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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Subtract summary
Leidy Klotz
The Untapped Science of Less
24 mins
Brief summary
Subtract by Leidy Klotz is an insightful book that highlights how we can solve problems and innovate through subtraction. It emphasizes that less is often more and provides practical tools for streamlining ideas, designs, and processes.
Table of Contents
Subtract
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Subtraction is an overlooked force for change.
In 1985, Sue Bierman was a city planner with a mission. She wanted the people of San Francisco to agree to remove something from their city. The thing she wanted taken away? An ugly double-decker freeway that blocked the city’s waterfront. Without this freeway, Bierman argued, San Franciscans could actually enjoy their beautiful shoreline. But Bierman quickly encountered the problem you’ll discover in these blinks: people don’t like to subtract.
Even though Bierman’s proposal was sound, San Franciscans from all walks of life – politicians to business owners to ordinary citizens – voted to keep the freeway. It was only four years later, when the freeway was badly damaged by the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake, that the city finally had no choice but to remove it.
This is the key message: Subtraction is an overlooked force for change.
What happened after the freeway was subtracted from San Francisco? Well, these days, the space it used to occupy is known as the Embarcadero waterfront. It's one of the most popular tourist attractions in America, bringing visitors, jobs, and money to the city.
Sue Bierman realized she could create positive change by taking something away. But like the citizens of San Francisco, most of us struggle to think positively about subtraction.
When we think about how to make things better, we usually think about adding things. Not convinced? Then consider these questions: When you make a New Year’s resolution, do you resolve to do more of something rather than less? When you’re working on a piece of writing, do you spend more time writing new sentences than editing what you’ve already written? If you answered yes to either of the above, then you might be neglecting subtraction – and suffering as a result.
Think about your home. Your house might not be packed with ugly freeways, but the average American home contains over 250,000 items! That’s a lot of stuff; it’s also a mammoth task to keep it all organized. Failing to subtract is a problem on a much larger scale, too. Most of us realize that we’re adding too much carbon to our climate. But when we consider global warming, we often focus on how to add carbon more slowly – and rarely talk about how we can remove existing carbon from the atmosphere.
In the next blink, we’ll explore why we fail to subtract.
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What is Subtract about?
Subtract (2021) explores subtraction as a way to make positive change. It examines the human love affair with adding and having “more” – and it explains how our brains and environments work against subtraction.
Subtract Review
Subtract (2021) by Leidy Klotz offers an eye-opening perspective on the power of subtraction, both in our personal lives and in society. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With its fascinating case studies and thought-provoking examples, it challenges our assumption that more is always better, showing us the benefits of subtracting.
- The book provides practical strategies for simplifying our lives, improving decision-making, and creating more meaningful experiences.
- Through compelling storytelling and insightful analysis, it illuminates the hidden costs of excess and inspires us to embrace the power of subtraction for a more fulfilling life.
Who should read Subtract?
- Design professionals looking for a fresh perspective
- Psychology buffs wanting new insights
- Anthropology enthusiasts
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Subtract FAQs
What is the main message of Subtract?
The main message of Subtract is that by embracing simplicity and removing unnecessary elements, we can create more meaningful and sustainable solutions.
How long does it take to read Subtract?
The reading time for Subtract varies depending on the reader's speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Subtract a good book? Is it worth reading?
Subtract is definitely worth reading. It provides a fresh perspective on problem-solving and offers practical techniques to simplify and improve our lives.
Who is the author of Subtract?
The author of Subtract is Leidy Klotz.
What to read after Subtract?
If you're wondering what to read next after Subtract, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin
- The Metaverse Handbook by QuHarrison Terry & Scott “DJ Skee” Keeney
- The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
- Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
- A Minute to Think by Juliet Funt
- The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracián y Morales
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Masters of Scale by Reid Hoffman
- Why We Remember by Charan Ranganath
- Let It Go by Peter Walsh