Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Book Author: Greg McKeown

“More of everything!”

“Less of everything!”

There’s an ongoing shouting match between those who support more of everything and those who want less of everything. 

But what this debate misses is that the path to true success and fulfillment requires a focus on the essential. This is the core thesis in Greg McKeown's book, "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less". 

It may seem like common sense, but in our current society dominated by instant dopamine hits, autoplay, and FOMO, it’s not very common.

McKeown's philosophy of Essentialism is not merely about doing less for the sake of doing less. It's about making the highest possible contribution towards the things that really matter. The book is divided into four parts: Essence, Explore, Eliminate, and Execute, each providing specific ways to apply essentialist principles in our lives.

In the first section, Essence, McKeown sets the stage by defining what Essentialism is and why it is crucial in today's overcommitted world.

The Explore section introduces a paradox: an essentialist approach encourages more time to explore more options before making a full commitment. On the surface, this exploration of many options seems contradictory, but the key difference is between merely exploring and fully committing. Exploring many things is fully aligned with Essentialism, while committing to many things is the opposite of Essentialism. The section includes practical advice on how to apply straightforward criteria to selection, such as focusing on the top 10% of opportunities.

In Eliminate, McKeown tackles the challenging task of letting go. If everything is considered good, that’s actually bad. A lot of the things that pile into our lives over time start with good intentions but never move past the good stage. Many of these are actually distractions. Saying “no” seems easy in theory while of course the practical reality is totally different. McKeown provides several thoughtful and concrete ways to say “no” gracefully, including by sometimes even avoiding using the word directly. 

The final section, Execute, provides the tools for implementing Essentialism in daily life. McKeown highlights the need to build in buffers for unexpected events, which is particularly relevant in a world of increasing instability. He also emphasizes the importance of routines, rituals, and systems to maintain focus and productivity. His advice is backed by research and grounded in real-life examples, making it both relatable and actionable.

"Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" is a book that can be reviewed regularly as a reminder of core ideas and habits which can help us all lead more satisfying lives. The real power of the book is not simply in reading the words, but in implementing the ideas consistently over time across days, years, and decades.

Why I Recommend This Book

Although it’s a small word difference, my preferred title to this book would be “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of More with Less” because I believe this is closer to the underlying ideas contained in the book. It’s about getting more from life, while focusing on the fewer things that matter.

“More” is actually quite important. Practically speaking, most people want “more”, including me. Appealing to that underlying motivation to have “more” is key so that people can feel content they are living their own best life.

At the same time, “less” is still also quite important. The experience of having to actively decide which things to focus on leads to a more intentional life. 

Taking a broader perspective, I really don’t see “more” and “less” as two separate ideas and believe they are completely and forever intertwined as “more with less.”