Useful Not True

$15 : ebook, audiobook, and all digital formats forever

(epub, mobi, pdf, mp3, html, etc. No DRM.)

$19 : paper book includes all digital formats

(really just $4 for the paper, so only $4 for each additional copy)

What you will learn:

Personal effectiveness

“Useful Not True” is about reframing.

Success in anything starts with your perspective which affects your strategy — your actions.

Your first thought (“this is a disaster”) feels true, but it’s not the only perspective.

Your first thought is an obstacle you need to get past by realizing no thoughts are necessarily true.

After your initial impulse, consider other perspectives, then choose the thought that’s more useful to you — the one that makes you take effective actions.

Understanding others

People share perspectives, not facts. They tell you how they see things.

Like someone across the world telling you the time. Maybe it’s true for them, but not for you, and not for most other people.

Brains lie to their owners. Nobody knows the real reasons why they do anything.

When someone says, “I believe…”, then whatever they say next is not a fact. No beliefs are necessarily true.

Beliefs are perspectives. Explanations are confabulated. Obligations are wishes. Rules are arbitrary. They’re useful, but not necessarily true.

Knowing this gives you empathy, as you understand people’s incentives behind their beliefs.

Preview the audiobook:

Chapters:

Before

1. What’s this about?

Almost nothing people say is true

2. What time is it?
3. Perspectives feel real
4. No picture is the whole picture
5. People share perspectives, not facts
6. Separate events and interpretation
7. Bridge guard
8. Rules are a starting point, not the final answer
9. Obligations are not true
10. Cultural meanings
11. Try to find their incentives
12. The brain invents explanations
13. Memories are not accurate
14. The past is not true
15. Wanna bet?
16. Even science isn’t true
17. Fake or real? True or false? So what?
18. Bridge guard, revisited
19. That was about you, not them

Your thoughts aren’t true

20. You are the strange one
21. Who planted those seeds in your head?
22. You can’t trust your mind
23. Re-edit your mind’s movies
24. Hanging inherited paintings
25. Make believe
26. Beliefs are not facts
27. The more emotional the belief, the less likely it’s true
28. Your first thought is an obstacle
29. Fill your senses with reality

Ideas can be useful, not true

30. Bowling: curve into the target
31. A daily run and imagination
32. Beliefs → emotions → actions
33. Useful?
34. Religion is action, not belief
35. Carpenters’ tools
36. Judge the contents, not the box
37. Which perspective empowers you?
38. Magic mirror shows what you need to believe
39. Placebo meanings
40. Life is _______
41. What is “the truth” really for?
42. Philosophies are instruments

Reframe: find better perspectives

43. The most useful part of this book
44. Who chooses your (next) thoughts?
45. Answer great questions
46. Diamond in the trash
47. Traits of useful beliefs and perspectives
48. Five tiny tales of reframing
49. An awesome collection of great questions

Adopt what works for you now

50. How to decide and make the best choice
51. From explorer to self-leader
52. No new instructions for the computer
53. Private journal to internalize it
54. Talk with friends to solidify it
55. Why your choice is wrong
56. Take the first step immediately
57. Keep tuning and adjusting
58. You are what you pretend to be

After

59. Reframing death
60. What next?
61. More books on this subject

$15 : ebook, audiobook, and all digital formats forever

(epub, mobi, pdf, mp3, html, etc. No DRM.)

$19 : paper book includes all digital formats

(really just $4 for the paper, so only $4 for each additional copy)

More books on this subject

• Nothing & Everything - by Val N. Tine
• Useful Delusions - by Shankar Vedantam
• The Religious Case Against Belief - by James P. Carse
• You Can Negotiate Anything - by Herb Cohen
• How Religion Evolved - by Robin Dunbar
• The Righteous Mind - by Jonathan Haidt
• Awaken the Giant Within - by Tony Robbins
• Thinking in Bets - by Annie Duke
• Sapiens - by Yuval Noah Harari
• Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches - by Marvin Harris
• What Got You Here Won’t Get You There - by Marshall Goldsmith
• Switch - by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
• The Happiness Hypothesis - by Jonathan Haidt
• Dreaming in Chinese - by Deborah Fallows
• Pragmatism - by William James
• Pragmatism an Introduction - by Michael Bacon
• Introducing Pragmatism - by Cornelis de Waal
• Pragmatism as a Way of Life - by Ruth Anna and Hilary Putnam
• Delphi Complete Works of William James - by William James
• The Biggest Bluff - by Maria Konnikova
• Philosophy: a Complete Introduction - by Sharon Kaye
• Thinking, Fast and Slow - by Daniel Kahneman
• How We Decide - by Jonah Lehrer
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Dummies - by Rob Willson and Rhena Branch
• The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy - by Donald Robertson
• The Alter Ego Effect - by Todd Herman
• How to Live - by Sarah Bakewell
• You Are Not So Smart - by David McRaney
• Overachievement - by John Eliot
• Scepticism: A Very Short Introduction - by Duncan Pritchard
• Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking - by D.Q. McInerny
• Loving What Is - by Byron Katie
• Everything Is Obvious - by Duncan Watts
• Useful Belief - by Chris Helder

Useful questions for reframing

When something goes wrong

• What’s great about this?
• How can I use this to my advantage?
• Does this change the goal, or the path, or nothing?
• How can I reduce the downsides?

When changing direction

• When I was at my happiest, what was I doing?
• What have I strongly wanted for the longest time?
• What’s the opposite of what I usually do?
• Which of my old beliefs are not serving me?
• Forget me. What would be most helpful for others?

When stuck

• What is my one top priority now?
• How can I begin without waiting for anything?
• What advice would I love to hear from an all-knowing sage?
• What am I doing that’s actually a distraction?
• Instead of avoiding mistakes, how can I make more to learn faster?
• Who can help?

To make peace with what’s out of your control

• What happens if I ignore it and do nothing?
• Should I learn a lesson from this, or just move on?
• How can I blame no one, and see this as nobody’s fault?
• How can I be OK no matter what happens?

Reviews:

• 

  A profoundly insightful and challenging take on the beliefs we hold and narratives we tell ourselves.
  
  Some personal takeaways/‘ah ha!’ moments:
  
  - Perspectives are not reality, they’re one person’s particular ‘take.’ A form of preference. We gravitate towards perspectives that serve our own interests. Therefore, question every strong opinion. Many are probably just a preference.
  
  - Separate fact from interpretation. E.g. my colleague didn’t reply to my email vs. my colleague is ignoring me. Trying to attach meaning to situations/events is tiring and faulty. Stuff happens. Things are less about you than you think.
  
  - Memories are comically faulty. Don’t rely on them.
  
  - What is the point of belief if it doesn’t spur or influence some kind of action? Belief without action is like a seed never planted—it has potential, but never develops into something of consequence.
  
  - Don’t be wedded to old beliefs at the expense of adopting new ones. Different situations require different beliefs. If a belief helps you achieve a desired outcome, use it, but recognise that that same belief applied at a different time or to a different situation may not hold. Cast your net wide. Be flexible and in a constant state of reassessment.
  
  - When we’re young, we think an intelligent person is someone with strong opinions and preferences. E.g. House from the TV series House or Daniel Plainview from There Will Be Blood. They’re intimidatingly strong-minded and “intelligent”. Everything is either right or wrong, and black or white. In reality, the smartest people are those that embrace ambiguity, and hold their opinions lightly. They have “intellectual humility.”
  
  A read for anyone bold enough to look deeply within themselves. — Miriam Chancellor

• 

  Useful Not True is a transformative read that challenges how we perceive our beliefs and emotions.
  
  Derek's concept of ‘Beliefs → Emotions → Actions’ was a revelation for me. Instead of trying to manage emotions through willpower, he shows how revising the stories we tell ourselves can swiftly change how we feel and act.
  
  The engaging examples and stories not only kept me hooked but also resonated with my children as we listened together. His unique framing turned familiar ideas into powerful eureka moments.
  
  This book is a practical guide to reframing our thoughts, and I can't recommend it highly enough. — Oleg Lights

• 

  I’ve read the book three times at this point, including the audio version. It’s such a simple idea that on a deep level we all know, I think. Now, though, I cannot help but see these useful (but not true) concepts everywhere. It shapes how I think about certain topics and how I debate them or discuss them with others. I found it to be an excellent tool in understanding where others are coming from and it resonates with them when we are discussing controversial issues like religion, god, or politics. — Elie Nassar

• 

  I'm standing at the kitchen sink staring out the window across the driveway at the shop doors thinking about "Useful Not True," Derek Sivers’ new book. I'm lost in the artform of simple sentences, practical analogies, and clean "reframing." I wish my shop was like that.
  
  Sivers’ latest masterpiece is a modern equivalent of the Greek Stoic Philosopher Epictetus' Enchiridion. Epictetus’ overall message was, only your opinion is within your control. Mercifully, “Useful Not True” uses contemporary, all-inclusive language and examples coalesced into single sentences and short paragraphs, all while addressing the myriad of perspectives that form our biases, and inevitably our lives.
  
  On my fourth time through the book, “Different philosophies for different times in your life” frames my view. I glance out the window at my shop, its contents a cacophony of philosophies in the form of artwork and tools both neatly organized and madly strewn. Some so true in their prime, now outgrown and no longer useful. Backing away from the sink, I lay the book on the counter and head to the couch to write this review.
  
  Buy “Useful Not True.” Read it. Read it again. Buy another copy. Or ten. Give it again and again. — Karen Pearson

• 

  Reading Useful Not True is like taking the Red Pill. After, you see the matrix. How everything works. How YOU work. Then, it's up to you what you do with this new perspective. You'll be empowered to shift your beliefs to suit what you need, when you need it.
  
  It's powerful stuff, so be warned. Once you see what Derek is trying to show you, you cannot unsee it. And you won't want to. — Amir Bazrafshan

• 

  Useful Not True is a life-changing book. This bit in particular hit home for me:
  
  “On the other hand, there were many times where I thought I wanted something — in theory — then took the first step, and realized I was wrong. Taking action tests your thought in reality.”
  
  Those two sentences saved me from months of misery. I remembered why I do certain things (because I love them and they make me happy) and why I don't do certain things (because I don't love them and they make me miserable). But it's important to actually attempt the thing you think you want in theory - and then be able to remember it's okay to change your mind about them.
  
  The whole concept of the book is powerful. But the other chapter I go back to again and again is “Fill Your Senses With Reality.” Every word in that passage, I believe, is useful. ☺ — Amy Mantis

• 

  When I first crack open a new Derek Sivers book, I tremble with excitement…and I quake with fear.
  
  I’m excited because I know I’m going to learn not just two or three completely new ideas, but forty-plus earthshaking original thoughts…even though there’s nothing new under the sun.
  
  And I quake because I know those forty-plus new ideas will grab me by the throat and become a cyclone of unorthodox hyper-realities catapulting my little linear brain out of its cozy cognitive cubicle. Derek doesn’t just think outside the box. And he doesn’t merely live outside the box. Derek doesn’t have a box.
  
  Derek dwells in the most fundamental of human elements: how to live; reality versus illusion; truth versus everything else. His work is like a crowbar to the art of thinking.
  
  For many people, life is a zero sum game (ie, for me to win, you have to lose). But Derek knows that a fulfilling life embraces the concept of win-win. In fact, win-win is the only option. But since the collective human unconscious hasn’t learned that yet, this is what we have: the world in which we live. And, from what I’ve read, nobody deals with that reality better than Derek.
  
  Derek is decades ahead of his time, possibly centuries. People might actually be talking about this Siversian way of thinking in the year 2525, if man is still alive. Derek’s work from the 21st century is like Newtonian physics for the psyche. Newton crunched the numbers. Derek is manipulating thoughts, ideas, and perspective to begin the “reframing” as he calls it. This reframing is all in the service of noble goals: a more productive use of your innate abilities; a more effective way to do your project; a mental device to provide what you need now; a simple mechanism to help you do what you want to do, or be who you want to be; or just to feel at peace.
  
  Like most great books or themes or stories, the climactic portion of Derek’s book features a greatest hits of key points that rival any advice you’ll find anywhere, from the Bhagavad Gita to Pet Sounds. Here’s a sampler: Unclutter your computer from inputting new data and make a decision now. Take the first step immediately, without hesitation. Start momentum. Taking action tests your thought in reality. Invest yourself until your project comes to fruition…or until you decide to scrap the idea altogether.
  
  Derek is a musician. He uses language like a songwriter: in clear cogent chords, in seamless staccato sections, in nuggets of nourishment for the soul, in oblique metaphysical ways like Lucy in the sky. He often writes in poetry, in blank verse like Shakespeare. Prose is frequently insufficient to convey Derek's message. Derek’s M.O. is transformation of the mind. It sounds hyperbolic, but he says it himself in the first line of his new book, Useful Not True: “This book is about reframing — changing how you think about something — and choosing a perspective that’s useful to you right now, whether or not it’s universally true.” Derek is clearly on to something, and the book is uniquely outstanding. His new world construct starts with, not merely doubt, but total deconstruction. A genuine tabula rasa.
  
  I’ve never met Derek personally, but he became my life coach. I didn’t ask and he didn’t offer. It just happened…sort of by osmosis. If you yourself, somehow, someway, have connected with Derek, then you know it is a life-changing event. And it keeps getting better. It’s getting better all the time. — Michael Colucci

• 

  As I read Useful Not True, I was struck by how much the insights and wisdom within it reminded me of the most impactful book I've ever read, The Tao Te Ching, by Laozi, the ancient Chinese philosopher. After I finished the book (which I thoroughly enjoyed), I concluded that Derek Sivers is the modern-day Laozi. Both Sivers and Laozi embrace simplicity and minimalism as the guiding principle in life. They also both advocate in their writings about the power of non-attachment and letting go.
  
  Another common theme is the rejection of conventional wisdom and the challenging of the status quo. For example, I loved how in Useful Not True, just like the Tao Te Ching, a chapter will advocate for a seemingly contradictory and paradoxical approach to the chapter just before it - which you are left to make sense of according to your own values (far be it from Sivers or Laozi to tell you what makes sense for you).
  
  Everything both Sivers and Laozi share is colored and enhanced by a focus on self-knowledge, inner wisdom, and the setting aside of the ego. The Tao Te Ching has held up for thousands of years, and I expect that the ideas in Useful Not True will be similarly long-lived! — Casey Cobb

• 

  For me, Derek Sivers is batting 5 for 5. I own all of his books. Further, I have gifted all of his books. I can say this about no other author that I have read.
  
  His most recent book, Useful Not True, shines new light on our thinking. Buy this book. I expect that you will consider gifting this book to those you most care about. — Dan Vollink

• 

  I LOVE this book! As someone who left my corporate job a year ago to pursue a life of more freedom, this book helped me question my assumptions and encouraged me to rethink personal and societal norms.
  
  One of my favorite takeaways is to question the narratives I create for myself: be skeptical of what I tell myself, let go of what isn't useful, and reframe my thinking to better serve my needs and create the life I want to live.
  
  “Useful Not True” is a masterpiece. Derek Sivers writes succinctly and shares stories that are both engaging and easy to understand.
  
  I've read and reviewed this book a few times already, and each time I didn't want to put it down. This is a book I highly recommend. Derek's thoughtfulness and kindness shine through his writing and he exemplifies how to be less judgmental and more compassionate to others and to yourself. Readers can get out of this what they want, whether it's a fresh perspective on ideas, or deep personal growth through reflection and journaling.
  
  This book offers practical tools for those looking to transform their lives. It is an amazing resource that I'll review often. — Cate Sandstrom

• 

  When I read this book, I felt understood and seen on both intellectual and personal levels - a rare experience for someone who lives in her head, yet does not identify with nor believes in her own thoughts.
  
  Useful Not True shone a light on those weird, lonely wonderings I've found difficult to articulate to others:
  * thoughts about the nature of faith and action
  * man's need to trust and believe in something
  * what a belief should be
  * and how it ought to operate in one's life. — Odelia Chan

• 

  Useful Not True is long overdue. In few, well-chosen words, Derek’s book can help an open mind to see outside its default point of view, granting that person access to any number of other ways of seeing, thinking, feeling, and being.
  
  The core idea —if the reader can accept it— offers a sort of mental and emotional resilience, the value of which is difficult (for me) to overstate. I say “if the reader can accept it”, because some may find it quite challenging to accept. In my experience, some of the most satisfying feelings follow a great challenge.
  
  Useful Not True does not strike me as work of philosophy nor a self-help book, and yet it has changed how I think and in so doing has helped me a great deal. If it helps you, please share it widely and discuss it deeply. — Bryan Guess

• 

  Derek Sivers' “Useful Not True” compellingly invites readers to question their deepest beliefs. As with his previous works, which I gift to all my friends, this book combines Derek's philosophical depth with his practical wisdom.
  
  This is my truth: This book is a useful must-read for anyone open to reframing the boundaries of truth and utility in daily thought. — Jim Gunther

• 

  "Useful Not True" delivers a powerful, life-changing message, with each chapter perfectly written and organized into sections that flow logically. It emphasizes how our beliefs shape our emotions, our view of the world, and our feelings about the future. With this understanding, we can start taking meaningful actions that bring us closer to our goals.
  
  Derek masterfully shows how shifting our mindset can have a transformative impact. Beliefs create emotions, and emotions create actions—so we should choose beliefs that drive the actions we want to take. The book explores this concept by offering practical strategies, showing that different philosophies can be applied to different stages of our lives.
  
  In continuation of "How to Live," this book takes a step further, demonstrating how you can reframe the narrative of your life. Even in difficult moments, it provides tools to rediscover the beauty in life, reminding us that reality is far more fluid than we often admit.
  
  It’s a book that not only challenges you to question everything but also makes you love the process of doing so. Everything is presented in a clear, practical way, making its life-changing potential feel both accessible and empowering. — Lorena Costa

• 

  Why did I pick up this book in the first place?
  
  Well, it comes down to two things: First, I read “How to Live”. After finishing it, I reached out to Derek to let him know how much I enjoyed it, and we ended up having a great personal conversation. Then, in the spring of 2024, Derek shared an early version of his new book with me.
  
  Given how “How to Live” gave me plenty to reflect on during a pivotal time in my life, I couldn’t resist diving into “Useful Not True”—even though I wasn’t initially planning to. Here’s my take on it:
  
  We often think that what matters most in life is truth, but finding the truth isn’t easy. People can mislead us, and we often believe things without questioning them. Sometimes, it’s just nonsense, and we don’t even realize it because we don’t take the time to think for ourselves. That’s why the phrase “nullius in verba,” or “take no one’s word for it,” is so important. We should always question what we hear and seek the truth for ourselves.
  
  Derek’s book is full of questions and short stories that challenge you. If you let them, they push you out of your comfort zone and prompt you to think more critically. It encourages you to reflect and take responsibility for your thoughts, showing that you have the power to replace unhelpful beliefs with better ones.
  
  In that sense, “Useful Not True” is an excellent guide for uncovering misconceptions and thinking for yourself. — Marek Simko

• 

  Reading “USEFUL NOT TRUE” was a game-changer for me. It struck me that so much of what we stress about or chase after isn’t real, it’s just noise we’ve been conditioned to care about. The things that actually matter are few and incredibly precious. When I realized that, it was like a weight lifted. I get to choose how I perceive my life and decide what to optimize for. It’s empowering to know that life is a game, and I get to define the scorecard. Now, I focus on what truly matters to me, and everything else? It’s just made up. Remember: All uniforms are costumes. — John P

• 

  I gave this book a lot of thoughts. It’s about people and space. Your boundary is bound by the space of truth traffic.
  
  Each chapter gives hint on how someone’s truth (if smashed to you) could make or break your decision or even life. Then it’s hard to assert your truth with another mind. Then when you realize you even have to rehabilitate yourself from what has been brainwashed to you since childhood. You could keep quiet or grin about it all.
  
  Finally, something convincing about who is true in this world has been written. It shines bright and makes me feel good learning about it. I’ll stick to it and read whenever I feel displaced. Discernment is the key. Truth is very personal. — Ann Badere-Santos

• 

  Derek Sivers is my favorite business writer and USEFUL NOT TRUE is his most important work.
  
  It's about how we construct reality — sometimes willfully but often unthinkingly — and what we can do to approach life in ways that are more likely to be helpful to us and to others.
  It’s about redoing how you see and act.
  I've read or listened to it five times, and the impact it's had on me is substantial.
  
  In fact, the first time I read it was right before bed, and I think it triggered a semi-nightmare. During a dream I told some people a calculated lie, which is something I try never to do in real life. I am so anti-lying, in fact, that my dreaming fib startled me awake. The book, I believe, forced my sleeping mind to challenge what's true, what's false, and how I see myself. (I can't ever recall reading another book that was so powerful it affected my sleep.) — Mark Levy

• 

  1. This book helped me have deeper conversations with people. Before I used to debate and argue over my views. Now I can see why people "choose" to think a certain way. Anytime there's a difference of opinion I ask myself "why does the other person find this belief useful?" versus "how can they believe this?". Once you start thinking "no beliefs are true, not even yours" you start talking less and listening more.
  
  2. I was stuck in a relationship I had conflicting thoughts about and this book helped me build up the courage to get out of it. A month after reading it I used it to separate out the "facts" from my own beliefs and make up a list of "useful beliefs to pick assuming the way to be happy is to break up" (which is actually really hard, because your limbic brain keeps fighting to convince you 'the way to be happy is to stay in the relationship').
  
  3. Many times after breaking up I felt sad and went into my journal to understand why I found it "useful" to feel sad after a break-up. My personal conclusion was - it is useful for humans to feel pain after a break-up so they stay together next time, because staying together is useful for our species as-a-whole to ensure survival. Of course, even this is just a belief, but it is good enough for me to deal with my break-up — Aryan Bhasin

• 

  I can’t praise this book enough. Just like the previous ones, it's a masterpiece to say the least.
  
  It allowed me to see the world from a different perspective and rethink not only my own beliefs, but also those of others, leading my conversations in new directions.
  
  While reading it, I often found myself finishing chapters with a smile on my face, thinking how is it possible to say so much with just a few words.
  
  Derek Sivers once again nailed it with this one. This is a must-read for everyone. — Fernando Maia

• 

  The concept of choosing beliefs based on their usefulness rather than absolute truth has been transformative. It's allowed me to focus on adopting perspectives that support my personal growth and aspirations, rather than getting stuck searching for an elusive “bedrock truth.”
  
  I've found myself regularly applying the idea of reconsidering the meanings I've assigned to past events or current situations. This practice has helped me maintain a more probabilistic mindset, which I find incredibly valuable in navigating life's challenges.
  
  This book has reinforced my understanding that truth often exists on a spectrum and has encouraged me to worry less about finding absolute truths. Instead, I'm now more focused on what's most useful for becoming the person I want to be. — Michael Burton

• 

  Derek Sivers’ Useful Not True kicks off with a wild premise: almost nothing people say, think, believe, or remember is entirely and objectively true. Through a series of funny and engaging anecdotes, Sivers shows that reality is way more fluid than we like to admit.
  
  Sivers reframes truth as just another tool in your mental toolbox, and suggests a shift in focus from seeking objective truth to embracing perspective truth… that is, to embrace the ideas that are helpful, even if they’re not objectively true. If an idea motivates you, calms you down, or pushes you toward action, does it really matter if it’s true?
  
  Sivers’ tone is casual and fun, like having a deep, late-night conversation with a friend who’s also a life coach and a stand-up comic. He’s quick to poke holes in convention, while reminding you that it’s not about tearing everything down but about choosing the perspectives that serve you best.
  
  Useful Not True is a guide to embracing uncertainty and reframing your thoughts in ways that make life better, not necessarily more accurate. It’s the kind of book that makes you question everything - and love the fact that you did. — Alex Hagan

• 

  Another concise book of practical wisdom on how to live one’s life. An easy and thought-provoking read (and re-read) that I plan to return to again on a periodic basis. Especially helpful if you’re looking to reframe your thinking. Especially satisfying in that it does reframe your thinking. Thanks for another gem, Derek. — Darcy Menard

• 

  Another gem from Sivers! Beautifully concise, all substance and no filler, much like his last four books.
  
  My personal interpretation (useful, not true):
  His last book, How to Live, was about Existentialism.
  His latest book, Useful not True, is about Pragmatism.
  Pragmatism, in a nutshell, is about the power of the reframe (aka beliefs that are useful, not true).
  
  This book helped me understand how little truth we know, and how we hold the power to choose beliefs that ultimately serve us. — Soichi Tanabe

• 

  "Useful Not True" is a trojan horse: Sivers embeds deep metarational ideas into an enjoyable, accessible, and friendly read. It's an exploration into the nature of truth and belief. Truth is nebulous and slips through our hands, and often isn't even all that useful. What we consider "true" is merely a perspective, shaped by our experiences and context. Instead of chasing absolute truth, we should adopt beliefs that are useful for our current situation and goals. Context matters.
  
  This approach might sound like relativism, but it's far more nuanced. Sivers isn't saying truth doesn't exist, just that it's often less relevant and emptier than we think. He provides concrete strategies for reframing thoughts and questioning inherited beliefs, illustrating complex ideas through vivid analogies and personal anecdotes.
  
  Are the ideas new? Not really, yet "Useful Not True" was unexpectedly profound for me. It's not just about personal growth, it's not self-help. Instead, it offers a more nuanced, context-aware way of navigating the world that opens us to greater empathy, creativity, and adaptability. I've encountered this — both propositionally and perspectively — but something about Derek's playful voice made it even more real. It's brilliant and transformative. — Andrew Conner

• 

  In Useful Not True, Sivers pokes fun at perspective, using succinct stories, revealing how our beliefs are inherently processed with biases and personal motives. A great book for confronting our perception of reality and our judgments, understanding that nothing is definitive and no truth is perfect. I appreciated the underlying theme that it’s okay to adopt beliefs that are ‘useful, not true’ if they inspire positive consequences. Ultimately, a great reminder to reframe our perspective and find what serves us. — Isra Alaradi

• 

  Useful Not True was a framebreaker for me. Derek beautifully tied together concepts that I vaguely knew about, but never fully understood. In his typical style, the writing is super dense, easy to read, and always worth multiple re-reads. — Tim Thiele

• 

  “Useful, Not True” is all about opening our minds to the choices that are available to us. There are always choices, and we are in fact always making choices about how to interpret what is happening in the “real” world around us.
  
  The world is indeed real, but I put ”real” in quotes because this book highlights how so much of what we think about the world is not real in an absolute sense, it is not absolutely true.
  
  For example, say I broke my left hand in a way that cannot be surgically repaired back to complete functionality. “I have suffered a hand injury” is true. “My career as a musician is over” may not be true. Is it useful? “My career as a concert violinist is over” may be close to truth, and it may in fact be useful. “Maybe I should explore new career opportunities as a composer, conductor, or producer” is close to truth, I think, or at the very least it’s highly useful.
  
  So the book is like that, it’s about how we frame and reframe our lives. I have found this book super useful, and even true.
  
  Go ahead and read this book, you will love it! Or you will not. This review may be useful, but it is not true. — Manuel Tabora

• 

  This book was one of those rare philosophical explorations that I couldn't put down. Each chapter drew me in deeper, urging me to reflect on the nuanced difference between what is useful and what is not true. It felt like engaging in a conversation that makes your mind buzz with new ideas, as if you're on the verge of a breakthrough or an important realisation. Derek's insights challenge conventional thinking, making the experience not just a read, but a journey into profound questions that linger long after the last page. — Markus Brendel

• 

  While his books have often made me ponder and philosophize, this is the first book that made me question my self-identity (in a good way). It helped me realize that I am no different than those I often judge as being irrational/wrong.
  
  Reading the book felt both very uncomfortable, but also like a relief and has given me the perspective to reframe some of my internalized beliefs. Every time I re-read a chapter, it is like I see myself and the world with a fresh perspective.
  
  I now allow myself to believe whatever allows me to do the things I want to do.
  
  Was the book useful? Without a doubt.
  Is it true? No, but I believe it is. — Bart Hoebink

• 

  Derek Sivers challenges us to rethink truth and perspective. He argues that our thoughts and beliefs are not absolute, but shaped by our individual experiences.
  
  The book is a collection of concise and insightful chapters that encourage us to:
  * Question our assumptions
  * Challenge our biases
  * Seek diverse perspectives
  * Focus on finding useful views, not absolute truth
  
  Key takeaways:
  * Thoughts and beliefs are not true
  * Seek diverse perspectives
  * Focus on usefulness, not truth
  * Take action, experiment, and adapt
  
  A useful book for those who want to think differently. — Julien Dambron

• 

  Useful Not True is a refreshing and empowering collection of concise essays that challenges conventional notions of truth, urging readers to prioritize the usefulness of ideas over their objective accuracy. With a casual and engaging tone reminiscent of a late-night conversation with a wise friend, Sivers explores how our perceptions shape reality and encourages us to embrace perspective truths—concepts that inspire action and foster positivity, even if they aren't strictly true.
  
  This book arrived at the perfect moment for me, providing a breath of fresh air when I felt stuck, and its witty anecdotes and thought-provoking questions reignite possibilities in everyday life. Sivers deftly illustrates how our minds can misinterpret reality, advocating for a mindset that constantly questions widely accepted beliefs through the lens of usefulness.
  
  The brilliance of Useful Not True lies in its succinctness; every sentence is purposeful, making it an easy yet profound read. With an extensive reading list for those eager to delve deeper into philosophical pragmatism, this book is an invaluable guide for anyone seeking to reframe their thoughts and embrace uncertainty with open arms. Highly recommended!
  
  I had the pleasure of spending three hours one evening with Derek in 2000 in Portland, Oregon and it was one incredible experience, this book really reminds me of much of that wonderful conversation. — Mark Grimes

• 

  Useful Not True is an adventurous book. This time Derek makes a clear point: our reality is subjective and we almost never really know the objective truth - even when we think we do. Therefore choosing beliefs based on how useful they are to you, instead of being accurate, can lead to a better life. — Guillaume Racine

• 

  The book gives opportunities:
  - to challenge my assumptions
  - to look at things from a fresh, calm perspective
  - to find out that mostly what we want is not what we need.
  - moreover, even what we want is not clearly known to our conscious mind, which is racing at a fast pace
  - so taking a pause moment, thinking about pragmatism is helpful. — Aditya Mehta

• 

  Useful not true is an essential read for our time. It helps to build a bridge from a situation where people battle over beliefs they call truths to a constructive world view, where we are building solutions together.
  
  The book lives up to its title by being very useful in itself providing key ideas that can be useful immediately. So if you want to be happy and successful or simply stay that way: I suggest to read it.
  
  Since many books with less potential impact receive 5 star ratings, I would give it 6 stars out of 5. — Andrej Jentsch

• 

  I liked the book. It helped me to appreciate the universe of thinking patterns that are "not true" as defined in the book, i.e., not "absolutely, necessarily, objectively true." This universe of "not true" covers what other people say and what we say, what we say and what we think, what is happening to us now and what has happened to us in the past, and even "incontrovertible" laws. The essence of the argument is that everything depends on the point of view and on the interpretation.
  
  One way to use the knowledge of the "not true" is to become permanently skeptical of yourself and others. But this is unhealthy and impractical. A better way suggested by Derek is to reframe various circumstances in a positive, for you, way. Even tragic parts of life can be viewed as "useful" even if "not true." Even death (last section of the book).
  
  The book includes a part with several sections of practical advice on "useful" attitudes. For me, the most helpful section was on internalizing them in a private journal. I already keep a decision journal in which I write intermittently when I face important decisions. Derek's book adds a new aspect to my analysis to interrogate my goals, the information I use, and the decision framework itself to find the most useful approach. The outcome will be "useful" even if not "absolutely, necessarily, objectively true." — Victoria Fineberg

• 

  The most important teaching point of the Derek’s fantastic new book is in the last paragraph: “Instead of asking if it’s true, ask yourself if it’s useful to you.”
  
  When trying to make sense of the world, we must think deeply about meaning and not be superficial. We must understand context and acknowledge the limits of our frame of reference.
  
  This new book is a must-gift item to anyone who is brave enough to question the status quo. I will be buying several copies to give to my family and friends. — Utpal Inamdar

• 

  Useful Not True shifted the way I approach decision-making. Derek challenges the need for rigid truths and offers a more flexible mindset where beliefs are tools to help us achieve our goals.
  
  The idea that something doesn’t have to be ‘true’ to be useful really hit home for me and it’s changed how I look at everyday and business choices.
  
  It’s a quick read but packed with good ‘stuff’ that’s stuck with me long after finishing making it one of those re-read-every-once-in-while-books we all have.
  
  If you’re looking for a fresh perspective on how to navigate everyday life a little differently and a little bit better this book is a must-read. — Peter Svans

• 

  I loved Useful Not True because it met my expectations of the author – that he'd hit me with unique perspectives about the importance of "belief", and how it relates or doesn't to "useful".
  
  The relationship between useful and true, for many, is almost sacred. This book fearlessly breaks them apart and provides a way to look at them independently.
  
  Very similarly to when I read about Stoicism and realised I already held many of the same beliefs (or in some cases the seeds), Useful Not True helped me concretise what you so brilliantly reveal in the book, and better explain this perspective to others. — Martin Rue

• 

  I evolve in a highly multicutural environment, and I read “Useful Not True” through this lens.
  
  I found myself smiling with “Exactly!” through several chapters and stories in the book, my favourite being the one where someone's politeness appeared rude to another culture. I also particularly loved the parts that touch breaking rules, unreliable memory, and religion.
  
  Plus the book is written in Derek's signature style, short chapters in which each word seems to be there for a reason, and this makes it a pleasure to read. — Philippe LAMBERT

• 

  Another one of those brilliantly concise books – no sentences wasted. Like Derek has done before, he encircles one single idea and views it from every possible angle. I liked the edginess of this particular idea: The notion that it’s not as important if a statement is true compared to how useful that statement is and which actions it inspires in us.
  
  It’s an important aspect of this to acknowledge how our brains sometimes trick us into internalizing a false belief or giving a destructive meaning to something which actually doesn’t need to have that. Only if we keep questioning ourselves and, by extension, the current widely accepted facts by putting them against a measure of usefulness, can we reach a more fulfilling way of life.
  
  The book is empowering and inspiring. Sivers is driving the point home with a variety of colorful examples. Its shortness helps, but I was happy about the extensive reading list at the end of the book for people like me who want to dive deeper into the area of philosophical pragmatism.
  
  It’s an easy recommendation to anyone. — Tim Teege

• 

  It was the read of the year to me so far. I'm aware of the importance of picking useful narratives since I read "Sapiens". This book was a great reminder of that, but in a much more fun and tangible way. We need to be reminded more than taught. — Arnaldo Neto

• 

  I read Useful Not True at a moment when I had trapped myself inside a lot of my own narratives. It was insanely helpful at helping me break out of a prison of my own making. — Andrew Wilkinson

• 

  This is one of the most thought provoking book I’ve read since the Tao Te Ching. It’s deep and yet accessible, my 13 year old son was listening to it with me in the car and when we got out of the car, he asked if we could listen again on our next ride. This is easily one of my favorite books to read and re read in a long time. — Lucas Carlson

• 

  Word for word, the most useful book I've read in the last few years. — George Mack

• 

  The reframing of situations and ideas this book teaches is absolutely wonderful.
  
  Reading even just one chapter per day is a mind-blowing exercise to snap you out of your routines of thinking the same way every day. — Chris Spiegl

• 

  A practical handbook to unstick your mind from overthinking your decision making. At first glance, the concice chapters were leaving me with apetite for more content, until I discovered it was a great advantage that enable me to share the ideas of the book with others. A really worthwhile read that opened my mind on a short amount of time. — Luis Monge

• 

  These were my favorite quotes:
  
  - When my mind is missing the target, I aim it the other direction, to compensate.
  - Choose a belief for the action it creates.
  - Picturing one future makes you quit. Picturing another future makes you jump up, full of inspiration and action. A single thought can exhaust you or motivate you.
  - Which belief leads to the action you need now?
  - If you don’t choose your perspectives then you leave them up to mood, manipulation, or your worst impulses.
  - You are your actions. Your actions are you. Your self-image doesn’t matter as much.
  
  Taking the next action is key to leveling up in life, but these quotes give you the precursor to action, which is belief.
  
  Example: If you want to build a company but your belief system is such that you don't think it will be successful, you will probably not have the motivation to start and/or continue. But if you can reframe your belief system, such that you think successful company building is in your future then you have the raw fuel to achieve. The Useful Not True book helps by highlighting the fungibility of thoughts. — Shawn Adams

• 

  Derek Sivers is one of my favorite authors and I buy every book he writes as soon as it's published. USEFUL NOT TRUE does not disappoint.
  
  In his typical succinct and essential style, Derek jumpstarts your brain with thoughts and observations that he's reframed through his own experience.
  
  He's not afraid to go head-to-head with conventional wisdom, and also genuine enough to acknowledge why certain wisdoms are conventional.
  
  Looking for the perfect book to gift your friends? USEFUL NOT TRUE is the one! — J. Thorn

• 

  Useful Not True is a revolutionary idea - believe what’s useful, not what’s true. Derek Sivers has beautifully captured this profound concept in a way that can transform everything. This book will change what you believe, and consequently the context for your life. And like all of Sivers work, it's easy to read, relatable and fun. Enjoy! — Peter Cook

• 

  It completely challenges assumptions that I've taken for granted my entire life. And made me stop to think more about crafting the life I want to rather than following the norm. — Sean W. Lawrence

• 

  I find the concept of seeing things as useful, not true an interesting one. Actually, I have been using this concept for a long time now and this title and content of the book "clicked" because you found the words to express what I was already doing. The stories are also "catchy" and easy to remember. It is a short and easy read/listen. I recommend it! — Thanos Floros

• 

  The fear of 'impostor syndrome' fosters insecurities that prevent us from expanding beyond our current limits. This book dispels all those assumptions and focuses on what's important. It convincingly suggests that truth is a matter of perspective, and focusing on beliefs that are helpful to your goals is what's most important as long as they don't cause harm to anyone. I've read many books that circle around this topic of self-limiting beliefs, but this book takes on the subject directly and explores all levels of why and how this approach can be useful in all facets of life.
  
  I've used this book to improve my presentation and networking skills which I've always told myself just 'weren't my thing.' I use the techniques I've learned from this book whenever I'm confronted with a challenge I think I cannot surmount, or where I've become complacent with my abilities. Sometimes telling yourself 'I'm not good at this and need to work harder' is exactly what you need to improve. — Michael Twardowski

• 

  » “By definition, ‘the future’ doesn't exist. It's what we call predictions in our imagination.”
  
  Of the entire contents of “USEFUL NOT TRUE” this opening line in the chapter "Wanna bet?" jumped out the most for me. As someone who is prone to living in my head too much, I have been actively working on being present, of experiencing life with all my senses, thoughts included, on what is at hand. Recalling that the future technically doesn't exist is such a useful reminder for me to come back to the now.
  
  I cannot fully express the beauty of “USEFUL NOT TRUE” because like art, the true magic of appreciating a book such as this, lies in the individual's process of reading it, ruminating on it and letting the words and ideas sink into one's subconsciousness as you interact with it. Definitely a book to savour time and again. — Rachel Soh

• 

  Useful Not True is Derek's best book to date. It is somehow both the source code and the user's manual for everything else he's written. Highly recommended! — Chris Cunningham

• 

  I didn't just like it, I loved it. 'Useful Not True' is definitely a great book. Not only it changed the way I think, it made it easy for me to change the way I behave. — Diego Montejo

• 

  1. I apply the definition of “true” (meaning there’s no other answer) in various situations, whether it’s with coworkers, my kids, friends, and so on, and I do this all the time.
  
  2. I've begun to doubt-check or second-guess my decisions because I learned that when asked for an explanation, our brains invent one.
  
  3. I've started sharing more context with my husband and boss to help them understand me better. Because I learned from the book that explanation helps empathy
  
  4. The book helped me understand why I'm Catholic: religion is about action, not belief. — Daniela Januario Di Paolo

• 

  "Useful Not True" taught me to see things from different angles and embrace cultural diversity.
  
  What you perceive is just your perspective. It may not be true for others, but it's useful for you. Keeping this philosophy in mind can reduce many conflicts and troubles.
  
  My favorite chapter is "Fill Your Senses with Reality." When I go through hard things or meet challenges, I always think of this chapter. It reminds me that the predicaments I perceive are just in my brain. In reality, everything is good and still. — Elsa

• 

  I've always been fascinated by the idea that you shouldn't trust what you believe, or as Feynman said "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to fool".
  
  In this book, Sivers deep dives into the idea with his characteristic style of short chapters distilled to perfection. He makes a compelling case for doubting your most hardened assumptions, and adopting the rules that will help you move forward.
  
  If you want to ditch the beliefs that are holding you back, there's no better place to start. — Noel De Martin

• 

  I’m so excited for this book, I’ve been mentioning it to people left and right!
  
  My journal and I explore and re-evaluate my beliefs and narratives all the time. Sometimes I explain this practice to people and they look at me puzzled. Well, finally I have a book I can point to that captures this idea plain and simple. Beliefs are just stories we tell ourselves and we can choose to change them if they’re no longer working for us! Yay! — Anna Skoulikari

• 

  I really love Useful Not True. It teaches (and reminds me) of a different way of thinking about problems. Whenever I get stuck, I read a chapter and then think about the problem I'm struggling with in a different way. For example, when I recently argued with my wife, I thought of the bowling ball chapter, and compensated for my perspective by assuming everything is my responsibility and my fault. It definitely helped with the situation. — Joe R.

• 

  “Useful Not True” supported me in understanding the various forces at play that shape/influence us, and how we ultimately still have agency to choose what we believe despite many "-isms" that tell us how we should live and think.
  
  It is a useful guidebook on how to create YOUR OWN beliefs that support a well-lived life, and it helped me to realize just how much power I have to create my life, both internally and externally. — Michael Trugman

• 

  What I liked most about your new book is to gain the perspective that all the chatting in my head is ALWAYS just a perspective and will never end as the truth or "now I got it!". Its all a perspective on this miracle called the universe, life etc. . It makes me more liberate to change my views and not resent that I leave old mindsets behind and I can understand other person better now, because we all live in our virtual world. — Frederic Goeller

• 

  The main lesson of this book was "Instead of asking if it's true, ask yourself if it's useful to you". By teaching that almost nothing people say is universally true, this book helps people reframe their thoughts and find more fulfillment. It encourages people to adopt the most useful viewpoints, contributing to personal growth and adaptability. — George Ziogas

• 

  Some of my beliefs have been useful throughout my life, and some have not been useful at all. This thought-provoking book helped me see them more clearly. It also made me think about how I approach some of my relationships, and gave me great advice on building empathy and understanding people's underlying reasons. One of Derek's best books! I'm sure I'll uncover more gems when I revisit it. — Mauricio Gutiérrez

• 

  Derek has been one of the most impactful people in my life, from his books and the wisdom he shared with me in person. And this book is no different. This book has given me tremendous peace by allowing me to frame and see the world more significantly. — Christopher Dufey

• 

  "Useful Not True" delivers a masterclass in transformative thinking, with each insight fostering personal growth altering the trajectory of life in meaningful ways.
  
  Derek eliminates the unnecessary, leaving only a powerful core of wisdom that transforms how we perceive and interact with the world.
  
  This book offers a clear path to becoming the best version of yourself. — Stephen Filiatrault

• 

  I love the book so much I have heard the audio book 4 times! ☺ I gained another perspective about things. Now I try to be in the shoes of people that do not share my beliefs or opinions. I have gained empathy and some kind of good skepticism. — José Vicente Pérez

• 

  Ever laconic, inspiring, and astute, Derek Sivers hit the nail on the head yet again with this one! I appreciate how the structure primed you for recognizing patterns in others, so you could do so in yourself. Self-awareness is the first step to positive change. — Zachary Kai

• 

  One thing that stood out for and resonated with me most was the story of the car accident that he went through a good portion of your life believing was his fault AND that it caused someone else to be disabled. Such a great lesson that we can live with metaphorical "poison" (whether guilt, anger, etc.) that is both not useful and often not true. — Steve Acho

• 

  Useful Not True" is an enjoyable read because it's easy to agree with the points being made. However, it challenges the reader to engage with the concepts in more than just a superficial way. If you can really put aside your own biases and lazy thinking, you will get a lot out of it. — Travis Briggs

• 

  Once again, as with the previous books, Derek’s pragmatism to life shines through honest, actionable words. We get reminded of our self-imposed mind obstacles and learn some mind tricks to overcome them. This book is an invitation to bravely daydream better futures, and to take the initial steps for them to happen. — Pablo Cotera

• 

  Out of the many useful insights such as, science can’t always be true, and find the edges of the puzzle (and don’t dismiss them as being to zany). The most jolting is, “that fear is a form of excitement.” This is uncomfortably challenging self-doubt. — Jim Eaton

• 

  I liked it very much. For me it was the right book at the right moment in time. It inspired and helped me (and is useful in that sense) to rethink a few of my current ideas in life.
  
  While finishing my cognitive behavioral therapy it provided a different but valuable perspective and way to think about aspects of my life. To think about my ingrained mental models.
  
  I’ll probably return to it quite a few times in the future. It isn’t a book for just one read. — Sven Döring

• 

  I really loved the poetic nature of How to Live, and I think Useful Not True adds a lot of context to it. Kind of like a commentary track to a really great film. — Nicholas Seier

• 

  A beautiful little book of distilled wisdom. Derek uses short anecdotes and parables to showcase how our perspective and beliefs are made up and not objectively true. This is helpful because it allows us to detach from thinking that would derail us, make us feel trapped, create negative emotions and other horrors.
  
  If beliefs are not true, why not choose the ones that serve us? That help us make great choices and act in service to what we really want.
  
  This book can serve as a wise old friend to consult when we feel baffled, downtrodden, or simply want a lift or to boost to an even happier mood. — Zoë Routh

• 

  Derek has a gift for conveying the essence of complex concepts. His stories and analogies are both enlightening and entertaining, clearly defining terms and illustrating connections.
  
  Reading Useful Not True, I found myself repeatedly thinking, “Huh. I hadn’t thought of it that way,” and “That makes perfect sense.”
  
  I’m definitely recommending this to anyone struggling to let go of how they think things “should” be in favor of exploring new possibilities for their lives. — Rachel Shayne Heslin

• 

  "Useful Not True" is an antidote to our fixed worldviews, which are more embedded in us than we think, and difficult to change.
  
  Derek Sivers has made a great effort to challenge our perceptions of reality. He showed how taking different perspectives is important to understand reality, and people around us.
  
  For me, this is a continuation to “How to Live”, complementing it and taking the concepts of reframing and rethinking one step further.
  
  Everyone should read this book. If its ideas were applied, the world would be a better place.
  
  It’s a useful book — short, but packed with ideas. — Michał Poczwardowski

• 

  Useful Not True is one of those books you need to read and think about it on different level every time you re-read it or re-examine its essence.
  
  I would say it is a powerful reminder of our our being (Cogito Ergo Sum) and our own mastery of fortune and destiny. Contrary to the belief, it poses the hypothesis we make our own false prisons, beliefs and limitations. And therefore, we should re-test our assumptions and re-evaluate the choices made.
  
  I wish Derek would have written this book earlier and for me to have had read it years before. — Franci Ježek

• 

  “Useful Not True” is a great continuation of the idea he left us with from “How to Live”: We are the composer of our life!
  
  This new book is inspirational and makes me rethink certain ideas I carry around (some more useful than others). The idea I like most is that almost nothing is universally true. It all depends on the time, circumstance and perspective.
  
  Not sure if I’ve ever read a book that offers that much and is still an easy read. — Michael Poglonik

• 

  Utility beats correctness in daily life.  I've spend too much time trying to get a close to the truth as possible. Or in other words to get it as correct as possible. Since reading the book I changed my approach to be more iterative. I don't need to get the perfect solution on the first try, instead I want to move closer to the target. Once I'm closer I can decide if I need to get even closer or if it is useful as is and move on.
  
  For me it came down to realizing that USEFUL things are more worthwhile than TRUE things. Useful things help you progress. True things are usually endpoints. — Mark Henninger

• 

  Useful Not True is the perfect book to take your brain on a journey.
  
  First, you start to understand how the beliefs of others come from their unique perspectives. Then, suddenly, you are questioning your very own beliefs system and its origins. Fortunately, Derek was kind enough to end with tools that will help you reframe your thinking to start looking at everything from new perspectives. All this without judgment on who is right or wrong, as in the end, you realize there is no such thing. — Mark D'Alessandro

• 

  The book USEFUL NOT TRUE is mental gum. It gives you something to chew on and think about whilst going about your day.
  
  Like all of Mr. Sivers' books they're all great pieces of literature, that's deep yet not too deep that you'll turn away. It's light enough that you'd want to read it thru but deep enough that gives you a new perspective. It's like a more comprehensible version of /r/changemymind.
  
  I love it. and it's a book that you want to take your time with. It's dense. — Radrad Co

• 

  A gentle help in switching perspective, what a treat! 🌺
  
  The format (the meta-red-thread) of this book is very useful. In other words, it walks its own talk well, I would say.
  
  Get cozy and entertained while soaking in all the different angles of which a shift of perspective happens. From trying to do the “true/right” thing to doing what actually works. What works will work regardless of the intentions floating around.
  
  Not necessarily useful for anyone else, but I just wanna share that the symphony story has been specifically useful to me. — Sylvia Wara Flores Hansson

• 

  “Useful Not True” should be assigned reading for all of humanity. Derek offers beautiful insights and anecdotes about the nature of humanity and our beliefs.
  
  This book inspired me to view both myself and others with more compassion and understanding. I trust it will do the same for anyone fortunate enough to read it. — Jason JJ Bitters

• 

  Some publications have the power to shift your perspective on life or the world. Derek Sivers’ latest book does just that and more. I’ve been an avid reader of Sivers’ work for many years, and his new book, Useful Not True, offers a compelling paradigm shift.
  
  It explores how the beliefs we hold dear may be valuable, not because they are universally true, but because they are personally useful. This perspective doesn’t diminish their importance, but instead empowers us. We gain control, choosing beliefs that serve us, even if they are only “true” for us.
  
  I highly recommend this concise, thought-provoking philosophical discussion to anyone eager to deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them. — Bogumil Baranowski

• 

  Fascinating to read, and really a reframing of “believe” from an identity to a tool. For me, the two most important sentences in the book were:
  1. “We can choose beliefs that are not true because they're useful to compensate for our bias”
  2. “Which belief leads to the action you need now?” — Lucas Dohmen

• 

  So many of us have been taught that if something is not true, it's not good.  Rather than refute this question, Derek makes us ask a different one.  In the process, he gives us the opportunity to empower ourselves in new ways.
  
  What do I love about Useful Not True?  It's useful because it's not true!  Like his Zen koan of a book How to Live, Derek plays with our expectations and sacred untouchable places without scaring us off (much).
  
  If you're ready for the true view from outside the box, then this is the book you've been waiting for! — Adam Cole

• 

  This book will help you believe in yourself and provide actionable insights for your journey. This book expanded my perspective by making my mind more malleable, allowing me to adapt my beliefs to better align with what I want in life. This is one of the rare books I will be returning to over and over again. — Patryk Urban

• 

  I liked, really liked Useful Not True. What was helpful - the new perspective on truth, authentic not-for-sale vision, simple close-to-the-heart wording as in “write the way you talk.” It made me rethink several angles of approaching certain aspects of life and work, challenging me to dig for the truth behind the useful.
  
  Practical. Insightful. Straight to the point. — Alla Adam

• 

  Derek starts off with a concept of what is true and what is not true. If we all adopt this concept I am sure the world will be a more beautiful place and much less intense. It is a tool with great potential that should be used very carefully. Some people live in their own made up personal hells. This book gives them a blueprint on how to get out of there. — Sherif Adel Yahia Akl

• 

  “Useful Not True” encouraged me to question everything I believe. It showed me why I need to be more open to other perspectives and made me more aware of my existing belief system. I realised I have Buddhist and Stoic beliefs, but this doesn't make me a Buddhist or a Stoic. I can pick and choose beliefs and ideas from different religions and philosophies based on what helps me in life. I feel empowered after reading this book. — Fabio Cerpelloni

• 

  Secretly, we’re all rank ordering beliefs and I’m no exception. The book was quite the journey because I kept thinking this is absolutely not how I would do it – but it’s super well argued so I can’t say anything.
  
  Sometimes I just wanted to find a little flaw in one of the chapters, but I found that even though it’s not how I would do something, it’s equally justified. A lot of back and forth like that!
  
  In other chapters, I just felt encouraged to go on how I would do it. And I found people in there that I met earlier in life, so that was cool. — Antonius Koch

• 

  It was indeed very useful. I listened a couple of times and once with my 14y old daughter on a trip to Bendigo. It grabbed her attention too! The most helpful to me is that I now consciously try to look at things from different perspectives. — Lei Liu

• 

  Useful Not True is the actionable building block on top of How to Live. If How to Live makes you think about different ways of prioritizing life, Useful Not True makes you ask the questions that will actually move you in that direction. But first, you have to find the right truth.
  Succinct? Yes
  Actionable? Yes
  Very Derek? Yes — Zach Souer

• 

  At first I was a bit skeptical... and this book strengthened my non-conviction. Turns out skepticism is a great way to live, if you know how to handle it.
  
  USEFUL NOT TRUE is full of useful ideas and metaphors, and in this age of confusion about truth and the value of truth, it provides meta-level clarity for a better life.
  
  Someone once asked me a question that never stopped haunting me: "Would you rather be happy or right?"
  
  We're all truth addicts, but there is hope. This book is a guide to recovery. — Philip Eskenazi

• 

  Useful Not True has helped me to ask one important question of everything: "Is that true?" Where I would previously have answered "yes", I can now only think a definitive "maybe", and my life is all the simpler for it. — Harald Greve Høiby

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  The biggest thing so far for me is a change in my language (and thinking) when talking about ideas. It is far less confrontational to say, "I find this idea useful," rather than some thinly veiled version of, "I'm right." People seem to react more positively to the former and I have seen an improvement in interactions when I use those words. I still slip up depending on the topic, but overall I believe it's a healthier way to consider all kinds of ideas. — Rick Eberts

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  This book teaches what I now consider a vital skill: reframing meaning. Appreciating situations from a perspective that discovers their hidden diamond allows us to find peace and move forward.
  
  I’ve decided to write every new moment of contrast as if it were a chapter in a Derek Sivers book: simple, beautiful, and full of meaning. Learning how to reframe our human experience is how to live.
  
  Thank you, Derek! — Juan Herrera

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  The book is the culmination of the tight, punch-you-in-the-face curation of ideas that I love about his work, and I've come back a couple of times to it already.
  
  I'd say the biggest shift that the book facilitated is not necessarily in introducing new ideas, but giving me the permission to believe and follow ideas which I sometimes ignore in the pursuit of "truth". It's liberating to just follow what's best for me, without worrying about whether it would extend to others. — Alex Hartford

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  I had to reread Useful Not True and I am so glad I did. I have been on a strange spiritual journey looking for a path, reflecting on regrets, and feeling like more time is behind me then in front. This journey is not the Beatles travelling to India, or Malcolm X discovering Islam. This modern day journey is following a YouTube algorithm to discover manifesting and mindfulness. Accepting the awareness of the power of subconscious mind and how limiting beliefs and negative thoughts can bind you to fear and inactivity.
  
  This book confirmed so much of what I learned and gave me lessons and guidance in the voice of a friend. I am so grateful. It has once again made mountains climbable and cleared out the clutter of doubt.
  
  I have two new matras that I will review as a result of reading Useful not true.
  The first is: true is the enemy of useful.
  The second: “What's great about this?”
  
  My final thought is the beautiful words of Igor Stravinsky "every philosophy is an instrument". I can go on but I have to reread How to Live now. — Brian Brady

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  A lovely and important short book about perspective that just might change yours — or at least how you choose to use it. It first explores the nature of perspective versus truth and then delves into exploring how to make this new understanding helpful and practical. I’m always delighted to read Derek’s unique insights and this did not disappoint. — Patrick Rhone

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  In the book “Useful Not True”, Derek invites us to notice that there are very few things that are 100% real. The past is not real - our memories of it are imprecise and rewritten for convenience. Our thoughts are not real - we invent them to justify what we are feeling or have already decided or done. Everything created by man is arbitrary (government, business, family, friends, partner, and a long etcetera). But - and here lies the simple beauty of this philosophy - we can choose what is useful even if it is not true. Noticing that these rules and conventions are arbitrary gives us the power to avoid, alter, or modify them.
  
  These rules and conventions are like a costume we wear to be accepted in fear of looking odd - but in reality, no one is looking at us. It’s like the story of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” but completely the opposite - no one is really paying attention and worried about the disguise you wear. And if all clothing is arbitrary and a disguise, what does it matter to try on another costume, flamboyant and colorful, if it serves a better purpose?
  
  We are prisoners of customs and the stories we tell ourselves. For example, I thought I couldn’t solve the Rubik’s cube because I had tried a few times without success - so I didn’t even bother to find out what I needed to solve it. I closed myself off in a false certainty until by chance someone burst that bubble with a “it’s a mechanical skill, anyone can learn it.” And indeed, once I knew I could, I learned how. I couldn’t before, as I had denied myself that possibility due to a rule I invented for myself.
  
  Doubting your certainties and the rules that surround you, allows you to rethink what you want and can achieve. — Sebastian Flores

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  "Useful, Not True" is the philosophy book for today. It emphasizes that life is not about being right all the time, it's about choosing the option that works. It's about being flexible and being willing to choose again when we find that our past choices no longer serve us. Life is too short to spend it fighting for the choices that a past version of myself made that no longer make sense in today's context. — Vi Wickam

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  Mind-bending book! My favourite takeaways:
  - Separate observations from conclusions.
  - We are what we do, and that result from our beliefs.
  - Nothing I tell myself is true.
  - But that’s OK, so long as that propels me forward.
  - I can do something / be something that is totally “not me”, if thatserves my intention. — Yz Chen

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  This book has been both useful and helpful. It challenges the fundamentals assumptions we make about all sort of things. Putting a question mark at the end of what we've always considered to be true and unquestionable can be deeply freeing and liberating. I love Derek's willingness to inquire and go beyond superficial appearances. — Walter Freiberg

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  It gave me the motivation and reason to choose the most useful perspective. This improved my moment to moment happiness, which is very important. — Yi Peng Neo

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  In an era where truth is often held as the sole standard and dogma, I am pleased that this book serves as a counterpoint to that sentiment. It reminds us that there are countless beautiful stories, and that these stories can be valuable to us as creatures of chance. — Kavein Thran

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  Loved this one! Gives you crystal clear perspective on what is real, what is useful wand what could be delusional. It's a good read to clear ideas in your mind, around your beliefs about yourself! Also a great nudger to prioritize yourself, more than anything else! — Mihir Oka

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  My fiancée and I loved it. We had a lot of learnings but what we really like are how our beliefs mold us. Beliefs inspire action and we should be strategic with them.
  I personally like the point that people's perceptions of you are none of your business.
  My fiancée read it at a challenging time this year and it helped her carry on. — Jose Emilio Miclat Teves

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  The book was so insightful.The ideas pointed out in these books are made easily memorable through Derek's sublime storytelling and framing of ideas. Great book. A must in the Derek Sivers canon. — Midhun Tony

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  It's very rare you read a book that packs such a punch and holds so much weight. As a fan of Derek's previous books I had high expectations for Useful Not True because as we know in life, Happiness = Where Expectations meets reality
  
  "Useful Not True" surpassed all my expectations. Littered with questions and anecdotes that are designed to make you think and question your own beliefs - it's something that I'd highly recommend to everyone and have shared the takeaways with my team. — Jack Frimston

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  I found the book immensely helpful! So much so that I listened to the 3 audiobook iterations back to back, having purchased it before it was officially released.
  
  Each chapter is just long enough to get you to reflect on the assumptions you take for granted in your own life. So spending even 5 minutes with the book has a clear, long lasting benefit of introspection throughout the day.
  
  It felt like a practical application of his "How to Live" book. A very well crafted and much-needed book. I would not hesitate to recommend it. — Ivan Dolphin

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  Thought provoking and interesting - In a world with so much noise, it's a compass for clarity and composure. — Owen Chambers

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  Bite size snippets and power packed morsels which are a product of a lot of reflection and pondering. Worth the distillation alone.
  
  Consume in small doses over time for best results. — Abel Chin

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  Helped me think differently about personal, work, development & wider subjects by troubling me with challenging assertions. Because I was thinking differently I self generated new options to choose from, which allowed me to solve or accept personal problems, generate more income and become interested in wider thinking rather than the same old, same old. — Richard Churchill

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  Definitely a book I needed to hear as I have let my mind get stuck in its own repeating loops. If you are spending too much time living inside you head and want to spend more of it living in the real world instead, this book needs to be read.
  
  A phrase I have heard elsewhere is ‘your inner truth’ which I personally find helpful. It allows me to separate mine from yours and better accept they can both be valid and contradictory. This book helped me to resolve this. — Mark Stephens

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  I suddenly got reminded of an interaction I had with my 5 year old daughter. One day a few months ago, staring out of her grandmother’s car, she asked me what the clouds she saw in the sky are “for”. I said, well, they just are. I don’t think she got it, or maybe she did, who knows.
  
  There are many things like that in life that perhaps I don’t “get” (even if I don’t like to think that that’s the case), but reading Useful Not True is helping me see those things.
  
  Reading a book really does change the way one sees things. — Amit Langote

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  I remember how it made me feel, listening to the raw beta of the audiobook and rediscovering the story again with the official audiobook. I loved the narrative and the prose. It was a collection of “aha” moments, one after the next, with a few, “I’ve always thought that”, but never heard it put so simply and eloquently. — Clint Brown

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  Useful Not True was a very fun book. It reaffirmed lots of ideas I had been drawn to in the past. It also had a good emphasis on the importance of action and melding your center to thinking that produces useful results. Lots of great examples.
  
  I think this is a VERY important book and humanity could really use it. I hope it gains considerable traction. — Steve Kusaba

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  USEFUL NOT TRUE starts with the philosophical question "What is time?" - and goes on to provide tips on how to adapt your mind and re-edit your mind's movies.
  
  The book is rich with many useful nuggets. Really enjoyed it! — Jay Parekh

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  “Useful Not True” is another book that serves as a reminder for me to be far more present, far more conscious and far more thoughtful about everything!
  
  Derek Sivers has the unique ability to provoke thought, while never dictating or prescribing. As with ‘How To Live’ and ‘Anything You Want’, I come away from reading session feeling enthused, inspired and supported, in equal measure. — Chris Craker

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  “USEFUL NOT TRUE” was a helpful reminder for how I limit myself. It’s all made up, but I get so wrapped up in stories that I forget that. The book felt like an oil change for my mind. Ready to get back out there. — Steve Cardoso

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  I thoroughly enjoyed USEFUL NOT TRUE. After listening to it twice, the concept has become an integral part of my thought process. Now, I often find myself asking what is useful about any given topic at hand.
  
  Thank you for providing a shortcut to articulate something I've always felt but struggled to express succinctly. The book has encouraged me to question and doubt more, which, paradoxically, has given me greater peace of mind. — Manuel Pastor Ringuelet

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  Derek's writing feels like you're discussing ideas with a friend, with subtle inquiries into concepts and chapters that leave you wondering and reflecting. It's a wake-up call to our dream state, reminding us to be aware of how our beliefs and thinking shape our lives. If left unchecked, they might create a reality we don't want or perhaps, one that we do. — Alfredo Villarreal

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  Useful Not True was truly inspirational for me. It helped me explore new perspective by reviewing and then revising my internal beliefs that had hardened into my proverbial "sacred cows."
  
  I especially found the section "Traits of Useful Perspectives" helpful as a tool to focus my energies during a period of my life where I have felt a bit adrift. It had even more impact the second time I read it. Thank you Derek! — Paul Sakion

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  Useful Not True facilitated a big leap for me. It gave me kind (kind of) permission to let go of the mental model that things have to be “true, right, perfect”.
  I did an experiment: I wrote down whenever I stopped doing something because of a thought process that didn't help me.
  This book is extremely helpful for me.
  Can't thank Derek enough for his time and dedication to write this - to make it so short and helpful. — Johan Dhaeseleer

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  I loved Useful not true because it helped me review my thinking. So often my mind jumps to autopilot. And Useful Not True reminded me that that isn’t a good thing. — Jennifer Dell

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  Ever wonder why someone believes something that is not true? Derek answers that question in many compelling ways in this book.
  
  Using this framework will help you turn what you think into a superpower to make better decisions, have better habits and operate in the world more effectively! — Derek Kessinger

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  I loved it! The pivot restructured my brain instantly in the most positive way! — Lauren Torres

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  I think the biggest thing gained was perspective on how beliefs or perceived truths are not what we may think they are, even if we what them to be. — Mike Carew

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  It's short and concise. More specifically, the page about asking good questions, it acknowledges that it's an ever growing list and it would be too hard to capture it all in one page. Instead he linked it out to a website. I appreciate that honesty.
  
  The part about not adding more instructions to the computer and just execute. I think I oftentimes fall into that trap, and the way he presented that idea hits home for me.
  
  Conversely, I enjoyed that one chapter where he mentioned taking the time to explore and ponder about a topic / subject because of a belief that it's important to figure out.
  
  All in all, there's a quality of duality in some of the advice he shares, and as a reader, I think that makes introspection a lot more interesting. — Eric Chan

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  Useful Not True. It's really true.
  Something might be useful to you, but it may not be useful to others.
  Something might be useful to others, but it may not be useful to you.
  So the key is to find what works for you.
  This book uses many examples to explain this point.
  There are many sides to a view.
  View from above, view from below, view from left, view from right.
  
  One story that impressed me was when Derek went to the lady to apologize. This is a courageous move. And insights: "The tiniest misunderstanding long ago, amplified through time, leads to giant misunderstandings in the present."
  After reading this book, I do think that in life, USEFUL NOT TRUE.
  This is a great book. — Arthur Feng

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  “USEFUL NOT TRUE” shows that beliefs shape our actions, life is what we make of it, and decisions become right when we commit to them — philosophies and emotions are just tools we can choose and adapt. — Klaus Breyer

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  Once again I believe he has struck at the core at what it means to live our best lives as human beings. I applaud him for that and how he has unpacked that phenomenon in his book.
  
  As a person of faith this is a core issue insomuch as it broaches the issue of beliefs. But I am not a person of faith based upon indoctrination but rather based upon relationship.
  
  Usefulness is a two pronged entity for me. One having to do with the personal and the other having to do with its effect on collective society. For instance I personally have a compulsive need to fulfill a perceived need in others. That fulfills my personal sense of usefulness as a human being. However I am partial to hands that work, minds that think and hearts that love as describing a collective sense of usefulness. Perhaps there is a measure of truth in a usefulness such as this. — Clifton West

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  In general I like his books for 2 reasons:
  1. I trust them because they’re short
  2. His wisdom comes from being alone with his thoughts instead of repackaging other people’s thoughts.
  
  I liked the audio version. Made it more intimate when he did the little sidebars to explain things in the story or describe the studio.
  
  People don’t actually know what they want. Or maybe it’s that what they want changes quicker than they expected: reason for divorces, changing jobs, excessive consumption of material goods. At certain points in my life I came to the conclusion that I had it all figured out, but after so many times, realizing that’s not the case I no longer think that way. I constantly reassess my motives bc I know how good I am at lying to myself.
  
  I liked the part of the book about pretending. I like the sentiment of “don’t be yourself, be your ideal self.” — Paul Fernandes

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  One of the first things that comes to mind is that I really enjoyed the distinction he draws between what we believe to be true and what is actually true. The exercise of determining if something I believe is actually true on an objective, fundamental level is a powerful introspective activity that deepens my focus (regardless of if it is or isn't true) and triggers a constructive reality check. — Gregory Root

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  I’ve been following the advice from the chapter 'Who Chooses Your (Next) Thoughts?' and keep a journal to observe how my thoughts have evolved over time. Reading this book has turned me into someone who questions their assumptions whenever reflecting on any peak experience. — Trang La

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  I would say it’s mind opening book. Literally. Putting the great ideas it brings to table aside, it’s super practical compared to other books, and helps me a lot with developing adaptability for whatever situation I’m in.
  
  Huge recommend for anyone. — Mor Yehie

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  "Useful Not True" liberated me. Sometimes we hold on to beliefs because they're what we've know since childhood. But this book gave me the courage to examine what truly works for me and what doesn't. — Nontobeko Sisonke Shabangu

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  I think a lot about how I can form a well-founded opinion. So far, I have mainly thought that validating an information source is the best ingredient to come close to the “truth”. This book opened a whole new viewpoint to my challenge. What if I change the focus to useful instead of true? Great change of paradigm! — Thomas Baertl

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  My two favorite ideas from the book after looking at my highlights:
  
  1. “Nothing has inherent meaning. Whatever meaning you project into it is your own.” We have this nasty habit of thinking and framing in terms of labels and ideas that are not useful. Made me think of Anthony de Mello’s book Awareness.
  
  2. The idea that a decision or a choice becomes the best choice after you choose it, because you’re now down that path – “no choice is the best in itself.” You make it the best choice and align with it. You talked about this idea on a podcast episode of Infinite Loops and I remember having an epiphany when that happened.
  
  Thanks for writing and sharing again your useful ways of thinking! — Tyler Dieck

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  It’s a marvelous book. I already knew the aphorism “All models are wrong, but some are useful” that initially referred to statistical models and more recently applied to models in “hard” sciences, but I never thought to consciously apply it to mental models.
  
  “Useful Not True” makes that connection quickly and then keeps reinforcing it so that by the end of reading it I was primed to re-read “How to Live”. — Miloš Miljković

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  So amazing. One to come back to, for sure. I’ve made so many highlights, and I look forward to the growing collection of questions on the site.
  
  As a dad, what he wrote about fatherhood (being the dad your kid needs for a few minutes or hours at a time) resonated deeply with me. — Erez Zukerman

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  I liked Useful Not True. I found the book to be a personable and timely reminder that the stories we tell ourselves matter.
  
  There are many things in life, especially our beliefs, that shape and move us forward even if it's an outright lie or a hopeful wish. To realize that the truth, or lack thereof, behind our beliefs has little to do with the outcome it has in our lives has been a profound insight in my life.
  
  This book offered many examples to illustrate it in an accessible way. — JJ Sainz

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  Useful Not True is a short book that reminds us to look at how we make judgements and be more open to different views. I found the brief chapters and style easy and entertaining to read and digest and the order is logical and helpful. It's a book that you could come back to again and again, as a reminder to consider the ways we think and act. A powerful takeaway for me is to consider that good advice might even come from sources we don't always like. — Paul Simpson

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  The book is a typical Derek Sivers book in the sense that it is easy to read even when tired. It is entertaining in the sense that probably nothing in the book has been boring to me, even when reading it several times. I was always triggered to think. I am happy when I think.
  
  The topic of the book is not new to me, I had similar thoughts about truth as well, not as well thought through. But it is a great reminder not to forget my thinking on this topic. The questions raised at the end of the book - on https://sive.rs/u - are very helpful and worth being read often.
  
  To me this book falls into the category of self-improvement, reflection etc. I find this category of books useful in the sense of stopping me to blame circumstances, to grow as a human, to foster self-reliance and resilience.
  
  What I am starting to miss without being able to think through it, is the question on how to deal with problems which cannot be solved by an individual but only as a society. Examples here are the many aspects of climate change, the rise of authoritarian movements (currently on the right wing spectrum).
  
  Still, I enjoy reading Derek Sivers and it is useful. — Askan Schmeißer

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  The “Useful Not True” idea helped me see the best in different world beliefs. — Elliot Shimmin

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  I am glad he wrote it. Now we just need everyone on earth to read it. — Brian David Hall

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  I did get quite a bit out of "Useful Not True". I found an echo of Byron Katie in there but in a usefully truncated way. I appreciated it as an easy read and something I can go back to when I need to realign my intentions with what is actually MY truth as opposed to what society is telling me. I like the idea that non-truths can be useful in helping us question what we truly believe/feel/imagine. — Katherine Packer

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  Useful, Not True is becoming primary in my critical thinking tool kit. I care about Derek and I respect him enough to trust his message and intentions without too much reflexive scrutiny, the kind that I typically reserve for most folks that I don't know from personal experience. My life is getting better, little by little, in meaningful part from the positive influence of Derek's hopeful & sincere message, many mediums but one life affirming, practical and heartfelt message. — James Laino

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  Useful Not True is an amazing book. I especially loved chapter 52 titled “No new instructions for the computer” because it pointed directly at my tendency to over-consume information, yet still feeling lost. This quote speaks directly to me: “Stop interrupting yourself with new information. That’s enough input. It’s time for output.”
  
  I look forward to re-open this book from time to time and find perspectives that resonate and activate. Enjoy! — Peter Hunter

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  This is an entertaining, easy to read and thought provoking book. This is good material, especially for young people with little life experience, since the knowledge shared herein will make the reader think more profoundly about life than the average person. Indeed, the topics presented in this manuscript can even be life changing to some. Highly recommended. — Rhounage Seinpaal

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  The flow of the book is too good. It's hard to disengage, reflect and act. It's too easy to just follow your one take journey, agreeing, enjoying without changing myself.
  
  I like his one-take audiobook with the details like starting over at some part or taking of your slippers. This feels as if he tells me this story in my living room. — Nils Sperling

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  A very useful book. It made me smile several times with delight and awe. The ideas of this book can weirdly help reveal sanity and beauty when no longer stuck in "truths". Five out of five. — Arttu Heinilä