Three years ago, also in November, I wrote a review of Maxim Dorofeev’s book Jedi Techniques. In it, Maxim aimed to consolidate the essence of his time-management training. The book was very good, although it didn’t reinvent the wheel. Now, Maxim has released its follow-up, The Jedi Way.
However, calling it a sequel isn’t quite accurate. The new book is more a reflection on his earlier advice and a re-evaluation of his own methods. In this way, I actually liked it even more than the first.
As I mentioned, in the first book, Maxim compiled what he considered the best elements from numerous methods. He amusingly illustrated these concepts through the characters of a rational little person and a monkey, supposedly living in our heads and competing for our attention and time. These characters were borrowed from Tim Urban, and they fit seamlessly into the narrative.
However, these were largely well-known techniques and tips from other methods. Maxim simply brought them together and presented them in an appealing way.
In the new book, Maxim takes a critical look at all the advice he previously offered and delves deeper into why some methods don’t work, while others do; why we follow certain advice and ignore other tips; and what was missing in the first book.
The first third of the book focuses on this self-analysis, and it’s just as engaging as the productivity and life satisfaction strategies outlined later. He begins by briefly recalling the key points from the first book, then points out what it lacked. He explains that there’s no magic pill and clarifies how to approach any method or rule. He also helps readers prepare for the chapters ahead and suggests ways to initiate changes in both life and work.
Only after 120 pages does he start discussing practices and approaches.
This time, however, he presents them quite differently. In the first book, they were rather loosely organized, often jumbled together into sections. Now, Maxim has revised his approach, putting more focus on preparatory methods. He writes, “Recommendations on how to do something and what to do to be able to do it right are worlds apart.” He also explains that methods alone are often insufficient: it’s not always about poor fit or inefficacy; sometimes, the root of the issue goes far beyond time management skills.
So what about the actual advice?
First, he divides all the methods into five levels. The first level is foundational. Until you master and work through it (and it’s essential to work through it, not just read and “understand”), there’s no moving on to the next levels. You can read ahead, but without a solid base, applying the higher-level techniques won’t be very effective. Maxim explains this using sports analogies: without foundational training, you wouldn’t enter a match against professionals.
Second, even the practice descriptions are different now. He separates “practices” from “thoughts.” The “thoughts” sections help readers understand why the practices are useful and who benefits from them. He shares how he came to see their value, or he simply describes situations that make us feel like we’re failing (or think we are).
This interweaving of practices and reflections ultimately makes the book more cohesive. It’s no longer just a collection of tips but an attempt to view the challenges from a broader perspective and share his reflections.
And, of course, the monkey and the rational little person haven’t gone anywhere. They appear less often, and not everything is described through them now, but they’re still a delightful part of the book.
Overall, I feared the second book might just be “more of the same, three years later.” But Maxim took a step forward, and I enjoyed the new book even more than the first. Highly recommended.
My rating: 5/5
