Living the 80/20 Way

Agreeing with author Richard Koch, you might say 20% of the statements in this book produce 80% of its value. Koch says he wrote this book because his last one, The 80/20 Principle, was too complex for some readers. As a result, Koch’s writing, which is straightforward and concrete, at times borders on the simplistic. He illustrates each point with interesting stories and examples, some of which seem elementary to the point of being silly. That said, Koch’s application of Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto’s classic 80/20 rule is very useful. The modern interpretation of Pareto’s law holds that 80% of your productivity stems from 20% of your activities - do more of these meaningful things, and less of the others, and you can actually become more productive while decreasing your workload. This is a valuable concept for busy people who want to be more productive while also reducing their stress. Koch’s emphasis on flow, simplicity and following your passion are also useful. Some parts of the book reflect mainstream self-help literature - don’t be surprised if you’ve heard some of it before. Koch includes worksheets to help you apply the 80/20 principle to your life. getAbstract recommends this book as a good introduction for self-help readers and those looking to do more with less.