Poke the Box: When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time? Hardcover – September 15, 2015

I have a great deal of respect for the work Seth Godin does, and it's not hard to maintain when he continues to produce such interesting, useful, people-oriented and change-making initiatives. Poke the Box is the most recent, and paired with the Domino Project, I consider it the most impressive.I feel this way not because the content is all that different or more extensive -- it's not. Anyone who has read Linchpin and Tribes will find Poke the Box deliciously familiar, yet still new and very pointed. Poke the Box is better because the content is far more concise than previous books, and Seth has used it to zoom in on a facet of Linchpin that absolutely had to be discussed further: Initiative.The Linchpin release had us brainstorming ways to get people interested in reading a 245-page book because we knew it would change their work forever. But Poke the Box tops out at 85 pages... and its execution is far more focused than Linchpin's was. To someone daunted by pages, Poke the Box is almost a no-brainer. Yes, it's a different product. But for someone who has long elevated the values Linchpin promotes, for someone who wants this material to spread to as many people as possible, Poke the Box is the perfect catalyst.If you haven't read Seth Godin before, or if you've read everything he's written -- read this book now. It will make a difference.A few of my favorite bits:Make your schedule before you start, and don't be derailed. For those of us who work for ourselves, this is an interesting trap! We work for ourselves because we want creative flexibility, and while that flexibility can produce amazing results, it can also trip us up if we're not careful. You must always show up, you must always work hard, and you must never allow yourself excuses that put you off schedule. We've all done it -- and we all know that we can do better. (More on page 19.)It's hard to find smart people willing to start useful projects. Not only does that make it easier to get over the hump and start something exciting -- there's so little competition! -- but you can draw your confidence from the realization that not everyone can bring themselves to do what you do. If everyone else is afraid, but you push through, you're a superhero. (More on page 28.)It's scary to try something new. Failure is always hovering nearby, taunting us and turning us away. But the hardest part of doing great work is entertaining that very first failure. Once you get through that, you can get on to the next attempt. The more failures you experience, the closer you are to success -- no matter how you define it. (More on page 42.)Failure is a relief. Failure means you've done it, you've succeeded at failing -- and it's time to move on to the next try. This is wonderful, because the more failures you accumulate, the closer you are to the prize. No one wins without a few bumps and bruises, a few battle scars. Go out and get yours, make them really mean something, and display them with pride. (More on page 54.)The Dandelion Method: Promiscuous starting, and promiscuous shipping, is the goal. A dandelion throws seeds as far and as numerously as it can. Most of them will fall somewhere they can't grow, and that's okay... because some of them will fall somewhere they can grow. Throw out as many seeds as you can, grow thousands, millions, billions of dandelions. (More on page 71!)After you've read Poke the Box, there's a fantastic workbook they've put together that is highly worth printing and keeping around. There's also a fantastic interview with Seth Godin at Rise To The Top with David Siteman Garland. My favorite comment from the interview: Failureful. At the end, the person who failed the most... WINS.Five stars, and thensome.

Hard to describe what this book really is, but it's best summed up as a pop-business-philosophy-motivational book. Godin repeatedly emphasizes the importance of starting things through a variety of anecdotes, truisms, and mini-essays. It's a short read, but can be very valuable for anyone who is stuck in there job or anyone who has not quite pushed that great idea out from their brain to their fingertips.Pros:Easy to read (and recommend to others)Great, quotable statements throughoutOne of the better books I've read on "getting started"Cons:On the simple sideBasically one idea repeated in 100 ways, albeit interesting waysStarting is only half the battle in my experienceIt's really a good read and you can't beat the price. Pick up a copy and you may find out that you have been stuck at square one for awhile. The quote below is one of the best in the book, and summarizes the thrust of the entire book."What's the disctinction between carrying around a great idea, being a brainstormer, tinkering-and starting something?Starting means you're going to finish. If it doesn't ship, you've failed. You haven't poked the box if the box doesn't realize it's been poked.To merely start without finishing is just boasting, or stalling, or a waste of time. I have no patience at all for people who believe they are doing their best work but are hiding it from the market. If you don't ship, you actually haven't started anything at all. At some point, your work has to inetersect with the market. At some point, you need feedback as to whether or not it worked. otherwise, it's merely a hobby" (45,46).

PROS: * Good, "eloquent rant" style. * Explores a number of angles about the core subject. * Neither overly long or short - just right to get you going.CONS: * Occasionally repetitive. * Doesn't provide a blueprint - just the push.SUMMARY: Godin at his best, provoking you to think and take initiative. A definite must-read.I have mixed feelings about Seth Godin's writing. He's witty, imaginative, and often very eloquent-he's an idea man, and boy does he have ideas. Sometimes sadly his ideas stay very abstract; he seems to rely more on hoping his ideas inspire people giving blueprints to follow.With "Poke The Box," he's hit the sweet spot of ranting and inspiring that is him at his best. This is a good book."Poke The Box" is an extended rant/speculation/pep talk about the need for initiative. It sounds simple (it sounds like something you can't even talk about for an entire book), but there's actually a lot to talk about, and Godin does so in very fine form.His basic point, which doesn't do the book justice, is that we lack initiative in many parts of our lives, especially in the areas of business and entrepreneurship. We're afraid, were bashful, were not taught to take initiative, so we don't do it. This ends up with us being dissatisfied, unhappy, and unsuccessful.Godin points out that not only are we trapped in this pathological state, it's bad for economy and even our culture. Initiative is necessary, important, and grows more so by the year. Innovation is important, and it's nothing without the initiative to make it happen.Needless to say, I can't exactly explain the book in this review - it has to be read - but you get the idea. Godin wants to inspire you to take initiative in your business plans and career and job. He wants you to "Poke The Box" (named after a toy a relative made to provoke a baby's curiosity).Throughout this book, Godin takes you on a tour of fears, inspires you, and prods you to essentially Get Off Your Ass and Try Something. That's his entire goal, and it takes a book to do since he tries several perspectives, several prods, and explores various issues. Though at times the book is a bit repetitive, he does cover a lot of ground and there's probably something in here to get you moving.So I'm going to put it simply - by this book. There's a Kindle version for about $4.99 which you can read online or on your phone or something if you don't have a Kindle - it's not a long book. If you think you'll reread this or you're a Godin fan, go buy the softcover and enjoy.It's a good rallying cry. Strongly recommended

Impecable

One of the best books. Simple good and deep

Absolutely easy and amazing to read, this book forces you to get up and start, do something. The best part is right at the end - a quote by Buddha!

More like a brochure than a book in every sense - the look and the content. If you have subscribed to his e-mail list, then a lot of things you will already know. Wanted to put 3 stars, but guess I had bigger expectations, but it is his style, so I can't rate it too low.

A refreshing compendium of positive snippets of advice, giving the reader an alternative take on making good your business ideas and how any setbacks (that will inevitably occur) are essential building blocks to eventually becoming successful. Easy to read, makes sense and the fun cover means that I keep picking it up and flicking through chapters.