What do you think?
Rate this book
Less: Accomplishing More by Doing Less
A certain kind of busyness is crucial to life, allowing us to earn a living, create art, and achieve success. But too often it consumes us and we become crazy busy, nonstop busy, and we expend extraneous effort that gets us nowhere. Marc Lesser’s new book shows us the benefits of doing less in a world that has increasingly embraced more — more desire, more activity, more things, more exhaustion. Less is about stopping, about the possibility of finding composure in the midst of activity. The ideas and practices that Lesser outlines offer a radical yet simple approach to transforming a lifestyle based on endless to-do lists into a more meaningful approach that is truly more productive in every sense.
172 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2009
54 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Marc Lesser
19 books23 followersMarc Lesser is a speaker, facilitator, workshop leader, and executive coach. He is known for his engaging, experiential presentations that integrate mindfulness and emotional intelligence practices and training. He is the CEO of ZBA Associates, an executive development and leadership consulting company.
Marc has led mindfulness and emotional intelligence programs at many of the world’s leading businesses and organizations including Google, SAP, Genentech, and Kaiser Permanente, and has coached executives and led trainings in Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, health care, and government.
He helped develop the world-renowned Search Inside Yourself (SIY) program within Google - a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence training for leaders which teaches the art of integrating mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and business savvy for creating great corporate cultures and a better world. Deeply rooted in science, the program has been taught to thousands of executives worldwide. He was the founder and CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI).
Marc’s books include Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader: Lessons from Google and a Zen Monastery Kitchen, Know Yourself, Forget Yourself, Less: Accomplishing More By Doing Less, and Z.B.A. Zen of Business Administration They have been published in 11 languages.
Marc founded and was CEO of 3 companies and has an MBA degree from New York University. Prior to his business and coaching career, he was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years, and director of Tassajara, Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen monastery in the Western world.
He has keynoted at Mindful Leadership Summits in Washington DC, Toronto, and Sydney and has led “Search Inside Yourself” and “Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader” trainings in San Francisco, Japan, Hong Kong, and Toronto. Learn more at www.marclesser.net.
Marc has led mindfulness and emotional intelligence programs at many of the world’s leading businesses and organizations including Google, SAP, Genentech, and Kaiser Permanente, and has coached executives and led trainings in Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, health care, and government.
He helped develop the world-renowned Search Inside Yourself (SIY) program within Google - a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence training for leaders which teaches the art of integrating mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and business savvy for creating great corporate cultures and a better world. Deeply rooted in science, the program has been taught to thousands of executives worldwide. He was the founder and CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI).
Marc’s books include Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader: Lessons from Google and a Zen Monastery Kitchen, Know Yourself, Forget Yourself, Less: Accomplishing More By Doing Less, and Z.B.A. Zen of Business Administration They have been published in 11 languages.
Marc founded and was CEO of 3 companies and has an MBA degree from New York University. Prior to his business and coaching career, he was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years, and director of Tassajara, Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen monastery in the Western world.
He has keynoted at Mindful Leadership Summits in Washington DC, Toronto, and Sydney and has led “Search Inside Yourself” and “Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader” trainings in San Francisco, Japan, Hong Kong, and Toronto. Learn more at www.marclesser.net.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 14, 2012
I generally enjoyed this book. It wasn't quite what I was expecting - definitely more focused (at least in the earlier chapters) on ways to tweak your corporate working life, versus how to simplify life in general. The book reads a lot like Leo Babauta's Zen Habits blog, in that it has many good tips and food for thought on boosting productivity through simplifying - and also, it is heavily steered by the author's own life and personal experiences. Nearly every tip is framed by a "Here's an anecdote from my own life to explain how I found this concept relevant". There are many great concepts, though, and I found this book particularly valuable to read in small bursts on my morning bus commute to work, or during short breaks throughout my working day. If you don't work in a corporate environment, you may find this book less relevant overall, even though many of the concepts can certainly be applied to all aspects of your life.
September 10, 2025
i enjoyed her. marc had some good ideas. I found his suggestions substantially impressive… in fact they caught me by surprise a few times, they were not clichés but rather a set of really good ideas. I have not had any time to put the majority of them into practice, other than taking small breaks throughout my day and taking deep breaths… Lol. But, he ate.
January 24, 2011
This one is en route to my mailbox. I am expecting from the reviews that it will not be a book on how to organize the utensil drawer--certainly that is not what I was looking for. I s'pose what I am seeking are tidbits that say it is ok to go along at own pace--what are we rushing toward?
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wrote that we should learn to content ourselves with being in suspense and incomplete--that we should, in other words, respect our path. Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves and go straight to the conclusions for which we are not truly prepared. It can be hard and full of self-reproach to rein the self in, breathe, and try again. Still, such fits and starts do not make us liars--they just reflect that we are human and imperfect and worthy of grace and forgiveness just like any other person is. It takes compassion to recognize where another person is on his or her path, and to respect that person. It takes strength to slow down, cook the rice all the way, and be true to oneself.
It is not comfort I seek, but living authentically. In that effort, I become a better person for myself and for any relationship.
Om mani padme hum--what more perfect chant is there? There are no perfect people, but there are perfect aspirations. I will stay on the path.
--------------------
Now reading it and it is not so much as all the above.... It is, uh, LESS? But still a pearl and maybe even a primer on Buddhist thought. I hope I can get from 100+ pages what this fella learned from 10 years in a Zen monastery. Or at least a sliver of somethin'.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wrote that we should learn to content ourselves with being in suspense and incomplete--that we should, in other words, respect our path. Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves and go straight to the conclusions for which we are not truly prepared. It can be hard and full of self-reproach to rein the self in, breathe, and try again. Still, such fits and starts do not make us liars--they just reflect that we are human and imperfect and worthy of grace and forgiveness just like any other person is. It takes compassion to recognize where another person is on his or her path, and to respect that person. It takes strength to slow down, cook the rice all the way, and be true to oneself.
It is not comfort I seek, but living authentically. In that effort, I become a better person for myself and for any relationship.
Om mani padme hum--what more perfect chant is there? There are no perfect people, but there are perfect aspirations. I will stay on the path.
--------------------
Now reading it and it is not so much as all the above.... It is, uh, LESS? But still a pearl and maybe even a primer on Buddhist thought. I hope I can get from 100+ pages what this fella learned from 10 years in a Zen monastery. Or at least a sliver of somethin'.
February 6, 2018
Less is a modest book that offers insight and practical suggestions for doing less and sometimes stopping altogether in order to accomplish more and live a richer, calmer, and more satisfying life.
Author Marc Lesser is a business leader and Zen teacher and has managed to bring both of his worlds together in this helpful, valuable work.
Some of the advice is general and to be applied according to individual preference, such as blocking out some time each day to meditate or take a walk. In other sections of the book, the author includes specific instructions for doing less, such as a suggestion to reduce distraction from emails and phone calls by checking emails and phone messages only two or three times a day, during prescribed times.
Less is also distinguished by what it is lacking. That is, there are no five or seven steps to success. There's no program or membership to purchase to get the full payoff to the author's message. And there's no cult of personality overshadowing the book's message. I appreciated the authenticity of this little book and recommend it.
Author Marc Lesser is a business leader and Zen teacher and has managed to bring both of his worlds together in this helpful, valuable work.
Some of the advice is general and to be applied according to individual preference, such as blocking out some time each day to meditate or take a walk. In other sections of the book, the author includes specific instructions for doing less, such as a suggestion to reduce distraction from emails and phone calls by checking emails and phone messages only two or three times a day, during prescribed times.
Less is also distinguished by what it is lacking. That is, there are no five or seven steps to success. There's no program or membership to purchase to get the full payoff to the author's message. And there's no cult of personality overshadowing the book's message. I appreciated the authenticity of this little book and recommend it.
March 21, 2009
My days are filled with busyness. I start each day with a huge to do list yet there just never seems to be enough hours in the day to complete all these tasks. Each day I begin with the best of intentions but somewhere between trying to keep up with the incoming emails and the little emergencies of the day, I get a little lost. Sound familiar?
Less looks at the real reasons why we spin our wheels each day. Yes, we hurry around and we are extremely busy but often we are doing the wrong things. We are reacting rather than acting.
The key to changing this manic behavior is perspective. The only way to gain this perspective is to take some time to rest and recharge through meditation and taking regular breaks. Once the confusion clears, it is much easier to see where fear has been leading the path, where distractions are causing problems, and where assumptions are being made without trying to find out the truth.
Less looks at the real reasons why we spin our wheels each day. Yes, we hurry around and we are extremely busy but often we are doing the wrong things. We are reacting rather than acting.
The key to changing this manic behavior is perspective. The only way to gain this perspective is to take some time to rest and recharge through meditation and taking regular breaks. Once the confusion clears, it is much easier to see where fear has been leading the path, where distractions are causing problems, and where assumptions are being made without trying to find out the truth.
August 11, 2009
My first thought was this was going to be a preachy book. Perhaps a bit holier-than-though. But I was pleasantly surprised.
Some of the advice is a re-hash of well-worn adages and tenets we've been exposed to in previous works of other authors, but Lesser's life-path gives it a holistic and applied feel. I personally resonated with his philosophy, even though I didn't spend 10 years in a Zen monastery.
It feels a bit in the vein of the teachings of Utah-based Genpo Roshi's teachings-- employing modern life dynamics, including our own ego, to reach a higher state of consciousness and effectiveness.
The book is an easy read, and reiterates valuable lessons, while inserting a few newish takes on thousands of years old Zen philosophy.
Some of the advice is a re-hash of well-worn adages and tenets we've been exposed to in previous works of other authors, but Lesser's life-path gives it a holistic and applied feel. I personally resonated with his philosophy, even though I didn't spend 10 years in a Zen monastery.
It feels a bit in the vein of the teachings of Utah-based Genpo Roshi's teachings-- employing modern life dynamics, including our own ego, to reach a higher state of consciousness and effectiveness.
The book is an easy read, and reiterates valuable lessons, while inserting a few newish takes on thousands of years old Zen philosophy.
October 12, 2013
Marc Lesser provides a nice contrast to the fast-paced world we live in, and like to live in. It is not a pamphlet against modern technology and tools, but shows that the infringements they represent are something that can be handled responsibly and constructively.
And the title? Well, Less means doing less, wanting less, but the subtitle warrants a second read: "_accomplishing_ more by doing less". Life is not about being busy, it is about accomplishment.
Note: I received this book for free while at Oredev 2009.
And the title? Well, Less means doing less, wanting less, but the subtitle warrants a second read: "_accomplishing_ more by doing less". Life is not about being busy, it is about accomplishment.
Note: I received this book for free while at Oredev 2009.
November 3, 2010
A delightfully simple yet thoughtful book on how not spin your wheels when accomplishing tasks. Most of us are trying to accomplish too many things throughout the day and often doing few of them well--this is how to focus your attentions using zen principles to make your life (especially your work life) flow a little better. I liked his style and agreed with his message.
January 10, 2014
This book is a gem. I felt as if the author was speaking with great kindness to me and offering so many ways to become more and more present for each moment of my life. There is no waste in this book. Its all good and clear.
June 18, 2014
This book differs from mainstream time management books, in that it asks us to question why we are doing all the tasks we are trying to manage. The purpose of all this productivity study is to learn how to make space in our lives for peace of mind.
March 20, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. My full review of it is here: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/0...
July 22, 2009
By the end of last year I found myself working 14 hours a day / 7 days a week and was exhausted. This book coincidentally dropped in my lap and I am ever so thankful for it!
June 1, 2014
Zen Buddhism with practical tips for mindfulness and increasing productivity. Particularly enjoyed ideas on reducing distractions.
November 5, 2018
A CEO goes a bit Zen in this blog made into a book. While there's a thin veneer of woo and "out of touch of reality" this book does have quite a few easily manageable and actionable exercises. This is basically a manifesto on "Less is More".
1,) The Immense See
--Busy can feel great but by discovering the power of less you can appreciate life better. It allows you to find and sing your song, ease off your addiction to "busyness" and the noise of modern life. This means simply, do less--not nothing. Just less multi-tasking, organize your ambitions.
Rest through meditations, retreats, breaks, reflections and sabbaths (No spending money, no watching television/screens, do something as a family).
Mindfulness and walking meditation
Getting rid of unecessary activities
Focus on quality in our tasks, not quantity
Build your life for success and not testing willpower
The Five arenas to work on are Fear, Assumptions, Distractions, Resistance and Busyness. Get feedback, give feedback and ask for help.
Reduce Distractions by appreciating impermanence, clarify aspirations and create next steps, retraining Pavlov's Dog, Savor Borrowed Time and Create Your Toolkit for Reducing Stress, working like an athlete (with sprints) and the concept that happiness is found in routines. Work in a minimalist form.
Daily Meditation, Exercise 3 Days a Week, Write Everyday in a Journal, Examine limiting beliefs, create systems (understand what energizes and drains you--track your money flow and financial condition). Work on Kaizen, Yoga, etc
1,) The Immense See
--Busy can feel great but by discovering the power of less you can appreciate life better. It allows you to find and sing your song, ease off your addiction to "busyness" and the noise of modern life. This means simply, do less--not nothing. Just less multi-tasking, organize your ambitions.
Rest through meditations, retreats, breaks, reflections and sabbaths (No spending money, no watching television/screens, do something as a family).
Mindfulness and walking meditation
Getting rid of unecessary activities
Focus on quality in our tasks, not quantity
Build your life for success and not testing willpower
The Five arenas to work on are Fear, Assumptions, Distractions, Resistance and Busyness. Get feedback, give feedback and ask for help.
Reduce Distractions by appreciating impermanence, clarify aspirations and create next steps, retraining Pavlov's Dog, Savor Borrowed Time and Create Your Toolkit for Reducing Stress, working like an athlete (with sprints) and the concept that happiness is found in routines. Work in a minimalist form.
Daily Meditation, Exercise 3 Days a Week, Write Everyday in a Journal, Examine limiting beliefs, create systems (understand what energizes and drains you--track your money flow and financial condition). Work on Kaizen, Yoga, etc
June 25, 2020
Though not a lean or kaizen book per se but a Zen Buddhist guide for doing less and sometimes doing nothing to accomplish more and live a richer, calmer, and more satisfying life.
Author Marc Lesser is a business leader and Zen teacher. There's nothing to buy course, cult membership or a deemed way to success. I appreciated the authenticity of the author and his personal experiences and some tips like blocking out some time each day to meditate or take a walk or especially a full day of not shopping/TV/distractions (Family time).
Author Marc Lesser is a business leader and Zen teacher. There's nothing to buy course, cult membership or a deemed way to success. I appreciated the authenticity of the author and his personal experiences and some tips like blocking out some time each day to meditate or take a walk or especially a full day of not shopping/TV/distractions (Family time).
June 7, 2019
Great insights.
Great insights about taking time to reflect amid the busyness of our lives. Doing less to get more done is a radical concept today, but the author provides practical ideas to implement.
Great insights about taking time to reflect amid the busyness of our lives. Doing less to get more done is a radical concept today, but the author provides practical ideas to implement.
July 11, 2018
The title says it all. This is basically a blog post that got fluffed out into a book. Perhaps useful if you're new to the idea of minimalism but otherwise I'd pass.
February 2, 2020
No earthshaking information here. If you want to read this, save your money and get it from the library.
March 10, 2018
I loved the insight and inspiration Lesser presents to develop a more sustainable approach to life -through quieting the busyness in the mind, developing more awareness in the moment, and creating emotional change. He poses helpful questions and exercises throughout the book to help us take a deeper look at our conditioning. His questions still have me writing and learning more about my comfortable, safe conditioning and routines (or lack thereof)....looking forward to renewing a commitment to do more of what is important, and joyful, and less of what isn't.
February 5, 2011
This book is about doing less. I thought it would be the perfect fit to reading at the beginning of a new year. Almost like a resolution or a new beginning. The main message is to pay attention, prioritize and only do what is important. I loved the point that busyness does not equate to effectiveness. Mind-set can affect effectiveness and success more than anything else. Fears and wrong assumptions significantly contribute to our ineffectiveness as well. I loved the emphasis on the benefits of routines AND breaking from routine. I also loved the point that it is not stress that is the problem, but the lack of recovery from it.
I'm writing this review just over a month since I read it, and very little of it stuck with me. That is usually a sign of a not-very-good book for me. Fortunately, I wrote notes I could review and tips to focus on. I think the section on effective managers would be good to review if I ever become a manager again! (Granted, that is not the only kind of management that I do, eh?) It reminded me of how much I miss my calm center that used to be a constant in my being. I need to get back to the journaling, exercise and add meditation to my daily life!
I'm writing this review just over a month since I read it, and very little of it stuck with me. That is usually a sign of a not-very-good book for me. Fortunately, I wrote notes I could review and tips to focus on. I think the section on effective managers would be good to review if I ever become a manager again! (Granted, that is not the only kind of management that I do, eh?) It reminded me of how much I miss my calm center that used to be a constant in my being. I need to get back to the journaling, exercise and add meditation to my daily life!
July 9, 2015
I have mixed feelings about this book. It is a quick and easy read with a few good chapters, particularly "Assumptions" and "Distractions." These both have interesting perspectives that may not help you do less, but can help you do things better. The final chapter "Busyness" fell a bit flat for me which basically said that the busier you are the more you need to go with the flow, be mindful and life will slow down around you so you can accomplish things. It didn't connect with me at all. The author definitely emphasizes meditation, mindfulness and other Zen practices. If you don't want to suggest meditation at the beginning of your next business meeting, he still has some other suggestions to help you be more mindful. What the book lacks is a significant discussion on how to look at your life activities and pare down to the most important actions for success and thoughtful living.
Not a bad book, but not highly recommended unless you really enjoy the topic. There are other books out there on the same topic written with greater depth.
Not a bad book, but not highly recommended unless you really enjoy the topic. There are other books out there on the same topic written with greater depth.
August 10, 2016
Recommended, particularly for those working on stress reduction & communication.
This review is of the physical book, apparently no longer available. That makes some sense because it is a pretty quick read and well-suited to reading in smaller bites to allow time for reflection.
Less would be particularly valuable for those who haven't had many classes in interpersonal communication. It's succinct but deep on the practices which can make us more effective and less anxious.
Unlike many works which offer philosophical principles, Marc Lesser's provides practical, actionable steps to achieve those laudable goals.
Tip: if the word "meditation" makes your woo-woo alarms go off, substitute "contemplation" or "big picture time". Though it offers spiritual depth, the book is valuable for the practical tips alone.
If you had a hard time getting into Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, this is a much more approachable book with many of the same lessons.
This review is of the physical book, apparently no longer available. That makes some sense because it is a pretty quick read and well-suited to reading in smaller bites to allow time for reflection.
Less would be particularly valuable for those who haven't had many classes in interpersonal communication. It's succinct but deep on the practices which can make us more effective and less anxious.
Unlike many works which offer philosophical principles, Marc Lesser's provides practical, actionable steps to achieve those laudable goals.
Tip: if the word "meditation" makes your woo-woo alarms go off, substitute "contemplation" or "big picture time". Though it offers spiritual depth, the book is valuable for the practical tips alone.
If you had a hard time getting into Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, this is a much more approachable book with many of the same lessons.
February 28, 2015
This author was recommend by a friend. I was intrigued because the author is a zen priest and a business man with a MBA. As such, I was hoping he would provide some unique insight into managing work life while still aligning business practice with zen concepts. The book was okay, but I didn't see anything particularly insightful or original. While his recommendations are fine, I saw nothing original that I had not already read in other books about zen or time management. So, if you are new to either field this book may be a good starting point. However, I was not impressed.
March 22, 2016
I read this for a "personal and career development" book club at work, and knowing that I needed to finish it for book club was all that made me finish it. It was definitely not what I thought it was going to be (the author is a Zen priest). Since I persevered through the book, there were a few things that I found worthwhile (mostly the chapter on assumptions), which is what made me give it two stars instead of one. I don't think everyone would hate the book. Those into Buddhist, Zen, etc. style would probably find it enlightening. It just wasn't my particular style.
December 1, 2010
I enjoyed this book while reading it but now, just a few days later, I don't remember much about it. I'm not sure whether that's the book's fault or my "almost-midlife memory" failing me. Regardless, one message Lesser wrote about (that I do remember) - the importance of meditation - I wholeheartedly agree with. It was a good reminder to keep up this practice for a balanced work, as well as personal, life.
September 8, 2009
The best tip I got from this book was about multi-tasking. I am a really, really ardent multi-tasker, even though I realize that sometimes I'm distracting myself by reading e-mail, making phone calls, etc. Marc explains why multi-tasking is self-defeating and prevents us from really accomplishing what we need to.
I plan to read this again when I get a new job, so that I can absorb the information with a new perspective.
I plan to read this again when I get a new job, so that I can absorb the information with a new perspective.
March 31, 2011
It had some powerful nuggets that I had to highlight. This may be the first time I've highlighted or annotated one of my books that wasn't a textbook. It was kind of nice to be able to choose to do so, since I own the book.
September 25, 2010
"Please tell me how I can love you more." It's a radical concept put forth by Lesser in that it's not "about me" anymore but how, in making others happy, we make ourselves happier. Now if I could just bravely ask everyone the question ...?
June 11, 2009
Great concepts, whittled down to bite sized steps to simplify and accomplish more.
July 8, 2009
Motivation to manage distractions.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews