Barking Up the Wrong Tree: The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong by Eric Barker
(New York: HarperCollins, 2017), 268
Chapter 1 - Should we play it safe?
Chapter 2 - Nice guys?
- strategy:
- don't be envious (most of life isn't zero-sum)
- don't be the first to defect
- reciprocate both cooperation and defection
- don't be too clever
- pick the right pond
- cooperate first
- being selfless isn't saintly, it's silly
- work hard, but make sure it gets noticed
- think long term and make others think long term
- forgive
Chapter 3 - Quitting?
- do you know what you need to be gritty at?
- are you optimistic?
- do you have a meaningful story?
- have you made it a game?
- you are a grid machine
- play the "little bets"
Chapter 4 - Who you know
- know who you are
- in the end, it's all about friendship
- the most successful are always getting and giving
- your network influences you, like it or not; make sure it's a good one
Chapter 5 - Believe in yourself
- believing in yourself is nice; forgiving yourself is better
- adjust for your natural level of self-esteem
- if you need more confidence, earn it
- don't be a faker
Chapter 6 - Work life balance
- track your time
- talk to your boss
- don't use to-do lists, schedule everything (Cal Newport)
- control your context (environment)
- end the day right and on time