Ali Abdaal goes through a thorough overview of the myths around productivity, challenging how we may approach it to reframe it towards sustainable productivity that fills ones cup instead of depleting it as we so often see in capitalist, extreme productivity-focused society. It was an enjoyable read that got me out of inertia and towards more mindfully considering how to approach what I wanted to accomplish. Wonderful read!

One thing that is easy to feel lately is UNPRODUCTIVE. So as soon as I saw the title of this book, I pounced on the opportunity to read it.

And I really liked a lot of the theories and psychological studies that it covers. Unlike a lot of self help books, this one is immediately interesting, so it's very easy to just keep reading it. It never gets too heavy on the science or philosophy, so it feels like an actual human is speaking to you. I've already bought a physical copy of it so I can highlight and dog ear.

Good to see a book on improving productivity that doesn’t shame the reader but instead provides practical strategies for getting better.

I am always looking for unique self help style books and was excited for an advanced copy of “Feel-Good Productivity”. While it isn’t earth shattering , I felt it was short and palatable. The concepts are explained well but it was pretty basic.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Released December 2023.

To physician-turned-content creator Ali Abdaal, productivity isn’t simply a numbers game. It’s about how you feel. And there’s research to back up the theory; people are more motivated when they care about what they’re doing every day. What’s more, they report less stress, boosted energy, and improved satisfaction with life as a whole. Over the course of Feel-Good Productivity, readers learn how to discover what drives them, break down barriers in their way, and address any burnout they may feel.

When I read self-help books, I try to ask myself whether the content presents actionable steps that can be applied to people across age groups and socioeconomic strata. Feel-Good Productivity provides multiple caveats that not all tips will apply to everyone, saying instead that people can pick and choose what they want to add to their “toolkit”. I think that was a fair characterization of the book’s content. For example, the “power” chapter can be useful for giving self-efficacy to those prone to impostor syndrome but does not seem to be as applicable to those working jobs where they don’t have control over goals or processes. The “clarity” chapter offers some guidance on project management but may not apply to those who don’t set the to-do lists at home or at work. The “align” chapter provides excellent insight into how to hone in on what you want to be doing with your time and energy, but it may feel out of reach for anyone who works long hours and feels stretched thin just trying to make ends meet. When it comes to having meaningful take-aways from this book, it’s more of a “your-mileage-may-vary” situation.

Abdaal does his best to make the content relatable and engaging for his readership (at times using pop culture/nerdy references like WoW or Pirates of the Caribbean), and there’s nothing technically “wrong” with his writing. Nevertheless, I found it difficult to organize my thoughts as I was reading, only feeling like I returned to some semblance of order by the summary page at the end of the chapter. If the introductory paragraphs for each chapter included more detailed guidance to what the reader will learn going into each topic (rather than just the introductions to each “section”), I think I would have felt more “on track” as I went. Abdaal emphasizes that he doesn’t want the reader to treat Feel-Good Productivity like a workbook or an assignment list, encouraging readers to “experiment” their way through the pages instead. I get that, but I also feel like my retention of the material suffered as a result.

I did like the recommendation to swap from SMART (Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Relevant, Timely) goals to NICE (Near-term, Input-based, Controllable, Energizing) goals, and I plan to use this going forward to prevent from getting overwhelmed on larger projects. I also really liked the Life Wheel and Three Alignment exercises from the last chapter - I think almost everyone, from any walk of life, would find those practices to be useful.

In all, Feel-Good Productivity presents some well-researched ideas in opposition to the grind/hustle culture that tends to saturate the self-help market. Those who find themselves feeling stuck, disconnected, or burned out will find generally useful advice presented in a friendly, non-judgmental tone. I can’t say that’s a bad thing, even if the book wasn’t a slam dunk for me personally.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Ali Abdaal, and Celadon Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

"Feel Good Productivity" by Ali Abdaal is a refreshing take on productivity that emphasizes holistic well-being and personal fulfillment. Abdaal presents a compelling argument that traditional notions of productivity often neglect the importance of mental health and happiness. Instead, he advocates for a more balanced approach that prioritizes doing what truly matters and brings joy.

One of the book's standout features is its practicality. Abdaal offers actionable strategies and exercises designed to help identify core values, set meaningful goals, and align daily actions with long-term aspirations. Through reading this book, I found several practice strategies to think about my long-term goals and assign daily goals that are helping to move the needle close to achieving those long-term goals.

I read a lot of productivity books. To me, what sets "Feel Good Productivity" apart are the personal
anecdotes and insights from his own journey, making it relatable and engaging. His conversational writing style and down-to-earth approach make complex concepts easy to grasp, making it really accessible. I also found it's not just about getting more done for Abdaal. It's about living a more purpose-driven life. Whether you're a student, professional, or entrepreneur, this book offers valuable insights and practical advice for finding greater joy and satisfaction in your everyday pursuits.

Overall, "Feel Good Productivity" is a must-read for anyone looking to redefine their relationship with productivity and unlock their true potential. It's a timely reminder that success is not just about what we achieve, but how we feel along the way.

Thank you NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy....I'll be keeping an eye on Abdaal and his next book!

More of what I enjoyed from Ali Abdaal’s YouTube channel, but in book form and much more in depth. I liked the sections / how the book was divided up and really enjoyed the personal examples!

I decided to read Feel Good Productivity because I have read a lot of self help books, lol, and never feel more productive. I figured one more wouldn't hurt. I did really like the book and plan to apply some of the tips to my own life. It seems obvious that productivity would make you feel good but sometimes we can't see beyond our own nose.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the e-ARC of this book. This review is my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in return for an unbiased review.

This was a very readable book about productivity and gave some interesting examples. It discussed studies that were done to lend more credibility to the words and philosophy.

This was a really really great book! I've watched Ali's YouTube videos before and always appreciated how clear and concise he is, while also sharing information that you don't see on every other productivity channel. This book felt like his videos are to watch; easily digestible information without being patronizing. None of the stuff in the book is especially groundbreaking, but it pulls together so much good legitimate research to supplement what he talks about from his own experiences. I love that he gives an alternative to the typical "hustle culture" advice, or the traditional "be more disciplined, you're just lazy" approach the majority of people still seem to take now. Rather, it brings values into the equation, and combining it with research on human behavior, psychology, etc., results in pretty simple, but unexpected tips that made me ask myself why I never thought of things that way before.

I'd highly recommend the book to everyone - I think it will help people who struggle with the traditional approach to task management and productivity not feel like they're fighting an uphill battle, and would be good for people who already have systems in place to assess what's working and what could be different.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.

“Feel-Good Productivity” by Dr. Ali Abdaal came into my life at just the right time, because I was feeling burnt out and needed a good pick-me-up.

I found Dr. Abdaal’s advice to be helpful and easy to understand. I shouldn’t have to suffer to be successful. I shouldn’t be overwhelmed and unhappy in the process. I needed to focus on my wellbeing in order to drive my focus and motivation. I also really liked his method of flipping the confidence switch and reminding yourself that you don’t have to be a guru to teach something to someone.

I couldn’t relate with all of the author’s examples, so I skipped over a few areas of the book that didn’t hold much meaning to me, but I think that’s the point of this book – to have several examples to relate with a broader audience. However, some areas of the book seemed to go on longer than I think was necessary to get a point across, so I did deduct one star for that.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and had some very insightful and helpful takeaways, so I recommend it to anyone needing a boast to be more productive in life in a “work smarter not harder” sense.

Wow did I really try with this book. My first attempt to read this was back in November when I first received the book. I couldn’t get into it. I really tried, but I couldn’t and maybe I just wasn’t in the headspace for it so I put it to the side and switch gears. I finally picked this up again to give it one more shot in January and used it as my morning reading material (a new routine I’ve been trying to add in, reading something nonfiction and educational). While I did get through it, I honestly just wasn’t a huge fan.

While I agree that feeling good is the best way for us to be productive, I feel like the majority of this book was content cited from other books and research that I want to read more into now. It was like a reference book and I held on just for glimpses into Abdaal’s own personal experiences but I mostly just received fictional metaphors of things to think about. I loved the idea of the experiments throughout and want to look into those more but it still didn’t feel personalized which is what I love about a lot of self help style books. While I love that the information is easy to digest, it just doesn’t have a certain oomph to it.

This book did send me to look more into Abdaal and his online presence which I enjoy. I’ve been looking more into his content, but by the end of this book I felt like I had procrastinated on the things I could’ve been doing and I skipped reading small sections in the morning to powering though to the finish line. On to the next one I suppose!

PS: there were a ton of errors in the formatting of this eBook especially with the tables throughout. I'm hoping these were fixed already since its been published but I thought I would mention it as well.

As someone who has read a lot of self-help books, "Feel Good Productivity" by Ali Abdaal provided practical, helpful tools. The author features tips and tools from other experts in the field of productivity and personal development, including his own unique insight. I appreciated that this book features a holistic approach with the central theme of wellbeing at the forefront at all times.. The personal anecdotes and research shared throughout the book make the content interesting and will hold readers interest.

Feel Good Productivity is such a well written book with easily consumable information and actionable steps to improve. I love the take on productivity in this book, it isnt just your standard "time blocking" and "work hard and hussle," it is truly how can you realign what you do to be meaningful and worthwhile and then the productivity will follow. I do plan on reading it again because there is so much useful info. I read as an ebook but have purchased a physical copy as well to keep by my desk.

Feel Good Productivity, written by Doctor turned Youtuber, Ali Abdaal, discusses how productivity can make you feel good and debunks the hustle culture. The book itself talks about the 3 Ps, Play, Power, People, and provides discussions on burnout, fear, and procrastination. Each section has backed scientific evidence of the concept with Ali's strategies that you can implement in your own life. Additionally, Ali narrates the book himself in the audio version.

I have been following Ali Abdaal for awhile on YouTube, so when I found out he was coming out with a book, sign me up! However, just because you follow someone does not mean their content on YouTube can translate to a book. So, overall, I really loved this book. The writing is very similar to James Clear's Atomic Habits and the strategies are very basic to where when you read them, you have ahah moments. At times, though, I felt I could have enjoyed more strategies and less science but I understand why the book was structured that way.

This book is one of those that you read at the beginning of every year. I highly recommend picking this one up if you are interested in learning more productivity strategies that do not involve you doing more than you already do.

A Game-Changer for Boosting Well-Being and Productivity!

"Feel Good Productivity" by Ali Abdaal is an absolute gem that not only transforms the way we approach productivity but also strongly emphasizes overall well-being. Abdaal's refreshing take on productivity feels like a breath of fresh air in a world dominated by hustle culture.

One of the standout features of the book is Abdaal's commitment to integrating joy and fulfillment into the productivity equation. He skillfully navigates the complexities of modern life, offering practical tips and strategies that enhance efficiency and contribute to a more balanced and meaningful existence.

Abdaal's writing style is engaging and accessible, making the book an enjoyable read for individuals at all levels of productivity expertise. His anecdotes, combined with well-researched insights, create a narrative that is informative and relatable. I found myself nodding along, inspired by the actionable advice and motivated to implement positive changes in my daily routine.

What sets "Feel Good Productivity" apart is its holistic approach. Abdaal addresses the importance of mental and physical health, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these elements with productivity. This book goes beyond conventional productivity guides, urging readers to prioritize self-care, mindfulness, and happiness as essential components of a productive life.

The incorporation of practical exercises and tools adds a hands-on dimension to the book, allowing readers to immediately apply the concepts discussed. Abdaal's genuine passion for helping others lead fulfilling lives shines through, making this book not just an informative guide but a compassionate companion on the journey to better productivity and well-being.

In a world saturated with productivity advice, "Feel Good Productivity" stands out as a beacon of positivity and authenticity. It's a must-read for anyone seeking a more balanced, joyful, and ultimately fulfilling approach to both work and life. Ali Abdaal has truly created a masterpiece that has the potential to transform lives for the better.

I had never heard of this author, but was intrigued in a world of hustle culture leading to burnout, how to recover.

So much of this book resonated with me. Especially “Instead of viewing productivity in terms of what made me feel good, I was viewing it in terms of discipline: how much pressure I could pile on myself to just do more.”

Rewiring these feelings into being productive in a more meaningful way.

Look forward to seeking out more from Ali Abdaal.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to review this book.

"Feel-Good Productivity" by Ali Abdaal not only provides valuable insights into boosting productivity but also focuses on enhancing overall well-being. Abdaal provides actionable steps that can be implemented, both in a professional and personal settings.

One of the standout features of this book is Abdaal's emphasis on doing what works for you and discarding what doesn’t. Overall, "Feel-Good Productivity" is a must-read for anyone looking to supercharge their productivity without sacrificing their happiness. The approach is not only practical but is a valuable resource for professionals and individuals seeking a well-rounded approach to success.

This book was a quick read and I appreciated its and anti-hustle perspective on productivity. However, having read many a self help book, I found that there weren't many new or eye-opening concepts as I had hoped. It gave a concise and helpful overview of key productivity concepts, making it a beneficial guide for those especially new to the productivity genre. If you've extensively explored similar reads, you may recognize familiar themes, but the unique contribution lies in framing these ideas under the umbrella of 'feel-good productivity'.

The title pretty much describes this book. The book talks about how you need to feel good to be productive. Do things that will give you energy. If you aren’t being productive and/or procrastinating, take a break and do something where you get energy and then get back to your work. There are ways to help you with distractions and procrastination that will help you be more successful.
I really liked the 10/10/10 concept. Will this really matter in 10 minutes? 10 weeks? 10 years?
Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.