Book 2 Post 2 - Feel-Good Productivity

Ali Abdaal, Feel Good Productivity Book Review

Would you believe me if I told you I was diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder in tenth grade? That I had weekly therapy sessions every Thursday at 4:00 pm? Many people who I’ve met at USC and told this to don’t quite believe me. Since coming to college, I have completely changed as a person. I’ve learned to be happier, more easy-going, and less prideful. For this assignment, I chose to read Ali Abdaal’s Feel-Good Productivity to see if I could learn more about my personal growth and how I can avoid reverting to my old ways in the future.


Reading Feel-Good Productivity felt like talking to a therapist. When I first started reading the book, I was a little disappointed. It seemed like Ali was just reiterating things I already knew about productivity. But as I got deeper into the book, I realized that Ali never intended to teach me anything new in the first place. Rather, he was just trying to help me clarify, explain, and compartmentalize what I already knew through sharing examples, stories, and analogies to help me better grasp the topic. 


My favorite part of the book is Chapter 6: Find Courage. After breaking my leg this summer, I grew terrified of being on the road. Whenever I passed an intersection, I would squeeze onto my seat belt and brace for a potential crash. One of the experiments from the book that I have been trying to overcome this fear is labeling my emotions to better grasp what I am feeling. For example, at intersections, I would say, “I am anxious that the car turning left might not see us and turn at the wrong time.” This simple trick has helped me rationalize my fear and think it through rather than being overwhelmed by anxiety. Even though I already knew this trick of labeling my emotions to deal with them, reading this book was the catalyst for me to implement it to overcome my fear of being on the road.


Since finishing the book, I have been unknowingly implementing the tips and tricks I learned from Ali everywhere: while studying, working out, or resting after a long day. I would recommend this book to others, as I think anyone can take something out of it that can prove useful for their well-being and productivity.

 

Comments

  1. Will N 340November 4, 2024 at 11:46 AM

    Hi Hai- Thank you for your courage in sharing about how you have changed through college. I found that opening the piece with that level of vulnerability was impactful in grabbing my attention and making me feel comfortable digging deep and thinking about myself. I also really appreciated you sharing your connection to Chapter 6 in the book. I will definitely be giving Ali's book a read!

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  2. anastazjalb340November 4, 2024 at 12:57 PM

    Thank you for sharing your personal experience, congratulations on your own growth journey and being vulnerable enough to share that. This book sounds great, I get nervous reading self help books as the information can sometimes be generalized, but the tips you shared sound like something I might need to hear myself as well.

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