Effortless
A 2021 New York Times bestseller by Greg McKeown that challenges the notion that worthwhile achievements require overexertion, showing how to make essential activities easier and achieve results without burning out by doing things in the right way, not just doing the right things.
Last updated: 2026-03-19 01:01
Overview
"Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most" by Greg McKeown is a New York Times bestseller published in 2021, from the author of the million-copy-selling "Essentialism." The book starts with a simple principle: Not everything has to be so hard.
Core Philosophy
Essentialism is about doing the right things, while Effortless is about doing them in the right way. The book challenges the idea that achieving anything worthwhile means overexerting ourselves.
Key Concepts
The book breaks down:
- How to make tasks and projects feel easy
- Actions we can take to maximize our efforts
- Techniques for increasing outputs while keeping our inputs low
- Making the most essential activities the easiest ones
Simplicity as a Core Value
Building on the principles of McKeown's earlier work "Essentialism," this book offers insights and strategies to simplify and streamline our approach to life and work, challenging the prevailing notion that success requires relentless effort.
Practical Application
Effortless offers actionable advice for achieving the results you want without burning out. Rather than pushing harder, the book shows how to find easier paths to the same (or better) outcomes.
Critical Acclaim
The book has received endorsements from notable authors including:
- Daniel H. Pink
- Cal Newport
- Arianna Huffington
Relationship to Essentialism
Together with "Essentialism," McKeown's books have sold 3 million copies and been published in 40 languages. His clients include Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Nike, and the Navy Seals.
Format
Published in 2021, available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
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