Should you read: The Compound Effect

This week I’ve been reading The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy and it nicely fits into the “get rich slowly” camp of success books. From the title it’s obvious that the advice in this book is akin to that provided by Jeff Olson in The Slight Edge and by most of the success writers, but what sets this book apart?

The writing style

Hardy uses such a direct style that it’s impossible to switch off and let your eyes glaze over. Having read a total of eight success books in the past six weeks I started to feel fatigued from all the lists of “success laws” and “secrets” of business. However, Hardy writes in such an engaging and motivational way that I found myself excited to read more of the book than my schedule allowed.

What’s it about?

It’s all based on the same advice of making small changes that you can consistently keep up with (e.g. 10 press-ups a day) and then gradually increase once you get better at said thing. Hardy uses some great case studies that help you affect change in every area of your life. Coupled with the case studies are some killer goal setting tips that anyone who’s serious about being a success in any area of their life should know.

There’s just one thing…

The only issue with Hardy’s tome is that nothing he says is new (and he openly admits that). There is nothing in the book that hasn’t already been said, written, sung, or committed to film. Which is also a reason that the book is so compelling, although all the advice he gives has been collected in a hundred other books it felt different coming from him.

It’s like an old music album that you’d forgotten about, and when you randomly find, you remember all the words. Hardy’s book helped me to remember a lot of sage advice I knew but had forgotten I knew.

In short it’s a fantastic book written in a very readable way, but doesn’t offer anything new or surprising.

Verdict: Borrow it, and if it helps you remember things you always knew, nab it for your success shelf.

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