This Is Strategy: Make Better Plans

Strategy isn't a fixed formula, and this book embodies that truth perfectly through its unique and provocative structure. Seth Godin has delivered a work that feels more like a toolkit for the mind than a standard business text. I particularly appreciated the focus on how positioning grids and metrics can reshape entire industries. It’s a thought-provoking journey that demands active engagement from the reader. You can't just passively consume this; you have to think about your own leverage points. This is easily one of the best non-fiction books of the year for anyone seeking meaningful change.

What does it actually take to stay relevant when the world is constantly shifting under your feet? Godin answers this by focusing on long-term vision and the power of feedback loops. The way he describes 'systemic advantage' versus 'heroic effort' changed how I view my daily tasks. This book is a deep exploration of the motivations—connection, recognition, safety—that drive human behavior. Not gonna lie, the 297 short chapters are a bold choice, but they allow for a very high density of valuable ideas per page. It’s a brilliant guide for those who want to create remarkable work.

Picked this up because I wanted to understand how to move beyond simple tactics and into actual systemic change. I’m glad I did, as the density of ideas here is remarkable. Godin’s focus on systems, feedback loops, and how toxic structures endure is incredibly nuanced. The example of Tony’s Chocolonely was a highlight for me. However, the readability is a bit of a mixed bag due to the vignette style. It isn't a book you sit down and read cover-to-cover in one afternoon. You have to sip it like a strong espresso, or you’ll get lost in the abstraction.

The chapter on the 'four quadrants'—time, games, empathy, and systems—finally made the concept of strategy click for me. Seth argues that we often mistake heroic effort for a real plan, which is a trap I’ve fallen into many times. The book challenges the 'corporate industrial complex' and pushes you to serve a niche rather than chasing scale. Look, it’s definitely unconventional and some might find the short chapters annoying. But if you’re looking for a masterclass in challenging the status quo, this is it. It’s a rousing nudge for any aspiring entrepreneur.

Finally got around to finishing Godin's latest, and it's certainly a different beast than his earlier work. It’s structured as a manifesto of vignettes, which makes it perfect for a daily reading habit but difficult for a deep dive. I loved the emphasis on 'emotional labor' and the way he uses artists like Andy Warhol to illustrate leverage. The writing is clear and punchy, though some sections feel a little repetitive after a while. If you can handle the disjointed nature, there is deep wisdom about how cultural systems resist change. It is worth the money for the perspective shift.

Not what I expected, but perhaps exactly what I needed to hear regarding my own project's direction. The distinction between strategy and tactics is often blurred, but this book draws a hard line that is very helpful. I found the sections on the 'smallest viable audience' to be the most practical part of the text. To be fair, the book wanders all over the place and doesn't always provide a step-by-step formula. But strategy is rarely linear, so the structure actually reflects the subject matter well. It’s a solid 4-star read for the insights alone, even if the flow is messy.

After hearing Seth talk about this on a podcast, I knew the 'riffs' format would be polarizing for many readers. I personally enjoyed the bite-sized nature of the chapters, even if the continuity felt a bit lacking at times. It forces you to pause and reflect on how your choices today shape your tomorrow. The insights on how cultural norms reinforce existing systems were particularly eye-opening for me. It’s not your typical business book, but it’s packed with marketing wisdom for those willing to do the work. A very insightful, if slightly fragmented, read.

As a long-time follower of Seth's daily blog, I found the content here felt a bit like expensive déjà vu. The information is inspiring, focusing on the 'smallest viable market' and the importance of empathy, yet the flow is totally non-existent. It reads like a compilation of 297 meditations rather than a structured business manual. To be fair, some gems are buried in the drier sections, but the lack of a clear framework makes it difficult to apply. It’s a good collection of nuggets, but I’d probably recommend his podcast interviews over the actual book. It’s just too scattered for my brain.

Is this a book or a loosely organized folder of blog posts? I’ve read pretty much all of Seth’s work, and The Icarus Deception remains a personal favorite, but this was a major letdown. The structure is too abstract and disjointed to be useful for someone actually trying to run a business. I struggled through the first sixty chapters hoping for a thread of continuity, but I eventually threw in the towel at chapter 72. Truth is, the ideas are okay, but the delivery is so fragmented that it’s exhausting to read. It lacks the punch and focus of his earlier work.

This book represents everything that is frustrating about modern non-fiction. It feels like a collection of random thoughts assembled with zero editing work or overarching logic. Frankly, it’s hard to shake the feeling that this was mostly AI-generated, which the author even hints at in the intro. I expected a cohesive guide on how to build a better plan, but instead, I got 250+ disjointed riffs that read like a disorganized Reddit thread. Even though there are a few interesting points on systems, the reader has to do way too much heavy lifting to find them. If you want strategy, look elsewhere.