Thirty Pages to Perfection
Four Short Steps To Walking In Happiness All The Time
In Search Of A Gem
Just because a book is short, is no cause for dismissal. Take for example, Skill With People by Les Giblin. I’ve read it numerous times, find it extremely practical, and have recommended it throughout the years. That said, in my search for a lighter book this week I explored some lists of short but impactful reads in the world of personal development hoping to find another gem like Skill With People – something small in print length, but high in content value.
What I discovered were a few that I had already read, like Jonathon Livingston Seagull or As A Man Thinketh, in addition to Who Moved My Cheese (which I had read years ago and have added to my list to revisit). As such, finding Thirty Pages to Perfection in the midst of these classics led me to believe I had discovered that gem I was looking for, but had I really found “fools gold”.
Key Insights
- Sometimes the value in something can be found not in the thing itself. However in realizing where value is missing, we are given direction as to where to pursue it.
- Measure twice and cut once! This classic carpentry practice helps ensure that due diligence is taken prior to taking action. Deeper discovery may reveal better options or simply cause to cease action altogether.
- Win or learn! Although I wasn’t awe struck with the wisdom bestowed inside the book, I still walk away with lessons learned through my personal reflection and experience.
Discovering Fools Gold
First and foremost, I will admit that even “fools gold” still has value… but its place is in the trinket shop not alongside real gold or jewels. Although I may have been fooled as to the overall value and practicality of this book, I can’t say that I haven’t walked away with some practical lessons and therefore value. Ironically, the value was in recognizing what was missing.
In my opinion, the book lacked heart. In fact, at one point while reading, I stopped to see when it was published as I thought it was written by AI. After discovering it had been published in 2015, that theory was debunked but what I did discover was that the author's name was a pseudonym. That’s right, no actual person or their life experiences could be bound to the writing. Which explains the lack of heart, the lack of story, the lack of shared life experience. In truth, the evidence that the words and practices outlined within could lead to any desired outcome are nonexistent.
Naval Ravikant said, “To write a great book, you must first become the book.” Those words rang true when I first read them, but they now ring true on a completely different level. I’m not saying all books have to have “story” within them, but I do believe they should be backed by personal experience – at least in the realms of personal development, self-help, etc. Moving forward, I will certainly do more due diligence when accepting online recommendations.
Final Note: I'm not saying that Thirty Pages to Perfection has zero value in and of itself, otherwise I wouldn't have been capable of pulling a few quotes from its short count of pages. That said, its a quick read and you may find personal value to be taken different from myself.
A few of my favorite quotes from the book!
We are either the servant of, or the master of, our minds and life.Shel Shamus : Thirty Pages to Perfection
The key to your entire freedom is watching your program, (...) and realizing that actually the entity watching your mind is you.Shel Shamus : Thirty Pages to Perfection
If we are feeling sad – and liking it, or not – we can choose to watch it or be it.Shel Shamus : Thirty Pages to Perfection
If we are feeling angry – and liking it, or not – we can choose to watch it or be it.Shel Shamus : Thirty Pages to Perfection
Instead of being the co-pilot in the journey that is simply our life, we can be the driver – but only after we see that it hasn’t been us all along.Shel Shamus : Thirty Pages to Perfection
We get to decide whether or not we want to live in fear or freedom.Shel Shamus : Thirty Pages to Perfection
You will have to answer to yourself only whether or not you are enjoying life to its fullest.Shel Shamus : Thirty Pages to Perfection
Judgement is really saved for you by yourself alone.Shel Shamus : Thirty Pages to Perfection
Happiness is an inside job alone,Shel Shamus : Thirty Pages to Perfection
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