It Doesn’t Have to be Crazy at Work

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the authors of Rework, reject the idea that long hours, aggressive hustle and doing whatever it takes are needed to run a successful business. Their alternative is what they call the calm company. Overwork, heavy workloads and lost sleep have become badges of honor, they write, when they should be seen as foolish, and the problem reaches beyond big organizations to contractors and solo operators. Better productivity, in their view, comes from less waste and fewer sources of distraction and stress. Calm has anchored the culture of their company, Basecamp, since it began, and the book presents what they have done rather than a list of orders.

Claire Lew, CEO of Know Your Company, said finishing it felt like taking a deep breath of fresh air and thanked the authors for their clarity and conviction.