ReWork Change the Way You Work Forever
Forget everything you've been told about building a successful business.
You don't need a fancy office, massive funding, or 80-hour work weeks. You don't need elaborate business plans, endless meetings, or a huge staff. From Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the founders of Basecamp, comes a radical manifesto that turns conventional business wisdom on its head.
Rework proves that success comes from doing less, not more. This isn't theory. It's battle-tested advice from entrepreneurs who built a profitable company by intentionally ignoring traditional rules. They'll show you why planning can actually hurt you, why you should ignore the competition, and why outside investors often do more harm than good.
Written in short, punchy chapters that you can devour in minutes, this book delivers hundreds of counterintuitive insights that will change how you think about work. Learn how to launch products faster, get attention without breaking the bank, and build a business that doesn't consume your life. Whether you're a startup founder, a corporate employee dreaming of independence, or an artist tired of struggling, Rework offers a smarter, simpler path forward.
Stop planning. Stop talking. Start working. This New York Times bestseller will show you the way.
Interesting Facts
Two Authors, One Vision: Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson co-wrote this business manifesto, bringing together their combined experience from building 37signals (now Basecamp) into a multimillion-dollar company with over three million customers.
Born from a Blog: The book itself is a byproduct! ReWork evolved from years of blogging on Signal v. Noise, then became workshop material called "The Building of Basecamp," before finally transforming into a traditionally published book in 2010.
New York Times Bestseller: The book hit the New York Times bestseller list immediately upon release, reaching number four in the "Hardcover Advice, How-To, Miscellaneous" category in its second week and selling over 200,000 copies in just the first two years.
Million Copy Milestone: ReWork has sold over one million copies worldwide, proving that its unconventional business wisdom has resonated with readers across the globe for more than a decade.
88 Hand-Drawn Illustrations: Milwaukee designer Mike Rohde created 88 original sketchnote-style illustrations for the book, one for each essay, working nights and weekends while his wife was pregnant with their daughter Linnea.
Deliberately Short and Punchy: The publishers worried the book wasn't fat enough to charge full price, so the authors cleverly increased font size, added illustrations, and adjusted spacing rather than padding the content with filler, keeping each essay brief and impactful.
Ruby on Rails Connection: Co-author David Heinemeier Hansson created the Ruby on Rails web framework, which powers Twitter, Shopify, GitHub, Airbnb, Square, and over a million other web applications.
Chicago Roots, Global Reach: The company behind the book, 37signals (now Basecamp), is a privately held Chicago-based company that has been operating since 1999, building web-based productivity tools with minimal features.
Racing Driver Author: David Heinemeier Hansson isn't just a programmer and author; he's also a Le Mans class-winning racing driver who competes in 200-mph race cars at international competitions.
Multiple Bestselling Books: The authors have written several business books together, including Getting Real, Remote: Office Not Required, and It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work, all challenging conventional workplace wisdom.
International Success: Beyond hitting bestseller lists in the United States, ReWork also reached number one on the UK Sunday Times business bestseller list and has been published in numerous countries around the world.
Timeless Business Philosophy: The book advocates for counterintuitive ideas like ignoring competitors, avoiding meetings, questioning the need for offices, and rejecting workaholism, presenting a minimalist approach to building successful businesses that continues to resonate with entrepreneurs today.
Quotes
"Workaholics aren't heroes. They don't save the day, they just use it up. The real hero is home because she figured out a faster way."
"Planning is guessing."
"Meetings are toxic."
"Don’t be a hero. When something goes wrong, fix the problem, not just the symptom."
"Start making something."
"Good enough is fine."
"Say no by default."
"Decisions are temporary."
"Inspiration is perishable."
"Progress is made one step at a time."
"Success is making something you want to exist."
"Underdo your competition."
"Emulate chefs."
"Build an audience."
"Launch now."
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