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Prior to reading Rework, I was unfamiliar with Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson, or their company 37signals. One book, however, provides the reader with the insight into the attitudes of the founders and a basis for the reasons for their success. However, if you subscribe to "conventional wisdom," this book may not be for you. The authors tend go against your experience and what has been instilled into you during your college and graduate work. Nonetheless, this is a worthwhile book, even if you work for a large company. Many of the ideas presented can be used in a small group setting.

Contents: Introduction; First; Takedowns; Go; Progress; Productivity; Competitors; Evolution; Promotion; Hiring; Damage Control; Culture; Conclusion; Resources; Acknowledgements

Each of the major chapters are broken down into topics, which are only a few pages each. As an example, the chapter on Competitors has topics on "Don't Copy," "Decommoditize your product," "Pick a fight," "Underdo your competition," and "Who cares what they're doing?" The topic on "Don't copy" tells the reader that while copying a competitors product is a good way to learn, in the business world it is usually bad. Copying a product puts you and your company behind the company that originally created it. You forego the knowledge of actually creating something, you miss the reasons why it is the way that it is, and you will never catch up. You are in a reactive mode.

Every chapter is laid out in a similar fashion; A major heading and several key points that drive the idea home. It is a very effective teaching tool for the reader. Instead of wasting time to get to the "good parts," Rework is all "good parts." There is no filler; Fried and Heinemeier Hansson are very direct. The book is listed as having 277 pages, however not all of it is stocked with words. Rather, they make liberal use of graphics, which removes probably 100 pages of text. You could probably finish the book in a couple of hours. Despite that, the lessons and philosophies that they impart will stay with you.

While all of the lessons cannot be applied to every business, especially large organizations, many of them are applicable to every organization. Some of the lessons are shown on the back cover: ASAP is poison, meetings are toxic, fire the workaholics, planning is guessing. One of the lessons that is needed, but rarely used is "Interruption is the enemy of productivity." All day long you are bombarded with e-mail, instant messages, phone calls, chatty colleagues. You lose productivity. So, what happens? You stay late, you work when you get home, you spend part of your weekend "catching up." The authors recommend "alone time." Set aside specific time every day just for you; no e-mail, no instant messaging, no phones, no talking. During this time, you have an unbroken period where you can actually get your work done. During the work day. Imagine that! This isn't so far fetched, either. There are people that refuse to answer e-mail between 10AM and 2PM, or only at set times during the day. Others close their instant messaging software for a few hours. All of these people have one thing in common, they want, need, and have the ability to create "alone time."

Open-minded managers would do well to give some thought to the lessons contained in Rework, it has the opportunity to make your team much more effective, productive, and valuable. Small business owners; this could be your Bible. Highly recommended.

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