4 bestsellers I couldn't finish (and the better books I read instead)

Why Atomic Habits, Four Thousand Weeks + 2 other "must-reads" disappointed me → plus 4 books that actually changed how I think about habits, time, money & health

Author

Jeff Rehmar
August 21, 2025

Hey friends,

Quick note: We're taking a one-week break from travel talk this week to dive into something equally important—books that actually deserve your limited reading time.

I've been thinking about this Anthony Bourdain quote: "Your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride."

He was talking about food, but it applies to books too. Life's too short to finish books that feel like homework—especially when you could be reading something that actually helps you travel better, think clearer, or live fuller.

This week, I'm doing something different. Instead of recommending books everyone's already telling you to read, I'm sharing four bestsellers that left me cold—and what I read instead that actually changed how I think.

Consider this your permission slip to quit books that aren't serving you.

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

Why everyone says you should read it: The productivity book for people who hate productivity books. Finally, time management that admits life is finite and you can't optimize your way out of mortality.

Why it didn't work for me: Burkeman spends 300 pages saying "you're going to die, so be more intentional." I got the message after chapter 2, but he keeps hammering the same existential point with philosophical tangents that felt more like showing off than helping. The insights are solid but buried under academic bloat.

What I read instead: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

Newport gives you the same wake-up call about intentional living, but with a practical roadmap. Instead of philosophical hand-wringing about mortality, he shows you exactly which apps to delete, how to structure your phone, and why boredom is actually good for you. I deleted three apps after reading it and haven't missed them once.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Why everyone says you should read it: The habit book that finally cracked the code. Small changes compound into life-changing results. 1% better every day leads to 37x improvement over a year.

Why it didn't work for me: Clear turns human behavior into an engineering problem. His four-step system feels sterile and corporate—like optimizing a machine instead of changing your life. The math sounds impressive, but the execution strips all personality from the process of becoming better. I didn’t love the tone of his writing, and couldn’t keep with it.

What I read instead: How to Live by Derek Sivers

Sivers presents 27 different philosophies for living well—sometimes contradictory ones—and trusts you to pick what resonates. Instead of Clear's rigid four-step system, it's like having a wise mentor offer multiple perspectives on the same problem. Each chapter is 3 pages. I finished it in two sittings and still flip to random sections when I need perspective.

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The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

Why everyone says you should read it: Warren Buffett's investing bible. The foundation of value investing that created more millionaires than any other finance book in history.

Why it didn't work for me: Written in 1949 for people who had time to read annual reports like novels and analyze balance sheets for fun. Graham's advice assumes you want to become a part-time financial analyst. For busy families trying to build wealth, it's like learning to drive by studying combustion engines.

What I read instead: I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

Sethi assumes you're busy, slightly lazy (guilty), and want to automate your way to wealth. His 6-week program covers everything Graham does but for people who'd rather spend weekends with family than analyzing stock fundamentals. I set up our entire investment strategy in one weekend using his templates and haven't touched it since.

Outlive by Peter Attia

Why everyone says you should read it: The longevity revolution starts here. Attia argues we've been thinking about health all wrong—instead of treating disease, prevent it decades in advance with precision medicine.

Why it didn't work for me: Attia writes for people who want to live to 120 and have unlimited time and money to optimize every biomarker. The book assumes you can afford continuous glucose monitors, VO2 max testing, and personal trainers. I felt inadequate reading about his 2-hour morning routine.

What I read instead: How Not to Die by Michael Greger

Greger, a doctor who reviews nutrition studies for a living, breaks down the leading causes of death and which foods actually prevent them. No biohacking required, no expensive supplements—just "eat more fruits and veggies backed by thousands of peer-reviewed studies. I started adding frozen berries to everything after reading his brain health chapter.

The Pattern I Noticed

All four disappointing books shared something: they made simple ideas unnecessarily complex.

The best books do the opposite. They take messy, complicated topics and make them feel obvious. Like Bourdain describing why street food in Vietnam beats fancy restaurants, or Rick Steves explaining why talking to strangers makes travel better.

Great writing feels like conversation with someone who's figured something out and wants to share it simply, not impress you with how smart they are.

What I'm Reading Now

Almost done with Jacinda Ardern's (former New Zealand Prime Minister) autobiography. Whatever you think of her politics, her writing about leading during crisis is masterful. She makes impossible decisions sound almost reasonable, and admits when she had no idea what she was doing.

It's refreshing to read a leader who doesn't pretend they had all the answers.

Next Thursday

11 airports of SoCal—which ones are actually worth the extra drive, which ones to avoid completely, and the hidden gems most people never consider for international departures.

What's helping me this week:

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Question for you: What's a popular book everyone told you to read that just didn't click? Hit reply—I love hearing about reading mismatches.

Until next Thursday, Jeff

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