Seth Godin

Presents a call to action about taking initiative, embracing change, and risking failure.

When was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time?

Poke the Box

Irene Alegre

Quick read about being an initiator, on starting things and making stuff happen. On failing in order to succeed. Didn't change the way I look at things, but does strengthen the mindset if you already have it and encourage you to GO FOR IT.

Barry Hess

A nearly empty book of 84 pages. Godin comes up with an obtuse metaphor for starting (Poke the Box!) and then twists it 15 different ways. He never settles on a solid thesis. Along the way he mangles the language, puts way too much emphasis on failure and way too little emphasis on quality. I've liked Godin books in the past, but this one read like a rushed series of blog posts mashed together. Some fault falls on the editing since ideas contradict each other within a few pages. Laying out the contradictions 20-30 pages apart would have pulled the wool over the eyes a lot more effectively.

To get my full review, find the book I wrote in as part of The Domino Project. A simple review does no justice to my dislike of this book. My inline comments capture the mood as I was reading it.

Magdalene Lim

If I had to summarise this book in 3 bullet points, it would be:

- Start it
- Finish it
- Godin's rant

Godin believes everyone should push the line or poke the box. Innovation is for everyone. Everyone should initiate things and not be the type to simply keep still, and conform. Slightly too ambitious and lofty, but Godin's book did provoke some thoughts that justified the read.

As with all motivational books that tell you to take risks and be the somebody who starts things, the book would also tell you that failure is expected and shouldn't deter you. If anything, Godin teaches you how to word your failures, giving them a positive spin. Surely everyone can do with such pep talk. :p

A small book that's easy to read cos' it's so short. Each section is a short paragraph. While that makes it easy to start and stop reading, there is no flow to the book and I find it hard to recall what I've read after reading it. But perhaps, that is just me.

I.m. ruzz

i'm too busy starting stuff to write a review. but it was pretty good. good particularly when he talks about the entire world being against anyone doing anything outside the edges.

Taylor Murphy

Tony McCollum

Poke the Box is Seth Godin's spirited call to action for anybody too afraid to try something new, now relaunched and repackaged If you are happy being just a dreamer, perhaps you don't need this book. If you're enjoying the status quo, don't even consider reading this book. If you are content waiting for success to find you, please put this book down and go find something else to read. Why has Poke the Box become a cult classic? Because it's a book that dares readers to do something they're afraid of. It could be what you need, too. 'Like the man who produced it, Poke the Box is inspired and inspiring' Daniel H. Pink 'A one-two punch! Half kick in the ass, half cheerleading encouragement' Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art

Poke the Box When was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time?

Reviews