Robin S. Sharma

The 5am Club

Forget idyllic childhood routines - my school days were a blur of 7am bells, Mystery Meat Mondays, and bus rides before dawn. Waking up at 5am fueled by Pepsi wasn't exactly the picture of self-improvement the author paints. Now, years later, early starts leave me drained, not energized. My commute? Don't even get me started.

So, when I tell you to skip this book, believe me. I get the "rise and grind" appeal, but this is less fable, more a mishmash of quotes, platitudes, and a thin "story" sprinkled with "golden nuggets" already on every pop psychology Instagram account. You've heard it all before, and frankly, you can find it better, faster, and free elsewhere.

Here's why this "early bird" book left me an exhausted skeptic:

• Nostalgia isn't reality: The author's idyllic school schedule doesn't reflect most people's experiences. My early mornings were fueled by desperation, not self-actualization.

• Platitudes disguised as wisdom: Common sense disguised as groundbreaking advice felt shallow and recycled.

• The story? Where's the story? The thin narrative felt like an afterthought, a forced frame for a collection of quotes.

• Been there, heard that: Timeless advice? Not here. Everything you "learn" can be found on the internet or your favorite motivational Instagram account.

Save your time and sleep. This book won't make you an early bird, just a tired cynic.

Liana

Forget idyllic childhood routines - my school days were a blur of 7am bells, Mystery Meat Mondays, and bus rides before dawn. Waking up at 5am fueled by Pepsi wasn't exactly the picture of self-improvement the author paints. Now, years later, early starts leave me drained, not energized. My commute? Don't even get me started.

So, when I tell you to skip this book, believe me. I get the "rise and grind" appeal, but this is less fable, more a mishmash of quotes, platitudes, and a thin "story" sprinkled with "golden nuggets" already on every pop psychology Instagram account. You've heard it all before, and frankly, you can find it better, faster, and free elsewhere.

Here's why this "early bird" book left me an exhausted skeptic:

• Nostalgia isn't reality: The author's idyllic school schedule doesn't reflect most people's experiences. My early mornings were fueled by desperation, not self-actualization.

• Platitudes disguised as wisdom: Common sense disguised as groundbreaking advice felt shallow and recycled.

• The story? Where's the story? The thin narrative felt like an afterthought, a forced frame for a collection of quotes.

• Been there, heard that: Timeless advice? Not here. Everything you "learn" can be found on the internet or your favorite motivational Instagram account.

Save your time and sleep. This book won't make you an early bird, just a tired cynic.

This book was okay, although it had some useful tools I think there is so much it doesn't consider. Not everyone has the same biological circadian rhythm and it is irresponsible to assume everyone does or that changing it will work for everyone. It was interesting but meh, didnt love it. 

The 5am Club

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