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Jason Fried Reflects on ReWork

Aug 21, 2025

Guest

Jason Fried

Jason Fried, CEO of 37Signals and author of ReWork, shares his wisdom on product quality and the evolution of remote work. He discusses how simplicity can improve business practices for small companies and champions a shift from speed to meaningful communication. Jason emphasizes the importance of aligning company culture with values and pursuing passion in work for true fulfillment. He reflects on the impact of personal motivation and the significance of storytelling, offering rich insights for entrepreneurs and engineers alike.

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INSIGHT

Business Simplicity Over Startup Mystique

Rework is a cookbook of practices for small companies rather than a technology manual for giants.
Jason Fried argues simpler, direct approaches suit smaller businesses and scale down complexity.

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ADVICE

Open Up Your Processes

Share how you run your business instead of hoarding supposed 'secret sauce.'
Do the best work you can and don't rely on patents or secrecy to protect competitive edge.

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ANECDOTE

Remote Work From The Start

37signals hired remote employees from Denmark and Utah from early on and it worked seamlessly.
They stayed remote, ended their big office lease in 2020 and now employ people across many countries.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Redefining Business: Insights from 'Rework'

01:32 • 14min

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Embracing Simplicity in Engineering and Growth

15:18 • 3min

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Returning to Fundamentals: The Shift from Chat to Long-Form Communication

17:54 • 4min

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Finding Fulfillment in Work

21:40 • 18min

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Navigating Company Culture and Values

39:48 • 19min

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Exploring Contradictory Perspectives in Literature

58:36 • 2min

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#549

• Mentioned in 34 episodes

The Overstory

Richard Powers

The Overstory is a sweeping and impassioned work of environmental fiction that follows the lives of nine individuals whose paths are intertwined by their connections to trees. The novel is structured in four parts – 'Roots', 'Trunk', 'Crown', and 'Seeds' – mirroring the parts of a tree. It delves into themes of ecology, climate change, and the interconnectedness of trees and humans, using a blend of science, history, and magical realism. The book advocates for the protection of trees and the natural world, posing critical questions about humanity's relationship with the environment and the long-term consequences of human actions.

#9653

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The Manual

A Philosopher's Guide to Life

Epictetus

Ancient Renewal

Sam Torode

This book compiles Epictetus' essential teachings, offering practical guidance on Stoicism. It emphasizes accepting what is beyond one's control while focusing on personal actions and self-discipline. The manual is a contemporary English translation of his philosophy.

#1923

• Mentioned in 14 episodes

Remote

Office Not Required

David Heinemeier Hansson

Jason Fried

In 'Remote: Office Not Required,' Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson present a compelling case for remote work, drawing from their extensive experience at Basecamp. The book outlines the advantages of remote work, such as access to top talent, reduced commuting, and improved productivity. It also addresses common obstacles and provides tools and methods for successful remote work implementation, including video conferencing, chat software, and project management. The authors emphasize the importance of managing for performance over presence and encourage leaders to adopt a flexible work environment that prioritizes work over traditional office hours.

#36179

Bewilderment

Richard Powers

Set in a near-future dystopian America, 'Bewilderment' follows Theo Byrne, an astrobiologist, and his nine-year-old son Robin, who is diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, ADHD, and other conditions. After the death of his wife, Alyssa, Theo resists psychoactive medication for Robin and instead turns to an experimental neurofeedback therapy that involves training Robin to mimic his mother's brain patterns. The novel explores themes of family, environmental degradation, and the search for life beyond Earth, highlighting the deep bond between Theo and Robin as they face the challenges of their troubled world.

#2167

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

Orbital

Samantha Harvey

#2095

• Mentioned in 13 episodes

Area 51

An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base

Annie Jacobsen

This book provides a comprehensive and gripping narrative of the activities at Area 51, based on interviews with eyewitnesses and formerly classified information. It covers the base's history from its creation at the end of World War II to modern-day operations, including nuclear testing, the development of secret aircraft, and the involvement of various government agencies. Jacobsen's research uncovers the intricate and often secretive operations of the base, making it a seminal work on the subject.

#1580

• Mentioned in 16 episodes

It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work

David Heinemeier Hansson

Jason Fried

#582

• Mentioned in 33 episodes

How to Live

27 conflicting answers and one weird conclusion

Derek Sivers

In 'How to Live', Derek Sivers presents a collection of 27 independent chapters, each offering a different philosophy on how to live. These chapters often contradict each other, arguing for various approaches such as being completely independent, committing to one career or person, being fully present, or delaying gratification. The book is designed for reflection as much as instruction, providing actionable directives without quoting philosophers or naming specific ideologies. It invites readers to consider multiple perspectives and find their own way, emphasizing that there is no one right way to live life.

#393

• Mentioned in 45 episodes

Rework

David Heinemeier Hansson

Jason Fried

Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson presents a fresh and unconventional approach to business. The book argues against traditional business practices such as writing business plans, seeking outside investors, and staffing up. Instead, it advocates for a simpler, more efficient way of doing business, emphasizing the importance of productivity, avoiding unnecessary meetings and paperwork, and ignoring the competition. The authors draw from their experiences at 37signals (now Basecamp) to provide practical advice and examples that support their counterintuitive ideas. The book is designed to inspire and provoke readers to rethink their approach to work and entrepreneurship.

In this special episode of Book Overflow, Carter and Nathan are joined by Jason Fried, CEO of 37Signals and author of ReWork! Join them as Jason reflects on how to make great products, sticking to your guns, and having the courage to blaze new trails!

Get 25% off Tusk AI!

https://bit.ly/tusk-bookoverflow-2

-- Want to talk with Carter or Nathan? Book a coaching session! --

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Carter

https://www.joinleland.com/coach/carter-m-1

Nathan

https://www.joinleland.com/coach/nathan-t-2

-- Books Mentioned in this Episode --

Note: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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ReWork by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

https://amzn.to/43vgO7T (paid link)

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00:00 Intro

01:27 Welcome to Jason Fried

01:32 About Rework and the Industry in 2010

07:43 Remote Work

16:16 What Still Resonates

31:39 Making a Dent in the Universe

40:00 Culture is a Moving Average

49:43 Business Media and Startup Culture

53:48 Book Recommendations

59:54 Resources and Closing

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5kj6DLCEWR5nHShlSYJI5L

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-overflow/id1745257325

X: https://x.com/bookoverflowpod

Carter on X: https://x.com/cartermorgan

Nathan's Functionally Imperative: www.functionallyimperative.com

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Book Overflow is a podcast for software engineers, by software engineers dedicated to improving our craft by reading the best technical books in the world. Join Carter Morgan and Nathan Toups as they read and discuss a new technical book each week!

The full book schedule and links to every major podcast player can be found at https://www.bookoverflow.io

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