What do you think?
Rate this book
You Can Just Do Things: How High-Agency People Get What They Want Out of Life
You’ve been taught success comes from careful planning, learning the ropes, and earning one promotion at a time. But what about the people who seem to skip all that? We all know a few rare individuals who never stop moving, taking wild risks, and collecting public failures, yet somehow always seem to land on top. Cate Hall is one of those maddening, inspiring people. She left an elite legal career just before making partner to gamble for a living — and became the world’s top-ranked female poker player. A drug addiction left her broke and brain-damaged, but a year after emerging from it, she co-founded a biotech startup that set a clinical trial speed record. Not long after, she took the helm of one of the world’s largest philanthropic foundations. Why don’t the rules apply to her? What if they don’t apply to you either? In You Can Just Do Things, Cate Hall argues that the so-called “rules” of success aren’t rules at all — they’re productivity guidelines for low-agency people. Hall shows readers how to live with agency and take control of your future:
Increase your surface area for luck
Take every shortcut available
Build “forcing functions” that ensure commitment
Use your deepest insecurities as fuel for growth
Are you ready to cross the cringe minefield? To show up where you don’t belong, apply for jobs you’re not qualified for, call people who aren’t expecting it, and risk looking foolish in front of others? Every time you think, “Somebody should do this,” that somebody can be you. An uncomfortable psychological journey and a toolkit for bold living, You Can Just Do Things reveals how to stop waiting and start building the life you want.
Increase your surface area for luck
Take every shortcut available
Build “forcing functions” that ensure commitment
Use your deepest insecurities as fuel for growth
Are you ready to cross the cringe minefield? To show up where you don’t belong, apply for jobs you’re not qualified for, call people who aren’t expecting it, and risk looking foolish in front of others? Every time you think, “Somebody should do this,” that somebody can be you. An uncomfortable psychological journey and a toolkit for bold living, You Can Just Do Things reveals how to stop waiting and start building the life you want.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published July 21, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 21, 2026
Cate Hall’s book You Can Just Do Things is fun, inspiring, and scary. When reading the title, you might ask: What things? How do I do them? Will it hurt? Hall answers those questions, and more, in her book. And- yes, it might hurt!
The author has tried, failed, and succeeded many times. She shares her stories and lessons throughout the book. Using her own stories and stories of others she takes us through the following steps:
Realize SOMETHING needs to happen (The status quo does not work)
Identify what you need to do
Be willing to look stupid and fail
Try new things
Set yourself up for success
Identify your best self
Hall mixes storytelling, tips, and question prompts in a choose-your-own-adventure manner. Her advice is challenging, particularly if you are not a risk-taker and do not want to appear pushy. When I started reading, I viewed her advice as fantasy. There was no way I would do the bold things she suggests. But she is convincing. With the right goal in mind, looking silly is less of a risk.
At the beginning of the book she suggests we take the time to engage in intentional, intensive, self-questioning. An early question is: “What consequences am I trying to prevent by living in a way I do not like?” The next step may be a big change, a small change, or a nudge— it is up to you.
Hall devotes the second section of her book to being “willing to look stupid.” As expected, the advice is scary and not attractive. At least on first read. She makes a good point: we will fail to see some of our best options if we rule out everything that is socially unusual. She tells us to remind ourselves that embarrassment is the feeling of breaking the rules, and we want to break our previous rules. (Really— that does sound fun!)
The third section of the book is my favorite: “Get out of your lane.” In this section she tells us to stop using “this is the way I am” as an excuse. After reading the scary tips in the second section of the book, I was relieved to read advice about becoming more curious, becoming more skeptical, and avoiding fake life lessons. As a fan of the Enneagram system, I enjoyed the tips for selecting a counter-instinctual strategy based on the core fear of my Enneagram type.
The final sections of the book provide multiple tips to find the path of least resistance, which is not always the path that appears the easiest. There are many ways to set yourself up for success. Some of the ways involve making failure difficult or embarrassing.
I highly recommend this book. It is short (approximately 200 pages), easy to read, and encourages the reader to view their life through a different lens. Even the risk-averse will find some useful advice.
The author has tried, failed, and succeeded many times. She shares her stories and lessons throughout the book. Using her own stories and stories of others she takes us through the following steps:
Realize SOMETHING needs to happen (The status quo does not work)
Identify what you need to do
Be willing to look stupid and fail
Try new things
Set yourself up for success
Identify your best self
Hall mixes storytelling, tips, and question prompts in a choose-your-own-adventure manner. Her advice is challenging, particularly if you are not a risk-taker and do not want to appear pushy. When I started reading, I viewed her advice as fantasy. There was no way I would do the bold things she suggests. But she is convincing. With the right goal in mind, looking silly is less of a risk.
At the beginning of the book she suggests we take the time to engage in intentional, intensive, self-questioning. An early question is: “What consequences am I trying to prevent by living in a way I do not like?” The next step may be a big change, a small change, or a nudge— it is up to you.
Hall devotes the second section of her book to being “willing to look stupid.” As expected, the advice is scary and not attractive. At least on first read. She makes a good point: we will fail to see some of our best options if we rule out everything that is socially unusual. She tells us to remind ourselves that embarrassment is the feeling of breaking the rules, and we want to break our previous rules. (Really— that does sound fun!)
The third section of the book is my favorite: “Get out of your lane.” In this section she tells us to stop using “this is the way I am” as an excuse. After reading the scary tips in the second section of the book, I was relieved to read advice about becoming more curious, becoming more skeptical, and avoiding fake life lessons. As a fan of the Enneagram system, I enjoyed the tips for selecting a counter-instinctual strategy based on the core fear of my Enneagram type.
The final sections of the book provide multiple tips to find the path of least resistance, which is not always the path that appears the easiest. There are many ways to set yourself up for success. Some of the ways involve making failure difficult or embarrassing.
I highly recommend this book. It is short (approximately 200 pages), easy to read, and encourages the reader to view their life through a different lens. Even the risk-averse will find some useful advice.
July 21, 2026
“You can just do things” has become the rallying cry of a certain contingent of very online people. And while it can come across as flippant, it gets at something important: you can, in fact, just do things.
Hall (and Chapin) have written a relentlessly practical handbook for those of us (read: everyone) who lament the way things are, feel stuck sometimes, or wish our lives were different in some way. It advocates action over rumination with a positive, constructive bent that can apply to whatever situation you’re in.
While it has some of the trappings of the self help genre, it differs in important ways. First, it’s no longer than it has to be. Second, it crams in more practical tips per square inch than any similar book I’ve seen. Finally, it rewards reading through to the end - it’s not one of those books where the first few pages are insightful, but then the remainder of the book is just those same few pages repeated over and over with slight rephrasing.
It’s quick. It’s useful. It’s a good book. You can just read it.
Hall (and Chapin) have written a relentlessly practical handbook for those of us (read: everyone) who lament the way things are, feel stuck sometimes, or wish our lives were different in some way. It advocates action over rumination with a positive, constructive bent that can apply to whatever situation you’re in.
While it has some of the trappings of the self help genre, it differs in important ways. First, it’s no longer than it has to be. Second, it crams in more practical tips per square inch than any similar book I’ve seen. Finally, it rewards reading through to the end - it’s not one of those books where the first few pages are insightful, but then the remainder of the book is just those same few pages repeated over and over with slight rephrasing.
It’s quick. It’s useful. It’s a good book. You can just read it.
July 21, 2026
In a world of hustle grinders and therapy-speak posters, Cate Hall and Sasha Chapin chart the golden mean, finding the synthesis between effort and surrender. Their writing, and this book has helped me to operate in life with a fuller understanding that outcomes are not in my control, while simultaneously knowing that I can always move the odds in my favor, doing things that others would consider absurd or impossible, in pursuit of my goals.
I've learned that my locus of control is wider than I ever thought imaginable, without losing myself to the cult gospel of grinding and hustle. The book creates a synthesis between control over your actions and separation from your outcomes. It's full of thoughts like these two held in both hands:
1. "Anytime you find yourself in the enviable position of actually knowing what you want out of life, you're allowed to skip all the artificial steps standing between you and it and work on your goal as directly as possible, doing only what matters to advance the plot."
2. "...struggling is not evidence that you've tried everything. To the contrary, the continuous need for willpower may be the sign of a badly engineered life."
How great to know that anything is possible, but that if I constantly have to push myself to do things, then I'm doing the wrong things!
Sasha and Cate's writings on Substack have been instrumental in my personal formation. I'm so glad that this great book is bringing them to a larger audience!
I've learned that my locus of control is wider than I ever thought imaginable, without losing myself to the cult gospel of grinding and hustle. The book creates a synthesis between control over your actions and separation from your outcomes. It's full of thoughts like these two held in both hands:
1. "Anytime you find yourself in the enviable position of actually knowing what you want out of life, you're allowed to skip all the artificial steps standing between you and it and work on your goal as directly as possible, doing only what matters to advance the plot."
2. "...struggling is not evidence that you've tried everything. To the contrary, the continuous need for willpower may be the sign of a badly engineered life."
How great to know that anything is possible, but that if I constantly have to push myself to do things, then I'm doing the wrong things!
Sasha and Cate's writings on Substack have been instrumental in my personal formation. I'm so glad that this great book is bringing them to a larger audience!
July 21, 2026
Hall brings a delightful candor and humor throughout the book as she shares her own experiences in the highs and lows of life. She asks pointed questions to get the reader thinking about what choices (or non-choices) are driving life.
Each section begins with a story that sets the tone for the recommendations and strategies that follow. While not everything is groundbreaking - "be willing to look stupid" - the framing and naming creates humor and helps each area feel fresh. Within the conversational nature lay acknowledgement and challenges of long-held assumptions, "we think we're doing the wrong thing if we succeed easily."
As a coach, the simplicity of the questions is what makes this thought-provoking and actionable.
Each section begins with a story that sets the tone for the recommendations and strategies that follow. While not everything is groundbreaking - "be willing to look stupid" - the framing and naming creates humor and helps each area feel fresh. Within the conversational nature lay acknowledgement and challenges of long-held assumptions, "we think we're doing the wrong thing if we succeed easily."
As a coach, the simplicity of the questions is what makes this thought-provoking and actionable.
August 1, 2026
A few months ago, I was agonising over one of the most difficult emotional problems of my entire life. I was tortured: to make a decision one way or the other was to choose between radically different futures, and for the life of me, no matter how much I agonised, ruminated, listed pros and cons, ground my teeth, tore my hair out, no matter how much sleep I lost, I simply could not decide one way or the other.
I was stuck.
Then, by chance, and I praise God for playing dice, because my Instagram feed (since deleted) was at the time full of the most reprehensible slop, certainly not the kind of stuff that improves one's life, I saw a reel by a man introducing and explaining the work of philosopher Ruth Chang. Ruth Chang is doing interesting research in the field of practical reason, which studies how people do in fact in the real world make choices. And her interesting research is about so-called "hard choices". Hard choices are choices between two or more options all of which are on a par: meaningfully different from each other, with different valuations, but nonetheless, with none of them decisively any better than the other. It's a modern formulation of Buridan's ass, in which a donkey that's both hungry and thirsty is placed an equal distance from hay and a pail of water and which, unable to choose between which one to approach first, dies. Hard choices are like that: all options are valuable, all are different from each other, but none is better than the other.
How do you choose?
Chang's answer was a revelation to me. You simply choose, and through choosing, and through all the actions that follow from your choice, you create reasons that retroactively justify your decision. In a sense, the question changes from, which option is better? to, which option can I mostly comprehensively commit to so as to give this choice, this decision, the greatest possible chance of success? By choosing thus, and by committing to your choice with supportive follow-up actions, your make your choice the right one. The decisive factor is not some long-sought-after fact about the world which has finally tipped the scales in favour of one answer; in archetypal hard choices, such facts cannot exist by definition; rather, the decisive factor is the motion of the human will, which by forging ahead on one path rather than another creates new facts about the world.
Sounds familiar?
This idea of hard choices started my obsession with agency.
This book by Cate Hall is the first book I've read since this revelation that deals solely with the concept of agentic choice. It has come at exactly the right time for me, which might partly explain my 5-star rating. I am not an objective judge; this book is meaningful to me for reasons that just might not hold for other people, and those people might rate this book very differently. That said, this book was a wonderful read.
People with agency get things done. They find ways to make things work. They assume that what others can do, they can do as well; they take responsibility for solving problems. They focus on their true, deep goals, which can mean a rejection of hustle culture and working for the sake of it and an obsession with finding the quickest, simplest way to get the thing they actually want. They don't agonise their way towards a perfect decision; they act now and make many small bets. They let failure be their guide. They are radically aware of and alive to the existence of alternative futures; failure isn't a statement about their personal worth, or lack thereof; it is simply an invitation to try something else. Maybe this sounds trite. And maybe it is. But what this book does really well is give you practical tools for making confident decisions under uncertainty. Developing faith in your ability to make rational, probabilistic judgements in uncertain environments, to move through the world and all its chaos with faith and conviction in your ability to figure out a way to make the next best move, to move, as Jocko Willinck said, to the next best position, is something that I have not seen tackled in any other self-help book (although I'm reluctant to call this self-help). It's worth a look-in for that reason alone.
Now I'm gonna go learn poker.
I was stuck.
Then, by chance, and I praise God for playing dice, because my Instagram feed (since deleted) was at the time full of the most reprehensible slop, certainly not the kind of stuff that improves one's life, I saw a reel by a man introducing and explaining the work of philosopher Ruth Chang. Ruth Chang is doing interesting research in the field of practical reason, which studies how people do in fact in the real world make choices. And her interesting research is about so-called "hard choices". Hard choices are choices between two or more options all of which are on a par: meaningfully different from each other, with different valuations, but nonetheless, with none of them decisively any better than the other. It's a modern formulation of Buridan's ass, in which a donkey that's both hungry and thirsty is placed an equal distance from hay and a pail of water and which, unable to choose between which one to approach first, dies. Hard choices are like that: all options are valuable, all are different from each other, but none is better than the other.
How do you choose?
Chang's answer was a revelation to me. You simply choose, and through choosing, and through all the actions that follow from your choice, you create reasons that retroactively justify your decision. In a sense, the question changes from, which option is better? to, which option can I mostly comprehensively commit to so as to give this choice, this decision, the greatest possible chance of success? By choosing thus, and by committing to your choice with supportive follow-up actions, your make your choice the right one. The decisive factor is not some long-sought-after fact about the world which has finally tipped the scales in favour of one answer; in archetypal hard choices, such facts cannot exist by definition; rather, the decisive factor is the motion of the human will, which by forging ahead on one path rather than another creates new facts about the world.
Sounds familiar?
This idea of hard choices started my obsession with agency.
This book by Cate Hall is the first book I've read since this revelation that deals solely with the concept of agentic choice. It has come at exactly the right time for me, which might partly explain my 5-star rating. I am not an objective judge; this book is meaningful to me for reasons that just might not hold for other people, and those people might rate this book very differently. That said, this book was a wonderful read.
People with agency get things done. They find ways to make things work. They assume that what others can do, they can do as well; they take responsibility for solving problems. They focus on their true, deep goals, which can mean a rejection of hustle culture and working for the sake of it and an obsession with finding the quickest, simplest way to get the thing they actually want. They don't agonise their way towards a perfect decision; they act now and make many small bets. They let failure be their guide. They are radically aware of and alive to the existence of alternative futures; failure isn't a statement about their personal worth, or lack thereof; it is simply an invitation to try something else. Maybe this sounds trite. And maybe it is. But what this book does really well is give you practical tools for making confident decisions under uncertainty. Developing faith in your ability to make rational, probabilistic judgements in uncertain environments, to move through the world and all its chaos with faith and conviction in your ability to figure out a way to make the next best move, to move, as Jocko Willinck said, to the next best position, is something that I have not seen tackled in any other self-help book (although I'm reluctant to call this self-help). It's worth a look-in for that reason alone.
Now I'm gonna go learn poker.
July 22, 2026
I really wanted to love this book. The central idea, that we often have more agency than we think we do, is compelling, and there were several concepts I'll continue to think about. The authors challenge the way we think about agency, encouraging us to question assumptions, recognize where we have more freedom than we realize, and simply take the next step. I especially liked the ideas around thinking like a crisis manager, having an inner dialogue with two conflict parts of ourselves, and treating traits as learnable skills. The short chapters also made it easy to pick up and put down.
The execution didn't always work for me. Some of the examples felt more focused on shock value than strengthening the book's central message. The story about a guy creating a fake LinkedIn company to get dates and the discussion around using shame as an accountability strategy both felt outdated and left me cringing. Those moments pulled me out of what was otherwise a thoughtful and insightful book.
That said, I can absolutely see why this book is resonating with so many readers. There are plenty of smart, memorable ideas here, and I took away several that I'll continue to apply. I just wish the examples had resonated with me as much as the core ideas did.
This is a 3.5/4 stars for me. Thank you to First Look Club for the early copy.
The execution didn't always work for me. Some of the examples felt more focused on shock value than strengthening the book's central message. The story about a guy creating a fake LinkedIn company to get dates and the discussion around using shame as an accountability strategy both felt outdated and left me cringing. Those moments pulled me out of what was otherwise a thoughtful and insightful book.
That said, I can absolutely see why this book is resonating with so many readers. There are plenty of smart, memorable ideas here, and I took away several that I'll continue to apply. I just wish the examples had resonated with me as much as the core ideas did.
This is a 3.5/4 stars for me. Thank you to First Look Club for the early copy.
July 22, 2026
Cate Hall’s “You Can Just Do Things: How High-Agency People Get What They Want Out of Life” is an engaging and thought-provoking guide to taking ownership of your life. Hall’s own journey—from corporate lawyer to the highest-ranked female poker player in the world and later to leading one of the world’s largest philanthropic foundations—gives her advice both credibility and practical relevance.
Some of the ideas that resonated most with me were her encouragement to seek honest feedback, stop fearing rejection, ask yourself, “Do I actually want this?”, and identify the core fears that may be holding you back. Her message is that the life you want often lies just beyond your comfort zone—and that there may be unexpected rewards waiting on the other side.
The book is filled with personal stories and practical insights that make these concepts feel achievable. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking to become more intentional, courageous, and proactive in shaping their future.
Some of the ideas that resonated most with me were her encouragement to seek honest feedback, stop fearing rejection, ask yourself, “Do I actually want this?”, and identify the core fears that may be holding you back. Her message is that the life you want often lies just beyond your comfort zone—and that there may be unexpected rewards waiting on the other side.
The book is filled with personal stories and practical insights that make these concepts feel achievable. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking to become more intentional, courageous, and proactive in shaping their future.
July 22, 2026
“You Can Just Do Things” brings clarity to the self-agency and power we all have during change – the power to do something different. As I read, I felt the author on my shoulder reminding me of my own agency in familiar situations; whispering I always have a choice –. We should never forget life is about learning, fear is expected and according to Hall, if it has been a while since you’ve felt embarrassed, more than likely you have slipped back to being a rule follower. Remember to always “plunge into the Moat”. Hall throughout the book continuously reminded me it is all about the learning. Opportunity will knock; you have been granted permission. A terrific read for anyone seeking ways to engage self-agency and excel.
July 21, 2026
I came to this book already reading Cate and Sasha on Substack, so I knew what I was in for: writing that takes ambition seriously without worshipping it. The book’s central move is holding two things at once — you can widen your sense of what’s possible far beyond what feels reasonable, and you can stop treating constant struggle as proof of virtue. Then you can see hidden doors in the walls.
I’ve reorganized real decisions around that idea. Fewer artificial steps between me and the thing I actually want. Less grinding, more aim.
Five stars. I’ve already bought copies for friends.
I’ve reorganized real decisions around that idea. Fewer artificial steps between me and the thing I actually want. Less grinding, more aim.
Five stars. I’ve already bought copies for friends.
July 25, 2026
I read this book as part of a first reads program. I loved it and would pick it up even if it wasn't just given to me. There are all kinds of great practical reminders that we have agency in our own life - to make decisions and then maybe even to decide if those decisions aren't the right ones and make different choices.
I found myself underlining a lot! Maybe you need a reminder too - that you don't have to over think everything - just do it. And if you question anything, question if you are good where you are right now or if you need to make another choice. Quit tripping over your own invisible psychologial obstacle course.
I highly recommend this book!
I found myself underlining a lot! Maybe you need a reminder too - that you don't have to over think everything - just do it. And if you question anything, question if you are good where you are right now or if you need to make another choice. Quit tripping over your own invisible psychologial obstacle course.
I highly recommend this book!
Read
July 31, 2026An actually good self-help book.
July 28, 2026
Hall and Chapin's work is far from just another self help book. Far from another "be your best self" guide with impractical advice or guidance that worked for someone else but is impossible to apply to your life. This book is a very useful journey into what it means to really develop high agency - what it actually takes, how you can start the process, all told through a vulnerably honest, transparent and no holds barred narrative of Cate's life. Far from another memoir veiled as a self help book, Hall draws on her experiences and struggles with addiction to give a human perspective to what it really means to work toward full agency. Much of what she talks about in this book I have been fortunate to be exposed to in a handful of workshops that I've found - but these are concepts I've never seen conveyed well to print, until now. Sure, part of me does wonder of my adoration of this work is partially fueled by my recognizing my dating and partnering with my wife in the story she tells of accountable first date conversations with her husband (I had a similar exchange with my now wife on our first date), but I think moreover this book solidifies that our starting off so transparent, open and diving quickly into commitment (we were engaged in 3 months) is a testament to the concepts in this book working and working well if you really lean in - at least it has in my life. Rather than just being a rehash of other books of similar ideas (there are notes of Radical Candor and Thank You for the Feedback in here), this feels like an extension of those books that I personally consider central to my approach to my work and my life. Even without those as reference points, You Can Just Do Things stands completely alone as required reading for anyone that is interested in truly living an authentic and full life - not in concept, nor in the Instagram version of a full life, but in a truly meaning and full life that will reduce that looming deathbed regret we should all fear and fight not squash now. Even the portions of the book that I might not have fully agreed with initially (some of the extreme examples of how to "get things done" seems excessive to me), Hall and Chapin do a very good job of balancing these as just examples and not permission slips, helping my resistance to them as over the top not get in the way of the underlying learning meant to be conveyed. And, as someone who is one of the "Grownups" (her words - I work in the C-suite of my organization) I must say she is absolutely correct. There is no "they" - we all have the same struggles, the same opportunities for mistakes, and the same fears or concerns - including self doubt. I also must say that I love that the author has a Charles Bukowski quote tattooed on her arm - I have a different quote Bukowski quote tattooed on me - "If you are going to try, go all the way" (otherwise, don't even start). While maybe not as perfect as the one she has (you'll have to read the book to know what hers says), I still think it fits - and this book can help you start - or continue - trying to go all the way.
August 3, 2026
Really enjoyed this. The book is dense with prompts you can use the same day you read it.
A caveat: if you already read Cate Hall's Substack, some of the material will be familiar, and if you've read about agency before, not everything will be a revelation. That didn't bother me. It's short, reads quickly, and the value is in the density of usable ideas. If you implement even a few, it could be very impactful.
Hall defines agency as seeing new options for effective action and feeling at liberty to do unconventional things: breaking down fictitious barriers and being limited only by real ones. Doing that costs status at first, and she suggests meditating on this "moat of low status" and accepting that embarrassment comes with breaking the rules of your old life. Keep a low ego, because it's easier to fail that way, and people don't remember you for your failures anyway (mostly).
The section on asking was the most immediately useful for me. If you're not getting rejected, you're not aiming high enough. Ask for what you want straightforwardly, no hedging, and take rejection gracefully. When you get a no, try: "I'm not trying to convince you to change your mind, but would you be open to sharing why it's a no for you?" She also makes the case for an expected value mindset over a loss aversion one, and for being selective about where you apply effort. Cate recommends not trying to predict how hard something might be to do as bracing against expected difficulty takes time away from addressing the real difficulty (you don’t know what challenges you will really encounter).
Some of the prompts I've written down to use:
- What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?
- What else is possible that might currently seem unreasonable?
- Imagine it was declared illegal to approach this goal the traditional way. How would you do it?
- How would someone much, much better at this than me approach it?
- Are you playing to play, or playing to win? (This was a super useful concept, made me think about my real goals vs declared goals). Based on this article https://commoncog.com/playing-to-play...
A caveat: if you already read Cate Hall's Substack, some of the material will be familiar, and if you've read about agency before, not everything will be a revelation. That didn't bother me. It's short, reads quickly, and the value is in the density of usable ideas. If you implement even a few, it could be very impactful.
Hall defines agency as seeing new options for effective action and feeling at liberty to do unconventional things: breaking down fictitious barriers and being limited only by real ones. Doing that costs status at first, and she suggests meditating on this "moat of low status" and accepting that embarrassment comes with breaking the rules of your old life. Keep a low ego, because it's easier to fail that way, and people don't remember you for your failures anyway (mostly).
The section on asking was the most immediately useful for me. If you're not getting rejected, you're not aiming high enough. Ask for what you want straightforwardly, no hedging, and take rejection gracefully. When you get a no, try: "I'm not trying to convince you to change your mind, but would you be open to sharing why it's a no for you?" She also makes the case for an expected value mindset over a loss aversion one, and for being selective about where you apply effort. Cate recommends not trying to predict how hard something might be to do as bracing against expected difficulty takes time away from addressing the real difficulty (you don’t know what challenges you will really encounter).
Some of the prompts I've written down to use:
- What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?
- What else is possible that might currently seem unreasonable?
- Imagine it was declared illegal to approach this goal the traditional way. How would you do it?
- How would someone much, much better at this than me approach it?
- Are you playing to play, or playing to win? (This was a super useful concept, made me think about my real goals vs declared goals). Based on this article https://commoncog.com/playing-to-play...
July 29, 2026
You Can Just Do Things is a self help book for people who don't really like self help books. So, let's just call it a life lessons book. The author, Cate Hall, provides thought provoking tasks for the reader to consider to increase "self agency". It starts off with how to take control of your own life, by looking into your own head to get out of your own head. There is no implied expectations that if you don't do this then you will fail. It's a string of ideas, thoughts and suggestions on what has worked for others and may work for the reader. And if you want to try one of the recommendations, great. If you want to change but realize right now is not the time, that's ok too, you will have a better understanding of why you stand where you stand at this point in your life.
It's difficult to assess what's the one lesson everyone would benefit from or take away from this book, because that is heavily based on your world perception and experiences. Something that resonates with one may seem difficult for another to accept. Or an "ah ha" moment may be a common place for another. If you approach this book with curiosity and open mind, and thinking space, you may get more out of this book than the comfort of confirmation bias.
This book may also be an interest to an undercover rebel who who feels stuck and wonders why because everyone tells them what they are doing is what they should be doing and if that IS the right thing to do why do they feel so uncomfortable in their own skin? (and if you followed this thought process - then you may really like this read)
If you want to find a way out but don't like being told what to do (step by step, this not that) but more broad strokes that allow you to reflect on the unique person you are and need to find your way out of a box you find yourself in and not sure if you are 'allowed' to step out of, Cate hall's book may be a place to start.
Change is not required, permission is not needed, but a seed can be planted and it's up to the reader how they want to nurture it.
It's difficult to assess what's the one lesson everyone would benefit from or take away from this book, because that is heavily based on your world perception and experiences. Something that resonates with one may seem difficult for another to accept. Or an "ah ha" moment may be a common place for another. If you approach this book with curiosity and open mind, and thinking space, you may get more out of this book than the comfort of confirmation bias.
This book may also be an interest to an undercover rebel who who feels stuck and wonders why because everyone tells them what they are doing is what they should be doing and if that IS the right thing to do why do they feel so uncomfortable in their own skin? (and if you followed this thought process - then you may really like this read)
If you want to find a way out but don't like being told what to do (step by step, this not that) but more broad strokes that allow you to reflect on the unique person you are and need to find your way out of a box you find yourself in and not sure if you are 'allowed' to step out of, Cate hall's book may be a place to start.
Change is not required, permission is not needed, but a seed can be planted and it's up to the reader how they want to nurture it.
July 29, 2026
I feel that we all want to live with intention. This book helps frame the need for clarity and intentionally in a way that doesn’t feel over the top. It is a quick read that allows the reader to capture the exercises that will help them most effectively.
The author writes “This connects back to one of this book’s big themes: how much we get in our way with a low-curiosity, high-ego mindset. As I read on, I felt that often times the reason we don’t do things is that we are concerned about how it will be perceived to the “masses.” I highlighted and starred that line..
A few thoughts / quotes that stood out for me… Questions focused on abyss staring on page 15 and 16. I will be thinking of a few during an upcoming vacation.
Page 68 - How to use rejection as a growth mechanism
Page 96 and 97 - importance of curiosity and empathy
Page 106 - eliminating the “I can’t” line from my vocabulary
Page 123 - don’t assume it will be hard.
The ending of the book provides some examples of how people have put this into practice and I have to admit that I found them frustrating to read because it was just people doing things. Since reading this book, I have decided to be more proactive with my networking and ask. Thinking about starting a few ventures and seeing what sticks or doesn’t. The book comes down to the old mantra that the world will decide for you.
Great book for recent grads, folks thinking about a career transition, or someone just needing a different perspective.
The author writes “This connects back to one of this book’s big themes: how much we get in our way with a low-curiosity, high-ego mindset. As I read on, I felt that often times the reason we don’t do things is that we are concerned about how it will be perceived to the “masses.” I highlighted and starred that line..
A few thoughts / quotes that stood out for me… Questions focused on abyss staring on page 15 and 16. I will be thinking of a few during an upcoming vacation.
Page 68 - How to use rejection as a growth mechanism
Page 96 and 97 - importance of curiosity and empathy
Page 106 - eliminating the “I can’t” line from my vocabulary
Page 123 - don’t assume it will be hard.
The ending of the book provides some examples of how people have put this into practice and I have to admit that I found them frustrating to read because it was just people doing things. Since reading this book, I have decided to be more proactive with my networking and ask. Thinking about starting a few ventures and seeing what sticks or doesn’t. The book comes down to the old mantra that the world will decide for you.
Great book for recent grads, folks thinking about a career transition, or someone just needing a different perspective.
July 31, 2026
Tagline: Trade caution for possibility.
Although this book may be categorized as self-help, it is refreshingly different from the typical self-help book. It is not research-heavy or built around a review of other self-help titles. Instead, Cate Hall draws on her own experiences to develop broader, practical principles about agency, courage, and opportunity.
The book is captivating and written in a style that feels honest, direct, and trustworthy. It gives you permission to be yourself while offering ideas and examples of how taking greater personal agency can lead to new opportunities and possibilities.
This is an essential read for anyone struggling with their career, considering their next steps, or simply looking for more challenges and opportunities in life.
Key Themes and Insights
The author supports her central thesis by sharing stories and lessons from her own life. Key themes include:
* The value of honest feedback, both anonymous and direct
* Personal growth and self-improvement
* Confidence and assertiveness
* Career and life design
* Overcoming fear and rejection
* Building agency and taking action
Final Verdict
You Can Just Do Things is a highly relatable and engaging book packed with actionable ideas that can apply to almost anyone. As someone who has recently entered a new phase of life—retirement—I’m excited to become more agentic and pursue what I truly want out of life.
It’s never too late.
Although this book may be categorized as self-help, it is refreshingly different from the typical self-help book. It is not research-heavy or built around a review of other self-help titles. Instead, Cate Hall draws on her own experiences to develop broader, practical principles about agency, courage, and opportunity.
The book is captivating and written in a style that feels honest, direct, and trustworthy. It gives you permission to be yourself while offering ideas and examples of how taking greater personal agency can lead to new opportunities and possibilities.
This is an essential read for anyone struggling with their career, considering their next steps, or simply looking for more challenges and opportunities in life.
Key Themes and Insights
The author supports her central thesis by sharing stories and lessons from her own life. Key themes include:
* The value of honest feedback, both anonymous and direct
* Personal growth and self-improvement
* Confidence and assertiveness
* Career and life design
* Overcoming fear and rejection
* Building agency and taking action
Final Verdict
You Can Just Do Things is a highly relatable and engaging book packed with actionable ideas that can apply to almost anyone. As someone who has recently entered a new phase of life—retirement—I’m excited to become more agentic and pursue what I truly want out of life.
It’s never too late.
July 29, 2026
Overall there are some great concepts in this book — like what agency could look like for you, how to better understand where you're currently dissatisfied, and understanding what you're currently doing because you think you should vs. actually wanting to do it. These concepts are also paired with a few actionable steps one can take in order to change, as well as thought provoking questions like, "What consequences am I trying to prevent by living in a way I don't like?"
The writing is plain and conversational, making it inviting for all readers. I can see how the author strived to keep it grounded in the everyday vs. hanging out too much in the behavioral science world of things. I would say this book will land especially well for those who haven't read much on these types of topics and strategies.
I didn't always connect with the examples or how we always cycled back to her three main life pivot points, but I think that's normal for not everyone to connect with 100% of the book. I also didn't love all the strategies presented — like the steps on gathering feedback. However, I do agree with the point she's making about how critical it is to getting reliable, honest feedback.
So while I didn't always align with some of her specifics, I do like all the themes presented and several of the tactics/questions that accompanied them.
The writing is plain and conversational, making it inviting for all readers. I can see how the author strived to keep it grounded in the everyday vs. hanging out too much in the behavioral science world of things. I would say this book will land especially well for those who haven't read much on these types of topics and strategies.
I didn't always connect with the examples or how we always cycled back to her three main life pivot points, but I think that's normal for not everyone to connect with 100% of the book. I also didn't love all the strategies presented — like the steps on gathering feedback. However, I do agree with the point she's making about how critical it is to getting reliable, honest feedback.
So while I didn't always align with some of her specifics, I do like all the themes presented and several of the tactics/questions that accompanied them.
July 31, 2026
Really insightful book that puts into new words the idea that change and challenge can’t happen until you start. The author has a bone fide background story of both taking on changing paths in her own life and also experiencing unwanted events that forced more change on her.
Putting down a successful law career to become a professional poker player is a pretty intense choice, but like so many things in our life, it was a change that she needed to make for her own sanity. Problem is that many of us won’t make that change, we will justify it away, we will just move back into the fast lane of our life with kids, work, and many other things. We ignore the problem and keep on the old safe path we were on, even if it makes us unhappy.
After becoming addicted to drugs, Hall is forced with another change or die event which she did, working her way out of her addiction and becoming the CEO of a for profit startup pharmaceutical company during COVID and now as the CEO for a non profit.
That alone makes this a compelling read, but she shares a number of practical lessons and tips for motivating yourself to take steps big and small into a new path.
Changes like this are the hardest thing that many of use will go through, but as she writes “You Can Just Do Things.” In fact, if you don’t “just do things” you will be forfeiting your time and agency to get on a more fulfilling path. And isn’t maximizing fulfillment part of what life is all about?
Putting down a successful law career to become a professional poker player is a pretty intense choice, but like so many things in our life, it was a change that she needed to make for her own sanity. Problem is that many of us won’t make that change, we will justify it away, we will just move back into the fast lane of our life with kids, work, and many other things. We ignore the problem and keep on the old safe path we were on, even if it makes us unhappy.
After becoming addicted to drugs, Hall is forced with another change or die event which she did, working her way out of her addiction and becoming the CEO of a for profit startup pharmaceutical company during COVID and now as the CEO for a non profit.
That alone makes this a compelling read, but she shares a number of practical lessons and tips for motivating yourself to take steps big and small into a new path.
Changes like this are the hardest thing that many of use will go through, but as she writes “You Can Just Do Things.” In fact, if you don’t “just do things” you will be forfeiting your time and agency to get on a more fulfilling path. And isn’t maximizing fulfillment part of what life is all about?
August 1, 2026
What I appreciated most about Cate Hall's book is her invitation to ask radical questions that challenge many of the assumptions we've quietly accepted about ourselves. She encourages readers to turn familiar patterns of thinking upside down and cultivate a greater sense of agency by viewing themselves through a different lens. Whether it's cherishing embarrassment, stepping outside of normalcy, leaning into discomfort, building rejection tolerance, asking for the unreasonable, or even experimenting with failure, each idea invites us to expand what we believe we're capable of.
One insight that particularly resonated with me was her approach to self-criticism. Instead of interpreting someone else's strengths as evidence of our own shortcomings, Hall encourages us to reframe those moments as proof that we, too, can learn, grow, and develop those same or similar abilities. It's a subtle but powerful shift in perspective.
At its heart, this book is about seeing beyond the limitations we've internalized and questioning the familiar inner dialogue that often keeps us stuck. Throughout the book, Hall poses thoughtful questions that invite genuine self-reflection. If we're willing to answer them honestly – and confront the situations that make us uncomfortable – we may discover a level of freedom, confidence, and possibility that once felt out of reach.
One insight that particularly resonated with me was her approach to self-criticism. Instead of interpreting someone else's strengths as evidence of our own shortcomings, Hall encourages us to reframe those moments as proof that we, too, can learn, grow, and develop those same or similar abilities. It's a subtle but powerful shift in perspective.
At its heart, this book is about seeing beyond the limitations we've internalized and questioning the familiar inner dialogue that often keeps us stuck. Throughout the book, Hall poses thoughtful questions that invite genuine self-reflection. If we're willing to answer them honestly – and confront the situations that make us uncomfortable – we may discover a level of freedom, confidence, and possibility that once felt out of reach.
July 31, 2026
I can really appreciate how the author was able to take her life experience and use it to identify ways people get stuck and stop themselves from moving forward. This is a self-help book. It speaks to ways we all could be a little less ego-centric and more willing to do things that might embarrass us to pursue things that really matter to us.
I listened to the audiobook, which was read by the author, courtesy of NetGalley and Harper Audio. I listened to it at 1.25x, which threw the cadence off a bit. I generally like it when the author can read their own book, as I believe they'll speak the inflections just as they meant them.
Because I listened to it, I found it hard to capture the wisdom I found in the book. It's difficult to take notes while driving or mowing the lawn. I'm happy that I had the chance to listen to the audiobook because I'm more likely to finish non-fiction in this format. However, I think I'd prefer to own the book in a physical format so I could focus more specifically on a particular section, such as staring into the abyss & have her list of possible questions to ask, in an easy-to-access format where I can dwell on a thought for a while.
I listened to the audiobook, which was read by the author, courtesy of NetGalley and Harper Audio. I listened to it at 1.25x, which threw the cadence off a bit. I generally like it when the author can read their own book, as I believe they'll speak the inflections just as they meant them.
Because I listened to it, I found it hard to capture the wisdom I found in the book. It's difficult to take notes while driving or mowing the lawn. I'm happy that I had the chance to listen to the audiobook because I'm more likely to finish non-fiction in this format. However, I think I'd prefer to own the book in a physical format so I could focus more specifically on a particular section, such as staring into the abyss & have her list of possible questions to ask, in an easy-to-access format where I can dwell on a thought for a while.
July 30, 2026
In You Can Just Do Things, Cate Hall and Sasha Chapin challenge readers to stop waiting for permission and act with more agency. The book argues that many of the barriers we accept as fixed are often artificial, inherited (adopted), or self-imposed. Through practical advice and memorable stories, the authors encourage readers to question assumptions, make uncomfortable asks, tolerate embarrassment, and move before they feel fully ready. The message is energizing: confidence often follows action, not the other way around. What made the book more credible for me was its acknowledgment that this advice has a “shadow side.” Not every shortcut, unreasonable request, or act of boldness will fit every person or circumstance. At times, the guidance can feel like being asked to wear ill-fitting shoes and keep walking anyway. Still, the book succeeds as a useful push for anyone held back by fear, inertia, or self-limiting beliefs. I would recommend it to readers who need a nudge to get out of their own way and pursue bigger possibilities.
July 31, 2026
I loved this book. At first the subtitle provoked some eye rolling in me. I thought, Oh boy, another self-help / productivity book with corny cheerleader-like energy. But Cate Hall is far from that! She writes in a punchy, no-nonsense style, and she offers real-life (and hard-won) insights & advice. I recommend the book. It’s the kind that I might buy more copies of to give away as gifts. If at first I didn’t like the subtitle, I immediately loved the main title: You Can Just Do Things. It became a kind of mantra for me; a nudge; a positive voice in my head. And I started acting on things — taking initiative — because of that title. On the basis of the title alone, the book started having a positive effect on my life as soon as I started reading it. My favorite take away from the book might be the chapter on seeking out rejection. Asking for big, audacious, unreasonable things. Testing the limits of what you assume other people’s expectations are. In any case, it’s a smart, sharp, edgy book that crossed my path at just the right time.
August 3, 2026
Great read if you are ready for change and looking for a practical roadmap to get there.
The book is structured into five core sections: Wake Up and Move, Be Willing to Look Stupid, Get Out of Your Lane, Walk Through Walls, and Find Your Limits. Each part offers fresh perspectives to help you challenge your worldview, re-examine your current situation, and expand your sense of what is possible.
The author grounds these concepts using real-life examples from their own journey and others'. While not every idea hit the mark for me, such as using shame as a motivational tool, most of the insights were deeply engaging.
I especially loved the opening chapter, "Stare into the Abyss." It pushes you to face uncomfortable but essential questions: What goal have you made zero progress on over the last year? If you could go back in time, would you still choose the same career, friends, or partner?
If you are feeling stuck and willing to apply even a single piece of advice from these pages, this book can genuinely help you move forward.
The book is structured into five core sections: Wake Up and Move, Be Willing to Look Stupid, Get Out of Your Lane, Walk Through Walls, and Find Your Limits. Each part offers fresh perspectives to help you challenge your worldview, re-examine your current situation, and expand your sense of what is possible.
The author grounds these concepts using real-life examples from their own journey and others'. While not every idea hit the mark for me, such as using shame as a motivational tool, most of the insights were deeply engaging.
I especially loved the opening chapter, "Stare into the Abyss." It pushes you to face uncomfortable but essential questions: What goal have you made zero progress on over the last year? If you could go back in time, would you still choose the same career, friends, or partner?
If you are feeling stuck and willing to apply even a single piece of advice from these pages, this book can genuinely help you move forward.
July 24, 2026
You can just do things, but should you?
Despite a true aversion to the concept of “high agency”, I did really enjoy this book. You CAN just do things but I hope the readers arrive with good judgement in tow. There was only one of the many suggestions that seemed like a terrible idea (If You Need Credibility, Consider Manufacturing It- for example, creating fake certifications when you need a seemingly useless certification to do something. In my experience, it might not seem important to you at the time, but certifications are generally created for a reason, because something that seems simple and easy may actually be complicated and have serious unintended consequences when things go wrong?!)
But am I just too old and unambitious for this advice overall? Also possible!!! A challenge to my old crusty ways of being. I will be attempting to avoid Movie Logic and I already live in a cringe minefield / moat of low status.
Despite a true aversion to the concept of “high agency”, I did really enjoy this book. You CAN just do things but I hope the readers arrive with good judgement in tow. There was only one of the many suggestions that seemed like a terrible idea (If You Need Credibility, Consider Manufacturing It- for example, creating fake certifications when you need a seemingly useless certification to do something. In my experience, it might not seem important to you at the time, but certifications are generally created for a reason, because something that seems simple and easy may actually be complicated and have serious unintended consequences when things go wrong?!)
But am I just too old and unambitious for this advice overall? Also possible!!! A challenge to my old crusty ways of being. I will be attempting to avoid Movie Logic and I already live in a cringe minefield / moat of low status.
August 1, 2026
I liked the premise of You Can Just Do Things, but I struggled with the beginning of the book due to its focus on the author's story. I understand that her personal experience is relevant, and as the book progressed, she included scenarios from a variety of people that I found helpful.
I am an avid reader of self-help and business books and can find good advice in most of them. I appreciate the advice to push out of our comfort zone. Doing so is not easy, and it is easy to retreat when things get hard. She encourages us to persevere and to know that discomfort isn't fatal.
I also like the idea that we don't have to do everything the hard way. If you find a cheat code that works, by all means use it. No one will care how hard you work or how difficult the process was, so long as you get the results you seek.
I recommend this book to anyone who feels stuck and thinks they are incapable of changing their circumstances.
I am an avid reader of self-help and business books and can find good advice in most of them. I appreciate the advice to push out of our comfort zone. Doing so is not easy, and it is easy to retreat when things get hard. She encourages us to persevere and to know that discomfort isn't fatal.
I also like the idea that we don't have to do everything the hard way. If you find a cheat code that works, by all means use it. No one will care how hard you work or how difficult the process was, so long as you get the results you seek.
I recommend this book to anyone who feels stuck and thinks they are incapable of changing their circumstances.
July 27, 2026
This book has highlighted a journey I have recently embarked upon with the help of members and friends I have made through an online book club. As an individual who struggles with analysis paralysis, and someone who often creates systems and clinical frameworks to explore why I create systems and clinical frameworks, this provides a practical guide and refreshing framework that cuts through all the bullshit. I have implemented some of the strategies mentioned into my daily routine and conversations, and it has allowed me to explore my motivations and roadblocks on a deeper, more fundamental level. This book along with the help of a new friend has also helped me deconstruct some unconscious processes or frameworks I operate on that have impeded my own personal growth and experience.
July 31, 2026
Direct, provocative, and packed with good ideas.
A few that landed:
- “Breaking out of movie logic” is one of the pithiest sections on communicating directly about problems. I see this phenomenon with coworkers who filter everything through a check for politeness. This is bad. I’m using these tactics to disarm those filters.
- Delegating out of the “ugh field” of tasks we dread so deeply we barely notice we’re avoiding them. This idea was topical for me this week, and on its own made the whole read worthwhile.
- Within a person, agency isn’t fixed but varies wildly across domains. I feel high agency in some parts of life, but questions in the book surfaced areas where I’m asleep at the wheel.
Read it. You’ll get whacked by ideas and do things.
A few that landed:
- “Breaking out of movie logic” is one of the pithiest sections on communicating directly about problems. I see this phenomenon with coworkers who filter everything through a check for politeness. This is bad. I’m using these tactics to disarm those filters.
- Delegating out of the “ugh field” of tasks we dread so deeply we barely notice we’re avoiding them. This idea was topical for me this week, and on its own made the whole read worthwhile.
- Within a person, agency isn’t fixed but varies wildly across domains. I feel high agency in some parts of life, but questions in the book surfaced areas where I’m asleep at the wheel.
Read it. You’ll get whacked by ideas and do things.
July 22, 2026
Finished in one sitting
I pre-ordered the book because I know Cate from Substack, but not without a bit of skepticism - the topic of high agency has reached hype-y levels. But even going in cold feet, I finished in one sitting. I've taken a non-linear path to a relatively comfy and unlikely life, so the topic of creating opportunities where there are none is not foreign to me. Still, reading the book I felt like - just as promised - I saw doors to new choices and options I previously overlooked.
Read the book, it's a fast, insightful, pleasant read, and it will make you more optimistic about your future.
I pre-ordered the book because I know Cate from Substack, but not without a bit of skepticism - the topic of high agency has reached hype-y levels. But even going in cold feet, I finished in one sitting. I've taken a non-linear path to a relatively comfy and unlikely life, so the topic of creating opportunities where there are none is not foreign to me. Still, reading the book I felt like - just as promised - I saw doors to new choices and options I previously overlooked.
Read the book, it's a fast, insightful, pleasant read, and it will make you more optimistic about your future.
August 1, 2026
I loved Cate Hall’s candor and vulnerability in sharing her own story. Her experiences are extraordinary, but the fact that she is so honest about the failures, risks, and messier parts of her path gave her argument even more credibility.
As a coach and consultant, I read a lot of psychology, leadership, and organizational development books. This one felt genuinely different because of its hyperfocus on agency: our ability to act, make choices, create opportunities, and stop waiting for permission.
I took so many notes while reading. More importantly, the book reminded me of the places where I still have more agency than I sometimes recognize—and gave me new ways to help the leaders and organizations I work with recognize theirs.
I know this is a book I’ll return to it.
As a coach and consultant, I read a lot of psychology, leadership, and organizational development books. This one felt genuinely different because of its hyperfocus on agency: our ability to act, make choices, create opportunities, and stop waiting for permission.
I took so many notes while reading. More importantly, the book reminded me of the places where I still have more agency than I sometimes recognize—and gave me new ways to help the leaders and organizations I work with recognize theirs.
I know this is a book I’ll return to it.
July 25, 2026
The biggest lesson from You Can Just Do Things is that high-agency people don’t wait for the perfect moment, they simply get started.
Section 4, “Walk Through Walls,” was the standout for me. Cate Hall provides practical advice for tackling projects head-on instead of procrastinating. In fact, I stopped reading the book to start working on projects I’d been putting off. That’s probably the best endorsement I can give.
My biggest takeaway: Why wait? Taking the first step creates momentum, and action beats overthinking every time.
Section 4, “Walk Through Walls,” was the standout for me. Cate Hall provides practical advice for tackling projects head-on instead of procrastinating. In fact, I stopped reading the book to start working on projects I’d been putting off. That’s probably the best endorsement I can give.
My biggest takeaway: Why wait? Taking the first step creates momentum, and action beats overthinking every time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews