Pocket Full of Do, Book Review
“If you feel stuck, need a quick jolt of inspiration, does of motivation, or moment of clarity, reach for Pocket Full of Do - designed for on-the-go consumption and just-in-time learning”
Is Pocket Full of Do Worth $35?
As a creative professional, I know first-hand just how easy to get lost in all the online courses, books, social media content and opinions of others. It seems like there are billions of things to learn and not enough time to learn everything. Among all the noise, there are a few who I genuinely look to for mentorship and guidance and Chris Do is one of those people. This is why when I heard about Pocket Full of Do, a Kickstarter project by the man himself, I knew I had to jump on the platform and make my first pledge.
The pledge was $35 for the book and $15 for shipping. The last time I spent this much on a book was during college, so what makes this book so special, and is it really worth $50?
What is the Book About?
If you’re like me and have been following the Futur’s journey since the beginning, you will know just how valuable this book is. Pocket Full of Do comprises over two decades of reflections and observations on entrepreneurship, creativity, philosophy and more. It’s a collection of Chris’ thoughts and all the lessons he has learned throughout his life.
What makes this book different is the way it’s been designed. Chris knows and gets his audience. All true creative professionals know just how valuable their time is and although we all acknowledge the importance of regular reading, it’s often the first thing dropped off our to-do lists. So instead of creating an information-dense book with 1,000+ pages - something I am sure Chris is capable of doing - he distils each point to fit on a single page. Imagine you took an educational book that comprehensively covers everything about being a creative professional and then subtracted all the filler content, what you are left with is a Pocket Full of Do. It strikes a perfect balance between being concise and detailed.
It’s been a long time since I read a book like this and it’s honestly refreshing. The free print that came as part of the Kickstarter pledge summaries it quite well - “When things in life aren’t adding up, start subtracting”.
Best Way to Read This Book?
Personally, I believe that the best way to consume this book is while you are travelling. For example, my tram commute to work takes 45 minutes each way so that’s a lot of free time I have where I am limited with what I can do.
One thing I used to do, was select a chapter that I felt was most relevant to my current situation. Then I would find a page title that resonated with me most and read that page over and over. Not just reading to complete it, but with the intent to learn and understand. As I neared the end of my tram ride, I would close the book and test myself to see if I could remember the key points. This daily habit really made a big difference when it came to understanding and articulating my thoughts at work and here’s an example.
One particular page I found useful is titled ‘Start empty’ (page 33). It’s about how our assumptions and preconceived ideas are all things that work against us. When you are doing research for a new project, there are three forms of cognitive bias that can influence your decision-making. Knowing what they are can help you to avoid distorting the truth with your own beliefs.
Before lockdown happened, when everyone was in the office, I remember a colleague asking why I was doing something a certain way. When I explained and showed them the research, they replied “but when I use this app, I use it like this”. Right then and there, I was able to identify this as confirmation bias. My approach had research to support the hypothesis, but because this insight didn’t align with my colleague’s worldview, they had decided not to acknowledge this. The truth is, I could see the logic in their thinking, but it differed too far from the truth. I stood by my decision and ultimately it was the right approach to take. This is just one of many examples of where I have practically applied the lessons in this book to my professional career.
Final Thoughts
To summarise, the best way to consume this book is to focus on quality reading time over quantity reading time (if that’s even a thing?). Imagine you were to read another book for an hour, the average amount of pages a person would read in that is 50. But If you were to read Pocket Full of Do for an hour, I would recommend selecting 2 or 4 pages and reading them over and over until you know how to practically implement these lessons into your life.
Ultimately, this is a great book to always have within arms reach. It’s beautifully illustrated and full of meaningful content. Pocket Full of Do delivers all things purposefully and if you can get your hands on a copy, I would highly recommend doing so.
Thank you for reading, and good luck with your next project.