![It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work by [Fried, Jason, Hansson, David Heinemeier]](http://web.archive.org./web/20190719091549im_/https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51nepS2j-UL._SY346_.jpg)
In one sense, this book is a giant book of “DUH”
• Employees should not be expected to work after work. 40 hours is plenty.
• Team communication does not need an immediate response.
• Less meetings
• Equal pay for equal seniority.
• Focus on process/gradual improvement vs. arbitrary goals
• CEO’s should think through how a sudden idea or words can alter the course of company culture and how projects get done
...the list goes on
But sadly, these “duhness” principles seem to be the exception in the working world. As an employee of a company who adopts a small share of their principles, I hope this book will serve as a symbol for change.
My knee jerk reaction to this book was its mainly for CEOs, founders, and managers, those in positions of power, to implement the ideas in this book. While I think they do hold the greater share of responsibility to make the change, I believe it is a interdependent change on employer and employee.
For employees, it's a call to analyze your own workplace habits and get better at drawing boundaries. Akin to how holding hidden expectations in a relationship will corrode the relationship if not communicated, acting as if your situation is futile without trying is the easy way out. Look I am scared here. Speaking up I risk being shut down or worse getting fired. However, I feel like it is the right thing to do. The challenge is communicating the ideas in this book so they will be listened to. Rome was not built in a day.
And for those in positions of power, this book shows it does not have to be a trade off between accomplishing something great and having a life outside work. I get that this is an uphill battle as popular culture celebrates the grinders, hustlers...the blood sweat and tears that people wear as a badge of honor. As the book title suggest, there’s a calmer way. This book shows it can be YES AND, not EITHER/OR. Yes you can be effective at work, become rich, leave a dent in this universe AND have a life outside it. Your legacy can be you left a trail of happy, healthy humans who genuinely thought of you as a good boss or manager. You’re happier. They’re happier. You can see your family, friends, and so can they. That seems pretty good to me, even if you don’t accomplish your mission of saving the whales :)
As a fan of Basecamp for sometime, many of these ideas you’ll find on their blog, however, the book feels different. From the choice on ordering how the ideas are presented, the illustrations, and just physical love for books...it’s different than the blog.
If you’re hesitant because the blog is free, do yourself a favor and get the living, breathing thing. Having this book is a great reminder; a great reminder of the world I’d like to live in. A great reminder that there is a saner way to work.
Review
Anyone running small but successful businesses, especially those who care more about employees' welfare than the bottom line, may appreciate Fried and Hansson's practical, plainspoken advice.
-- "Library Journal"About the Author
Jason Fried is the cofounder and CEO of Basecamp. He started the company back in 1999 and has been running the show ever since. Along with David, he wrote Getting Real, Rework, and Remote. When it comes to business, he thinks things are simple until you make them complicated. And when it comes to life, we're all just trying to figure it out as we go.
