Anonymous

Not one of the best in the Sackett series

Reviewed: 05-16-25

This among my two least favorite so far in the Sackett series. I've listenef to 1-11.

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Excellent!

Reviewed: 07-28-24

Highly recommended. Well written and well performed. My only complaint is the sound quality. For some reason the sound often felt either too quiet and wispy or too loud and boomy in my earbuds. It’s usually not a problem so I’m guessing it’s an issue with the audio engineering. The story was so good I kept listening anyway and would repeat sections if needed.

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Thank you, Thomas Rid!

Reviewed: 02-03-23

This is the cultural historical analysis of human-machine relations I’ve been looking for. Thank you, Thomas Rid, for your clarity and depth of learning!

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Just what I needed!

Reviewed: 12-06-22

Halfway through the ten lectures, I'm enjoying them a lot and noticed myself behaving more productively while listening to them. Speaking as a devoted reader of GTD, and having read many other popular books on time management, tidying up, tiny habits, etc. (see other commenters' references), I agree that the lectures are not wholly original. However, unlike others, I don't mind that at all. I'm not looking for original research in a general lecture series like this one. Instead, I hope to meet a lecturer who can synthesize the best research available on a topic and present it in an organized, clear, and engaging way. Professor Conlon gets high marks from me on all of these points. The lectures are short and easy to listen to, and they're full of practical information and tips on organization and productivity. The audio production is also excellent. All in all, I would recommend this series to anyone who is new to the topic. But I'd also recommend it to someone who isn't new to the topic but who, like me, needs a refresher course from time to time to maintain, even elevate, their systems for organization and time management.

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Rebranding Capitalism?

Reviewed: 11-26-20

I came to this book after listening to Robert Reich’s The System and Zephyr Teachout's Break Em Up. Like Reich and Teachout, Galloway argues for the break-up of big tech and for a sort of rebranding of capitalism: less monopoly, less corruption, more government oversight to enable competition, opportunities for smaller businesses, wider paths to social mobility, and a broader middle class. The larger vision seems to be a progressive free market designed to bring about a more prosperous, humane society, one that includes more members of communities. More quality family time, better public schools, fewer breaks for the 1%. While the ethical spirit of the book seems sincere, Galloway's faith the virtue of the free market is also puzzling sometimes. For instance, he advocates for breaking up big tech yet also for big tech's takeover of higher ed. Odd. I get his logic that higher ed has come to monopolize professional certification, and the inflated costs of tuition, resulting in student loan debt. Yet it’s hard to envision how a collaboration between elite universities and big tech solves income inequality and social mobility. It seems likelier, as Galloway concedes at times, that a big-tech/elite university collaboration would instead lead to a larger concentration of wealth and resources in the hands of a few elite, luxury brands. In the end, it seems likely that a disruption of higher education would benefit fewer universities, fewer "star professors," and fewer tech companies, leaving the rest behind.
It's also unclear how remaking higher ed in the image of big tech squares with Galloway's commitment to stronger public K-12 schools and more investment in public higher ed. Given Galloway's position as a popular business professor an elite university, the whole plan seems, well, self-serving. And the calls for social justice at times seem more like a rebranding strategy than a true progressive politics. Not that the book isn’t worth reading. As a whole, it's thought-provoking, Informative, and perhaps its speculations and solutions will prove correct. I also appreciate Galloway's writing. The style is entertaining and inventive. He's able to take complex topics and present them in clear, lucid, humorous prose. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and accept that his ethical concern for people during times of crisis is sincere. The book is certainly timely and filled with wisdom. Good narration too, though the volume is a bit inconsistent.

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24 people found this helpful

Good, but could have been shorter

Reviewed: 11-01-20

Good content, a bit long and repetitive at times though. The last hour or so felt heavy on self-promotion.

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1 person found this helpful

Receiving feedback well is on you, not the giver

Reviewed: 08-12-20

The book's main idea is that learning to receive feedback well is more important than being able to give feedback well. It's up to you, the receiver, to learn how to learn this skill, and the authors make a strong case for why doing so will help you grow at work, at home, and in life.

The book also provides lots of examples and strategies for learning to receive feedback well. I recommend this book for students, teachers, coaches, managers, athletes--actually, for just about anyone who wants to know more about the feedback process and wants to improve in a specific area.

By chance, I listened to this book right after finishing Carol Dweck's Mindset, a book the authors draw on quite a bit. Thanks for the Feedback was the perfect follow-up book, and I recommend them both.

The weakest part of the book is the authors' delivery: not terrible at all, but also not particularly captivating. With some patience, I made it through to the end, and the content made the effort worth the while.

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Great book on listening, not great narration

Reviewed: 06-15-19

Great contents! If you're looking for in-depth information about the value of listening, especially in the context of family therapy and friendships, with some focus on work relationships at the end, then this is your book. If you're looking for quick, easy hacks, look elsewhere. The author presents listening as a life-long skill that requires dedication and practice. The aim is to help readers build and restore relationships with those close to them. All in all, the contents exceeded my expectations. That said, to get the most out of this book, I feel like I need to listen to it again, take notes, and really apply the skills that are presented.

The narration is okay, but mildly irritating. In particular, the way the narrator tends to end his sentences with a flat, soothing pause grew monotonous. This is the second book I've listened to by this narrator. (He also narrates Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise).

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15 people found this helpful