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Barking up the Wrong Tree

The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong

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Barking up the Wrong Tree

By: Eric Barker
Narrated by: Roger Wayne
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About this listen

Much of the advice we've been told about achievement is logical, earnest...and downright wrong. In Barking up the Wrong Tree, Eric Barker reveals the extraordinary science behind what actually determines success and, most importantly, how anyone can achieve it. You'll learn:

  • Why valedictorians rarely become millionaires and how your biggest weakness might actually be your greatest strength
  • Whether nice guys finish last and why the best lessons about cooperation come from gang members, pirates, and serial killers
  • Why trying to increase confidence fails and how Buddhist philosophy holds a superior solution
  • The secret ingredient to "grit" that Navy SEALs and disaster survivors leverage to keep going
  • How to find work-life balance using the strategy of Genghis Khan, the errors of Albert Einstein, and a little lesson from Spider-Man

By looking at what separates the extremely successful from the rest of us, we learn what we can do to be more like them - and find out, in some cases, why it's good that we aren't. Barking up the Wrong Tree draws on startling statistics and surprising anecdotes to help you understand what works and what doesn't, so you can stop guessing at success and start living the life you want.

©2017 Eric Barker (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers Career Success Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Psychology & Interactions Social Sciences Career Inspiring Business Success

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All stars
Most relevant  
Not really sure what I take away from this book, although it was an interesting listen.

Interesting, but a bit random

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such a good book with excellent entertaining examples. Defitly game changer , I will come back to this book in while

fantastic book

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The idea success is limited or taught is explained in detail through the most unusual people. You come to realise that despite everyone’s craziness within everyone lies the ability to be successful in whatever you desire, especially with any drawbacks or disabilities you may have. The range of examples used is extremely vast and you will find an example that fits you’re position!

Case studies and obscure examples

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I bought this book as it was on offer with related Audible so I had no expectation other than being interested in people that put research findings into everyday context and make it actionable.
I was more than pleasantly surprised by the quality of the reading which was better than many more well known books by famous authors. Really enthusiastic and bright the text alive.
If you're fairly up to date with various research you probably won't find much new here but packaging it into a book about achieving personal happiness and success with practical tips was useful.
It's not too heavy on the tips and each chapter has a few long examples which I felt brought the subject to life but some may find lots of fluff and meandering.
So if you want some learning, some good stories well read then buy this!

Nicely presented

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I read quite a few books with my job and for pleasure but this book is quite brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed and absorbed.

Excellent book

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I f*cling love this book! Will definitely be relistening to it later down the road :)

I love this book

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It's not all science, it is about humans as we are, it's about success and importantly that we define it
A good read or listen in this case I would say if you read nothing else this year read this

Finally found a book with the science that matches the last 50years

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I have been a regular reader of Eric barker's blog for a few years. This is a good transfer to book format, and narrated well, with new material. What I like is that this comes across as objective, good research, not someone pushing a particular agenda. Basically, if Eric barker is writing about it, I take notice. Also like the way he distillls his findings into actionable bullet points.

I got audio cheaply because I bought the print version. I am now off to read it and make notes, and I've literally just finished the audio! Check out his blog too.

Great blog to good book

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A book written by a blogger that has spent 7 years delving into the science of success, with a huge emphasis on scientific research and interviews with leading minds on the subject. The premise of the book is to use evidence and story to detail what success looks like, how it is achieved and why it matters, debunking long held myths along the way.

I really enjoyed this book, the author has an evident sense of humour and a clear passion for his subject matter, the narrater is great and the content is enjoyable with plenty of relevant ideas.

The author delves into how success in school translates to success in life, where nice guys sit in the success ladder and how grit can turn illegal immigrants into to brain surgeons and failed high school swimmers into navy seals. The book is full of really great take aways and exercises that the reader can follow to push them down the right path. We are introduced to characters and stories as wide ranging as Albert Einstein to the pirates of the high seas, from Batman to Genghis Khan from buddhism to prison gangs and more. These are interesting and engaging and perhaps not in the way you would expect.

Eric is by no means pushing any agenda and the aim of the book is clearly translated into the text, he is neither forceful nor opinionated. The book also continuously reinforces the points made in previous chapters and often concludes with useful summaries and action points at the end of chapters.

Introducing games into life is a concept I've come across before and is nicely laid out in the book and the WOOP goal setting exercise is another that stands out.

I throughly recommend this book if your interested in good stories, hard science and useable strategies.

Thoroughly engaging and useful

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From start to finish a great book to listen too. Very insightful with a great narrator.

Exceptionally Good Book to listen to

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