Review "The Alamanck of Naval Ravikant"

About the Author

In this case, the author, Eric Jorgenson, is the less interesting. As CEO of Scribe Media and blogger, he writes about technology and startups. His sole work, "The Almanac of Naval Ravikant," is notable for the person he writes about.

Naval Ravikant is an American software developer, entrepreneur, and activist for political freedoms and technology regulation. He was born in India in 1974 and grew up in the United States. Ravikant is also known for his opinions on technology and society, which he publishes on various social media platforms.

What is the book about?

The book consists of a series of essays on various topics, such as philosophy, wealth, happiness, and personal growth. The essays are presented as thought experiments and philosophical discussions to encourage readers to rethink their perspectives and discover new things.

Some of the book's central themes include:

The importance of self-reflection and introspection for personal growth.
The role of honesty, authenticity, and respect in relationships.
The connection between one's definition of prosperity, happiness, success, and contentment.

The book is a collection of thoughts and a manual for self-transformation.

What's great about it?

Some aspects of the "Almanac" are particularly noteworthy:

New and fresh: The book offers a modern perspective on philosophical questions and personal growth.
Practical applicability: The essays are designed to be accessible to every reader—regardless of whether you are studying philosophy or simply looking for inspiration.
Very lively and humorous language: The author writes using light, poetic language.

In addition, Ravikant does not define his view as the ultimate correct one. Jorgenson describes Ravikant's approaches as inspiration and encouragement to answer the questions for yourself.

What's annoying about it?

As a general criticism, I could point out that Ravikant's answers are very flexible—the book doesn't offer clear solutions. Depending on your personal experience and perspective, some of the ideas can be difficult to understand or follow.

An example of the latter: Ravikant suggests setting a very high hourly rate (e.g., €1,500). Using this hourly rate, you should evaluate your activities and outsource them to third parties if there is no clear benefit in doing them yourself. Money is supposed to buy personal freedom.

That may be a good mental model for critically examining yourself, but it's unrealistic for me to outsource all unpleasant work with the argument—I simply can't afford it. Perhaps this perspective is why I'm staying where I am now. As a wealthy person like Ravikant, I find it too easy to say I'm buying time because it's the most valuable thing I have.

The Best Quote

The book contains numerous quotes from social media. And several of them are very valuable. A nice quote from Ravikant, in general, is the following:

We can't change the past but can use its lessons. We'll never be the same person we were 10 years ago, and that's worth it.

What did I learn?

In my bullet journal, I've addressed three questions from the book for my long-term planning. I also took one task with me and jotted down several tips. This list gives you a good overview of what I've learned, what I'll still learn from the book, and what it can offer you.

The Three Questions

What is my definition of retirement? The answer is pending for both my retirement planning and my 10-year plan. The sooner the answer is clear, the sooner I can take steps to achieve it.
What does it mean to be successful? A question as banal and straightforward as the first yet incredibly difficult to answer definitively. In my opinion, the answer goes hand in hand with the previous question.
How much of my day do I spend on obligations and how much on tasks of interest? Ideally, I don't spend time on obligations – but it's not that simple. But to what extent can I ensure that my obligations serve a goal aligned with my interests?! This is what needs to be clarified.

The Tips

Work when you have energy; otherwise, rest. Like athletes who train, rest afterward, and think about the next exercise.
If I can't decide, the answer is no.
Prioritize short-term pain with long-term benefits.
Read because it's fun, and make it a habit.
When I think "should," I must realize that I'm thinking about guilt or social programming.
Impatient with actions (action instead of motion), patient with results (compound interest)

The Task

My task is to sit and do nothing—think and sit. I accepted and recognized the restlessness that arises, which can be a source of unhappiness. I'm curious to see how that works and what conclusion comes.

Why everyone should read the book

It's never wrong to philosophize about the fundamental aspects of prosperity and happiness. However, I find it challenging to do it alone. A book like this helps as a companion and source of inspiration. Some of Ravikant's approaches could have helped me decide where and how to seek happiness. Therefore, I believe it serves readers of all ages well.

I hope you enjoy this book. It's perfect for a sunny afternoon with a cup of coffee.