Snorkels. Doesn’t SCUBA dive. Perfectly aligned with the author’s intent. Simple and steady is the way.

Working in calmly manner, without rush to get your things done, but still maintaining your customers is very rare in this industry. Jason and David have shown that it is possible to do that. This book contains advices and “best practices” for us to work in steady and calm pace, not putting ourselves in stressful conditions. I would recommend this book to everyone, not only works in technology industry. In the time of getting back our control of our time, this book really shines.

Great to get the perspective of leaders of a successful company. But it’s a book filled with unsubstantiated assertions! Every one of the short chapters is “don’t do this; do that!” I’m sure their philosophy is working great at Basecamp but there are very few illustrative examples or data to support their ideas. Plus it’s pretty clear that the approach advocated for works at a very specific type of business. The best thing about the book is how it presents an alternative narrative to “Play Bigger” or “Scaling Up”. Too bad it doesn’t do w better job.

This book lacks any depth and the suggestions are really only applicable if you are a company owner. Chapters are rarely more than 2 pages and mostly state really obvious things. It’s mainly one giant ad for working at Basecamp.

Fried has a very man of the people approach to work. He does not come off as an arrogant executive. The model is Basecamp, but I suspect not that many businesses are like Basecamp. The advice does not always carry over. Sometimes Fried can also be unnecessarily salty.