Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Uncommon summary
Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life
15 mins
Brief summary
Uncommon by Tony Dungy is an inspiring book that challenges the status quo and encourages readers to live with integrity and purpose. Dungy shares personal stories and practical wisdom to help you embrace your unique calling and make a positive impact.
Table of Contents
Uncommon
Summary of 5 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 5
Ascend the physical mountain
Physical inactivity is now recognized as a global pandemic, contributing significantly to preventable deaths. As a result, becoming physically active is the first step in your personal development journey. After all, the only – but nonetheless essential – prerequisite to success in personal development is that you’re alive.
The human mind is adept at creating excuses to avoid physical activity, but it’s crucial to ignore these rationalizations and commit to moving your body. Engaging in regular exercise will not only secure your longevity but also maintain your brain health as you age, improving concentration, memory, and mood.
To build a solid foundation of physical fitness, aim for at least 20 minutes of functional or cardiovascular exercise three to five times per week. Then, start to weave in five minutes of somatic exercises like yoga or qigong every morning to enhance flexibility and mental focus. Once you’ve gathered momentum with these practices, try adding short, intense drills such as squats, burpees, or pushups throughout the day to further boost fitness levels.
Changing your approach to eating is equally vital. Unhealthy cravings stem from our unconscious minds, where physical hunger and mental habits intersect. By adopting a heart-centered approach to nutrition, you can develop healthier and more sustainable eating patterns. Some initial steps include staying hydrated by drinking half your body weight in ounces of water daily, focusing on consuming natural, high-quality foods most of the time, and reducing portion sizes by about 30 percent. Cutting out sugary, high-carb snacks and intermittent fasting are also beneficial strategies. Ask your healthcare professional for guidance on which approaches will best support the lifestyle changes you’re making.
Lastly, don’t overlook the pivotal role of social connections in attaining physical health. Strong relationships have been found to be more critical for longevity than genetics or willpower, and they play a significant role in overall well-being – surpassing even smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure as risk factors.
Success in health and fitness hinges on starting with straightforward routines and maintaining consistency. The path is simple, but it isn’t necessarily easy. Yet, by embracing these practices, you can effectively tackle the first mountain of becoming uncommon – fostering both personal vitality and meaningful relationships along the way.
Want to see all full key ideas from Uncommon?
Key ideas in Uncommon
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Uncommon about?
Uncommon (2024) explores the mindset and strategies necessary for achieving extraordinary success in various aspects of life. It charts the five mountains of personal development – physical, mental, emotional, intuitional, and spiritual – providing actionable advice for optimizing each aspect of performance and reaching one’s full potential.
Uncommon Review
Uncommon by Tony Dungy (2009) is a book that inspires readers to lead a principled and purposeful life. Here's why this book is a gem worth exploring:
- With its guidance on leadership and values, the book offers invaluable lessons on how to succeed with integrity in various aspects of life.
- Through personal stories and experiences, it resonates with readers and illustrates the power of perseverance and faith in achieving goals.
- The book's emphasis on character development and making a positive impact ensures that it is anything but dull, engaging readers in a journey of self-discovery and growth.
Who should read Uncommon?
- Personal development seekers
- Aspiring leaders and managers
- Military and law enforcement personnel
Categories with Uncommon
Book summaries like Uncommon
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
How to Winter
Kari Leibowitz
Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days
18 min
3.9
Millionaire Mission
Brian Preston
A 9-Step System to Level Up Your Finances and Build Wealth
16 min
4.1
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
35 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Uncommon FAQs
What is the main message of Uncommon?
The main message of Uncommon is to strive for excellence and live a life guided by moral principles.
How long does it take to read Uncommon?
Reading Uncommon takes a few hours, while the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Uncommon a good book? Is it worth reading?
Uncommon is worth reading for its valuable life lessons in integrity and success.
Who is the author of Uncommon?
The author of Uncommon is Tony Dungy.
What to read after Uncommon?
If you're wondering what to read next after Uncommon, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Help Me, I Have No Discipline and Zero Self-Control by Vaughn Carter
- Powered by Me by Neha Sangwan
- The First Minute by Chris Fenning
- Psychological Types by Carl Jung
- Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
- Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
- Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
- Red Flags, Green Flags by Ali Fenwick
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
- The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill