The Lazy Genius Way

Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done

By: Kendra Adachi, Emily P. Freeman - foreword

Narrated by: Kendra Adachi, Emily P. Freeman

Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times best seller

Being a lazy genius isn't about doing more or doing less. It’s about doing what matters to you.

"I could not be more excited about this book." (Jenna Fischer, actor and cohost of the Office Ladies podcast)

The chorus of "shoulds" is loud. You should enjoy the moment, dream big, have it all, get up before the sun, track your water consumption, go on date nights, and be the best. Or maybe you should ignore what people think, live on dry shampoo, be a negligent PTA mom, have a dirty house, and claim your hot mess like a badge of honor.

It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by the mixed messages of what it means to live well.

Kendra Adachi, the creator of the Lazy Genius movement, invites you to live well by your own definition and equips you to be a genius about what matters and lazy about what doesn’t. Everything from your morning routine to napping without guilt falls into place with Kendra’s 13 Lazy Genius principles, including:

• Decide once
• Start small
• Ask the magic question
• Go in the right order
• Schedule rest

Discover a better way to approach your relationships, work, and piles of mail. Be who you are without the complication of everyone else’s "shoulds". Do what matters, skip the rest, and be a person again.

©2020 Kendra Adachi (P)2020 Random House Audio

Similar to the podcast, but worth buying

I listen to the author’s podcast (The Lazy Genius) and this is more of the same in many ways. I didn’t find any advice in the book particularly ground breaking, but it was well structured and easy to follow. Unlike many other books of this type I’ve read in the past, it wasn’t just one or two insights told over and over again in slightly different wording. Each of the thirteen principles outlined stands alone and is worthy of it’s own chapter, with a final chapter about how to use them all together. Much like her podcast, listening to Kendra Adachi narrate her book is like a one sided chat with a girlfriend. Good background listening while doing dishes or folding laundry. It’s worth noting that the book is written from a Christian perspective. It’s not the backbone of the book, but I can think of multiple places where the author discusses her faith or quotes scripture. I don’t think you need to be Christian to find value in this book, but I can see where it might be slightly off-putting if you aren’t.

We All Deserve To Be A Lazy Genius

The best part of this book isn’t that Kendra gives us a detailed path for how to get control of our madness. It isn’t that she clearly outlined exactly where we need to turn our attention. It isn’t even that she beautifully conveyed what most authors in the space fail to realize - that life isn’t one size fits all. The best part of this book is that she makes you feel like you DESERVE the clarity and calm that comes from applying her principles to your life. She reminds us that we are all deserving of focusing on what matters to us & letting go of the rest. Every human needs this book because we need these principles so we can stop doing life and start living life.

Life-Changing Freedom!

Kendra is smart, funny, and warm! She talks to you like a friend and helps you understand principles to identify and pursue what matters to YOU! Not anyone else. Great for folks who want to grow into who they are!

maybe 30 years ago

this may be interesting to a young Mom but not a 60 something working women

Lazy Genius is Pure Genius

I am so happy I had the opportunity to listen to this book. I was introduced to Kendra through one of my favorite podcasts. I really love her down to earth and simple solutions for being able to live the kind of peaceful life did we all strive for. Her formula is nothing out rages, or new. It is just common sense coupled with habits that can generate a simple yet happy life. Our home is a place where we should feel free. We sometimes create these false expectations for ourselves that make our home a prison. Through the simple genius way, we can re-capture the nurturing sense of peace that our homes can bring. There are many other areas in our lives in which we create a sense of overwhelm because we are trying to keep up. The lazy genius way is a way for us to embrace in perfection, not judge ourselves, and live more purposeful happy lives. Kendra acknowledges that they are many difficulties in which we can get tangled. Her lazy genius perspective and habits can help to bring us joy no matter what.

Great book!

Equal parts practical tips and inspiration to help you figure out the systems that work for YOU. I like how Kendra encourages her readers to determine what’s important to them and then develop systems that work around that. Highly recommend to anyone who has felt overwhelmed with all the advice out there that seems to work for everyone else but you. Great read!

Not great

It started off good but quickly got bad. Unimpressed and struggled to finish it. Only finished it because I always finish books and was hoping it woods improve. It didn’t.

Fan of Lazy Genius

I have been reading Kendra’s blog for over three years now, and the book is great! I would recommend it for any leaving being, really. We all can use a pinch of lazy and a drop of genius in our lives. Remembering what reeeaaaly matters. Thanks you, Kendra, for a heartfelt book.

What a welcomed book!

Kendra talks to you as a friend and someone truly rooting for you. Listen and gain ideas some more tangible than others, but leave knowing a peace and new way to look at doing life. The Lazy Genius is an amazing tool to add to your Swiss Army knife of life. Whether your a new mom, a person just starting off or entering a new phase, this book will be a gift. Enjoy and know you are enough!

Most related book

I love the way Kendra speaks (and writes). Thank you Kendra for teaching me the principal of “start small”. I’ve applied it to my life in so many ways but I wanted to share my top 2. I’m a third grade teacher and never feel like I can give anything my all. I give everyone a little part of me and at the end of the day, I have nothing left. When it came to wanting to exercise before work, I’d try one day, get overwhelmed by all of the circuits, and stop for months. By starting small, I now just do one circuit of each exercise and I stop for the morning. Will I be as ripped as someone who does 5? No. But I feel better that I have been consistently moving every morning. My other way I decided to start small is with teaching. There are SO many resources out there that I would become so overwhelmed and then choose to just do my own thing. Now, I chose one resource and will utilize that the remainder of the year until I feel comfortable using a new one. Seems like common knowledge but hearing Kendra offer this advice, and as some ways, give me permission to start small, my life is already changing. This book is a must read.

Very ‘approachable’

I discovered The Lazy Genius some down an ‘Insta’ rabbit hole and have enjoyed both her stories and podcast. Simple but very accessible advice, delivered in an empathetic way. Lots to take from this book and from Kendra herself 😁

Fantastic book

Thank you so much for your insight, Kendra... you've helped more than you know.