Become an Idea Machine

Because Ideas Are the Currency of the 21st Century

By: Claudia Azula Altucher

Narrated by: Claudia Azula Altucher

Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

The answer is simple: come up with 10 ideas a day. It doesn't matter if they are good or bad, the key is to exercise your "idea muscle", to keep it toned, and in great shape. People say ideas are cheap and execution is everything but that is NOT true. Execution is a consequence, a subset of good, brilliant idea. And good ideas require daily work. Ideas may be easy if we are only coming up with one or two but if you open this book to any of the pages and try to produce more than three, you will feel a burn, scratch your head, and you will be sweating, and working hard. There is a turning point when you reach idea number six for the day, you still have four to go, and your mind muscle is getting a workout. By the time you list those last ideas to make it to 10 you will see for yourself what "sweating the idea muscle" means. As you practice the daily idea generation you become an idea machine. When we become idea machines we are flooded with lots of bad ideas but also with some that are very good. This happens by the sheer force of the number, because we are coming up with 3,650 ideas per year (at 10 a day). When you are inspired by an extraordinary idea, all of your thoughts break their chains, you go beyond limitations and your capacity to act expands in every direction. Forces and abilities you did not know you had come to the surface, and you realize you are capable of doing great things. As you practice with the suggested prompts in this book your ideas will get better, you will be a source of great insight for others, people will find you magnetic, and they will want to hang out with you because you have so much to offer. When you practice every day your life will transform, in no more than 180 days, because it has no other evolutionary choice. Life changes for the better when we become the source of positive, insightful, and helpful ideas. Don't believe a word I say. Instead, challenge yourself.

©2015 Claudia Azula Altucher (P)2015 Claudia Azula Altucher

Good in theory

The first part of the book has some very helpful tips on becoming a better idea generator. That said, having her husband on the audiobook comes across as a lack of confidence in herself. It doesn't help that he contradicts her. The last 3/4 of the book is her going through examples of lists you can come up with. While there are some good suggestions, it's drags on far too long.

Exceptional book. Is audio right for you for this?

If you could sum up Become an Idea Machine in three words, what would they be?

I like this book. A lot! It has two main sections: The first section explains an idea machine, and the second section gives 180 daily prompts to help you turn yourself into an idea machine. But audio is tricky for a book like this so let me share a few thoughts on that . . .

Whether you listen to your audio in the car (like me) or while exercising, section one is perfect for audio. I always like hearing the author’s voice and I greatly enjoyed hearing Claudia’s passion. In fact, the first section is one of the most personable and down to earth audios I've ever heard. I felt like I was sitting with Claudia while she (and James) explained the whole thing to me. I love that she didn't read everything verbatim and love that she pulled James in to make a few comments along the way. Exceptional!

In section two, Claudia gives you the 180 prompts one at a time, and you are supposed to spend time coming up with your 10 ideas. The audio format may or may not be perfect for you for that . . . depending on what you do while listening.

I mostly listen to audio while driving so that arrangement can work, but it isn't ideal. If you walk or run while listening, it may or may not work for you. Where I think it would be amazing is walking on a treadmill or using a stationary bike where you can listen to the prompt and have a tablet for recording your ideas. If you get done with your 10 for the day, you can keep thinking or go on to the next prompt.

So, is audio the right format for you for this book? That's up to you . I know I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the first section, and am still thinking about how I want to work through all the prompts. I got the pdf version for free from Chris Brogan's website (chrisbrogan.com/ideamachine) so I have the 180 prompts, but I'm seriously considering returning to my days of walking on the treadmill just so I can slowly go through the prompts with Claudia. I think that arrangement would be outstanding.

Bottom line: Highly recommended book and Claudia does a nice job reading. Whether you go with audio, PDF, or a combination depends on how you want to approach becoming an idea machine. Regardless of what you choose, your "idea muscle" will thank you.

kind of silly

offers some good insight, but the majority of the content is a bit goofy in my opinion.

Why is this an audio book? This is misleading.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I wish they had been more descriptive in the title of this book. This is not a book, it's a work book. Work books shouldn't be audio books. This was well written, and I would encourage someone to get the hard copy once they understood what this is.

What could Claudia Azula Altucher have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not make this into an audio book. She even states how weird it is for a workbook to be a audio book (in the recording). It felt weird and super disappointing.

Would you be willing to try another one of Claudia Azula Altucher’s performances?

Maybe, she's a good writer. And her husband is awesome.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes, James talked in it, and I love hearing James talk. That's why I gave it 3 stars.

Any additional comments?

I still appreciate what James and Claudia are doing and the information they are sharing. But people who are spending $15 per credit need to be warned that this is a work book, not a book. I would have bought the hard copy used on Amazon if I knew.

The future of Audiobooks

I was assuming that I was going to listen to the typical audiobooks with useful ideas but a somewhat boring narration. I am still amazed. This is the future of Audiobooks people. The author, Claudia, is best narrator that I ever heard. This is how good audobooks should sound. I enjoyed the book and listening again and again. I hope she keeps writing and narrating and I will keep buying and listening and learning. Thank you Claudia...

Transforming yourself by generating ideas!

I found Become an Idea Machine on a top 10 list of high-impact books, and am so grateful for the referral! If you'd like to be more creative, open and innovative, this book is exactly what you need to get started. The practice of generating 10 ideas is a daily ritual you'll discover to be a pleasure rather than a chore. In the first part of the book, Claudia puts forth the case for a daily mental practice, and shows how it can sharpen your mind and lead to possibilities you'd never have considered. She introduces a new topic each day to jump start your "idea machine". The topics range from business to health, from education to technology, from spiritual practice to entrepreneurial pursuits. With such variety, you're bound to find some that are right up your alley and others that challenge you to expand your thinking in new directions. Although certain aspects of the book lend themselves to paperback format, I'm glad I listened to it on audio. Claudia's desire to share the power of self-transformation and her genuine likeability shine through in every section. This may be the most impactful book I read in 2015!