The Knot
Problems Can Be Solved
by Seth Godin
You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Sep 22 2026 | Archive Date Not set
Talking about this book? Use #TheKnot #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
You’re not stuck because the problem is too hard.
You’re stuck because something invisible is holding it in place.
Most persistent problems—at work, in organizations, and in our own lives—aren’t unsolvable. We’ve tried harder. We’ve optimized. We’ve worried about it.
And nothing changes.
This is the kind of stuckness that shows up for people who lead, create, and build—for those who care deeply, think clearly, and still find themselves going in circles.
Some challenges are situations outside our control, best met with acceptance. But others are real problems, capable of being changed. The trouble is, we often can’t tell the difference.
That’s because we’re entangled.
An entanglement is a hidden commitment that creates conflict beneath the surface: wanting progress without risk, change without loss, or forward motion without letting go of who we were—or who we promised to become. When we want two incompatible things at the same time, effort doesn’t help. We stay stuck.
In The Knot, Seth Godin offers a clear, practical framework:
- How to tell the difference between problems you can solve and situations you need to accept
- How to see systems, understand what people actually want, and create conditions for change rather than simply hoping for it
- A practical guide to entanglements—time-based (sunk costs, premature optimization), social (phantom audiences, borrowed scorecards), and identity-based (who we were, who we promised to become)—each named, examined, and shown to be removable
The book leaves readers with a simple mantra for meaningful work:
Name the baggage.
Drop the baggage.
Ship the work.
If you’ve been pushing without progress, this book helps you see what’s really in the way—and finally remove it.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9798893312492 |
| PRICE | $22.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 96 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 7 members
Featured Reviews
Kelly P, Reviewer
Ever since I came across Seth on the Mel Robbins podcast, I have been intrigued. This book was super informative and helpful. I feel less confused about my long-term goals and have ideas of what my focus should be. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. The book is well planned and easy to read.
Reviewer 1487476
The Knot feels aligned with what Seth Godin does best: taking a frustrating but common human problem and giving it clear language. The central idea — that we often stay stuck not because the problem is impossible, but because we’re tangled in conflicting commitments — is simple, useful, and easy to apply.
The book’s biggest strength seems to be reframing. It encourages readers to distinguish between situations that need acceptance and problems that can actually be solved. That alone can be valuable.
As with many business/self-development books, some of the ideas may feel familiar if you’ve read broadly in the genre, and readers looking for highly tactical step-by-step systems may want more depth. But for a concise reset on how to think about progress, identity, and unnecessary baggage, it appears to be a worthwhile read.
Readers who liked this book also liked:
Views expressed in promotions/advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of NetGalley or its affiliates.
© 2026 NetGalley LLC
• All Rights Reserved
Views expressed in promotions/advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of NetGalley or its affiliates.