Eat that Frog
by Brian Tracy · first published 2012
79% recommend21% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short, practical guide to beating procrastination: do your hardest, highest-impact task first, then keep a written to-do list. Suits anyone who wants usable habits rather than long productivity theory.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2010–2022Self-discipline in 10 days
Theodore Bryant
Recommended by 5 · mentioned by 85 recommend · 8 mention5 recommend · 85 recommend
2008–2026The now habit
Neil Fiore
Recommended by 70 · mentioned by 9370 recommend · 93 mention70 recommend · 9370 recommend
2010–2026Endurance
Alfred Lansing, Elena Grau
Recommended by 26 · mentioned by 3326 recommend · 33 mention26 recommend · 3326 recommend
2008–2026How to make friends and influence people
Francis Elliot
Recommended by 39 · mentioned by 6839 recommend · 68 mention39 recommend · 6839 recommend
2014–2025Essentialism
Greg McKeown
Recommended by 20 · mentioned by 2620 recommend · 26 mention20 recommend · 2620 recommend
2011–2026Refuse to Choose!
Barbara Sher
Recommended by 24 · mentioned by 2924 recommend · 29 mention24 recommend · 2924 recommend
2007–2025Learned Optimism
Martin Elias Pete Seligman
Recommended by 56 · mentioned by 7456 recommend · 74 mention56 recommend · 7456 recommend
2013–2026Daily Rituals
Mason Currey
Recommended by 27 · mentioned by 4027 recommend · 40 mention27 recommend · 4027 recommend
Recently I read the book - Eat that Frog by Brian Tracy. One of point was to keep a pocket diary where you list all the TODO tasks and keep striking them off as they complete. Helped me in many ways: 1. It is very easy to forget many tasks…
on “Ask HN: Is there a new habit you cultivated recently that is really paying off?” ↗I had the same problem myself. Yet again I would suggest to read the book Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy. This book teaches you a set of methods to improve your ability to get the right things done. It's available on O'Reilly Safari (where I read it) and from Amazon. http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9781576754221/ch00 http://www.amazon.com/That-Frog-Great-Ways-Procrastinating/d...
on “Ask HN: How do you fight procrastination?” ↗Eat That Frog! (Brian Tracy)- Lots of useful productivity tips. Motivating and practical. Bleachers (John Grisham) - I learned a lot about the culture behind American Football and school/college sports. The Wide…
on “Ask HN: What books have you read in the first half of 2016?” ↗Read "Eat that Frog" by Brian Tracy. And as John Sonmez says, you don't even need to learn everything. Go straight towards exactly what you want to make, nothing more. E.g. instead of going throuz a to z of Rust, decide…
on “Ask HN: How do you manage self-study?” ↗There is a great book by Brain Tracy: EAT THAT FROG. I found that book quite interesting and if one gets serious, he could easily implement what he talks about
on “How to become a great finisher” ↗It's based on Brian Tracy's book "Eat that Frog!" which is a great book on stopping procrastination. http://www.amazon.com/Eat-That-Frog-Great-Procrastinating/dp...
on “How to Use Structure to Become a More Effective Entrepreneur” ↗also can't go wrong with Brian Tracy on such topics http://www.amazon.com/Eat-That-Frog-Great-Procrastinating/dp...
on “To Stop Procrastinating, Look to Science of Mood Repair” ↗Some books that could help: Brian Tracy - Eat that frog! Brian Tracy - No excuses! if you prefer a tldr: Self discipline is the key. Identify your long term targets and do one thing at a time until it is finished. Work on what you need to finish even when…
on “Ask HN: How to become productive programmer?” ↗…employee instead of a leader. Knowing your goals and then spending time every day on the highest value, highest impact tasks is the job of a founder. This sentiment is captured in Brian Tracy's audiobook "Eat that Frog" which I highly recommend.
on “Ask HN: Solo founders, what do you struggle with the most?” ↗There is plenty of literature, especially practical literature: an example can be "Eat that frog ... Stop procrastinating" from Brian Tracy. There are also related YT pieces, one sees from searching for "brian tracy procrastination". Maybe you could benefit to refine your framework of practice (i.e.,…
on “Ask HN: I am overflowing with ideas but never finish anything” ↗…entire rest of the day. That's why I put all the "don't want to do, but need to get done" stuff in the first part. Then I'm chill for the rest of the day! I got this idea from Brian Tracy's concept of "Eat That Frog" (and book of same title). "If you have to eat a live frog, it doesn't pay to sit around and look at it for very long." I found the same principle applies in life in general. Once I've decided to do…
on “Just make it hard to fail” ↗Read EAT THAT FROG by Brain Tracy, it would surely change your life.
on “Ask HN: I am wasting so much of time, what can I do?” ↗Eat That Frog by Brain Tracy. An excellent read to get rid of procrastination.
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011” ↗Another is avoid reading books/articles about time management techniques. The first 4-5 chapters of Eat That Frog explain exactly what everyone needs to know. Applying it may be another story though.
on “Working hurts less than procrastinating, we fear the twinge of starting” ↗…important than IQ in predicting academic success. > The benefits of willpower seem to extend well beyond the college years. There's a nice (short) book on techniques to stop/handle procrastination: Eat That Frog, http://www.amazon.com/Eat-That-Frog-Great-Procrastinating/dp.... One of the ideas is that if you start with the hardest task, everything else will be easier after that.
on “Ask HN: I'm a chronic procrastinator – how do I break it?” ↗