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20,000 Days and Counting: The Crash Course for Mastering Your Life Right Now
The day for change is today and it's more simple than you realize.
Most people sleepwalk through day-to-day life, passively letting time slip away. Unfortunately, the only thing that can usually wake people up to the intensity of life is impending death. But what if it didn't have to be that way? 20,000 Days presents breathtakingly simple strategies and concepts that, once applied, will enable readers to be 100% present and intentional with every passing minute of every day, for the rest of their lives.
The book is designed to be read in under an hour and the effect is immediate. Within each segment are tactics for mastering control for your life; principles such These timeless principles apply to everyone from the pending graduate to the seasoned business professional; from the time-starved parent to the weary pastor to the restless entrepreneur.
On the 20,000th day of his life, the author sent an email that inspired and reminded a group of people of all ages to live in the moment. This group now includes you.
Most people sleepwalk through day-to-day life, passively letting time slip away. Unfortunately, the only thing that can usually wake people up to the intensity of life is impending death. But what if it didn't have to be that way? 20,000 Days presents breathtakingly simple strategies and concepts that, once applied, will enable readers to be 100% present and intentional with every passing minute of every day, for the rest of their lives.
The book is designed to be read in under an hour and the effect is immediate. Within each segment are tactics for mastering control for your life; principles such These timeless principles apply to everyone from the pending graduate to the seasoned business professional; from the time-starved parent to the weary pastor to the restless entrepreneur.
On the 20,000th day of his life, the author sent an email that inspired and reminded a group of people of all ages to live in the moment. This group now includes you.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
59 people are currently reading
1311 people want to read
About the author
Robert D. Smith
4 books30 followersAuthor of 20,000 Days and Counting, a crash course in living each day with maximum purpose and intensity. Robert also writes about entrepreneurship, personal growth, and more at TheRobertD.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
September 9, 2021
This short book presents a good perspective on time management and intentional living, but it’s overly simplistic, and there’s nothing deep or novel. Smith’s advice: live for God, determine your purpose, live intentionally, value relationships, and live conscious of your earthly legacy and eternal afterlife. Smith writes explicitly about his Christian principles, but most of his lessons are nevertheless applicable to people of any (or no) religion.
In a chapter about conquering rejection, Smith gives examples from his sales background. He says he “was always hunting for nos.” When he was trying to sell bookings for a comedian, he would ask, “You wouldn’t be interested in booking a comedian, would you?” I can see how this might ease the sting of rejection by lowering expectations, but it seems like a poor sales technique due to its pessimism and lack of confidence and enthusiasm.
There are better and more comprehensive books that deal with time management and purposeful living, including The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 80/20 Principle.
I read this because it was recommended by a client, Tom Page, managing editor of the School Communicators Network. He wrote about this book on his SCN Encourager blog.
Notes
• “Don’t focus on time, but on events themselves. Fill these events with people you love. Relationships will be enhanced and memories created.”
• “Stop counting days down. Instead, count them up! Marvel at how many you’ve been allowed to spend on this planet. And never forget that each one could be your last.”
• Don’t put off celebration until a major accomplishment. Celebrate little steps.
• In challenges, think, “I am the problem.” This gives you power over circumstances, rather than feeling like you’re a helpless victim.
• “In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is wanting.” John Lubbock
• “There’s no secret trick or complicated formula...All it takes is for you to simply decide that you are going to live your life with purpose...”
In a chapter about conquering rejection, Smith gives examples from his sales background. He says he “was always hunting for nos.” When he was trying to sell bookings for a comedian, he would ask, “You wouldn’t be interested in booking a comedian, would you?” I can see how this might ease the sting of rejection by lowering expectations, but it seems like a poor sales technique due to its pessimism and lack of confidence and enthusiasm.
There are better and more comprehensive books that deal with time management and purposeful living, including The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 80/20 Principle.
I read this because it was recommended by a client, Tom Page, managing editor of the School Communicators Network. He wrote about this book on his SCN Encourager blog.
Notes
• “Don’t focus on time, but on events themselves. Fill these events with people you love. Relationships will be enhanced and memories created.”
• “Stop counting days down. Instead, count them up! Marvel at how many you’ve been allowed to spend on this planet. And never forget that each one could be your last.”
• Don’t put off celebration until a major accomplishment. Celebrate little steps.
• In challenges, think, “I am the problem.” This gives you power over circumstances, rather than feeling like you’re a helpless victim.
• “In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is wanting.” John Lubbock
• “There’s no secret trick or complicated formula...All it takes is for you to simply decide that you are going to live your life with purpose...”
December 17, 2012
I was glad I picked this book and I must say that I was rather blown away by the simplicity of the concepts presented by Mr. Smith. Truly, brevity is the soul of wit. Robert Smith's 20,000 Days and Counting is packed with universal truths that we all need to be reminded of in our daily lives, for us to have a sense of urgency.
I like the fact that this book is designed to be read in only one hour as the author stated, we need to allot more time for other things that are far more important in our lives. One particular statement he mentioned that I am almost always guilty of is that: We have an amazing ability to over estimate what we can do in the next five years and totally under estimate what we can do in the next fifteen minutes. This totally hit home when I read it because I'm guilty of always procrastinating thinking that I still have so much time and later on trying to finish everything in a frenzy while I try to beat the deadline.
There's a lot of points he raised that are equally important. But the biggest take away that I have of this book is making myself the Problem, as Mr. Smith said - Become your own problem. According to him, by doing so, you thereby take the outside circumstances and bring them inside. And suddenly you have control. We are all guilty of putting the blame on the circumstances, the people around us, management, the government, and the devil of course, but we often times forget to take ourselves into account. And what a paradigm shift that makes when we become our own problem and start evaluating ourselves, what we are good at and what we could improve on.
This book is beyond a good read, really one book you'll read over and over.
I like the fact that this book is designed to be read in only one hour as the author stated, we need to allot more time for other things that are far more important in our lives. One particular statement he mentioned that I am almost always guilty of is that: We have an amazing ability to over estimate what we can do in the next five years and totally under estimate what we can do in the next fifteen minutes. This totally hit home when I read it because I'm guilty of always procrastinating thinking that I still have so much time and later on trying to finish everything in a frenzy while I try to beat the deadline.
There's a lot of points he raised that are equally important. But the biggest take away that I have of this book is making myself the Problem, as Mr. Smith said - Become your own problem. According to him, by doing so, you thereby take the outside circumstances and bring them inside. And suddenly you have control. We are all guilty of putting the blame on the circumstances, the people around us, management, the government, and the devil of course, but we often times forget to take ourselves into account. And what a paradigm shift that makes when we become our own problem and start evaluating ourselves, what we are good at and what we could improve on.
This book is beyond a good read, really one book you'll read over and over.
March 11, 2021
Ask yourself these two questions:
What is important now?
What is next?
“To this day, those same two questions keep me up late, get me up early, and create a never-ending quest of enormous possibilities and accomplishments.“
Knowing that the quality of my life will never exceed the quality of my questions, I must ask outstanding questions. What am I doing that will count two hundred years from now? For eternity?
Present success or failure does not measure the true value of your life’s work. You still have now.
Time
Time is merely the measure of passing events. Time is inflexible. You cannot manage it. It cannot be compressed or expanded. Bottom line: don’t focus on time, but on events themselves. When you control the event, you control your life. Fill these events with people you love. Relationships will be enhanced and memories created.
LIVING EACH DAY AS IF IT WERE YOUR LAST
“I know that “live this day as if it were your last” is an old and tired cliché that is often written or spoken with little thought to it. But there’s a reason why it is used so much. Let me explain.“
The reality of that statement is this: if you were actually told that today was your last day, you’d waste hours trying to figure out exactly how you should be spending your final moments.
That’s why “live this day as if it were your last” isn’t about action. If it were about action, most people would blow off work and ignore 99 percent of their daily responsibilities, just trying to decide what to do. You wouldn’t accomplish much for the long term. So it’s not about actions. It’s about mind-set. It is a thought process.
it’s not about actions. It’s about mind-set. It is a thought process.
Three things you can do to make getting into this mind-set a little bit easier on yourself.
1. CREATE A LIFE STATEMENT
From The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, which was first published in 1952, and it’s still completely relevant and applicable today.
I BELIEVE I AM ALWAYS DIVINELY GUIDED.
I BELIEVE I WILL ALWAYS TAKE THE RIGHT TURN IN THE ROAD.
AND I BELIEVE GOD WILL ALWAYS MAKE A WAY WHERE THERE IS NO WAY.3”
2. CONTACT IMPORTANT PEOPLE
Which people matter most to you in life? Are there things you need to share with them? How can you express gratitude to them today? You can call or do something as simple as writing a letter or an e-mail.
Never forget the people who count in your life—not just parents but the other important people as well: teachers, mentors, spouses, friends, and more. Never forget what they’ve done for you. Honor them visibly. Let them know they matter and are critical to your life. Always.
“Applaud everyone you can today. Step up and stand up! Yell loud and long. Celebrate who they are and who they are becoming.”
3. NUMBER YOUR DAYS, DAILY
. Stop counting days down. Instead, count them up! Marvel at how many you’ve been allowed to spend on this planet. And never forget that each one could be your last.
There is no thought that will purge your priorities of worthless and worldly tastes like that of your impending death. Ponder the kind of life you would like to look back on when you come to die. There is enormous wisdom in such thoughts and meditation. Think often of your death. It is essential to understand that you have been dying since the day you were born.
“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today. – JAMES DEAN AMERICAN FILM ACTOR FEBRUARY 8, 1931, D. SEPTEMBER 30, 1955 (HE LIVED EXACTLY 9,000 DAY
IF WE CAN LEARN HOW TO DIE, WE’LL KNOW HOW TO LIVE
“The best preparation for living well is to be prepared to die at any time.”
Imminent death inspires clarity of purpose, a rearranging of what really matters. How many times have you heard of people having near-death experiences and then making radical changes in their lives? From where they live and work, to whom they spend time with, to what takes priority, it all suddenly has a different meaning.
Whether it is a health scare or a terrifying plane ride, if you’ve ever waited for those test results to come back or for that turbulence to even out, those moments in between can feel like eternity. You question everything. And when you get the good news and the plane safely touches down, you are grateful and swear to live differently. Why not pledge to live better right now? Choose to be fully alive, purposeful, and loving today.
If we learn how to die, we’ll know how to live; if we learn how to live, we’ll know how to die.
How long does it take to discover your purpose in life? Believe it or not, twenty minutes! Remember, we are short on time, so we have to hurry. So be open to this. You must expect it to work; then it will.
1. Get a blank sheet of paper. Title it, “My Purpose in Life.
2. Start writing. Right now. Write. Write all you can. Words, phrases, complete sentences. Just write. Don’t stop. Write some more.
3. Repeat step two until you get the answer that makes you either cry or jump up and down with excitement. Condense it into one sentence. This is your purpose.
THE STATE OF INTENSITY
MANY PEOPLE MAY THINK THAT INTENSITY IS A STATE OF mind. But it is not. Intensity is a state of emotion. Intensity goes from the heart to the head. Intensity is enthusiasm. Intensity is passion. Intensity is being in love. You have to be emotionally connected to what you are doing in order to pursue it with intensity.
In order to make every day count, you must have that emotional connection—the fanatical commitment to follow through. Most likely, you have already created that desire, the intensity, the passion that will pull you forward. Now it’s just a matter of tapping into it on a consistent basis. Deep down, you know what counts in life. Simply focus on it.
EAT DESSERT FIRST
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’RE OUT TO DINNER AND THAT REALLY amazing, decadent dessert on the menu catches your eye? You file it away in your mind and think, I’ll get that after the meal. Then, by the time you’re done and it’s time for dessert, you’re too full to eat anything else! Sound familiar?
Celebrating your life is kind of like that. We always think, Now’s not the time to stop and celebrate. I’ll do that once I’ve (insert lofty goal you want to accomplish here).
Here’s the problem with that philosophy: if you don’t stop to celebrate the little steps along the way, you get burned out! You get “too full,” just like when you put off dessert.
Order the dessert before you have time to fill up, before you have time to think about the calories. You can work those off! These are similar to the excuses we try to use for not celebrating: “I don’t have time; I’m too tired; I haven’t accomplished anything major yet. Forget about those excuses. The little steps must be recognized and honored. The main goal would be unreachable without them.
RIPPLES
When you form a clear plan for your life, every day becomes part of something bigger: the process. It’s up to you, however, to determine who you are in the process of becoming.
You are the pebble that has been dropped into this gorgeous, beautiful, incredible, God-made, awe-inspiring pool of life. The pebble knows not of the ripples it creates. But there are always incalculable numbers of ripples that go to the edge of eternity. And you simply float to the bottom of the pool. But it’s not just the bottom; it’s the foundation. It is the foundation of everything you are. It is everything you are to become. It is everything you are creating.
“Winning is defined by the legacy you create, and legacies always take time to build.”
THREE STEPS TO CATAPULT YOUR LIFE
Sit down with a notebook or a laptop, and do this for yourself:
Step 1: Determine how many days you have been alive. Are you shocked? Amazed?
Step 2: Determine immediately the answer to these two critical, ongoing questions. (I know you can’t be sure about these things, but IF you were, what might they be?)
1. What is important right now to you?
2. What is next for you?
Having trouble? Here are some thoughts to prompt your answers:
• What have I not thought of yet?
• What is one immediate need I can fill for someone I know?
• What is a huge dream I have? How can I think bigger?
Step 3: Draft your life’s story, then live it!
SEVEN QUESTIONS TO SEIZE THE ESSENCE OF TODAY
WANT TO GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL CREATE INTENSITY every day of your life? Then review these questions, as if for the first time, every single morning you are blessed with another day.
1. Whose life am I going to brighten today?
2. What three things am I most grateful for today?
3. What memories am I going to create today?
4. What challenge am I going to overcome today?
5. What value am I going to create today?
6. How much joy can I create for others and myself today?”
“or others and myself today?
7. What life-changing decision(s) am I going to make today?
Bonus Question (just to cover all the bases): What question am I not asking yet today?
“Never be misled by the number of hours in a day. This number simply represents the time that is potentially available to you. Each of these moments is but a dab of paint you can apply to the canvas of your life. Somewhere between sunrise and sunset, let it not be said that you lost an hour. No reward can be offered to find lost hours, for they are gone forever. The present moment is the only moment you totally control.”
You do not choose to be born. You do not choose your parents. You do not choose the time period in which you live. You do not choose the country of your birth. You do not choose the circumstances of your upbringing. In most cases, you do not choose to die. You do not choose the time or conditions of your death.
What is important now?
What is next?
“To this day, those same two questions keep me up late, get me up early, and create a never-ending quest of enormous possibilities and accomplishments.“
Knowing that the quality of my life will never exceed the quality of my questions, I must ask outstanding questions. What am I doing that will count two hundred years from now? For eternity?
Present success or failure does not measure the true value of your life’s work. You still have now.
Time
Time is merely the measure of passing events. Time is inflexible. You cannot manage it. It cannot be compressed or expanded. Bottom line: don’t focus on time, but on events themselves. When you control the event, you control your life. Fill these events with people you love. Relationships will be enhanced and memories created.
LIVING EACH DAY AS IF IT WERE YOUR LAST
“I know that “live this day as if it were your last” is an old and tired cliché that is often written or spoken with little thought to it. But there’s a reason why it is used so much. Let me explain.“
The reality of that statement is this: if you were actually told that today was your last day, you’d waste hours trying to figure out exactly how you should be spending your final moments.
That’s why “live this day as if it were your last” isn’t about action. If it were about action, most people would blow off work and ignore 99 percent of their daily responsibilities, just trying to decide what to do. You wouldn’t accomplish much for the long term. So it’s not about actions. It’s about mind-set. It is a thought process.
it’s not about actions. It’s about mind-set. It is a thought process.
Three things you can do to make getting into this mind-set a little bit easier on yourself.
1. CREATE A LIFE STATEMENT
From The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, which was first published in 1952, and it’s still completely relevant and applicable today.
I BELIEVE I AM ALWAYS DIVINELY GUIDED.
I BELIEVE I WILL ALWAYS TAKE THE RIGHT TURN IN THE ROAD.
AND I BELIEVE GOD WILL ALWAYS MAKE A WAY WHERE THERE IS NO WAY.3”
2. CONTACT IMPORTANT PEOPLE
Which people matter most to you in life? Are there things you need to share with them? How can you express gratitude to them today? You can call or do something as simple as writing a letter or an e-mail.
Never forget the people who count in your life—not just parents but the other important people as well: teachers, mentors, spouses, friends, and more. Never forget what they’ve done for you. Honor them visibly. Let them know they matter and are critical to your life. Always.
“Applaud everyone you can today. Step up and stand up! Yell loud and long. Celebrate who they are and who they are becoming.”
3. NUMBER YOUR DAYS, DAILY
. Stop counting days down. Instead, count them up! Marvel at how many you’ve been allowed to spend on this planet. And never forget that each one could be your last.
There is no thought that will purge your priorities of worthless and worldly tastes like that of your impending death. Ponder the kind of life you would like to look back on when you come to die. There is enormous wisdom in such thoughts and meditation. Think often of your death. It is essential to understand that you have been dying since the day you were born.
“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today. – JAMES DEAN AMERICAN FILM ACTOR FEBRUARY 8, 1931, D. SEPTEMBER 30, 1955 (HE LIVED EXACTLY 9,000 DAY
IF WE CAN LEARN HOW TO DIE, WE’LL KNOW HOW TO LIVE
“The best preparation for living well is to be prepared to die at any time.”
Imminent death inspires clarity of purpose, a rearranging of what really matters. How many times have you heard of people having near-death experiences and then making radical changes in their lives? From where they live and work, to whom they spend time with, to what takes priority, it all suddenly has a different meaning.
Whether it is a health scare or a terrifying plane ride, if you’ve ever waited for those test results to come back or for that turbulence to even out, those moments in between can feel like eternity. You question everything. And when you get the good news and the plane safely touches down, you are grateful and swear to live differently. Why not pledge to live better right now? Choose to be fully alive, purposeful, and loving today.
If we learn how to die, we’ll know how to live; if we learn how to live, we’ll know how to die.
How long does it take to discover your purpose in life? Believe it or not, twenty minutes! Remember, we are short on time, so we have to hurry. So be open to this. You must expect it to work; then it will.
1. Get a blank sheet of paper. Title it, “My Purpose in Life.
2. Start writing. Right now. Write. Write all you can. Words, phrases, complete sentences. Just write. Don’t stop. Write some more.
3. Repeat step two until you get the answer that makes you either cry or jump up and down with excitement. Condense it into one sentence. This is your purpose.
THE STATE OF INTENSITY
MANY PEOPLE MAY THINK THAT INTENSITY IS A STATE OF mind. But it is not. Intensity is a state of emotion. Intensity goes from the heart to the head. Intensity is enthusiasm. Intensity is passion. Intensity is being in love. You have to be emotionally connected to what you are doing in order to pursue it with intensity.
In order to make every day count, you must have that emotional connection—the fanatical commitment to follow through. Most likely, you have already created that desire, the intensity, the passion that will pull you forward. Now it’s just a matter of tapping into it on a consistent basis. Deep down, you know what counts in life. Simply focus on it.
EAT DESSERT FIRST
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’RE OUT TO DINNER AND THAT REALLY amazing, decadent dessert on the menu catches your eye? You file it away in your mind and think, I’ll get that after the meal. Then, by the time you’re done and it’s time for dessert, you’re too full to eat anything else! Sound familiar?
Celebrating your life is kind of like that. We always think, Now’s not the time to stop and celebrate. I’ll do that once I’ve (insert lofty goal you want to accomplish here).
Here’s the problem with that philosophy: if you don’t stop to celebrate the little steps along the way, you get burned out! You get “too full,” just like when you put off dessert.
Order the dessert before you have time to fill up, before you have time to think about the calories. You can work those off! These are similar to the excuses we try to use for not celebrating: “I don’t have time; I’m too tired; I haven’t accomplished anything major yet. Forget about those excuses. The little steps must be recognized and honored. The main goal would be unreachable without them.
RIPPLES
When you form a clear plan for your life, every day becomes part of something bigger: the process. It’s up to you, however, to determine who you are in the process of becoming.
You are the pebble that has been dropped into this gorgeous, beautiful, incredible, God-made, awe-inspiring pool of life. The pebble knows not of the ripples it creates. But there are always incalculable numbers of ripples that go to the edge of eternity. And you simply float to the bottom of the pool. But it’s not just the bottom; it’s the foundation. It is the foundation of everything you are. It is everything you are to become. It is everything you are creating.
“Winning is defined by the legacy you create, and legacies always take time to build.”
THREE STEPS TO CATAPULT YOUR LIFE
Sit down with a notebook or a laptop, and do this for yourself:
Step 1: Determine how many days you have been alive. Are you shocked? Amazed?
Step 2: Determine immediately the answer to these two critical, ongoing questions. (I know you can’t be sure about these things, but IF you were, what might they be?)
1. What is important right now to you?
2. What is next for you?
Having trouble? Here are some thoughts to prompt your answers:
• What have I not thought of yet?
• What is one immediate need I can fill for someone I know?
• What is a huge dream I have? How can I think bigger?
Step 3: Draft your life’s story, then live it!
SEVEN QUESTIONS TO SEIZE THE ESSENCE OF TODAY
WANT TO GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL CREATE INTENSITY every day of your life? Then review these questions, as if for the first time, every single morning you are blessed with another day.
1. Whose life am I going to brighten today?
2. What three things am I most grateful for today?
3. What memories am I going to create today?
4. What challenge am I going to overcome today?
5. What value am I going to create today?
6. How much joy can I create for others and myself today?”
“or others and myself today?
7. What life-changing decision(s) am I going to make today?
Bonus Question (just to cover all the bases): What question am I not asking yet today?
“Never be misled by the number of hours in a day. This number simply represents the time that is potentially available to you. Each of these moments is but a dab of paint you can apply to the canvas of your life. Somewhere between sunrise and sunset, let it not be said that you lost an hour. No reward can be offered to find lost hours, for they are gone forever. The present moment is the only moment you totally control.”
You do not choose to be born. You do not choose your parents. You do not choose the time period in which you live. You do not choose the country of your birth. You do not choose the circumstances of your upbringing. In most cases, you do not choose to die. You do not choose the time or conditions of your death.
December 28, 2020
Stumble upon this book because of impulsive buying but it turned out to be one of my best purchase this year. Given the year it is published, I think the context was still relevant and gave me a new perspective on life and helped me focus on my work during this horrible pandemic.
The one thing I love about this book is short, you can finish it very easily an it has quotes about life on every topic, bear in mind every topic is at least only 2 pages short. But don't underestimate its content due to the short length, it was the aim of the author to make this book short cause as he said it, that life is too short, because today could be your last day.
The main topic was how his perspective and mind changes after he counted how many days he was alive and in a better word changes his life. To live with purpose and how to find one, be honest with yourself and do what makes you happy, living each day as if it your last, etc. I personally like the chapter "Motivation is a myth" cause to be honest motivation has never really worked on me and this chapter was enlightening cause it answered my long unanswered question. In short, you can't motivate other people to do things or even ourselves to increase productivity, instead do the opposite. Increase your productivity, then motivation will follow.
I know the chapters seem very cliché, but it's a good reminder to really feel our feet on the ground again and just live. Lastly, find ways you can actually act on your life you can do a little exercise given in the book. I'll close this rambling review with my favourite quote on the book,
Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.
- James Dean
The one thing I love about this book is short, you can finish it very easily an it has quotes about life on every topic, bear in mind every topic is at least only 2 pages short. But don't underestimate its content due to the short length, it was the aim of the author to make this book short cause as he said it, that life is too short, because today could be your last day.
The main topic was how his perspective and mind changes after he counted how many days he was alive and in a better word changes his life. To live with purpose and how to find one, be honest with yourself and do what makes you happy, living each day as if it your last, etc. I personally like the chapter "Motivation is a myth" cause to be honest motivation has never really worked on me and this chapter was enlightening cause it answered my long unanswered question. In short, you can't motivate other people to do things or even ourselves to increase productivity, instead do the opposite. Increase your productivity, then motivation will follow.
I know the chapters seem very cliché, but it's a good reminder to really feel our feet on the ground again and just live. Lastly, find ways you can actually act on your life you can do a little exercise given in the book. I'll close this rambling review with my favourite quote on the book,
Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.
- James Dean
February 16, 2022
Great quick read. Can adjust your perspective to apply it to any part of your life.
March 4, 2014
20,000 Days is a quick read. coincidentally, I received this book on my 20,000th day of being alive. This was not by design (or at least not by my design!). I simply heard about the book (I believe via Dave Ramsey's Entreleadership and thought sounded worthwhile.) I didn't realize until I had started the book and went to the website to calculate my days, that was the case.
Is there any earth shattering new information in this book? Not really. But it serves as a good reminder that time passes quickly... too quickly. And also is a good reminder that time is the only thing we can't regain when spent or lost.
Whether we have a defined number of days on this earth, or whether we can exercise some control over their length, or whether circumstances beyond our control can cut our lives short suddenly and without warning, is all debatable. But one thing is for certain, how we spend the time we have is what truly matters.
I think taking some time to get by yourself on one of these big days to reflect and plan is a good idea. Since I missed my 20,000th day, I'll have to choose another.
Also noteworthy are the many wonderful quotes throughout the book.
20,000 Days is a quick read, and I believe your time reading it will be well spent.
Is there any earth shattering new information in this book? Not really. But it serves as a good reminder that time passes quickly... too quickly. And also is a good reminder that time is the only thing we can't regain when spent or lost.
Whether we have a defined number of days on this earth, or whether we can exercise some control over their length, or whether circumstances beyond our control can cut our lives short suddenly and without warning, is all debatable. But one thing is for certain, how we spend the time we have is what truly matters.
I think taking some time to get by yourself on one of these big days to reflect and plan is a good idea. Since I missed my 20,000th day, I'll have to choose another.
Also noteworthy are the many wonderful quotes throughout the book.
20,000 Days is a quick read, and I believe your time reading it will be well spent.
March 8, 2016
A very brief book with not a little filler. Not a bad book, but not a great one, or even an interesting one. Smith regurgitates a lot of pep-talk jargon. Nothing new, no incredible insights, just a really positive thinking man who wants to cheer you up.
So, don't get the book thinking it is about productivity, or organizing, but understand it is more about motivation. Ironically, the author actually states that motivation is a myth, i.e., we do not increase motivation to increase productivity, rather, we increase productivity to increase motivation. Again, the book doesn't really get into the nuts and bolts of productivity - it's simply a lot of "you can do it!" motivational pep talk.
The only interesting part of the book was where he describes taking a few days to retreat into solitude and plan his next 20,000 days. Sadly, he doesn't give us any details about how he planned, or even what he planned. If only he had written a few chapters about that process, it would've made this book so much better.
I wouldn't spend the money to purchase this one; instead, check it out from the library, read it in an hour or two, and glean what you can.
So, don't get the book thinking it is about productivity, or organizing, but understand it is more about motivation. Ironically, the author actually states that motivation is a myth, i.e., we do not increase motivation to increase productivity, rather, we increase productivity to increase motivation. Again, the book doesn't really get into the nuts and bolts of productivity - it's simply a lot of "you can do it!" motivational pep talk.
The only interesting part of the book was where he describes taking a few days to retreat into solitude and plan his next 20,000 days. Sadly, he doesn't give us any details about how he planned, or even what he planned. If only he had written a few chapters about that process, it would've made this book so much better.
I wouldn't spend the money to purchase this one; instead, check it out from the library, read it in an hour or two, and glean what you can.
August 1, 2013
I was first drawn to this book by the author's association with Andy Andrews, of whom I am a huge fan.
Robert D. Smith works from the premise that one day he realized he'd lived 20,000 days of his life, and that those days just happened to him while he wasn't paying attention. In other words, as John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Smith then tells how the realization of that fact caused him to deliberately plan the next twenty thousand days of his life so he could drive them rather than be a passenger.
It's a compelling read, and his style is exuberant. All in all, I finished the book with perspective I didn't have before, so on that note I will recommend it.
Four stars.
Robert D. Smith works from the premise that one day he realized he'd lived 20,000 days of his life, and that those days just happened to him while he wasn't paying attention. In other words, as John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
Smith then tells how the realization of that fact caused him to deliberately plan the next twenty thousand days of his life so he could drive them rather than be a passenger.
It's a compelling read, and his style is exuberant. All in all, I finished the book with perspective I didn't have before, so on that note I will recommend it.
Four stars.
April 9, 2014
I stumbled upon this book because a friend's wife recommended it to him. I think this possible was the best (& a quick read) read I have read in awhile. Some of the statements just linger in the mind for awhile and others give you a quick dose of reality. It gives you the stepping stones to act upon things & the rest it up to go. Highly recommend reading this book.
January 25, 2018
نصيحة أرسلت لى لأبدأ بهذا الكتاب قبل التخطيط للعام الجديد
الكتاب نصائح عملية للسعادة فى حياتك ،لا شىء تجهله بل تجهل تحويله كعادة يومية
أحببت تفسيره ل عش اليوم كأنك تموت غدا .. لم أكن أفهمها رغم أنى سمعتها مئات المرات .. هى نفس معنى فيلم
About time
كتاب قصير وأسلوبه محبب للنفس
بس مش قوى ..
الكتاب نصائح عملية للسعادة فى حياتك ،لا شىء تجهله بل تجهل تحويله كعادة يومية
أحببت تفسيره ل عش اليوم كأنك تموت غدا .. لم أكن أفهمها رغم أنى سمعتها مئات المرات .. هى نفس معنى فيلم
About time
كتاب قصير وأسلوبه محبب للنفس
بس مش قوى ..
July 6, 2015
Great book to help you determine your passion in life!
August 29, 2016
Great short read for a better perspective on life.
May 29, 2017
A friend of mine gave me this book. I found it very interesting. Smith has a unique approach to making your days count.
February 27, 2022
This is a short read, maybe an hour or less. All I can say is the lessons I were able to take from this book which I feel are valuable to me comes in: 1) the Book Description when author made a plan for the next 20,000 days of his life. This made me think of planning for my own; and 2) (also lastly) the book recommendation of The Greatest Salesman in the World, which is a spiritual book, and so I am excited to start reading it right now since I’m done with this book.
I wouldn’t recommend it, although it’s not too bad, I guess. There are quotes in every chapter but the chapters are short and the book is too shallow for my taste.
I wouldn’t recommend it, although it’s not too bad, I guess. There are quotes in every chapter but the chapters are short and the book is too shallow for my taste.
May 12, 2021
This is a must read for everyone. It's the fastest read ever and even if you aren't a fan books like this, you should read it. If I had to sum the whole book in one sentence then it would be "this is a book about how to manage 100% of your time".
The best part about this book is that Smith wrote it to be read in an hour and you can literally read it in an hour. It took me just a little over and I re-read A LOT.
They got used copies on Amazon for like $3, get a copy. It's totally worth it.
The best part about this book is that Smith wrote it to be read in an hour and you can literally read it in an hour. It took me just a little over and I re-read A LOT.
They got used copies on Amazon for like $3, get a copy. It's totally worth it.
March 23, 2024
A little too pie in the sky for me.
"It's only when that happens that you're aware of death. And only when that happens also that suddenly life screams at you with its intensity." P. 36
"I have a close friend who's a successful author. He says he hates to write, but he's always elated once he has written." P. 52
"fifty-one publishers told me that what [my client] had written was not worth putting on paper. But [once] the book got pushblished, [it] became a New York Times bestseller." P. 77
I've read a lot of self-help books and this was not one my favorites.
"It's only when that happens that you're aware of death. And only when that happens also that suddenly life screams at you with its intensity." P. 36
"I have a close friend who's a successful author. He says he hates to write, but he's always elated once he has written." P. 52
"fifty-one publishers told me that what [my client] had written was not worth putting on paper. But [once] the book got pushblished, [it] became a New York Times bestseller." P. 77
I've read a lot of self-help books and this was not one my favorites.
July 9, 2018
I have heard or read all, at least most... of this before. I gave it 5 stars because I was able to hear the message better. Also its brevity. Maybe I just read it at the right time. Some thing resonate better at certain times. Worst case it is a short read and you will feel better when you are done.
November 9, 2017
What is important right now? and What is next? Two questions to ask yourself. Our homework from the book club was to write our life purpose. This was a good process for me. Another great thought from the book was to Honor and Celebrate the small steps in life. Well worth reading!
January 5, 2019
Incredible book, a masterpiece. Don't get misled by the length. It's like a dynamo that's going to ignite passion and purpose in your life. Every chapter is full of so much wisdom and techniques to translate that wisdom into actions and results. An impactful book !
January 20, 2022
This was a free book, signed copy. It sounded interesting. I liked the premise... count up! It's religious, but not saturated with it. Overall the message is great and motivational.
A quick read. I read it in a day.
A quick read. I read it in a day.
March 31, 2022
Was okay. I like the running theme of counting days, but the repeated “back to the book” was a bit obnoxious. I wish I’d known it was a Christian book before reading, but that’s my own fault.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
December 1, 2022
Way too focused on religion for me. He is telling a story of his beliefs instead of the crash-course-content I was excited about. Especially because the book is designed to be read in one sitting, he should get to the point quicker imo. I put it down after 32 pages.
June 10, 2017
This book has a few very interesting ideas and concepts. It is a little light on substance.
December 26, 2017
A quick read with simple (not easy) and actionable steps to make and execute a plan for your life.
December 30, 2017
This book was full of cliches and seemed overly simplistic. If it wasn’t so short I never would’ve finished it.
April 18, 2018
Didn't much care for the religious points in the book but really liked allot of it. Very motivating. In particular the seven questions to start the day.
July 29, 2018
Beautifully narrated. I read this a long time ago.
February 11, 2019
Quick read, some good thoughts about how to approach each day.
December 14, 2021
This didn't give me any insights and I felt as though it could just be a short blog post.
February 16, 2024
simplistic and cute
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