích ví d� v� ông thầy pháp cầu mưa.
June 21, 2017
I read this many years ago and don't recall the specifics.I do recall liking it quite a lot, though not agreeing with or being in tune with all her spiritual practices. I often share some of the teaching stories from it, especially the one about the game of life being like running down a football field and how the players don't expect it to just be a clear path to the goal posts.
July 14, 2017
So, I read this book at a slower pace due to the title. I'd only read a chapter or less and set it aside for some time. "Do less" caused me to read less each session. :)
A special thanks to the author for a great read. Things I'll change are 1) my pace of life, 2) meditation and 3) continue to walk through life with grace.
A special thanks to the author for a great read. Things I'll change are 1) my pace of life, 2) meditation and 3) continue to walk through life with grace.
June 20, 2019
I've come to understand that the author has more famous books but this is my first introduction to her and it was great.
It started very practical but became more spiritual. I thought that taking such a holistic view was useful.
I also appreciated that this book wasn't unnecessarily long. It was as like as it needed to be and that was pretty brief.
It started very practical but became more spiritual. I thought that taking such a holistic view was useful.
I also appreciated that this book wasn't unnecessarily long. It was as like as it needed to be and that was pretty brief.
September 3, 2018
really good insights into life
January 4, 2019
Great book. Worth rereading.
January 17, 2019
What a fantastic book
July 25, 2019
Excellent book. I've enjoyed so much Chin-Ning words. I highly recommend it
September 13, 2022
Tiene algunos ejemplos buenos y transmite una forma de ver la vida interesante. No comparto todo lo que se comenta, pero siempre viene bien leer sobre diferentes puntos de vista.
August 20, 2023
Applicable version of Thick Face Black Heart
December 19, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Do Less, Achieve more was recommend to me by a friend. He lent it to me and without me even knowing what this book was about, so I read it front to back as fast as I could to get it back to him.
I'm glad I did...
Useful for taking your understanding of time management to the next level and...It got very spiritual and helped me explore my spirituality a little more. This book helped me create a paradigm shift in life and its purpose.
I'm glad I did...
Useful for taking your understanding of time management to the next level and...It got very spiritual and helped me explore my spirituality a little more. This book helped me create a paradigm shift in life and its purpose.
May 25, 2021
hãy học theo v� pháp sư cầu mưa
December 5, 2013
Okay let's face it. Self-help books need catchy titles. "Do Less, Achieve More" is no exception. (If you think about the logical progression of this title, it would be "Do Nothing, Achieve Everything.") (And now that I think about it, that would be the sort of book I'd be interested in.) But this is a good book.
And one of the reason's it's good is because the author speaks her mind. Often in a desultory fashion, but there is more than enough good here to offset the bad. I'm not sure what the overriding theme of this book is, but again, does it really matter if the insights are there?
In a section called "The Struggle is Real" (and yeah, most of us have figured that out, right?) she writes:"...after he had lived through the anguish of mental agitation, material defeat, and spiritual emptiness, he came to realize that the irritation and overwhelming stress were merely the first steps toward turning to effortless striving."
In "Destiny Revealed" she writes: "You realize that what is supposed to be yours no one can take away, delay, or stop from coming to you. You know that your success does not depend on certain individuals or circumstances but on the ever generous pouring forth from the cornucopia of the universal abundance." Now who knows if this is true or not, but it certainly is a lovely thought that we'd like to be true, isn't it?
From "Be Willing to Face the Worst Consequences": "As long as you are clinging to life at all costs, there is no peace or harmony. The more you fear not surviving, the tighter you cling to ill-calculated survival strategies until you squeeze the very life out of everything you do. Eventually, simple tasks are blown out of proportion in your mind into life and death situations, and you shut out joy and vitality from your life."
Again, I don't know if this is the absolute truth, but certainly there's a lot of insight (and truth) there and all said in a very unique (and confident) way.
Does the book work? Does the title hold up under usage? (In other words, will you do less and achieve more?)
Who the heck knows. But you will learn about yourself and you may catch some key nugget that will open up a lot to you. This book is definitely worth a read.
July 1, 2021
While perusing the Self-Help section of the library, I chose this book because it was succinct and well-organized. Each section header clearly states what you will find in that section, and sections are small, generally under two pages. A folk tale of a Rainmaker’s success story is used throughout the chapters as an example of achievement based upon doing less�-or at least doing less outwardly.
The first few chapters offer good advice without wasting words in long explanations. Chu explores themes such as relaxation, mental focus, thought control, and contentment as tools to get what one wants out of life. Her take on time management is unusual but useful. She gives a simple exercise to determine whether or not any particular goal is realistic for you. There is food for thought about quantum thinking, an interesting chapter on creative dreaming to work on challenges with the subconscious mind, and a thought-provoking section on using the inevitability of death as a method of overcoming fear.
Along with the useful advice, there is a somewhat counterproductive section on surrendering to doing the work that God put you on earth to do rather than to follow your own thoughts about what your life’s work might be. Chu does reveal that she is extremely Catholic, and that during her childhood she suffered abuse from her family. Perhaps due to early guilt programming, she believes that she should control her life only to a point, and that God should have the final "Word." This approach didn’t work for me and might not work for other readers who don’t subscribe to the concept of God as Judge.
Still, the good advice is worth skipping over the bad, especially considering Chu’s excellence in concise use of language. There are some simple meditation ideas towards the end, to help in relaxation and focus. Overall I liked the book, and rereading favorite sections was valuable. If you are looking for a way to achieve goals with less activity and stress (and more inner work), give the book a try and see if her advice resonates with you, feeling free to skip over any that does not.
The first few chapters offer good advice without wasting words in long explanations. Chu explores themes such as relaxation, mental focus, thought control, and contentment as tools to get what one wants out of life. Her take on time management is unusual but useful. She gives a simple exercise to determine whether or not any particular goal is realistic for you. There is food for thought about quantum thinking, an interesting chapter on creative dreaming to work on challenges with the subconscious mind, and a thought-provoking section on using the inevitability of death as a method of overcoming fear.
Along with the useful advice, there is a somewhat counterproductive section on surrendering to doing the work that God put you on earth to do rather than to follow your own thoughts about what your life’s work might be. Chu does reveal that she is extremely Catholic, and that during her childhood she suffered abuse from her family. Perhaps due to early guilt programming, she believes that she should control her life only to a point, and that God should have the final "Word." This approach didn’t work for me and might not work for other readers who don’t subscribe to the concept of God as Judge.
Still, the good advice is worth skipping over the bad, especially considering Chu’s excellence in concise use of language. There are some simple meditation ideas towards the end, to help in relaxation and focus. Overall I liked the book, and rereading favorite sections was valuable. If you are looking for a way to achieve goals with less activity and stress (and more inner work), give the book a try and see if her advice resonates with you, feeling free to skip over any that does not.
October 15, 2010
A great book on time management and getting optimum results. These days, people tend toward "do, do, do and die," rather than visualizing, contemplating and working toward greater goals. This book tells you that working hard is not about going through long hours of motion - but really focusing on what energizes you.
Some tips I liked:
* When looking at your to-do list, select the item that energizes you the most and do that first.
* If you leave your desk in the middle of a task, keep saying out loud what you are doing, so you don’t lose focus. (Example, if you are writing a memo and then leave to get some water, keep saying “drink water.�)
I was inspired by the story of the time she was invited to an event where she would have met the Chinese Head of State, but instead chose to go to another event that gave her more mileage.
A great read!
Some tips I liked:
* When looking at your to-do list, select the item that energizes you the most and do that first.
* If you leave your desk in the middle of a task, keep saying out loud what you are doing, so you don’t lose focus. (Example, if you are writing a memo and then leave to get some water, keep saying “drink water.�)
I was inspired by the story of the time she was invited to an event where she would have met the Chinese Head of State, but instead chose to go to another event that gave her more mileage.
A great read!
May 11, 2017
This has become my 'bible' for life & business, it is constantly at my bedside. An inspirational book in so many ways. I saw this in the bookshelf at the Pranic Healing Foundation in Manila as one of Master Choa Kok Sui's reference books and after just checking out a few pages I ordered it on-line once I'd returned home. I love the way that when in need of a boost I can just let this book open at seemingly any page and find a section that seems to have come from the divine and guide me to my next step. It is probably the best "self help" book ever.
January 17, 2010
Smart author of self-help book on how to breakthrough the excessive distractions of modern life so as to pursue what is central to you and finding the time in which to do it. One chapter which is particularly interesting advises directed dreaming, which for me was very useful. The idea is that you put down those things you want to accomplish for the next day on a piece of paper and let your mind work on how to do it, so that the next day you're already ready to tackle the task.
January 5, 2014
I find myself a little disappointed with this one. It read more like one of the many new age motivational texts so popular in the past ten years, it did not feel original to me. But perhaps that says more about my reading than her writing. I will chalk this one up to my not being the optimal target audience and someone else may really dig this.
January 9, 2015
This book offers great insights on how to find inner peace. My favorite chapter was the introduction to the life of George Washington. Chu uses Washington to show that many people go through three cycles: hunger, despair, and surrender. Washington hungered for political power. After he received it, he realized that responsibility can be hard. Then he goes through the other two cycles.
January 17, 2017
I wish Chin-Ning was still alive. But this book is a beautiful challenge to achieve your heart's desire.
Be willing to give up something in order to get what you truly desire. Will you drop your ego to face criticism? Can you leave your secure job to do what you really wan
Be willing to give up something in order to get what you truly desire. Will you drop your ego to face criticism? Can you leave your secure job to do what you really wan
December 23, 2010
The first time I read it is 2 years before and I read it again recently.
It is very easy to understand but it seems covering too many information. After finished the whole book, I can really recall what I have learnt from it.
However, it still a good book to keep and read for life.
It is very easy to understand but it seems covering too many information. After finished the whole book, I can really recall what I have learnt from it.
However, it still a good book to keep and read for life.
August 22, 2010
It explains concepts from Eastern spirituality/philosophy that can aid us in our growth. By following the natural laws one can find how things get accomplished harmoniously and holistically.
January 18, 2013
Some parts really resonated with me. A lot of parts didn't. I wouldn't reread this book, but I'm glad I read it the one time that I did.
January 21, 2014
Wonderful..
May 7, 2019
Bí mật của s� lựa chọn là buông b� ch� không phải thêm vào, tác gỉa ch� cho chúng ta thấy càng muốn có nhiều thành công càng cần nhận ra và tinh giản bớt những th� không cần thiết.
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