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Whatcha Gonna Do with That Duck?: And Other Provocations, 2006-2012
“We’re surrounded by people who are busy getting their ducks in a row, waiting for just the right moment. . . . Getting your ducks in a row is a fine thing to do. But deciding what you are going to do with that duck is a far more important issue.”
—From the blog post "Whatcha Gonna Do with That Duck?"
Seth Godin is famous for bestselling books such as Purple Cow and cool entrepreneurial ventures such as Squidoo and the Domino Project. But to millions of loyal readers, he’s best known for the daily burst of insight he provides every morning, rain or shine, via Seth’s Blog. Since he started blogging in the early 1990s, he has written more than two million words and shaped the way we think about marketing, leadership, careers, innovation, creativity, and more. Much of his writing is inspirational and some is incendiary. Collected here are six years of his best, most entertaining, and most poignant blog posts, plus a few bonus ebooks. From thoughts on how to treat your customers to telling stories and spreading ideas, Godin pushes us to think smarter, dream bigger, write better, and speak more honestly. Highlights include:
A marketing lesson from the Apocalypse
No, everything is not going to be okay
Organized bravery
Choose your customers, choose your future
Paying attention to the attention economy
Bandits and philanthropists
Godin writes to get under our skin. He wants us to stand up and do something remarkable, outside the standards of the industrial system that raised us. Made for dipping into again and again, Whatcha Gonna Do with That Duck? is a classic for fans both old and new.
—From the blog post "Whatcha Gonna Do with That Duck?"
Seth Godin is famous for bestselling books such as Purple Cow and cool entrepreneurial ventures such as Squidoo and the Domino Project. But to millions of loyal readers, he’s best known for the daily burst of insight he provides every morning, rain or shine, via Seth’s Blog. Since he started blogging in the early 1990s, he has written more than two million words and shaped the way we think about marketing, leadership, careers, innovation, creativity, and more. Much of his writing is inspirational and some is incendiary. Collected here are six years of his best, most entertaining, and most poignant blog posts, plus a few bonus ebooks. From thoughts on how to treat your customers to telling stories and spreading ideas, Godin pushes us to think smarter, dream bigger, write better, and speak more honestly. Highlights include:
A marketing lesson from the Apocalypse
No, everything is not going to be okay
Organized bravery
Choose your customers, choose your future
Paying attention to the attention economy
Bandits and philanthropists
Godin writes to get under our skin. He wants us to stand up and do something remarkable, outside the standards of the industrial system that raised us. Made for dipping into again and again, Whatcha Gonna Do with That Duck? is a classic for fans both old and new.
608 pages, Hardcover
First published December 27, 2012
263 people are currently reading
3468 people want to read
About the author
Seth Godin
157 books6,510 followersSeth W. Godin, also known as "F. X. Nine", is an American author and a former dot com business executive.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 6, 2017
While this a collection of relevant thoughts and interesting ideas, it definitely isn't a good book in terms of flow. Can be quite difficult to read or focus on due to the start and stop nature of the hundreds of somewhat unrelated chapters in it
February 10, 2014
"You have everything you need to build something far bigger than yourself."
Seth Godin - Tribes
Permission Marketing was the first time I had heard the name Seth Godin and have not stopped reading his writing and insights ever since. When I think of Seth Godin, I personally think of the word "goad" in a positive sense. He is goading us on... encouraging us to think smarter. Think divergently. Write better. Challenge the status quo.
He gets us to take action.
Don't be a lame duck... more like proud as a Peacock.
Be remarkable.
If Seth Godin was a painter I think he'd be closest to Magritte.
Always provocative, contrarian, engaging and forward-thinking, Seth Godin once again fine tunes our perceptions-- and often questions our logic-- with "Whatcha Gonna Do With That Duck." Culled from 6 years of noteworthy and qouteworthy writing, this book will serve as an ongoing reference and source of inspiration.
Consistently provocative entertaining and innovative.
Purple Cow, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?, two million words and counting... he just keeps cranking out quality content.
Seth Godin - Tribes
Permission Marketing was the first time I had heard the name Seth Godin and have not stopped reading his writing and insights ever since. When I think of Seth Godin, I personally think of the word "goad" in a positive sense. He is goading us on... encouraging us to think smarter. Think divergently. Write better. Challenge the status quo.
He gets us to take action.
Don't be a lame duck... more like proud as a Peacock.
Be remarkable.
If Seth Godin was a painter I think he'd be closest to Magritte.
Always provocative, contrarian, engaging and forward-thinking, Seth Godin once again fine tunes our perceptions-- and often questions our logic-- with "Whatcha Gonna Do With That Duck." Culled from 6 years of noteworthy and qouteworthy writing, this book will serve as an ongoing reference and source of inspiration.
Consistently provocative entertaining and innovative.
Purple Cow, Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?, two million words and counting... he just keeps cranking out quality content.
March 28, 2019
It starts out strong then drags out for a while. It's got some great insights about life, success and stuff. The middle section of the book turns into marketer's food, so it's not really my thing. At the end there's the What are Schools For manifesto, which I enjoyed a lot. This book is a blog compilation, so might think twice before buying quickly, but it's somewhat worth it.
April 9, 2019
Seth Godin is the author of nineteen international bestsellers that have been translated into over 35 languages, and have changed the way people think about marketing and work.
Godin's advice and insight throughout the blog-book are aimed at getting you to realize and activate your own talents, motivation, interests and engage in the world.
God places dreams, hopes, vision and a potential inside each one of us. People always look outside of themselves for success and happiness. The real happiness in life comes from within, when we look deeply within ourselves and realize that we are indeed connected to something more, something deeper, something that is love and compassion and wholeness. It is there.
We are all gifted with something every special, something very unique, deep within us. Each one of us is gifted. We need to focus on who we are and what we are made of. Because our gifts are our most valued assets, instead of chasing someone else’s identity, realize your own.
“Stop looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love – you have a treasure within that is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer.” - Eckhart Tolle
Godin says a tweet never changed anyone’s life, but a book can, and usually in the first 100 pages. This book is a true eye opener to hundreds of great innovative thoughts and taking action on those thoughts. The next time when you feel stuck, unmotivated, and uninspired, remember that you have to begin journey of self discovery even if it is late, and to be honest it is never too late.
"We’re surrounded by people who are busy getting their ducks in a row, waiting for just the right moment. Getting your ducks in a row is a fine thing to do. But deciding what you are going to do with that duck is a far more important issue."
Everything from “Whatcha Gonna Do with That Duck?” is helpful and insightful. I love reading this book to my son sharing it with friends.
Godin's advice and insight throughout the blog-book are aimed at getting you to realize and activate your own talents, motivation, interests and engage in the world.
God places dreams, hopes, vision and a potential inside each one of us. People always look outside of themselves for success and happiness. The real happiness in life comes from within, when we look deeply within ourselves and realize that we are indeed connected to something more, something deeper, something that is love and compassion and wholeness. It is there.
We are all gifted with something every special, something very unique, deep within us. Each one of us is gifted. We need to focus on who we are and what we are made of. Because our gifts are our most valued assets, instead of chasing someone else’s identity, realize your own.
“Stop looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love – you have a treasure within that is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer.” - Eckhart Tolle
Godin says a tweet never changed anyone’s life, but a book can, and usually in the first 100 pages. This book is a true eye opener to hundreds of great innovative thoughts and taking action on those thoughts. The next time when you feel stuck, unmotivated, and uninspired, remember that you have to begin journey of self discovery even if it is late, and to be honest it is never too late.
"We’re surrounded by people who are busy getting their ducks in a row, waiting for just the right moment. Getting your ducks in a row is a fine thing to do. But deciding what you are going to do with that duck is a far more important issue."
Everything from “Whatcha Gonna Do with That Duck?” is helpful and insightful. I love reading this book to my son sharing it with friends.
February 15, 2021
This book is essentially a collection of blog posts, loosely organized into sections, covering a wide array of topics. Overall the posts are interesting and present a lot of things to think about. But the flow of the book suffers from all the jumping around. There's material that is very dated, but that's really a danger with anything posted on the Internet these days. You can't publish content talking about companies like Yahoo or AOL without including footnotes... give it a few years and you'll probably have to include footnotes to explain what Google and Apple were.
I had to subtract a star simply because the ending is very loooong... an extensive treatise on what's wrong with our school system and proposals to fix it. There were some compelling arguments and insights littered throughout those sections, but I'm sure it could have been reduced to less than the current 130+ blog posts included.
I had to subtract a star simply because the ending is very loooong... an extensive treatise on what's wrong with our school system and proposals to fix it. There were some compelling arguments and insights littered throughout those sections, but I'm sure it could have been reduced to less than the current 130+ blog posts included.
November 15, 2020
Seth Godin is notoriously popular for changing the way you think, and it stands strong in the light of this book. For a marketer, everything he says is as relevant today as it was in 2012. Be aware that the book is a collection of his blog entries so the structure of the book can be a little unsettling. Rest assured, a definite read.
May 20, 2021
It contain lots of idea and lot of insight.
however it lack of structure and topic.
its a compilation of blog turn into book.
so its doesnot follow certain structure but only the main topic of each chapter.
Its a good for idea and give you something to think about.
however it lack of structure and topic.
its a compilation of blog turn into book.
so its doesnot follow certain structure but only the main topic of each chapter.
Its a good for idea and give you something to think about.
February 7, 2018
Godin rocks! Similar to "just do it", his message ranges from being relevant to entrepreneurs to school administrations.
July 17, 2018
These blog posts are still relevant! A must to reread!
December 7, 2018
There are many short passages but somehow doesn’t resonate with me , maybe it’s just me but I couldn’t finish the book . I stopped at half way through the book .
January 10, 2019
I found a lot of useful lessons in the book. Good couraging book.
January 2, 2021
This book has revelations and facts that were far ahead of the time it was written.
June 4, 2021
A perfect mindset and practical guide for everything one can imagine to do.
January 9, 2021
This book is a collection of Seth Godin's blog posts; it also includes his manifesto Stop Stealing Dreams, which I read earlier. Since the articles were originally blog posts, it's natural that they are short and their topics vary in many ways.
Godin muses on the impact of technology (the Internet in particular), the paradigm shift in the publishing business, new ways to conduct marketing, the idea of building a tribe of followers, and so much more. His language is terse and forceful as usual, not without a dash of humor. He sounds either like a stern mentor or a very straightforward friend.
What surprised me most was the fact that he often references works of fiction, such as Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash and Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle. For some reason, I presumed he only reads non-fiction. Guess I underestimated the guy.
Godin muses on the impact of technology (the Internet in particular), the paradigm shift in the publishing business, new ways to conduct marketing, the idea of building a tribe of followers, and so much more. His language is terse and forceful as usual, not without a dash of humor. He sounds either like a stern mentor or a very straightforward friend.
What surprised me most was the fact that he often references works of fiction, such as Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash and Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle. For some reason, I presumed he only reads non-fiction. Guess I underestimated the guy.
March 6, 2023
“the best time to start was last year. The second best time to start is right now.”
A treasure trove of insight.
A treasure trove of insight.
February 6, 2017
I've always appreciated Seth Godin's direct conversational style. Reading his books (or his famous blog) is like being gently slapped in the face. He reads human psychology and understands the nature of a crowd better than any business author I've yet come across. However, this is more than just a business book for entrepreneurs; it's a shake-up-and-shake-down on all fronts, of all the typical excuses that we dream up to explain away our standard inaction and firmly in-the-box thinking. He's very tuned in to modern communication platforms and how they have truly transformed how we can and should do business. His wise words about the state of western education remind me of Michael Ellsburg's book "The Education of Millionaires". His passages are incisive and wonderfully analytical, and they make you think a bit differently about the daily grind. I may just start standing up during meetings.
But Seth is certainly no engineer, and I can tell by the very rosy tint of his glasses that he doesn't work for a massive, worldwide, multi billion dollar, century-plus-old manufacturing and engineering concern. Of course, if he did, he'd likely just quit and make triple the money coming back to it as a consultant. Um, wait...it doesn't work exactly that way. If the top ten employing companies are all retailers (or close enough to it), selling stuff made in China, and we live in an infrastructure-heavy society where no one is actually manufacturing anything anymore, and the government uses bread and circuses to distract everyone from the fact that that the economy is feeding off itself, then it follows that no one can afford to hire all the wonderful artistes and linchpins he always talks about. There is no such thing as a perpetual-motion machine.
Amusing bonuses: Seth includes a fascinating explanation of the origin of the word "cliche" (courtesy of Wikipedia, which is exactly his style). Unfortunately, for someone so obviously sharp, witty and discerning, it's quite surprising that he seems to have swallowed the man-made climate change religious dogma hook, line and sinker. Ahem.
But Seth is certainly no engineer, and I can tell by the very rosy tint of his glasses that he doesn't work for a massive, worldwide, multi billion dollar, century-plus-old manufacturing and engineering concern. Of course, if he did, he'd likely just quit and make triple the money coming back to it as a consultant. Um, wait...it doesn't work exactly that way. If the top ten employing companies are all retailers (or close enough to it), selling stuff made in China, and we live in an infrastructure-heavy society where no one is actually manufacturing anything anymore, and the government uses bread and circuses to distract everyone from the fact that that the economy is feeding off itself, then it follows that no one can afford to hire all the wonderful artistes and linchpins he always talks about. There is no such thing as a perpetual-motion machine.
Amusing bonuses: Seth includes a fascinating explanation of the origin of the word "cliche" (courtesy of Wikipedia, which is exactly his style). Unfortunately, for someone so obviously sharp, witty and discerning, it's quite surprising that he seems to have swallowed the man-made climate change religious dogma hook, line and sinker. Ahem.
June 8, 2015
better than your average business book. a bit repetitive. the stuff about the beginning about deciding to start (to take action, to start a business, to grow one, to start anything) is better than the end stuff about the future of education. i'm less interested in the virtues of online education (though it is, of course, virtuous) than I am in the business and marketing info. Start. Start now. Figure it out later. I will always agree with that.
June 29, 2013
Finally done. Got a little bored in the middle but the last chapter made it even more interesting.
I love what Seth Godin envisioned about the future and where we should be heading. I would love to live in his envisioned future. :)
I love what Seth Godin envisioned about the future and where we should be heading. I would love to live in his envisioned future. :)
July 31, 2016
The first 9/10 of the book are difficult to slog through since it's essentially a compilation of blog posts and doesn't make for a great book-reading experience. I can't say I enjoyed much of it. But the final "Education Manifesto" section is almost redeeming.
July 22, 2016
One of the few books, that after reading, makes you intellectually enriched. Specially, Mr Godin's take on current education system and the future of education is an absolute eye opener. Highly recommended if you are looking forward to get your brain stimulated.
July 20, 2013
I don't always agree with Godin, but he gets me to think & reflect...which is what a good book or blog should do for one anyway. ;-)
July 17, 2013
In some ways, it's a thematically-organized overview to all his other books; I really enjoyed it. Lots of good ideas & inspiration here.
January 7, 2014
Marketing Genius. A collection of his blog posts for six years all relevant to the world of social media and marketing today.
June 12, 2014
Awesome , typical Seth Godin. Can't explain, his wit, marketing genius is just mind blowing.
June 20, 2014
An excellent compilation of Seth Godin's daily blog posts. Read to get a "mind-meld" with Seth.
June 24, 2014
603 - 2014
Kureview di sini saja ya:
http://threezstacks.blogspot.com/2014...
Kureview di sini saja ya:
http://threezstacks.blogspot.com/2014...
July 7, 2014
Really relatable book. This book aims to question the mindsets of the current population. Countless takeaways from this book
Read
September 27, 2014repetitive
September 13, 2015
Since this is a string of blogs each snipped can stand alone though there are tranches all on the same theme. A worthwhile read indeed
February 2, 2017
It's a compilation of his blog posts over 6 years. A lot of hit and miss, but still a big fan of Seth Godin despite my rating
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews