# Review `So Good They Can't Ignore You` is an interesting one. I like and respect Cal Newport, and his most famous writings have been a big influence on me. This book, though, was not quite as inspired. The message is a pretty specific one, and it is hard to consider how/if it should apply to _general_ audiences. Perhaps the self-selection of people who enjoy his other work would weed out those who this book wouldn't probably be for. Moreover, it felt like a case of "I have a message I want to say, but it's not quite long enough and I don't have quite enough to say about it to support a book - so I'll find a ton of anecdotes that support my message and spend 70% of the book telling those anecdotes." Not my favorite of his books. The message was, in short: > [!tldr] So Good They Can't Ignore You Don't follow your passion. Instead develop a skill that is rare and valuable. Once you're good enough, you can set your own terms and pursue your own self-directed mission in life. That's the wiser path to a satisfying career & life. # Notes See backlinks 👇 ---