Poke the Box

By: Seth Godin

Narrated by: Seth Godin

Length: 2 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

We send our kids to school and obsess about their test scores, their behavior, and their ability to fit in. We post a help-wanted ad and look for experience, famous colleges, and a history of avoiding failure. We invest in companies based on how they did last quarter, not on what they’re going to do tomorrow. So why are we surprised when it all falls apart?

Our economy is not static, but we act as if it is. Your position in the world is defined by what you instigate, how you provoke, and what you learn from the events you cause. In a world filled with change, that’s what matters - your ability to create and learn from change.

Poke the Box is a manifesto about producing something that’s scarce, and thus valuable. It demands that you stop waiting for a road map and start drawing one instead. You know how to do this, you’ve done it before, but along the way, someone talked you out of it. We need your insight and your dreams and your contributions. Hurry.

©2011 Seth Godin (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Highly Motivational

I am a big fan of Seth Godin and his prior works, and I bought the audio and Kindle versions of "Poke the Box."

If you are new to Seth and his works and thinking, this is a great overview. If not, you will find quite a few of the topics he mentions have been discussed before in his prior works - however, the value delivered here is his admonishment that the motivation to 'start' something is more valuable long term than 'waiting to be picked.'

I found that the audio version of "Poke the Box" to be more inspiring and motivational than reading the book - perhaps because he revisits topics he has covered in past works to reinforce his 'start something' premise - and at a bit more than 2 hours in length - very accessible in an afternoon or evening of listening.

Worth the price and time to listen, particularly if you are new to his works and thinking.

Goad Demands that you "Poke the Box"

Seth Godin has a new book that is entitled POKE THE BOX. Godin calls this book a manifesto to get people out of their own personal boxes and in a mental position to "start something." He wants people to understand they have much more potential than they will allow themselves to believe.

He hates the idea that so many of us wait around to "get picked." He says that in today's world there is no reason to wait around to get picked. He makes it clear that we can choose ourselves and make things happen. One of his aphorisms is the idea that "he who fails the most generally wins." That makes me think of a friend, former Coker College student and published author -- Donnie Quist. He had a book and he wanted it published. He did not wait to get picked. He used the innovation of Kickstarter and LET ME MAKE YOU A SANDWICH is in the public realm. Had Donnie waited around to be picked he would probably still be unpublished. Seth Godin would like Donnie Quist's story.

Do not pick up this manifesto if you want to continue believing that other people limit you ability to make things happen in this world. Don't pick up this manifesto if you believe that doing what you are told well is all you need to achieve success. Do not look for this extended lecture if you believe the status quo is the way to go. Because, if you believe those things, Godin is going to make you uncomfortable.

Godin is a vision thinker and his books are like a half-time talk for those who feel it is their job to make a difference in this world. I recommend that if you are one who wants to make a difference Godin's book will help ignite that passion to making a start.

Okay, quit reading and start something, NOW.

Stay away

Terrible reading of tired, and worn out platitudes. Couldn't finish it. Did you know that if you want to do something you have to get started? If not maybe this book can help.

Difficult to listen and repetitive

Books is great, but can be much shorter some parts getting really brilliant but diluted the way Godin's pronunciation is cutting every sentence. Many parts of book repeating same idea all over.
All it can be done in 30minutes it think. The content of a book is brilliant, but it could be done in 30-50minutes

Good points, terrible narration

Would you try another book from Seth Godin and/or Seth Godin?

Probably not. His books come highly recommended, but I don't want to listen to him narrate another book. I'd rather read it myself.

Would you ever listen to anything by Seth Godin again?

Not if he narrated it. He doesn't know how to narrate well.

What didn’t you like about Seth Godin’s performance?

His narration is terrible- he places emphasis on the wrong words and in the wrong parts of sentences and/or paragraphs.

What did you take away from Poke the Box that you can apply to your work?

Think outside the box; try stuff- you never know unless you try/ask.

not worth your time

pretty much a repeat of his earlier books...however less entertaining and less useful. Don't waste your time on this one.

Not very good

If you read the intro to this book and buy it, you'll be disappointed. The book is repetitive and there isn't any depth. I was looking forward to be motivated when I finished the book, instead, I was bored an disappointed.

Quick Inspiring Listening

Start things means Poke the Box.
If the cost of losing is less than being boring than poke the box, start do something.
If you start something which has no risk, No opportunity to succeed, it does not count.
Poke the box, succeed, if you fail, try again; poke the box until you get success.
Encourage kids to organize clubs and their own extracurricular activities. This will help them to become initiators, start things and implement ideas to get success.
Overall a good read. I will suggest reading Linchpin first by the same author and then Poke the Box.
Go Poke the Box and get what you want.

It's a book about nothing

The entire book in two words: start doing. That's it, random thoughts about starting.

Wonderful kick in the ASS!

I like the way Seth breaks down the overthinker that self sabotages and never starts anything, while another person starts 12000 projects and carries them around like a bag of rocks never really doing much more then starting. This book was perfectly timed in my life as a dear buddy who's been my inspiration for executing and failing on ideas has gone ill. He always told me to start, you're bigger then you think, get going, creating growing, thanks for the reminder Seth! No time like the present 😊🙏

This Year I Am Committed To Poking The Box

An inspiring little book - he calls it a rant - by Seth Godin aimed at getting you to take initiative in business and in life in general; getting you to start things instead of waiting for permission.

I've listened to this book a great many times when I'm down and need to kickstart myself.

This is definitely a good listen. Go for it.

If you need a helping hand to imitate your big idea read this book !

If you need a helping hand to imitate your big idea read this book !

Like:

Why we should take action
Why the most successful people fail the most
Why it's riskier to take no action

A must for the proactive or scared to fail.

if you are lacking in confidence this is for you! If you want to be more proactive, this is for you. Go ahead listen, I dare you :-)

You can't go wrong - even if you do...

A great listen to get you going and see you right the way through. Seth Godin at his simplest and best.

Repetitive. The central idea is re-communicated.

The central idea is repeated over and over. A waste of time and frustrating listening.