Pocket Full of Do by Chris Do: Is This Design Book Worth £35? [2024 Review]
Wondering if Chris Do's Pocket Full of Do is worth £35? In this video review, I share my honest thoughts after using this unique design book for six months. Learn why this isn't just another business book, but a practical tool for creative professionals.
Quick Verdict
Pocket Full of Do is worth the £35 investment for creative professionals seeking actionable wisdom. This concise handbook delivers decades of entrepreneurial and creative insights in an innovative, easy-to-digest format.
What Makes Pocket Full of Do Different?
As a creative professional in the UK, I've invested countless hours in online courses, books, and social media content. Amidst the overwhelming noise of creative education, Chris Do stands out as a genuine mentor. When his Kickstarter project launched, I didn't hesitate to make my first pledge - £35 for the book plus £15 shipping.
Key Features:
Distilled wisdom from 20+ years of creative entrepreneurship
Single-page lessons for quick consumption
Beautiful illustrations enhancing key concepts
Perfect for busy professionals
Practical implementation guidance
In-Depth Book Analysis
Content Structure
Unlike traditional business books that stretch concepts across hundreds of pages, Pocket Full of Do takes a refreshingly different approach. Each lesson is deliberately condensed to a single page, making it perfect for today's time-starved creative professionals. As Chris perfectly puts it through the included print: "When things in life aren't adding up, start subtracting."
What's Inside Pocket Full of Do?
As a long-time follower of The Futur, I was excited to discover that Pocket Full of Do isn't just another design book. It's a distillation of Chris Do's two-decade journey through creative entrepreneurship, encompassing hard-won insights about business strategy, creative philosophy, and professional growth.
Unique Format for Modern Creatives
What sets this book apart is its revolutionary design approach. Understanding the time constraints of creative professionals, Chris Do has crafted something truly innovative. Instead of producing a dense, lengthy volume, he's created what I call a 'creative professional's field guide':
Each lesson fits on a single page
Key concepts are beautifully illustrated
Complex ideas are distilled to their essence
Perfect for bite-sized learning sessions
Designed for repeated reference
Think of it as the concentrated essence of creative wisdom - imagine taking a comprehensive creative business course and extracting only the crucial insights. That's Pocket Full of Do.
Best Way to Read This Book?
The Perfect Commute Companion
Unlike traditional business books, Pocket Full of Do is specifically designed for busy professionals on the move. During my 45-minute tram commute in Manchester, I discovered the ideal way to absorb its wisdom without feeling overwhelmed.
My Proven Reading Strategy
Through months of experimentation, I've developed a highly effective approach to reading this book:
Situational Selection
Choose chapters relevant to your current professional challenges
Pick pages that speak to immediate projects or problems
Focus on one concept at a time
Deep Learning Technique
Read your chosen page multiple times with focused attention
Reflect on how the concepts apply to your work
Consider specific scenarios where you could implement the advice
Active Recall Practice
Close the book before reaching your destination
Test yourself on the key principles
Mentally plan how to apply insights to your day ahead
Real Impact on Daily Work
This methodical approach transformed how I process and implement the book's teachings. Rather than passive reading, it became an active learning experience that directly improved my professional decision-making and creative problem-solving abilities.
Practical Application: The 'Start Empty' Principle
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: Why Pocket Full of Do Deserves a Place on Your Desk
After six months of daily use, Pocket Full of Do has proven itself far more valuable than its £35 price tag suggests. Unlike traditional business books that encourage swift reading, this book rewards careful consideration and repeated reference. Each illustrated page serves as both a standalone lesson and part of a larger framework of creative wisdom.
What makes this book exceptional is its immediate practicality. Whether you're negotiating with clients, setting prices, or managing projects, you'll find actionable insights rather than vague theories. The beautiful illustrations serve as visual anchors, making complex business concepts instantly accessible when needed.
Find a copy, keep it close, and watch how these distilled insights transform your approach to creative work.
Thanks for reading and I hope you found this helpful. Let me know if you agree or not in the comments below.