I became a huge fan of Scott Adams when I read his thought-experiment book God’s Debris. I have never been someone who can read long articles on a screen, let alone an entire book. But when a friend shared the PDF of the book, I devoured it in a day or two. Then I read it again after a month and the ideas kept bouncing around in my head for months.
Interestingly, I had read The Dilbert Principle long before I picked up God’s Debris. Both in early 2010s. A few years later, I read his book Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain! While I liked the book, I also felt that Adams had run out of thrilling ideas. Of course, I was wrong because I completely missed out on his livestreams and only started tuning in during the pandemic.
Scott Adams passed away earlier this year in January. A month before that, he delivered a heavy, emotional message on X saying he probably didn’t have long to go. Prostate cancer had subdued him. Yet a day before he passed away, he was still doing his livestream – visibly pale and weak but still dropping words of wisdom.
I never quite keyed into Adams’ political views because I believe that once you wade into that territory, your perception of a writer’s work often becomes colored by it. So I prefer engaging with the ideas instead.
Apologies for this long prologue. I liked the guy.
At its heart, How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big is a self-help book. But unlike many self-help gurus who peddle grand theories without personal proof, Scott Adams practiced what he preached.
Throughout the book, he repeatedly reminds the readers to treat his ideas cautiously and consult professionals when necessary. In other words, this book is not a recipe for guaranteed success.
What Adams offers instead is a personal operating manual built from repeated failures.
Most of the lessons in this book come from hitting bumps on the road. Failures and dead ends, you know. Since Adams eventually became successful, I thought it was worthwhile to examine how he processed those failures and used them as raw material for growth.
He admits that his career as a cartoonist emerged almost accidentally. His inability to excel at other things pushed him toward drawing. The difference is that Adams recognized this early and leaned into it.
“Over the years I have cultivated a unique relationship with failure. I invite it. I survive it. And then I mug the shit out of it.” – Scott Adams
If you ask me for my biggest takeaway from the book, it is his repeated assertion that motivation and passion are garbage. Goals are for losers. Winners don’t have goals, they have systems. Winners do things on a regular basis that increase their odds of success. They have energy.
I know it sounds very self-help-guru-like, but you don’t have to dig very hard into yourself to find the answers. Where you go in life often hinges on where you first strike success. You may be a passionate footballer, but success in a local chess tournament can push you harder in that direction and, before long, you could be more of a chess player than a footballer.
Another piece of advice from Adams that I genuinely liked was this: organize your life to maximize personal energy.
By energy he means both mental and physical momentum. Eat well, exercise daily and sleep well. Basically, do things that leave you feeling mentally lifted rather than drained.
I am not saying that everything in this book is novel. Adams also shares concepts that are done to death. For example, waking up at 4 AM to accomplish more. Then there is abstract stuff like,“When you are on the right path, it feels right, literally.” I mean, that is low-tech from an author of his caliber.
But the book redeems itself in several places.
I loved the part where he talks about compounding exercise, eating well and sleep with daydreaming and a bit of faking it as a great combo. Acting confident can make you feel confident, he says.
Adams’ thesis is that our brains have a limited capacity to understand the true nature of reality. We can trick our brains into changing our future. This may sound like a sketchy sales pitch, but it’s actually based on real science called Neuroplasticity. Rewiring the brain is a science, not some kind of scam.
In the middle of the book comes the most self-help-ish chapter from Scott Adams called The Math of Success. In it, he asks his readers to undertake the study of 13 areas to build their skill stack. Because he claims that a bunch of good (not excellent) skills can make you stand out.
When it comes to skills, he says quantity (several decent skills) can beat quality (excellence in just one skill). I won’t pretend, I saw a lot of merit in building these skills, especially if you are just out of college. Some of these include public speaking, psychology, basic accounting, design knowledge, golf, and so on.
One emphatic piece of advice from Scott Adams is to hone your understanding of psychological fallacies. Use them to avoid getting caught up in them yourself and to spot when others are using them. (He didn’t say it quite as clearly, but that’s what I inferred.)
My Verdict
My verdict on this book is that it lies at the intersection of self-help and humour. It will nudge you in the right direction while tickling your funny bone. The writing is lucid. You can finish the book in three to four sittings if you are a fast reader. And if you are like me who cherishes and munches on the material, it can take slightly longer.
I wish Scott Adams had written more books. Of course, he produced many livestreams and you can find the repository on YT.
Finally, any book that holds your interest and gives you new things to think about is worth owning and reading, in my opinion. This book satisfies that criterion with ease. I leave you with one of the best pieces of advice that Scott Adams acknowledged he ever got:
“If you want success, figure out the price and then pay it.” – Scott Adams
FAQ: How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big
Is How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big worth reading?
Yes, especially if you enjoy practical ideas about success without the usual self-help preaching. You will learn why building systems matters more than chasing goals. The writing is simple, humorous and easy to read.
What is the main idea of the book?
The central idea of the book is that systems beat goals. Instead of obsessing over a single outcome, Adams suggests building daily habits that increase your odds of success over time. He also introduces the idea of developing a skill stack, meaning several useful skills that together make you valuable.
Is this a typical self-help book?
Not entirely. While it belongs to the self-help genre, Scott Adams writes with a lot more honesty and humor than most authors in the category.
What are some important ideas from the book?
Some key ideas from the book include:
- Systems are more effective than goals
- Building a skill stack can outperform mastery in one area
- Managing personal energy is crucial for productivity
Who should read this book?
This book is most useful for young professionals, entrepreneurs and anyone trying to figure out how success actually works in the real world. It is particularly valuable for readers who enjoy practical ideas delivered with humor.
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