Effortless by Greg McKeown

Book Summary

In his book Effortless: make it easier to do what matters most, Greg McKeown addresses one of humanity's most significant concerns. He is well aware that not all hard tasks can be made easy, but it is possible to simplify prioritized tasks a bit. In his book, McKeown aims to teach people not to be too hard on themselves and that there are simpler ways to achieve their goals. In the ups and downs of life, there are various circumstances; sometimes it is necessary to use all one's strength to reach a goal, and other times it is essential to take a break and, once energy is restored, continue on the path.

Misguided advice does not help because, in today's modern world, we are well aware of the hardships people face and the tools they need to confront challenges. Therefore, accepting the principle that individuals' responsibilities in society have increased can initially make it possible for us to confront reality.

The next step is understanding what is significant in the work at hand, which readers should be aware of to benefit more from its teachings: problems are not going to disappear; rather, those that appear particularly stubborn need to be identified and addressed with the solutions that *Essentialism* provides, making problem-solving easier and more feasible.

About the Author

Greg McKeown is an English author and speaker born in London in 1977. He completed his studies in business management and communications and journalism at Stanford University and Brigham Young University, and he is active on social media platforms, including LinkedIn. McKeown is not only a New York Times bestselling author but also writes articles for the Harvard Business Review. Some of his other works include *Essentialism* and *Multipliers*.

Who Should Read the Book?

This book is highly recommended for individuals who feel frustrated and confused in solving their life problems and think they have reached the end of the line.

Book Quotes

Complaining is the best example of something easy yet pointless. In fact, it is one of the easiest things to do. However, such toxic thoughts, even if they are futile, accumulate quickly. The more mental space they occupy, the harder it becomes to return to a hassle-free state.

Our brains are designed to resist what they perceive as hard and to be receptive to what they see as easy. This bias is sometimes referred to as the cognitive ease principle or the principle of least resistance. We tend to choose paths that offer the least resistance in achieving our desires.

There is no need to look far for a concrete example of this principle. For instance, instead of doing our shopping at a store with lower prices that is far away, we shop at a nearby store that is easily accessible but has excessively high prices. Instead of placing our dishes in the dishwasher, we put them in the sink because it requires one less step. We allow our teenage child to use their phone at the dinner table because it’s easier, and enforcing a no-phone rule would lead to a long argument.

From an evolutionary perspective, the bias towards ease is quite useful. Throughout history, such a tendency has been essential for human advancement and survival. Imagine if humans had a bias towards the greatest resistance. What would happen if our ancestors asked themselves what the hardest way to obtain food was? How about the hardest way to find shelter for their family? Or managing relationships within the tribe.