Odd Book

When the author opted not to put the table of contents in the front of this book (which I don’t think online booksellers like), he states that this isn't a normal book, so flip to the back of it for a book guide. As someone who has read many, many books, I must say there is something to be said for normal books. The table of contents wasn't the only abnormal thing about it. Its structure was also strange. The book leads with the 77 steps that were promised in the subtitle. Each of these 77 gets a few paragraphs, and there's a space for you to write notes (though you can't really do that in an ebook). I found some of these “steps” to actually be rather negative—more stick than carrot--starting with the first two. I guess I prefer ideas to be cast in a more positive light. These “steps” to an extraordinary life were too stark without context. After all, if you have life lessons to share, it makes sense to add the context of that life. That does happen in the second section of the book, but I think the book (and its messages) would have been much better served if these two sections were integrated. I almost stopped reading the book after a while because it started to feel a bit dry and tedious. I think the book would have been better if at least some context were given for each life step within that first section, and then he could have detailed some of his life more if needed. The last section shares his work history. Having these separate parts just seemed odd to me, and frankly, didn't really work.

I'll be honest, at first this book of motivational lessons seemed like it had many brilliant quotes, but lacked being grounded in reality. Happily, as the book went on, I discovered I was wrong. However, I would recommend that you read the sections in a different order so you get Nick Maley's autobiographical chapter first to lay all the necessary groundwork for how he came up with these "#protip" quotes. Skip to "A LIFE BEYOND THE BOX: APPLYING THOSE PRINCIPLES FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T BELIEVE A MAN CAN FLY." After that, depending what draws you, go back to the beginning for all the advice or read through Maley's long history in the film and music industries.
"You need to develop a thick skin and have an ego big enough to keep smiling despite frequent disappointment."
My reasons for suggesting this is that the autobiography section shows all the steps of how Maley grew up in poverty. His mother was a bookkeeper and his father, an entertainer who was well-versed in theater makeup application. Before reading through those details, I kept thinking Maley was out of touch and spouting great meme-worthy tips without acknowledging that affluence and influence do exist in every business. The truth is Maley busted his ass from his teen years to break into the make-up/special FX and directing roles that earned him acclaim. He may be known as "That Yoda Guy" since his backup puppet ended up being used in 90% of The Empire Strikes Back, but he has done so much work. He took just about any job, no matter how far he had to travel nor how awful the tasks were. Adding fake tans to "pasty white Englishmen's legs and feet" for example, were among the less than glamorous jobs. He was a professional by age seventeen.
This young age ambition struck me as inspirational, but then I had to wonder why Maley went on to then hire young people (sixteen years old and the like) when he had his own hiring responsibilities. He said it's to help people who were like him and give them the experience. Aren't there labor laws? His work was more than part-time and even more than full-time hours. Maley described periods where he went without sleep, food, or even showers because the work days were so long and deadlines so short. One tip is "Sleep Faster: Most people generally accept that they should get eight hours of sleep each night. This is the amount largely recommended in order to be alert and rested." So, here Maley knows the importance of rest, but then he advises against it; sleep less and work more.
I have highlighted an absolute ton of Maley's great quotes because on a superficial level, they are motivating. BUT, I cannot endorse avoiding rest, nutritional intake, and a healthy career/personal life balance. Plenty of his advice I do endorse such as focusing on one job at a time. In the 1980s the almighty buzzword "multitasking" came into the zeitgeist. It was everywhere. In schools. In job applications. It was a word that I could not personally escape until this last decade of job hunting (20-teens). Finally, health advocates are being heard that multitasking is a load of shit. It was Ron Swanson on Parks & Recreation who said it best: "Never half ass two things. Whole ass one thing."
Another area where Maley and I agree is that normal is overrated. Be weird. Be different. If your personal ambition seems to be diverting you from the popular (happily mediocre) crowd, that's a great thing. It should be celebrated.
"As a youngster, I was underrated for being dyslexic, with a degree of attention deficit, too. Look at me. I did okay. And you can, too, if you don't let other people's small-minded views limit your perception of your own self-worth and the possibilities life has in store for you."
Maley strongly implies that age-old philosophy that if you believe you can do something, then you truly can. It's cheery advice. It's poetic. But believing that someone who uses a wheelchair is going to someday run the Boston Marathon is unrealistic. Could they find ways to get a sports-adapted wheelchair? Possibly. If they can fund it. Despite coming from poverty, Maley seems to truly want everyone to think that they can be exceptional and seems to believe that everyone has his energy.
"A cutting-edge apprenticeship is worth much more than any college course."
Maley talks about the importance of starting at the bottom. He returns to this often so it sinks in. Maybe you start at the mailroom, but if it gets you into the office to drop an envelope with the person you want to someday work for (or have working for you), you put in the time.
What I want readers to know is that this is a book that's going to energize you, but PLEASE know that you should not sacrifice your health for work even when it's your dream job. There are serious reasons people can't follow their dreams. They have someone to care for. They may be the breadwinner of the house already struggling. They may have a health condition or illness. While disabilities can be something people overcome -- like artists who paint using their toes to hold brushes or musicians who are blind -- support systems are critical. Absolutely critical.
You can thoroughly enjoy the behind-the-scenes tales of how Sir Anthony Hopkins is a delight but director Michael Mann is the type of horrible boss you want to avoid. You can read about how he got to befriend Graham Freeborn and his masterful make-up FX father, Stuart Freeborn. Maley faced resentment for being a union member for makeup not directing so some felt he had no business running a second unit.
"And yes, I did some pretty menial jobs to get through until the next significant opportunity arose. When cash was really low, I filled my old car with gasoline so I could get to the next job. Then I walked everywhere or took the bus. I would show up at friends' houses at meal times and hope they took pity on me by sharing a little food. While my friend were finishing college and getting married, their new wives thought I was a flake and a dreamer. But they helped me with one edible handout after another."
Lastly, one of the nicest and most insightful pieces of advice is that you have to find the right life partner (or whoever is your support system). His wife Gloria has been a fundamental part of his success and now that they live in Sint Maarten, they have a life of paradise.
"You need to share your life with someone who supports your madness. Not someone thinks you should be normal."
The Do or Do Not Outlook is meant to be read in bits and pieces. As I already suggested, go to the autobiography part first. It's not a long read. Maley suggests picking up the book and taking a piece of advice daily to digest. There are spaces for your own journaling or note-taking. There are some great BTS photos for the Star Wars fans too.
Rating: 5 stars

3.5 stars.

I started this book on a high note because who doesn't love Yoda? 'Do or do not, there is no try' and other such dialogues have immortalized the fictional character. And a book with Yoda on the cover, there was no way I wasn't reading it.

The book lists 70 principles that helped Nick Maley succeed in life. While reading the principles, there were a lot of things that stood out to me. The first being that there were many times that I disagreed with the principles, like when he talks about having no backup plan and how only extraordinary risks lead to extraordinary success. I have seen so many people who have taken extraordinary risks and reach nowhere. Because of survivorship bias, we only hear about the successes while the failures just disappear. Maybe the author was successful because he worked hard. That kind of hard work is uncommon and although it was one of the principles, in my opinion, it should have been the highlight.

The author talks a lot about the importance of dreams, not listening to naysayers, etc but I have seen people use this as an excuse to do whatever the hell they want. Without following it up with hardwork, all this helps people do is fool themselves into believing that they are on their way to something great.

I greatly respect the author. In the second part of the book, he talks about his journey. That was the best part of the book and the reason I have given it 3.5 stars. The author tells his story with both humility and passion and his work ethic shines through. I hope he writes a memoir someday. I would be the first one to buy it.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley.

Who wouldn't want to read the story of the guy who made Yoda work in Empire Strikes back? But this book is way, way more than that. It is a very down-to-earth tale of extreme perseverance which I am hoping many young people will read. Why? Because it's not really about Yoda at-all - it's about the legwork, perseverance and flexibility needed to succeed - all laid out in an extremely practical way. There's no fluff and I feel, even at 46, my own perspective on success and what it takes has been expanded in a very real way. Do or do not. There is no entitlement.