What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings--and Life (A Penguin Special from Portfolio) [Kindle Edition]

Laura Vanderkam (Author)

Book Description

Mornings are a madcap time for many of us. We wake up in a haze—often after hitting snooze a few times. Then we rush around to get ready and out the door so we can officially start the day. Before we know it, hours have slipped by without us accomplishing anything beyond downing a cup of coffee, dashing off a few emails, and dishing with our coworkers around the water cooler. By the time the workday wraps up, we’re so exhausted and defeated that any motivation to accomplish something in the evening has vanished.

But according to time management expert Laura Vanderkam, mornings hold the key to taking control of our schedules. If we use them wisely, we can build habits that will allow us to lead happier, more productive lives.

Drawing on real-life anecdotes and scientific research that shows why the early hours of the day are so important, Vanderkam reveals how successful people use mornings to help them accomplish things that are often impossible to take care of later in the day. While many of us are still in bed, these folks are scoring daily victories to improve their health, careers, and personal lives without sacrificing their sanity. For instance, former PepsiCo chairman and CEO Steve Reinemund would rise at 5:00 a.m., run four miles, pray, and eat breakfast with his family before heading to work to run a Fortune 500 company.

What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast is a fun, practical guide that will inspire you to rethink your morning routine and jump-start your life before the day has even begun.

Product Details

• File Size: 221 KB
• Print Length: 32 pages
• Publisher: Portfolio (June 12, 2012)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007K3E2YK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,967 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #4 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Business & Investing > Business Life > Time Management
  • #8 in Books > Business & Investing > Skills > Time Management

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

194 of 203 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Well.... June 20, 2012

By Kimberly Reece

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I think I misunderstood what this book was going to do for me. I was expecting ideas and tips and what I got was almost an autobiography. I learned more about the author and her family than I did about reversing my late night/late morning habits.

It was well written and I have no real complaints other than the title being misleading. It wasn't a guide at all. It was humorous but not very instructive.

Also it led me to inadvertent irony in action - I stayed up late reading this book and ended up oversleeping the next day.

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed the book. June 17, 2012

By frequent online shopper

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The book was an easy read, which I finished in a couple days. The information was average there were not any real new concepts in the book. Mostly information you probably already know. That being said I will try to be more productive in the mornings and implement some of the tips from the book. To be honest there were some things that were a bit redundant you get the point early on. I would say go ahead and buy the book. However, the current price as of this post is 2.99 its more of 99 cent kindle read. If the price goes higher than a few bucks, you might feel disappointed.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical but Inspirational February 4, 2013

By Mona K.

Format:Kindle Edition

I enjoyed this book very much. It gives practical advice and is very inspirational. The approach was surprisingly humorous, which I liked. Instead of trying to give a plan for how to change my life, it illuminated the results of taking advantage of those hours with the most potential for productivity. It is common knowledge that early rises are typically revered, while night owls are, in a way, looked down upon. I have always struggled with being a bird of the night, or more like a vampire, with the way the early sunlight seems to repel me. I've spent countless night hours trying to capture productivity and have never really felt effective at doing so.

After reading this book, I did not feel like I had to force myself out of bed in the mornings to follow some plan. I felt excited and motivated to get the day started. It seems like the practical thing to do in order to be productive, instead of just chasing productivity, and actually find more rest and happiness.

Admittedly, I was expecting more of a how-to guide, and this is more of a motivational testimony, which works so well. This was very inspirational and calls one to action, without spelling it out. This was a short read, which I appreciate. It got me started without all of the smoke and mirrors. This is the right length for me to pick up on a weekend for just a pick me up or reminder. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have already suggested to some of my closest family and friends.

Another resource I felt was helpful and I feel pairs perfectly is Super Brain Power: Secrets for Thinking Your Way to Success. The combination of these books have been and empowering and beneficial for me thus far

More About the Author

Laura Vanderkam is the author of All The Money In The World: What The Happiest People Know About Getting and Spending (Portfolio, March 1, 2012), 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think (Portfolio, 2010), and Grindhopping: Build a Rewarding Career Without Paying Your Dues (McGraw-Hill, 2007).

She is a member of USA Today's Board of Contributors, writes the "168 Hours" blog for CBS MoneyWatch, and her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, City Journal, Scientific American, Reader's Digest, Prevention, Fortune.com, and other publications. She has appeared on numerous television programs, including The Today Show and Fox & Friends, hundreds of radio segments, and has spoken about time, money and productivity to audiences ranging from the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association to MTV's employees to graduating seniors at her high school, the Indiana Academy, who brought her back as their commencement speaker in 2006.

A 2001 graduate of Princeton, she enjoys running, writing fiction, and serving as president of the Board of Trustees for The Young New Yorkers' Chorus, an organization which specializes in commissioning new music from composers under age 35. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, two young sons and baby daughter.