I finished The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life by Ian Bogost a few weeks ago and meant to write a post about it, but never did. Before I finished it, I had an idea to write a series of questions that I should answer afterwards, not just for this book but potentially for any book I’d finished. This is my first post using these questions, and I’ll probably tweak them over time. The one thing I deliberately did not want to include was a rating system or a yes/no recommend scale. My thought was that I don’t need to spend any time bashing a book. My goal is to share my experience with books I enjoyed without trying to overpromise for them.
So, without further ado, here’s my thoughts on The Small Stuff:
1. Why did I want to read it?
I heard about it on The Vergecast, and as someone who builds digital products I was interested in how I might find more inspiration for gratification in physical things and how that can translate to what I build.
2. How long did it take to read?
About two months, which is rather slow for me. I got through the first third quickly, but the later portion took me longer.
3. What’s one takeaway from reading this?
Small stuff is okay. You won’t only do big things in your life. Enjoy everything. Even the littlest of things. The littlest of things will provide you more gratification and satisfaction more often than the big things do. Enjoy the small things and you’ll enjoy your life.
4. Who would you recommend this book for?
Anyone who feels like their life has lost some of its simple joys. People who enjoy the stories of everyday objects. Nostalgic people who feel bad about holding onto old trinkets.
5. Did it meet my original expectations?
Some of it. It’s non-fiction, but author’s narrative schtick feels a little played out by the end. The book often feels like you’re just reading the same few chapters over and over. They’re enjoyable chapters, but depending on my reading mood, I either found it comforting or like paint drying.
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