I've read all of Josh Kaufman's books to date - and also had the chance to interact with him a few years back. The Personal MBA is genius and the First 20 Hours changed my life. They are both really good books that I would recommend to anyone. But How to Fight a Hydra is better. I didn't expect much from it, to be honest (though I should have known better, knowing Kaufman's high standards for quality and his extreme thoughtfulness). I was blown away. The first time I read it, it was powerful. The second time, listening on audible, was incredible. I had a long car ride so heard the whole thing in one sitting. Kaufman has narrated all of his own audiobooks - and for good reason.
As a CEO and co-founder of a tech startup, nothing I could have possibly read (and I read a LOT of books) could have helped me more than the allegorical fiction masterpiece Kaufman created here. There are so many valuable lessons it is hard to know where to start. I'll mention one in particular, but it is by far not the only one.
As a Renaissance Soul (which Kaufman also is, as described in the First 20 Hours), the metaphor of being able to slay a hydra one head at a time was critical and entered my consciousness in a way that no amount of rational hammering has been able to do. For years, I have struggled with picking what to focus on and not getting distracted by the shiny object syndrome. I knew about this problem, I was aware of it, but still, I struggled to shake it. Years of meditating made very little dent into this issue. In fact, over years of effort, I made only slight inroads into this problem beyond the original a-ha moments when reading the Renaissance Soul by Margaret Lobenstine (for which I am eternally grateful to Kaufman, who mentioned this incredibly wonderful book in The First 20 Hours).
No longer. Within weeks of my first reading, and days of listening on the audiobook, I find my ability to consciously evaluate where to direct my attention has improved greatly. I pinned up a note on my computer monitor: "How do you slay a hydra? One head at a time." I catch myself drifting off to tangents that are not helping my main goals. The power of metaphor is incredible. I now may have to go read Lakoff's book on metaphors, which Kaufman refers to in the author's note.
Beyond the ability to focus, the implicit and explicit lessons of courage, determination, perseverance; planning and practice; the value of showing up; and knowing when not to embark on a journey, will stay with me long after this current venture I'm on. I can already see that this will be a book to reread and take heart from whenever I struggle.
If you're hesitant about whether to buy this book, don't. Take your first step towards being the hero of your own story. You will not regret it.
2023 Update: It's now been 5 years and I come back to this book about once or twice a year -- sometimes more, sometimes less, and sometimes I listen to it a few times in a row. It always resonates with whatever issue du jour I'm facing. I still love it just as much. Having now heard it on audiobook over a dozen times, I do have a few "I wish" type complaints (all pretty minor!):
1. I wish that the later portion of the battle, between the hero's injury and the victory, was a little longer, and had more descriptions about how to shift strategies in the face of the hydra's learning / change of conditions / etc.
2. I wish that the book did include something about team work, working with peers, or leading a team, collaborating to fight a complex foe. That is alluded to towards the end of the book, but not actually explored in depth in the book.
Again these are all pretty minor issues in a book I have drawn strength from time and again. It is also very kid-friendly, and my 9yo begs me to listen to it whenever she spots it in my audible.
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How to Fight a Hydra
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Reviews with images
Life is a stream
I have been struggling all my life; in other work, I'm stuck. Can't beat my brain, my feeling. so I can't get ahead in life because I have fear of rejection, fear of failure and fear of the unknown. Reading your book - how to fight a hydra; 20hrs and PMBA. I have learned so much. Thanks for writing these wornderful books. I hope I can change my life in the remaining 50 years of my life.
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Tracey Lapham
Lovely message, deep but easy read
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Most helpful book I have read so far this year.
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