Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Where to start—the fact that there are zero critical reviews on this book is mind numbing. This is not literature, nor is this a how to manual, nor is it an actual case study. This is purely and simply propaganda to get people fired up and interested in starting a side hustle, which, coincidentally, is the author’s brand, with the very unsubtle goal to funnel people into buying his other books and adding podcast subscribers. Synopsis: a slacker, possibly depressed, definitely well off and privileged, finds himself at rock bottom, about to lose his girlfriend, his job, and his apartment, all while being overwhelmed by his 50k in student loans “he didn’t realize he’d have to pay,” all because he was a slacker. That’s the extent of his personality and character development. He has a killer job at a marketing firm that’s about to be cannibalized by a gargantuan IBM-esque company, yet somehow he is struggling in every aspect financially. His life suddenly changes when he encounters a business mastery group and a kind guru. And what would be so bad about motivating people anyway? First, the “actionable” advice, is the same tripe you can get from any other motivational Gary Vee (et al) speaker, usually for free: Step 1: “Buy things for cheap and resell them on ebay for a higher price.” (Sure, Jan). Step 2: “Start a service online business, because PASSIVE INCOME BRO.” Step 3: “Go to Africa and have your mind blown and perspective changed because this ‘third way’ is how the rest of the world gets by!” The main character does the same infuriating thing that so many wannabe ‘entrepreneurs’ are doing these days—selling a service that he has no good experience in, and then when that fails, starts a second service that could be done by anyone with 2 licks of common sense. And that’s the frustrating thing—sell coaching services if you have good experience that actually brings value to people. But the reality is the market is flooded by thousands of people selling services that they are not experts in and it is completely unsustainable. (Speaking of unsustainability, don’t get me started on the retail arbitrage this book uncritically advocates.) Outside the initial stakes the main character finds himself in, the plot has little tension and no narrative payoff. Just as Ayn Rand forms a conclusion for her last two novels and then fills them with cardboard, hollow characters that “prove her point,” this book has its conclusion from the get go and the cast is rounded out by bloodless plot advancers with no shred of complexity. (Only this book doesn’t have any of Rand’s crazy SciFi or bizarre S&M scenes). The good: I chuckled at the implementation of Chekhov’s gun in the form of a donut. Also, there is a cute, trite B story about an egotistical Silicon Valley tech CEO imploding himself and his company—that’s never not amusing, and that also got some chuckles out of me. Lastly, if it inspires anyone to know themselves better and take responsibility for their lives, all the best, but there are certainly better sources. The worst: the biggest challenge the protagonist encounters that isn’t his own fault is learning that credit card chargebacks are a thing. Read instead: “Set for Life” for actionable information on taking control of your finances, “The Alchemist” for inspiration in doing so, and any other book to get the taste of this one out of your mouth.