This book encapsulates purpose-driven productivity. Even though I've read more than my fair share of productivity books over the years, I had plenty of aha moments while reading this one. I find myself regularly asking "what would this look like if it were fun?" and "what would this look like if I were really confident at it?" And I'm a NICE goal convert - no more SMART goals for me!

Ali Abdaal's 'Feel-Good Productivity' is a game-changer in the realm of productivity literature. It transcends the conventional narrative that success is synonymous with relentless hard work, introducing a refreshing paradigm where joy becomes the catalyst for productivity. I definitely enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to putting some of the things I learned into practice! Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. This was the perfect book to end 2023 on. I was able to get actionable steps on ways to change my thinking so I can be more productive. I've struggled with productivity for ages. I've accomplished a lot in certain areas and struggled in others because of the roadblocks to my productivity. I felt like I finished the book with more insight into what my blocks were and how to change them. Now I just have to continue to reflect and make changes in my life. I've also subscribed to his channel and bought the hardback so I can take advantage of his planning session. I want to head into 2024 strong.

Thanks to Celadon Books, Netgalley and the author for the ARC of this book.

4.5 stars. Thank you to Net Galley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book gives steps on how to be more productive, understanding why we may not be productive and how to enjoy the things we need to do and want to do. Much of it is that we don't focus on the emotions or feelings which make a big difference, negative and positive, in our resilience, focus, motivation, etc. I loved this information as it was easy to understand, supported by studies and science, and gave easy steps to put it in practice. The book is divided in three parts - Energise, Unblock, and Sustain with subchapters such as Play, Power (empower) and People for the Energise section. Each chapter ends with a summary of keys ideas. A couple of the things that I will put into practice right away is the 6 month rule, Energy Investment Portfolio, and more awareness for alignment/identified motivation. I believe everyone can benefit from the information in this book and I highly recommend it!

After following Ali Abdaal for several years, I jumped at the chance to read and review his first book, Feel-Good Productivity. And just like his YouTube videos, Abdaal packs a lot of value into a short amount of space.

He focuses on how we can be productive in a way that makes us feel good: physically, mentally and spiritually. Productivity, if it’s not aligned with what you want out of life, is worthless. In this book Abdaal shows us how we can find and maintain energy to accomplish the things we love, how to seek clarity and to find courage to do those things that bring us joy and how to align our values and priorities to what we want to do in the long, medium and short term.

This book is structured around a list of over 50 different experiments that help you figure out how to get yourself closer to accomplishing more out of life in a way that leaves you feeling good. My favorite of the experiments were: Reframe Your Failure, The Protege Effect, NICE Goals, The Energy Investment Portfolio and Alignment Experiments.

I also loved the scientific approach Abdaal took to introducing each new concept. He clearly did a lot of research into many studies and interviewed many experts to back up how and why his methods work. He uses a storytelling approach that made his points memorable.

If you want to learn more about how to do more while feeling good about yourself, if you love to read and learn about productivity, if you’re looking for a new way to approach productivity, I’d highly recommend this book!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

I liked this book a lot, and I appreciated its positive tone related to getting more done. The science shared was interesting.
The book is in sections on Energise, Unblock, and Sustain. Things that can impact your productivity, ways to get started and build momentum, and how to avoid burning out. I really enjoyed how each chapter had six experiments to try, and how each chapter had a summary at the end to reinforce the main points.

I'm really glad I found this book. I haven't heard about this author before and so I enjoyed this book. It gave me insights and a different perspective into tools that I had learned about before. This is a book that I would love to read again. Thank you to net galley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like Abdaal, I thought the answer to productivity was to work harder, do more and be more disciplined. But that did not result in a more happy life. I was intrigued with his emphasis of working on well being first, focusing on making work feel good.

Although there are many practical ideas included in this book, Abdaal says it is not specifically a “how to” one in design. Rather, we are encouraged to move toward developing a new way of thinking about productivity altogether. He has included suggested experiments so we can figure out our own best practices.

The most helpful suggestion for me was in relation to procrastination. Abdaal suggested asking ones self the purpose behind the project, getting to the big why. That often identifies the reluctance to engage in action.

I appreciate this book. Abdaal draws from many resources. Some of the information I have read before but some of his work includes new insights. This is a good book for anyone desiring a clearer understanding how feeling good ultimately increases productivity.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This book serves as a great starting point for people looking to incorporate new positive productivity habits into their lives, or a refresher for someone who has gone off track. It helps (but isn’t necessary) to have some pre-existing interest or knowledge of common productivity trends going into this book.

One thing that this book struggles with is that it’s like a cornucopia of productivity ideas and experiments that can be a lot to parse out. But, as the author intends, it does offer many ideas for consideration, knowing that someone will likely land on 1-3 key principles that work for them.

This was a quick read, and one I got some nuggets from. I had not heard of this former doctor, but he shares some great thoughts on being more productive, and being happier in your job and work life. I wrote down quite a few quotes to keep in mind to make my work life, and my classroom, a happier, more productive place for my students and me!

I had a hard time getting into this book. There were too many instances of, "research shows" and not nearly enough practical application for my liking. I tend to enjoy personal development books that have more practical tips and tricks, rather than the science behind those the tips. If you're someone who likes to know more of the why and the science behind productivity, you'll love this one.

This book was easy to read and written in a way that made the ideas easy to understand. The author provided ways to channel and use what is included in each chapter but, to my sadness, some are glossed over and others are given in-depth way to use the idea for productivity.

In Ali Abdaal’s Feel – Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You, he gives a fresh, positive spin on how to be more productive in your daily life. Written in his conversational style and filled with personal anecdotes, he offers practical tips that are easily put into practice and words that are meant to inspire and encourage the reader in a way unlike other books on the same subject. It is a quick and easy read for those looking to up their productivity game and would be a great gift to pass along to others.

Ali Abdaal's FEEL-GOOD PRODUCTIVITY is that intelligent, well-reasoned and personable read that encouraged me to examine my productivity through a new lens of joy. While the hacks and efficiencies and discipline had taken me far, this book's emphasis on presence of mind and joy gave me fresh courage and enthusiasm for the goals and accomplishments I most desire. It was a fast read, making simple and very doable changes to my routines, the feeling good encouraging me to keep going. Thank you to the author -- I'm sorry for his tough road to arrive at this wonderful system, but am delighted he kept with it and wrote this book. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Overall a very enjoyable book. Here are some notes I took:

1. Richard Feynman was a bit of an odd duck. I've read Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman. Even so, I liked the idea that he was unconventional and that there are insights to glean from his habits.

2. I'm not against pulling a Mary Poppins to find the fun in every task.

3. There was a section about self-determined confidence which reminded me of Olivia Fox Cabane's The Charisma Myth.

4. There were four quadrants of how to respond to a close person's news, and I was interested that I had been socialized to do the Cheerleader Charlie one in almost every circumstance. I didn't see Ali dive into the difference in gendered responses.

5. The part about defeating inertia wasn't anything that I hadn't heard before, but it really resonated. Setting up your environment so you make steady progress is so simple that it's not something you have to shell out money to know. However, actually doing it is a different matter. There's often a gap between knowledge and execution.

6. I'm used to replays of Lebron taking crazy shots and running. I was unaware of all the time that Ali states that Lebron was walking around on the court. It reminded me of how Serena Williams informed her husband Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of reddit, that he worked too hard. She talked about routinely resting, which is a lesson all of us need to learn.

7. Strategic recovery includes certain elements, which Ali spells out.

8. I liked the section where the researchers disrupted the idea that women were inherently worse at physics than men by having them affirm their values. I wrote down my top values from that list. They aren't one for one the same ones as Ramit Sethi has as Money Dials, but it's a somewhat similar concept. What are your priorities with your time, money, and energy (resources in general)?

I received a review copy from NetGalley and have left my opinion.

This book is so good. I enjoyed the writing style as well as the content. The author does a great job of reminding us how we can use our childhood abilities in adulthood to bring a higher element of fun, creativity and productivity into our lives. If you're looking for an inspiring book that is really going to help you break out of your regular routine and do something great, this is it!

I just couldn’t do this one. I suppose i have read too many productivity, optimize yourself, try-this-weird-trick books to see much new value in this one. There is a lot of prose for what is very watered down and barely actionable advice. Bored at work? Play music! In a rut? Practice beginners mind! Stagnating at work? Pretend you’re a cartoon character trying to level up! I could see where this one was going, and the future was grim.

Others have said similar in their reviews: this might be a good starting point for someone, but if you have read more than a few bestsellers in the productivity self-help genre, you have seen this advice before. The author takes a mind-numbingly long time to make their various points. At the end of each section you’ll find yourself flipping back a few pages to see if you missed anything, only to later ask yourself “that was it?”

Ali abdaal is a productivity master. In his new book, Feel Good Productivity, he directs us in ways to stop procrastinating and start enjoying our daily lives. I thoroughly enjoyed his writing style, the information, and guided experiments. This is the book we all need to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon books for the advanced readers copy of this book. As a fan of Ali Abdaal I was curious what he might have to say that he hasn't already said on his popular YouTube channel. Boy was I surprised. He has taken years of research in the field of productivity and condensed it down to an easy to read journey through discovering what productivity looks like for each individual using examples from his personal experience coupled with his extensive research. It's a quick read but is broken down so that you can read chapters and do your own personal reflection on how that information is applicable to oneself.

I think this would make an excellent graduation gift for upcoming graduates from as early as high school.

"Feel-Good Productivity" by Ali Abdaal is an absolute gem that had me captivated from start to finish. Ali's ability to combine practical strategies with a refreshing and uplifting approach to productivity is truly commendable. As I delved into the pages of this book, I found myself inspired and motivated to make positive changes in my own life.

What sets "Feel-Good Productivity" apart is Ali's emphasis on self-care and well-being as essential components of productivity. His insights on managing energy, setting boundaries, and prioritizing rest resonated deeply with me as a busy individual constantly striving for balance.

Ali's writing style is relatable, authentic, and peppered with personal anecdotes. His practical tips are easy to implement and yield tangible results.